Fairy Tales for Computers

by Leslie George Katz (Editor), Franz Kafka, Theodor Herzl

Fairy Tales for Computers is a selection of stories, statements, and prophecies, each eerily prescient in its own way and relevant to these technologically obsessed times. "There is a sort of pact between the machine and ourselves, like the terrible contract between the nervous system and the subtle demon of drugs. The more useful the machine seems to us, the more it becomes so; and the more it becomes so, the more incomplete we are, the more incapable of doing without it", from History and Politics by Paul Valéry. A sobering but brilliant collection of writings complied over thirty years ago but still just as poignant. Featured authors include, E. M. Forster, Franz Kafka, Theodor Herzl, Samuel Butler, Paul Valéry, and Hans Christian Andersen. Edited by Leslie George Katz. Text Only.

Genres: Fiction, Anthologies

Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Leslie George Katz (1918-1997) was an author and publisher who founded Eakins Press, a specialty publisher of books of art and literature.

Reviews

[Colling]

This collection was put together in 1969, well before the introduction of cyberspace or personal computers, let alone social media or the looming actualization of singularity. In that, the curator’s intended allegory feels muddled by retrospect but still has the effect of eerie prescience that was likely intended. The book did not include the dates of each text, which I think is a major oversight as it adds to the shock of the aptness of some of this commentary is. In addition, we can also see just how long warnings about technology have been aired. I included the dates here. Here’s my interpretation of each text related to computers and cyberspace:

The Machine Stops by E.M. Forester (1909)- characters repeat the refrain, “no ideas here,” while looking at beautiful landscapes and elect to continue interacting with the machine, which has been omnipresent all their lives. It reminds me of this quote from A Clockwork Orange: “It's funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you viddy them on the screen.” The simulation and spectacle of cyberspace and screens.

The Nature Theatre of Oklahoma by Franz Kafka (circa 1924, or just sometime before his death) - Another unfinished Kafka novel highlights a theatre troop that is able to endlessly hire anyone and everyone within its seemingly limitless boundaries. This related tangentially to cyberspace in two ways: The first being the hackneyed concept that if a service is free than you are the product, which applies to the data which entities collects from us and generates profit from. Secondly, this story can draw parallels to the uniqueness of the digital’s relation to commodity. Commodities are no longer material which means they are no longer finite. One can click on a video all day without diminishing the resource and still generating profit.

Notes on a Dream by Theodore Herzl (1895) - The fascist who pioneered Zionism describes a utopia automated by machines/technology.

The Book of the Machine by Samuel Butler (1872) - The advancement of technological ability will always outpace that of human intellectual capability.

Paradise (To Be) Regained by Henry David Thoreau (1843) - Thoreau critiques an essay that fantasizes about an automated utopia, emphasizing the importance of not removing ourselves from nature and all that it inspires and provides.

The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter (1903) - Mice sew a wedding coat for the mayor while the tailor is sick in bed. A comment on automated work.

Out of the Fountain by Doris Lessing (1972) - A story in which a man presents a woman with a pearl. I couldn’t really figure out how this immediately connected to computers, but I loved the story!

On Intelligence by Paul Valery (1932) - “Machines” will quantify and define everything and everyone, thus removing all definition from life. Similar to these other stories, this author also believes in the potential of machines to make the lives of humans significantly easier, to the point where humans will no longer need to think or create. He takes on a somewhat traditionalist view in that this process has already started, and all great works have already been created. “Their aim is to do away with the effort of thinking” evokes not only ChatGPT writing emails but the superfluousness of those emails in the first place. Definitely the most prescient within this collection, because most of it really feels like an immediate critique of social media, AI “art”, and online marketing.

Aphorisms by Albert Einstein (circa 1940) - The mysterious of the world and relationship to others is the meaning of life (?).

The Book of Creation - God of creation, creation of God, etc.

The Nightingale by Han Christian Andersen (1843) - A nightingale with the most beautiful song is replaced by a mechanical one, which is preferred for its predictability and decorative exterior. But no simulation can ever compare to the real thing.

[Annaliese · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 2024, with artificial intelligence more present than ever, this collection published in 1969 seems quite prescient, and reveals that in the last century—even before—there have always been skeptics of technological advancements, AI, and the consequences to intelligence and social connection thereof.

I found the stories by Forster, Butler, Valéry, and Andersen most relevant, but a thoughtful collection overall.

[Ali · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's not a bad collection per se (and in my edition the cover is really cool), but I don't really think all the quote-unquote fairy tales fit the theme as well as they could. Very easy to read though, with big text and good formatting — I'd keep this as a coffee table or bathroom book if I had room for another one.

[Emlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories provided interesting insight into the relationship between man and machine. I don't mind an anthology without a thesis, but at times the stories seemed unrelated to each other and the theme itself. It does leave me wondering, what is a fairytale? Is it defined my content, structure, usage, or something else?

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this one from, I think, the Quality Paperback Book Club as a bonus way back there in the late 70-s, been lying fallow for that long too. This is a collection of short stories purportedly aimed at computers, well, and humans too, if they so desire. Yet another "cleanse my palate between novels": book.

3/5/12 DONE! The introduction of this book states: "While this book is published primarily for compters and their machine-in-laws in a world they already dominate, persons whose duty it is to serve computers and to tend machines, even those persons who are believed to be fully affiliated or completely enmeshed, may take pleasure in reading it for their own private purposes." This quirky anthology contains ten or so selections, ranging from aphorisms by Einstein to the Book of Genesis to Hans Christian Andersen's "The Nightingale" to Paul Valery's viperous railing against computers, form the 1930's. However, the reason I gave this book five stars is E.M. Forster's novella, "The Machine Stops," published in 1928. It tells the story of humanity living underground, blissfully nurtured and controlled by "The Machine." This work was written some 70 or so years before "The Matrix," but deals with the phenomenon in just as chilling a manner. Interesting, as Mr. Forster has written such social-class commentary in such works as "Howard's End" and "A Passage to India." I was immediately caught up on this work and rapt till its very end. Whether or not you read this book, DO go find "The Machine Stops" and read it forthwith!

[Sd Andrewz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited about this collection. I feel like I was mislead by the theme. While many of the stories do fit the theme set forth in the introduction, there were many that should not have made it into this book. Several were not even short stories but book reviews or notes from an author on a story that was never written. I would highly recommend reading several of the selections but from another source. Or, maybe, read the actual short stories and skip the rest.

[Airiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's informative and enjoyable for the most part, but as in most anthologies, this is a mixed bag. My favorite is Hans Christian Andersen's "The Nightingale," which details the basic distinction between the race of electronic beings and the human race. :)

[Michael J.J. Tiffany]

Don't be fooled by the 2001 publication date; this book of essays was actually compiled in 1969.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

so so

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing.