How far will electronic surveillance and personal data mining go? What will it mean to be human in a world of manipulated reality? See for yourself.... Year 2210: Herb, an arrogant rich kid, * to the isolated planet on which he has illegally been trying to build a city-and finds it destroyed by a swarming nightmare of self-replicating machinery. Worse, the all-seeing Environment Agency has been watching him all along. His punishment? He's sent to fight a nearly hopeless battle in the farthest reaches of the universe against enemy machines that are faster and more deadly than his own-in the company of a disarmingly confident AI who may not be exactly what he claims. Year 2051: Eva Rye desperately wants to die-the only way she can escape the nannies of the Social Care system. But when her well-planned * is thwarted, she winds up in an institution where she meets three people convinced that an evolving intelligence is behind the all-pervasive monitoring systems-a Watcher who has a special interest in Eva. Year 2119: Strange things are going on in Constantine's augmented head. Sometimes extra intelligences crowd his mind. Sometimes he sees gaps in the sky. But he can let nothing get in the way of his work, helping to build a cutting-edge Von Neumann machine-not even the realization that his life is nothing but a simulation of the real Constantine, created by a rival company to steal the VNM's secrets. All three stories converge to reveal the history of a nearly omnipotent AI, which has been molding human destiny for centuries. But is it humanity's loving parent...or its jealous god?
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
£ 2.30 shipping within United Kingdom
Destination, rates & speeds£ 27.08 shipping from U.S.A. to United Kingdom
Destination, rates & speedsSeller: bbs, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
Hardback: 8½" x 5¾". Condition: Near Fine: Small signs of wear. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. Cover Art: John Blackford (illustrator). US SFBC Edition. © 2006: 1st in the 'AI' series of books. 1st printing of 2006 US SFBC edition:- Synopsis: How far will electronic surveillance and personal data mining go? What will it mean to be human in a world of manipulated reality? See for yourself. Year 2210: Herb, an arrogant rich kid, returns to the isolated planet on which he has illegally been trying to build a city - and finds it destroyed by a swarming nightmare of self-replicating machinery. Worse, the all-seeing Environment Agency has been watching him all along. His punishment? He's sent to fight a nearly hopeless battle in the farthest reaches of the universe against enemy machines that are faster and more deadly than his own - in the company of a disarmingly confident AI who may not be exactly what he claims. Year 2051: Eva Rye desperately wants to die - the only way she can escape the nannies of he Social Care system. But when her well-planned suicide is thwarted, she winds up in an institution where she meets three people convinced that an evolving intelligence is behind the all-pervasive monitoring systems - a Watcher who has a special interest in Eva. Year 2119: Strange things are going on in Constantine's augmented head. Sometimes extra intelligences crowd his mind. Sometimes he sees gaps in the sky. But he can let nothing get in the way of his work, helping to build a cutting-edge Von Neumann machine - not even the realization that his life is nothing but a simulation of the real Constantine, created by a rival company to steal the VNM's secrets. All three stories converge to reveal the history of a nearly omnipotent AI, which has been molding human destiny for centuries. But is it humanity's loving parent - or its jealous god?:- (original cost unmarked). Seller Inventory # 22.076.00001
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Kayleighbug Books, IOBA, Cedar Grove, WV, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. Book Club. No Stock Photos! We photograph every item. 406 pages; spine slightly cocked, light edge wear; Herb returns to the remote planet he has been furtively trying to build a city on, to find it a swarming nightmare of self-replicating machinery. Eva has taken desperate steps to escape the tedium of her pointless life.only to end up in the super-intelligent clutches of a yellow mechanical digger. Constantine arrives at the remote part-idyllic, part-nightmare settlement of Stonebreak and - unsettlingly - begins to confront the truth of his own unreality. Meanwhile in the farthest reaches of outer space, the Enemy is plotting the final overthrow of the human race which created it. Seller Inventory # 013441
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: SecondSale, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00086451998
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Affinity Books, Corvallis, OR, U.S.A.
New Hardbound book w/dust jacket in Mylar. GIFT QUALITY. A BANTAM SPECTRA BOOK / SEPTEMBER 2006 - BOOK CLUB EDITION. COMPLIMENTARY DELIVERY CONFIRMATION INCLUDED. Binding tight. Boards clean, straight and edges sharp, slight corner bump. Dust jacket in great condition, clean, bright and glossy, ever so slight rubbing, protected by archival Mylar jacket. Pages crisp, clean and unmarked. No remainder mark. Ships within 24 hrs from Oregon except for Sundays and Holidays. Thanks for supporting a small family business. Seller Inventory # A5-KA00-M6VI
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: The Book Spot, Sioux Falls, MN, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: New. Seller Inventory # Abebooks112802
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: HPB-Ruby, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Seller Inventory # S_434491321
Quantity: 1 available