"Lines of Power: We, in Some Strange Power's Employ, Move on a Rigorous Line"

1968 Delany, Samuel R[ay] (b. 1942). “Lines of Power: We, in Some Strange Power’s Employ, Move on a Rigorous Line.” The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction 34.5 (204) (May 1968): 4-46. Rpt. as “We, in Some Strange Power’s Employ, Move on a Rigorous Line.” Illus. Michael Sorkin. In his Distant Stars (New York: Bantam Books, 1981), 293-352; rpt. illus. Michael Sorkin (New York: ibooks, 2004), 293-352; in his Driftglass. Ten Tales of Speculative Fiction (New York: New American Library, 1971), 139-90. Book rpt. without the subtitle. New York: Gregg Press, 1977. Book Club edition (Garden City, NY: Nelson Doubleday, 1971), 130-84. In his Distant Stars (New York: Bantam Books, 1981), 293-352. Rpt. illus. Michael Sorkin (New York: ibooks, 2004), 293-352; in his Driftglass (Garden City: Nelson Doubleday, 1971), 130-83; in his Driftglass/Starshards (London: Grafton, 1993), 155-222; and in his Aye and Gomorrah. Stories (New York: Vintage Books, 2003), 122-81. PSt

Conflict between two visions of a better life, one technologically based and one off the grid. The law requires that every community above a certain very small size must be provided with electrical power whether it is wanted or not. African American author.