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What if Cities Moved Around on Wheels, and Had to "Eat" Other Cities to Survive?

Predatory cities: Mad Max meets "Municipal Darwinism"

By Rain Noe - December 19, 2017

in Urbanism

This is a fascinating concept: Imagine a post-apocalyptic future where surviving humans are clustered in cities--that are all up on enormous wheels and roam the earth in search of ever-dwindling resources. And to get by, they can snack on other, smaller cities.

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That's the concept of author Philip Reeve's "Predator Cities" series of sci-fi books, and now Peter Jackson has gone and turned it into a movie called "Mortal Engines," named for the first book.

The trailer just came out yesterday. Here's what that world looks like:

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I love Reeves' term for this type of society: "Municipal Darwinism." I am imagining this scenario taking place in America, envisioning New York gobbling up Miami, Chicago eating Milwaukee, Houston eating everything. But I can't decide whether San Francisco would eat L.A. or vice versa.

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Paul Evans

6 years ago

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As a reader of the original series, I am not exceited for this. The books had a massive vision that I never expected would translate well into film/tv. Even with the recent advancements in CGI that have been I don't think it'll be a huge hit.

Myself and my brother were the *only* people I knew that have read the books.

Ah well, I can only hope that it turns out well.

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Sean Horita

6 years ago

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Nick Harkaway had something like this in 'Gone-Away World'. Also vaguely similar to Stephenson's Seveneves future scenario and mobile cities. Looks neat!

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Z Hulett

6 years ago

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Not a fan of the movie logo.

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