Re: The Silicon Manifesto

[vulpez]

Okay, I like it. It's pretty much the most original thing I've written in a long time.

That said, I have to re-write it a lot. The whole first chapter thingy doesn't work. I mean, it's clearly one hell of a zinger but I think it blows my wad too soon, for one, and it doesn't feel like software wrote it.

Put another way, it's one hell of an intro

Comments

[emustrangler]

"Scientific progress goes 'Boink'?"

-Hobbes

[fiesty_redhead]

Zim: Now do you understand my latest and most brilliant plan for earth conquest Gir?
Gir: I'm gonna eat that fish.
Zim: No, Gir. The fish is part of the plan.

Tak: The great thing about your people Dib is that, most of them don't notice. All they see is another faceless corporate venture! Not a plan for world conquest!
Dib: Wait, is there really a difference?

[lindsayturi]

I have to agree that it doesn't neccesarily sound like software wrote it. I actually thought a (organic) person was the narrator until the last line. Reminded me of a short sci-fi story I read awhile back. I wish I could remember the title or author, darnit. Basically a single computer turned out a little more self aware than it should have, and started answering every question put to it. Literally everything, how to kill your spouse and get away with it, how to hold up a bank, etc. Yours obviously differs wildly in actual story content, but the voice of the narrator in your story was similar in tone to the voice of the (human) narrator in that other. Still thought it was fascinating reading though :)

[lindsayturi]

Ha! I found it. The story in question was "A Logic Named Joe" by Murray Leinster. It was rediscovered and edited by Eric Flint and is published by Baen Books. Even better, it's available in the Baen Free Library so you can read it online for free. If you haven't already discovered the Library, I highly recommend it; it's a great way to discover new authors and/or get hooked on series.

Also, although it's a fairly obvious suggestion, any of Asimov's robot works will have excellent passages to quote from.

[caffienduk]

I'm assuming you want the words of AIs or machine intelligences, here.

Heinlein, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress:

'Mike, who else do you chat with?'
He sounded surprised. 'No one, man'
'Why not?'
'Because they're stupid'

Cordwainer Smith, Norstrilia:
'Do you want a drink of water or a rest room? I can tell you where those are. Do you wish to play chess with me? I shall win just as many games as you tell me to.'

Iain Banks's Culture novels have a large number of machine intelligences, and are really worth a read. Also Richard Morgan's Altered Carbon features a hotel run by an AI, equipped with machine gun turrets and hacking capabilities, there must be something there.

[vulpez]

I've already got one good Iain Banks quote from Banks himself, but I should get some good AI ones.

I'd like many (most?) of the quotes to be from AIs, but I'm certainly okay with organic people speaking on the appropriate subject.

[caffienduk]

A very short story that might be applicable here