From: Emlyn O'regan (oregan.emlyn@healthsolve.com.au)
Date: Tue Apr 22 2003 - 18:19:46 MDT
> Artillo5@cs.com wrote:
>
> > Yeah, I have been avoiding that [Prey] since it came out.
> Does anyone
> > think that the book will have a positive influence on the general
> > public's thoughts about nanotech? (I think this was covered in a
> > previous thread somewhat, but it's been a while!)
>
> The overwhelming consensus here seems to be that the science
> is horrid and
> that the book is giving the public the wrong impression of
> nanotech. My mere
> inquiry inspired even yet another thread to trash the book further!
>
> On the upside, if it's really that bad then someone will be
> inspired to
> write another book to show the other side of the story. Perhaps even
> Crichton himself will do it, after he gets his facts straight
> after reading
> the all the nasty letters he must be receiving.
>
> -gts
I don't think that his science is way off mark (although it's a lot further
in the future than he makes out), or that he's had any problems
understanding nanotech. It seems pretty clear to me that he has quite
deliberately set out to trash nanotech, and has written a rather contrived
novel to that end. I wouldn't expect him to be writing a retraction any time
soon.
OTOH, I found this rather reasonable, (dare I say it, transhumanist?)
interview with Crichton online.
http://www.readersread.com/features/michaelcrichton.htm
He is not ignorant about current technologies, and seems in this interview
to be rather in favour of them. Now I'm confused.
Emlyn
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