Visions of Liberty

by Mark Tier and TurtleMe

A volume of stories in which science fiction writers consider how the future might be different. They have created futures in which government does not exist allowing them to explore the possibilities... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743488385
• ISBN13: 9780743488389
• Release Date: June 2004
• Publisher: Baen Books
• Length: 293 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.3" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

A very nice anthology of sf stories

The stories collected in this book all center in some way around a central concept of society in the absence of official government. In nearly all cases, the inertia of societal mores leads to a moral and just society, despite a lack of officialdom to enforce laws, of which there are none. Lloyd Biggle, Jr.'s "The Unnullified World" showcases the difficulties encountered by an interstellar investigator trying to track a murderer on a planet lacking a government. The majority of characters are involved with mining, either the actual process or among the ranks of the corporations which fund them. The manner in which the population deals with the killer is somewhat interesting. "The Right's Tough" by Robert Sawyer shows what happens when relativity plays a part in people's perspectives. A long-absent team of space explorere returns to an Earth centuries after leaving it, to find that government no longer exists. Every person is connected from childhood to a central computer which tracks the manner in which they interact with others, alerting people, for example, when a pickpocket grows near. The problems these astronauts encounter seem very much not in character with those who should hold such heroic posts, in my mind, with an unsatisfying conclusion to a good story concept. Mike Resnick and Tobias Buckell's "The Shackles of Freedom" shows what a future Amish community located on another planet might be like, through the eyes of a modern-trained physician working among them. His knowledge and capabilities are hampered by the locals' beliefs, forcing him to rely upon ancient methods only. This story is very well-done, I thought, and I liked it a lot. Good inner conflict of the protagonist. Brad Linaweaver's "A Reception at the Anarchist Embassy" is a strange story about troubles on a government-free world trying to resist influence from the United Planets. I was not terrbly impressed with this story, as it seemed to me to be intended primarily to deliver the closing line. The story itself seemed less than the others in the collection. Michael Stackpole's "According to Their Need" is the newest in his Purgatory Station series, even though it does not occur on the station. The main character of this series of stories is visiting a friend on a retirement planet which is free of officials. There are strenuous requirements to become a citizen, even for a short time, which have been violated. The friend was formerly a police investigator, and she must reassume that mantle to solve a murder and disappearance as there is no parallel on the world. There is something of a cheat, I thought, near the end that Stackpole does not usually resort to, but I thought that most of the story was a good one. Jane Lindskold's "Pakeha" takes place on New Zealand, after the cessation of government throughout most of the world after a severe technological regression. An immigrant who previously relied upon brawn and might must attempt to integrate hi

Great short stories by great authors.

Ten stories of freedom and liberty by award winning authors, such as James P. Hogan, Robert J. Swayer, Michael A. Stackpole, Jack Williamson, Michael Resnick, and much more. If you are a fan of any of this authors, are a libertarian at heart, or enjoyed any of the other collections, such as 'Free Space' or 'Give Me Libery' then this IS the book for you. Or if you just enjoy good science fiction this is STILL the book for you.