Issue 2013.1

The Utopia Chronology

Issue 2013.1 - Fall 2013

A map of the world that does not include Utopia isnot worth even glancing at, for it leaves out the one

country at which Humanity is always landing. And when Humanity lands there, it looks out, and seeing a better country,

sets sail. Progress is the realisation of Utopias. -OscarWilde,“TheSoulofManUnderSocialism”(1891)

An acre in Middlesex is better than a principality in Utopia. -ThomasBabingtonMacaulay,“LordBacon”(1837)

www.theutopiachronology.org

2 The Utopia Chronology Fall 2013

WelcometoThe Utopia Chronology: A Journal of Utopianism.ThisintroductorysampleissueforFall2013isalsoaninvitation.Theinvitationisextendedtostudents,teachersandotherswhomaywishtocontributetoaconversationaboututopianissues.

Wewillconsiderresearch-basedarticlesandopinionpieces,shorternotesandreviews,poetry,graphics.jokesandcartoons.

Contributiontopicsinclude:utopia,dystopiaandanti-utopiainliterature,filmandothermedia;utopianisminpoliticalthought,designandcityplanning;intentionalcommunitiesandutopianisminpopularculture;andothertopicsyoumaypropose.

Fall 2013 The Utopia Chronology 3

Contents - Fall 2013

EditorialNote:AChronologyofUtopianDress Page4TheLibraryasaUtopianInstitution:LibrariesinBacon’sNew Atlantis,Bellamy’sLooking Backward,andthePotentialofFutureLibrariesinUtopianCommunities KathrynMcCudden Page6

CityonaHill JohnHerperger Page15

TheSilverHornofRobinHood:UtopiaasFellowship AlexMacDonaldPage16

UtopianisminthePoliticalThoughtofThomasPaine(1737-1809) LeeWard Page20

TheBaselessFabricofThisVision CollaneRamsey Page23SimCitySocieties:Destinations ColinMacDonald Page35

Contributorsto2013.1 Page36


Editorial Note: A Chronology of Utopian Dress

Ancientutopianismincludesmythsofpre-historicalparadises,suchastheGoldenAgeinHesiod’sWorks and DaysandtheGardenofEdenintheBookofGenesis(c.700-900BCE).Theseoriginalpeoplewereinnocentandtheclimatewasperfect,sothatclothingwasoptional.(ModernNaturismseekstorecreatethatprimalstateoflivingcomfortablyinnaturewithnopantson.)Inthespacebelowyoumayimagineacoupleofinhabitantsofthegoldenageorparadise.Usethesestylizedfig-leavesifyouaremorecomfortablelookingatnakedpeoplewhohaveclotheson:

AfterthedeclinefromtheAgeofGoldortheexpulsionfromEden,humanbeingswereforcedtoearntheircarbsbythesweatoftheirbrows.Thiscouldbefatteningaswellasdifficult.Themedieval“LandofCockagne”(c.1400)isnotoriousforitsriversofbeerandhousesmadeofcakes.

ThomasMore’sUtopiaof1516includessomesnarkycommentsbyUtopianchildrenabouttheambassadorsfromAnemolia.Theambassadorsappearingoldenfinerytoimpressthenativesbuttheyarelaughedatinstead.


InGulliver’s Travels(1726),JonathanSwiftsatirizeswhathecallsutopian“projectors.”HealsosatirizeshumannaturewhenhedescribeshowthebeastlyYahoosdefecateonGulliver’shead.

Modernutopiandressincludesdystopianuniformswhichreflectuniformityofthought,asinBrave New World(1932)orThe Handmaid’s Tale(1985).

Onthepositiveside,modernutopiandressalsoincludesclothingwhichcoversthebodyandprovideswarmthorcooling,butmayalsoextendhumanabilitiesinvariousways--forexample,beingabletowritenotesorplayvideogamesonone’sshirt.

Editorial Note: A Chronology of Utopian Dress


The Library as a Utopian Institution: Libraries in Bacon’s New Atlantis, Bellamy’s Looking Backward, and the Potential of Future Libraries in Utopian Communities

Kathryn McCudden

Utopiasareakindofdream,avisionofabetterworld.Theycanbebothpersonalandglobalvisions,individualdreamsandcommunalgoals,andcanbeexploredthroughliterature,art,orthedesignofbuildings,clothing,communities,newtechnologies,orevensocialandpoliticalorganizations.Aslongassomethingisdesignedorcreatedwiththeintentiontoimproveuponthepresent,toprogress,wecantraceitsrelationshiptoutopianideas.Thus,alibraryshouldbeconsideredasaconcreteexpressionofutopianthought.Librariescanbedefinedinmanyways,especiallysincetherearemanydifferenttypesoflibraries.Howeverifwedefinealibraryingeneralasacollectionofrecordsorrecordedknowledgeforindividual,institutional,orpublicuseandbenefit,withemphasisonbenefit,thenlibrariesareutopianinstitutions,helpingtoimproveboththeindividualsandcommunitiestheybelongto.Inacknowledgementofthis,librarieshaveoftenbeenwrittenofinutopianliterature,notablyinFrancisBacon’sNew AtlantisandEdwardBellamy’sLooking Backward,wherethelibrariesservethecommunityindifferentbutusefulways.ByexaminingBacon’sandBellamy’splacementoflibrariesintheirutopias,andbyimaginingwhatautopianlibraryintoday’sworldmightlooklike,wecanexplorehowalibrarycontributestothebettermentofsocietyandactsasabridgebetweenthecommunityandtheindividual,andindoingsoexaminetheutopianidealsthatareaninherentpartoflibraries.

AlibraryisthecentralinstitutioninFrancisBacon’sutopia,depictedinhisshortnovel,New Atlantis.Writtenintheseventeenthcentury,New Atlantisisthestoryofautopiansocietywithahouseofknowledge

andscienceatitsheartandhelmwhosehighestgoalandpurposeis“theenlargingoftheboundsofthehumanempire”(Bacon288).Whiletheword“empire”isoftenassociatedwithmilitarymightoreconomicpower,Bacon’sutopiansareinterestedinneither;thesecludedislandcountrynamedBensalemaimsnottoexpanditsownempire,buttheempireofallpeople,theempireofhumanknowledge.Withinthecountry,theorderofSalomon’sHouseexiststocollectandfurtherhumanknowledgemuchasourownlibrariesandcentresofeducationfunctiontoday,andthestructure,purpose,andvalueofSalomon’sHousetothecommunitycanbecomparedtothatofalibrary.

AlthoughBensalemisisolatedfromtherestoftheworld,andunknownoutsideitsownborders,itmaintainstiestoitsforeignneighbours.Incollectingtheknowledgeoftheworld,Salomon’sHousesendsitsscholarssecretlyintotheworldtocollectnewideas,designs,inventions,anddiscoveries,andbringthembacktoBensalem.Asoneoftheutopiansexplainstothenarrator,atravellerwhohaslandedbychanceontheisland,“thusyouseewemaintainatrade,notforgold,silver,orjewels,notforsilks,norforspices,noranyothercommodityofmatter;butonlyforGod’sfirstcreature,whichwaslight:tohavelight...ofthegrowthofallpartsoftheworld”(Bacon272–273).

Inexpandingtheircollectionofknowledgetheutopiansdonotonlycollectinformationfromothercountries,theyconstantlyperformtheirownexperimentsanddevisetheirowninventions:Salomon’sHouseisalibrary,butitisalsoalaboratory,onewhichstudieseveryartandscienceBaconcouldthinkofandlist(Bacon288–300).Fromastronomy,chemistry,physics,mathematics,theartsofbakingandbrewing,meteorology,botany,andzoology,toevenalchemy,thelistthatBaconpresentsisfantastic,andisascompleteassomeonewritingintheseventeenthcenturycouldmakeit(Bacon288–299).Withitscollectionofknowledge,Salomon’s


HouseadvisesthecitizensandGovernmentofBensalem,andinreturnthescholarsaretreatedwiththegreatestrespectbyBensalem’scitizens(Bacon301–302).Theplacementofsomuchvalueandprestigeuponasocietyofscholarsindicatesasocietythathasbenefittedfromthefruitsofthisscholarship,andindeed,thecharactersinNew AtlantisoftentalkofhowlifeisbetterinBensalemthenitiselsewhere,howitiskinder,cleaner,healthier,andhappier(Bacon274).

Bacon’sutopianshaveimprovedtheirsocietybyusingtheknowledgecollectedbySalomon’sHouse.However,therearethingsaboutSalomon’sHousewhichbytoday’sstandardsmightnotseemveryutopian.Forexample,Salomon’sHouseisaninsularandexclusivesocietyofscholars,andwhileitsworkmightbenefitthecommunity,itisasecretivesociety,andnotallmembersofBensalemhaveaccesstoit.TheresultisthatahighprestigeisattachedtobeingamemberofSalomon’sHouse,whichsomewhatseparatesitsmembersfromtherestofsociety.Thisresultsinakindofclasssystem,albeitonebasedonscholarlymerit,notonbirthorwealth.NotallmembersofBensalemhaveaccesstothesocietyofSalomon’sHouse;nordotheyhaveaccesstoitscollectionofknowledge,sincethemembersofSalomon’sHousedonotpublishalltheirfindings.Eachmembermust“takeallanoathofsecrecyfortheconcealingofthose[inventionsandfindings]which[themembers]thinkfittokeepsecret”(Bacon300).Thereisnopublicaccesstothislibrary;itisonlyopentoparticularmembersofthecommunity.Bycontrast,moderndaypubliclibrariesseemtobeanimprovement,sincebybeingmoreegalitariantheycanbeconsideredclosertobeingutopian.

Fromatwenty-firstcenturyperspective,theexclusivenatureofSalomon’sHousedoesnotseemveryutopian,butitcanbeaccountedforbylookingathowlibrariesexistedinBacon’stime.Intheseventeenthcentury,Britishlibrarieswerelargelyeitherprivately

ownedorownedbyinstitutionssuchaschurches,schools,orcolleges.Whilesomelibrarieswereopentothepublic,themajoritywereonlyopentomembersofthoseinstitutions,ortoscholarswhosoughttheprivilegeout,andveryoccasionallytoawiderreadership(Johnson,222–223).Baconwroteofalibrarythatisonlyopentoacertaingroupofpeoplelikelybecausetheseweretheonlytypesoflibrarieshewasfamiliarwith.Thepubliclibraryasweknowittodaydidnotbegintodevelopuntilthenineteenthcentury,andthenonlygradually.Althoughlibrariesbeforethistimeweresometimespubliclyowned,theywerenotusedbythepublicormadewidelyavailableinthewaypubliclibrariesaretoday(Johnson218).Theprogresstothemodernpubliclibrarywasgradual,andinvolvedmanyintermediatestepsalongtheway.ElmerD.Johnson,inhisHistory of Libraries in the Western World,writesthat“whatwemeantodaybythepubliclibraryisthegenerallibrarythatisnotonlypubliclyownedbutwhichisalsoingeneralusebyanycitizenwhodesirestouseit.Moreparticularly,wemeanbythepubliclibrarythemunicipalorregionalcirculatinglibrary”(218).Itisimportanttonoteinhisdefinitionthatthepubliclibrarywetypicallythinkofisonethatservicesacommunity;whilenationallibrariesplayimportantroles,whenwespeakofpubliclibrariesweusuallyrefertolibrariesservicingrelativelysmallercommunitiesofpeople.Additionally,theemphasisoncirculationisimportant.Thefactthatanymemberofthecommunitycanenterthelibraryandhaveaccesstotheshelvesisanimportantdevelopment,butjustasimportantistheabilitytotakeabookfromthepublicspaceandtransferittoaprivatespace,atleasttemporarily.Thuslibrariesservetoformabridgebetweenthepublicandprivatespheres:thisisanimportantroleinanycommunity,andonewewillexaminelater.

The Library as a Utopian Institution... Kathryn McCudden


ThatmostpeoplewouldnolongerthinkoftheexclusivityofSalomon’sHouseasutopianlikelyindicatesachangeinoursocietalvalues:todaywevalueequalitymorehighlythantheydidinBacon’stime.ThatBacondoesnotthinktwiceaboutincludinganexclusiveandprivilegedgroupwithinhisutopia,andthattodaywewouldrejectthisaspartofautopia,showsjusthowmuchsocialvaluesinfluenceourideasofutopia.Utopiasareversionsofourworld,onlybetter.Baconwritesofautopianversionoftheworldheknew,andhisutopiareflectsthevaluesoftheworldhelivedin.Salomon’sHouseisthusautopianversionofthelibrariesandsocialstructurehewasfamiliarwith.EdwardBellamy,writingattheendofthenineteenthcentury,doesthesamething.Theworldevolvedduringthetimebetweenthetwowriters,andlibrariesevolvedwithit.BellamywasfamiliarwithadifferentkindoflibrarythanBacon,onesignificantlyclosertothemodernpubliclibrarieswearefamiliarwithtoday.Healsobelongedtoadifferentsociety,withdifferentculturalvalues.Asignificantshiftinthesevalues,aswellasinhowlibrariesfunction,whotheyserve,andhowtheyarearranged,isreflectedinhisversionoftheutopianlibrary,presentedinhisnovel,Looking Backward: 2000 – 1887.

