Greg Bear, born 1951, is an American writer and illustrator best known for science fiction. His works have covered themes of galactic conflict (Forge of God books), artificial universes (The Way series), consciousness and cultural practices (Queen of Angels), and accelerated evolution (Blood Music, Darwin's Radio, and Darwin's Children). As an enthusiastic sci-fi reader, I have read a number of his books recently and I love him as a writer and a purveyor of big ideas and big science. I also like the fact that he does not dodge the science, but puts research and thought into his books, to place them in the right scientific context.
The first Greg Bear book I read was Blood Music, first published as a short story in 1983 and then expanded to a novel in 1985. It was well received, being nominated for the 1986 Hugo Award, the 1986 John W. Campbell Memorial Award, the 1986 British Science Fiction Award and the 1985 Nebula Award.
The first Greg Bear book I read was Blood Music, first published as a short story in 1983 and then expanded to a novel in 1985. It was well received, being nominated for the 1986 Hugo Award, the 1986 John W. Campbell Memorial Award, the 1986 British Science Fiction Award and the 1985 Nebula Award.
It has also been credited as the first account of nanotechnology in science fiction. More certainly, the short story is the first in science fiction to describe microscopic medical machines and to treat DNA as a computational system capable of being reprogrammed; that is, expanded and modified. In later works, beginning with Queen of Angels and continuing with its sequel, Slant, Bear gives a detailed description of a near-future nanotechnological society. This historical sequence continues with Heads — which may contain the first description of a so-called "quantum logic computer" — and with Moving Mars. This sequence also charts the historical development of self-awareness in AIs. Its continuing character Jill was inspired in part by Robert A. Heinlein's self-aware computer Mycroft HOLMES (High-Optional, Logical, Multi-Evaluating Supervisor) in The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress.
Now that is a pretty impressive reading thread for those who are interested.
I don't want to say too much re the plot. But here is a little bit to whet the appetite
In the novel, renegade biotechnologist Vergil Ulam creates simple biological computers based on his own lymphocytes. Faced with orders from his nervous employer to destroy his work, he injects them into his own body, intending to smuggle the "noocytes" (as he calls them) out of the company and work on them elsewhere. Inside Ulam's body, the noocytes multiply and evolve rapidly, altering their own genetic material and quickly becoming self-aware.
I read this as an e-book in April 2018. I did feel that it was a bit ponderous, and it was a very unusual ending. The characters are pretty poorly drawn and are really a backdrop for the story of the microscopic entities which take centre stage very early on. But still a good read and an interesting one.
I have read lots of books over the last few years along similar AI themes
Prey by Michael Crichton
Parasites by Myra Grant
The Cracken Project by Douglas Preston
They are all great reads and so was this one.
My next two books were The Way Series, EON (1985) followed by Eternity (1988).
Definitely two books you have to read one after the other I found them a bit like 'Arthur C. Clark' as in the Rama series, but not really!. Another mind blowing bit of imagination, based on parallel universes. I must say that the second book was very different to what I expected and did provide a very satisfying ending to what had been a really complex story, something in which Bear seems to excel.
My next book was City at the End of Time (2008).
Interestingly, this has been generally canned by critics as too long and too slow and with too many characters who are relatively uninteresting and under developed. Well, I did not find that to be the case. Not all books have to roll along at a rollicking pace to keep the reader's interest. I found it a wonderful read, although the ending was a bit hard to fathom.
It reminded me a bit of Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, even though it is nothing like it!
My next Greg Bear books were Forge of God. and Anvil of Stars.
Set in the current time (1996 actually), Forge of God was relatively slow to start and I must admit that I did not really identify with the characters being painted. But it soon ramped up a notch and became a "can't put down' type book. Shades of Arthur C Clark or Michael Crichton, whom I have widely read in years past.
Like the previous Greg Bear books I have read, it is steeped in plausible science and is what we might call "serious" science fiction.
Definitely not as good as his previous books I had read but not a turkey! Will the earth be destroyed by the machines or will mankind somehow be saved. You will have to read the book to find out.
Anvil of Stars carries the story on from where Forge of God finishes. To summarise the plot:
82 young people travel the enormity of space on a quest for war and vengeance against aliens who turned the Earth, and all but a fragment of humanity, into a smouldering cinder. The aliens' psychology is unknowable and their technological brilliance seemingly infinite.
Definitely a disappointing book, with the characters not really likeable and the plot rather stupid, if you ask me. The end itself is very disappointing. Not really recommended as a couple of books to read. Life is short and there are better books out there.
My next two books were The Way Series, EON (1985) followed by Eternity (1988).
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Definitely two books you have to read one after the other I found them a bit like 'Arthur C. Clark' as in the Rama series, but not really!. Another mind blowing bit of imagination, based on parallel universes. I must say that the second book was very different to what I expected and did provide a very satisfying ending to what had been a really complex story, something in which Bear seems to excel.
My next book was City at the End of Time (2008).
It reminded me a bit of Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, even though it is nothing like it!
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My next Greg Bear books were Forge of God. and Anvil of Stars.
Set in the current time (1996 actually), Forge of God was relatively slow to start and I must admit that I did not really identify with the characters being painted. But it soon ramped up a notch and became a "can't put down' type book. Shades of Arthur C Clark or Michael Crichton, whom I have widely read in years past.
Like the previous Greg Bear books I have read, it is steeped in plausible science and is what we might call "serious" science fiction.
Definitely not as good as his previous books I had read but not a turkey! Will the earth be destroyed by the machines or will mankind somehow be saved. You will have to read the book to find out.
Anvil of Stars carries the story on from where Forge of God finishes. To summarise the plot:
82 young people travel the enormity of space on a quest for war and vengeance against aliens who turned the Earth, and all but a fragment of humanity, into a smouldering cinder. The aliens' psychology is unknowable and their technological brilliance seemingly infinite.
Definitely a disappointing book, with the characters not really likeable and the plot rather stupid, if you ask me. The end itself is very disappointing. Not really recommended as a couple of books to read. Life is short and there are better books out there.
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