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"Science fiction is what scientists would do if they could - if they had enough grant money, enough time, and enough brains to do the wonderful things they would like to do."
- Greg Bear
 |
| Kingdom in a Box | ||
| An entire civilization in miniature - in an interactive box. |
Trurl takes pity on King Excelsius, exiled dictator, by creating for him a tiny kingdom all his own.
| ...all of this ... fit into a box ... just the size to be carried about with ease. This Trurl presented to Excelcius, to rule and have dominion over forever; but first he showed him where the input and output of his brand-new kingdom were, and how to program wars, quell rebellions, exact tribute, collect taxes ... and explained everything so well that the king, an old hand in the running of tyrannies, instantly grasped the directions and, without hesitation, while the constructor watched, issued a few trial proclamations, correctly manipulating the control knobs, which were carved with imperial eagles and regal lions. |
| Technovelgy from The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age,
by Stanislaw Lem. Published by Harcourt Brace in 1965 Additional resources -
|
A year in the life of the kingdom-box was hardly a minute for Trurl and the King. I have to give you another brief excerpt on the philosophical implications of this invention:
"You must be joking!" Trurl exclaimed. "Really, the whole kingdom fits into a box three feet by two by two and a half ... it's only a model..."
"...Not an illusion, no, since they have reality, though purely as certain microscopic phenomena, which I produced by manipulating atoms," said Trurl. "The point is, these births, loves, acts of heroism and denunciations are nothing but the miniscule capering of electrons in space, precisely arranged by the skill of my nonlinear craft..."
"And are not we as well [said Klapaucius], if you examine us physically, mechanistically, statistically and meticulously, nothing but the miniscule capering of electron clouds?"
"What, Klapaucius, would you equate our existence with that of an imitation kingdom locked up in some glass box?!" cried Trurl. "No, really, that's going too far! My purpose was simply to fashion a simulator of statehood, a model cybernetically perfect, nothing more!
Consider also this picture and description of the chronoscope from Legion of Time by Jack Williamson:
THE OLD MAN snapped a switch,
manipulated dials at the end of the
crystal block. It lit with a cloudy green.
The green cleared, and a low cry escaped
Lanning’s lips.
For, microscopically clear within the
crystal, he saw a miniature world. A
broad, silver river cut a fertile green
plain dotted with villages. Beyond the
river rose two hills.
One was crowned with a tremendous
castellated citadel. Its frowning walls
and mighty towers were gleaming red
metal. Above them flowed banners of
yellow and crimson and black. A massive gate opened in the foot of the hill,
as he watched, and an armored troop
poured out.
Compare this to the worldcraft bubbles in Philip K. Dick's 1953 story The Trouble With Bubbles.
Will Wright, creator of The Sims, credits Lem as a major inspiration for his program.
Thanks to Yossi Preminger for suggesting this item.
"... you gave him a whole civilization to rule and have dominion over forever?"
(Chronoscope from 'Legion of Time' by Jack Williamson)
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Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age
More Ideas
and Technology by Stanislaw Lem
Tech news articles related to The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age
Tech news articles related to works by Stanislaw Lem
Kingdom in a Box-related
news articles:
- New SimCity On Global Rollout
- UK SimCity-Style Social Policy Model - A Kingdom In A Box
- The Evolution Of Spore
- Pocket God's Hundreds Of Ways To Play God
- Amazing ARES Augmented Reality Sandbox
| Cognify - A Prison Of The Mind We've Seen Before In SF |
| Robot Preachers Found To Undermine Religious Commitment |
| Gaia - Why Stop With Just The Earth? |
| Splendid View Of Eclipse From Orbit Visualized And Repurposed By Arthur C. Clarke |
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'What would you do,' Eric asked the robot cabdriver, 'if your wife had turned to stone, your best friend were a toad, and you had lost your job?'
'those suits they wear -- call them 'stillsuits' -- that reclaim the body's own water...'
'Now, except for weight and heat, the same conditions prevail in this chamber as in space.'
'there were so many worms and counterworms loose in the data-net...'
'Now, look, let's start with the three fundamental Rules of Robotics...'
'..the synthetic intellects at the Place of Knowledge had far outstripped the minds of men.'
'But after washing and drying clothes had to be smooth - free from fine lines and wrinkles ...'