WhileBacon’snarratorreacheshisutopiabyship,Bellamy’snarratorreachesitthroughacenturyofsleep.Goingtobedonenightinthenineteenthcentury,hewakestofindhimselfintheyeartwothousand,havingsleptinatranceforonehundredandthirteenyears.AlthoughheisstillphysicallyinBoston,itisnolongertheBostonheknows;ithasbeentransformedintoautopia.Bellamy’sutopiaisdifferentfromBacon’sinmanyways,butforustherelevantfactisthatwhilethepubliclibraryisanimportantpartofBellamy’sutopia,itisnotsuchacentralinstitutionasitisinBacon’sstory.ThelibraryinthenewBostonispartofapublicbuildingcalledthe“Elephant”,abuildingcentraltothelivesoftheutopia’scitizens,andpresentineachneighbourhoodofBoston.Afterdiningtherewithhishosts,thenarrator,JulianWest,exclaimsthat“itseemeditwas

notmerelyadining-hall,butlikewiseagreatpleasure-houseandsocialrendezvousofthequarter,andnoapplianceofentertainmentorrecreationseemedlacking”(Bellamy137).

West’sfirsttouroftheElephantendsinthelibrary.Thereheandhisguidesfind“luxuriousleatherchairs...inoneofthebooklinedalcoves”andthesmallgroupsettlesdowntohaveaquietdiscussioninthisintimateandprivatespaceexistingwithinapubliclibrary,itselfexistinginthemostpublicofbuildings(Bellamy138).Inwritingaboutlibrariesinvariousliteraryutopias,KevinJ.Hayesmakesmuchofthedistinctionandrelationshipbetweentheprivateandpublicspheres.Itisathemethathasoftenbeenwrittenofinrelationtoutopianlibraries,andutopiasingeneral.Whenitis,thefocusistypicallyonanattempttoimprovetherelationshipbetweentheprivateandpubliclivesofcitizensofutopia,andisoftenaresponsetohowlibrariesexistedatthetimeofwriting.Hayeswritesthat“thoughthetypicalreadingroom[ofthenineteenthcentury]wasapublicspace,itsobligatorysilenceprecludeditfrombeingaplacewherepeoplecouldinteractandexchangeideas.Inpracticalterms,itwasamatrixofsmallprivatespacesequaltothenumberofchairsitcontained”(337).Thus,Bellamy’sideaofsmallalcovesappropriateforquietdiscussionwithinthelibrary,toallowprivacytosmallgroupsorindividualswhilestillkeepingtheminapublicspace,canbeseenasanattempttobridgethegapbetweenprivateandpublic.

WhiletheElephant’slibrarybridgesprivateandpublic,theElephantitselfisalsoaninstitutionwhichbringsthecommunitytogether,whichlinksthepublicandprivatespheres,andtheindividualwiththecommunity.WhenWesteatstherewithhishosts,hecommentsonhowintimatethediningroomtheyuseis,andisanswered:“Thisis,infact,apartofourhouse,slightlydetachedfromtherest...Everyfamilyinthewardhasaroomsetapartinthisgreatbuildingforitspermanentandexclusiveuseforasmallrental[fee]”(Bellamy134).TheElephantfunctionsasa



publicspacethatallowspeopletosocializeandbondasacommunity,whilealsoprovidingprivateorsemi-privatespacesforcomfortandrest.Thediningrooms,likethelibraryalcoves,arespacesthatexistbetweenthepublicandprivaterealms,participatinginbothandallowingtheiroccupantstoparticipateinboth.Modernpubliclibrariesalsohavespaceslikethisinthetablesandreadingareasthatcangenerallybefoundinmostlibraries.Librariesalsohelptheiruserstoparticipateinboththeprivateandpublicrealmsbyenteringthepublicspace,takingapubliclyownedbutprivatelyusedmaterialfromittotheirownprivatehomes,andthenreturningthebookandthemselvestothepublicspacewhenthebookisdue,thuscompletingtheinteractionbetweenprivateandpublic.AlthoughonlyapartoftheElephantisreservedasanactuallibraryspace,theentirebuildingfunctionsasaplacewheremembersofthecommunitycanmeetandparticipateinsociallife:afunctionofmoderndaypubliclibrariesandanimportantaspectofwhatamoderndayutopianlibraryshouldbelike.

Bellamywasclearlyconcernedwithbuildingcommunitytiesinasociety,andinbringingtheprivateandpublicrealmsclosertogether.Atonepoint,Dr.Leete,oneoftheutopians,makesaspeechconcerningtheimportanceofsocialcommunion:

Whoiscapableofself-support?...Thereisnosuchthinginacivilizedsocietyasselfsupport...fromthemomentthatmenbegintolivetogether,andconstituteeventherudestsortofsociety,self-supportbecomesimpossible.Asmengrowmorecivilized...acomplexmutualdependencebecomestheuniversalrule.Everyman,howeversolitarymayseemhisoccupation,isamemberofavastindustrialpartnership,aslargeasthenation,aslargeashumanity.(Bellamy121)

Bellamy’sconcernwithbringingthepublicandprivatespheresclosertogetherwaslikelymotivatedbyhisviewthatsuchaconnectionwasnecessarytohumankind’sfurtherdevelopmentandprogress.If

progressrequiresclosertiesbetweenpeople,closerpartnershipsmadebylargergroupsofpeople,thanperhapsencouragingsuchpartnershipsandsenseofcommunitywillproduceprogress.

Inspiteoftheirdifferences,Bacon’sandBellamy’sutopianlibrariesshareacommonelementinthateachfunctionsforthebenefitofsociety.ThelivesofBellamy’sutopiansareclearlyenrichedbysuchinstitutionsastheElephantanditslibrary,andalthoughSalomon’sHouseengagesinakindofcensorship,andelitism,itsscholarsalwaysworktowardsthebettermentoftheirsocietyasawhole,anditscitizensarehappierforit.Thisisultimatelythegoalofanyutopianinstitution.

LymanTowerSargentwritesthat“allutopiasaskquestions.Theyaskwhetherornotthewaywelivecouldbeimprovedandanswerthatitcould”(5).New Atlantisisaseventeenthcenturyutopia,andthusacommentonhowtoimproveseventeenthcenturysociety.Similarly,Looking Backwardisanineteenthcenturyutopia,andacommentonhowtoimprovenineteenthcenturysociety.Althoughaspectsofthesecommentariesarestillapplicabletothetwenty-firstcentury,someonewritingaboutautopiancommunitytodaywillhavedifferentvalues,andfocusondifferentthings.Inthetraditionoffictionalutopias,letusimagineamodernversionoftheutopianlibrary,whichwouldfunctionasasinglepartofeitheralargerutopiancommunity,orasautopianinstitutioninanycommunity,designedtoimprovecommunityspiritandtheconnectionbetweentheindividualandsociety,andbetweentheprivateandpublicspheres.Withthisinmind,letusexaminehowamodernutopianlibrarymightlookandfunction.

Inimaginingadesignforautopianlibrary,wemustthinkabouthowpeoplelearn,andaboutmakingaplacewherepeoplearecomfortabletopursuetheirowninterestsattheirownpace,whilehavingenoughsupportandguidancetodosoeffectively.Autopianlibraryshouldfindabalancebetweentoo



muchstructureandnotenough,abalancewheretheeducationalinstitutionispresentbutnotdominantoverthecurriculum.Iflearningisgoingtobeutopian,ithastobelargelyself-directed,andmotivatedbythejoyoflearningsomethingyoureallywanttolearn,notsomethingforceduponyoubyarequiredcurriculum.However,institutionsandthestructuredlearningtheyofferarestillhelpful,sincetheycanserveasaguidetopeoplewhoareunsurewhattostudyorwheretofindtherightmaterialforwhattheyareinterestedin.Whenyouimaginethethousandsofbookswrittenonanygivensubjectitcanbeextremelyintimidatingforindividualstostartforfearofbeinglost.Insuchcases,institutions,theircurriculumsandstaff,canhelpintroducevarioussubjectsandsources,untilindividualsfeelcapableofself-directedstudy.

Thestructureoftheutopianlibraryisprovidedbythelibrarians:theshelvingsystem,andcommunityclassesorganizedthroughthelibrary.Art,music,oracademicclassescouldbeoffered,andwouldbetaughtbyvolunteersinthecommunity.Thiswouldinvolvea

verygrassrootsorganization:abulletinboardneartheentranceofthelibrarywouldhavesign-upsheets,kindofa“wanted/selling”classifieds,butbasedonafreetradeofknowledgeratherthananexchangeofmoney.Peoplelookingtolearnsomethingwouldwritewhattheyareinterestedinlearningononesheet,andifanothermemberofthecommunityfeelscapableofteachingthatsubject,heorshecanvolunteerandanewsheetwillbehungforpeopletosignupfortheclass.1Ifnoteachersliveinthecommunity,thelibrarystaffmightneedtorecruitateacherfromoutsidethecommunity.

UnlikeBacon’slibrary,thisutopianlibrarywouldbeopentothepublicandfree.Thoughitwouldkeeplate-chargesinplacetoensurethetimelyreturnofbooks,itsfinancialsupportwouldlargelycomefromgovernmentfunding.Asmallfeemayalsobechargedforattendingtheclassesofferedbythelibrary.Thefundingwouldgotosupportupkeep,acquisitions,andstaff.LibrariansareessentialtotheutopianlibraryasIhaveimaginedit,andwouldprovidestructuretotheenvironmentbyenforcingtherulesofborrowingandreturningbooks,aswellasbyhelpinganyonewhoneedsadviceorguidance.Thestaffwouldalsobooktheroomsforthecommunityclassesandhelptoorganizethem,andwouldprovidethesameservicesthatlibrariansdoinmodernlibraries.Beyondthisthelibrarianswouldbeinstrumentalinencouragingandenablingthegrowthofthecommunityspiritthatisthekeytotheutopianlibrary.Theyprovidethehumanelementthatmakesthelibrarywork.That


1Inthe2006movieAccepted,thenew“university”usesasimilarsystemforsigningupforclasses.


biography,andtravel;thesecond,science,philosophy,andreligion;andthethird,poetry,drama,fiction,andart”(Johnson352).Thebookswouldstillbecataloguedandyoucouldfindanyonebookeasilyinanonlinedirectory,butaneworganizationsystemwouldhopefullymakeiteasiertobrowsetheshelves.Searchingasubjectintheonlinecataloguewouldbringupcrossreferencesfromallareasofthelibrary.ItisimportanttonotethatthissystemisnotdesignedasareplacementfortheDeweyDecimalSystemortobeusedinformalacademiclibraries,butratherasasupplementtoexistalongsidethem.

Inadditiontothestructureofthecataloguingsystem,thestructureofthebuildingisimportant.Architecturecanaffectnotonlyhowthebuildingfunctionsbutalsohowpeoplefeelwhentheyenterit.Thisutopianlibraryisdesignedtofeelveryopenwhenyouwalkintoit;itincorporatesthestructureofaglobebecauseIwantedtheretobethesenseoftheworldcontainedwithinthisbuilding,toindicatethatitisacollectionoftheknowledgeandartoftheworld.Also,Ifeelthatdomescanbesimultaneouslyintimateandawe-inspiring,andwhileanimportantthemetothislibrarymustbeaccessibility,itshould

makesitaplacethatisinvitingandinteractive,andaboutcommunityandasharedjoyinlearning.Theyaretheoneswhocanlistentowhateachcommunitywantsoutofthelibraryandmaketheappropriateadjustmentswithinthelibrary,toadaptittoitssurroundings,andallowittogrowwiththecityorcommunity.

Thelibrariansandtheclasseswouldprovidesomeofthestructureofthelibrary,butfurtherstructurewouldalsobeprovidedbythephysicalorganizationofthebooksandshelves.Thelibrarycontainsadifferentfilingsystemforbooksthanwhatiscurrentlyconventional.InthislibraryIwanttogetawayfromtheDeweyDecimalSystemtomakethespacefeelalittlelessformallyscholastic.Althoughitisanefficientsystem,Ithinkitcanbeintimidatingtopeoplewhoareusingitforthefirsttime.Additionally,theintroductionofanewcataloguingsystemwouldlendafreshnessanduniquenesstothelibrary.WhiletheDeweyDecimalSystemisthecataloguingsystemofchoiceinlibrariesaroundtheworld,anycataloguingsystemisarbitrary,andcanbechangedatanytimetosuitthepurposeofthelibrary(Manguel197–198).Thebenefitofthisisthatthecommunityitselfcoulddecidehowtoorganizethebooks,thusmakingthelibrarymorepersonalizedtoitscitizens.Howeverasageneralguide,thecommunitycouldorganizeitbysubject,oralphabeticallybyauthorortitle,oranynumberofways.Oneinterestingway,fallenoutofgeneraluse,wasinventedandrecommendedbynineteenthcenturyAmericanlibrarian,ThaddeusMasonHaris,who“dividedallbooksintothreeclasses;memory,reasonandimagination.Thefirstclassincludedallphasesofhistory,



alsogivepeopleenteringitforthefirsttimeafeelingofpossibilityandexcitement.Itshouldinstilakindofrespectforthisworldofliteratureandknowledge,whilenotintimidatingsomeonewhoisenteringitforthefirsttime.Whenyouwalkinyouenterontoaraisedplatform,belowwhichisapublicreadingarea.Radiatingfromthiscircularreadingareaarethebookshelves,sothatfromtheentranceyoucanseefarintothecornersofthelibrary,makingtheshelvesfeelaccessibleanduser-friendly.Thesecondandthirdfloorswouldbedesignedtohavebalconies,sothattheycouldalsobeseenfromtheentrance,toleavenohiddenofficesandhierarchieswithinthelibrary:everythingisimmediatelyoutintheopen.

