The Sword and Laser discussion

Early in the novel, when Liz makes a connection with the first death and another 'accidental' death (with some shared characteristics) that occurs in an entirely different country, I thought that was a highly unlikely connection to make. But shortly thereafter it's revealed that the global rate of violent crimes in the near-future of Rule 34 is very, very low. So low that incidents like these could come under immediate scrutiny and seem suspiciously related.

Now, it doesn't seem crime and vice in general has decreased in the world of Rule 34, even if it's maneuvered into some new territories, and I couldn't really detect a reason why violent crime would have decreased *that* radically. This also made me wonder about the Rule 34 unit itself. Unless I misunderstand it, it's not a thought-crime unit, but is instead scouring internet memes and behaviors for incipient actual crime/violence. But if psychotic behavior/violence is so rare, would such a unit be a practical investment of law enforcement, even as a department backwater? Is the idea that the Rule 34 unit acts like Minority Report's "Precrime" division, but with network/meme analysis instead of precogs, and that's why violent crime is low? But if that were the case, wouldn't it be a highly regarded unit instead of a department backwater?

For those of you who've read
Halting State, the earlier book set in the same world, does that book explain this part of the world?

I don't remember where it said that global violent crime was low, I think I remember Liz saying that there were an average of 9 murders in Edinburgh a year, which is about what it is now
(source: http://www.edinburgh-inspiringcapital...)

Which would fit with the story, as it looks as though attempts at any kind of pre-crime are at their early stages (view spoiler)[and not working (hide spoiler)]. I got more of an impresssion that the Rule 34 squad is monitoring internet mayhem to prevent and control general hi-jinx, affronts to public decency and general panic and to assist other units with the internet side of their cases rather than to reduce violent crime per ce.

Kate wrote: "I don't remember where it said that global violent crime was low, I think I remember Liz saying that there were an average of 9 murders in Edinburgh a year, which is about what it is now
(source: ..."

Ah, you're right. I could have sworn there was some part of it that mentioned the low of murder world-wide as a rationale for connecting the far-flung crimes, but I can't find it, and the murder rate in Edinburgh that Liz mentions is about what it is now. Maybe I made the low-global-murder-rate thing up because I couldn't understand why such disparate seeming-accidents would get connected otherwise (at least, before the number of incidents mushroomed).

Yeah, your explanation of the Rule 34 squad's purpose makes sense.

Jlawrence wrote: "Maybe I made the low-global-murder-rate thing up because I couldn't understand why such disparate seeming-accidents would get connected otherwise (at least, before the number of incidents mushroomed)."

Well I think part of the Rule 34 squad is being really (implausibly?)good at connecting cases. There's this one bit where Liz reads her email and it's all descriptions of crimes, or suspicious activity along with requests for anyone whose seen anything similar to get in touch.

Yes, that does fit. You've answered my questions and filled in the plot hole I apparently dug myself. :)