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Dani and Eytan Kollin’s political science fiction novel, The Unincorporated Man, is a bit hard for me to categorize with just one descriptor. That would be a bit too reductionist, for their book is truly an imaginative, expansive and fully realized work of fiction that provokes thought and entertains, while speeding you on it’s way through a future that you may not have imagined before.
Okay, well those of us who are closet geeks may have imagined what it will be like 300 years from now, and we know that nano-technology will change everything (thanks Ray Kurzweil). We know that medical science will have advanced to the point that life is virtually infinite. We know that there will be flying cars – imagine not having to build, maintain and constrain oneself with roads? But what I never imagined is that politics would evolve to the point where individual incorporation is the norm.
This genius idea underlies every interaction and character of the story. One’s very identity and the ways that people connect are utterly colored by one’s share value, and whether one owns a majority of oneself. The brother Kollins brilliantly dribble the various facets of this environment out as a man, having been resuscitated after 300 yrs of suspended animation, joins the 23rd century with a twentieth century mentality. While it could have come off a bit too heavy handed if the story wasn’t compelling enough, they manage to avoid overusing this device and it carries you through their compelling vision of the future quite nicely.
Ultimately, what we are treated to is a not so subtle examination of capitalism and corporatism and how it might evolve as we go forward. Clearly, the Libertarian philosophy is front and center. The whole notion of government is thoroughly beaten down, having already taken a backseat in ways that we can only fantasize about today. In fact, one could consider this ‘Libertarian Porn’ – and yes, there is a love interest but the lovin’ is purely PG.
My only criticism is the set up of of the main character – our hero. Even his tragic flaw (emotionality) is ultimately honorable, and he’s just a bit too perfect. Also, the arc he traces through this society is a bit straight – I might have preferred something other than the inevitable conflicts our hero faces, and the foes he defeats. Without spoiling, I do think that this approach would have been more intellectually interesting, but I also absolutely grant that the authors moved me through his experiences smartly and at a quick pace, making it a delight to read.
What’s the bullet? This is a fun and provocative read for anyone with Libertarianism on the brain. Whether it’s economics, politics, philosophy or love – you’ll have a few twists thrown at you that you never saw coming.
- cover of The Unincorporated Man
