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BKIMMOPT.RVW   970217
 
"The Immortality Option", James P. Hogan, 1995, 0-345-39787-8, U$5.99/C$6.99
%A   James P. Hogan
%C   101 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003
%D   1995
%G   0-345-39787-8
%I   Ballantine/Fawcett/Columbine Books/Del Rey
%O   U$5.99/C$6.99 http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey delrey@randomhouse.com
%P   321
%T   "The Immortality Option"
 
In this sequel to his "Code of the Lifemaker", Hogan explains the origins of
the Taloids of Titan: a society of self-aware, replicating, and intelligent
robots.  The plotting provides enough tension to make it a real page turner,
while Hogan's flares of wit provide welcome comic relief along the way.  The
only major disappointment was that the ending does strongly resemble a certain
H. G. Wells novel.
 
The story continues to look at the conflict of science and credulity.  A larger
topic in this book, however, is the relative survival value of competition
versus cooperation.
 
Hogan's description of an electronic form of genetics, evolution, and sexuality
is thought provoking.  At the same time, I had a nagging feeling that I didn't
understand all of it.  (Possibly this comes of trying to understand fiction.) 
The design of a universal, cross-platform, undetectable, and unremovable
computer virus (within the space of a few hours) does, I think, give the alien
antagonists a bit too much credit.
 
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1997   BKIMMOPT.RVW   970217

======================
roberts@decus.ca           rslade@vcn.bc.ca           rslade@vanisl.decus.ca
              Ceterum censeo CNA Financial Services delendam esse
  Please note the Peterson story - http://www.netmind.com/~padgett/trial.htm