Scan barcode
A review by officerdean
Emphyrio by Jack Vance
5.0
This book was my first by Jack Vance and I was pleasantly surprised. I know they say don't judge a book by its cover but this cover kept turning me off and I kept bypassing it on my shelf for something else. I'm glad I finally picked it up because I could not put it down.
I found Ambroy to be the perfect metaphor for the United States. Ambroy was controlled by a bureaucracy that had run efficiently for a thousands of years. The citizens of Ambroy believed the Lords to be in charge, but they were just as much victims as the citizens, even though they managed to maintain a better quality of life. The people in control taxed the citizens on the goods they produced a minimal 1.18%, but there was no free market and the people in control engaged in price setting and payment in vouchers. Welfare agents were employed by the bureaucracy to monitor the goods people produced to make sure all goods were original and nothing was being reproduced. All originals were handed over to be sold. This way no one was allowed to become financially independent. Welfare benefits were also given by the bureaucracy to people who were "cooperative." If you did not want to be "cooperative" you did not receive benefits and were known as a "non-cup."
For me this was a clear metaphor for the US Federal Reserve and their complete control over people's lives. They make currency, tell you what it's worth, and tell you you have to use it. They control the supply and the inflation. Granted the US has a slightly more free market than Ambroy, but just like in Ambroy the system is highly controlled and true financial independence is a dream and illusion, unless you're Ghyl Tarvoke.
I found Ambroy to be the perfect metaphor for the United States. Ambroy was controlled by a bureaucracy that had run efficiently for a thousands of years. The citizens of Ambroy believed the Lords to be in charge, but they were just as much victims as the citizens, even though they managed to maintain a better quality of life. The people in control taxed the citizens on the goods they produced a minimal 1.18%, but there was no free market and the people in control engaged in price setting and payment in vouchers. Welfare agents were employed by the bureaucracy to monitor the goods people produced to make sure all goods were original and nothing was being reproduced. All originals were handed over to be sold. This way no one was allowed to become financially independent. Welfare benefits were also given by the bureaucracy to people who were "cooperative." If you did not want to be "cooperative" you did not receive benefits and were known as a "non-cup."
For me this was a clear metaphor for the US Federal Reserve and their complete control over people's lives. They make currency, tell you what it's worth, and tell you you have to use it. They control the supply and the inflation. Granted the US has a slightly more free market than Ambroy, but just like in Ambroy the system is highly controlled and true financial independence is a dream and illusion, unless you're Ghyl Tarvoke.