The Difference Engine - A Final Reaction
The Difference Engine, by Bruce Sterling & William Gibson, (c) 1991
This is first of all an alternate history, exquisitely crafted. The Information Age starts a full century early, following all manner of political turbulence.
It is a story of Civilization's descent into Chaos, at the slightest prompting. The veneer of Civilization over Barbarism is thin at best, and although here the revolutionaries (ostensibly Marxist) seem only to want to cause trouble, it is convenient that the history of this London leaves a ready-made path, that of Luddite revolt.
Science is a tool. Generally the 'bad guys' are merely using quack science, though. The scientists and 'savants' portrayed are a mix of 'good' and 'bad', though the 'bad' ones are often inept. Perhaps ineptitude goes with moral laxness in some logical fashion. Overall the scientific leaders are portrayed as at least somewhat morally superior to those who actually ruled, historically, or at least more competent.
This book's message may in fact be that, in the hands of the competent and moral, science and scientific thinking are the most powerful forces for good, while in the hands of the incompetent and/or immoral, they can be very dangerous indeed.
This is first of all an alternate history, exquisitely crafted. The Information Age starts a full century early, following all manner of political turbulence.
It is a story of Civilization's descent into Chaos, at the slightest prompting. The veneer of Civilization over Barbarism is thin at best, and although here the revolutionaries (ostensibly Marxist) seem only to want to cause trouble, it is convenient that the history of this London leaves a ready-made path, that of Luddite revolt.
Science is a tool. Generally the 'bad guys' are merely using quack science, though. The scientists and 'savants' portrayed are a mix of 'good' and 'bad', though the 'bad' ones are often inept. Perhaps ineptitude goes with moral laxness in some logical fashion. Overall the scientific leaders are portrayed as at least somewhat morally superior to those who actually ruled, historically, or at least more competent.
This book's message may in fact be that, in the hands of the competent and moral, science and scientific thinking are the most powerful forces for good, while in the hands of the incompetent and/or immoral, they can be very dangerous indeed.