7 Shocking Secrets Behind 'The General Zapped An Angel': From Vietnam Allegory To Evangelion's Darkest Scene
The phrase "The General Zapped an Angel" is far more than just a bizarre, provocative title; it is a lightning rod of political satire, a forgotten masterpiece of speculative fiction, and, as of
What makes this vintage science fiction collection particularly relevant today, nearly 55 years after its original publication, is its unlikely and definitive link to one of the most celebrated and complex anime franchises of all time. Recent, deep dives by fans and critics have confirmed that the iconic, disturbing imagery from the cover art of *The General Zapped an Angel* directly inspired a pivotal, apocalyptic moment in the 1997 film *The End of Evangelion*. This connection has thrust Howard Fast's work back into the contemporary spotlight, revealing a profound conversation between mid-century political literature and modern Japanese animation.
The Life and Controversial Politics of Author Howard Fast
To truly grasp the biting satire and political depth of "The General Zapped an Angel," one must first understand the life and turbulent political journey of its author, Howard Fast (1914–2003). Fast was a prolific American novelist and television writer whose work often intertwined historical narrative with a fierce commitment to socialist and left-wing ideals.
Howard Fast: A Biographical Profile
- Full Name: Howard Melvin Fast
- Born: November 11, 1914, New York City, New York
- Died: March 12, 2003, Greenwich, Connecticut
- Notable Works: *Spartacus* (1951), *The General Zapped an Angel* (1970), *The Immigrants* (1977), *Citizen Tom Paine* (1943)
- Political Affiliation: Joined the Communist Party USA in 1944.
- Controversy: During the McCarthy era, he was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in 1953.
- Imprisonment: He served three months in federal prison for contempt of Congress after refusing to disclose the names of contributors to a fund for a home for children of veterans.
- Later Views: Became disillusioned with the Soviet Union and Stalin's regime following Khrushchev's Secret Speech in 1956, officially resigning from the Communist Party in 1957.
Fast's political activism and his subsequent disillusionment with Stalinism fueled his writing, giving his science fiction and fantasy a distinct, often angry, edge. His writing was never merely entertainment; it was a vehicle for social commentary. Even after leaving the Communist Party, his rage at American militarism, greed, and profiteering remained a central theme, which is perfectly encapsulated in the title story of the 1970 collection.
The Vietnam Allegory: Unpacking the Title Story
The core of the collection's fame rests on the title story, "The General Zapped an Angel," which was originally published in 1969, at the height of the Vietnam War. This piece of short fiction is not a literal fantasy but a sharp, allegorical critique of the American military's presence and its moral cost.
The Shocking Plot Summary
The story focuses on a gung-ho, combat-obsessed two-star general in Vietnam. While flying in his helicopter, the general spots a strange, luminous figure. In a moment of sheer, militaristic reflex and aggression, he "zaps"—or shoots down—the figure, which turns out to be a wounded, dying angel. The narrative then shifts from the surreal act of violence to the immediate and frantic aftermath.
The primary conflict is not the angel's death, but the ensuing public relations nightmare for the military and religious authorities. The military must contain the news, hide the body, and spin the event to avoid a global scandal that would question the entire moral premise of the war. The story brilliantly satirizes the bureaucracy, the media manipulation, and the utter failure of the military machine to comprehend or contain anything outside its own brutal logic. It asks the ultimate question: how do you explain a dead angel when your entire operation is morally bankrupt?
The angel's presence—a symbol of innocence, divinity, or simply the inexplicable—is instantly destroyed by the General, representing the American military's capacity to destroy the sacred and the moral in its pursuit of war. Fast himself stated that his science fiction and fantasy stories were "among the most serious writing" he had done, underscoring the political weight of this tale.
The Unlikely Connection to *Neon Genesis Evangelion*
The renewed interest and "fresh" relevance of *The General Zapped an Angel* in the 21st century is largely due to an unexpected and profound connection to the world of anime. Specifically, the cover artwork for the Italian edition of the book, created by the Dutch artist Karel Thole in 1970, is a confirmed visual inspiration for a key scene in the 1997 film *The End of Evangelion*.
Karel Thole’s Cover Art and Hideaki Anno’s Masterpiece
Karel Thole’s iconic cover art depicts a vast, desolate landscape with the gigantic, pale, and serene face of a fallen being—the "angel"—lying on the ground. This image is striking, disturbing, and deeply memorable.
In the climactic, apocalyptic sequence of Hideaki Anno’s *The End of Evangelion*, there is a visual reference so direct that it has become a staple of pop culture trivia. The scene where the gigantic, god-like entity (often interpreted as Lilith or a deified Rei Ayanami) is seen lying prone on the earth, with a pale, massive face staring blankly upwards, is a clear homage to Thole's 1970 painting.
This subtle but definitive nod links a mid-century American political allegory to a late-century Japanese psychological mecha anime, creating a fascinating cross-cultural commentary on themes of war, divinity, and human destruction. The shared visual language—the fallen giant, the zapped angel—suggests that the core anxieties about unchecked power and the destruction of the sacred are universal, transcending genre and geography.
The Enduring Legacy and Topical Authority
The collection itself contains eight other stories of fantasy and science fiction, including "The Mouse," "The Vision of Milty Boil," and "The Wound," all of which further explore themes of social justice, political corruption, and the absurdity of modern life.
The topical authority of *The General Zapped an Angel* stems from its ability to function on multiple levels: as a piece of Cold War political commentary, as a pioneering work of speculative fiction, and as a surprising source of artistic inspiration for modern visual media. Its recent re-examination, often tied to discussions of its influence on *Evangelion*, proves that Howard Fast's critique of the military-industrial complex remains chillingly relevant. The question of "How am I going to explain a dead angel?" is, ultimately, the timeless question of how humanity explains its own inhumanity.
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