Days to publication date: 50

In my last post I discussed one of the topical blogs I created that simultaneously exists as a stand-alone enterprise and relates to my upcoming novel, Luck and Death at the Edge of the World.

Last time I talked about Homo Artificialis, which has to do with the possibility of creating sythetic human bodies and the real-life, present-day science that could lead to it. The use of synthetic bodies, either as replacements for bodies that are aging or sick or as ugrades to augment certain capacities, is something that is possible, but not yet commonplace, in the world of Luck and Death.

But cybernetics isn’t to everyone’s taste, so today I want to introduce you to a very different blog, Once and Future Mexico.

A large portion of Luck and Death is set in Mexico City, which I visited in 2006 for the express purpose of writing that portion of the book.

Since the book is a work of science fiction, the Mexico City it portrays is not the current city but a version circa the mid-2200s. (As the name of the blog implies, though, projecting forward sometimes requires looking back — the best futurists are always, at least in part, historians.)

Between now and the time of Luck and Death, the United States of America has expanded into an empire, become unweildy, and then collapsed in upon itself, leaving behind independent nations (like California and Texas), city-states (like New York City), the disastrous Grey Zones that have consumed most of middle America and Canada (where civilization has collapsed completely), and a number of foreign territories — including Mexico — that the U.S. formerly dominated and which now coexist uneasily with it.

If you think the US/Mexico border is freighted with politically incendiary meaning today, imagine a world where Sacramento has no compunction about sending its troops into Tijuana to “pacify” the civilian population to prevent disorder or insurrection on its border.

OAFM looks primarily at the future of Mexico, both in reality and in fiction. The parts grounded in reality look at current social, economic, and cultural trends, while the parts related to fiction look at science fiction that is set in — and often cretaed in — Mexico.

So what exactly does OAFM cover?

The most recent article, posted just today, is called MeXbox Rising: Mexico’s Gaming Industry Turns Into a Monster. It looks at the recent rapid growth of gaming in Mexico and the beginnings of a local game design industry. It includes several videos, a large infographic, and links to numerous articles.

Here are a few past stories:

Space Age Mexico! — Mexico’s Space Program, founded in 2010 (includes several videos)

Artists in Mexico City Dissect the Future — A look at an art exhibit in Mexico City focused on the notion of time.

Mexican Science Fiction, Part III: Three Messages and a Warning — This looks at a recent collection of Mexican fantastic literature. Parts I and II reviewed made-in-Mexico science fiction films.

When Books Attack! A Suggestion to Assist Enrique Peña Nieto — A look at the state of this year’s presidential election and its front runner.

If you can’t get away to visit Mexico just now, visit its future online. And for readers who are from Mexico, or whose heritage is Mexican, I look forward to your comments. I’ve had several positive reactions so far, but feel free to write not only with compliments but also with critiques. I’m always looking for ways to improve the site.

As always, I can be reached at nas@nassauhedron.com