Ecotopia: The World of the Future

The Book

"Ecotopia" is a futuristic novel about a country based on a "stable-state ecosystem." Ecotopia was formed when Northern California, Washington and Oregon seceded from the union of the United States. The new nation is an economical utopia with advanced methods of energy conservation and work ethics. Since its secession from the United States no American tourists have been allowed to cross its border. Now, twenty years later, Ecotopia has officially allowed the first American visitor into the country. The Times Post has sent international affairs reporter William Weston on a six-week investigative mission into Ecotopia where he will report on the economy and the lifestyle and dispel what will prove to be outlandish rumors regarding life in Ecotopia.

Because Ecotopia prohibits airplanes from entering its territory on the grounds of air and noise pollution, William Weston arrives at the Reno airport where he must take a taxi ride to the Ecotopian border. At the border, the guards question Weston with an air of suspicion. After checking his gun (because no concealable weapons are allowed in Ecotopia), he is allowed to pass and he drives on to the Tahoe station of the Ecotopian train system. Here Weston encounters his first surprise.

Upon seeing his train Weston remarks, "It looked more like a wingless airplane than a train" (7). Inside the train there were no seats, only beanbag cushions scattered about in no particular fashion. The floor was carpeted and the odor of marijuana hung in the air from the cigarettes being smoked by the passengers. At both ends of the car were bins marked "M," "G" and "P" which Weston learns are recycle bins for metal, glass, and paper and plastic. The train itself operates...

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..."Ecotopia" really holds its own. I was skeptical when I started reading. It sounded like a piece of science fiction in the beginning. I was pleasantly surprised however. Typically, journalistic types of literature read more like memoirs. They are generally reflective of somebody's life or specific adventures. This book was unique in that it effectively used the journal style to convey a completely fictional novel. That was very interesting to me. Its style and tone makes it easy for the reader to believe that life could exist as presented in the text and that we have the power to save our own planet. I would definitely recommend this book not only to those interested in economy or environmentalism, but I would also suggest that it be read by (or to) every fat cat in Washington in charge of deciding how the money of the American people is to be best spent.