The World of Null-A – Alfred E. Van Vogt
Author at the tip of the so-called “golden age,” Alfred E. Van Vogt wrote several novels that have influenced generations of readers and writers. The World of Null-A is one of his most representative works, and like is the case with other novels of the Canadian author, it will divide readers into enthusiastic supporters and fierce detractors.
The year is 2650, in the Town of the Machine, Gilbert Gosseyn is waiting for the start of the Races, the selections that determine the social position the participants will occupy.
The giant artificial intelligence that leads the proof will select the best minds, in fact putting them in positions of power or even allowing the emigration to Venus, the world where only those with a fully developed Null-A mind can access.
Despite the great opportunity, the young man is sad, his wife died recently, and will not have the opportunity to compete with him; but fate has other low blows, a fellow accused him of having a false identity, claiming that he had never seen him in Cress Village, his birthplace.
To clarify the matter, Gosseyn undergoes polygraph, but this confirms the incredible accusations. Without being able to clarify his true identity, the young man is expelled from the Races and from the contestants residence.
The only good news is that his wife, Patricia Hardie, would be alive, at least according to the shocking statements of his accuser, but the news that his entire world would be nothing but a fiction is difficult to accept.
Soon, the situation becomes even more difficult (or confused), Gosseyn meets, in suspicious circumstances, a young woman who turns out to be Patricia Hardie, quite different from how he remembered her, and what’s more she’s the daughter of the President of Earth. Gosseyn realizes that the girl is a trap, he is indeed captured by the men of her father, and he understands that the President has found a way to trick the machine: he and his men are in positions of prestige and power all while not followers of Null-A, and they plot to bring down the system of the Races.
The young man, with the help of Patricia, manages to escape, and tries to warn the machine (a powerful Artificial Intelligence) of the conspiracy. Gosseyn is intercepted by the President’s men and hit several times by powerful laser beams. It looks like he does not have a chance to escape alive.
Although he is sure to have been killed, Gosseyn wakes up, unharmed, in a forest, and the surprise of being alive is added to that of the discovery to be on Venus, the promised land for all Null-A.
Before him, deep mysteries open up, mysterious forces are at work to thwart the threat to the machine, and he will discover that the threats are more serious than he imagined. Gosseyn will develop the potential of his exceptional mind beyond all limits, but to do so he will have to figure out who has implanted false memories in him, and how he has survive death.
Null-A is the novel that, according to the same author, has had more success among those written by Van Vogt. The first part appeared in the August 1945 edition of Astounding Science-Fiction, and all readers classified it as the best story in that number, as well as the second part the month later. The third episode is also ranked first by readers, although not unanimously.
Subsequently, Van Vogt rewrote the story in a single volume, adjusting some inconsistencies. After this first revision, made in 1948, followed another one in 1970.
Based on the theories of the Polish scientist Alfred Korzybski, founder of the theory of “general semantics” Null-A assumes that the human mind can overcome the limitations of thought A (Aristotelian) changing its system of symbols and language, and learning to reason better, becoming a Null-A mind.
But the theoretical basis of a doctrine that never had much success have little importance, Null-A is a novel that can drawn you into a whirlpool of adventures and surprises, a descent down the rapids of a stream that prevents to analyze what happens: questionable scientific thesis, coming and going between the planets, captures and escapes without stopping, strange behaviors of some characters, some disappearing leaving no traces, after all there is no time to analyze the rocks when you’re going down on a miserable boat that threatens to topple over at any moment.
It goes without saying that anyone who’s not dragged in will see all the flaws of this novel, and will not feel any pleasure in reading it, and if you do not like too complex and confusing stories you will probably find yourself in this category of readers.
Massimo Marino is a scientist envisioning science fiction. He spent years at CERN and The Lawrence Berkeley Lab followed by lead positions with Apple, Inc. and the World Economic Forum. He is also co-founder of “Squares on Blue”, a Big Data Analytics service company.
Massimo currently lives in France and crosses the border with Switzerland multiple times daily, although he is no smuggler.
As a scientist writing science fiction, he went from smashing particles at accelerators at SLAC and CERN to smashing words on a computer screen.
He’s the author of multi-awarded Daimones Trilogy.
His novels have received the Seal of Excellency from both AwesomeIndies.net and IndiePENdents.org
• 2012 PRG Reviewer’s Choice Award Winner in Science Fiction
• 2013 Hall of Fame – Best in Science Fiction, Quality Reads UK Book Club
• 2013 PRG Reviewer’s Choice Award Winner in Science Fiction Series
• 2014 Finalist – Science Fiction – Indie Excellence Awards L.A.
• 2014 Award Winner – Science Fiction Honorable Mention – Readers’ Favorite Annual Awards
His novels are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble (Nook), iTunes Apple Store, and many other retailers around the world.
Join his mailing list for new releases, or follow him on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter.
The post The World of Null-A – Alfred E. Van Vogt appeared first on § Author Massimo Marino.
