Free Software Community facts in fiction

[William Dungan, Jr.]

Gistmass Story is a modern retelling of Homer’s Odyssey. The whole story 
starts here: http://Gistmass.org/Story/2004-02-14.html 
<http://Gistmass.org/Story/2004-14.html> The first installment is 83 
pages long, and over 30,000 words.


A woman who hasn’t seen him since college, meets the protagonist, UV 
Faust (i.e. Ulysses), and the two discuss his estranged relationship 
with his ex-wife Penny (i.e. Penelope) and their son Telemachus 
(nicknamed Telly). That discussion begins here: 
http://Gistmass.org/Story/2004-02-14.html#Amtrak_Coast_Starlight 
<http://Gistmass.org/Story/2004-02-14.html#Amtrak>


On the long train ride, he discusses his company’s involvement in the 
Free Software Community, and has to explain everything to her. That part 
begins here: 
http://Gistmass.org/Story/2004-02-14.html#Free_Software_Community 
<http://Gistmass.org/Story/2004-02-14.html#Amtrak>


In it he compares Microsoft to socialized medicine and the “free world” 
to free market health care. In one section, he labels Richard Stallman 
and Linus Torvalds as two leaders of the free world. That part beings 
here: http://Gistmass.org/Story/2004-02-14.html#Stone_Soup 
<http://Gistmass.org/Story/2004-02-14.html#Amtrak> The name Richard 
Stallman is mentioned on pages 53, 56, and 61.


He also uses an analogy of the American Revolutionary War, with the 
Microsoft monopoly like the English monarchy and the Free Software 
Community like patriotic American revolutionaries bringing democracy to 
the economic sphere. That part begins here: 
http://Gistmass.org/Story/2004-02-14.html#Revolutionary_Ware 
<http://Gistmass.org/Story/2004-02-14.html#Amtrak>


Enjoy,

William Dungan, Jr.
FSF member #7144