Anchorite
Randall Garrett
Read by Phil Chenevert
Randall Garrett sticks a sharp needle into our government and society in this wonderful story. He projects the current trends towards paternalistic government into the future. Yes, we have attained a world government and everyone is equal whether they want to be or not; everyone is taken care of no matter how incompetent, stupid or sleazy they are and everyone is out to undermine everyone else. The author predicts (sadly only too well) what the trends of today will eventually produce if allowed to continue.
But wait! there is hope in the asteroid belt where jerks and incompetents are weeded out by hard physical laws and only those who possess common sense and the ability to actually survive are allowed to govern. But will the Earth government allow this to continue? Of course not. Listen to this great story to have a peek into the future. (2 hr 2 min)
Chapters
| Part 1 | 43:19 | Read by Phil Chenevert |
| Part 2 | 44:38 | Read by Phil Chenevert |
| Part 3 | 34:17 | Read by Phil Chenevert |
Reviews
Bravo from Borneo
Lord Jim
This is an elegant short story intelligently written. It's triumph comes by playing on our own preconceptions about the people that undertake hard laborious jobs and whether we really believe they can operate subtly to achieve much higher objectives than we believe they are not capable of envisioning for themselves. It's also about the nanny state being so incapable of managing a true pioneering spirit and an individual's right and even capability to manage their own risk. Great short sci-fi story that makes you think a bit at the end about life and whether it is really worth trying to get through it without making a mistake...well...not a fatal once at least!
a story for our time!
darthlaurel
If the term snowflake triggers you, give this story a pass. This is about merit, earning your stripes, and doing the work of a man who has earned respect by hard work and diligence. It is also about the dysfunction of a government that tries to protect people from themselves and the harsh realities of real, valuable work.
Government is all?
sherbk
Such a statement of today's political idealogy. The individual is lost for the good of the whole. Told with a sense of humor. Phil reads great
A great sci-fi short.
Seven Archers
A classic Sci-fi short, very entertaining. Phil does an excellent job reading as usual.
Loved the whole story and the ending is great
Juan Ignacio San Martin
Anchorite
David R. Smith
Well read, fun listen - thanks!
very nice One Of My favorites
Theo Ekelmans