A humanoid robot (echo of Asimov) striding over green hills (echo of Heinlein), sees human beings engaged in enjoyable activities while two men get drunk in a fully automated bar in a garden on a wooded hill: Utopia. Something will have to happen if there is to be a story. I do not buy the idea that what will happen has to be a problem or a conflict although we will probably be right if we anticipate this.
So far in the Psychotechnic History, we have read four stories about heroes successfully resisting threats to world peace. Now we read about world peace without any heroes. This is both an appropriate sequel to Volume 1 and a welcome change of pace. After this, of course, we will return to political and military conflicts. A future history series has to incorporate different kinds of stories.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
While I agree on the desirability of achieving a post scarcity economy, it will NOT come without costs, strains, stresses, and dangers. I have suggested we don't see similar dangers in the Technic timeline because a FTL drive was invented in time to give the unemployed and frustrated an outlet.
Ad astra! Sean
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