Matt’s Reviews: Sideshow by W.R. Thompson

book cover: Sideshow by W.R. Thompson

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Baen
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 2, 1988
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 346 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 067165375X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0671653750
  • Author: W.R. Thompson

 

I found this book in a little used book store while I was on a trip. I knew nothing about the book or the author other than what I read on the book jacket. I do like to support independent book sellers so I wanted to buy something and chose Sideshow by W.R. Thompson .
It is a good little story of the little guy striving against oppression and finding love, etc. but it is only a ‘good’ story, not great. The thing I found REALLY interesting about this book is how prescient it was. The book is set in (mostly) Los Angeles in the ‘future’ year 2000. It was published in 1988 (while Reagan was still in office, well before 9/11 and the Department of Homeland Security, etc.)
The author foresaw:
  • a central federal police authority whose original purpose was to fight terrorism but was at least somewhat co-opted to do the bidding of the current political party in power.
  • a large evangelical group being used as a political tool by…
  • a fascist leaning party led by a charismatic leader taking advantage of economic turmoil and scapegoating a minority group to try to rise to power over the US
  • a large Eco-terrorist group that was trying to bring down the social structure. He really mostly missed on this one, but there is a little bit echoed in some of the more extreme Antifa type folks.
  • the polarization between the more left wing and right wing groups
  • an overall fall in rationality and critical thinking in the U.S. as people put entertainment over facts.
He also saw a rise in mental health issues, but he missed when he foresaw a national Mental Health Bureau being formed to help the mentally ill, but being co-opted to control a minority group (in this case the ‘telepathics’ or ‘witches’).
As I said, it is a good little story and it is worth reading for the story alone, but it is not a great story. It does make me want to read more by this author to see what else they envisioned. Unfortunately, it appears this is the only book I can find that they published.
I would like to speak with the author and ask them what they saw in the late 1980’s that gave them a view of the type of things that are happening now in the 2020’s. If they are still around, I wonder what other trends they are seeing
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