Bill Conrad's Blog - Posts Tagged "alternate-reality"
Alternate Reality
I was looking for something different to read, so I downloaded a science fiction alternate reality story (also called alt-history). In this book, WWII did not end, and cyborgs took over the fight.
The story focused on a cyborg hero who wanted peace, which reminded me of the 2009 movie Watchman. I reacted similarly to both stories, “Some amusing ideas, but not worth my time.” A big part of my dislike comes from the requirement to buy into the plot foundation. This means I must ignore history, including the history I participated in.
Yet, it can be fun to daydream about an alternate history. I am sure every one of us would press the button to eliminate the tragic events of our past: wars, death, environmental disasters, and awful movies. I am, of course, referring to the time I spent watching Highlander 2, Ishtar, Thin Red Line, and Howard the Duck. That’s 7.5 hours I am not getting back.
Here is the crux of my disapproval. How do we make a cyborg? This requires powerful but small motors, batteries with incredible power-to-weight ratios, immense but tiny computers, true artificial intelligence, immaculate programming, great sensors, advanced materials, an exemplary design, and precise manufacturing.
Let’s examine one necessary element: the computer. Every day, microprocessors are getting faster, smaller and require less power. Even without trying, we are on the right path to make a cyborg. Well, not so fast.
How did we get the fast microprocessors we have today? In the ‘40s, companies hired employees who spent years developing the technology. Along the way, many companies made many incremental improvements, leading to today’s powerful devices.
How did the companies get money to pay for their employees, materials, and equipment? At first, computers were costly, and only big universities, governments, and large companies could afford them. In time, smaller companies could afford them, and by the ‘70s, the price had been reduced enough that ordinary people could purchase them.
Beginning in the ‘50s, consumers purchased products from big companies who used some of this money to pay for their computers. This money paved the way for smaller and more powerful devices. Now, consumers buy computers, cell phones with microprocessors, and related products like smart refrigerators. The critical concept is that we did this voluntarily, which would not be possible in a wartime economy.
Take this article, which I freely admit is not a critical piece of information. I wrote it on my computer and posted it on a website. The addition of this article will stress the system, forcing the website company to buy more computers, programmers to fix problems, add features, and streamline the website. Thus, one single article helped make computers a tiny bit better. But… We are supposed to ignore this fact.
How does alternate reality work? Fast microprocessors? Some eggheads invented them in the ‘50s. True artificial intelligence was invented by itself. Batteries and sensors? Blah! Not worth mentioning. Let’s give the author a pass because they created a fun story. Umm, I cannot make that leap.
Well, my dear reader. What if this argument does not persuade you? I have another one. We can apply this same logic to our social development. In the ‘40s, we were not enlightened about race and sex. With much effort, society has made great strides toward reducing racism and sexism.
This was an enormous struggle paid for by millions working to educate, pass laws, and change their behavior. Remember that this energy to make this change was available because we were not at war. Imagine an alternate reality story where racial slurs were still socially acceptable. See, that is where an alternate reality story breaks down.
I guess alternate reality stories are not my thing. I’m not too fond of horror books/movies either. But how would I fix an alternate reality story to make it enjoyable? That is easy. Add time travel or aliens. WWII did not end because people from the future brought the Axis powers cyborg technology, or aliens landed and provided the same thing. Now, we are getting somewhere.
I conclude that an alternate reality story is, at best, amusing but has a shaky foundation to develop a decent plot.
You’re the best -Bill
September 4, 2024
Hey, book lovers, I published four. Please check them out:
Interviewing Immortality. A dramatic first-person psychological thriller that weaves a tale of intrigue, suspense, and self-confrontation.
Pushed to the Edge of Survival. A drama, romance, and science fiction story about two unlikely people surviving a shipwreck and living with the consequences.
Cable Ties. A slow-burn political thriller that reflects the realities of modern intelligence, law enforcement, department cooperation, and international politics.
Saving Immortality. Continuing in the first-person psychological thriller genre, James Kimble searches for his former captor to answer his life’s questions.
