I read “Manna” by Marshall Brain on the train into town today, and Cory Doctorow’s “0wnz0red” on the way back. Both are computer-nerd, sci-fi short stories, set in the near future.
(Minor Spoilers Ahead)
Simon Brunning pointed me to “Manna”, and I find myself in agreement with his analysis – the Manna system is plausible, but the Australia Project isn’t.
The problem with the concept of the Australia Project is that it assumes a large number of people will live in harmony and mutual respect if there is no material reason for envy, totally free communication and a commitment to shared principles. Bah! I submit a selection of communications between various open source luminaries and hangers-on as counter-examples.
That said, it was still a bit freaky looking out the window when I was just starting chapter 7. The train was near the Strathfield signal box, where the trackside is over-grown and rusted locos sit on the siding, looking like they will never move again. I found myself wondering what it would all become when the Australia Project was through with it.
“0wnz0red” I found via link from Ben Zanin, in a comment on Charles’ blog. “0wnz0red” is interesting, if it is a little dark, and everybody loves a happy ending.
It was good to read these stories back to back, since they deal with similar social and scientific themes, are written by authors with similar technical backgrounds but then go on to reach quite different conclusions.
Overall, “0wnz0red” is more satisfying as a story, but “Manna” made me think harder.
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