Difference between revisions of "The Genesis Machine"
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| − | + | {{bookheader | author=James P Hogan | pubdate=1978 | pages=338 | read=2006.01.03 | rate=9 | expect=10|ISBN=0-743-43597-4|title=Genesis Machine, The}} | |
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I really enjoyed this one. | I really enjoyed this one. | ||
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The ACRE scenes (unfortunately) reflect work at a national lab very well. A lot of politics, too much security, etc. I could visualize scenes in different places at Argonne very easily. (Although I think he was aiming more at Los Alamos.) | The ACRE scenes (unfortunately) reflect work at a national lab very well. A lot of politics, too much security, etc. I could visualize scenes in different places at Argonne very easily. (Although I think he was aiming more at Los Alamos.) | ||
| − | One problem with near-future prediction is that it becomes dated very quickly. So, all of the socio-political aspects from the middle of the book don't work very well. (Hey, it was written in the 70s) However, if you replace 'Communism' with 'Terrorism', a lot of it DOES work. The measures enacted in the book are a lot like the measures enacted under the blanket of Homeland Security in today's America. | + | One problem with near-future prediction is that it becomes dated very quickly. So, all of the socio-political aspects from the middle of the book don't work very well. (Hey, it was written in the 70s) However, if you replace 'Communism' with 'Terrorism', a lot of it DOES work. The measures enacted in the book are a lot like the measures enacted under the blanket of Homeland Security in today's America / National Labs. |
Of course Hogan feeds the hubris of scientists :) Science is good, science is pure, science will cure all of society's woes. The main reason I gave it a 9 instead of a 10 is that I do realize that Scientists aren't perfect :D | Of course Hogan feeds the hubris of scientists :) Science is good, science is pure, science will cure all of society's woes. The main reason I gave it a 9 instead of a 10 is that I do realize that Scientists aren't perfect :D | ||
Latest revision as of 23:10, 16 December 2006
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I really enjoyed this one.
First on the science:
Hogan's K-space is very similar to modern String Theory. (This shows how up-to-date with physics and forward-thinking he can be at times. String Theory was just starting to be discussed in scientific circles, but hadn't hit the public awareness yet.)
I thought it was interesting seeing some of the possible ramifications if mass can indeed be operated on and rotated through the extra dimensions. Of course, he's short a few dimensions, but hey :D
Next, on to the politics:
The ACRE scenes (unfortunately) reflect work at a national lab very well. A lot of politics, too much security, etc. I could visualize scenes in different places at Argonne very easily. (Although I think he was aiming more at Los Alamos.)
One problem with near-future prediction is that it becomes dated very quickly. So, all of the socio-political aspects from the middle of the book don't work very well. (Hey, it was written in the 70s) However, if you replace 'Communism' with 'Terrorism', a lot of it DOES work. The measures enacted in the book are a lot like the measures enacted under the blanket of Homeland Security in today's America / National Labs.
Of course Hogan feeds the hubris of scientists :) Science is good, science is pure, science will cure all of society's woes. The main reason I gave it a 9 instead of a 10 is that I do realize that Scientists aren't perfect :D
--Tometheus 5 January 2006 (PST)
