Challenging A God

Who guides our fate? And can we ever hope to wrest control for ourselves? In this novella, David Brin merges classical mythology with impudent modern spirit in a science fiction legend that speculates upon the nature of reality.

THE LOOM OF THESSALY by David Brin is far better than the story description. Essentially, a man spots an anomaly on an unreachable plateau using some military-grade technology. He decides to challenge his friend to climb to the top. What is discovered is a story within a story.

You don't have to know anything about mythology to appreciate the battle of wits, but some familiarity with Greek myths might make this more intriguing. I love the mix of modern science fiction with Old World storytelling. This is one of my favorite Brin stories.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Hatching Into Space

THE CRYSTAL SPHERES by David Brin is written with such a strange concept, I was about 3/4 through the story before I finally caught on to the mindset. While I love the exotic details the author weaves throughout this sci-fi short, I almost felt too stupid to enjoy Brin's tale of space exploration. Almost.

I am glad I kept reading because the ending has really changed the way I view the possibility of life elsewhere in the Universe, even though this is a work of fiction. This is a great example of why I love the imagination of writers.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Pressure to Succeed

What if education could be extended into the womb? Would we get brilliant, well-balanced babies? Monsters? Or a frightening/hopeful combination of both?

DR. PAK'S PRESCHOOL by David Brin is told from the POV of a wife and mother, impregnated through an experimental procedure. The experiment does not end with conception, but is continued throughout the pregnancy as the fetus is conditioned to think and reason on extraordinary levels. However, there is a price to be paid for such intelligence, leaving the mother to question her own conditioning within Japanese society.

While most of the story has a sci-fi dystopian theme, as the Japanese government uses extreme methods of genetic manipulation to close the gap with America in the area of computer programming, the ending is mix of fantasy and theology. The result is a metaphysical turn of events, which may seem too convenient for some readers.

I've learned this story is being marketed for a film, and I think the premise would make for a very controversial movie.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Important Pieces

The most sophisticated "engineering" process on Earth is pregnancy among mammals -- especially among humans. There is already talk of using goats and cattle to produce industrial products instead of milk, and possibly bringing to term organic machines, programmed in eggs to develop in the womb. What if this happens... and continues? 

Might poor women earn a living by renting out their wombs for industrial "piecework" production of high-end organic machinery? In this chilling, award-nominated tale, a master of modern science fiction lets us glimpse an all-too possible near future when science, economics and individual dignity clash across the most intimate battlefield of all.

Piecework by David Brin is an emotional, science fiction roller coaster: life goals, personal choices, friendship and betrayal...every bit of it dripping with futuristic slang, almost to the point of distraction. I love the character Io and her determination, but despised Perseph and her irresponsible nature. The dramatic comparisons and contrasts are the perfect buildup for the shocking ending.

I had no idea what to expect from this story, but I certainly didn't expect the revelation at the end. All of a sudden, little details became extremely significant in hindsight. I definitely recommend this to sci-fi fans.

As always,
AstraDaemon

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Not all villains succeed at being evil. Not all diseases deserve the word plague. Fate can be ironic indeed. The chilling short story, The Giving Plague, follows microbiologist Forry, a self-proclaimed cynic, jealous of his “boy wonder” colleague who discovers a unique virus that could change humanity. Transmitted by blood donations, the virus manipulates humans toward altruism and charity. Forry decides that he will do anything to take credit for this discovery…until a more deadly alien virus infects the human race, forcing him to wrestle with his own inner demons.

The Giving Plague by David Brin is a sci-fi horror story about a non-violent virus outbreak which has deadly consequences years later. The science is fascinating, the fiction is horrifying, and, as any sci-fi fan will tell you, stories like this one have a way of predicting the future. How could forced altruism be a bad thing? Read on and see for yourselves...

As always,
AstraDaemon

P.S. This is one of those rare times I highly recommend reading the author's note at the end of the story.

Speculation in Science Fiction

Do you ever get that sense of deja vu...a feeling that you've experienced something before? As computers get more and more complex, they are able to replicate the nature of reality in ever finer detail. How would we recognize if we were living in a computer simulation – a highly accurate world of virtual reality? Perhaps this isn't your first time...

Reality Check by David Brin is not a story so much as an extrapolation attempting to wake the reader up from a simulation of their own making. While providing basic elements, such as characters, theme, and setting, Brin fails to provide anything resembling a human connection, resulting in a cold, unfeeling narration, which is rather monotonous.

As always,
AstraDaemon