Limes inferior
by Janusz A. Zajdel · first published 1982
55% recommend45% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Dystopian Polish sci-fi from 1982 about a future where most people do not work and the state controls money and identity; readers praise its satire and how its currency and basic-wage policies feel uncomfortably current.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Limes inferior (Latin for lower limit) is a social science fiction dystopian novel written in 1982 by the Polish author Janusz A. Zajdel. Limes inferior, one of Zajdel's best known works, is a dystopia showing a grim vision of a future society resulting from a merger of the two systems competing at the time - communism and capitalism. It is a seemingly free society, which is in fact tightly controlled through a system of electronic biometric ID cards (Keys), censored media and other forms of social control. It was recognized as the best science fiction novel in Poland in 1982. credit: ht
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Any discussion of basic income should at least mention the excellent novel by Janusz Zajdel, "Limes Inferior" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limes_inferior). I think he very accurately portrays a system where everyone is guaranteed basic income (along with some other interesting and mostly terrifying concepts).…
on “A Dutch city is giving money away to test the basic income theory” ↗"Limes inferior" by Janusz Zajdel (1982) is also very interesting. Sci-fi in a post scarcity world where stupid are provided for, and smart are forced to work. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limes_inferior Author came…
on “The Star Trek Economy” ↗And just to get at the topic of anti-establishement satire in poish literature, the prime example has always been Janusz Zajdel. Especially his late two most aacknowledged works, "Limes Inferior" and "Pardyzja" primarily depict totalitarian, dystopian systems and the means of people to game them. It is a great shame that he has been taken by cancer at a relatively young age because the world…
on “The Future According to Stanisław Lem” ↗I love dystopian novels and have recently finished reading Limes inferior[1] by J. Zajdel. Policies implemented in the story (written in 1982!) and their similarity to present day politics are frightening! SPOILER ALERT: I'm describing the currency system from the novel. Currencies…
on “Swiss to vote on preventing cashless society, pressure group says” ↗Please read Limes Inferior written by Andrzej Zajdel to learn what are Republicans and other right-winged afraid of.
on “Has Brazil Invented the Future of Money?” ↗Solaris is such a unique concept. From Polish authors I've really enjoyed Limes Inferior by J. Zajdel. The concept of means of payment spoke to me, when I had my own wondering about workless future and digital currencies.
on “My favorite cult sci-fi and fantasy books you may not have heard of before” ↗I really recommend Limes Inferior written by Andrzej Zajdel. I hope it is possible to read it in English. It describes a dystopian state that is currently coming to us.
on “Dystopian Surveillance Is Becoming a Reality” ↗For those interested in thinking about issues of a future society where most humans do not work, I'd highly recommend reading "Limes Inferior" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limes_inferior), a thought-provoking book where many of these issues are raised. The idea of paying people a basic wage even if they do not perform any useful work is not…
on “Robot Workers and the Universal Living Wage” ↗…aspect of some of the books, especially these written by Janusz Zajdel (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janusz_Zajdel). Unfortunately it seems none of his work was translated to English. In Zajdel's Limes Inferior we have a society divided into classes. The monetary system was divided into points (green, red and yellow) and being in the lowest class you would only earn green points that should cover necessities.…
on “Stanisław Lem” ↗Wow. Never heard of Janusz Zajdel or Limes Inferior, but i'm intrigued after reading the wiki pages for both. The book's summary brings to mind Zamyatin's "We." Are you translating it into English, and is there a publisher lined up?
on “The Truth, by Stanisław Lem (1964)” ↗People interested in "Nineteen Eighty-Four" by George Orwell might also be interested in "Limes inferior" by Janusz A. Zajdel, "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley and "Animal Farm: A Fairy Story" by George Orwell.
on “EU Council has withdrawn the vote on Chat Control” ↗Very similar story in Zajdel's Limes Inferior
on “IT employment grew by just 700 jobs in 2023” ↗I'm working on a translation of Limes Inferior, which is a novel about a stratified socialist economy, likely a commentary on soviet society.
on “The Truth, by Stanisław Lem (1964)” ↗