Distraction by Bruce Sterling:
Science Fiction Inventions, Technology and Ideas

This future Earth novel is set in 2044, and most of the government and social institutions that we think are eternal and unchangeable have gone to the dogs. Global warming, cheap computer power, increasingly irrelevant government - sound familiar? See at least one set of logical conclusions in this book. Select an invention:

Bambakias Hotel - help it come into being
A hotel that wants to exist! It just needs a little help.

Bugged Money - money rigged for surveillance
American cash with embedded listening devices.

Infowar Operation
Making use of various means to disrupt the enemy's military and civilian information networks.

Junkbot - spamachine
An automated email program that specializes in sending junk mail (spam)

Netwar - communications warfare
Making use of various means to disrupt the enemy's military and civilian information networks.

Profile Sniffers - sifting the web
A software device that sifts Internet access records for patterns associate with particular personality types.

Smart Bike
A motorcycle with sophisticated systems for steering and balance.

Talking Tape - smart as a brick
Adhesive-backed network connection, global positioning, voice synthesis and speakers.

 

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Science Fiction
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DIY Robot Scorpion Crushes It
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How To Settle An Argument Between Two Robots
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The Wind Phone Calls Those Who Have Passed On
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Don't Want To Wear A TIght Shiny Bodysuit?
re: Robert Heinlein
(7/11/2026)

Light Society: Simulates Earth-Scale Society With A Billion AI Agents
re: Stanislaw Lem
(7/9/2026)

Satyress Centaur Robot Horror Reminds Everyone Of Something
re: Christopher Stasheff
(7/7/2026)

When Colds Threaten You Can't Do This - Or Can You?
re: F.L. Wallace
(7/5/2026)

Beautiful Visualization of Dawn Spacecraft
re: Isaac Asimov
(7/3/2026)

Biological War: A Scenario
re: HG Wells
(7/1/2026)

Pole-Dancing Stripperbot Robot
re: Jerome K. Jerome
(6/29/2026)

Collective Superintelligence Is At Hand!
re: Edmond Hamilton
(6/27/2026)

More SF in the News
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