- Alongside Night
Infobox Book
name = Alongside Night
title_orig =
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author =J. Neil Schulman
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language = English
series =
subject = Agorism
genre =Speculative Fiction
publisher = Crown Publishers
pub_date = October 16, 1979
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isbn = 1-58445-120-3
oclc =
preceded_by =
followed_by ="Alongside Night" (ISBN 1-58445-120-3) is a Prometheus Award winning
libertarian andanarchist dystopian novel by science fiction writerJ. Neil Schulman published in 1979. The book focuses on the character of Elliot, the son of a fictionaleconomist and Nobel Laureate, and his experiences in apolice state United States in the year 1999. The book was dedicated toSamuel Edward Konkin III and is based on his political philosophy ofAgorism .etting
The story is set in United States on the brink of economic collapse, where inflation is spiraling out of control and the government struggles to keep hold of its power.Trading in foreign currency has become illegal and many shops are subject to rationing; as a result there is a sprawling
black market for almost all conceivable goods. Other nations have not fared so grimly, and organisations such as EUCOMTO (European Common Market Treaty Organization - the novel's prophetic vision of the future EU) issue stablegold standard currencies.The setting reflects the world as Samuel Edward Konkin III conceived it would be just prior to a successful Agorist revolution.
Plot
The story begins with Eliot Vreeland, son of Nobel Laureate economist Dr Martin Vreeland (An economist of the Austrian school) hearing of his father's apparent death and being rushed home from school.He quickly discovers however that the death is fake, a plot concocted by his father (after receiving a tip-off) to escape arrest by the FBI who are rounding up "radicals" accused by the government of worsening the economic crisis.
Eliot is sent by his father to collect some gold coins that had been stored in a safe location, for use as hard currency during the families intended escape. However, upon his return Eliot finds his family to be missing.Not long after, FBI agents enter the house searching for Eliot who manages to escape.
Eliot's escape leads him into contact with the Revolutionary Agorist Cadre, an organisation plotting the downfall of the US government through the means of
counter-economics . The cadre has grown strong over the years of its existence, and has its own militia and extensive underground network.Eliot enlists the help of the Cadre, and meets Lorimer, a girl similarly on the run from the law.As the novel progresses, government stability weakens still further, and they bring in tight controls on communication, travel and trade, however they fail to avert total collapse, leading to the private sector (unions, individuals, syndicates and many others) taking control of the old infrastructure.
The Poem
The novel takes it title from a poem, found both within the story itself, and preceding the novel. Alongside Night Parallel day By fearful flight In garish gray Will dawn alight And not decay Alongside night?
ee also
Agorism Austrian School Counter-economics black market Libertarianism Anarchism Inflation External links
* [http://www.pulpless.com/1203.html "Alongside Night"] online
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