Kris Neville is another obscure part-time science fiction writer (full-time scientist) who crossed paths with Harlan Ellison as Ellison was putting together the
Dangerous Visions collection. In this story the terrible dystopia revolves around education and career choices for individuals in the future. They evidently don't have much say in it, as formalized testing in the first four years of life determines a person's course. Then some kind of horrible medical procedure locks it in. Our 3-year-old hero in this story has been slated to be a scientist, which his parents support and push him toward. His parents are awful to him, calling him a filthy shit. Their abuse is the worst thing going on here, as far as I can see. The story attempts the point of view of the child, but I was skeptical, partly because I have no memories myself of being that age. Personalities are still being worked out at that point—that's pretty much scientific (child developmental) understanding, now and when the story was written. In a way I envy the kid. I've spent a lifetime second- and third-guessing my career choices. For that matter, a scientist sounds like a better life than others. If this future society has given up, say, slavery in exchange for assigned middle-class careers, it sounds closer to utopia overall to me. The title is perhaps the main giveaway that this story is little more than received antigovernment farting. Because of the age I lived in, I'm still quicker to believe evil corporate conspiracies over government versions, but either way it's all a little tired. Junior may well be losing some precious spark of human individualism, but I'm not sure the first years of life are the most effective or convenient time to snuff it out. Ultimately, I did think there was a good sense of the child's fear here—the point of view is actually pulled off. But partly as a result, the fears and concerns feel more childish. As a kid, he doesn't have that much credibility for his plight. Babies are well known for crying all the time about everything. You're frequently trying to calm them down over things like a loud noise. Maybe his terrors are well-founded and it's cruel to force him to be something he isn't. On the other hand, isn't the testing intended to look for what he is? At the same time, his parents are monsters. I'm not sure how it's all supposed to add up.
Dangerous Visions, ed. Harlan Ellison
Unfortunately, my impression has always been that "received antigovernment farting" like libertarianism is very popular and populist. And I wouldn't suggest authoritarian forms of gov aren't a concern, of course. But it's that the gov has been captured by a plutocratic, antigov, antienvironment, donor class, and corporate oligarchy that is right now the bigger problem. Libertarians don't see it this way, though. They make a big deal ab big bad government but rationalize over how Wall Street rigs the system. This is one of the real crucibles to the future, if America can overcome this myth-bound idiocy. And the prospects are not looking good, if you ask me.
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