Thethirdfloorofthelibraryiscomposedofseparatesoundproofroomstobesignedoutforpersonalstudying,orcommunityorganizedclasses.Additionally,anindoor/outdoorroofgardenwouldprovidegreenspaceallyearround.Thisgardenwouldaddextrareadingspace,aswellasaquietplacetoenjoynatureandtheviewsoftheneighbourhoodsurroundingthelibrary.Extracommunityclassescouldalsobeofferedongardeningorbotanybyusingtheseroofgardens.

Readerswouldbewelcometositinthemainareaneartheentranceofthelibrary,oratthetableslookingdownonthis

areafromthesecondfloor.Theycouldalsobookapersonalstudyroom,solongasitisnotinuseforacommunityclass.Additionalseatingcouldbefoundinlittlecornershereandtherewithtablesandcouchessothatreaderswhowishedformoreprivacywhilestudying,butnottheseclusionofaprivateroom,wouldhavetheirownhappymedium.ThesecornersorroomswouldfunctioninthesamewayasBellamy’slibraryalcoves,providingasemi-privatespacewithinthelargerpublicspace,andallowingforafreedomofmovementbetweenthetwospheres.



Bybenefittingtheindividual,librariesindirectlybenefitthecommunity,buttheyalsobenefitthecommunityinamoredirectwaybyactingasagatheringplaceforpeopletomeetandsocialize,orasamediumthroughwhichcommunityeventscanbeorganizedandneighbourhoodissuesaddressed.Thecommunityclassesthatcouldbeorganizedthroughitwouldhelpneighboursgettoknoweachother,andallowpeopletolearnfromeachother.Thiswouldbuildrelationshipsinthecommunity,butwouldalsobeagreatthingforthoseindividualswholearnsomethingneworgaintheexperienceofteachingsomethingtheylove.Itwouldbeself-motivatedsinceyouwouldsignyourselfupforclasses.Ithinkthatself-motivationiskeytothekindoflearningenvironmenttheutopianlibraryshouldoffer.Toencouragethis,therewouldbenodegreesordiplomasattachedtothecommunityclasses,andnoprestigeintakingthem;takingaclassmustbepurelyforenjoymentandself-improvementifitisgoingtosatisfyautopianidealofeducation.Intheseways,theutopianlibraryconnectstheindividualandthecommunity.


Inaworldwherewehavethemodernconveniencesoftheinternet,andanincredibleamountofinformationatourfingertips,theutopianlibraryshouldbeaninstitutiontoreturnindividualstothecommunity:toformthemintoacommunityinsteadofjustagroupofpeoplelivinginproximitytoeachother.BaconandBellamywroteoftheirideallibrariesasfulfillingsomethingtheysawlackingintheirsocieties.Theinternetisfullofcommunities,ofdiscussionsandsocialmediaandwaysofparticipatinginwhicheversocialgroupyouchoosetobeapartof,andforthisandmanyotherreasonsitisanincredibleadvancethatwilltakeusfarintothefutureandotherfutureutopias.Butwecannotignoreourphysicalcommunitiesjustbecausewehavetheopportunitytoestablishvirtualones.Witheveryyearmorebooksareavailableonline,andoftenforfree,onsitessuchasProjectGutenberg(itselfautopianenterprise,designedtoprovidefreereadingmaterialfromthepublicdomaintoasmanyreadersaspossible,fortheirenjoyment,benefit,andknowledge).Withsuchadvances,itispossiblethatfewerpeoplewillneedtovisitlibrariestoobtainhardcopiesofbooks.Howeverthisdoesn’tmeanthattheroleofthelibraryisinanywaydiminished,especiallysincethelibraryanditsstaffcouldhelppeopleaccessandsiftthroughtheinformationavailableonlineinawaythataninternetsearchenginemightnotbeableto.


Thiswilllikelybecomeanimportantrolethatlibrariesplay,buttheutopianlibrarywouldbemostefficientandeffectivebyexpandingitsalreadyexistingroleasabridgebetweenanindividualandhisorhersociety,andbybecomingatoolofsocialcommunion.

Thisparticulardesignforapubliclibraryismeanttobalancethestructureofaneducationalinstitutionwiththefreedomofself-directedstudy.Anystructurethelibrarywouldhavewouldmainlybecreatedbythecommunityitself,notimposedonitbytheinstitutionofthelibrary.Thislibrarywouldserveasacommunitycentre,anintegralpartofthecityortowntowhichitbelongs,andameetingplace,whileinspiringpeopleandexposingthemtonewandinterestingthings.Citizeninvolvementiskeytoitssuccess;peoplearetheonetrulyimportantpartofanysocialsystem,andthelibrary’saccessibilityandwelcomingatmosphere,aswellasthecommunityclassesavailabletoallpeopleasbothstudentsandteachers,shouldencouragethenecessaryinvolvement.OnethingprominentinbothBacon’sNew AtlantisandBellamy’sLooking Backward,andcommontomanyotherliteraryutopias,isthatthecitizensarepassionateabouttheirsociety;theyareinvolved,proud,andexcited.Inspiringthosekindsofsentimentsisexactlywhatthisdesignforautopianlibraryisintendedtodo,whatanyutopiandesignultimatelyintendstodo.Alllibrarieshaveelementsofutopianthoughtattheircore;whetherbycollectingandexpandinguponhumankind’sknowledge,orbyimprovingoneindividual’smind,orbyimprovinghowacommunityinteractswithitscitizens,librariesareautopianexperimentgoingonarounduseveryday,andbyrecognizingtheirimportancetoacommunitywealsorecognizetheirpowertoeffectchange.


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Hart,Michael.“ProjectGutenbergMissionStatement.”ProjectGutenberg.From

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Gutenberg:Project_Gutenberg_Mission_Statement_by_Michael_Hart,accessedonDecember22,2011.

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Johnson,ElmerD.History of Libraries in the Western World.Metuchen,NewJersey:TheScarecrowPress,1970.

Manguel,Alberto.A History of Reading.NewYork:PenguinBooks,1996.

Sargent,LymanTower.Utopianism: A Very Short Introduction.NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,2010.

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City on a Hill

John Herperger

AsIwaswalkinghomeonedayMyfriendranuptome,“I’vefoundthemostamazingplace,Youhavetocome,”saidhe.

Intrigued,IwentaftermyfriendToseewhatcausedhisjoy,HeledmetoadarkenedcaveSkippinglikeasmallboy.

AswewalkedwepassedasignIstruckamatchtosee--“WelcometoUtopiaComein,havefun,befree.”

Mycuriositywaspiqued“Utopia?”thoughtI,“CouldthisbewhereIspendmydaysHappyuntilIdie?”

AndthenwestrodeoutofthecaveAgainintothelight,IstoppedandgaspedasmywideeyesBeheldawondroussight.

AcityshoneuponahillAndeverywhereIgazed,AllthepeoplesmiledasifTheydiditeveryday.

YetthenmyeyecaughtonasignJustbesidethecave,“Thesearetherulesforlivinghere”Therockhadbeenengraved.

“TakewhatyoulikefromanystoreItallcomesfreeofcharge,EatyourfillatrestaurantsPortionssmallorlarge.”

“DoasyoulikeforeverydayYouspendwithinourwalls,RelaxalldayorplaysomegamesItreallyisyourcall.”

“ForallthesegoodsandservicesWeonlyaskonething,Pledgetousallthatyouare,Yoursoul,untoourKing.”

“Myfriend,”Isaid,“IwillnotstayThoughitlooksratherwell,WorsewouldbebutonedayhereThanalloftimeinHell.”

Photos: (top) San Francisco from Marin Headlands; (below) San Francisco Fire, 1906 Source: Wikipedia


The Silver Horn of Robin Hood: Utopia as Fellowship

Alex MacDonald

The Silver Horn of Robin Hoodisachildren’sversionofthestorybyDonaldE.Cooke.ItbeginswhenRobingoestotheNottinghamFairandwinsagoldenarrowwithhissuperbarchery.TheSheriffarrangestotrickRobinintokillingoneoftheKing’sdeer,forcinghimtobecomeanoutlawinSherwoodForest.Oneadventure

followsanotherinrapidsuccession.Robinbecomesleaderoftheoutlawbandbyprovinghisskill.HerecruitsLittleJohnandFriarTuck.TherearemanyskirmisheswiththeSheriffandhaughtychurchmen,anddangerousforaysintoNottingham.EventuallytheSheriffandPrinceJohnaredefeated,KingRichardreturnsfromthecrusadesandmakesRobinEarlofHuntingdon,RobinandMarionaremarriedandforawhilealllivehappily.ButyearslaterRicharddies,RobinmustfleeagaintotheforestandintheendhediesbytreacheryatthehandoftheSheriff’sdaughter.Suchisthestory,andafamiliaroneitis,butwhyshoulditbetalkedaboutinrelationtoutopias?Twoexamplescanhelpwiththisgenericquestion.

ThefirstexampleisalmostaswellknownasRobinHood—itisSirThomasMore’sUtopia.More’sUtopiapresentsuswithanimaginarysocietywhichwearetoregardasbetterthantheexistingsocietyof16thcenturyEurope,andthebooknamesthetraditionofwritingaboutbettersocietieswhichgoesbacktobeforePlato.Theothersideofthetraditionisthedystopia,animaginarysocietywhichweare

toregardasworsethantherealworld.Thecriticalelementisthenotionofanimaginarysociety,andbythisdefinitionRobinHoodseemstofailasautopiabecausealthoughfictionalweareclearlytotakethisasarepresentationofmedievallifeasitreallycouldhavebeen.However,anotherexamplewillbeuseful.AliceMunro’swonderfulshortstorycalled“BoysandGirls”issetinruralOntariointhemid-twentiethcentury.Thecentralcharacterisagirlwhoseesherfather’swork—heisafoxfarmer—asexciting,andresistsbeingrelegatedtothekitchentoworkwithhermother.Theclimaxofthestorycomeswhenthegirlistoldbyherfathertoclosethegateinordertotrapthemarewhoisgoingtobeshotforfoxfood.Insteadofobeying,thegirlflingsthegatewideandletsthemareescape.Butdespitethissymbolicgestureofliberationofthefemalethestoryendswithagratingpatronization—herfatherexcusesherforwhatshedidbyallowingthatsheis“onlyagirl.”Thisstoryportraysitsworldinarealisticwayandisclearlynotautopianstory.However,itoffersastrongcriticismofsocietyandinanothersensecouldbesaidtoinvolveanimpliedutopia,aworldinwhichgirlsaretreatedequitablywithboys.Thispointisobviousenough,perhaps,butitillustratesthatalthoughtheutopianandnon-utopianaredistinguishedbywhetherwearetoseethesocietyasanalternativeworldorarealisticportraitoftheexistingworld,thetwonotionsareactuallycloselyrelated,likeimagesinmirrors.More’sUtopiadoesboth,foritinvolvesaportraitofEnglandasitactuallyisandaportraitoftheutopiaasasocietywhichcouldbe.

AlthoughThe Silver Horn of Robin Hooddoesnotinvolveafullydevelopedalternativesocietyitgoesbeyondthe“impliedutopia”ofsocialcriticismwefindin“BoysandGirls”andmanyotherrealisticworks.Andthisisbecauseitactuallyshowsusanalternativetothesocietyoftheday.ThroughoutthestorytheportionofthedeepgreenwoodaroundtheTrystingOakfunctionsasautopianspaceinrelationtothe“real”worldofNottingham,somethinglikeBookIIofUtopiafunctionswithrespecttoBookI.


ItisnotonlythatthisplaceisassociatedwithfeastingandabundanceandisautopiaintheGoldenAgeorCockagnesense.Buttheoutlawbandissomethingofanintentionaloralternativecommunityinrelationtothesurroundingsociety.InthecaseofRobinHoodthecentralethicofthegreenwoodisfellowship,whilethatofNottinghamismastery,andthisisreflectedinvariousways.