These books are available in softcover on Amazon and in eBook format everywhere.
The story focused on a cyborg hero who wanted peace, which reminded me of the 2009 movie Watchman. I reacted similarly to both stories, “Some amusing ideas, but not worth my time.” A big part of my dislike comes from the requirement to buy into the plot foundation. This means I must ignore history, including the history I participated in.
Yet, it can be fun to daydream about an alternate history. I am sure every one of us would press the button to eliminate the tragic events of our past: wars, death, environmental disasters, and awful movies. I am, of course, referring to the time I spent watching Highlander 2, Ishtar, Thin Red Line, and Howard the Duck. That’s 7.5 hours I am not getting back.
Here is the crux of my disapproval. How do we make a cyborg? This requires powerful but small motors, batteries with incredible power-to-weight ratios, immense but tiny computers, true artificial intelligence, immaculate programming, great sensors, advanced materials, an exemplary design, and precise manufacturing.
Let’s examine one necessary element: the computer. Every day, microprocessors are getting faster, smaller and require less power. Even without trying, we are on the right path to make a cyborg. Well, not so fast.
How did we get the fast microprocessors we have today? In the ‘40s, companies hired employees who spent years developing the technology. Along the way, many companies made many incremental improvements, leading to today’s powerful devices.
How did the companies get money to pay for their employees, materials, and equipment? At first, computers were costly, and only big universities, governments, and large companies could afford them. In time, smaller companies could afford them, and by the ‘70s, the price had been reduced enough that ordinary people could purchase them.
Beginning in the ‘50s, consumers purchased products from big companies who used some of this money to pay for their computers. This money paved the way for smaller and more powerful devices. Now, consumers buy computers, cell phones with microprocessors, and related products like smart refrigerators. The critical concept is that we did this voluntarily, which would not be possible in a wartime economy.
Take this article, which I freely admit is not a critical piece of information. I wrote it on my computer and posted it on a website. The addition of this article will stress the system, forcing the website company to buy more computers, programmers to fix problems, add features, and streamline the website. Thus, one single article helped make computers a tiny bit better. But… We are supposed to ignore this fact.
How does alternate reality work? Fast microprocessors? Some eggheads invented them in the ‘50s. True artificial intelligence was invented by itself. Batteries and sensors? Blah! Not worth mentioning. Let’s give the author a pass because they created a fun story. Umm, I cannot make that leap.
Well, my dear reader. What if this argument does not persuade you? I have another one. We can apply this same logic to our social development. In the ‘40s, we were not enlightened about race and sex. With much effort, society has made great strides toward reducing racism and sexism.
This was an enormous struggle paid for by millions working to educate, pass laws, and change their behavior. Remember that this energy to make this change was available because we were not at war. Imagine an alternate reality story where racial slurs were still socially acceptable. See, that is where an alternate reality story breaks down.
I guess alternate reality stories are not my thing. I’m not too fond of horror books/movies either. But how would I fix an alternate reality story to make it enjoyable? That is easy. Add time travel or aliens. WWII did not end because people from the future brought the Axis powers cyborg technology, or aliens landed and provided the same thing. Now, we are getting somewhere.
I conclude that an alternate reality story is, at best, amusing but has a shaky foundation to develop a decent plot.
You’re the best -Bill
September 4, 2024
Hey, book lovers, I published four. Please check them out:
Interviewing Immortality. A dramatic first-person psychological thriller that weaves a tale of intrigue, suspense, and self-confrontation.
Pushed to the Edge of Survival. A drama, romance, and science fiction story about two unlikely people surviving a shipwreck and living with the consequences.
Cable Ties. A slow-burn political thriller that reflects the realities of modern intelligence, law enforcement, department cooperation, and international politics.
Saving Immortality. Continuing in the first-person psychological thriller genre, James Kimble searches for his former captor to answer his life’s questions.
These books are available in softcover on Amazon and in eBook format everywhere.
