Island Worlds by John Maddox Roberts, Eric Kotani
Authors: John Maddox Roberts, Eric Kotani
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more effective. Less than twenty percent of the population is literate because it's too difficult a skill to acquire and who'd read anyway, with their heads plugged into the holo every non-working hour? Those that have work to do, anyway."
He took a deep breath. "Well, you'll get most of this when you go over my study. I chose that subject first of all because it's the most notable trend in holo programming these days, but also because I've wanted for years to emigrate and I keep an eye on developments like that." He began tapping out a snare-drum rhythm on the dashboard.
"Where were you planning to head out to?"
"The Moon. I have relatives in Armstrong and some other places. My clan's a big one."
"You may have to move sooner than you thought, if you don't want to go out as a licensed contract employee. Of course, your field may not be one of the ones they put under government control."
"Don't you believe it, man. Anything having to do with media handling is going to be under their thumb. That's why I plan to get out as soon as I can."
"And what would you do out there? I know there's always a demand for people with technical skills. Is there a lot of media work to be had?"
"Sure. Miners and settlers and convicts need entertainment and information, too. They have their own networks and info services and there are always teaching positions to be had in the schools. But that's not what I expect to be doing."
"What, then?"
"Politics." He seemed reluctant to expand on it, perhaps thinking he had already said too much. Thor knew it wouldn't take much to get him talking again.
"I wasn't aware that there were any politics to practice offworld."
"There will be. Agitation for some degree of independence is already starting. Where there's political agitation, parties are going to form. And what's the first thing a political party needs?"
Thor thought a moment. "Publicity, media exposure."
"In a word," Fu said triumphantly, "propaganda. That's where I come in." He glanced sideways at Thor. "Look, you don't impress me as a professor or a business exec. The way I read it, you're a grad student like me. Am I right?"
"That's right. Space-habitation engineering."
"So you've spent, what, six or seven straight years in university?"
"Closer to eight," Thor admitted.
"Then how come you're so far out of touch with what's going on? Universities are medieval institutions, I grant you, but students are the trendiest people on Earth. Undergrads, especially."
"I got my degree at Yale," Thor said, self-consciously. "I've been doing thesis work at Cambridge and Bern."
"That explains a lot. Where were you hoping to work? But, hell, you're a Taggart. I guess you can just take your pick."
"It's not that easy," said Thor, shaking his head. "I'm headed for the Belt. They won't take any deadwood out there, and family connections don't count for much if you don't have the needed skills. Besides, there isn't much love lost between the Earthbound and offworld branches of my family. There are more Taggarts and Cianos out there than they know what to do with anyway."
"You figure on going to Luna first?"
"That's the way it's looking," Thor said. "This is in strictest confidence, but I may just be going out unofficially and incognito. I want to finish my grad work. By that time, I won't be able to emigrate except as a licensed public servant under contract. But I'll have no trouble getting a temporary visa to go to the Moon for study or tourism. From there, maybe I'll be able to buy a passage out to the Belt. Business is conducted on a pretty freewheeling basis out there."
Fu was silent for a moment. "I may be able to put you onto something. Let me think about it for a while."
The Watts complex was coming into view. It blocked out an unbelievable section of sky. Parts of it blazed with light but large sections were dark. Inaugurated on January 1, 2001, the Watts development was to have been the showpiece answer to the ugliness of urban sprawl
He took a deep breath. "Well, you'll get most of this when you go over my study. I chose that subject first of all because it's the most notable trend in holo programming these days, but also because I've wanted for years to emigrate and I keep an eye on developments like that." He began tapping out a snare-drum rhythm on the dashboard.
"Where were you planning to head out to?"
"The Moon. I have relatives in Armstrong and some other places. My clan's a big one."
"You may have to move sooner than you thought, if you don't want to go out as a licensed contract employee. Of course, your field may not be one of the ones they put under government control."
"Don't you believe it, man. Anything having to do with media handling is going to be under their thumb. That's why I plan to get out as soon as I can."
"And what would you do out there? I know there's always a demand for people with technical skills. Is there a lot of media work to be had?"
"Sure. Miners and settlers and convicts need entertainment and information, too. They have their own networks and info services and there are always teaching positions to be had in the schools. But that's not what I expect to be doing."
"What, then?"
"Politics." He seemed reluctant to expand on it, perhaps thinking he had already said too much. Thor knew it wouldn't take much to get him talking again.
"I wasn't aware that there were any politics to practice offworld."
"There will be. Agitation for some degree of independence is already starting. Where there's political agitation, parties are going to form. And what's the first thing a political party needs?"
Thor thought a moment. "Publicity, media exposure."
"In a word," Fu said triumphantly, "propaganda. That's where I come in." He glanced sideways at Thor. "Look, you don't impress me as a professor or a business exec. The way I read it, you're a grad student like me. Am I right?"
"That's right. Space-habitation engineering."
"So you've spent, what, six or seven straight years in university?"
"Closer to eight," Thor admitted.
"Then how come you're so far out of touch with what's going on? Universities are medieval institutions, I grant you, but students are the trendiest people on Earth. Undergrads, especially."
"I got my degree at Yale," Thor said, self-consciously. "I've been doing thesis work at Cambridge and Bern."
"That explains a lot. Where were you hoping to work? But, hell, you're a Taggart. I guess you can just take your pick."
"It's not that easy," said Thor, shaking his head. "I'm headed for the Belt. They won't take any deadwood out there, and family connections don't count for much if you don't have the needed skills. Besides, there isn't much love lost between the Earthbound and offworld branches of my family. There are more Taggarts and Cianos out there than they know what to do with anyway."
"You figure on going to Luna first?"
"That's the way it's looking," Thor said. "This is in strictest confidence, but I may just be going out unofficially and incognito. I want to finish my grad work. By that time, I won't be able to emigrate except as a licensed public servant under contract. But I'll have no trouble getting a temporary visa to go to the Moon for study or tourism. From there, maybe I'll be able to buy a passage out to the Belt. Business is conducted on a pretty freewheeling basis out there."
Fu was silent for a moment. "I may be able to put you onto something. Let me think about it for a while."
The Watts complex was coming into view. It blocked out an unbelievable section of sky. Parts of it blazed with light but large sections were dark. Inaugurated on January 1, 2001, the Watts development was to have been the showpiece answer to the ugliness of urban sprawl
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