Thegreenwoodstandsfortheideaofequalityofpersons,asopposedtothenotionofprecedencewhichispartoftheSheriff’sworld.Robin’spreferenceforthismodeisindicatedearlyinthestorywhenhegivesthegoldenarrownottotheSheriff’sdaughter,becauseofherposition,buttoMaidMarion,becauseofherflashingeyes.Inadifferentway,JohnLittle,whoisahugemanbyaccidentofbirth,isrechristenedbytheoutlawsasLittleJohn,playingonthenotionofadvantageandimplyingthepowerofthecommunitytodeterminerelativestatus.TherejectionofprecedencebymerepositionisnowheremoreclearlyindicatedthaninthemomentwhenSirRichardoftheLeareturnstopayhisdebt:

…SirRichardtriedtopersuadeRobintotakehishorsebutRobinwouldhavenoneofit.Sotherewasnothingforthegoodknighttodobutdismountandwalkbesidetheoutlaw,leadinghispalfreybythebridle.Deeplytouchedbythisshowofrespectfromagreatknight,Robinknewnotwhatheshouldsay.Butthetwomenwerefastfriendsinthatinstant,andtheystrolledalongthewoodedlanewithawarmbondofmutualrespectbetweenthemthatwasmoreeloquentthanwords.(215)

Oneoftheinterestingthingsaboutthestoryishow,althoughRobinisrespectfultolegitimateauthority,forexamplefiercelyloyaltoKingRichard,theeffectofsuchpassagesasthisoneistodeconstructthenotionofhereditaryorarbitraryrankandputinits

placeademocraticequalityofpersonswhosepersonalcharacteristicsdeterminetherespectwithwhichtheyshallbetreated.IwouldsaythisdoesnotresultfromthefactthatthisisanAmericanversionofthestory,butthatthedemocraticimpulseisanessentialfeatureofthelegendofRobinHoodfromitsbeginnings.

Closelyrelatedtothenotionofequalityisthenatureofauthorityanditssource.Withinthestorythereisadialecticofpowerbetween,ontheoneside,KingRichardandRobinHoodand,ontheotherside,PrinceJohnandtheSheriff.Robinbecomesleaderoftheoutlawbandbyexcellingallothersintheirchosensportofarchery,andalthoughhewaschallengedeventhechallenger“joinedinthecheerandwasasloudinhispraiseastherestwhenWillO’Th’Green’ssilverhornwaspresentedtoRobinasatokenofleadership”(49).WhatthismeansisthatRobin’sauthoritytogoverntheoutlawscomesfromtheconsentofthegovernedthemselves.UnliketheSheriffandPrinceJohn,whoseauthorityisbasedonforceandthethreatofforce,Robinhasthewillingco-operationofhismen,whichisattestedtobySirRichardoftheLea:

RobinHood’ssecretishimself.Heisbrave,generous,and,aboveall,fairinhisdealingswithallmen.Thosewhofollowhimdosooftheirownfreewillandnotthroughanycompulsion.Thushisordersarerespectedandarecarriedoutbecausehismentrusthim……IjudgeitmatterslittletoRobinHoodwhetheramanbeofhighorlowdegree,solongashebehonest.(223)

AcharacteristicoftheoutlawcommunitywhichisnotsharedwiththeSheriff’scommunityisconcernforwholepersons.TheSheriff’shenchperson,theBishopofHereford,issettomarryyoungmistressEllentoasour-facedoldknightforpoliticalreasons.RobinandtheoutlawsstepinandseethatshemarriesAlan-a-Dale,hertruelove.TheBishopregardsEllennotasapersonbutasachesspiecetoserveeconomic

The Silver Horn of Robin Hood Alex MacDonald


andpoliticalpurpose,andinthesamewaywesensethattheSheriff’ssoldiersaremerefunctionariestobeexpendedratherthanindividualswhocountforsomething.ThisradicallydifferentvaluationofthehumanpersonisoneofthemoststrikingdifferencesbetweenNottinghamandthegreenwoodutopia.AnothermanifestationofthelackofrespectforpersonsislyingasatacticoftheSheriff’sside.Wordsarechosentoconcealorequivocateandtheunspokenrealityisthattheotherpersonismerelyanobjecttobemanipulatedratherthananequalwhodeservestohearthetruthasbestoneisabletospeakit.

Oneofthemostilluminatingfeaturesoftheuseofpowerishowtheweaknessesofothersaredealtwith.ItisstandardpractiseintherealpolitikworldoftheSherifftoidentifytheweaknessofanotherandusethatweaknesstodefeathimorher;forexampletheplotterscalculatethatRobin’sfondnessforarcherycontests,orhispenchantforrescuingacapturedcomrade,willlurehimintoNottinghamsothathehimselfcanbetaken.InabroadersensetheSheriffandhislackeystakeadvantageoftherelativeweaknessofthefarmersandtradespeopletotaxthemmercilessly.Robin’sworld,ontheotherhand,isgovernedbythe“ForestLaw”:“Torespectthebrave;toprotecttheweak;tohelpthepoor;andtopreyuponinjustice…Whiletherewerealwayssomewhogrumbled,mostoftheboldoutlawswereproudoftheircodeandwouldhavediedforitaswellasfortheirstaunchleader.”(51)Thereisagreatironyinthis,ofcourse:theSheriff,ostensiblythekeeperoflawandorder,isinrealityapredatorwholivesbyjunglelaw,whereasRobin,ostensiblyanoutlaw,isinrealitythekeeperofahumaneandcivilizedcodeoflaw.

Adialecticwovensubtlythroughoutthenovelisthetensionoftworadicallydifferentkindsofpoliticalvision.Theword“political”canhave,ofcourse,anegativeconnotation,meaningtheinsincerecurryingoffavourtowinsupport.ThisisverymuchthenatureofpoliticsfortheSheriffandPrinceJohn.

Theyaremenoflittlehorizonswhosefocusisuponatwo-dimensionalboardgameofpowerpolitics,andtheirownpower.Theothersenseof“political”isthepositivenotionofseekingtobuildaconsensusamongpeopleinordertoachieveworthwhilethings.Thevisionisoutward-lookingandmotivatedbyprinciple.InthecaseofRichardthelessonisthateventhisisnotenough,forRichardlookstothemis-guidedcrusadesandneglectshisresponsibilitiesathome.Robin,however,hasaclearvisionofEnglandandhowitmightbeifconcernforthecommongoodweretoreplacethenarrowself-interestofleadersliketheSheriffandPrinceJohn.Robinmakesnolongspeechesaboutthis,buthispoliticalviewsareevidentinwhathedoes—as,forexample,whenheandLittleJohnareescapingfromNottinghamandheinsiststhatJohngetstosafetyfirst(178).Thus,notonlyisthegreenwoodasortofutopia,analternativekindofsociety,butitalsopointstowardanimpliedutopia—anEnglandinwhichfairdealingandrespectforpersonswouldprevailandinwhichfellowshipratherthanmasterywouldbetheessentialspirit.ThepartiallyrealizedutopiancommunityofSherwoodhasacounterpartinotherworksofliteratureforchildren,oneexamplebeingThe Casket and the SwordbyNormanDale(1955).ThecentralcharacterisJeremyShepherd,whogetsthemeaslesandaspartofhisrecuperationissenttovisithisAuntEleanorintheWestcountry.AuntEleanor’scottageisjustoutsidethegreatwallofanoldestatecalledCastlecombe.JeremyhearsmysterioustrumpetcallscomingfrombehindthewallandsoonhehasgotinsidetojoinCliveandSallyPalfrey.ThePalfreychildrenarerightfulheirstotheestatebutithasbeentakenoverbyMungoMcDougal,awealthybusinessmantowhomthechildren’sgrandfatherhadgoneforaloan.AftermanyadventuresJeremyandthePalfreysfindtheoldcasketandswordandsavetheestatefromMungowhoseplanwastoteardowntheoldandreplaceitwithsteel,concreteandanairfield,amoderndystopia



toreplacethepastoralparadise.OneoftheclimacticscenesisoneinwhichMungotriestoforcefromthecapturedJeremythewhereaboutsoftheotherchildren.Jeremyisfrightenedbutherespondsbravely:

“IfyouknewtheParkaswellasCliveandSallyyouwouldn’thavetoaskmeaboutthehide-out.You’dhaveguessedthemostlikelyplaceandsentsomeonetolook.Butitisn’tonlythat.Youdon’treallyknowCastlecombeatall.Youmayhavebeenbornhere,butyou’reastrangerjustthesame.Therearesomanythingsthatyoudon’tunderstand.Youthinkthetrumpet-callsaresilly,buttheyaren’t.Andyoudon’tunderstandaboutsongs.”“Songs?”McDougalrepeatedblankly.“Areyouraving,boy?Whatareyoutalkingabout?”(153)

WhatweseehereisthesamemotifoffellowshipandsolidarityamongthechildrenaswasfoundamongtheoutlawsofSherwood,inthiscaseorganizedaroundrejectionofMcDougal’sutilitarianinabilitytoappreciatewhatisoldandbeautiful.

AmorerecentexampleisHarry Potter and the Philosopher’s StonebyJ.K.Rowling(1997).Neithertheordinaryworld,inwhichtheorphanHarryPotterismadetoliveunderthestairsbymiserablerelatives,northealternativeworld,inwhichthereareevilwizardsandspitefulteachersandstudents,isutopian.ButoneofthehugedifferencesforHarry,betweentheordinarymugglesornon-magicworldandthemagicworldofHogwarts,isthefactthatatHogwartsHarryhasfriends;RonandHermionesharehisadventureagainsttheevilwizardVoldemortandweseethesamevaluesoffellowshipandsolidarityasinthegreenwood.

WhatIamsuggestingisthattheoutlawsinSherwoodForest,JeremyandthePalfreysatCastlecombe,orHarryandhisfriendsatHogwarts,constitutepartiallyrealizedintentionalcommunitiesassociatedwithspecialplacesandcentredonthenotionoffellowshipasopposedtomastery.Forthisreasonsuchstoriesmaybeplayingoutforusoneoftheprimaldramasinvolvedingrowingup—thesenseofequalityandfellowshipamongchildreninrelationtothemasteryofparentsandteachers.Ofcourseitwouldnotdotoromanticizechildhoodortoforgetthatsomechildrenlearnveryearlythetacticsofdomination,yetIthinkweoftencarrywithusfromchildhoodamemoryoffellowshipwhich,ifwearefortunate,wemayfindagain,andmoredeeply,inouradultlives.

REFERENCES

Cooke,DonaldE.The Silver Horn of Robin Hood.PhiladelphiaandToronto:JohnC.WinstonCompany,1956.

Dale,Norman.The Casket and the Sword.London:

JamesBarrie,1955.More,Thomas.Utopia.ed.RobertM.Adams.New

York:W.W.Norton&Co.,1992[1516].Munro,Alice.“BoysandGirls”inDance of the

Happy Shades,forewordbyHughGarner.Toronto:RyersonPress,1968.

Rowling,J.K.Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s

Stone.London:Bloomsbury,1997.


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Utopianism in the Political Thought of Thomas Paine (1737-1809)

Lee Ward

Fromwhatwenowsee,nothingofreforminthepoliticalworldoughttobeheldimprobable.ItisanageofRevolutions,inwhicheverythingmaybelookedfor.(ThomasPaine,The Rights of Man,PartI,1791,262)

Inhisrecentstudy“TomPaine:Utopian?”MarkJendrysikastutelyobservesthedifficultyinassessingtheutopiancharacterofathinkerwhosepoliticalprojectionsandaspirationshavebeensubstantiallyrealizedinthecenturiessincehisdeath:“Isitpossibletobeconsideredutopianinoneeraandmundaneinanother?”1Thenewworldorderthathasemergedsince1989,namelyaglobalassociationoflargelypeacefuldemocraticregimesbroadlycommittedtohumanrightsandfreemarkets,iscertainlyapoliticalvisioncongenialtoPaine’slegacy.However,itisnotatallobviousthattherangeanddepthofPaine’sutopianismisexhaustedbythecatalogueofpoliticalreformsheproposedandsupported.Indeed,whatIproposetodointhispieceistochartadifferentinterpretivepaththanwetypicallyseewithPaine.Thefirstobservationisthatwewouldbewellservedtodistinguishbetweenqualitiesorcharacteristicsthatpertaintopoliticalvisionaries,ontheonehand,andtoutopianthinkers,ontheother.Theseneednotbemutuallyexclusivecategories,andIwouldsuggestthatPaineisarguablybothavisionaryandutopian.Thevisionaryforecastsorproposesconcretepoliticalprojectsthathavetwodefiningtraits.First,theseprojectsarerealized,howevergradually,intime,evenifovercenturies.Thatis,visionariesareidentified

retroactively.Second,thispoliticalvisionisbasedonatheoreticaldeductionfromcertainprimaryprinciplesofhumannatureoranoverarchingconceptofprogressivehistory.Bythese

criteria,Paineiscertainlyavisionary.InCommon Sense(1776)heproposedthebasisforademocraticcontinentalunionoftheAmericancoloniesthatwassubstantiallyrealizedin1788.IntheRights of Man(1791-2)PainenotonlyofferedaspiriteddefenseoftheFrenchRevolutionagainstitsconservativearch-criticEdmundBurke,healsopowerfullydemonstratedthepracticalimpossibilityofeverreturningtotheinequalityoftheancien régime.Paine’ssystematicattackontraditionalChristianityintheAge of Reason(1794)clearlyadumbratesthemodernistcritiqueofscriptureandreligiousorthodoxy.Finally,inPaine’slastmajorworkofpoliticalphilosophyAgrarian Justice(1795)heforeshadowsthemodernwelfarestatewithproposalsthatincludeanoldagepensionsystemandacashpaymenttoallcitizensintendedto“compensate”forthelossofthenaturalrighttotheuniversalcommons.Thus,whilePainewasperhapslesstheoreticallysophisticatedthansomeofhiscontemporariessuchasKantorWollstonecraft,onecouldarguethatasapoliticalvisionaryPainehadagreaterintuitivesenseoftheprofoundlydemocraticimplicationsofnaturalrightsphilosophythananyotherfigureofhisage.

