I meant to ask this in the Eyes of Amber entry

[james_davis_nicoll]

Why is so much SF concerned with resource extraction?

Comments

[andrewwheeler.livejournal.com]

I've always assumed it was due to the eternal mutant strains of goldbugism and libertoonianism that have plagued SF for a few generations -- only Real Stuff is actually valuable (not that yucky paper money), and only Real Men are worth reading about.

I may be focusing too much on "those plucky miners in the belt" stories, though.