This work of speculative fiction is structured as an oral historical past undertaking. Within the 2040s and 2050s, nation states worldwide start to topple. The onslaught of local weather disaster, battle, and financial collapse results in a world revolution, and, in its wake, a brand new social construction emerges. Instead of the previous nations ruled by oppressive, grasping ruling lessons, individuals arrange themselves into communitarian communes.
This oral historical past undertaking is meant to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the New York Commune. The authors interview 12 individuals dwelling in or linked with the commune. Some had been a part of its founding or concerned within the revolution’s early days. Others grew up within the commune and by no means skilled the world because it was earlier than. The interviews cowl numerous subjects, from ecological restoration, infrastructure, and manufacturing to family-making, trauma, and well being care. In a single, a trans intercourse employee who was a part of the revolt that led to the creation of the commune talks about how intercourse work has modified because the fall of worldwide capitalism. In one other, an individual talks about their experiences working with refugees and the way the trauma that so many individuals lived via in the course of the wars has formed the way in which the commune capabilities.
Via these interviews with a various vary of characters from many backgrounds and differing experiences and worldviews, the authors supply readers area to tangle with so many thorny questions on work, incapacity, art-making, psychological well being, justice, and the way we join with one another. What if our fundamental wants weren’t tied as to if or not we’re capable of work? What if we didn’t need to reside in remoted nuclear households however had been free to create distinctive and sprawling household constructions? What if we made selections about transportation and meals manufacturing regionally? What if we really embraced transformative justice? What if youngsters may discover their genders joyfully and with out judgment?
The world of this guide feels so far-off, and possibly it’s. However one of many nice powers of speculative fiction is that it permits us to attempt issues out, to dream and stretch and wrestle and picture, to say, properly, what if? What can we do in a different way? What may that seem like? This guide gave me permission to grieve and rage and plan and picture all on the identical time. It’s not soothing or comforting, however is each hopeful and clarifying. I do know I’ll be returning to it many times all through this 12 months.