james@uw-atm.UUCP (James M Synge) (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..... 1) Two of my favorites are "The Adolecence of P1" by Ryan and "The Two Faces of Tomorrow" by James P. Hogan. 2) One which deals heavily with this issue, among others, is "The Genisis Machine", also by James P. Hogan. -- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- James M Synge, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington VOX: 1 206 543 0308 (Work) 1 206 455 2025 (Home) UUCP: uw-beaver!geops!uw-atm!james ARPA: geops!uw-atm!james@beaver.cs.washington.edu
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
krelos@unirot.UUCP (Bill Simpson) (11/10/86)
ok... in addition I would reccommend 'When Harlie Was One'... not sure of the author right now...... hope that helps. Krelos Summary: Expires: References: <4261@ut-ngp.UUCP> <405@lewey.UUCP> <47@uw-atm.UUCP> Sender: Reply-To: krelos@unirot.UUCP (Bill Simpson) Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: Tarot Inc. Keywords:
wb8foz@ncoast.UUCP (David Lesher) (11/10/86)
>> 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 How can we forget "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" by Heinlein. -- decvax!cwruecmp!ncoast!wb8foz ncoast!wb8foz@case.csnet (ncoast!wb8foz%case.csnet@csnet-relay.ARPA) "SERIOUS? Bones, it could upset the entire percentage!"
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
john@uwmacc.UUCP (John Jacobsen) (11/11/86)
> in addition I would reccommend 'When Harlie Was One'... not sure of the > author right now...... The author is David Gerrold. John E. Jacobsen University of Wisconsin -- Madison Academic Computing Center
uchuck@ecsvax.UUCP (Charles Bennett) (11/11/86)
> >> 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..... Under the second category, I would recommend "Coils". Can't remember author. -- -Chuck Bennett- 919-966-1134 ... ...!(decvax|akgua)!mcnc!ecsvax!uchuck
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
jlc@atux01.UUCP (J. Collymore) (11/13/86)
You may want to look through two collections of short stories by Asimov: "The Rest of the Robots," and "I, robot." As for novels, you might try his books: "The Caves of Steel," "The Bicentennial Man," and (I'm not sure on this one) "The Naked Sun." I hope this helps. Jim Collymore
jpm@lanl.ARPA (Pat McGee) (11/13/86)
> 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..... Among my favorites are True Names, Vernor Vinge (published in Binary Star #5) The Peace War, Vernor Vinge The first deals only with (2), the second with both. He also has published some shorter fiction in Analog, but I don't have the names right now. 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 McGee, jpm@lanl.arpa (505)665-0686 Los Alamos National Laboratory, MS B272; P. O. Box 1663; Los Alamos, NM 87545
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"
bobmon@iuvax.UUCP (Robert Montante) (11/16/86)
"The Adolescence of P1" by Thomas Ryan. To me, this story is exceptional in that: The computer tries to "take over the world" in a sense, but your sympathies are with it (well, mine were) It's based on an IBM s\360 architecture (okay, an a priori technical weakness, but I'm getting bored with dinky little DEC machines that offer no challenge to potential users :-) Its back-cover blurb reminded me of another suggestion: Heinlein's "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress," also offering a heroic sentient computer on the white-hats side.
jsloan@wright.EDU (John Sloan) (11/17/86)
>>"The Mote in God's Eye" by Niven/Pournell > This novel is remarkable for the complete lack of computer technology. Must be thinking of _Oath of Fealty_ by the same authors, containing a sentient computer named MILLIE. _The Mote in God's Eye_ lacked a lot of high tech stuff because the powers that be froze the technological state of their culture at a level that they believed would prevent global/near space conflicts. Also the three D.F. Jones Colossus books whose titles someone couldn't remember were were _Colossus_, _The Fall of Colossus_, and _Colossus and the Crab_. -- ______________________________________________________________________ John Sloan jsloan@wright.{CSNET,UUCP} ...!cbosgd!wright!jsloan Computer Science Department, Wright State University, Dayton OH, 45435 +1 513 873 2491 belong(opinions,jsloan). belong(opinions,_):-!,fail.
warrenm@mmintl.UUCP (Warren McAllister) (11/17/86)
The author was D.F. Jones - 'Colossus' is worth reading - the sequel is pretty poor Also check out the movie 'The Forbin Project' a not-too-bad adaptation Warren McAllister
pamp@bcsaic.UUCP (Wagener) (11/17/86)
In article <1685@ncoast.UUCP> wb8foz@ncoast.UUCP (David Lesher) 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 For a brain/machine hook-up, check out "The Genesis Machine" by James P. Hogan. P.Pincha-Wagener
roy@phri.UUCP (Roy Smith) (11/18/86)
Either I'm about to make a fool of myself, or we've got a real case
of The Emperor's New Clothes going on here. I'm amazed that nobody has
mentioned "2001". Doesn't HAL count as a sentient computer? If you really
wanted to be weird, doesn't the black monolith count as one too?
Somebody already mentioned it, but my favorite is "The Adolescence
of P1". Good story, well written, nice touch of "weirdo hacker vs. the
military-industrial complex".
--
Roy Smith, {allegra,cmcl2,philabs}!phri!roy
System Administrator, Public Health Research Institute
455 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016
"you can't spell deoxyribonucleic without unix!"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."ericb@dartvax.UUCP (11/22/86)
In article <782@bcsaic.UUCP> pamp@bcsaic.UUCP (Pam Pincha-Wagener) writes: >In article <1685@ncoast.UUCP> wb8foz@ncoast.UUCP (David Lesher) 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 > >For a brain/machine hook-up, check out "The Genesis Machine" by James P. >Hogan. >P.Pincha-Wagener Another book that suggests an interesting interface is _Avatar_ by Poul Anderson (?), which includes parts of a short story called Joelle, specifically about people who use this interface (holothetes, I think). It's been awhile since I've read these though. -Eric Bivona ericb@dartmouth.edu -- Eric J. Bivona "Once a gene sequence, always a gene sequence" USNET: {linus|ihnp4|decvax|astrovax|research}!dartvax!ericb ARPA: ericb%dartmouth@csnet-relay CSNET: ericb@dartmouth
cochran@usc-oberon.UUCP (Steve Cochran) (11/24/86)
<...> There is also all of the "Robot" stories by Isaac Asimov (their 'positronic' brains seem to fit the definition of a sentient computer), and the Minerva/Athene and the Dora computers in Heinlein's "Time Enough For Love." Steve Cochran USC-IRIS
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