by T. Gail Pritchard, PhD, The University of Arizona
This week, I want to share books about cyborgs and those that don’t quite fit the previous categories—they are hybrids involving technology. Where the two overlap involve the symbiosis of humans, machines, and technology. In the previously reviewed books, the main characters were either machines—robots and androids—or humans whose DNA had been modified in some way. This week’s reviews looks at novels that consider what happens when humans and technology merge to create cyborgs or an altogether different kind of technological hybrid.
Cyborgs
As with the previously reviewed books about robots, androids, and DNA modification, the issues with cyborgs are quite similar. Dan Sharpe says, “In our modern world it is no longer a question of ‘if you are a cyborg,’ but rather, ‘what kind of cyborg you are’” (http://www.cyborgdb.org/sharpe.htm). He goes on to point out that one of the ethical issues involved with cyborgs is the “why;” is it a case of “restorative augmentation” or “augmentation for enhancement.” For example, in the April 25, 2013 issue of Mother Nature Network (MNN), Bryan Nelson introduces readers to “7 Real-life human cyborgs.” Six of the seven have restorative augmentation—Neil Harbisson has an “eyeborg” that helps him hear color as sound; Jesse Sulivan, Nigel Ackland, Jerry Jalava, and Claudia Mitchell have bionic limbs/digits; and Jens Naumann has “an artificial vision system.” Each had some aspect of what they lost, restored. However, Kevin Warwick has implanted a microchip in his arm that “allow[s] him to operate doors, lights, heaters and other computers remotely as he move[s] from room to room,” an example of augmentation for enhancement.
For most of us, there is no hesitation in regard to restorative, but what happens in regard to enhancement-to what ends? To create better, stronger military? To create workers with an edge? Just because we want and can? These kinds of questions begin the debate regarding the right to become cyborg as well as the rights of cyborgs. These rights are a continual theme in novels about cyborgs and are already playing out in today’s society. Wittes and Chong, in Our Cyborg Future: Law and Policy Implications, state, “Our laws may, directly and indirectly, protect people’s right to use certain machines…. But our laws do not recognize the rights of machines themselves. Nor do the laws recognize cyborgs—hybrids that add machine functionalities and capabilities to human bodies and consciousness” (http://www.brookings.edu/research/reports2/2014/09/cyborg-future-law-policy-implications).
Cinder (2012)
Marissa Meyer
Macmillan
When I first saw the cover of this book, I had to pick it up—it was the red shoe. It was only after a closer look, I realized what was in the shoe….
Cinder builds on the traditional tale of Cinderella: “1. A high character brought low through no fault of her own. 2. A magic token and/or a magical helper. 3. Recognition at a large venue (ball, church, feast)” (Yolen, http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/boardarchives/2003/jul2003/elementscindy.html). Cinder, adopted into a wealthy family, is a full-service mechanic, well-known for her ability to repair androids. Her magic token is her secret—she is a cyborg with a biomechatronic foot and hand and her magical helper is the family servant and her friend, an android. Her secret and her abilities are revealed at the prince’s ball, where she has gone to save the prince. As in many other of the books previously reviewed, cyborgs are considered less than human with no rights. For example, Cinder’s stepmother “volunteers” Cinder for medical research on the plague and those who know she is cyborg, ignore her. However, it is her cyborg abilities that provide the means for her to be the heroine.
Cyborg (The Clone Codes #2) (2011)
Patricia C. McKissack and John McKissack
Scholastic Press
Part of a trilogy, Cyborg, tells the story of Houston, in 2130. Similar to The Adoration of Jenna Fox (Pearson), there are very specific regulations regarding enhancements with biomechatronic parts; in this case, those with three or more replacement body parts are considered less than human; but unlike Jenna, Houston’s family abandons him because of his new nonhuman status. Like Cinder (Meyer), the story takes place on both the Earth and Moon. As in both Pearson’s and Meyer’s books, the main character has become a cyborg as the result of a terrible accident. With The Cyborg Act of 2130, Houston finds every aspect of his life governed: He must register with the Bureau of Cyborg Affairs, he can only live within a designated area, he can only attend cyborg schools, he must have permission to marry and have children…. In Cyborg, the McKissacks have taken a hard look at the future, developed a parallel to the Civil Rights Movement, and created a cautionary tale for right now.
Hybrids
In preparing for this blog, I read lots of articles about robots, cyborgs, and DNA modification; and in the course of the readings, I read about hybrids. This made me think about novels I had read; thus, I’m adding a few books to this week’s reviews. This second grouping of novels features Web technology gone awry.
