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sjstuart's review
4.0
This an anthology of short stories involving smarter-than-human AIs. Most are from the early 2000's, but a few date to the 70's, 80's and 90's. The stories are all written by well known authors, mostly of Hugo- and Nebula-winning caliber.
Although the authors are top-notch, the collection had more than the typical fraction of stories that I just plain didn't enjoy. This tended to be especially true of the stories set almost entirely in some virtual space, where there aren't any physical constraints on what can happen, and the stories veer towards the fantastic or mystical.
But the stories that were good were outstanding. [a:Gregory Benford|22645|Gregory Benford|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1224059011p2/22645.jpg]'s "The Hydrogen Wall" is one of my all-time favorites. It is unusually densely packed with insights on interstellar communication, first contact, human psychology, evolution, and cognition. [a:Chris Beckett|541994|Chris Beckett|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1364887263p2/541994.jpg]'s "Turing Test" is also multilayered, a very poignant illustration of the frustrating flaws in both human and silicon intelligence. "Computer Virus", by [a:Nancy Kress|21158|Nancy Kress|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1232323985p2/21158.jpg], manages to be very entertaining as an action story, while also posing interesting questions about justifiable homicide.
The collection is definitely worth seeking out for these gems.
Although the authors are top-notch, the collection had more than the typical fraction of stories that I just plain didn't enjoy. This tended to be especially true of the stories set almost entirely in some virtual space, where there aren't any physical constraints on what can happen, and the stories veer towards the fantastic or mystical.
But the stories that were good were outstanding. [a:Gregory Benford|22645|Gregory Benford|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1224059011p2/22645.jpg]'s "The Hydrogen Wall" is one of my all-time favorites. It is unusually densely packed with insights on interstellar communication, first contact, human psychology, evolution, and cognition. [a:Chris Beckett|541994|Chris Beckett|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1364887263p2/541994.jpg]'s "Turing Test" is also multilayered, a very poignant illustration of the frustrating flaws in both human and silicon intelligence. "Computer Virus", by [a:Nancy Kress|21158|Nancy Kress|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1232323985p2/21158.jpg], manages to be very entertaining as an action story, while also posing interesting questions about justifiable homicide.
The collection is definitely worth seeking out for these gems.
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