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"What I have in my stories is ethics. Ethics and morality are very different cups of tea. I adhere to a very strict rigor of personal ethics and I demand it of those around me as well."
- Harlan Ellison
 |
| Hangman | ||
| A telefactoring device that also was able to function independently. |
In this book of novellas, Roger Zelazny shows us some of the life experience of a man who doesn't exist. That is, according to the computer systems of this near future world, he did not exist.
One of the original programmers, he was able to assign himself an identity whenever he wished. Each of the stories is a case he accepted as a contractor from a private investigative agency.
In this story, the Hangman is a remarkable device that was part telefactoring device and part autonomous robot. Using an advanced brain, it learned while being used as a telefactoring device. However, this robot learned more than anyone thought possible from his trainers, returning from a space mission to kill them one by one.
| My mind was filled to the splitting point with the double vision of the sleek, gunmetal body of the advancing telefactor and the erect, crazy-crowned image of myself - left hand extended, laser pistol in my right, that arm pressed close against my side. |
| Technovelgy from My Name is Legion,
by Roger Zelazny. Published by Del Rey in 1976 Additional resources -
|
The above quote describes the experience of both seeing from the robot's point of view and one's own.
This novel explores, in a very thoughtful way, a very unexpected manner in which machine intelligence might arise. It's an interesting question: how much of the complexity of our own thinking and feeling do we want to pass on to machines?
In the story, the sensitive neuristor brain of the Hangman teleoperated robot is subjected to the impressions, thoughts and feelings of the operators when a night watchman is inadvertently killed by the robot during a test run out of the lab, and into a bank.
"...I started to let myself out. The light hit me as I emerged. It was a hand flash. The guard had been standing out of sight. He'd a gun in his other hand. I panicked. I hit him. Reflex. If I am going to hit someone I hit him as hard as I can. Only I hit him with the strength of the Hangman. He must have died instantly."
(From 'Home is the Hangman' by Roger Zelazny)
Compare to the control helmet from Dawn of the Demigods, by Raymond Z. Gallun, published by Planet Stories in 1954. See also the entry for Robot AI Driven Mad from Liar (1941) by Isaac Asimov.
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and Technology by Roger Zelazny
Tech news articles related to My Name is Legion
Tech news articles related to works by Roger Zelazny
Hangman-related
news articles:
- Teleo-Reactive Programs Are Reaching Their Goals
- 'Schizophrenic' Computer Aids Researchers
- Robot Swarms Improve Culture By Forgetting
- MIT Boffins Create Psychopath AI On Purpose
- Missing Jet Finally Found
| Nuclear Plant Restarted To Power AI To Feed Us Dreams |
| Dino From Magical Toys An AI Companion To Children |
| AI Computer Chip Designs Passeth Human Understanding |
| Fine-Tune Your Infinite Book The Way You Want It |
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'...Anything was possible in my imaginary environment.'
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'That explains how it was so easy for me to remain motionless in midair...'
'We had discovered that metal was relatively impervious to the telepathic effect.'
'Detailed plans for the construction of the Gundstetter-Halone warp drive were flowing.'
'Do not waste your priceless company on the unappreciative folds of a sleep pod...'
'...so we've promised him a generous pension from the royalties.'
'Hocus-pocus religions and archaic weapons are no substitute for a good blaster at your side.'