Just recently, I purchased a new cell phone and tablet. As I was adding various applications, one social networking site’s terms of agreement included giving them access to my camera, recorder, email and text messages, photos…. I seriously balked at the agreement. On one hand, if I am in a desperate situation, I might want someone to be able to utilize those features to render needed aid; but it creeps me out to think my privacy can be so easily invaded. On the other hand, as I considered this, I realized I can now be continually connected and I found that both exhilarating and frightening. I also thought about a recent night out with my family. We walked into a restaurant and I noticed a middle-aged couple near us. When we entered, she was on her cell phone; when we left about an hour later, she was still on the phone. During that entire hour, she never looked up, she never engaged in conversation with her dinner partner, she never interacted with anybody other than whoever was on the phone. We all know stories of people (of all ages) who have given up on any face-to-face social interactions, choosing, instead, to “hook-up” online. And this is what Susan Greenfield, Professor of Synaptic Pharmacology at Oxford, sees as an inherent problem with technology consumers. “What concerns me is that the current technologies have been converted from being means to being ends…. I’m worried about how that mind might be sidetracked, corrupted, underdeveloped—whatever word you want to use—by technology” (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/opinion/global/maria-popova-evgeny-morozov-susan-greenfield-are-we-becoming-cyborgs.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0).
Feed (2002)
M.T. Anderson
Candlewick Press
A number of years ago, a colleague told me this was the greatest YA novel he had ever read; naturally, I had to immediately read it. Besides the incredible writing, the story is a haunting prediction of future present. In this not-so-distant future, more than half of Americans are permanently interfaced with the Internet via a “feed.” Those who can afford it, have instant access to limitless databases and virtual reality. The downside—they are continually bombarded with advertisements based on their usage; the upside—they can escape the ecological devastation of the world. As the story opens, Titus and his friends are on vacation on the Moon where he meets a new friend that becomes his love interest, Violet. While Titus and his friends are completely enthralled with the feed, Violet is resistant to the blatant consumerism and thwarts FeedTech’s user profiling. While on the Moon, their feeds are hacked and while Titus’s and his friends’ feed are restored, Violet’s is not because of its inferior quality. As her feed fails, so does her body and FeedTech refuses to help because she does not have a defined user profile. What makes Feed so frighteningly familiar is in the way society’s addiction to the Internet is portrayed. The characters’ interface is so complete, they do not recognize any possible danger to humanity.
Unison Spark (2011)
Andy Marino
Henry Holt
Unison is the social network that all topsiders are plugged into as often as possible. There are even special domes where users can pay to be guarded over while spending endless hours, days, and weeks interfaced with Unison. Mistletoe, the main character, does not have this “luxury.” She lives bottomside, under the canopy, in the slums. Soon, we meet Ambrose, a topsider and the son of the CEO of Unison. Ambrose has just had a modification procedure that will keep him from ever sleeping again so he can spend 24/7 dealing with Unison’s data flow. Although Mistletoe and Ambrose have led completely opposite lives, both are plagued with a recurrent dream of darkness, tubes, and wirefeeds. They discover they are hybrids, created in a lab, with the purpose of aiding Unison’s newest version, 3.0. In this version, users will be permanently interfaced. But there is far more to their story. The instructions for their creation came from a parallel world and they share DNA with counterparts from that world. While this is a fascinating look at social networking gone wild, I was left wondering about why beings from another world would go to such extremes.
Human .4 (2011)
Mike A. Lancaster
Egmont
Lancaster’s novel begins with a note from the “editor,” explaining this is a book and the data inside is an accounting of the Straker tapes, a transcription of four audiotapes from a time long past in Earth’s history. Kyle Straker and three others find themselves the survivors of a mysterious event that takes place at their community talent show. As his act, one of Kyle’s friends—Danny– asks for four volunteers to by hypnotized. When Kyle and the others awake, the entire town, the entire world, is in a hypnotic state. Radios do not work, telephones do not work, televisions do not work, and a strange code appears on computer screens. As the text of the audiotapes is revealed, “researcher notes” are interspersed explaining terms, events, and actions. While reading, I found myself wondering about misinterpretations we have made of past civilizations…. It didn’t take long for me to start thinking, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956); and just a few pages later, one of the characters referenced the same (I noticed several reviewers had similar responses). Kyle and the survivors figure out two things, only 4% of the population is not affected and those who are, appear to be interfacing with some type of technology, but whose and from where?
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- Themes: T. Gail Pritchard
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