faustus (03/15/83)
Another SF book which is centered around computers is "The Two Faces
of Tomorrow", by {I have forgotten the author and can't find the
book}. It concerns a worldwide computer system that controls almost
all of the bureocratic and technical functions of society, but is
unfortunately rather stupid (no "common sense"). Its creaters decide
that they need to upgrade it, incorporating some new AI developments,
but cannot test the new system in the main computer, as they don't
want to risk anything going wrong, so they install it in a space
station called Sparticus. The machine, which is named Janus (hence
the "Two Faces") is let loose to run the thing. If you are interested
in what happens next read the book. There are some rather clever
(but how accurate?) pictures of AI research at work, and the book is
in all worthwhile.
Wayneljm (03/16/83)
"Two Faces of Tomorrow" is by James Hogan, and is indeed worth reading. My favorite story involving a computer is still Frederick Pohl's "Gateway", which features an AI_program as shrink. One of the nice things about this book is that Pohl doesn't make a big deal about the technology, but concentrates on the human (personal? sentient?) issues between characters, of which the computer is but one. I think "Gateway" is Pohl's masterpiece, and recommend it most highly. Lou Mazz
tim (03/16/83)
The book "The Two Faces of Tomorrow" mentioned by Wayne Christopher is by James P. Hogan. I couldn't get through it; it was very long- winded at totaly inappropriate places. If you want to read Hogan, read "Thrice Upon a Time" or "Voyage from Yesteryear" instead; the former is the only truly plausible-seeming time travel story I've read, and the latter an interesting, if improbable, social clash novel, which is Utopian without being simperingly pacifistic (not that I have anything against pacifism, but you can take anything too far). Tim Maroney
laura (03/22/83)
The Two Faces of Tomorrow is written by James P. Hogan. He also wrote The Genesis Machine. In both these books, projected computer technology is described in detail. Hogan used to work for DEC, he knows the difference between a computer, a dog, Yoda and a ten-year old child, which sadly, many science fiction authors do not. Hogan is my favourite science fiction author . If you like hard science fiction, you will like Hogan. Laura Creighton decvax!utzoo!laura
gk (03/25/83)
~f dead.letter "The Two Faces of Tomorrow" was written by James Hogan. Hogan was apparently a salesman for DEC before he turned to writing as a full time profession. Most of his books have reference to a "PDP-xxx" in them someplace. On the whole, Hogan producess some quite readable Science Fiction books. Gregg Kellogg Hewlett Packard Co. Computer Products Group Engineering Cupertino, California (408) 257-7000