andrew@orca.UUCP (07/11/83)
"Code of the Life Maker" is a new book by James P. Hogan, copyright
June 1983, available at present only in hard covers from Del Rey /
Ballantine Books, $13.95. There's a stack of them in the Portland
Oregon B. Dalton's.
I've only read the first twenty pages (got it two hours ago) so I think
I can safely synopsize without giving anything away. About 1E+06 years
ago, a robot exploration ship crashes on Titan. The robots disembark
and begin setting up mining factories, as is their function. Bits get
somewhat scrambled, and, before you know it, a full-blown evolution is
taking place, as robots with better-evolved software win out over
lesser robots.
They continue evolving for a million years, then we come along.
Other than that, the lead character (so far) is a Uri Geller type,
who's got a good piece of the world hornswoggled into believing in his
psychic powers (good descriptions of the obfuscation techniques that he
uses). Somehow he finds himself booked on the expedition to Titan.
Looks like another good Hard SF book in the best tradition of Hogan.
-- Andrew Klossner (decvax!teklabs!tekecs!andrew) [UUCP]
(andrew.tektronix@rand-relay) [ARPA]