Hostile Takeover Trilogy
Encyclopedia
Hostile Takeover is a science fiction
trilogy (actually one long novel in three parts) written by S. Andrew Swann
and published by DAW Books
where the main setting is the Anarcho-capitalist
planet of Bakunin
. It consists of three books titled Profiteer, Partisan and Revolutionary, which were published between 1995 and 1996 and re-released by DAW in a single volume in 2004.
The series is set in the 24th Century, in the same universe as Swann's Moreau series
. In this future, the various races of earth—human, "moreau
", and "frank" (genetically engineered
human, short for "Frankenstein
")—have settled a number of worlds and established a loose confederacy of powers. The extraterrestrials
that manipulated Earth's politics and economy in the Moreau series have been quarantined, but their AI
machines (which may still be manipulating human society) are now used by humans.
While Hostile Takeover is an example of libertarian science fiction
in the tradition of Robert A. Heinlein
and L. Neil Smith
, its portrayal of society on the planet Bakunin is arguably much more critical of the basic premise of anarchism
than is typical of the genre, coming close to a libertarian dystopia
. By casting a machiavellian
space opera
plot against this setting, the author plays out many of the potential criticisms inherent in the planet Bakunin's social order. The two main premises being:
While Swann's portrayal of anarchism falls far short of advocacy, it is clear in the text that his sympathy is with the anarchists and not with the state. The citizens of Bakunin prevail, though it is notable that they do so not by force of arms, but by exploiting the laws of the Terran Confederacy that attacked them.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
trilogy (actually one long novel in three parts) written by S. Andrew Swann
S. Andrew Swann
S. Andrew Swann is a science fiction and fantasy author living in Solon, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, where much of his fiction is set. He was born Steven Swiniarski and has published some of his books as Swiniarski and some as Swann...
and published by DAW Books
DAW Books
DAW Books is an American science fiction and fantasy publisher, founded by Donald A. Wollheim following his departure from Ace Books in 1971. The company therefore claims to be "the first publishing company ever devoted exclusively to science fiction and fantasy." The first DAW Book published was...
where the main setting is the Anarcho-capitalist
Anarcho-capitalism
Anarcho-capitalism is a libertarian and individualist anarchist political philosophy that advocates the elimination of the state in favour of individual sovereignty in a free market...
planet of Bakunin
Mikhail Bakunin
Mikhail Alexandrovich Bakunin was a well-known Russian revolutionary and theorist of collectivist anarchism. He has also often been called the father of anarchist theory in general. Bakunin grew up near Moscow, where he moved to study philosophy and began to read the French Encyclopedists,...
. It consists of three books titled Profiteer, Partisan and Revolutionary, which were published between 1995 and 1996 and re-released by DAW in a single volume in 2004.
The series is set in the 24th Century, in the same universe as Swann's Moreau series
Moreau series
Nohar Rajasthan is the private investigator from the Moreau series of books by S. Andrew Swann published by DAW Books...
. In this future, the various races of earth—human, "moreau
Biological uplift
In science fiction, uplift is the development or transformation of animals into an intelligent race by other, already-intelligent beings. The concept appears in David Brin's Uplift series and other science fiction works.-History of the concept:...
", and "frank" (genetically engineered
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
human, short for "Frankenstein
Frankenstein
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is a novel about a failed experiment that produced a monster, written by Mary Shelley, with inserts of poems by Percy Bysshe Shelley. Shelley started writing the story when she was eighteen, and the novel was published when she was twenty-one. The first...
")—have settled a number of worlds and established a loose confederacy of powers. The extraterrestrials
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
that manipulated Earth's politics and economy in the Moreau series have been quarantined, but their AI
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
machines (which may still be manipulating human society) are now used by humans.
While Hostile Takeover is an example of libertarian science fiction
Libertarian science fiction
Libertarian science fiction is a sub-genre of science fiction that focuses on the politics and social order implied by libertarian philosophies with an emphasis on individualism and a limited state-- and in some cases, no state whatsoever....
in the tradition of Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
and L. Neil Smith
L. Neil Smith
L. Neil Smith , also known to readers and fans as El Neil, is a libertarian science fiction author and political activist. He was born on May 12, 1946 in Denver...
, its portrayal of society on the planet Bakunin is arguably much more critical of the basic premise of anarchism
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
than is typical of the genre, coming close to a libertarian dystopia
Dystopia
A dystopia is the idea of a society in a repressive and controlled state, often under the guise of being utopian, as characterized in books like Brave New World and Nineteen Eighty-Four...
. By casting a machiavellian
Niccolò Machiavelli
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was an Italian historian, philosopher, humanist, and writer based in Florence during the Renaissance. He is one of the main founders of modern political science. He was a diplomat, political philosopher, playwright, and a civil servant of the Florentine Republic...
space opera
Space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
plot against this setting, the author plays out many of the potential criticisms inherent in the planet Bakunin's social order. The two main premises being:
- Any such society will naturally end up in some form of equilibrium between armed pseudo-state entities. In the novel's case, armed corporations and outlying communes and at least one very aggressive church.
- Any such society is inherently vulnerable to attack and subversion by external statist powers.
While Swann's portrayal of anarchism falls far short of advocacy, it is clear in the text that his sympathy is with the anarchists and not with the state. The citizens of Bakunin prevail, though it is notable that they do so not by force of arms, but by exploiting the laws of the Terran Confederacy that attacked them.