Skip to content
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • World
  • Users
  • Groups
Skins
  • Light
  • Brite
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (Cyborg)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Brand Logo

CIRCLE WITH A DOT

  1. Home
  2. Uncategorized
  3. Mad fantasy-fic idea: what if even death is no escape from the law, and contracts signed in life remain binding after shuffling off this mortal coil?

Mad fantasy-fic idea: what if even death is no escape from the law, and contracts signed in life remain binding after shuffling off this mortal coil?

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Uncategorized
55 Posts 44 Posters 37 Views
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • infoseepage@mastodon.socialI infoseepage@mastodon.social

    @cstross Immortality as a product/treatment is anything new for SciFi. It's been providing rich fodder for authors for decades upon decades of speculation on the perverse shapes civilizations with access to such technology might take. You've got books like Vance's To Live Forever and Sheckley's Immortality, Inc. going back to the 1950's. Personal favorites growing up are Haldeman's Buying Time and Boat of a Million Years.

    infoseepage@mastodon.socialI This user is from outside of this forum
    infoseepage@mastodon.socialI This user is from outside of this forum
    infoseepage@mastodon.social
    wrote last edited by
    #26

    @cstross Lately, caught a few episodes of The Beauty, which is about a lab created immortality virus which gets loose, mutates and is sexually transmissible. It radically reshapes individuals for youth, health and beauty, but comes with a ticking time bomb of spontaneous combustion within a few years of infection unless you get an expensive suppressive shot. Sort of the ultimate in "the first one is always free" perpetual rent seeking.

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • infoseepage@mastodon.socialI infoseepage@mastodon.social

      @cstross Immortality as a product/treatment is anything new for SciFi. It's been providing rich fodder for authors for decades upon decades of speculation on the perverse shapes civilizations with access to such technology might take. You've got books like Vance's To Live Forever and Sheckley's Immortality, Inc. going back to the 1950's. Personal favorites growing up are Haldeman's Buying Time and Boat of a Million Years.

      cstross@wandering.shopC This user is from outside of this forum
      cstross@wandering.shopC This user is from outside of this forum
      cstross@wandering.shop
      wrote last edited by
      #27

      @Infoseepage You haven't read my SF, have you? (Hint: try "Glasshouse".)

      infoseepage@mastodon.socialI 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • cstross@wandering.shopC cstross@wandering.shop

        Mad fantasy-fic idea: what if even death is no escape from the law, and contracts signed in life remain binding after shuffling off this mortal coil?

        In this setting, all contract lawyers are necromancers. A zombie is what you get when an undischarged bankrupt dies. And so on.

        highlandlawyer@mastodon.socialH This user is from outside of this forum
        highlandlawyer@mastodon.socialH This user is from outside of this forum
        highlandlawyer@mastodon.social
        wrote last edited by
        #28

        @cstross
        Tales from the Black Chamber

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • cstross@wandering.shopC cstross@wandering.shop

          @Infoseepage You haven't read my SF, have you? (Hint: try "Glasshouse".)

          infoseepage@mastodon.socialI This user is from outside of this forum
          infoseepage@mastodon.socialI This user is from outside of this forum
          infoseepage@mastodon.social
          wrote last edited by
          #29

          @cstross I've read your stuff fairly comprehensively, but somehow missed that one. Tossing it on my list now.

          cstross@wandering.shopC 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • cstross@wandering.shopC cstross@wandering.shop

            Mad fantasy-fic idea: what if even death is no escape from the law, and contracts signed in life remain binding after shuffling off this mortal coil?

            In this setting, all contract lawyers are necromancers. A zombie is what you get when an undischarged bankrupt dies. And so on.

            astronomy_a2z@mstdn.socialA This user is from outside of this forum
            astronomy_a2z@mstdn.socialA This user is from outside of this forum
            astronomy_a2z@mstdn.social
            wrote last edited by
            #30

            @cstross

            mjj@mstdn.dkM 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • cstross@wandering.shopC cstross@wandering.shop

              Mad fantasy-fic idea: what if even death is no escape from the law, and contracts signed in life remain binding after shuffling off this mortal coil?

