ABANDONED. Novel about a drunk who inadvertently creates a sentient computer

[Paul]

I enjoyed a book many years ago about a character who drank too much. When he tinkered with his computer, he spilled something in/on the circuitry. The computer ended up sentient. It was a mystery/science fiction book. The name Tim or Timothy comes to mind, but I don't remember if the name belonged to the character or the author.

I would really love to read that book again. Despite my faulty memory about the book/story, I remember feeling very satisfied with the story.

Anyone?

[Nancy]

Could it be the Turing Hopper mysteries written by Donna Andrews? I think there may be three in the series so far. Tim is one of the humans who helps Turing Hopper, the sentient computer, solve mysteries. Dial Access for Murder is one of the titles I believe although I don't know if it is the first one in the series. You've Got Murder is the first of the series.

[Paul]

Nancy wrote: "Could it be the Turing Hopper mysteries written by Donna Andrews? I think there may be three in the series so far. Tim is one of the humans who helps Turing Hopper, the sentient computer, solve m..."

Thanks for the reply. It is not Ms. Andrews. The author is male. And if I remember correctly, the computer was a personal computer.

[Abby]

Could it be "futuretrack 5" by Robert Westall. I believe the creator of the sentient computer in that novel was an alcoholic. However, I'm pretty sure that he didn't spill anything on the computer to make it sentient; he was just a genius.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Robots Have No Tails perhaps by Henry Kuttner? Funny, funny book about a scientist who is ONLY a genius when he's drunk off his a$$.

(quote from back)

Gallegher was a genius. He'd start with a twist of wire and an odd notion or two, and come up with something never before known--something like a robot that thought that the most beautiful thing in the world was its own innards. Or a machine that ate dirt and sang bawdy songs. The trouble was, Gallegher's genius worked only when he was drunk. Once sober again, he could never figure out just what it was his gadgets were supposed to do, weither it was opening a can of beer--or saving the world.

[Kris]

ANN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG! That was the book I was trying to remember each time I read this post!

I even have a copy of it on my shelves....

[Paul]

Abby wrote: "Could it be "futuretrack 5" by Robert Westall. I believe the creator of the sentient computer in that novel was an alcoholic. However, I'm pretty sure that he didn't spill anything on the computer ..."

Hi Abby. The one I am looking for is not so futuristic. Thanks.

[Paul]

Ann aka Iftcan wrote: "Robots Have No Tails perhaps by Henry Kuttner? Funny, funny book about a scientist who is ONLY a genius when he's drunk off his a$$.

(quote from back)

Gallegher w..."

Hi Ann. Thanks, but sounds like too many scientists.

[Paul]

I just don't remember enough of this book. This link tells me it may be hopeless:
Wikipedia: List of fictional computers

[stormhawk]

The Cunningham Equations?

[Paul]

stormhawk wrote: "The Cunningham Equations?"

Thanks for the response stormhawk. I had hope when I saw the title, but not that one either.

[Paul]

I spent about another two hours yesterday looking on the Internet. If I could find a database of all books published in the early 80's, I'd go through the whole thing looking for books tagged "sentient computer".

Think I'm obsessed? :^)

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Paul--the BEST sentient computer book ever written is The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein. Then Spider Robinson has the INTERNET being sentient in his Callahan books (I think that Solace shows up in book 4 and is "killed" in book 5, but could be wrong on which books things happen in.)

I know that neither of these is the one you want, but thought you might like to know about them anyway.

[Paul]

Ann aka Iftcan wrote: "Paul--the BEST sentient computer book ever written is The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein. Then Spider Robinson has the INTERNET bein sentie..."

Thank you Anna! By pointing it out, you have reminded me that I need to re-read it. I thoroughly enjoyed it the first time.

I will also have a look at Spider Robinson's list.

[Jen3n]

Sounds rather like the early 80's film "Electric Dreams" which was, I believe, based on a short story .... maybe that's it?

