On Wed, 21 Mar 2001 10:42:35 -0500 "Dana Shilling" dshilling@worldnet.att.net writes:

Is the Federation elite a large or small group? The phrase "the 400" to mean "high society" was coined because that was the number of people who could fit into Mrs. Astor's ballroom, and the same people got invited over and over again. Could any Alpha be expected to know every other Alpha in the Dome? Are there a few oligarchic families that intermarry?

Interesting question. Avon and Blake hadn't met while working on the same project and, I assume, living in the same dome (also assuming Avon was an Alpha, a debated point). Personally, I assume the Federation elite was made up of the following groups:

1) Military - Ironically, I would guess this is the most open to new blood. Although connections and family position would play a significant role in getting officer's training (not to mention plum posts), but there is more room for someone to rise by talent and for escaping class origins than in other areas.

2) Business - Probably the closest to 'the 400.' I'm assuming various key industries are dominated by owning families.

3) Gentry (for lack of a better term) - Not part of the actual power structure, this is the educated and skilled class (such as engineers) who help keep much of the business class going but who are sheltered from many of the uglier truths. This is the group the Federation is probably most interested in keeping up the democratic and benign pretense for, the people who believe the Federation is set up to accept peaceful change. Not precisely hereditary, but have various edges in getting into the right schools (from paying for 'extras' that are really necessary [types of schooling and such] to more grossly unfair tactics [scheduling entrance tests for days most delta children have to work] and the social pressure tactics [extreme social pressure for a lower born who rises too high to cut contact with lower grade family and friends, seriously effecting a family's decision to make the sacrifices necessary to help one of their children up the ladder. Also, lower grades perceptions of class prejudice (how higher grades like Blake and Bellfriar may percieve themselves or actually behave overall being largely beside the point) may make them conclude they'd still be trapped in lower jobs within the group.

4) Cynical gentry - people who lack the connections but whose jobs (or general life experiences) don't shield them from the harsher realities. For example, a computer expert who may be essential to running a bank (especially some of the nastier jobs involving very dirty, blood encrusted money laundering - or anything else cynicism inspiring) but who knows only family and the right kind of friends will ever make it to the real positions of power. Probably greater emphasis on skill than family, may even prefer people with less in the way of group 3 connections who might be either disillusioned or be able to make use of the information. I don't know that Avon got invited to many parties.

5) Civil leadership - A mix. Probably try to maintain connections with other wealthy and ifluential types. The true rulers are probably drawn the most from group 2. You probably don't get into a position of real power unless the established elite are sure you'll protect their interests. Probably some room to work up (Blake's lawyer was essentially group 3 but, had he survived and had his conscience erroded, could have worked his way into 5). Lower levels would be open to all groups (lesser gifted members of higher classes, essentially a variant on groups 3 and 4).

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