# I can't believe I'm doing an "identify the SF story" thread, but here it is... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 28, 2019, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-believe-im-doing-an-identify-the-sf-story-thread-but-here-it-is/836202 "2019-06-28T04:21:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-believe-im-doing-an-identify-the-sf-story-thread-but-here-it-is/836202/1 "2019-06-28T04:21:21Z")
So, sometime in the early to mid 1980s, I remember reading a paperback SF story that I checked out from the Austin Public Library. In fact, I think it was a series of maybe a couple of books. When I read it (them?), I was in junior high or high school (graduated HS in 1986). As a middle-aged person, I am much more interested in and active within politics. As a teen, I missed the political aspects of the story, but I’d like to re-explore these stories as an adult. Here’s the thing – I don’t really remember the plot. However, I remember that the setting was an alternate universe to our own. The protagonist was from 1980s USA and he somehow ended up in this alternate Earth. In the alternate universe, the Whiskey Rebellion was settled differently and the US national government never gained real power. Instead, North America became a sort of libertarian paradise. Being free from government interference, science and technology moved much faster than in the “real” universe that we know. I remember that children in this world traditionally received a gun as a tenth birthday gift. Guns were seen as keeping the peace. I remember a scene were the newcomer protagonist from “our” world was nearly hit by a vehicle because it was going so very fast. One character was explaining the world to the newcomer and explained that everyone had only themselves to rely upon. An example he gave was that, if one wants a streetlight in front of one’s house, one had to put one up yourself. Don’t expect the neighbors to pitch in. In fact, the guy said that the neighbor was likely to say “Get your photons off of my property!” I get the feeling that the author was advocating for this libertarian mindset, but I’m not sure. As a teen, I didn’t really pick up on the political subtext, but, ironically, that seems to be all that I remember from the story. I don’t remember the plot, the author, the names of characters, or much else. Does this ring a bell with anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-believe-im-doing-an-identify-the-sf-story-thread-but-here-it-is/836202/2 "2019-06-28T04:45:18Z")
Almost certainly [this](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Confederacy) (based on googling _whiskey rebellion libertarian science fiction_.) ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-believe-im-doing-an-identify-the-sf-story-thread-but-here-it-is/836202/3 "2019-06-28T04:57:56Z")
The SDMB is amazing. Got it in one. Thanks so much. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-believe-im-doing-an-identify-the-sf-story-thread-but-here-it-is/836202/4 "2019-06-28T11:25:22Z")
Be sure to read [the author’s page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Neil_Smith). He ran for President in 2000 and got 5,775 votes. The first book in the series got an award that he created himself. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-believe-im-doing-an-identify-the-sf-story-thread-but-here-it-is/836202/5 "2019-06-28T11:54:25Z")
Reading on Wikipedia about Ayn Rand walking on the Moon is the point where I laughed out loud. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-believe-im-doing-an-identify-the-sf-story-thread-but-here-it-is/836202/6 "2019-06-28T12:21:24Z")
From the link in the OP about the alternate history: > [@](#): > > Following the war, Alexander Hamilton fled to Prussia and lived there until he was killed in a duel in 1804. Even in an alternate universe, Hamilton can’t catch a break. Killed in a duel in the same year. Further down in the writeup: > [@](#): > > The Probability Broach won the 1982 Prometheus Award, an award created by Smith himself and given by the Libertarian Futurist Society.[7] The Nagasaki Vector, Tom Paine Maru, The Gallatin Divergence and The American Zone were all Prometheus Award finalists. Well, I guess that’s one way to become an award-winning author – institute the award yourself.