I've had a lifelong fascination with thinking about the future,
but the next few decades concern me. The experts -- men like
Kurzweil and Moravec -- believe that our machines will surpass us
in intelligence, even merge with us to form something radically new.
Leading edge technologies are
rapidly changing our
lives; most of us feel it's for the better, but the issues are pressing
closer. It has become clear artificial
intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology and genetic engineering will be
the primary agents of change.
The following are a few additional references that deal with these subjects.
I have read and rated each book, although I haven't provided a review.
You may conveniently order one of these interesting texts by clicking on
an Amazon or Barnes & Noble button. If you would like additional
information, click on the book title above the button to link to Amazon
without ordering the book. I plan to add to this list on a continuing basis, so stop back
frequently.
Rating
Explanation
*****
Outstanding. One of the best in the
subject area.
****
Well written; makes you think.
***
Okay, but it didn't blow me away.
**
Below average; only for the author's fans.
*
Shouldn't have been published.
PeaceMaker,
my first novel, is a lightning-paced science fiction
thriller. Read excerpts in
Prologue
and Chapter
1 -- you'll enjoy them. The prologue is
brief, but includes a duel between man and machine that
will surprise you. The first chapter begins as a
tense courtroom drama and then roars to a conclusion
unlike anything you've seen on Law and Order.
The Complete Idiot's
Guide to Decoding Your Genes
383 page trade paperback by Linda Tagliaferro
and Mark V. Bloom published 1999
***
Genome: The
Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters
344 page hardcover by Matt Ridley
published 2000
****
Engineering the Human
Germline: An Exploration of the Science and Ethics of Altering
the Genes We Pass to Our Children
169 page hardcover by Gregory Stock and John
Campbell published 2000
****
Are We Spiritual
Machines? Ray Kurzweil vs. the Critics of Strong A.I.
222 page trade paperback by Kurzweil et. al.
published 2002
***
After the Internet:
Alien Intelligence
480 page hardcover by James Martin published
2000
****
Remaking Eden: How
Genetic Engineering and Cloning will Transform the American
Family
385 page trade paperback by Lee M. Silver
published 1998
*****
Nanotechnology: A
Gentle Introduction to the Next Big Idea
188 page trade paperback by Mark Ratner and
Daniel Ratner published 2002
**
Beyond Humanity:
CyberEvolution and Future Minds
487 page trade paperback by Gregory S. Paul and
Earl D. Cox published 1996
****
Our Molecular Future:
How Nanotechnology, Robotics, Genetics, and Artificial
Intelligence will Transform Our World
392 page hardcover by Douglas Mulhall published
2002
