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Path: utzoo!hoptoad!ihnp4!homxb!homxc!paco
From: paco@homxc.UUCP
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk
Subject: Re: Story ideas
Message-ID: <2066@homxc.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 9-Nov-87 13:52:31 EST
Article-I.D.: homxc.2066
Posted: Mon Nov  9 13:52:31 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Nov-87 00:08:08 EST
References: <323@PT.CS.CMU.EDU>
Organization: Shrewsbury Twp, NJ
Lines: 47
Summary: A daring-do version

In article <323@PT.CS.CMU.EDU>, skh@SPICE.CS.CMU.EDU (Steve Handerson) writes:
> 
> 
> While flaming out Ray Frank, I got a great idea for cyberpunk.
> I haven't read any (?) cyberpunk novels, but I hope to get to it soon.
> Well, ok, I've read some P.K.Dick, and actually this was probably
> implicit in Bladerunner.  Anyway, here it is:
> 
> COMPANIES AS GANGS
> 
> Some time in the distant dusty legal history of our society,
> some jerk came up with the idea that COMPANIES WERE INDIVIDUALS.
> Therefore, they have all the rights of individuals.
> (with none of the responsibility -- no ONE PERSON is responsible
>  for the company's actions.  Or maybe that's the president or 
>  something, while the chairman is who makes the decisions...)
> 
> Basically it's getting harder to survive without belonging to some
> company.  This "join or die" philosophy naturally links in with gangs,
> gang warfare, etc.

Okay, well, gee if you want a sappy, daring-do story along these
lines then take a look at "Friday" by R. Heinlein.  You're in luck,
the tale gets narrated by a genetically engineered female assassin
and the author truly lives up to both his reputation as a dirty old
man, as well as his penchant for an emotional storyline.

Multinational corporations become governments.  They hire private
spy agencies to do assassinations, nuke cities where other firms
have headquarters, buy planets, etc.  Also, a particular worldwide
religious organization which I won't mention gets banned and exiled
to another star system; Heinlein makes that part humorous.  Some
interesting ideas, but mostly the story was tailored to hit the
early 80's bestseller market unfortunately.

paco.
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Prosecutors will be violated.  In fact, I went to school with Andy
Freeman, and that's exactly why I chose to becum an axe murderers.