Just read: ThiGMOO, Eugene Byrne

[blufive]

[amazon.co.uk]
Set in the early-mid 21st Century, ThiGMOO is the story of a group of Artificial Intelligences. The Museum of the Mind was created as an educational tool, to allow students to learn history by conversing with fictional (but historically accurate) characters from the period.

Unfortunately, after an unknown hacker tries to bring religion to the personalities of the museum, a few of the intelligences escape and create havoc on the world's computer networks. The head of the University decides that the museum must be shut down. Then things get really complicated.

Byrne tells his tale with wry humour, and half an eye on the world's political landscape. It's amusing, and provides food for thought on issues such as the rights of artificial conciousness without ramming it down your throat.

Fun.

Comments

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed it, but found myself a little uncomfortable with the Byrne's underlying theme. To me, it did feel rather like 'imposed government is OK so long as it's imposed by AIs of unquestioned moral probity', which is not quite how I see things. (Of course, I might be confusing Byrne's perspective with that of his characters.)

Still, I'd recommend it too, and hope Byrne writes more, with or without Kim Newman.

MC

[blufive.livejournal.com]

I can't say I agree wholeheartedly with the politics myself, but then I got the impression that Byrne wasn't taking it all totally seriously, either (e.g. Trafalgar Square).