Freddie
Posts: 371
Joined: Oct. 2009
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| Quote (noncarborundum @ Feb. 22 2012,12:41) | | Quote (dvunkannon @ Feb. 22 2012,11:33) | | Quote (Wesley R. Elsberry @ Feb. 21 2012,21:58) | | Quote (dvunkannon @ Feb. 21 2012,20:27) | | Quote (Wesley R. Elsberry @ Feb. 21 2012,18:53) | | Quote (dvunkannon @ Feb. 21 2012,16:27) | | Quote (midwifetoad @ Feb. 21 2012,17:01) | | I wonder how much longer BA77 and Joe will be the dominant posters at UD? |
Are you familiar with the idea of a 'hydraulic empire'? |
I think Heinlein had a novel that along the way asserted that a regime that controlled access to water could last indefinitely. "Friday", IIRC. |
I was thinking of a Larry Niven book, World Out of Time. |
Is that the extension of the "Rammer" short story? If so, I remember the book, but not specifically the water control discussion from it. |
Yes, it is. The hero, Corbell, explains that the State lasted as long as it did because it controlled all the key resources (water monopoly was his term). Since (in this analysis) a water monopoly can only be overthrown from outside, and there was no outside, the State lived forever.
One of several hard SF books of the Reagan Era that took the Soviet empire really seriously. |
IIRC The Integral Trees is set in the same universe. The autopilot of the ramship always announces itself as "Kendy for the State". |
Well - you can keep your rammers in your pockets, chaps.
As far as I am concerned Tank Girl the movie (and former comic strip) cornered the market on despots that cornered the world's remaining water supplies!
Also introduced one 'Naomi Watts' in I think her first significant role.
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Joe: Most criticisims of ID stem from ignorance and jealousy.
Joe: As for the authors of the books in the Bible, well the OT was authored by Moses and the NT was authored by various people.
Byers: The eskimo would not need hairy hair growth as hair, I say, is for keeping people dry. Not warm.
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