Or he's just critiquing the rationality of those different choices given the game theory scenario, using standard (even lazy) tropes / stereotypes to make the p

Or he's just critiquing the rationality of those different choices given the game theory scenario, using standard (even lazy) tropes / stereotypes to make the plot go. I didn't read it as propaganda or commentary but maybe I don't know enough about the cultural context (call me a cave fish from up thread). I completely disagree with your last statement - Dark Forest theory is just another sci-fi plot device invention... One that people have been too ready to embrace as a real theory (or even the real universe) because it sounds smart. But these debates are why literature majors exist :-p