Garreau, Joel: Radical Evolution
Radical Evolution
Writer: Joel Garreau
Genre: General Science
Pages: 350
This book was recommended to me by my mentor at Seton Hill University, and the recommendation was sealed when he said, "Everyone who writes science fiction should read this book."
So I literally went DIRECTLY to Barnes & Noble and bought this. And started reading. And while I don't agree with all the ideas and scenarios presented in this book, it's certainly fodder for an SF-inclined mind, and certainly interesting to everyone else. So yes, I agree with my mentor: all SF writers should read this. Just cause it makes you think about the future of the human race.
The book focuses on the evolution and transcendence of the human race through what Garreau terms as GRIN technologies: genetic, robotic, information, and nano technologies. He talks about various things the human race might achieve through such technologies, including things that are deemed magical and/or impossible based on today's standards and understanding of science (telepathy, anyone?). Scarily enough, it makes sense from a certain point of view, but unlike some of the people interviewed in the book, I'm more inclined to believe some of these scenarios (Garreau divides them into three categories: Heaven, Hell, and Prevail) are simply going to take TIME. And yes, I can easily identify my thoughts and fears with some of the categories of people named in this book (if you read it, know that I consider the "Heaven Scenario" absolute hell), but if there's one thing I know for certain, it's that the human race is a strange complex thing that easily defies labels and categories and neat theories. So by this book's standards, I don't believe in heaven, and hell sure is familiar, since that's all Hollywood gives us, but prevail makes the most sense, because it accounts for the biggest variable of them all: the human race itself.
It's a good book. Smooth read, easy to get into because the scenarios sound so fictional, despite the talk that backs them up. The greatest thing about this book is the sheer size of the list of resources and notes, which provides anyone wanting to more research into any of the subjects mentioned in this book a great diving board for research.
So if you write SF, read this book. Like me, you may not agree or even adhere to the visions and ideas presented, but it makes damn good fodder for fiction. Exploit it while you can, folks. :) And everyone else, this is worth the read: I should note how this book discusses the betterment of the human race by helping people with disease live better and fuller lives through technology, and that's not even the half of it. Interesting stuff, trust me. :)