“Potentially, a government is the most dangerous threat to man's rights: it holds a legal monopoly on the use of physical force against legally disarmed victims.”
– Ayn Rand –
I've enjoyed Cory Doctorow's science fiction for many years.
Some time ago, I read his "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom," gaining an appreciation of Doctorow's awareness of the Maker Movement and insights into its possible future.
And so I was pleased when his recent novel, "Walkaway," showed up at our public library.
"Walkaway" by Cory Doctory
Image captured by @creatr
Walkaway is a fast paced novel,
picturing a not terribly distant future in which a sizable portion of humanity has had more than enough of the regimentation and coercion of modern government.
Idealistic youth, in particular, observe the materialistic motivations of their parents and peers, and reject it. They are appalled at the prospect of production facilities that could easily supply the basic needs of the population, simply shut down and idle due to political reasons or out of what appears to be simple greed.
Rather than rebel in conventional ways—engagement in politics, subversion, or outright rebellion and revolution—they choose to walk away from "normal" society. Hence, the title of the book.
Employing the use of amazingly advanced descendants of today's 3D printing technology, mesh networks, encryption, and cloud storage, the walkaways develop their own habitats beyond the fringes of "civilization." In some cases, they repurpose abandoned urban areas. In other cases, they lead nomadic lives in the wilderness, while enjoying the comforts of highly advanced technology.
This quote from one of the book's characters offers a capsule summary of their reasoning:
"Why should the world go on when its system doesn't need people any more? Our system should serve us, not the other way around. Look at walkaways: if you show up in walkaway, there will be things you can do to make room for yourself. Walkaway is based on the idea anyone should be able to pitch in with her work and provide everything she needs to live well, bed and roof and food, and extra for people who can't do so much. In stable walkaway places, the problem is there aren't enough humans."
The walkaways put a very high value on human life and ability.
Sadly, however, simply by existing,
walkaways are a threat to the powers that be. As a result, the novel is rather dark. Just when it seems that those who have walked away are succeeding wildly, having created a culture of abundance, The Man hunts them down. Government and its minions destroy whatever the walkaway community has built, while murdering them all to boot.
Sound familiar? If you've had any experience with anarchy, resistance to government, or speaking out against such aberrations of humanity, you know that the last thing human government is willing to do is simply leave you alone.
But there is much more to the story.
The book also explores fascinating concepts involving uploading of personal identity into computer storage. It explores the possibility of resurrecting the dead by running those uploaded personalities on high-powered computers. These ideas have been dealt with in science fiction for a long time, but Doctorow takes them about as far as any Sci-Fi author I've ever read.
Along the way, as a reader, I couldn't help but contemplate fundamental philosophical questions. What is human consciousness? What constitutes identity? Can there possibly be a continuity between a dying or dead human and a captured snapshot of their mental state, even if it were captured perfectly? What would it be like to "wake up" and discover you are forever part of a computing machine, sans body?
Although in my opinion the book goes unnecessarily overboard in depicting a few interpersonal physical relationships, overall I feel that it is a most worthwhile read. Doctorow's treatment of the subject matter in the Maker realm and in the realm of identity and consciousness of machine intelligence is well worth contemplating.
Additive Manufacturing...
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Wish i want to finish the Walkaway, just thanks for your kindness sharing
You're welcome.
I am going to check this book out, the concept sounds interesting. I remember reading Orwell's 1984 back in high school and at that time could not possibly believe that that way of life could possibly happen yet here we are on the verge of that very thing. Who knows the concept of "Walkaways" might be something my great grandchildren experience.
upvoted and resteemed
Hi, Mary. Thanks for reading and commenting, and for your support.
As much as I enjoyed the book, the dark aspects trouble me. I thought it was very realistic in its portrayal of the relentless efforts of evil to destroy any semblance of good, to persist tirelessly in hounding peaceful, productive people and making their lives miserable. I've experienced too much of that in my own life, and completely understand the impetus to just walk away from it all...
I don't think I've read any of Cory Doctorow's work, but this sounds good. I'll have to see if our local library has it as well. You've also given me some fodder for my future news series :)
I'm not much of a scifi reader but that sounds intruiging. It reminds me somehow of The maze runner for some weird reason (probably the reverse dystopian setting?). As for being resurrected in a computer, there's a Johnny Depp movie which I can't remember the title right now. He was dying so his wife and best friend uploaded his consciousness in a computer. It didnt live up to the hype though. I should put this on my to read list. It might make me start liking scifi.
So I found the movie you're talking about - "Transcendence". I watched a trailer. It looks interesting, although I would have to say (judging purely from the trailer) that it crosses the border of science fiction into the realm of fantasy and perhaps even horror... But I may have to watch it anyway, sci-fi junkie that I am. ;) Thank you for mentioning it.
If you ever want to read some really good science fiction, check out a few of my other book reviews:
"Gateway" by Frederik Pohl
"Lord Valentine's Castle" by Robert Silverberg
"Last Year" by Robert Charles Wilson
Lol so you tracked it down xD I think the movie got overhyped though.
I took a screenshot of the list. I'm going to ask my sister to track the books down for me. Speaking of book genre, do you read fantasy books and thrillers? I was wondering if you have a recommendation list for those as well.
I'm pretty sure there are links to sources for those books in each of my articles.
The finest fantasies in my experience are Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien and the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. "Lord Valentine's Castle" is somewhat of a hybrid fantasy/sci-fi.
I occasionally read thrillers, though not so often. I enjoyed Hunt for Red October.
Lord Valentine's Castle and Hunt for Red October made me curious. LotR and Narnia were both adapted to movies so they're more familiar. I'll have to go with the former xD Thanks for the suggestions.
Hunt for Red October was made into a great movie with Sean Connery... FYI. :D
Enjoy the science fiction of Cory Doctorow,
always I like your share,
thanks for sharing
Wow. I havent heard about this book or it's author before. But the book sounds really interesting. I love reading books where people rebel against an authority or society, add science fiction to it and I am all for it. Great book review. Would love to read this book someday
I hope you have the opportunity to do that. Maybe buy a Kindle copy with your Steemit earnings? ;)
so many dystopias and so few Arcadias...
Thanks for introducing me to a new term... :D
you're welcome :)
I was a bit curious as to the choice of the title until you explained what a walkaway was - the Ayn Rand quote made perfect sense then for this modern John Galt group of individuals.
This book sounds absolutely fascinating. I tend to look for sci-fi movies that tackle these kind of questions and leave my reading in the theology and business camps. I am looking for this title to read through now.
I was unhappy with how dark the story is--too realistic!--but nonetheless found the subject matter compelling...
Nice Pic..gud
Very interesting
Very telented post and great writing
keep it up
thank you buddy for your review. I am intersted in you article. watting for more from you. keep it up. and help me buddy
Excellent post friend.
great post i like it,,, i have to follow you i think