Distributed Information: Complexity Theory in the Novels of Neal Stephenson and Linda Negata.
This paper examines a strand of contemporary sf that draws significantly on complexity theory, in particular on new ideas about computation and information processing that bear on questions about the origins of life and intelligence, and evolution in complex adaptive systems. After a theoretical ove...
| Publicado en: | Science Fiction Studies Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 223 - 246 |
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| Autor principal: | |
| Formato: | Literary Criticism |
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University of California Press
Jul2001
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| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=4914580&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: hlh uiTerm: 4914580 longDbName: Humanities International Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 00917729 SFS jtl: Science Fiction Studies issn: 00917729 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Jul2001 vid: 28 iid: 2 pid: 414 pub: University of California Press artinfo: ui: 4914580 10.1525/sfs.28.2.0223 ppf: 223 ppct: 23 formats: fmt: @attributes: type: P size: 19.5MB tig: atl: Distributed Information: Complexity Theory in the Novels of Neal Stephenson and Linda Negata. aug: au: Johnston, John su: Criticism Stephenson, Neal, 1959- Diamond Age: Or, A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer, The (Book) Nagata, Linda Bohr Maker, The (Book) Deception Well (Book) Vast (Book) Literary style Fiction sug: subj: Criticism Stephenson, Neal, 1959- Diamond Age: Or, A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer, The (Book) Nagata, Linda Bohr Maker, The (Book) Deception Well (Book) Vast (Book) Literary style Fiction ab: This paper examines a strand of contemporary sf that draws significantly on complexity theory, in particular on new ideas about computation and information processing that bear on questions about the origins of life and intelligence, and evolution in complex adaptive systems. After a theoretical overview, it considers early examples of this influence in Bruce Sterling's first stories and novel "Schismatrix." Most of the paper is then devoted to extended readings of Neal Stephenson's "The Diamond Age" and Linda Nagata's trilogy, "The Bohr Maker," "Deception Well," and "Vast." Assuming but extending beyond 1980s cyberpunk fiction, both authors project future worlds profoundly transformed by nanotechnology, in which the boundary between mechanical machines and biological organisms begins to break down. Specifically, Stephenson envisions a shift from algorithmic computation (i.e. Turing machines) to a new form of biological computation in which sex provides the means of information exchange and processing. Nagata, on the other hand, deploys Artificial Life scientist Christopher Langton's theme of "life at the edge of chaos" to re-imagine the encounter with alien modes of being and to depict new spaces of adaptation and communication. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Literary Criticism src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: Y custom: Copyright of Science Fiction Studies is the property of University of California Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. item: Science Fiction Studies holder: University of California Press dt: @attributes: year: 2001 holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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