Ectopia (Sonoma: how much, buying, groceries)

[marcopolo666]

{I originally posted this on a different thread, but I then realized it was way off topic from the original thread subject, so ...}


I just re-read Ecotopia (I had read it when it came out, back in the 70s). At the time of it's writing, it was considered 'way out there' science fiction, ridiculous, and a crazy hippy-leftist rant. It turns out to be (1) an amusing read in hindsight, and (2) quite the harbinger in many areas. (It chronicles daily life in the pacific coast states which had broken off from the U.S. and formed a new nation : Ecotopia.)

Some of the 'crazy' ideas mentioned in the book :
(1) Recycling by everybody
(2) Solar power being common (Photo-voltaic)
(3) Thermal energy from the hot springs in Sonoma
(4) Energy being generated from temp differences in the Ocean
(5) many aspects of the Internet (!!!)
(6) eBooks!

And many, many other things.


Anybody read this book? If so, thoughts? (If not, your library may have a copy.)

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by marcopolo666

{I originally posted this on a different thread, but I then realized it was way off topic from the original thread subject, so ...}


I just re-read Ecotopia (I had read it when it came out, back in the 70s). At the time of it's writing, it was considered 'way out there' science fiction, ridiculous, and a crazy hippy-leftist rant. It turns out to be (1) an amusing read in hindsight, and (2) quite the harbinger in many areas. (It chronicles daily life in the pacific coast states which had broken off from the U.S. and formed a new nation : Ecotopia.)

Some of the 'crazy' ideas mentioned in the book :
(1) Recycling by everybody
(2) Solar power being common (Photo-voltaic)
(3) Thermal energy from the hot springs in Sonoma
(4) Energy being generated from temp differences in the Ocean
(5) many aspects of the Internet (!!!)
(6) eBooks!

And many, many other things.


Anybody read this book? If so, thoughts? (If not, your library may have a copy.)

The main thing that did not occur:

From a review:

"Innovative and unsettling ideas unravel everything that Weston knows to be true about government, economics, and human nature and ultimately force him to choose between two competing views of civilization."

The Gov'ts of the 3 States are not fitting the book one little bit.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by marcopolo666

{I originally posted this on a different thread, but I then realized it was way off topic from the original thread subject, so ...}


I just re-read Ecotopia (I had read it when it came out, back in the 70s). At the time of it's writing, it was considered 'way out there' science fiction, ridiculous, and a crazy hippy-leftist rant. It turns out to be (1) an amusing read in hindsight, and (2) quite the harbinger in many areas. (It chronicles daily life in the pacific coast states which had broken off from the U.S. and formed a new nation : Ecotopia.)

Some of the 'crazy' ideas mentioned in the book :
(1) Recycling by everybody
(2) Solar power being common (Photo-voltaic)
(3) Thermal energy from the hot springs in Sonoma
(4) Energy being generated from temp differences in the Ocean
(5) many aspects of the Internet (!!!)
(6) eBooks!

And many, many other things.


Anybody read this book? If so, thoughts? (If not, your library may have a copy.)

I was a teen aged Trotskyite so I loved the book back then. When I read it now, I find the authoritarian aspects of the government offensive. Callenbach was also way too optimistic about how much vertically integrated manufacturing would exist in the Bay Area in the future time frame depicted ... of course, in fairness, could anyone foresee the massive outsourcing and offshoring that would occur?

[marcopolo666]

Originally Posted by expatCA

The main thing that did not occur:

From a review:

"Innovative and unsettling ideas unravel everything that Weston knows to be true about government, economics, and human nature and ultimately force him to choose between two competing views of civilization."

The Gov'ts of the 3 States are not fitting the book one little bit.

Well, the revolution described in the book (existing as *history* to the protagonist) didn't happen, so ... of course not! I found it very interesting that there's 'way out there' stuff in the book have actually become commonplace. (I'm not talking about the political stuff.)

Another book that was surprisingly prophetic was Heinlein's 'Friday'. (Again, not the political stuff.) Among other things, he accurately described today's internet : accessing the library of congress via the 'net, buying groceries and other items on-line, making video calls, etc.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by marcopolo666

Well, the revolution described in the book (existing as *history* to the protagonist) didn't happen, so ... of course not! I found it very interesting that there's 'way out there' stuff in the book have actually become commonplace. (I'm not talking about the political stuff.)

Another book that was surprisingly prophetic was Heinlein's 'Friday'. (Again, not the political stuff.) Among other things, he accurately described today's internet : accessing the library of congress via the 'net, buying groceries and other items on-line, making video calls, etc.

True, there are several books that gave us a gimps of the future (The now). Just a bit over optimistic in some areas, but were fun to read.

[drewjube]

We sure haven't made much progress toward the public transportation described in the book.