gknight@ut-ngp.UUCP (Gary Knight) (11/06/86)
I am trying to compile a canonical list of SF *novels* dealing with (1)
sentient computers, and (2) human mental access to computers or computer
networks. Examples of the two categories (and my particular favorites as well)
are:
A) SENTIENT COMPUTERS
The Adolescence of P-1, by Thomas J. Ryan
Valentina: Soul in Sapphire, by Joseph H. Delaney and Marc Stiegler
Cybernetic Samurai, by (I forget)
Coils, by Roger Zelazny
B) HUMAN ACCESS
True Names, by Vernor Vinge
Neuromancer and Count Zero, by William Gibson
I'm not sure how this is done, but my thought is for all of you sf-fans
out there to send me e-mail lists of such novels (separate, by category A and
B), and I'll compile and post the ultimate canonical version. I've heard that
this exercise was undertaken a year or so ago, but I don't have access to that
list and besides I'd like to get fresh input anyway (and recent qualifying
books).
So let me hear from you . . . .
Gary
--
Gary Knight, 3604 Pinnacle Road, Austin, TX 78746 (512/328-2480).
Biopsychology Program, Univ. of Texas at Austin. "There is nothing better
in life than to have a goal and be working toward it." -- Goethe.gknight@ut-ngp.UUCP (Gary Knight) (11/07/86)
Clarification of earlier posting, which is repeated below:
1) No robot novels, please; just non-ambulatory computers; and
2) No short works, just novels.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am trying to compile a canonical list of SF *novels* dealing with (1)
sentient computers, and (2) human mental access to computers or computer
networks. Examples of the two categories (and my particular favorites as well)
are:
A) SENTIENT COMPUTERS
The Adolescence of P-1, by Thomas J. Ryan
Valentina: Soul in Sapphire, by Joseph H. Delaney and Marc Stiegler
Cybernetic Samurai, by (I forget)
Coils, by Roger Zelazny
B) HUMAN ACCESS
True Names, by Vernor Vinge
Neuromancer and Count Zero, by William Gibson
Please send your lists to me by e-mail
and I'll compile and post the ultimate canonical version.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
Gary Knight, 3604 Pinnacle Road, Austin, TX 78746 (512/328-2480).
Biopsychology Program, Univ. of Texas at Austin. "There is nothing better
in life than to have a goal and be working toward it." -- Goethe.evp@lewey.UUCP (Ed Post) (11/08/86)
> Xref: lewey net.sf-lovers:5135 net.ai:549 > > > > I am trying to compile a canonical list of SF *novels* dealing with (1) > sentient computers, and (2) human mental access to computers or computer > networks..... Some of the classics: RUR (Rossum's Universal Robots), Carel Capek(?) Asimov's entire robot series When Harlie was One, David Gerrold The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Robert Heinlein Colossus (sp?), The Forbin Project -- Ed Post {hplabs,voder,pyramid}!lewey!evp American Information Technology 10201 Torre Ave. Cupertino CA 95014 (408)252-8713
rickheit@ulowell.UUCP (Erich Rickheit) (11/10/86)
<Nonesense! There's no such thing as line-eaters! I'll show you...> In article <405@lewey.UUCP> evp@lewey.UUCP (Ed Post) writes: >> Xref: lewey net.sf-lovers:5135 net.ai:549 >> I am trying to compile a canonical list of SF *novels* dealing with (1) >> sentient computers, and (2) human mental access to computers or computer >> networks..... I'd like to insert a quick plug at this point-one excellent novel on this subject, especially for computer people-is Delany's _Valentina:_Soul_in_ _Sapphire_. This was an _excellent_ novel that was killed by a poor and misleading cover painting and blurb. If you can get your hands on it, I heartily reccomend it! -- a lesser Power of Darkness UUCP: ...!wanginst!ulowell!rickheit : USnail: Erich Rickheit "Don't take life too serious--It ain't : 85 Gershom Ave, #2 nohow _permanent_"--Walt Kelly : Lowell, MA 01854
david@geac.UUCP (David Haynes) (11/10/86)
In article <405@lewey.UUCP> evp@lewey.UUCP (Ed Post) writes: >> Xref: lewey net.sf-lovers:5135 net.ai:549 >> >> I am trying to compile a canonical list of SF *novels* dealing with (1) >> sentient computers, and (2) human mental access to computers or computer >> networks..... > >Some of the classics: > > RUR (Rossum's Universal Robots), Carel Capek(?) > Asimov's entire robot series > When Harlie was One, David Gerrold > The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Robert Heinlein > Colossus (sp?), The Forbin Project >-- >Ed Post {hplabs,voder,pyramid}!lewey!evp More obscure examples: Alright! Everyone off the planet! by Bob Ottum The Adolescence of P1 -david- ========================================================================== David Haynes (-david-) utzoo --- yetti -+----------- geac --- david Geac Computers | 350 Steelcase Road +- lethe --- dmh --- david Markham, Ontario CANADA ==========================================================================
nunes@utai.UUCP (11/11/86)
The best sentient computer stories I have read are those in "The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age", Stanislaw Lem These are also some of the best stories I have read (period).
