Last of the Deliverers

Poul Anderson, "The Last of the Deliverers" (1957; revised version 1976).

Description

Dan Clore:

"After the USA and USSR have broken up, thanks to a source of cheap, decentralized solar energy, -- the highest level of political organization consists of libertarian-socialist townships. (Anderson would not have used the term socialist.) In these townships, the community owns the land and such tools of production as tractors, plows, and harvesters, but those who raise the crops own the produce. Others are also self-employed, preferring to produce quality, crafted goods as needed, and spending the rest of their time in other rewarding pursuits, such as making love and hunting deer, rather than worrying about making a profit. In a town in Ohio, the last capitalist debates the last communist, and everyone else is bored by their irrelevance." (http://www.nolanchart.com/article4700.html)