Here, within the ring of hills, Bors had constructed an accurate and detailed reproduction of a society two centuries gone. The world as it had been in the old days. The time of governments. The time that had been pulled down by the Anarchist League.
Philip K. Dick, "The Last of the Masters"
"The Last of the Masters" (aka "Protection Agency") is a science fiction novelette by Philip K. Dick. It was published by the Hanro Corporation in the final issue of Orbit Science Fiction in 1954. It has since been reprinted in several short story collections, beginning with The Golden Man in 1980.
"The Last of the Masters" depicts a society 200 years after a global anarchist revolution has toppled all other nations (the exact year is unstated). Civilization has stagnated due to the loss of scientific knowledge and industry during the now-legendary revolt. Elsewhere, the last state, commanding a highly centralized and efficient society, is in hiding from the Anarchist League, a global militia preventing the recreation of any government. When three agents of the League are sent to investigate rumors of the microstate's existence, the government arranges their deaths, leading to the death of one and the capture of another. Tensions rapidly escalate after the agents of the state realize that the third has escaped. Assuming he will report the state's existence, the government mobilizes for total war. In actuality the surviving anarchist elects to attempt his comrade's rescue and assassinate the head of state: the last surviving "government robot".
Primarily based on a theme of anarchism, the story utilizes character dialogue to convey political and ethical philosophy on various topics. While receiving minor attention prior to the author's death in 1982, the story has since seen greater circulation in P.K.D. short story collections, and has been reviewed and analyzed for its moral ambiguity and political implications, as well as for the Christian allegory of its titular character. (read more...)