The Smoke over Xanadu

By Corinda Pitts Marsh

In Scandinavian mythology, Ragnarok is a series of events and catastrophes that will ultimately lead to the end of the world. This story foretells a similar downfall for a mythical community in the year 2050. Are there enough wolves to overcome the powerful lions to save the sheep? Can a lone wolf called Maheegan swing a powerful hammer as Thor did in the myth of Ragnarok to bring down the lions before they devour the sheep?
We have become sheep who are content to have government control our every move as long as our immediate needs/wants are met. But when sheep surrender control to a pride of hungry lions, the future is grim. We are rapidly sliding into this mindset. In our desire for Xanadu, we are allowing our control to slip through our fingers.
The Smoke over Xanadu moves us forward in time to envision what mankind will do to/for himself when he surrenders his independence to government and takes the idyllic road to leisure and comfort. In 2020 many are plagued by disease, poverty, and fear, but that all will begin to change in the next decade. Disease will be wiped out by Artificial Intelligence, a power stronger than mankind could ever envision. Poverty will abate when Big Brother steps in to aid those less fortunate. The fortunate will finally be forced to pay their fair share and fear will abate when all are guaranteed a high school diploma and college becomes a given for any who desire a title added to their name. Difficult classes will disappear from the curriculum in of all but a few chosen schools. No longer will youthful minds be burdened by the likes of calculus and bio-chemistry: we will have AI for all that, freeing us to pursue more pleasant pastimes. Life will be a joy for all. Later will come the final star on our crowns. We will no longer have to dread old age, for now Big Brother will transport us to a Utopian Paradise, Paradise Valley, our own personal Xanadu. They will even provided luxury transportation to this idyllic spot of ground. But beware of those who have drunk the milk of Paradise. All may not be as it seems.Those who think will stand on perilous ground. They must cease to exist if Xanadu is to be successful. Freedom will cease to be.
Is this what we want?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0C87BVYD1
• ISBN13: 9798397444040
• Release Date: June 2023
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 180 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 8.0"