Ray Sun: "Dear Michi Trota: The Theme of Constant Change"

Dear Michi Trota: The Theme of Constant Change

By

Ray Sun

I like genre stories, specifically science fiction, which address the theme of constant technological advancement. Science fiction reflects the interests of readers like me by exploring economic, social, and philosophical issues of the potential future. SF stories are relevant to my life and experiences because they discuss the continual technological progress that is prevalent in modern life. Teenagers appreciate science fiction stories that consider the regular advancement of technology which they are used to and the future that they look forward to.

Many science fiction stories are based on the fast pace of technological development. Last year, I did a Student Inquiry and Research project about artificial intelligence, during which I learned about the exponential growth of technology. In his 1999 book The Age of Spiritual Machines, Ray Kurzweil, a leading futurist, proposed the Law of Accelerating Returns, which states that the rate of change of evolutionary systems, including the growth of technology, tends to increase exponentially. As technology advances, the means to improve technology also improve, so technology grows faster the more developed it is. Looking back at history, the human race has advanced more in the last 20 years than in the previous 200. Current high school students are used to this constant development of technology, as innovations and breakthroughs are reported every day. Kurzweil’s writings support Vernor Vinge, an author of several science fiction books, and his concept of a technological singularity, the point in time at which artificial intelligence surpass humans. In his novel Rainbows End, Vernor Vinge portrays both the young and the old dealing with the vast social transformations arising from a singularity. Similarly, Accelerando by Charles Stross depicts the development of human society from the near future to post-singularity civilization across 3 generations. These stories interest young readers because they explore approaching fundamental changes, fulfilling the excitement that the young generation has for the future.

Science fiction concerning the future engages readers like me with endless possibilities. Many young readers are optimistic about the future, and are interested in exploring the implications of prospective advancements. In Farah Mendlesohn’s essay “Religion and science fiction”, she mentions that “three plots dominated the development of genre sf: the incredible invention, the future war and the fantastic journey.” Of these three, the incredible invention plot best represents what many young readers seek. Teenagers are interested in investigating what the future may hold, and stories which focus on specific potential innovations easily analyze possible societies and worlds. I appreciated “Super-Toys Last All Summer Long” by Brian Aldiss because it examined the issue of sentience in artificial intelligence. I found Pat Cadigan’s “Pretty Boy Crossover” very interesting because of the social and philosophical problems it presented about mind uploading. I loved “Johnny Mnemonic” by William Gibson because of its detailed world with a completely reshaped society. All three stories consider the effects of technological progress on the human race and people’s everyday lives. Many readers like me use science fiction to look forward to the future.

The theme of constant change is relevant to teenagers because technology shapes many facets of their lives. Teenagers spend a lot of their time on computers and smartphones. The Internet has become a primary source of content and interaction between people, and the young typically embrace new technology first. A good example of technology shaping society is the effect it has made on the science fiction/fantasy community. In fact, the first sentence of the prompt document for this assignment, written by Tracy Townsend, states that “The internet’s utility in reinforcing (or creating) relationships has changed just about every social group in the Western world, and the sff community is no exception.” The prompt goes on to note the popular use of blogs, Tumblr, Youtube, and Twitter within the community. Interesting side note: this blog post is discussing the phenomenon that is the cause of its existence. Technology has become prevalent throughout our lives, and the flow of our lives shifts as it continually advances. Science fiction that focuses on the link between technological and social change engages readers, especially young ones.

In conclusion, science fiction fascinates young readers by contemplating a future and its issues very different from today due to the exponential growth of technology. Novels like Rainbows End and Accelerando and short stories such as “Super-Toys Last All Summer Long”, “Pretty Boy Crossover”, and “Johnny Mnemonic” fill my imagination and build on my optimism for the future. As I prepare myself to contribute to society, science fiction inspires me with visions of the future that I hope to bring about.