Image: Thomas Paine by Laurent Dabos (Wikipedia)


Itisnotmyintentionheretodefineutopianism.Thatisclearlybeyondthescopeofthepresentstudy.However,IwouldliketoindicatesomeofthefeaturesofPaine’sthoughtwhichextendbeyondthevisionary.IfPaineisutopianitisnotduetoanyofthespecificpoliticalprojectsheespoused,butratherIwouldsuggestthataseminalprinciple—Paine’stheoreticaldistinctionbetweengovernmentandsociety—isamorefruitfulbasisforhisutopianism.PerhapsthemostimportantstatementofthisdistinctioninPaine’scorpusoccursintheopeningpagesofCommon Senseinwhichheargues:

Societyisproducedbyourwants,andgovernmentbyourwickedness;theformerpromotesourhappinesspositivelybyunitingouraffections,thelatternegativelybyrestrainingourvices.Theoneencouragesintercourse,theothercreatesdistinctions.Thefirstisapatron,thelastapunisher.Societyineverystateisablessing,butgovernmenteveninitsbeststateisbutanecessaryevil…Government,likedress,isthebadgeoflostinnocence;thepalacesofkingsarebuiltontheruinsofthebowersofparadise.2

WhenweapproachPaine’spoliticalprojectthroughtheinterpretivelensofferedbythiscrucialdistinctionbetweensocietyandgovernment,anumberofquestionsemerge.Themostimportantforourpurposesis:DidPainebelievethattheprogressivereformsheenvisionedwouldculminateinimprovedgovernmentsorrather,moreradically,inthepermanentachievementofastablesocialconditionwithoutgovernment?AtleasttwologicalpossibilitiesthuspresentthemselveswithregardstoPaine’spotentialutopianism.

First,wecanemphasizePaine’sviewoftheantipathybetweengovernmentandsociety,anddrawfromthisthedeeperlessonthatinsofaraseverygovernmentinevitablyderogatesfromthenon-coerciveandvoluntaristidealsofsociety,thenthemostradicaldimensionofPaine’sthoughtcouldbecharacterizedasextremelibertarianismandhisbestregimeaminimalist,Nozickiannight-watchmanstate.If,however,weresistthetemptationtoconcludethatPaineinsistedontheinevitabilityofgovernment,thenasecondpossibilityemerges.PerhapsPaine,anticipatingMarx,sawtheperfectionorcompletionoftheegalitarianprinciplesofrepublicangovernmentinstablesocialequilibrium,thatistosaythelogicalculminationofdemocraticprogressisthewitheringawayofthestate.Undertheformerscenario,itwouldbedifficulttoidentifyPaineasutopian,whereasinthelattercaseitwouldbehardnotto.WhileacomprehensivetreatmentofPaine’spoliticalphilosophyisbeyondourpresentpurposes,itnonethelessmaybefairtoaskwhetherthereareanyindicationsthatPainecouldhaveentertainedanauthenticallyutopianperspective.Hisbeliefintheredemptivepowerofrevolutionis,ofcourse,legendary:“Fromwhatwenowsee,nothingofreforminthepoliticalworldoughttobeheldimprobable.ItisanageofRevolutions,inwhicheverythingmaybelookedfor”(262).Thisstatementdoesnot,however,indicatePaine’sattitudetowardthepossibleinherentlimitationsofpoliticallifeperse.ThereisacrucialambiguitywithrespecttoPaine’sassessmentoftheperfectibilityofhumannature,seenbymanyasanimportantfeatureofutopianism.Thetransformativequalityofdemocraticrevolutionliesinitsessentialegalitarianism,wherebypoliticalactionshatterssocialconventionandartificeinordertorestoretheclaimsofnature.Alongtheselines,PainefamouslypraisedtheFrenchNationalAssemblyforitscapacityto“throwopenamagazineoflight”inorderto“show

Utopianism in the Political Thought of Thomas Paine Lee Ward


manthepropercharacterofman”(237).Thecapacityofpoliticalinstitutionstoshedlightonhumannatureis,however,complicatedbythefactthatthescienceofgovernment“isbutnowbeginningtobeknown”(298).Assuch,thelimitstopoliticalprogressareunclearalthoughpromising:“Forwhatwecanforesee,allEuropemayformbutonegreatrepublic,andmanbefreeofthewhole”(307).Doesthisonegreatrepublicrepresentthepracticallimitofdemocraticgovernmentinaunionofstates,ordoesitadumbratetheeventualeliminationofthenation-stateanditsreplacementbyaglobalassociationofself-governingautonomoussocieties?Toanswerthisquestionwouldrequiremuchfurtherreflection.Fornowatleast,wemayconcludethatreconsideringutopianisminPaine’spoliticalthoughtmayhelpusrethinkwhatwemeanbyutopiamorebroadly.Isitaninherentlypoliticalideathatrepresentstheperfectionofgovernment,orisutopiaaprofoundlyapoliticalorevenanti-politicalconceptsignifyingthepromiseoftheeventualeliminationofpoliticsfromhumanlife?

1MarkJendrysik,“TomPaine:Utopian?”Utopian Studies18.2(2007):139-157,esp.139.ThomasPaine,The Thomas Paine Reader.Eds.

2MichaelFootandIsaacKramnick.London:PenguinBooks,1987,pp.66-7.Hereafterintextsimplypagenumbersinparenthesis.

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Utopianism in the Political Thought of Thomas Paine Lee Ward


The Baseless Fabric of This Vision

Collane Ramsey

Thelastbreathbeforegoingunderwasalwaysthesweetest. Mag’smouthfilledwiththetasteofplasticassheinhaledagain,herlipsandjawcrampedfromhowhardshewasclenchingtheendofthehoseinhermouth.Aboveher,thehosesnakeduptothesurface,swayinglikekelp.Magforcedherselftokeephereyesopeneventhoughtheyburnedfromthesaltandchemicalsofthepollutedseawaterasshekickedbeneaththeshadowandoutofthesun. Shegraspedtheridgeofropewrappedtightlyaroundthefirsthugeplastictank,holdingthetankinitsplaceonthebottomofthegreatraft.Outofthecornerofhereye,Magsawotherdiverslatchingontotankstoherleftandright.Carefulnottotangleherhose,sherolledoverontoherbackandpulledherselfbeneaththetank.Handoverhandalongtheropesandchains,shepulledherselfalongthebottomoftheraft,checkingthateachclearplastictankwaslight-coloured,fullofair,thuddinghollowlybeneathherknuckles.Light,light—thendark,fullofwater.Sheslidherfingersoverthetank’sslimysurface,thenrecoiledfromthejaggededgesofbrokenplastic.Bloodswirledinthewater. Wifwentuptothesurfaceandcamebackwithanarmloadofchainstrailingbehindhimalongsidehishose.Withhandsignalsandgestures,theycoordinatedtheswitch—hookingthetankuptothechains,tightandsecure,thenuntyingthealgae-slimedropesthatheldthetanktotheraft.Itdroppedassoonasthelastropewasfree,heavyasstoneswithnomorethanafewsmallbubblesofairtrappedinonecorner.Thediverspausedforamomenttowatchthetankfall,swinginginaslowarcdownandthenouttowardtheedgeoftheraft,wherethechainswerehookedtoweight-bearingmetalframesontheraft’ssurface.

Magheldherbreath,thetasteofdustyplasticonhertongue,asthechainswenttaut,takingallthetank’sweight—andheld. Andnowherpartwasdone.Theengineerswouldhaulthetankupanddrainit,carefullymeltandpatchtheplasticbacktogethersothatitcouldbeusedagain,strongenoughthatitwouldwithstandthepressureofwindandwaves—ortheymightdecidethetankwastooweaktobere-usedasafloat,bettersenttosomevillageonlandforwaterstorage.Itwouldnotbewasted.ButMagwasdone. Theysurfacedwhatseemedlikeanagelater.Blindedbythesun,Magheldherarmsuptotheedgeoftheraft.Manyhandsgrabbedherandhauledherclearupintotheair.Thenthedeckwasbeneathherfeetandtheywerepattingheronthearms,shoulders,head,congratulatingherheartilyasshegaspedforairandblinkedfuriously. “Goodwork.Goodwork,goodjob—youdidgood.” Hervisionstartedtocomebackblurrily,thoughhereyeswerestillsearing.Allaroundher,theotherdiverswerebeinghauledupfromthetoxicbathoftheocean,wipeddown.Childrenwererunningunderfootcarryingragsandclothing,coilingupairhoses.Mag’sentirebodybegantoitchandburnasitdriedinthehotsun,chemicalresiduefromthepollutedseawaterleavingchalkyfilmonherdarkskin.Hercutfingerstung. “Here,here—letmehelp.” Magtookoneofthewetclothsprovided,scrubbingitoverherfaceandneck.Preciousfreshwaterraninrivuletsdownherthroat.Shedidterribleworksootherswouldn’thaveto,andsotheypaidherintheonlywaytheycould,withthemostvaluablethingtheyhad.Otherhandsandragshelpedwipedowntherestofherbodyuntilshewasnakedandbrownandnotburningquiteasbadly.Still,she’dbeinsomepainfordays,andtheyallknewit. BabyTibroughtheranarmloadofclothingthatMaghadneverseenbefore,bigbillowythingsthatwouldcovereveryinchofherchemical-burned


skinuntilthesensitivityworeoffsothatthesunwouldn’tpopupblistersthesizeofthumbprintsalloverherbody.Theyweregoodclothes,thebestclothes:everyripcarefullymended,madeofenoughfabrictoclothefivepeoplenormally. “Youwantasleep?”babyTiasked. MagsquintedacrossthedeckatWif,whowashavinghisknottedbrownscruffofhairtowelledout.Hegesturedtowardtheenormousraft’sverycentre,wheretherewasaleathercoversuspendedfrompoles,onesideangleddowntoprovideshadeinthemiddaysun.“IthinkEbalinewasplanningtohaveatell.” “Youcangosleep,”Abbisaid.MagscoopedTiupinherarmstohearhershriekhappily.“Iwanttohearthetell.It’saboutmakingbricks.” TisquirmeduntilMagletthegirlclimbontoherbackandholdon.“Areyougonnamakebricksathomewhenwegetthere?” Mag’sheartleaptinherchestatthethoughtofit:home.Shehadn’tbeenhomebackonrugged,rockylandin…overfiveyears.Becauseoftheweatherinthelastfivesailingseasons,thefleethadn’tbeenabletosendanyonesofarsouth,allthewaydowntheOceanSpinetoAntarctica.Butsoon—Shehadtotakeadeepbreathbeforeshespoke. “No,no,”shesaid.“Notunlesssomething’sbroken.Allthehousesarealreadybuilt.Wedon’tneedtobuildmore.” WithTionherback,Magstartedtowalkacrosstherafttowardthetellshadeatitscentre,betweensmallersheltersmadefrommetalpoleslashedtogetherinshoulder-highframes.Walkingacrossthecurvedsurfacesofcountlesshugeplastictankslashedtogetherunderfootwaseasyfromyearsofpractice.Allaroundthem,peoplewereworking:cooking,cleaning,mendingropesandsailsandfishingnets.Peoplesattogetheringroups,laughingandtalking,forcompanionshipmadeeventhedullestworklighter.Onlyafewofthesmallsleepingtentswereoccupied,andonlybythosewhowereinjuredorsick—andthosewhowerehurtbutstillabletowork