              In this setting, all contract lawyers are necromancers. A zombie is what you get when an undischarged bankrupt dies. And so on.

              hmfons@mastodon.socialH This user is from outside of this forum
              hmfons@mastodon.socialH This user is from outside of this forum
              hmfons@mastodon.social
              wrote last edited by
              #31

              @cstross The Orzhov Syndicate would like a word.

              usmu@kind.socialU 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • cstross@wandering.shopC cstross@wandering.shop

                Mad fantasy-fic idea: what if even death is no escape from the law, and contracts signed in life remain binding after shuffling off this mortal coil?

                In this setting, all contract lawyers are necromancers. A zombie is what you get when an undischarged bankrupt dies. And so on.

                angusm@mastodon.socialA This user is from outside of this forum
                angusm@mastodon.socialA This user is from outside of this forum
                angusm@mastodon.social
                wrote last edited by
                #32

                @cstross "The Victorians were onto something with their debtors' prison. So I'd like to introduce you to a little concept we're working on. It's called debtors' Hell …”

                kruku@mastodon.bida.imK 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • infoseepage@mastodon.socialI infoseepage@mastodon.social

                  @cstross I've read your stuff fairly comprehensively, but somehow missed that one. Tossing it on my list now.

                  cstross@wandering.shopC This user is from outside of this forum
                  cstross@wandering.shopC This user is from outside of this forum
                  cstross@wandering.shop
                  wrote last edited by
                  #33

                  @Infoseepage A thing i should have made clear in the front matter is that "the glasshouse" is old British army slang for a military prison.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • davidgerard@circumstances.runD davidgerard@circumstances.run

                    @cstross 3dfx inspired, right?

                    mhkohne@mastodon.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
                    mhkohne@mastodon.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
                    mhkohne@mastodon.social
                    wrote last edited by
                    #34

                    @davidgerard @cstross Sounds like a mix of the Laundry's 'residual assets' is it? With Max Gladstone's stuff. Neat!

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • cstross@wandering.shopC cstross@wandering.shop

                      Mad fantasy-fic idea: what if even death is no escape from the law, and contracts signed in life remain binding after shuffling off this mortal coil?

                      In this setting, all contract lawyers are necromancers. A zombie is what you get when an undischarged bankrupt dies. And so on.

                      pilotmoondog@social.linux.pizzaP This user is from outside of this forum
                      pilotmoondog@social.linux.pizzaP This user is from outside of this forum
                      pilotmoondog@social.linux.pizza
                      wrote last edited by
                      #35

                      @cstross I think that was the point of the original Haitian zombie myth. Slavery continues, even after death.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • tarah@infosec.exchangeT This user is from outside of this forum
                        tarah@infosec.exchangeT This user is from outside of this forum
                        tarah@infosec.exchange
                        wrote last edited by
                        #36

                        @LordWoolamaloo @cstross came here to say this.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • cstross@wandering.shopC cstross@wandering.shop

                          Mad fantasy-fic idea: what if even death is no escape from the law, and contracts signed in life remain binding after shuffling off this mortal coil?

                          In this setting, all contract lawyers are necromancers. A zombie is what you get when an undischarged bankrupt dies. And so on.

                          a_cubed@mastodon.socialA This user is from outside of this forum
                          a_cubed@mastodon.socialA This user is from outside of this forum
                          a_cubed@mastodon.social
                          wrote last edited by
                          #37

                          @cstross
                          There's something of this in Max Gladstone's Craft sequences.

                          max@smeap.comM 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • cstross@wandering.shopC cstross@wandering.shop

                            Mad fantasy-fic idea: what if even death is no escape from the law, and contracts signed in life remain binding after shuffling off this mortal coil?

                            In this setting, all contract lawyers are necromancers. A zombie is what you get when an undischarged bankrupt dies. And so on.

                            mainframed767@infosec.exchangeM This user is from outside of this forum
                            mainframed767@infosec.exchangeM This user is from outside of this forum
                            mainframed767@infosec.exchange
                            wrote last edited by
                            #38

                            @cstross ah, a fantasy version of RoboCop

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • cstross@wandering.shopC cstross@wandering.shop

                              Mad fantasy-fic idea: what if even death is no escape from the law, and contracts signed in life remain binding after shuffling off this mortal coil?

