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EUROPE'S MOST VISITED SF/F WEB SITE |
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Techno-Life 2020: A Day In The World
Of Tomorrow by Lois Gresh
The first part of the book is a novella that deals with the consequences of being able to indulge self-interested and irrational fantasies about perfection and total comfort. The author also touches on the less palatable truths invoked about the possibility of how severely damaged humans may be treated. There is always a risk of being over-simplistic when dealing with the speed of technological advance. Often the basic bloody-mindedness of human beings is not taken into account when it comes to change that makes inroads into their lives. Perhaps not so much on the other side of the Atlantic: explanations and references here are geared specifically for the North American market. The European reader will probably enjoy the speculation then go back to counting their euros. (It would be useful to know how much this book retails for in sterling - if not the euro.) The desire to have plastic children, hopefully, does not have the same imperative for everyone. Put tasty food before many human beings and, like their lab counterparts, they will eat it regardless of calories. Tell the same people to shell out the greater portion of their income to become dependent on this ‘advanced’ technology, even though it may include the gene for weight loss, and they would probably learn to love themselves as couch potatoes. The author's humour frequently casts a cool look at her contentious subject. Joe Leinster's libido is fixated on a fish with a routine that would have made Mae West blush. The story is also a validation for everyone who nurses contempt for superficially dull people who, having a nothing else to recommend them, aspire to visual perfection. Following the novella is an unneeded chapter explaining the motives of these characters - they speak eloquently enough for themselves. While there is a comprehensive and informative bibliography, an index would have also been useful for the non-fiction half of the book. Overall, I preferred the dissertation that discusses in detail, amongst other things, the consequences of germline intervention in the human embryos, techniques to inhibit ageing, transgenics, biomimetics, advances in computing and nanotechnology. Lois Gresh has an impressive track record when it comes to elucidating these fields without technobabble. She's obviously well informed and draws the line at jumping wholeheartedly at progress regardless of cost, also appreciating that many people find it an anathema. ‘TechnoLife 2020’ is sponsored by The Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council and Government of Canada and is an impressive a fusion of fiction and speculation about a world that future technology may have in store for some of us who can afford it. The things that most concern people are usefully put into a context that is easily digestible for the layperson and it is a highly recommended read for anyone intrigued, or a little dismayed, by the rapid development of technology. Jane Palmer Check out website: www.ecwpress.com
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OTHER REVIEWS - March 2002
NEW NOVELS The Encyclopedia Of Cult Children’s TV by Richard Lewis Starlight Man: The Extraordinary Life Of Algernon Blackwood by Mike Ashley Techno-Life 2020: A Day In The World Of Tomorrow by Lois Gresh Knight’s Dawn (The Red Pavillions: Book 1) by Kim Hunter Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon
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Joe
Leinster lives in a future world where the pretentious, unprincipled
and downright unethical take centre stage. He should know - he designs
promotions that have the potential to impregnate customers with
addictive chemicals. As a consequence of this struggle for superficial
perfection, no one who becomes addicted to it is happy.
The
renegade Hot Mary Molly Madame X is old, gross and shouts. Having
made a fortune from on-line porn in the 90's, she can afford to
scorn the culture of superficiality and have a contentment of sorts.
In a TechnoLife 2020, you either run with the technological advances,
have enough wealth to ignore them or fall through the cracks in
a society fractured all the way down to the bedrock of poverty.
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