The Baseless Fabric of This Vision Collane Ramsey

helpedtobandageortendothers. “What’sitlikedownthere?” “DowntheSpine?” “Whereyoulive.Whatkindofhouses?” Magswallowed.“Webuildtheminhills,rightinsidethehill,buthighenoughupthatthewaterdoesn’tfloodthemwheneverythingmelts.It’sstillcoldenoughdownsouththatwegetsnow.Andweplantgardensonthehills,andeverybodyworkstogrowfoodallsummer.” Theywerewalkingpastthebigrackshungwithlongstrandsofdark-greenseaweedandoilyfishdryinginthesun,tendedbycarefulchildrenTi’sage. “Likeseaweed?” “Likesquashandbeetsandcarrots.Thingswebroughtdownfromthenorthlandalongtimeago.Someofthevillagestradewitheachotherwhentheraftsaren’taround,butmyvillage,wecan’t—we’retoofarawayfromeveryone.Soit’sjustus.Sometimesaftermonths,peoplestartfightingbecauseit’sjusttoolonglivingwiththesamepeople,butthenwejustswitcharoundabitandgoliveindifferenthouses.”Tiwrinkledhernose.“Youlivetogether?Lotsofyou?” “Fiveorsixofus.”Thatwasmorethancouldfitintooneofthelittletentsheltersontheraft. “Unlesstwopeoplewanttohaveababy.Butthentheyhavetotelleveryone,andeveryonevotesonifit’sokay—ifwethinkthey’rebothhealthyenoughtohaveababy,ifwethinkthey’regoingtogettooattachedorifthey’llbeokayaboutlettingeveryoneelseraisethebaby.Andifeveryoneagrees,thenthetwoofthemgetahousetothemselvesforawhileandtherestofusjustsquishtogetheralittlemore.” “Howmanyhousesyoushare?” “Nine.” “That’showmanyIam!” “Isit?”MagswoopedTithroughtheairuntilshehollered.“Ithoughtyouweretwo!” “Nine!”Tisaidbelligerently.“That’swhyI’mhere,becauseI’moldenoughtowork.” Attheedgeofthebigshade,MagputTidown,


crouchingdowntosquintatthegirlthroughswollenredeyes.“OldenoughtositquietandlistentoEbalinetell?” Titookadeepbreathandthoughtaboutit,consideringwhethershecouldsitstillandpayattentionuntilEbalinewasdoneteaching.ItwouldhavebeenshamefulforTitointerruptthetellbyfidgeting,orbyhavingtogetupinthemiddleandgodosomethingelse.Knowingthattherestofthecrewwouldteaseherfordaysaboutbeinglikeachildwhodidn’tknowherownlimits,Tiweighedthematterseriously. “No,”shemuttered. “That’sokay.”MagtouchedTi’sshoulder.“It’sgoodyoucanadmityou’renotreadyrightnow.Gohelpsomeoneelse.” Then,asTiranoff,dodgingbetweenracksofseaweeddryinginthesun,Magsteppedbeneaththeshade,amongthelistenerswhowerealreadyseated,respectfullyquietbeforetheirelder.Theyeasilymaderoomforhertositandsettledown.Girlswithcallusesontheirfingersfromknottingrope,boyswithflakesofdriedseaweedontheirshouldersfromtendingthedryingracks—theylookedatMag’sbillowyburnclothingwithbigeyes,touchedherkneecapsandshoulderswithrespect,andthentheyallturnedbacktowaitandwatchEbalineattentively. Therestofthedaywasspentinlisteningandlearning,talkingthroughdifferentthreadsofinquirythatwoundofffromEbaline’stelluntilclosetosunset,whentheclangingofthechemical-stainedsteelfoodbellinterruptedthebusyclamouroftheraft’speople. Almosteveryonestayedseatedatfirstexceptfortheeldersandthehandfulofpeoplewhowenttofetchdinnerforthesickandinjured.Oncetheoldesthadtakentheirfood,everyoneelsewenttothecookingstationsscatteredaroundthegiantraft.Magandtheothersheragewaitedforwhatseemedlikealongtime,thoughifanyofthemfeltpangsatthesightofolderadultswalkingawaywiththeirfood—fatchunksofgrilledfishandshark,driedorboiledseaweeds,andsometimesdishesofsoftjellydistilledfromboiledredalgae—theywerecarefulnottoshow


it. Onlytheyoungestandmostimpatient,heldbackbyMagandtheothersuntilitwastheirturn,whinedwhentheircontrolslipped.Butthosewhodidn’twhine,babyTiamongthem,weregivensmall,choicemorselsfromtheplatesofolderpeople,whichtheyacceptedwithquietgratitude.Justonesmallboysmirkedtriumphantlyatanother,whohadn’tbeengivenanything;thenextmoment,Wiftookbackthestripofdried,saltedsharkmeatthathehadgiventheboyforhispatience. “Quiet,”Abbitoldtheboy,wholookeddownatthedeckashetriedtofighttearsoffrustrationandshame.“Youearnedthat.” “I’msorry.” “Thendon’tdoitagain.” Afterthat,nobodysaidanythingmoreofit,foreventheyoungestofthemknewbetterthantoteaseoncesomebody’sbadchoicehadbeendealtwithbyanadult—oratleast,theydidn’twanttheirowntreatstobetakenawayaswell. Therewasenoughfoodtogoaroundthatnightsincethefishershadhauledinanewcatchthatday,andthetangoftoxicantsinthemeatwasn’tanywherenearasstrongasitcouldhavebeen.Thecooksputouttheirfirebarrelsassoonaseveryonehadbeenfed,leavingtheraftingrowingdarknessasthefirststarsoftwilightcameoutinthevirulentredglowofthepollution-crimsonedsunset.Mag’sskinburnedalittlelessastheheatofthedayfaded,andbeneaththestarsshelayontheopendeckamongherpeopleandlistenedtothehandfulofsingerswhohadthoughtupsomethingnewtosingbeforeeveryoneslippedintotheirtents,putuptheirhammocksandwenttosleep.

* SomethingrammedintoMag’sshoulderthroughtheleatherwalloftheshelter,nearlyflippingheroutofherhammock.Cursing,shelurchedoutofthehammock,accidentallykickingJan.ThentheraftlurchedviolentlyandMagfellontopofWif,whoyelpedawakeinpain.Thepolesholdinguptheirshelterswayedalarmingly.Outside,peopleyelled


andthewaveswereroaringandtheraftwascreakinghorribly,ropeandplasticgrindingtogether. Unbalanced,Maguntiedtheleatherflapfromthedeckandshovedituptolookoutside.Windtoreitfromherhands.Greenish-yellowlightspilledin. “Hurricane!”thewatchwasscreamingfromherplaceatthetopofthemast,hervoicedraggedawaybythewind.Theriggingcrackedominouslyagainstthemast.“Hurricane!Getup!” Allaroundthem,peoplewererunningbackandforth,tyingthingsdown,collapsingshelters,bundlingfoodandsuppliesup.Therewaspanicintheair. Thecloudsoverheadchurned,fullofsicklyyellowlight.Thefirstdropsofrainfell.Thencamethestorm.

* Thetowerrearedupoutoftheoceanlikeaskeleton,terribleandblackagainsttheterribleblackshroudofthestorm.Icyraintoredownfromtheskyinsheets,pouringinfrothytorrentsfromtheroofanddecksofthegreatstructure,acolossusonstiltsraisedhighabovetheheavingwaves.Itwasancient,fromthetimebeforetheHeatandtheWater,thetimeofpollutionandsteel,anenormouswasteofmetalbuiltinthemiddleoftheoceanfornoreasonthatMagcouldimagine. Mag’sfrozenfingersfumbledattheropesshewastryingtoknot,tryingtotiedownthesailcanvasproperly.Thetowerwasthereonthehorizon,theyweresafe,butshehadto—hadtofinish— Anoldermangrabbedherbythearm.“Leaveit!”heyelled.“Comeon!” “Go—” “Comeon!” Clingingtoeachotherforbalance,theystumbledacrosstheheavingraft,trippingovercollapsedtentsandbarrelsofsuppliesandmetalcrates.Ropeswerestrewneverywherefromthesnappedboomthatlaylikeabrokenarmacrossthedeck. Aheadofthem,peoplewereclusteredatthe


edgeoftheraft,strugglingtoanchortherafttothegreatsteel-and-stonepillarsofthetowerevenasthewindblewtheirtie-linesoutoftheirhands.Somepeoplewerealreadyclimbingtheknottedropesthathadbeenthrowndownfromthetower’sdeckhighoverhead.Above,Magcouldseepeoplewaving,barelyvisibleinthedarkness,theirvoicesdrownedoutbythewind. Thewatersurged,pickinguptheraftlikeachild’stoyandslammingitbackagainstthepillar.Plastictankscrackedandexplodedintopieces—andthedeck,thedeckunderMag’sfeetwascollapsing,tankslooseningintheirbindings,tearingapart. Shewasholdingtheoldman,whowasholdingherandsomeoneelse,andawomanknockedintothem,screaming.Maggrabbedforher—missed—blindintherainandthedark.Thewaterheaved—Theywereintheocean,flunglikeragdolls.Magtookabreathoutofshockandswallowedwater.Somethingslammedintothesideofherhead—debris.Theraft.Theoldman,where,wherewas— Shewassnatchingfranticallyatthehandthatgrabbedhershirtbeforesheevenrealisedsomeonewasthere.Justaboveher,danglingprecariouslyfromoneoftheropes,amanwasleaningdowntoholdontothatfistfulofMag’sclothing,tryingtodragherupfarenoughtobreathe. Theoldman— Magfoundtheropeandclimbed.

* Therewerebuildingsonthetower,hugecavernousroomsandhallwaysmadeofmetal,litbytorchesdespitethesmokethatpouredfromthem,polluting.Therewerepeopleeverywhere—yelling,soakingwetandbleedingandcrying,holdingeachother,tryingtogoplaces—butMagwastooexhaustedanddizzytolookaroundfortherestofhercrew,forWifandAbbiandEbaline.Shewasshiveringviolentlybeneaththeguidingweightoftheman’sarmaroundhershoulders. “BabyTi,”Magcroaked,hervoicealmostgone.


“Mostofyourpeoplegotup,”themansaidinherear,overthedin,asheledherthroughthecrowd. Magresisted.“Ineedto—Ti,”sheyelledhoarsely,twistingaround,almostfallingover.“Where’sTi—Ti!Ti,baby—Ti—” Acrossthecrowdedroom,TiwassobbingintoWif’sshoulder,terrifiedandshaking.Magalmostcollapsedwithrelief. “Oh.Oh.I—I’msorry,”shesaid,lettingherselfleanbackagainsttheman’sshoulder.“Ijust—” “It’sokay.Igetit.”Hewasleadingherdownahallway,darkenedandquieter.Maglethim,almosttootiredtowalk. “Youcamedownforme.” “Icouldseeyoudownthere.Wasn’tgoingtoleaveyou.” Hepushedopenadoor.Theroominsidewassmall,withdistinctpilesofblanketsonthefloor.“Youcansleephere.” Maglaughedfromsheerrelief,toowrungouttoformwords.Shestumbledin,alreadystrugglingwithhershirt.Bythelightfromthehallwaythroughthehalf-opendoor,shestrippedoutofherwetclothing,catchinghalf-glimpsesofthemandoingthesamenexttoher.Naked,shefumbledherwaybeneathsomeoftheblankets. “CanI—” “Tosleep,”Magslurred.“Just.” “Yeah,ofcourse.” Heslidundertheblanketsbehindher,warmagainsthericyskin.Teethchattering,Magcurledupcloser,nothoughtonhermindbutwarmthandclosenessandthereassuringweightofanotherperson’sbodyafterthenumbingrageofthestorm.TheyshiveredtogetheruntilheatstartedtoleechbackintoMagslowly,thawingherbones. Justbeforeshefellasleep,sheheardseveralotherpeoplegettingintotheblanketsnexttothem,whispering,onemansobbingsoftly.Therewasthesoundofsomeonehushinghim,thennothing.

* Theoceanwasafieldofwreckage.


Theyemergedfromthetowerinthewaterylightofdaytofindthatthestormhaddestroyed…everything.Maglookeddownfromtheedgeofthedeck,horrifiedbythesheeramountofdebrisfloatinginthebecalmedwater.Allaroundher,peoplestoodinsimilarshock.Notjustpeoplefromhercrewandthetower,butfromothercrews,otherrafts—theraftsthathadbeentorntopiecesbelow.Countlessnumbersofthem. “Howmany?”MagwhisperedtoAbbi. “Almostthewholefleetmadeithere.” Thecrewsweremostlyalive.Alltheircargo—theseaweed,thefish,thecropsfromthenorthlands,everythingthesouthernvillageswouldberelyingon…gone. Asharp,metallicclanginginterruptedthesusurrusofgriefandshockspreadingoverthecrowd.Theyallturnedtolook,craningtheirheadsuptotherailedwalkwayoverlookingthemaindeck. “Icallavote,”Ebalinesaid,hereyesassteelyasthemetalbarsheclenchedinherknottedoldhands,readytobangontherailingagain. “Icallavote,”saidanotherelderimmediately,steppingupbesideher.Magthoughthewasoneoftheeldersofthetower’screw. “Avote,”onemoreelderagreed. “Threecalls,”announcedEbaline.“Wevote.” Thetower’selderraisedhishand.“Wehaveenoughwater,butthereisn’tenoughfoodforeveryonehere,”hesaid,voicecarryingoverthecrowd.Thecrowdgroaned,buthisfacewasunflinching,hardenedbydecadeslivingontheocean.“Weneedmorefoodwithinaweek.” “Thenearestlandisthreedaysaway.Wemustsendboats—smallboats,withsmallcrews.Asfastaspossible.” “Isupportthis.” “Speakifyouoppose,”Ebalinesaid,followedimmediatelyby,“Good.Noopposition.Wevote.”Magfeltdizziedbythebreakneckpaceofthevoting.Shehadneverseenasessionofgovernmentrunsoquickly.Usuallytherewasopposition,questions,and


discussion,withenoughtimeallowedforeveryonetovoicetheiropinionsandmakesuggestionsaboutpossiblesolutions.Youngpeoplewerealwaysencouragedtospeakup,whiletheeldersmoderated.Neverbeforehadthreeelderssodominatedthesession.ItmadeMagfeeloff-balanceandexcludedfromthegoverningprocessdespitethefactthatshewasfullypresent.But…atthesametime,itwasarelieftoseetheircrisisbeinghandledsoconfidently. “Voteifyouagree,”saidthetower’selder,hishandalreadyintheair. Maglookedaround.Everyonearoundherhadraisedtheirhands.Sheputhersupaswell. “Haillewillpickthecrews.Voteifyouagree.”Theyhadn’tevenaskedforopposition.WhowasHaille?Whyhimorher? Everyonewasalreadyvoting.Magraisedherhandagain.

