Re: The World Wide Neural Net & The Technomad

Eugene Leitl (Eugene.Leitl@lrz.uni-muenchen.de)
Mon, 7 Apr 1997 22:25:20 +0200 (MET DST)


On Sat, 5 Apr 1997, Dan Hook wrote:

> [...]
> Hyperion by Dan Simmons, takes place in a society in which implants
> accessing a planetary datasphere are common. Of course, if you are looking
> for a positive portrayal of such technology, this is not the place to look.

Flashback? Darwin, and wireheads? Your singularity portal broke down with
you-in-mid-transit? Shrike, your friendly surgeon? Ouch. Probably Dan
Simmon's other career (as a horror writer) seems to intrude. Otoh
"Hyperion" (less so "The Fall of Hyperion", and how is the third book?) is
a colourful rendition of an alternative future (albeit an utterly
unrealistic one). (As somebody (Mike L.?) said:) But we're monkeys, right?
Written by monkeys, for monkeys. Polysaccharide + mineral filler dead tree
pulp (not even acid-free), imprinted with carbon black + adhesives, hauled
around bodily, by palettes. My, how incredibly sophisticated this our age
is. "Bring out your dead".

ciao,
'gene

> Dan Hook
> guldann@ix.netcom.com
>

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