Just sign here... (Concordant setting)

[gridlore]

Getting away from the blimps for a second, I was thinking about making indentured servitude part of the setting.

Historically, this was a common way for those too poor to pay the cost of passage to the New World to make the trip. A formal agreement for a period of time where the indentured person worked for the family that paid his/her way over. I could see this becoming big as we move into space.

It would of course be tightly regulated (and an entire arm of the legal profession would spring up around it) but it could make for some fun plot points.

Any opinions?

Comments

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

I see colonization going in waves, with the first wave funded by the Terran superpowers grabbing land, followed by the exodus of every racial/religious/social group that wants a homeland all their own. The degree of xenophobia will determine how far they'll run (yes, the Aryan Nations types will have a small empire. Can't have good Space Opera without Space Nazis.)

In the "modern day" (which is currently late 25th Century in my notes) new colonies are established through the Ministry of Colonization, who insure that the proposed colony is properly funded, has enough people signed up to insure genetic diversity, etc. In most cases, you sign on to a new colony by paying in - you become a vested shareholder.

Later, after the colony has been established, you can start attracting skilled workers (and unskilled labor) by offering indentures to cover the high cost of travelling out to the rim. Not all indentures are going to be for miners or farm hands! I can see a colony "headhunting" firemen, engineers, and teachers to fill skilled roles. The indentures insures that they'll hang around long enough to at least start training locals in those roles.

As far as I can tell, you'll see a situation a lot like what we have in Firefly. Technology that is useful and can be easily repaired will be common on colony worlds. As they grow in population and create more solid industrial infrastructure, you'll see franchise factories open to produce the modern goods seen in the more established worlds. A colony nearing its centennial might be a very interesting place.. it'd have a beanstalk, and the city at the base would be very cosmopolitan and modern, but go 200 miles in any direction and you'll find the equivilant of sodbusters and mules working the land.

At least they're not hunting Squonks.

[10binary-cats.livejournal.com]

(yes, the Aryan Nations types will have a small empire. Can't have good Space Opera without Space Nazis.)....

JEWSSS in SPPAAAAACCCEEE!