csc (07/28/82)
Every once in a while I read a novel or short story which reaffirms my
faith in the imagination of science fiction. I just finished reading
"True Names" by Vernor Vinge: no sigh any human could produce would
express my utter contentment with it. Wow! VV has presented a brilliant
look at future computer networks (and his solution for interfacing humans
to increasingly complex systems is [I want one] fantastic) and what might
be able to happen on one. Suddenly Mike is just an ignorant hick computer
and the Nicky Haflinger is an IBM 1130 hack. Right now I suggest that
YOU RUN RIGHT OUT AND GET A COPY AND READ IT! Rape, pillage, genocide -
stop at nothing! Published as the second half of Binary Star #5, you
will probably have some difficulty finding it. I am going home now to
sigh over it for a while. . .
Tracy Tims (watmath!csc)