[B-Chan]

You'll recall that in the "Venus Equilateral" universe the author solved the problem created by the replicators by creating a deus ex machina -- a contrived substance ("identium") that for some mysterious reason exploded when exposed to the replicator's scanning beam.

I doubt that the Author of our universe will be as willing to create such a facile way out.

[jejones]

True, but OTOH, not having the replicator, we don't have the exact problem in the VE stories, just the general problem of the transition to an economy in which producing goods requires no labor.