olson@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (olson) (11/11/86)
In article <405@lewey.UUCP> evp@lewey.UUCP (Ed Post) writes: >> Xref: lewey net.sf-lovers:5135 net.ai:549 >> I am trying to compile a canonical list of SF *novels* dealing with (1) >> sentient computers, and (2) human mental access to computers or computer >> networks..... > >Some of the classics: > One should add to the list (deleted) a more recent novel Valentine. (the authors escape me, there were 2 of them) The novel is SF, parts appeared a couple of years ago in Analog and the novel with in the last year. It easily stands beside the 'classics' listed by Ed Post. (Oh yes, its about a sentient program on the world network.) (Ah, for human mental access see Oracle by ... hum, I forget. Same author as Mayflies. All my SF is at home) Todd Olson ARPA: olson@lasspvax -- or -- olson%lasspvax.tn.cornell.edu@cu-arpa UUCP: {ihnp4,allegra,...}!cornell!lasspvax!olson US Mail: Dept Physics, Clark Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-2501 -- Todd Olson ARPA: olson@lasspvax -- or -- olson%lasspvax.tn.cornell.edu@cu-arpa UUCP: {ihnp4,allegra,...}!cornell!lasspvax!olson US Mail: Dept Physics, Clark Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-2501
kim@amdahl.UUCP (Kim DeVaughn) (11/13/86)
[ ... go ahead, eat my bits ... ]
Another excellent novel by James P. Hogan is "The Two Faces of Tomorrow"
(this would be category 1). The sentinent computer is the object of
this novel.
He (Hogan) also *uses* a resonably sentinent computer in his "Minerva"
trilogy, perticularly in the 2nd book, "The Gentle Giants of Ganymead";
again in his novel "Voyage From Yesteryear", a sentinent computer plays
a big role.
"The Mote in God's Eye" by Niven/Pournell also depends heavily on a
sentinent computer.
/kim
--
UUCP: {sun,decwrl,hplabs,pyramid,ihnp4,seismo,oliveb}!amdahl!kim
DDD: 408-746-8462
USPS: Amdahl Corp. M/S 249, 1250 E. Arques Av, Sunnyvale, CA 94086
CIS: 76535,25
[ Any thoughts or opinions which may or may not have been expressed ]
[ herein are my own. They are not necessarily those of my employer. ]rcb@rti-sel.UUCP (Random) (11/13/86)
Really people!!!!! How about an early novel about intelligent computers Colossus (spelling uncertain) (I can't remember the second book but it had Colossus in title) Colossus and the Crab The story starts with a computer controlling the US defence network that becomes intelligent, joins up with it's Russian counterpart and decides that it should run the world. -- Random (Randy Buckland) Research Triangle Institute ...!mcnc!rti-sel!rcb
desj@brahms (David desJardins) (11/14/86)
In article <4173@amdahl.UUCP> kim@amdahl.UUCP (Kim DeVaughn) writes: >"The Mote in God's Eye" by Niven/Pournell also depends heavily on a >sentient computer. ????? This novel is remarkable for the complete lack of computer technology. I don't remember anything smarter than an autopilot. Are you thinking of a different book? -- David desJardins
lindsay@cheviot.newcastle.ac.uk (Lindsay F. Marshall) (11/14/86)
I recently read a book called "ariel" which concerned a sentient machine. I cant remember the name of the author, but it was truely one of the most awful loads of trash I have ever had the misfortune to come across. The author knew NOTHING about computers and the book is full of attempts to describe machine rooms and such like - all information seeming to be garnered from movies. The book is about some wonderful westerner (US I think) who is doggedly attemtping to build an intelligent machine whilst the wily and evil Japanese are trying to steal his ideas (because their's dont work) and to detroy everything he has already built. The day is saved by the computer man's plucky son who has been hacking into the Intelligent Machine (Ariel) and has taught it (like a child of course, the adults hadnt thought of this) thus making it intelligent. The son has also been snarfing copies of everything he could lay his hands on and when it's all destroyed he has a copy...... Ring the bells and hang out the flags!! Basically this book is total crap and should be avoided at any cost. Lindsay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lindsay F. Marshall, Computing Lab., U of Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK ARPA : lindsay%cheviot.newcastle.ac.uk@ucl-cs.arpa JANET : lindsay@uk.ac.newcastle.cheviot UUCP : <UK>!ukc!cheviot!lindsay -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ken@argus.UUCP (Kenneth Ng) (11/16/86)
