From: Spudboy100@aol.com
Date: Thu Aug 22 2002 - 23:35:57 MDT
D. Broderick noted
<<Actually we didn't. See, it's so long ago now that I've got the goddam
title wrong. POSTMORTAL SYNDROME. Ah well. (We refer to the project as PMS,
so perhaps my attention-span glitch is forgivable. Blame it on PMS.)
Damien Broderick>>
Hmmm, this reminds me of a fictional history work by Michael Hart
Astromer Michael Hart, a couple of years ago wrote about the most influential
persons of the next 1000 years, in a enjoyable work called A View from the
Year 3000, by Arturo Kukeni (Hart's distant descendent and 30th century ego).
The most important person listed in the book (If I can recall the name) was
a neurosurgeon named Chung who invented 'psedo-immortality'.' This procedure
is a direct borrow from Hans Moravec, in which data is transfered from a
brain section, stored digitally, then gradually un-arc'd into the new juicy
fresh brain section.
Hart indicated that in the late 21st (22nd?) century this technique was
perfected, but also begged the question on what gets off the operating table,
a clone or the real deal. Hart did say that most people didn't care and were
happy to have the opportunity for pseudo immortality. To 'live until the
stars burned out' was the phrase used by the fake author (kukeni!).
Interstellar Colony ships (there were 4 expeditions) traveled slowly at 5%
lightspeed, because when you have life and health for centuries, the impetus
to develop a faster drive seemed was less necessary. Also, I think Hart was
being deliberately conservative, something appreciated by all of us Weekly
Reader rejects. The literature of an earlier era went by the wayside (adios
Shakesphere!) because of the lack of mortality. But there are two or three
fake authors of the literature of the next 9 centuries who make mention in
Hart's fiction. These works were humor, political thrillers, and yes, science
fiction. There was a lot more, of course, in Hart's book.
Now D.B. when can we see some more literary gems poring forth from your
keyboard? :-) Hmmmm? (((waving cash)))
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