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.
Clarification of earlier posting, which is repeated below:
1) No robot novels, please; just non-ambulatory computers; and
2) No short works, just novels.
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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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
In article <4...@lewey.UUCP> e...@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
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
==========================================================================
These are also some of the best stories I have read (period).
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
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. ]
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
?????
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
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lindsay F. Marshall, Computing Lab., U of Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK
ARPA : lindsay%cheviot.new...@ucl-cs.arpa
JANET : lin...@uk.ac.newcastle.cheviot
UUCP : <UK>!ukc!cheviot!lindsay
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 k...@bellcore.uucp ***
!psuvax1!cmcl2!ciap!andromeda!argus!ken
bitnet(prefered) k...@orion.bitnet
McCoy: "This won't hurt a bit"
Chekov: "That's what you said last time"
McCoy: "Did it?"
Chekov: "Yes"
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
(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 sew...@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."
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