[Snail in Danger (Sid)]

Wow, Jen3n. I've never seen that movie but now I think I need to. I wonder if that's what the OP was thinking of. Or if the film was ever novelized. (I did a little digging and if it was based on a short story, it doesn't seem to be acknowledged as such if so. But of course the Internet is not always complete.)

[Paul]

Jen3n wrote: "Sounds rather like the early 80's film "Electric Dreams" which was, I believe, based on a short story .... maybe that's it?"

I checked it out. Not the one. I also tried to find the short story. No luck.

Thanks!

[D.M.]

Throwing this out at random because he started as a program, could it be The Complete Roderick by John Sladek?

[Paul]

Dmdutcher wrote: "Throwing this out at random because he started as a program, could it be The Complete Roderick by John Sladek?"

Thanks for the suggestion. That is not the book. However, it does sound interesting.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Paul, are you still looking for this book?

[Febe]

Megga long shot here, but is it "Only Human" by TOM Holt?
Regards Febe

[Paul]

I am still looking for this book... and it is not Tom Holt. Thank you, though.

I am a great believer in letting the mind rest when you want it to work the most. Unfortunately, nothing more comes to mind. It appears that I am left with but a mere impression of this book...

[Cheryl]

Well, while your mind is letting this simmer on the back burner, the rest of us are reading more books off our shelves, and new members are joining the group.... I agree with your strategy for yourself, but if you could bump this thread every couple of months or so for the rest of us, I'd appreciate it. (I would really like to identify this, too, and I think I may even have it on my shelves. :)

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Yeah, I want this ID'ed too so that if I DON'T own it, I can get it.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Still looking?

[Paul]

I am still looking...

[Paul]

And, unfortunately, it's not on this list:

"List of Fictional Computers"
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...

[Paul]

Just spent another hour googlin! Argh...

[Kris]

Paul, around what year did you read this book?

What do you remember about the male character - age, job (scientist/programmer?), background, family/friends/loner, personality, where he lived, etc.?

Why did he drink too much?

Did the story focus on the character/his relationships or the science (does it get very technical like science fiction)?

What happened when the computer became sentient? You can add any spoilers by typing:

< spoiler >
Type your spoiler here...
< / spoiler >
(Remove all the spaces above.)

[Scott]

I seem to remember reading a Roger Zelazny short story involving Fred Saberhagen's word processor somehow gaining sentience. In the story, (view spoiler)[the word processor manages to kill Saberhagen and then starts writing its own stories as Saberhagen, if I remember correctly. (hide spoiler)]
I doubt this is what you are looking for though, as I believe it was just a quick little story thrown into one of Zelazny's anthologies (all of which are well worth reading, I might add). Zelazny and Saberhagen collaborated often, and they seemed to enjoy putting each other in their fiction.

[Paul]

Bump
I have renewed interest... haven't thought about it in a while...

[Francis]

Henry Kuttner wrote several Gallegher short stories. Check out The Twonky to make sure that's not it.

[Kris]

The Twonky by Lewis Padgett (a.k.a. Henry Kuttner and C.L. Moore) for Francis' suggestion.

[Jo]

Coming to this late, and not all the details fit, but Word Processor of the Gods comes to mind

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Still looking now?

[beichst]

The movie Electric Dreams was also something I thought of when you mentioned a spill causing the sentience.

I am not sure the MC was drunk when he created the program.
The creator was more likely high from what I remember. But as another longshot perhaps the novel The Adolescence of P-1?



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ado...

"This is the story of P-1, the most charming--and frightening--literary "child" since Robert Heinlein's Mycroft Holmes, and a tour de force in the literary exploration of artificial intelligence.

A young college student writes a self replicating computer “virus,” programed to survive, that becomes self aware. The program grows and makes mistakes and learns.

In 1984 it was adapted into a Canadian-made for TV film entitled "Hide and Seek"."

[Kris]

No response, moving to Abandoned folder.