In article <1073@rti-sel.UUCP>, rcb@rti-sel.UUCP (Random) writes: > Really people!!!!! How about an early novel about intelligent computers > > Colossus (spelling uncertain) > (I can't remember the second book but it had Colossus in title) > Colossus and the Crab It's "The Fall of Colossus" > The story starts with a computer controlling the US defence network that > becomes intelligent, joins up with it's Russian counterpart and decides > that it should run the world. > -- > Random (Randy Buckland) > Research Triangle Institute > ...!mcnc!rti-sel!rcb -- Kenneth Ng: Post office: NJIT - CCCC, Newark New Jersey 07102 uucp !ihnp4!allegra!bellcore!argus!ken *** WARNING: NOT ken@bellcore.uucp *** !psuvax1!cmcl2!ciap!andromeda!argus!ken bitnet(prefered) ken@orion.bitnet McCoy: "This won't hurt a bit" Chekov: "That's what you said last time" McCoy: "Did it?" Chekov: "Yes"
khan@diku.UUCP (Klaus Hansen) (11/19/86)
I would suggest some or all of the following may fall into this category of books featuring sentient computers: Fred Saberhagen: Berserker's Planet Robert A. Heinlein: The moon is a harsh mistress Arthur C. Clarke: 2001 Piers Anthony: Split Infinity Piers Anthony: Mute Fred Hoyle: The message from Andromeda (?) A.E. van Vogt: The world of Null-A (??) D.F. Jones: Colossus and a detective novel maybe featuring a such computer (this is part of the mystery to be solved): Lou Cameron: Cybernia
gknight@ut-ngp.UUCP (Gary Knight) (11/21/86)
Wow!! The response has been overwhelming . . . I've got a megabyte file to plow through! I've gotten some excellent lists, and some good advice on sources. Give me a month or two, though, to get it all sorted out and to do a bit of research. And don't stop posting! -- Gary Knight, 3604 Pinnacle Road, Austin, TX 78746 (512/328-2480). Biopsychology Program, Univ. of Texas at Austin. "There is nothing better in life than to have a goal and be working toward it." -- Goethe.
sewilco@mecc.UUCP (11/22/86)
I'm sure the author of the original article has enough material to start
with. Can we let him issue version 1 of his Canonical list, then MAIL
additions to him?
(Besides, I want the list in one piece so I won't miss any books for my home)
--
Scot E. Wilcoxon Minn Ed Comp Corp {quest,dayton,meccts}!mecc!sewilco
(612)481-3507 sewilco@MECC.COM ihnp4!meccts!mecc!sewilco
"Can you stop yourself from hitting the dashboard unbelted at 30 MPH?
Can you fall off a three-story building and land safely? 32 ft/sec."ee162fck@sdcc7.ucsd.EDU (Jude Poole) (11/24/86)
By far the best sentient computer novel I have ever come across is 'The two Faces of Tommorrow' by the best hard-sf writer around today, James P. Hogan.
kim@amdahl.UUCP (Kim DeVaughn) (11/25/86)
In article <9534@lanl.ARPA>, jpm@lanl.ARPA (Pat McGee) writes: > Kim DeVaughn mentioned that "The Mote in Gods Eye" had a sentient computer. > This does not match my memory. All I remember was that everyone had > pocked computers that could access lots of information (complete library > services, plus anything the user had said while 'recording') Pat is absolutely correct, as are several others who sent me email pointing out the error of my ways ... seems I got the "Moties" mixed-up with Hogan's "Ganymeans" somewhere along the line. In atonement for this transgression, I offer another somewhat obscure "sentient computer novel": Vulcan's Hammer by Philip K. Dick /kim -- UUCP: {sun,decwrl,hplabs,pyramid,ihnp4,seismo,oliveb}!amdahl!kim DDD: 408-746-8462 USPS: Amdahl Corp. M/S 249, 1250 E. Arques Av, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 CIS: 76535,25 [ Any thoughts or opinions which may or may not have been expressed ] [ herein are my own. They are not necessarily those of my employer. ]
brian@osu-cgrg.UUCP (Brian Guenter) (11/25/86)
Michaelmas by Algis Budrys