SF story ID: AR-18, Esso, We-ans

Cafe Society
1

Help me identify a science fiction book or story. Here’s what I remember, or think I remember:
[ul][li]The protagonist was Black (I think).[/li][li]He discovers an Armalite AR-18 (or the civilian AR-180 version) hidden in a wall. The wall may have been made of stone.[/li][li]He thinks he is in the land of Esso, because ‘Esso’ is prominently displayed at the top of the ancient map he has.[/li][li]He thinks the people of the ancient country were called ‘We-ans’, because he read the Preamble to the Constitution that said ‘We, the people’.[/li][li]As he travels on a crumbling freeway, he wonders why the We-ans had two roads going to the same place.[/ul][/li]I may have read the story in Omni, but ISTR it was a book. I’m not sure. If it was a book, it was probably a selection from the Science Fiction Book Club from back in the late-'70s or early-'80s.

Ring any bells?

2

The Weans by Robert Nathan? Loading interface...

Googling suggests that the book is an expansion of articles originally published in Harper’s magazine - maybe Omni reprinted those?

3

I recognise Robert Nathan’s name, but the book was published in 1956 and the AR-18 wasn’t designed until 1963, and wasn’t produced until 1969.

4

Sorry. Here’s an article that mentions some other books in the “Future Archeologist” category - http://www.locusmag.com/Perspectives/2009/08/gary-westfahl-addled-archaeology-of.html .

5

That’s way older than Omni. Perhaps the OP is conflating two works. Does he remember the Weans principal opponent, the Ussers (USSR)?

6

Also known as the “More-wes.”

7

I’m not at all sure I read it in Omni, and I think it was too long for a magazine. But it’s entirely possible I’m conflating two stories.

I am sure about the Armalite found hidden in a wall.