The Probability Broach
Published by Prakash Chandrashekhar August 6th, 2004 in Art / Literature, Anarcho Capitalism, Book ReviewVery recently I got a precious stack of libertarian science fiction novels from the USA. Telling stories with a libertarian theme provides a vivid picture to many who would not see the logic of libertarianism otherwise. Science fiction is quite a natural complement to libertarianism as science and technology would definitely advance in a libertarian world. And the fans of sci-fi are also predominantly logical thinkers as are followers of libertarianism.
The oldest of the novels I got is The Probability Broach by L. Neil Smith. The author was almost nominated as LP candidate for president once. This was the first novel of his “confederacy” series.
It deals with a parallel universe where the whiskey rebellion of Pennsylvania (a minor revolt in our history) succeeds and the centralized constitution is scrapped and the entire US returns to a confederacy, releasing a wave of human energy that achieves fusion by 1923, sends man to space before 1950, and learns to reverse aging before 1987. Unemployment is non-existent and since the need for minds is so high, chimps, gorillas, porpoises, dolphins and orcas all contribute to civilization. Also it is a world where everyone who can, does carry guns. This keeps crime at an all-time low.
It is an exciting ride into a libertarian earth seen from the perspective of a law-enforcement official from “our” earth. The protagonist is an American Indian police officer who gets mistakenly blown away into this parallel universe and also learns of a plot to control this parallel universe is being baked by the totalitarians of his universe. How he stops them is what fills the rest of the novel. The probability broach is pretty much straight and simple science fiction with a definite mind to propagate libertarianism. Those of you who enjoy speculative fiction, this is one for the keeps.
Artists can fill that yearning gap in our hearts, for the more scientifically inclined, in the right-side of the brain, that logical explanations never can. The Marxists always had a big bunch of artists supporting their cause. No wonder they managed to wreck the havoc that they did. They reached the hearts of men and women. If more artists supported the cause of liberty, then half our work would be over.
Check Snow Crash if you like speculative fiction also known as libertarianism in some circles ;)
I will be posting a revew on snow crash after some time. I’ve already read it.
with a definite mind to propagate libertarianism .. the reason I am uncomfortable with such books .. is that you can just as easily dream up and propogate the other side(s)’s view(s) as well.
Anya, “the other side’s views” have been dreamt up and propagated a hell of a lot more! That I think is one of the central points Prakash is trying to make.
Hello Yazad & other capitalists:
I read this blog with interest. Today, I came across this article by Anil Ambani at rediff.com and I thought I’d share with people who may have not read it. Also, it would be interesting to know what the die-hard market believers have to say on this especially coming from a person who may be one of the biggest capitalist ideologues:
“What then is the way forward? After 15 long years of piecemeal reforms, we know enough about the power of the market and what it can achieve. But we also know what it can’t. The market can give us efficiency but not equity. It can generate profits but not justice. In one word, it is not a substitute for legitimate functions of the State.”
He further says:
“But the Indian State is ill equipped to play that role in its present form. Pouring more developmental money into the black hole that is our babudom is clearly not the answer. What is required is a drastic administrative overhaul. We must learn from the rare successes of state-run development schemes — from the mid-day meal scheme in Tamil Nadu to education for all in Kerala to the employment guarantee scheme in Maharashtra — and, where necessary, build new models of public-private partnership.”
Sorry if I posted this comment in the wrong section.
I stumbled on this article just now; apologies for not having checked in earlier (Yazad is one of my Orkut online buddies).
Indian - or any other - fans of L. Neil Smith should feel free to visit his website (http://www.lneilsmith.com/) and also to join his “fans and friends” mailing list on Yahoo! Groups.
You might be interested to know that _The Probability Broach: The Graphic Novel_, the same story told in comic-book format, is nearly completed and will be available in the U.S. in late October this year. If you know someone who has the means for importing books from the U.S. and would like to buy a copy please put us in touch. More details on the publisher’s website, http://www.bigheadpress.com .
ass parade
Nice blog.
Thank you.