[ClearCase_guy]

Well, sure. The author clearly took some ideas from the role that monasteries played in the Dark Ages after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. I think there are also elements borrowed from Asimov's Foundation series -- you cannot stop a collapse: they are inevitable at some point. But you can focus on improving your ability to pick up the pieces after the collapse occurs.

From my perspective, the modern world has made few overt efforts in that direction.

[Sherman Logan]

“The Mote in God’s Eye” by Niven and Pournelle has an immensely ancient alien civilization with a LONG history of such collapses and rebirths with “museums” set up that can only be entered when post-apocalyptic groups regain sufficient civilization and knowledge.