Just a little idea I've had kicking around the back of my brain for the last few weeks. It's not really complete, but there's enough here to get
the idea across.
(Sidebar on Food/Trade page?)
===== The Vitamin Man =====
An unfortunate fact of life in Fenspace is the regrettably
limited diet available to most of its inhabitants. Although the
variety, quality and quantity of food produced in Fenspace have
both been increasing over the years, and imports from the Danelaw
have likewise increased, it is still very easy for a careless Fan
to suffer the effects of malnutrition. The problem is even more
critical for fenkinder.
It didn't take long after the first diaspora of Fen into space
for someone to recognize this need and act to fill it. In early
2008, Antonio Mendoza of Austin, TX 'waved a large panel truck,
filled it with all manner of vitamins and dietary supplements
purchased wholesale from a local supplier, and took off for
Fenspace. He was the first Vitamin Man, and became a familiar
face to the first wave of Fen colonists as he traveled from
settlement to settlement (and sometimes vehicle to vehicle)
selling his wares both retail and wholesale to those who needed
them.
As awareness of Mendoza grew in Fenspace, so did demand, and soon
several Vitamin Men were running their own routes. Most were
like Mendoza, being honest businessmen, but several became
infamous for price-gouging, and allegedly one was spaced when his
stock was discovered to be worthless sugar pills. Despite this,
by 2012 the Vitamin Man and his truck have become a regular and
welcome sight to Fen throughout the solar system.
Unlike some of his less-scrupulous competitors, Mendoza charged
little more than his wares would cost Earthside. Initially he
accepted American currency, but as it grew in short supply and
Fenspace's native economy evolved, he became willing to take
almost anything in trade, refusing anything he felt was
disproportionately valuable. When his customers had nothing to
offer was he was willing to let them have his wares on credit; he
claims proudly that almost none of the credit customers ever
defaulted on him.
For his first few restock runs he returned to his native Austin,
but after the United States grew hostile to Fen he was forced to
seek out suppliers elsewhere. After trying several outlets in
Europe, Mendoza eventually became part of the wave of Fen
activity which established Australia as Fenspace's "home port" in
the Danelaw. While his vitamin route has not made him rich, he
is comfortable and content, and as of early 2012 finalized a deal
with an Australian pharmaceutical company to license "Vitamin
Man" brand vitamins and dietary supplements for sale both on
Earth and in Fenspace.
I'd probably want to go into a bit more detail about Mendoza and his truck, plus I want to include a bit about him adding spices and herbs to his stock.
But this is enough to see if people like the idea.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.
the idea across.
(Sidebar on Food/Trade page?)
===== The Vitamin Man =====
An unfortunate fact of life in Fenspace is the regrettably
limited diet available to most of its inhabitants. Although the
variety, quality and quantity of food produced in Fenspace have
both been increasing over the years, and imports from the Danelaw
have likewise increased, it is still very easy for a careless Fan
to suffer the effects of malnutrition. The problem is even more
critical for fenkinder.
It didn't take long after the first diaspora of Fen into space
for someone to recognize this need and act to fill it. In early
2008, Antonio Mendoza of Austin, TX 'waved a large panel truck,
filled it with all manner of vitamins and dietary supplements
purchased wholesale from a local supplier, and took off for
Fenspace. He was the first Vitamin Man, and became a familiar
face to the first wave of Fen colonists as he traveled from
settlement to settlement (and sometimes vehicle to vehicle)
selling his wares both retail and wholesale to those who needed
them.
As awareness of Mendoza grew in Fenspace, so did demand, and soon
several Vitamin Men were running their own routes. Most were
like Mendoza, being honest businessmen, but several became
infamous for price-gouging, and allegedly one was spaced when his
stock was discovered to be worthless sugar pills. Despite this,
by 2012 the Vitamin Man and his truck have become a regular and
welcome sight to Fen throughout the solar system.
Unlike some of his less-scrupulous competitors, Mendoza charged
little more than his wares would cost Earthside. Initially he
accepted American currency, but as it grew in short supply and
Fenspace's native economy evolved, he became willing to take
almost anything in trade, refusing anything he felt was
disproportionately valuable. When his customers had nothing to
offer was he was willing to let them have his wares on credit; he
claims proudly that almost none of the credit customers ever
defaulted on him.
For his first few restock runs he returned to his native Austin,
but after the United States grew hostile to Fen he was forced to
seek out suppliers elsewhere. After trying several outlets in
Europe, Mendoza eventually became part of the wave of Fen
activity which established Australia as Fenspace's "home port" in
the Danelaw. While his vitamin route has not made him rich, he
is comfortable and content, and as of early 2012 finalized a deal
with an Australian pharmaceutical company to license "Vitamin
Man" brand vitamins and dietary supplements for sale both on
Earth and in Fenspace.
I'd probably want to go into a bit more detail about Mendoza and his truck, plus I want to include a bit about him adding spices and herbs to his stock.
But this is enough to see if people like the idea.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.