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The Golden Transcendence
The books are firmly in the space opera genre with a dash of Heinlein libertarianism tossed in for good measure. The story takes place in the far future when artificial intelligences (known as sophotechs) and humans live immortal lives in a libertarian society of near unlimited technology. The experience of real physical interaction is replaced in many cases by remote bodies, recorded experiences of others, and complete control of what a person perceives. Humanity has moved beyond the one body - one brain system and has adopted many different systems of thought and even physical form
Mr. Wright puts forth a brilliant vision of technology and society in the far future where wealth is measured in seconds of computer time and physical labor is non-existent. In this future, there is are still wealthy and poor people but in a different way. In a good interview, Mr. Wright explains:
There would still be rich and poor, even if the poorest of the poor were absurdly well off by our standards. No advancements can eliminate differences in the abilities of men, or the differences in how men value the abilities of their fellow man (which is what causes inequality of prices and hence of incomes). If only by comparison, there will be poverty, even in Arcadia. My characters Ironjoy, Oshenkyo, and the Afloats [...] are meant to represent this idea of future poverty; the Seven Peers represent wealth.
As an example as just one of the concepts presented, we can look at the idea of 'sensefilters.' Perception is no longer what organic senses directly tell the mind. The signals received by the body or remote bodies are processed to be acceptable to the person's particular preferences. If a person doesn't like to see advertising, their mind eliminates the advertising from their vision and fills in the scene with what would be there if the advertisement wasn't there. Consciously, the person isn't aware of this, only that they have requested not to see advertisements. Sensefiltering can be used to remove (or add) objects, people, and even ideas from an individual's perception. The plot devices are interesting stuff that Mr. Wright explores in just enough detail to keep you wanting more throughout the trilogy.
The protagonist, Phaethon, is the son of one of the most important people in the society (known as the Golden Oecumene). In the first two books, Phaethon struggles against first the realization that he is missing parts of his memory, his struggle against society, his fall into exile, and his return to strength.
The third book finds Phaethon poised to fight against the true enemy that has been revealed to him. Without spoiling too much, Phaethon is forced to fight for the very survival of his society (which tossed him out) or allow it to be destroyed.
The author, John C. Wright, obviously has a libertarian heart and embodies the attributes of individuality, resourcefulness, ingenuity and desire for progress in Phaethon, the hero. In the opening novel, we find a society content with things how they are, willing to simply stop progress to prevent anything from changing their utopia in any meaningful way. Phaethon is a man of action in opposition to the statist Golden Oecumene. The underlying theme is that without mankind's strive for exploration and new goals, it is doomed.
Overall, an excellent book and series for the science fiction reader looking for something more than blasters and evil six-legged aliens. Getting used to the terminology and concepts is slow at first but well worth the effort.
Final note: If you enjoy Iain Banks's Culture series, Peter Hamilton's Night's Dawn, or John Varley's Eight Worlds, you will enjoy the The Golden Transcendence and the entire Golden Age Trilogy.You can purchase The Golden Transcendence from bn.com. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews -- to see your own review here, read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page.
I know that the authors have investigated serious time in creating their world, but I'm not proposing never using the world again.. just give the particular character and plot a rest. Outside of the franchises (Dragonlance, Forgotten Realms, Star Trek) that pump out more than I want to keep track of, I don't see much.
The last good one I read: Tigana
The last bad one I read: Wheel of Time Series (OMG-will it EVER end?)
People read books for different reasons.
Sprawling SF or F series fill a need that many people feel. They want a comfortable place to escape to. Fictional comfort food.
These are steady sellers, and some publishers favor them. Dedicated readers will keep buying them, out of a sense of loyalty or completeness, and forgive the occasional "dud."
Different strokes for different folks.
I think this has the potential to take things WAY to far.
One could argue that if one has one's 'filters' set to high, one can end up screening out anything NEW. New experiences are what keeps the mind growing. So - I have visions of hordes of drones soaked in a safe, porn-tinted perceptual cocoon.
Not saying that the idea doesn't have merit, but I think it can be abused.
I'd say... go for a 5% 'totally random material' bypass
I agree. Recently I found Alastair Reynolds, and read three of his books (Revelation Space, Redemption Ark and Chasm City) two of which are the first of a trilogy.
I raved about this bloke and the series to everyone who would listen. And then his third book in the series came out. What a waste of money!!
The whole series is leading up to a massive climax which jsut never comes, the entire storyline is wrapped up in the epilogue after the end of the third book, which jsut seemed to be a secondary arc that got pulled to the front. If i could get my money back for it, I would (its hard back, nearly 15!). It blowed, seriously. The ending had the feel that the author had jsut given up writing it one day (it was 700 pages long at that point) and ended it. I was severely dissappointed.
I think you're trying to make it too complex. Circumstance (economic depression, natural disasters, etc.) certainly affects opportunity. But the poverty of third world nations doesn't disprove the concept of merit-based success.
All else being equal (which is the environment portrayed in most Sci-Fi novels) people do go as far as their desires and talents will take them. Janitors are cheap because nearly everyone can be a competent janitor. Network architects are not cheap because their skills are rare. Supply and demand. Simple.
Your example of the miners shows that one must take risks to get greater rewards. But failure rarely results in lifelong poverty. For someone willing to take the risks, failure is just a temporary stop on the journey upward.
Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.
Take a look at some Vinge stuff. Most of his works do stand independently, even though he reuses worlds and even characters. Good stuff...
I loved the Golden age trilogy but I couldn't help wondering if the ending of transcendence was meant to reflect what is happening in Iraq now and was a form of propaganda. It talked about the golden age was over and how everybody would be drawn into a LONG war where certain liberties would have to be taken away to protect the greater good from the "ENEMY".
I don't know, maybe its just me but with other scifi entertainment(star trek tv and games, knights of the old republic,etc) having propaganda mixed in I wouldn't be surprised.