Friday 20 January 2017

Elections

In Poul Anderson's Tales Of The Flying Mountains, asterites discuss the newly elected Social Justice administration in North America.

In Anderson's contribution to Isaac Asimov's Robots series, two men out in space discuss Stephen Byerley (see here) who has recently been elected on Earth.

In 2017, people around Earth discuss the newly elected President of the United States.

When I started reading science fiction, including works by Poul Anderson, in the 1960s, all three of these statements would equally have been sf.

Next year will be 2018. Year 2018 was an alternative title of Volume I of James Blish's Cities In Flight Tetralogy which begins with politics in Washington.

It is good to read about the future, then to live it.

1 comment:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

I too find the rise of Donald Trump to the presidency of the US astonishing! For reasons such as him never before running for any office. Frankly, there were other GOP politicians I would have preferred--but of course I voted for him and I hope he does well as President.

Since the break away of the 13 original English colonies of North America from the UK, there has been eight kings and queens of Great Britain in succession to George III, the last to be king here.

Sean