* Theraftshadbeendestroyed,buttherewerecanoeslashedupintheraftersofthetower’sbiggerrooms.Thesewerelowereddowninaflurryofactivity.Peoplewerebringingforwardallthebottlestheycouldfind,everypreciouswater-tightcontainerthattheyhadmanagedtosavefromoneoftherafts,andhandingthemovertobefilledwithfreshwaterforthecanoecrews.Thetower’sstoragetankshadbeenfilledtothebrimwithrain,sotherewasnoshortageoffreshwater,buteveniftherehadbeennotenoughtogoaround,thewaterwouldhavegonetothecanoecrewsanyway. Bytheropeladdershangingovertheeastsideofthetower,MagfoundHaille.Hewasatall,burlymanwithblisterysun-scarsonhisbaldhead,squintingcriticallyatthecrowd.Peoplewereraisingtheirhands,askingtobechosen—noteverybody,butthetallestandstrongest.Nobodydaredtovolunteeriftheymightbetooweak,iftheymightslowtherestoftheircrewdown.Itwascrucialthatthecanoesreachedlandasquicklyaspossible. Land. Atthethoughtofhervillagetorntopiecesbythestorm,Mag’sheartleaptintoherthroatandlodged


there. Herhandflewup.“Iwill.” Haillelookedather,eyeingtheropymusclesofherarmsandshoulders,thedarkskinthatwouldn’tsunburn,thehardsetofherjaw.Afraidthathewouldshameherifhecaughtanyhintthatshehadbeenmotivatedtovolunteerbysudden,irrationalemotionratherthanhonestdesiretoserve,Magrefusedtoflinchashemethereyes.HegaveMagtheexactsameconsiderationasthemanvolunteeringnexttoher,weighingthetwoofthemagainsteachother,andthenjerkedhisheadatMag. “You.” Handsreachedouttotouchherasshewenttothecanoesandthecrewwaitingtolowerthemdowntothewater.“Thankyou,”peopleweresaying,toMagandtotheothers.Shedidn’tknowanyoftheothercrewwhohadbeenpicked,butmostofthemwereolderthanherandallofthemwereastallandstrongasshewas,theirhairshornshortthewaydiversandfishersdidtopreventitfromtanglinginthewindandcrustingwithsalt. “Here,”ayoungmansaid,holdingoutapairofleatherbootstooneoftheolderwomenonthecrew,whosefeetwerebareandhardwithcallus.“You’llneedtheseonland.” Anotherwomanpulledoffhershirtandofferedittooneofthepalercrewmen,whosepowerfulshoulderswerepeeling,red,andcoveredindark,blotchysun-scarsbeneaththeinadequateragsofhisownshirt.Shawls,shoes,pantsandhatswerepassedoverifanyonehadsomethingbetterthanwhatoneofthecrewhad;sometimestherewasanexchange,ifoneofthecrewhadagarmenttogiveback,orapieceofshellorstoneorwiretheywantedtomakerepaymentwith.Mag’sshirtandpantsweretorninmanyplacesfromthestorm,thebillowyfabricstartingtocomeapartatsomeoftheseams,butnobodytriedtogiveheranyreplacements:shewasalreadywearingbetterclothingthananyofthemhad. SomeonegrabbedMag’shand.Sheturned,startled,tofindthemanfromlastnightsmilingather.


“Idon’tthinkyouusuallyrow,”hesaid,pressinghisfingersintoherpalm.Shecouldfeelthatthecallusonherskinwasnothingcomparedtothethick,roughhornofhisownfingers.“Takethese.” Hertonguestucktotheroofofhermouth.Allshecouldthinkoftosay,assheacceptedtheheavyleathergloveshehandedher,was,“I’mMag.” “Kid.” “Boatsdown!”Hailleyelled.Therewasaclatterofactivityasthecrewheardtheorderthey’dbeenwaitingforandsprangintoaction,easingthecanoesovertheedgeofthedeckandstartingtoslowlylowerthemdownbyropestiedtothethwarts.Impulsively,Magtookoffthestrandofbraidedkelpcordsheworearoundherneck,placingitinKid’shands.TheshiningmetaltabsbeadedontothecordclickedandglitteredinthesunjustasbrightlyastheyhadwhenMaghadpickedthemupofftheshoreofhervillagefiveyearsago. “Boatsdown!” “Hurryback,”Kidsaid. “Wewon’tletyoustarve.” Kidbarkedalaugh.“That’snotwhatImeant.”Magwasbrieflybaffled,thenscowledasshereachedunderstanding.“Don’t.Gofindaboy.Idon’twantyourbaby.” “Idon’twantababy!” “Nobodygetsababy,”interruptedTi’sgrumpyvoicefromtheregionofMag’ship.Ti’slittlehandsshuntedimpatientlyatherstomach,pushinghertowardthedanglingropes.“I’mhungry,Mag.”MaglaughedandstrokedTi’sheadonce.“Begood.” “Idon’twantababy,”Kidprotestedagain,lookingdisgruntledathavinghisintentionsimpugned. “Thengofindagirlyou’veknownmorethanonenight,”Magtoldhim,notunkindly,grabbingoneofthehangingropesandswingingalegoverthedeck’srailing. Thelastthingshesawbeforesheloweredherselfbelowthetower’sdeckwasthecornerofhismouthpeelingupinareluctantsmile.


* Onthemorningoftheseventhday,Mag’screwsawthedark,brokencrownoflandonthehorizon.Theirpaddlesslashedatthewaterinsynchronicitywithaspeedthattheyhadn’tmanagedsincethesecondday.Rejuvenatedbythepromiseoffood,theybenttheirbacksandstrucktheirpaddlesintotheoceanasone.Theprowofthecanoecutthewaveshardenoughtospraywateroverthefrontthreerowers.Unabletowipeawaythepollutedspray,Magkeptherheadbowed,tryingtoconcentrateharderonthebeatofherheartinherribcagethanonherwet,stingingskinortheachinghollowofherstomach. Allofthecanoeshadgoneinseparatedirectionsafterleavingthetower,thefastestonestothenearestlandandtherestofthemtoslightlymoredistantatollsorshorelines.Thefirstcanoehadprobablyreturnedtothetowerbythen,Magthought.TiandAbbiandKidwouldhavefoodbysunsetattheverylatest.AndMag’screw…themeagrerationsthattheyhadbeengivenhadrunouttwodaysago,buttheywouldhavefoodassoonastheyreachedland,too. Thecanoeshudderedsuddenly,ahollowscrapingsoundfillingtheair.TheroweraheadofMagcursedandstuckoutherpaddletopushthecanoeawayfromthespurofrocktheyhadstruck,grindingalongthehulljustbelowthesurfaceofthewater. “Slow!”sheshouted. Theydugintheirpaddlesfranticallyjustintimeforthecrewleaderinthefront,Krin,tostabouthispaddleandpolethemawayfromasecondrock.Abovethesoundofherracingheartbeat,abovethenoiseofthewavesslappingthecanoe’shullandtherestofthecrewpantingforbreath,therewas…anothersound.Itwastheslower,gurglingrushandrecedeofwaterlappingatsand. Magfinallyliftedherhead. Shefeltthesqueezeofherheartwithinherchest.Hernextbreathcameinharshandshocked,emergingasagiddylaugh.Here?Ofalltheplacestheycouldhavelanded,allthevillagestheirstar-mappercouldhaveguidedthemtoward—theyhad



comehere? Jackpokedherintheback.“What?” “ThisiswhereI’mfrom,”Maggasped,stillhalf-laughinginshock.“Ilivehere.”Inthebow,Krintwistedaroundtostarebackather. “Youlivehere?” Somethingwaswronginhistone. “I—Yes,I—what?” Jackpokedheragain,harder.Therestofthecrewwasveryquiet. Maglookedbackatthebeach. Wasit—yes,itwastherightplace.Thoseweretheshortshalecliffsshehadknownforallofherchildhood,thedistinctivebrokenprofileofthemacrossthesky.Justsouthofthecanoewasthesmallcreekthatrandownfromtherockyhillsandbroadenedonthebeachintoaflat,shallowconfluencewhereclamsburrowed.Thebeachhadbeentornupbythestorm,seaweedandtimberstrewneverywhere,butdespitethelackofevidenceofhabitation— Magshuthereyestightlyandopenedthemagain. Timber.Therewastimberonthebeach,dozensofsplinteredlogsscatteredliketwigs.Nottrees,notdeadfallwasheddownfromthepineforestontherockyslopesabove—logs,cleanlyfelledandstrippedoftheirbranchesandhewninhalf.Timberthatsomeonehaddeliberatelycutdown. Grimlysilent,thecrewrowedintotheshore,easingthecanoethroughtherockyshallows.Alastfewfast,suddenstrokessentthecanoeskimmingthroughthewaterandhalfwayupontothesand,whereitstuckandstopped. Uncertainwhethershewasfeelinghunger,exhaustion,orfear,Magclimbedoutofthecanoeandstoodonwobblinglegs. Shelookedattheothers.Kringesturedsharplyforhertolead.Itwasnotawelcominggesture.Herstomachchurning,Magputherpaddleoverhershoulderandheadedupthebeachtowardthecreeksidepaththatleduptothevillageinthehills.

Mag’sfeetdugdeepdivotsinthesoft,rain-churnedmudofthepaththatshehadwalkedeverydayforthefirstthirteenyearsofherlife,andwalkedinherdreams—butneverwithsixterse,unhappyadultstrangersloomingbehindher.Thesoft,soothingrushofwavesonthebeachandinsectsinthetreescontrastedsharplywiththedeafeningsilencefrombehindMag.Asenseofvertiginousunrealityfilledherattheconflictofmemoryandreality. Halfwayuptheslope,thecreekbentsharply,andthepathalongwithit.Ahalf-brokenwoodenstructurestoodatthebend:abridge.Someonehadcutdownthosetreestobuildabridgeacrossthecreek,whichwasbarelyknee-deepandeasilycrossedonsteppingstones.Why—why? Thevillagestoodaroundthecornerofthepath,concealedbyasteephill. “Wait,”Magsaid,withoutmeaningto,themomentshelaideyesonthevillage,becauseitwaswrong,itwasallwrong;thiswasn’therhomeatall.Wait,no,I’msorry,Imadeamistake,shemeanttosay.Hervillagefittedunobtrusivelyintoitsnaturalsurroundings,housesandfoodstoresbuiltintothehillswithonlyawovenwithedoorvisible,andallnecessaryoutbuildingslikethewellheadandthecoveredstepscutdowntothecoldcellarbuiltofstackedstone.Itdidn’thaveanywoodenbuildings.Itdidn’t— Butbeneaththenewconstructionsthathadbeenerectedintheshallowvalley,Magrecognizedtheprofileofthehills,constantdespitethewoodenstructuresthatbristledonthesurface,thehousesandshedsandanenormousbuildingwithnowallsandmanybenchesinacirclearoundthefirepitbeneaththepeakedroof,thewholethingsolargeandpointlessthatitmadeMagwanttoscream.Fartherback,shevaguelyrecognizedtheshapeoftheslopeswhosetreeshadbeenclear-cut,leavingtheearthstrangeandnakedandstubbledwithstumps. Peoplewerestaringatthem.Oneofthechildrenthathadbeenpickingupbrokenbranchesfromthegardenclosesttothepathshriekedandran


intoanearbyhouse,fromwhichamanandwomanquicklyappeared. “Whatdidyoudo?”Magheardherselfsay,hervoicestrangeandhighandscared.“Whatdidyoudo?” “Whoareyou?” “Didyoudothis?”Krindemanded,shovingpastMagashestrodeforwardtogetintheclosestman’sface.“Didyoubuildthis?” “Who—” “Goaway!”shoutedawomanstandinginfrontofahousefartheraway,lookingfrightenedandpossessive.Shehadpickedupametalstone-breakerfromanearbytoolshedandwasholdingitraisedoverhershoulder,baremusculararmstenseandflexing.Peopleweregathering,comingoutofhousesandbuildings,andallofthemwere—no.Thiswaswrong.Ithadbeenyearssincethefleethadmanagedtoreachthisvillage;whyweren’ttheywelcomingtheirvisitors? Outofthecornerofhereye,Magsawtwoofhercrewlifttheirpaddlestotheirshouldersaswell.Oneofthemwascrying. “Wedon’tneedyourfood,”someoneyelled,andMagrecognizedhim:Micalor,thestone-builder,whoMaghadlivedwithforsixyearsbeforeshe’dgonetotherafts.Heheldanancientaxe,rustedexceptwherethebladeofitwascleanandshiningfromuse. “Goaway.” “Younevercamebefore!”anothermanshouted.“Youforgotaboutusthen!” “Isthatwhyyoudidthis?”Krinroared.Hisfacewascrimsonwithmorethansunburn.Heshovedhishandsintothechestofthemaninfrontofhim,forcingthemantostumblebackseveralsteps.“Isthatwhyyouthought—” “Whatwereyouthinking?”Jackdemanded,hisvoicewreckedandraw. Micalor’sfacewasturningred.“Whatdoyoucare?Thisisn’tanyofyourbusiness.” “Youcutdownthetrees!” “Youtrylivingundergroundallyourlife!”


