Science Fiction Tried to Warn Us about AI. Or Did It?, by Tom Gammarino

Science Fiction Tried to Warn Us about AI. Or Did It?, by Tom Gammarino Essay [email protected] Wed, 03/01/2023 - 03:46 Photo by NASA / Unsplash “All our AI Frankenstein stories,” the author writes, “warn us that AI will destroy us, but far louder than that, they promise that the future is going to be mind-blowing and epic.” Will we heed the warnings? Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is the literary work that most clearly established the conventions of science fiction as we know it. Not only did the 1818 novel pioneer the archetype of the mad scientist, it also established one of the genre’s most important cultural roles: to warn us about ways humans, through our hubris, might create the very beings that eventually undo us. In subtitling the novel The Modern Prometheus, Shelley harked back to the Titan who stole fire from the gods and was punished by having his regenerating liver devoured every day by an eagle (since the liver was the seat of the emotions for the Greeks, we might as well translate it as “heart”). Inspired by the experiments of Luigi Galvani, who used electric current to stimulate the leg of a dissected frog, and his nephew Giovanni Aldini, who ran a similar experiment on a hanged criminal, Shelley had her mad scientist play God by endowing a patchwork of human remains with the spark of life. Two centuries later, the resulting monstrosity serves as a stand-in for any of our runaway technologies — the internal... Continue reading at 'World Literature Today'

[ World Literature Today | 2023-03-01 09:46:57 UTC ]
News tagged with: #best-case scenario #science fiction

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Science Fiction Tried to Warn Us about AI. Or Did It?, by Tom Gammarino'


Hairy Bikers break 2013 non-fiction record

Hairy Bikers Dave Myers and Si King's new weight-loss tome, The Hairy Dieters: Eat for Life (... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-08-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #si king #hairy dieters


Amazon’s Licensing Vonnegut for Fan Fiction Draws Fire

Amazon announced a Kindle World license for the books of Kurt Vonnegut, but not everyone thinks it's a great idea. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon announced #kurt vonnegut #great idea


HarperCollins Steps Up in Fiction

The two-book deal William Morrow signed with Patricia Cornwell earlier this month was just the latest high-profile deal in a concerted effort by parent company HarperCollins to rebuild the house’s fiction list. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fiction list #concerted effort


Gay-Themed Russian YA Novel Sold with Warning Label

As a result of laws prohibiting 'homosexual propaganda' in Russia, a young adult novel featuring a gay character, is sold with adult-age warning labels. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #young adult


Michaels to be c.o.o. at Macmillan Science and Education

Ken Michaels is to join Macmillan Science and Education at the end of the month as its chief... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ken michaels #macmillan science


Digital fiction to overtake paperbacks in 2014, says Nielsen

Nielsen is predicting that fiction ebooks will overtake sales of fiction paperbacks, but not... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-07-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fiction ebooks


2013 Man Booker Prize for Fiction Longlist Announced

The 2013 longlist of fiction for the Man Booker Prize will surprise and intrigue in equal measure. The shortlist will be announced in September and the winner on October 15. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #equal measure


Agent Nicole Aragi on the Future of Literary Fiction, Translation

In an interview with Guernica magazine, literary agent Nicole Aragi discusses the crisis of literary fiction, why translated books don't sell in the US, and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary fiction


Genre Fiction and Digital Publishing: A Marriage Made in Heaven

The continuing growth of digital publishing has put even more energy into the flourishing genres of SF, fantasy, mystery and romance publishing, says Wired. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #genre fiction #digital publishing #marriage made #continuing growth #romance publishing


Libraries must 'face reality', warns Ashley

Libraries must adapt to the realities facing them in a "complex" landscape, Brian... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Original fiction for Daunt Books

The Daunt Books imprint is to begin publishing original fiction, in an "exciting development... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #original fiction #daunt books


Why Big Publishers Think Genre Fiction Like Sci-Fi Is the Future of E-Books

The future of book publishing is increasingly digital -- and increasingly tilted towards genre fiction.     Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2013-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big publishers #genre fiction #book publishing


Weltbild in gay fiction row

Canadian publisher Icon Empire Press has accused German bookseller Weltbild of "hypocrisy... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Warning of major threat to Welsh library services

A Welsh council leader has warned that entire local authority library departments could be at... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


A Leadership Book Author On Why You're Better Off Reading Fiction For Lasting Lessons

Craig Chappelow has written about how leaders can be more successful. But he'd crack One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest before the latest business book any day. Here's why he thinks you should, too. Read any good leadership books lately? Me either. It seems like popular books about leadership... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lasting impact #research conducted #vast majority


Should More Museums Publish Fiction?

Most museums have publishing departments and bookstores, so publishing exhibition-related fiction shouldn't be much of a stretch and might enhance the patron's experience. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-06-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


The best non fiction kids' books

While a high-calibre jury of writers and critics ponders the nominees for this year's Children's Book Awards, we have asked the true experts. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2013-06-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #high-calibre jury #critics ponders #book awards #true experts


SoA warns publishers over ebook loans to libraries

The Society of Authors has warned that authors may be losing out twice over on ebook loans, with... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook loans


Tom Sharpe dies

Bestselling author Tom Sharpe, perhaps best known for his 1974 novel Porterhouse Blue, has died... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Macmillan Science and Education opens China head office

Macmillan Science and Education is opening a new regional office in China, based in Shanghai.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #macmillan science #regional office