The Ungoverned

infobox Book |
name = The Ungoverned
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author = Vernor Vinge
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country = United States
language = English
series = Across Real Time
genre = Science fiction novella
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release_date = 1985
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media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
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preceded_by = The Peace War", (1985)"
followed_by = Marooned in Realtime", (1986) "The Ungoverned" is a 1985 science fiction novella by Vernor Vinge, set between his novels "The Peace War" and "Marooned in Realtime". It was first published in his collection "True Names and Other Dangers" and later published in the omnibus "Across Realtime".

Plot summary

The framework is the story of the Republic of New Mexico (NMR) invading the peaceful anarcho-capitalist society in Kansas. The NMR creates a military fiasco by completely failing to understand the cultural differences — including the amount of self protection a lone Kansas farmer may have.

The main protagonist is Wil W. Brierson, a detective/insurance agent, who attempts to disrupt the invasion while trying to minimize the property damage (and thus claims his company might have to pay out) and bridge the cultural gap. Brierson is also the protagonist of "Marooned in Realtime".

External links

* The [http://www.webscription.net/chapters/1416520724/1416520724___4.htm full text of "The Ungoverned"] is available online as part of the Baen Books collection [http://www.webscription.net/chapters/1416520724/1416520724.htm Freedom!] , edited by Mark Tier & Martin H. Greenberg.