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"[Science fiction is] an integration of the mood and attitude of science (the objective universe) with the fears and hopes that spring from the unconscious."
- Gregory Benford
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| Robot Pope | ||
| An artificially intelligent robotic cardinal ascends to the Throne of St. Peter. |
It can often be difficult to choose a new pope; factions within the Vatican argue with passion. Sometimes, a compromise candidate is the only answer.
| "If he's elected," says Rabbi Mueller, "he plans an immediate time-sharing agreement with the Dalai Lama and a reciprocal plug-in with the head programmer of the Greek Orthodox church, just for starters..."
"What does he look like?" Miss Harshaw asks. Rabbi Mueller removes his sunglasses... "I can tell you that his Eminency is tall and distinguished, with a fine voice and a gentle smile..." "But he's mounted on wheels, isn't he?" Kenneth persists. "On treads," replies the rabbi, giving Kenneth a fiery, devastating look. "Treads, like a tractor has. But I don't think treads are spiritually inferior to feet, or, for that matter, to wheels..." |
| Technovelgy from Good News From the Vatican,
by Robert Silverberg. Published by Unknown in 1971 Additional resources -
|
Some people hope that a robot pope will encourage technologically-minded young people to join the Church.
Compare to the padre booth from Galactic Pot-Healer (1960) by Philip K. Dick and the proselytizing robot from Cities in Flight (1951) by James Blish.
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Tech news articles related to Good News From the Vatican
Tech news articles related to works by Robert Silverberg
Robot Pope-related
news articles:
- Robot 'Minister' Performs Wedding Ceremony
- I-Fairy Robot Minister Performs Wedding Ceremony
- Texas Couple Married By Computer
- Robots Converse, But Should They Count In A Minyan?
- Minister Wants To Convert Artificial Intelligences To Christianity
- BlessU-2 Robot Priest Celebrates 500th Reformation Anniversary
| Oh Great (Part 2), Fence-Climbing Robots |
| Finally, Robot Conductors On Autonomous Buses |
| RoboShiko! Sumo Exercises Still Good For Robots |
| Giant Robotic Hands At Gundam Next Future Science |
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'You had to live -- did live, from habit that became instinct -- in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard...'
''OVERRIDE,' the City Fathers said suddenly, without being asked anything at all.'
'... they could plug in your wire whenever they wanted to.'
'... the expressionless face before me was therefore that of the golem-wrestler, Rolem, a creature that could be set for five times the strength of a human being.'
'Waldo put his arms into the primary pair before him; all three pairs, including the secondary pair mounted before the machine, came to life.'
'... the glittering little rocket bolted to the black iron behind him.'
'The slender stalks of a sunshade-photocell collector...'
