circa 1980s-90s SF paperback search

[tvthiele]

The SF paperback was set in a future where humans had populated the solar system but did not have the technology to go beyond the solar system. As a result, the solar system was thoroughly colonized to the point where there were no new places to develop. The plot's current socio-political activities were played out on landscapes that had witnessed countless previous socio-political events; there was nothing new; everything was used and reused. It gave me the sense of humanity being trapped in a snowglobe with no where to go.

Does this ring any bells???

 

[Pyan]

Hi, tvthiele, and welcome to the Chrons.

To give our members the best possible chance of finding this story, can you have a look here, and see if there's any further details you can remember?

Thanks.

 

[Danny McG]

It sounds like a human version of Moties!

 

[tachyon]

Maybe Quarantine by Greg Egan, but not a lot to go on here.

 

[Billy.Oblivion]

It sounds a lot like Iain M Banks' Against A Dark Background - although AADB isn't set on Earth or in our solar system. It came out in 1993, I think? It may or may not be the book you're looking for, but it was a fun read.