Proserpinans in the Outer Solar System communicate with the Lunarians at Alpha Centauri who in turn communicate with the human beings at Beta Hydri: roundabout but the best that can be managed in the physical and political circumstances. Thus, Guthrie learns indirectly about the discovery and colonization of Proserpina plus some other vague but disturbing information that is new to regular readers of the
Harvest Of Stars Tetralogy. This decides him to send a download back to Sol via Alpha Centauri. So maybe there will be a final showdown with the AIs now ruling Earth.
7 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Good! I would regard rule by AIs, if they ever became an actuality, with the deepest distrust and suspicion. I would far rather have humans, however chaotic and misguided we so often are, making the REAL decisions.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Isaac Asimov's "Machines," giant positronic brains controlling the global economy and ecology for the greatest human good, decided that self-determination was the greatest human good so they phased themselves out!
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Too bad the AIs in THE HARVEST OF STARS books didn't come to a similar conclusion! But I can see why Anderson chose not to use such an idea--because it would have made for a less interesting story. And one which would not have needed four volumes to work out.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
The Machines had been programmed with First Law.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
The do no harm to humans Law, both directly or indirectly.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Yes, to deny self-determination would have been to harm.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Exactly, altho that phasing out of the Machines after the conclusion they arrived at made it very difficult for Asimov to continue writing Robot stories of any interest.
Ad astra! Sean
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