Three Californias Trilogy (The The Wild Shore, Gold Coast, Pacific Edge) by Kim Stanley Robinson

Peterson

Ecofiction

Three Californias Trilogy

Three Californias Trilogy (The The Wild Shore, Gold Coast, Pacific Edge) by Kim Stanley Robinson

Ecology 3/5
Overall 3/5

In a slightly dated work from the 1980's Robinson presents three alternative visions of future Orange County, California's each focussing upon the same cast of characters, and a young man's coming of age, but in radically different societies. A post-apocalyptic California in 'The Wild Shore', an over-developed soulless California of 'the Gold Coast', and a troubled 'ecotopia' in the "Pacific Edge."

Excerpt from Pacific Edge:

Much of Kevin's education - the parts he really remembered - had come from Tom on their hikes together, from asking questions and listening to Tom ramble. 'I hated capitalism, because it was a lie!' Tom would say, fording Harding canyon stream with abandon. 'It said that everyone exercising their self-interest would make a decent community! Such a lie!" Splash, splash! 'It was government as protection agency, a belief system for the rich. Why even when it seemed to work, where did it leave them? Holed up in mansions and crazy as loons."

. . .

'Feedback loop,' Kevin said, trying to stick to analysis. A relationship has feedback loops, like any other ecology.