Author Topic: Scifi books that depict extreme libertarian, minarchist, or anarchist societies? (Read 7235 times)

tyme · « **on:** August 05, 2007, 05:17:48 PM »

I'm looking for more books that have stable libertarian or anarchist societies as plot centerpieces. These examples should demonstrate what I'm talking about:

Snow Crash
Jennifer Government
Freehold

Rocketman56 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 05, 2007, 06:54:25 PM »

You forgot a classic..

Robert Heinlein's "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress"..

-Steve

lee n. field · « **Reply #2 on:** August 06, 2007, 03:01:52 AM »

Any and everything by L. Neil Smith.. For grins, look at Roswell, Texas.

Most anything that won the Prometheus Award

Sergeant Bob · « **Reply #3 on:** August 06, 2007, 05:07:27 AM »

You might try some Ursula LeGuinn. She did one (can't remember the name) about a planet which was a creative anarchy.

Edited to remove the "World Public Library" link, which is no longer allowing free downloads.

MechAg94 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 06, 2007, 05:29:43 AM »

Job: A Comedy of Justice comes to mind, but not if you are an easily offended Christian.

In reading the Moon is a Harsh Mistress it is interesting to see Heinlein's view of the US and other countries as compared to today.

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #5 on:** August 06, 2007, 05:32:20 AM »

Quote from: MechAg94 on August 06, 2007, 04:29:43 AM

Job: A Comedy of Justice comes to mind, but not if you are an easily offended Christian.

WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!! angry

lee n. field · « **Reply #6 on:** August 06, 2007, 11:21:10 AM »

Quote

You might try some Ursula LeGuinn. She did one (can't remember the name) about a planet which was a creative anarchy.

The Dispossessed, subtitled "an ambiguous utopia". From what I recall reading of it (lo these many decades ago) Annares seemed like a pretty dreary place to be.

Ken McLeod's Cassini Division features (on this side of the magic hole to elsewhere) a socialist anarchy. I think this is what-cha-call "post scarcity anarchism", with, in this case, magic nano-tech providing an unending cornucopia of stuff. On the far side of the magic hole to elsewhere is an accidental colony of anarchocapitalists. The Stone Canal tells the other half of that story.

McLeod has kind of an interesting take on politics. The categories he works with aren't American. I think he might have been a Trotskyite at one point.

Quote

Job: A Comedy of Justice comes to mind,

I don't recall anything overtly anarchist|libertarian in that book, unless Texas (aka Hell) counts.

Sergeant Bob · « **Reply #7 on:** August 06, 2007, 01:09:56 PM »

Quote from: lee n. field on August 06, 2007, 10:21:10 AM

Quote

You might try some Ursula LeGuinn. She did one (can't remember the name) about a planet which was a creative anarchy.

The Dispossessed, subtitled "an ambiguous utopia". From what I recall reading of it (lo these many decades ago) Annares seemed like a pretty dreary place to be.

Been a long time since I read it but, now that I think of it, the planet was more akin to "Utopian Communism" than it was to anarchy.

Nitrogen · « **Reply #8 on:** August 06, 2007, 04:40:07 PM »

Steel Beach, by John Varley. You don't get to meet 'em until 2/3 into the book, though.
And the book is REALLY odd, but very good. (The main character gets a sex change 1/3 into the book.)

This book also has a great description of a nanny state vs. a libertarian society, and the eventual collapse of the nanny state.

Antibubba · « **Reply #9 on:** August 06, 2007, 08:31:22 PM »

Warp Angel, by Stuart Hopen.

BakerMikeRomeo · « **Reply #10 on:** August 07, 2007, 01:09:04 PM »

Quote from: lee n. field on August 06, 2007, 10:21:10 AM

...Cassini Division ...
The Stone Canal...

Man, I read those books years ago as a kid.

I must have not understood them AT. ALL.

I liked them, though; I need to find 'em again.

~BakerMike

MechAg94 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 07, 2007, 03:52:19 PM »

Quote from: fistful on August 06, 2007, 04:32:20 AM

Quote from: MechAg94 on August 06, 2007, 04:29:43 AM

Job: A Comedy of Justice comes to mind, but not if you are an easily offended Christian.

WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!! angry

Well, if you haven't read it, the book is almost a parody of the christian faith. Christ turns out to be the bad guy and Satan the good guy. It was weird but still entertaining. Long time since I read that one.

MechAg94 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 07, 2007, 03:54:07 PM »

Not SciFi, but I might also suggest some Sacket books by Louis L'Amour. I was mainly thinking of a series of 3 or 4 books about the original Barnabus Sacket who came to America from England. They were entertaining and somewhat anarchist/Libertarian in a different way.

MechAg94 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 07, 2007, 04:07:38 PM »

Path of the Fury - David Weber
Mother of Demons - Eric Flint
Tunnel in the Sky - Robert Heinlein
March Upcountry - David Weber
The Legacy of Heorot - Niven, Pournelle, Barnes
Rats, Bats, and Vats - Eric Flint (Not sure it fits your criteria, but I can recommend it enough. 2nd book even better)

Hard to find good SciFi that fit your categories. Most try to involve epic battles with large govts. 3 of the above are about high Tech people stuck in low tech worlds.

lee n. field · « **Reply #14 on:** August 07, 2007, 04:13:21 PM »

Quote

Man, I read those books years ago as a kid.

Years ago? You must not be very old.

Other books: Vernor Vinge, A Deepness in the Sky.

MechAg94 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 07, 2007, 04:20:42 PM »

Okay, I reread your question. I realized almost none of my suggestions really fit.

BakerMikeRomeo · « **Reply #16 on:** August 07, 2007, 05:23:33 PM »

Quote from: lee n. field on August 07, 2007, 03:13:21 PM

Years ago? You must not be very old.

At the time of this writing, I'm only 20. I think I read The Cassini Division and The Stone Road either at the beginning of high school or some time during middle school.

But yeah, didn't get a lick of 'em. I need to find all four and read them in the right order, I guess.

~BakerMike

Sindawe · « **Reply #17 on:** August 07, 2007, 05:28:46 PM »

Aside from the noted "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" and the works of L. Neil Smith, one the comes to mind in this vein is Voyage from Yesteryear. Great tale about a planet full of hippies and their conflicts with the Humans from Earth.

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #18 on:** August 07, 2007, 06:57:52 PM »

Quote from: Sindawe on August 07, 2007, 04:28:46 PM

a planet full of hippies

Nuke it from orbit. That atmo would NOT be breathable.

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Author Topic: Scifi books that depict extreme libertarian, minarchist, or anarchist societies? (Read 7235 times)

BakerMikeRomeo

BakerMikeRomeo