In VI, we see Flandry's office in Intelligence for the first and only time. Its clear wall shows the soft-coloured spires of Admiralty Center under the Terran spring sky. After completing a report, Flandry smokes with his feet on the desk and reflects that policy makers, scientists, engineers, strategists, tacticians, coordinators, clerks and their families need food, clothing, houses, schools and amusements so that Center becomes a city which will inevitably be sacked by barbarians - like Trantor in Asimov's Foundation Trilogy.
Fenross says that, if he did not oblige the peerage, then he would be begging his bread in Underground. This is a whole side of Terran society that Anderson does not show us. Is there a literally subterranean underclass?
VII is set in Flandry's private space speedster, the Hooligan, leaving the Solar System but nevertheless imparts some information about Terra:
7 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I don't know if you recall, but we see mention of Madame Cepheid and her high end brothel on Starkad in Chapter 2 of ENSIGN FLANDRY.
Being a field agent who preferred off-Terra assignments, Flandry would fairly seldom use his office in Admiralty Center. And his elegiac, melancholy reflections about the Center has stuck in my mind.
Yes, an "Underground" is plausible. After all, homeless people, some down on their luck and others unable to take care of themselves, do live in similar places in the real here and now.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Clearly the Terra of that period retains vast imbalances in the distribution of wealth. My specific query is whether the word "Underground" is used just metaphorically or also literally.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
REAL people being what they are, varying enormously in character, abilities, weaknesses, virtues, vices, strengths, circumstances of life, etc., there are always going to be "vast imbalances in the distribution of wealth." It's not a problem that can be "solved," only managed.
I can imagine Admiral Fenross' use of "Underground" having both metaphorical and literal uses.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
The present point is that those imbalances do exist in the Terran Empire, not the question whether this is a problem that can be solved. However, technology clearly does have the potential to produce abundant wealth for all whatever their abilities, weaknesses etc. Anderson shows this in THE BOAT OF A MILLION YEARS.
pAUL.
That should be "Paul," of course.
BTW, I remember from previous exchanges that we can alternate between whether it is possible to equalize distribution of wealth and whether this is desirable. If the point at issue changes in mid-discussion, then the discussion becomes confused.
Paul.
Inequalities is one thing, probably not desirable to totally eliminate.
I would like to see more experimentation with Universal Basic Income, so the bottom a mix of bad luck & bad decisions can bring you still leaves you with food in your belly and modest living quarters (eg: a studio apartment), so that you still have the opportunity to work up the income ladder. Anything to reduce the "it's expensive to be poor" problem would help.
If the bad decisions include getting addicted to gambling or some drug, some additional programs are needed.
Kaor, Jim!
The problem being that such attempts never seem to STAY at modest, workable levels. Politicians, bureaucrats, pressure groups of all kinds keep expanding such programs till they become truly burdensome and counterproductive. We have seen that over and over and over in the US!
Ad astra! Sean
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