Micalorshoutedback.“Therearetreeseverywhere! Whydotheymattermorethanus?” Suddenlyeveryonewasshouting,somepeopleonbothsidescryingandothersalmostshakingwithfury.Thevillagersweredrawingtogethermore,pushingforwardshouldertoshoulderastheycursedandyelled,toomanywithshovelsorhoesintheirhands,andthecrewdidthesameinreturn,holdingontotheirpaddleswithwhiteknuckles.Magstoodfrozen,hereyesskippingfrompersontopersonintheopposingcrowd,struckdumbbythesightoffacesshehadknownallherlifenowtransformedwithrage.Didanyofthemrecognizeher,afterfiveyearsaway? “Youcan’tjust—” “—actinglikeyoudon’tknowbetterthanto—” “—eventhinkoftellinguswhattodo,weonly—” “Icallavote,”Magsaidhoarsely,butitwaslostinthedin.Nobodywaslistening. “Weneedfood!”Arashouted,hervoicecarrying.Shesoundedunhinged,likeshewasbarelyhangingontoself-controlbutwasstilldeterminedtorememberthejobtheyhadbeensenton.“We’rehereforthefleetandyouhavetohelpusorthey’llstarve.” “Gofuckyourself!”respondedthemanthatKrinhadpushed,takinghiseyesoffKrinforamomenttospitatAra. Inaheartbeat,Krinrammedhishandsintotheman’schestagain,sendinghimflyingbackseveralfeetintothemud. Micalorraisedhisaxe. ThedeafeningcrackoftheaxehaftcollidingwithKrin’smetalpaddlealmostdrownedoutthescreamsofshockfrombothsides.Krinwrenchedthepaddlesideways,catchingtheheadoftheaxeandyankingitdown.Micalorstumbledtooneknee.Krinswunghispaddleagain,hittingMicalorinthejawwiththeflatmetalblade.Micalorstaggeredbackwardandtheaxedroppedintothemud. AraseizedKrin’sarm,tryingtoyankhimbackevenasseveralvillagerslurchedforward,theirshovels


raisedandterrifiedexpressionsontheirfaces. Fasterthananyonecouldreact,KrinjerkedtheaxeoutofthemudandburieditinthesideofMicalor’sskull. Afterthebodyhitthemud,nobodymovedexceptavillageboywhobentoverandretchedagainstthesideofahouse,vomitstainingthewood.Magfeltasthoughherfeethadbeennailedtotheearth.Shedidn’tknowifshewasgoingtofalloverornevermoveagain.Shecouldn’ttakehereyesoffthebody.Krinpointedthebloodyheadoftheaxeatthevillagers.Hisarmshook,butjudgingbytheexpressiononhisface,itwasfromrawfuryratherthanfright.“Getback.Go—gostandinthefuckingfield,orI’llkillyouall.” Clingingtoeachother,theybegantobackaway,manyweepingopenly.Someofthemdroppedtheirmakeshiftweapons;theoneswhostillheldsomethingseemedunabletouseitforanythingbutsupport.Theyhadpickedupweapons,raisedtheminanger—butnoneofthem,noneofthemhadeverthoughttherewouldbedeath.Theyhadneverseendeathexceptbyillnessorageoraccident.Whywouldtheyhave?Sixtyofthemcouldnotstanduptoasinglemanwithbloodonhishandsandmurderinhiseyes. “Ara.Dru.Jack,”saidKrin.“Findthefood.Takewhatweneed.” Afteralongmomentofhesitation,Jackwobbledforward.Theothersfollowed,atfirstmovingjerkilyinshock.Then,asifadamhadbroken,theystrodeforwardwithpurposetothenearestbuildingstosearch.Theysawthewood,thewasteandtheclear-cuthills,andtheyrememberedtheiranger.Thevillagersscatteredandretreatedfaster,terrifiedthatallofthecrewwouldturnouttobelikeKrin. OnlyMagstoodfrozen.“Icallavote,”shecroaked. Krinturnedtolookather.“Shutup.” Magcouldfeelherselftremblinguncontrollably.“Icallavote,”sherepeated,moreloudly,unabletobelievewhathe’dsaid.Thiswasn’thowitwasdone.Whenavotehadbeenrequested,


everyonehadtolistentotheproblembeingraisedevenifthereweren’ttwootherpeoplewhowantedtoofferenoughsupporttoholdanactualvote. TherewereafewstifledcriesofprotestfromthevillagersasDruandArafoundastoragebuildingandstartedtobringoutbasketsofdriedrootsandvegetables,pilingtheminthemud. “Shutup!”Krinroared,whirlingbacktothemwiththeaxeoutstretchedthreateningly.“Isaidstandinthefield!Andyou—”HeturnedbacktoMagandgrabbedherbytheshirt,yankingherforward.“Go.Get.Thefood.” “Youcan’t—” “WhatshouldIdo?”Krindemanded,shakingherbythecollar.Hewasolderandhewastaller,andforthefirsttimeMagrealizedthathecouldhandleherlikeachildifhewantedto,andshewasterrified. “Youwantavote?Youwanttogoallthewaybacktothefleetandvotewhiletheycutdownmoreforestandburnmoretrees?” “No,I—” “Youwanttogostandwiththem,isthatit?Thisisyourhome,isn’tit?Isthiswhatyoudo?” “Itwasneverlikethis!” “Youwanttostaywiththemandcutdowntheforest?” “No,no!” Hereleasedherwithashove.“Thenshutupandgetthefood.” Magcouldn’ttellifshewasabouttothrowupornot.Shockedandterrified,shestaggeredovertothestoragebuildingthatDruandArawerestillemptying.Thereweretearsrunningdownherface. Thiswasn’thowitwasdone. “Takeitall!”Krinshouted.“Theboatcancarrythatmuch.” Fromtheedgeofthemuddy,clear-cutfield,oneoftheolderwomenwailed,“Youcan’tdothat!Lookatourcrops.They’reallgone.Wehavenothingelse.” ThatwaswhenMagrealizedwhattheclear-cutfieldwas.Ithadbeenagarden,biggerthananygarden


she’deverseen,halfavalley’sworthofspaceclearedanddugupandplantedwithcrops.Andjudgingbytheseaofmudthatcoveredhalfofthevillagerightuptotheedgeofthecreek,theentirefieldhadbeenwashedoutofthehillsanddownintotheocean. “Wehavenothingelse,”thewomansobbed,lookinglikeshewasabouttocollapse. “Goodchoice,cuttingdownallthetrees,”Jacksaid,ashewentpastwithabasketofdriedfishonhisback. Forasingleterribleheartbeat,Magthoughtthespelloffearthatheldthevillagersbackwasgoingtobreak,thatallsixtyofthem,youngandold,wouldchargeforwardwiththeterribleforceofsurvivalinstinctandragesurgingintheirveinsdespitethethreatofKrin’saxe,anditwouldallbeover.Butthemomentstretched—Krintookasinglestepforward—andtheirragewaveredandpassed,leavingonlyaparalyzing,helplessgrief. Magfeltthesame.Somethinginherchesthadtornandshefeltlikeafishwithabrokenspine,gaspingfranticallyforbreathatthegillsbecausethatwasallitknewhowtodo,eventhoughitwasasgoodasdead. “Krin,”saidDrutentatively,pausingonhiswaydowntotheboatswithhisfirstheavyarmloadoffood.“Thechildren?It’snottheirfault.” Therewasaheavypause.Krin’simpassivefacetightened,shifted. “We’lltakeanyonewhoisn’tanadult,”heannouncedeventually. Butthevillagersrecoiled,severalpeopleoutrighthidingtheirchildrenbehindthem.“Don’tyoutouchmybaby,”onewomangroundout. “Theydon’thavetodie,”Krintoldher.“Thisisn’ttheirfault.” “You’renottakingmygirl!” “She’snotyourgirl.” “Sheismygirl!I’llkillyou!” Krinstaredatthevillagerswithsomeopen-mouthedmixtureofdisbeliefanddisgust.“You’reraisingyourownchildren.You’rebreakingthe


communitybecauseit’shardtomakethebetterchoice.What,doyouhavethemwithoutcommunityconsent,too,justbecauseyoufeellikeit?” Silence,exceptforthecryinginfantinthebackofthecrowd. “Thisiswhyyougivethebabytosomeoneelse!”Krinbellowed,freshlyincensed.“You’resoattachedyoucan’tmakesensibledecisionsanymore,andyou’regettingthemkilled!Theydon’thavetodieforyourstupidity!” “Don’t,”saidJackangrily.“Don’t.Letthemdoit.” “Thisisn’tthechildren’sfault,”Krinsnarled. “Letthemdoit!” Krinpointedtheaxe.“Selfish,”wasallhesaid,hisvoicetremblingforthefirsttime.“Stupidandselfish.”Withoutwarning,heswungtheaxearoundtopointstraightatMag,whohadbeenstandingstockstillwithabasketinherarms.“Andyou—go.” Magalmosttrippedoverherownfeetinherhastetomove.Ladenwithsupplies,sheturnedawayfromthestoragebuildingandstumbledtowardthebeachpath.WithherbackturnedtowardKrin,shealmostexpectedtofeeltheaxehitherinthespineatanymoment. “Mag!”avoicecriedsuddenly,anditwasworsethantheaxe.“Isthatyou?Mag!” Sheknewthatvoice:Urda.Sheknewitthewayshehadknownalloftheothervoices,allthefacesinthecrowdthatshehadbeentryingnottoidentify,nottoname,becauseifshedidthenshefeltlikeshewouldscreamandscreamforeverwiththeknowledgethatshewaskillingthem,killingthembecauseoftheaxeandthehideouslookonKrin’sface. Thiswasn’thowitwasdone. “Mag.Pleasedon’t.Mag.Mags,please.Don’tdothis.” BecauseoftheaxeandthebloodandthewayshecouldseeMicalor’sbrainthroughhisbrokenskullassheedgedaroundhisbodyonherwaytothepath,cryinghelplessly,tearsdrippingontothebasketof


foodinherarms. “Mag!” Shesteppedinapuddleandbloodsoakedintothestorm-tornfabricofherpants,andshewalkedaway,knowinginsometerriblepartofherheart—thepartthatwasrelievedwhenotherstookcontrol,andwascravenfromfearoftheaxe—thatthiswashowitwasalwaysdone,andalwayswouldbe.

OriginallywrittenforHUM260-C01,Winter2013.Allusionsinthetext,includingthetitle,reflectseveralworksconsulted:ThomasMore’sUtopia(eds.GeorgeM.LoganandRobertM.Adams),Waterworld(dir.KevinReynolds),andWilliamShakespeare’sThe Tempest(ed.Bevington).


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SimCity Societies: Destinations

Colin MacDonald

WEB SITE:http://www.simcity.com/

TheSimCitygames,whichfeatureurbanplanningandsimulatedgovernment,providetheplayerwithsometoolstocreateavirtualworld.Thetoolsarevaried,butalsolimited.These“strategygames”requireforethoughttoachievethegoal.Theplayerassumessomethingliketheroleofagodwithinthegame,whichisparalleltotheauthor’sroleinthetraditionalliteraryutopia.However,unlikethestaticutopianbook,inSimCitytheplayer-god-author’schoicesmustinteractwiththechoicesbuiltintotheprogram.Thisproducesacertainlevelofunpredictability,whichincreasesingamesdrivenbynarrative.

SimCitySocieties:Destinationsdiffersslightlyfromothergamesintheseriesinitsmechanicsandgoals.TheoriginalSimCitygamesarefocusedonacity’sinfrastructureandexpansion.Theplayerbuildsacity’sinfrastructurefromthegroundup.Allpublicutilities,fromelectricity,waterandmaintenanceareorchestratedbytheplayer.BuildinginfrastructureisstillnecessaryinSimCitySocieties,thoughthetaskissimplifiedwithpresetpatterns.Forexample,theplayerstillcontrolstheplacementofroads,butthegameonlyallowsforagridpattern,andthislimitstheplayertoalessorganicformofcityplanning.Anotherexampleoflimitedchoiceisenergysystems:theplayermaychoosefromenvironmentally-friendlysolarfarmsandwindfarms,orpollutionproducingcoalplants,butcannotinventnon-standardcombinationsofthevarioustechnologies.

Beyondthephysicaldimensionsofthesimulatedcityareitsgoals,suchasthegoalofhappiness.Theprogramcorrelatesfeaturessuchasbuildings,transportation,andpollutionwiththeincreaseordecreaseofhappiness.

MyexperiencewasthatwhenItriedconsciouslytoplanahappysociety,thepopulationturned“rogue”,butwhenIplayedmoreintuitively,choosingbuildingsorfeaturesbasedonwhatseemedtofeelright,thepopulationshowedahigherhappinessfactor.

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Photo: SimCity 4

The Utopia Chronology, Fall 2013

Contributors to Issue 2013.1JohnHerpergerisaUniversityofReginastudentinEnglishandMusicEducation.

AlexMacDonaldteachesEnglishandUtopianStudiesatCampionCollege,UniversityofRegina.ColinMacDonaldisaUniversityofReginastudentinFilm.

KathrynMcCuddenrecentlygraduatedfromtheUniversityofReginaandisnowdoinglanguagestudiesinBaieComeau,QuébecandToronto,Ontario.

CollaneRamseyisaUniversityofReginastudentinEducationandArts,majoringinEnglish.LeeWardteachesPoliticalStudiesatCampionCollege,UniversityofRegina.

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