) | |
| Author | J. Neil Schulman |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Agorism |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Crown Publishers |
Publication date | October 16, 1979 |
| ISBN | 978-1-58445-120-4 |
| OCLC | 43026939 |
Alongside Night is a dystopian novel by science fiction writer J. Neil Schulman intended to articulate the principles of Agorism, an anarcho-capitalist political philosophy created by Samuel Edward Konkin III, to whom Schulman dedicated the work.[1] It was first published during 1979 by Crown Publishers, with subsequent paperback editions released by Ace Books during 1982, Avon Books during 1987, Pulpless.com during 1999, and Amazon Kindle during 2009.
The novel received endorsements from Anthony Burgess and Milton Friedman and was entered into the Libertarian Futurist Society's Prometheus Hall of Fame in 1989. Ross Ulbricht credited the novel and Konkin’s writings as inspirations for the creation of the online marketplace Silk Road.[2]
A film adaptation, written and directed by Schulman, was released in 2014 via Tugg and later on Amazon Prime and home video. It was accompanied by an audiobook version of the novel as well as a graphic novel adaptation of the screenplay.
Plot summary
The story begins with the United States collapsing economically — bankers inflating the money supply, the government agents struggling to keep their power. Trading in foreign currency is illegal. Businesses are subject to rationing. As a result, there is a growing black market for everything. It's the world as Samuel Edward Konkin III conceived it prior to a successful agorist revolution.
Elliot Vreeland, son of Nobel Laureate Austrian School economist Dr. Martin Vreeland, learns of his father's apparent death, and is rushed home from school. But the death is fake, a plot concocted by his father to escape arrest by the government agents who are detaining "radicals" accused of worsening the economic crisis. Elliot is sent by his father to collect some gold coins stored in case the family has to escape.
Upon his return home, Elliot finds his family missing. Government agents enter the house searching for Elliot, who manages to escape.
Elliot becomes acquainted with the Revolutionary Agorist Cadre, an organization plotting the end of the government agents by means of counter-economics. The cadre is strong and organized, and has its militia. Elliot enlists their help, and meets Lorimer, a girl hiding from the government agents; they develop a relationship.
As the government agents weaken, they tighten controls on communication, travel, and trade. This fails to avert economic collapse, causing the private sector — unions, syndicates, and many unorganized individuals — to control the old infrastructure.
Film adaptation
| Alongside Night | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | J. Neil Schulman |
| Produced by | J. Neil Schulman J. Kent Hastings Rich Iott Kevin Latchford Austin Petersen Kevin Sorbo |
| Screenplay by | J. Neil Schulman |
| Based on | "Alongside Night" (novel) by J. Neil Schulman |
| Starring | Kevin Sorbo Christian Kramme Reid Cox Jake Busey Tim Russ Garrett Wang Gary Graham Sam Sorbo |
| Music by | Daniel May |
| Cinematography | Pat Kerby Scott MacDonald |
| Edited by | J. Kent Hastings J. Neil Schulman |
Production company | Jesulu Productions Braeburn Entertainment Stonegait Pictures |
| Distributed by | Tugg |
Release date | 2014 |
Running time | 78 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
In 2013, Schulman completed production on a feature-film adaptation of Alongside Night. The film was independently produced by several prominent libertarians, including Austin Petersen and Rich Iott. The film was shot entirely in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada, with principal photography lasting two years. Some scenes were shot at area libertarian and sci-fi conventions.
The cast stars Kevin Sorbo as Martin Vreeland, Christian Kramme as Elliot, Reid Cox as Lorimer, Sam Sorbo as Cathryn, and Jake Busey as The President. Several members of the science fiction and libertarian community were involved in the production and make on-screen appearances; including Star Trek actors Tim Russ, Garrett Wang, and Gary Graham, author Brad Linaweaver, and activist Adam Kokesh.
The film makes several changes to the source material, updated with current references and technology. The location changes from New York city to Las Vegas, and the character of Maureen Fischer was changed to a male named Murray Konkin (named for Samuel Edward Konkin).
The film premiered July 14, 2014 at the Laemmle Music Hall in Beverly Hills, California,[3] played in limited theatrical release from Tugg.com,[4] released for streaming on iTunes in 2014,[5] was released July 8, 2015 as a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack,[6] and released in 2015 for streaming on Amazon Video and Amazon Prime.[7]
Cast
- Kevin Sorbo as Dr. Martin Vreeland
- Christian Kramme as Elliot Vreeland
- Reid Cox as Lorimer
- Said Faraj as Sam Shalhoub
- Tim Russ as General Jack Guerdon
- Garrett Wang as Major Chin
- Gary Graham as Lawrence Powers
- Eric Colton as Philip Gross
- Ethan Keogh as Dr. Murray Konkin
- Sam Sorbo as Cathryn Vreeland
- Jake Busey as The President
- Mara Marini as Candy
- Valence Thomas as Tzigane
- Kyle Leatherberry as Larry Pournelle
- Adam Meir as Morris Gross
- J. Neil Schulman as Al
- Rebekah Kennedy as Marilyn Danforth
- Charlie Morgan Patton as Denise Vreeland
- Tom Slaughter as Monahan Scott
- Susan Smythe as Sharon Tucker
- Darren Robertson as Harry Tucker
- Dan Hewitt Owens as Danny
- Richard Hatch as The Silicon Assassin
- Brad Linaweaver as Curtis H. Landy
- Ann Lippert as Millicent Tobias
- Adam Kokesh as Himself
- Dennis Hof as Himself
- Ron Paul as Himself
- Jordan Page as Himself
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1-58445-120-4
- ^ Greenberg, Andy. "Collected Quotations Of The Dread Pirate Roberts, Founder Of Underground Drug Site Silk Road And Radical Libertarian".
- ^ "Alongside Night - Laemmle.com". www.laemmle.com.
- ^ "Trailer". tugg.com.
- ^ "Alongside Night on iTunes". iTunes.
- ^ "Alongside Night". 8 July 2015 – via Amazon.
- ^ "Amazon.com: Alongside Night: Kevin Sorbo, Christian Kramme, J. Neil Schulman: Amazon Digital Services LLC". www.amazon.com.
External links
- Alongside Night – Official Novel Website
- Alongside Night – Official Movie Website
- Alongside Night – Novel Page on Facebook
- Alongside Night – Movie Page on Facebook
- Alongside Night Short Videos – YouTube Short Video Play List