Laurence Manning (1899–1972)

Norman Winters dormía profundamente de cinco mil en cinco mil años. Pero, ¿en qué mundo despertó? 5.000 d. de J. C. La Humanidad se tambaleaba intentando salvarse entre las ruinas sucias y estancadas del mundo, tras la larga Era del Despilfarro. 10.000 d. de J. C. El mundo gobernado por el Cerebro, la máquina inexorable que lo sabe todo, lo ve todo, y no siente nada. 15.000 d. de J. C. Una vida insoportable ante la cual los humanos programan los sueños que desean y pasan la vida durmiendo. 20.000 d. de J. C. Después de la Era de la Libertad llegó la Era del Libertinaje. Y luego la aterradora Era de la Anarquía. 25.000 d. de J. C. Por fin la Humanidad descubre el secreto buscado a través de milenios. Pero la gloria, ¿a qué precio?… (mehr)

Nice little story. First of all I must remind myself that this was written in 1930 and this short story tell us of a world where everyone was connected to "Adventures" that supposedly was a way of experience new emotions. Because of this new thing called Radio wars were made obselete then came the machines and man stop working. Then almost everything that makes us human dissapear men try new things... this new thing was the virtual world.

I advice all to read. It's quite short with only 30 pages. It deals with Scientific Breakthroughs, scientific experiments that will be used in the wrong way (atomic energy anyone?) and the definition of what qualifies a being as Human. Is AI so good? What would happen to humankind?

Go read it. There are some references to white people being superior (in the 30's this was a normal assumption) so be prepared. I don't critizise it because it's from that time... It ancient greece it was normal sex with teenagers and boys... Am I to criticize it? Different times... different views.

It's free and avaiable on Wikisource.

… (mehr)