X-Message-Number: 12803
From: 
Date: Fri, 19 Nov 1999 22:25:01 EST
Subject: A SHALLOWNESS IN THE SKY

Vernor Vinge writes prize-winning science fiction; he is also a Professor of 
computer science at San Diego State U. One of  his recent books is called A 
DEEPNESS IN THE SKY, and I have been dipping into it at odd moments for a 
little relaxation. Impressive and interesting in some ways, it also shares 
the extreme weakness of most far-future fiction, viz., a laughable assumption 
of a more or less "steady state" humanity. 

In other words, most such books have far-future people, and aliens of various 
eras, nearly identical in their psyches to ourselves, often with even the 
technology little changed, and that is the case here. In particular, Vinge 
sees a limited life span, even after thousands of years of research:

"Each science has its limits. And each of us must die, living less than half 
a thousand years." (Pick a number.) 

Of course, one never knows for sure whether it is the author or the character 
speaking, nor whether the conventional view is adopted merely to make the 
writing easier. Certainly a "realistic" rendition of everyday life and psyche 
in the far future is beyond anyone's ability. As H.G.Wells said about man 
trying to foresee superman: "You make me feel like the sculptor's dog trying 
to explain his master's life to the musician's cat."

A Vinge character also says, "Listen to the laughter of your children and 
grandchildren. Enjoy the time you have, however it is given to you, and for 
however long." 

This is strikingly like the admonition of the goddess to Gilgamesh:

"The life thou seekest thou wilt never find. When the gods created mankind 

they determined death for mankind   Thou, O Gilgamesh   .day and night be joyous

and content!   Regard the little one who takes hold of thy hand; Enjoy the wife
in thy bosom." 

What it boils down to is that, wittingly or not, most of these writers are 
apologists of death and stagnation, with a cyclical rather than a millennial 
view of history. They are shaped by, and they help perpetuate, the 
death-embracing tradition. 

Yet all these bad examples, piled to the deep sky, need not worry us too 
much. We are near an inflection point in history. The change is palpable, and 
our shoulders to the wheel will help. Quoting Kennita quoting von Braun, 
"Late to bed, early to rise; work like hell, and advertise."

Enjoy or seek? Both.

Robert Ettinger
Cryonics Institute
Immortalist Society
http://www.cryonics.org 

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