>There's a better example in his "Diamond Age" but I forget what
>they were called....
Funny you should mention "The Diamond Age", I have it at my elbow
(re-reading) Are you refering to the neo-Victorians, the Ashanti,or
one of the many other "Phyles" mentioned.
>It's an example which has often appealed to me, but the problem
>lies in having your phyle (what is the origin of this term, BTW?)
>defend your widely dispersed interests in territory owned by
>others. How does the cavalry get past the border patrol to rescue
>you?
I don't recall what phyle is short for, if I remember I'll let you
know. If you recall from the book our skull gun packing friend Bud
assaulted a member of the Ashanti (who were a tribe and not just a
phyle) as a result of which a large team of Ashanti flew in and
searched out the perpetrator, and placed him under "personnel
arrest". They immediately sought out the proper authorities and you
recall the rest. (no spoiler here) This is one possibility.
Nicely done I might add.
Brian
Member, Extropy Institute