Oh, that's interesting, because in general I do have that same connotation of revolution vs. rebellion that you note in SF/fantasy -- but the US Revolutionary War is always thought of in the US (at least as far as I can tell) as a revolution and not a rebellion, and there's definitely a connotation there of rebellions being against a larger system/government, but because we're now peers it was a revolution! (The UK might think of it as a rebellion? ;) )
I guess the exception I can think of offhand is Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (which has people call each other Comrade, even!), which casts itself as a revolution, not a rebellion. I suppose the difference is that, because they're not actually trying to overthrow a government but rather claim independence from one, it can take to itself the connotations of the American Revolution and not, say, the French Revolution...
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branchandroot
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Date: 2023-03-08 06:39 am (UTC)I guess the exception I can think of offhand is Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (which has people call each other Comrade, even!), which casts itself as a revolution, not a rebellion. I suppose the difference is that, because they're not actually trying to overthrow a government but rather claim independence from one, it can take to itself the connotations of the American Revolution and not, say, the French Revolution...
Also, I loved that B5 story <3