                              In this setting, all contract lawyers are necromancers. A zombie is what you get when an undischarged bankrupt dies. And so on.

                              R This user is from outside of this forum
                              R This user is from outside of this forum
                              redmeepleryan@dice.camp
                              wrote last edited by
                              #39

                              @cstross Just when you thought you were out, iteas for a Laundry Files anthology pull you back in. *chuckles darkly* 🙂

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • hmfons@mastodon.socialH hmfons@mastodon.social

                                @cstross The Orzhov Syndicate would like a word.

                                usmu@kind.socialU This user is from outside of this forum
                                usmu@kind.socialU This user is from outside of this forum
                                usmu@kind.social
                                wrote last edited by
                                #40

                                @HmFons @cstross

                                Came here to say this.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • cstross@wandering.shopC cstross@wandering.shop

                                  Mad fantasy-fic idea: what if even death is no escape from the law, and contracts signed in life remain binding after shuffling off this mortal coil?

                                  In this setting, all contract lawyers are necromancers. A zombie is what you get when an undischarged bankrupt dies. And so on.

                                  thepdog@mas.toT This user is from outside of this forum
                                  thepdog@mas.toT This user is from outside of this forum
                                  thepdog@mas.to
                                  wrote last edited by
                                  #41

                                  @cstross Great concept. Maybe after you finish your sequel?

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • cstross@wandering.shopC cstross@wandering.shop

                                    Mad fantasy-fic idea: what if even death is no escape from the law, and contracts signed in life remain binding after shuffling off this mortal coil?

                                    In this setting, all contract lawyers are necromancers. A zombie is what you get when an undischarged bankrupt dies. And so on.

                                    remittancegirl@mstdn.socialR This user is from outside of this forum
                                    remittancegirl@mstdn.socialR This user is from outside of this forum
                                    remittancegirl@mstdn.social
                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #42

                                    @cstross I like it. It's got legs!

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • cstross@wandering.shopC cstross@wandering.shop

                                      Mad fantasy-fic idea: what if even death is no escape from the law, and contracts signed in life remain binding after shuffling off this mortal coil?

                                      In this setting, all contract lawyers are necromancers. A zombie is what you get when an undischarged bankrupt dies. And so on.

                                      nonya_bidniss@infosec.exchangeN This user is from outside of this forum
                                      nonya_bidniss@infosec.exchangeN This user is from outside of this forum
                                      nonya_bidniss@infosec.exchange
                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #43

                                      @cstross While this idea is quite different, for some reason it reminded me of the Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. Series by Kevin J. Anderson, which I enjoyed quite a lot & wished there was more of.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • cstross@wandering.shopC cstross@wandering.shop

                                        Mad fantasy-fic idea: what if even death is no escape from the law, and contracts signed in life remain binding after shuffling off this mortal coil?

                                        In this setting, all contract lawyers are necromancers. A zombie is what you get when an undischarged bankrupt dies. And so on.

                                        flippac@types.plF This user is from outside of this forum
                                        flippac@types.plF This user is from outside of this forum
                                        flippac@types.pl
                                        wrote last edited by
                                        #44

                                        @cstross You're pretty close to the world of The Craft Cycle and Craft Wars books, ofc

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • xchaos@f.czX xchaos@f.cz

                                          @moira @cstross Actually, almost exactly this idea is behind evolution of term "debt" from "sin". If you read Graeber's Debt: The First 5,000 Years, you kind of feel, that the religions originated exactly from such concept.

                                          martinvermeer@fediscience.orgM This user is from outside of this forum
                                          martinvermeer@fediscience.orgM This user is from outside of this forum
                                          martinvermeer@fediscience.org
                                          wrote last edited by
                                          #45

                                          @xChaos @moira @cstross In Dutch even the same word: schuld.

                                          1 Reply Last reply
                                          0
                                          Reply
                                          • Reply as topic
                                          Log in to reply
                                          • Oldest to Newest
                                          • Newest to Oldest
                                          • Most Votes


                                          • Login

                                          • Login or register to search.
                                          • First post
                                            Last post
                                          0
                                          • Categories
                                          • Recent
                                          • Tags
                                          • Popular
                                          • World
                                          • Users
                                          • Groups