Five Futures Where the US Ended Not With a Bang But a Whimper

[james_davis_nicoll]

Sometimes empires just kind of fall apart over time—no catastrophe required.

Five Futures Where the US Ended Not With a Bang But a Whimper

Comments

[maruad]

Back in the 90s, when I was taking night classes towards my degree, I had a prof who predicted the USA would collapse around their 250th anniversary. This was based on the tendency of empires to collapse after 250 years (he gave examples but I cannot remember them all). He was later shocked when the USSR collapsed because, I think, he was a big fan of it.

I don't know how true this theory was in general but it looks like Trump and the Repugs are trying hard to make it a reality.

[jreynoldsward]

I'm trying to remember who put out a book during that era predicting the same thing. I want to say it was Kevin Phillips but his bibliography doesn't match what I remember. The theory was based on both Dutch and British examples. I thought I had written a review of the book but I can't find it in any of my clips.

[chrysostom]

Back when I was in my Heinlein Era, the Whelan cover is what prevented me from ever buying Friday.

[oh6]

As I recall it, Baldwin's death happens relatively late in Friday, after most of her wanderings through the former US, which isn't likely to improve readers' opinion of Baldwin.

I may have mentioned it before, but for some years I thought Ecotopia was titled Ectopia, suggesting a utopia that had established itself in some inopportune place, with presumably disastrous consequences.

My only knowledge of Missing Man is Spider Robinson's review reprinted in, I think, Time Travellers Strictly Cash, which mostly complained of heavy-handed writing in the expanded segments.

[patrick_morris_miller]

As I recall it, Baldwin's death happens relatively late in Friday, after most of her wanderings through the former US

I reread Friday a few weeks back [1] and you are completely correct.

which isn't likely to improve readers' opinion of Baldwin.

Not much could.

[1] Could be worse. Now I'm rereading The Number of the Beast. The horror... the horror...

[glaurung]

Why not just hit yourself in the head with a heavy brick, instead?

[patrick_morris_miller]

What did the brick ever do to me?

[glaurung]

The brick is concerned for your welfare. Since you seem determined to commit self-harm, it is offering you a less extreme course of action than re-reading novels from Heinlein's grumpy dotage period.

[patrick_morris_miller]

At least I'm not reading Farnham's Freehold.

I'll probably reach that late this year.

[jbwoodford]

You could hit yourself with a hardbound copy of Time Enough for Love instead.

[patrick_morris_miller]

The first volume of his letters is significantly longer by page count.

[chrysostom]

For $1000, James will provide you a review of it!

[patrick_morris_miller]

That would feel too much like going to a geek show.

[dormouse1953]

So what's with the reference to Berwick-upon-Tweed? I've only been through the town on the train going up to Edinburgh. Is this something to do with the old story about Berwick being at war with Russia as the termination of the Crimean War failed to mention Berwick, even thought the declaration of war did. A story I recall invented many year after the end of the war.

Incidentally, Berwick is part of the English county of Northumberland, but their football team plays in the Scottish league.

[james_davis_nicoll]

I think it's inherently funny, like Terra Haute, Milton, or Guelph.

[patrick_morris_miller]

If you like those, you'll love Walla Walla, Washington.

[dormouse1953]

The 47th symphony by the American composer Alan Hovhaness is subtitles Walla Walla, Land of Many Waters. I have a vinyl recording of it somewhere.

There is also a Walla Walla in Australia.

[patrick_morris_miller]

Though the Australian walla walla is venomous and likes to hide in shoes. (Right?)

[james_davis_nicoll]

Tor dot com article 545, 2025 article 14

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