John Brunner was an excellent Sci Fi writer, but the distopian vision he put forth was more dependent upon cultural forces than any advancement in technology.
High level executives living as roommates. People having possession of “their” apartment only for an eight hour shift. Women who would go home with you just to put a roof over their heads. Tobacco illegal and Pot legal because the Gov wants people stoned out not amped up. Birth restrictions of particular genotypes. Societal condemnation of anyone with more than two children. And, the point of this diversion, an “emotional index” to language being used.
What really got me was the concept of “Mr and Mrs Everywhere”. You got your image fed into your TV and then “Mr and Mrs Everywhere” looked like you and the misses. All it took was one “And I think candidate Johns has a sensible policy on Issolla” from the lips of Mr. Everywhere and people thought that HIS opinion was their own (after all didn't they just see themselves say it?).
I remember all that, even the shaggy-dog ending.
You know, all that (and there’s tons more) reminds me of Japan today. I like to think that Joss Whedon has filtered Brunner to strain out the obvious leftism and show that the future can be both dystopic and survivable.
And I kind of like that way of thinking.