We learn that the title, "The Pugilist," is, like "Marius," a reference to Roman history.
In this fictional future, millions of computers, interconnected nationally:
keep records;
process bills;
operate automated factories;
calculate;
integrate;
monitor citizens;
transmit messages.
Sf prophecy. We knew that men would land on the Moon and that all human knowledge, stored in interconnected computers, would be accessible at the press of a button.
Whether our hero, Dowling, winds up in a happy place is another matter.
But this is just one story. We move on to the next. But not tonight.

2 comments:
Well, he's visibly -un-happy.
Kaor, Paul and Mr. Stirling!
Paul: It is notorious that the Maoist secret police uses advanced tech to keep tabs on the Chinese, reading what they say online and what they look up.
Mr. Stirling: After what was DONE to Dowling he had more than ample reason to be unhappy!
Ad astra! Sean
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