I would like to mention that the third draft of my novel, Project 2, is completed and I will send the draft to people later today for review and feedback. Meanwhile I’ll work on my query letter. It truly feels like things are starting to get serious now.
On another note. I have a movie recommendation for you – or rather – I couldn’t go and see it during the screenings on January the 17th. I was going to blog about it earlier so you (my lucky readers) could go and see it. But what do you know – there’s an encore screening of this documentary! It’s called Ayn Rand & The Prophecy of Atlas Shrugged. Ayn Rand is the mother of Objectivism and author of the novel, Atlas Shrugged, which basically brings up a scenario where all the great minds of the world, all great scientists, creators, artists, engineers, and doctors, suddenly wake up one morning and realise they want something better. They form their own city – a place without restrains where the intellect thrives – a place where the inventors and shapers of the new world are not bound by taxation and government constrains. Only the working proletariat, corporate elite, and the government would remain without any inventors and creators to actually bring society forward.
Here’s the trailer:
I tend to think of her prophecy to go hand in hand with the development of robotics because the intelligent elite could never form their own society without the proletariat – a class that can be replaced by inanimate robots. What happens when we reach that stage in our society? Will the prophecy come true? Will the “motor of the world” leave to form their own society where the creative mind can create without restrains? Maybe.
It kind of reminds me of this in a way:
It’s such a strange mystery to true to predict the future, yet if one is right when doing so, one’s name will pass through time and history unforgotten.
– F H Hakansson
F. H. Hakansson 
This reminds me of the post about human augmentations … Well you know what, I do believe there will be more and more robots in the future. As you said, technology is growing and becoming an important – if not crucial – part of our lifestyle, and at a rapid rate. (Alliteration 😛 ). Still, this doesn’t enchant me at all. It’s probably because I’m a very conservative person? I’d rather die than see my neighbours turn to robots!! D:
If the prophecy comes true, I will move to a remote little island or far away in the mountain and keep on living a simple little life with a few pens and notebooks! 😀
But don’t you think that if this really does happen, it’ll just keep getting worse and worse? I mean, in the end, humans always try to “improve” things and creating new ones. But will they ever be satisfied? I think once this kind of thing starts, it’ll never end. A bit like an avalanche, you know …
Also, wishing you all the best for your querry letter and hope you get constructive feedback 😉
I know of a lot of people that aren’t intrigued by the fact that we will see more and more robots in our society. It is, in a way, the capitalist form of slavery. A company with 20 factories and 100 robots in each can produce millions of products every month. All of that money would go to everything but the workers – because they have been eliminated.
But that’s not the only side to robotisism (robot maids and servants will benefit the upper-middle class and eliminate work form the working class). Won’t dwell about that now haha :p
That seems like a nice plan 😀 haha
If I’m honest – I think it’ll get worse and humanity will be erased to some extent. Whether that be by an all out attack (executed by machines or the 1% with a robot army) or whether humanity chooses to enhance themselves to a point where they transcend humanity. The thing is that this process won’t be immediate and new generations will slowly get used to the change. Our great grandchildren won’t see a problem with having a humanoid robots in our home – or even a cybernetic creature in government. It’s the same way our theoretical great great grandfather (living in south America) probably couldn’t imagine a black person being a president in 100 years(I don’t like this comparison because one can never compare a person to a machine – yet in the eyes of our ancestors one could draw a link between such things).
The things is – whatever happens – we need to adapt. Unless we become elites in our society (whether scientists, politicians, or something else where we can actually affect the situation) we simply need to adapt to survive. That is what Darwin said after all 😉
You know what I also dislike about this is that it’s taking away what makes us human. Our feelings, emotions, and the way we express ourselves. Creating robots in like taking our humanity for granted.
Hmmm. Oh well. That’s the way the world is. It keeps on going. It’s not like I’m going to make such a difference. 😛
Congratulations on completing your third draft! Now query letter time?! I’m curious how you go about writing your QLs because that is one part of my writing journey that remains an enigma to me.
Thank you! Early reports tell of lots of punctual and tense errors… oh well hahah! At least that’s what editing’s for!
Yes it seems like a very hard part. I’ll write an entry about it later. I found some useful sites/blogs. You might have found them already but I’ll give them to you now. Most of these are “Science fiction specific” but it doesn’t matter. The information is still useful regardless!
http://mikewellsblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/5-steps-to-landing-good-literary-agent.html
http://www.sfwriter.com/agent.htm
http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/real/
Excellent post! I will definitely catch the documentary and what a freaky robot. The problem is with all of this; we can’t tell the difference between the bad guy and the good guy. Or is this anything new? Love the sarcasm in the robot!
I will pass these on. Thanks
I wish the documentary comes to Sweden soon. I would love to see it! Tell me if you manage to catch it and what you thought of it. Yes it is hard to see who’s right and who’s wrong. Abandoning altruism seems like a horrible solution but it could be a necessary evil for the overall well-being of mankind in the end. And when it comes to the robots… we’ll just see what happens
this is excellent very interesting and I congratulate you for completing your 3rd draft, and because of this I am nominating you for genuine blog award, u can link at: http://willofheart.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/yay-for-the-awards/ … 🙂
this is excellent and interesting post, I congratulate you for completing your 3rd draft ….
I am nominating you for Genuine Blog Award you can link at: http://willofheart.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/yay-for-the-awards/ … 🙂