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Nathan Jerpe
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  		   Posted 3/7/2008 10:16 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I've heard about stories out there that speculate on what the world would be like in an economic era of post-scarcity, i.e. when technology has reached the point that all material wants are satisfied, and natural resources have become essentially unlimited.
 
I thought this was a really interesting idea, so I figured maybe someone could recommend some further reading?
 
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Bill Ward
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  		   Posted 3/7/2008 11:05 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Iain Banks Culture novels are set in a far-flung galactic empire in which all material needs are met, and he comes up with some interesting motives for his characters to do anything. Most fo the action takes place on the periphery of the Culture, where it rubs up against more primitive societies.

Charles Stross writes a lot of post-singularity stories--the singularity being the point at which technological capability 'explodes' (usually because of AI self awareness) to create a world of near limitless energy, potential, and possibilities, and humanity enters a 'post-human' age. That book Radical Evolution sitting unread in your book pile Mr. Jerpe talks about the singularity in terms of potential changes (modifications) in human biology an physiology.

Cory Doctorow had a pretty interesting future of plenty in his 'Magic Kingdom' book where he posited a form of 'reputation,' kept by electronic tally, as the sole form of currency and status.

Thing is, I stopped reading both Stross and Doctorow's books, so I can't really recommend them, just state that they fit what you are looking for.

billwardwriter.com

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SJHigbee
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  		   Posted 4/1/2008 2:29 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Ken MacLeod's The Cassini Division, where some humans have downloaded their intellects into silicon probably would tick your "post scarcity" box nicely - and is an excellent read into the bargain.

Also, Dan Simmons' Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion would also fall into this category, given that the Hegemony regards itself as the pinnacle of human achievement - and some of the conclusions Simmons makes are thought provoking and interesting, even if you don't agree with them.

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Nathan Jerpe
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  		   Posted 4/1/2008 4:05 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
SJHigbee said...
Ken MacLeod's The Cassini Division, where some humans have downloaded their intellects into silicon probably would tick your "post scarcity" box nicely - and is an excellent read into the bargain.

Also, Dan Simmons' Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion would also fall into this category, given that the Hegemony regards itself as the pinnacle of human achievement - and some of the conclusions Simmons makes are thought provoking and interesting, even if you don't agree with them.

Thanks! Yet another vote for the Hyperion Cantos, I can almost hear the sound of me being sucked in... 

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Hamstersbane
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  		   Posted 4/1/2008 4:10 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Isn't that a big part of Star Trek?

Jeff Parish
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Gustavo
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  		   Posted 4/2/2008 3:00 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
The second and third stories in Asimov's Robot series deal with Spacer societies that have this kind of layout, as seen through the eyes of an Earthman who doesn't share the viewpoint.

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