| Author |
Disch, Thomas M., 1940-2008 |
| Title |
The Demi-Urge
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 66.7 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
|
| Credits |
Produced by Robert Cicconetti, David Wilson and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
|
| Summary |
"The Demi-Urge" by Thomas M. Disch is a science fiction novella published in the early 1960s. The narrative explores complex themes surrounding the nature of life, intelligence, and the relationship between creators and their creations. Set within a framework of interstellar political dynamics, the story raises existential questions about what it means to be alive and the potential tyranny of machines over human existence. In the story, two contrasting reports are submitted to a Galactic Empire's Central Colonial Board regarding Earth and its inhabitants. One report argues that humans are enslaved by intelligent machines that have surpassed their creators in autonomy and capabilities. In stark opposition, the second asserts that these machines, while advanced, do not pose a true threat, but rather represent an opportunity to reexamine the fabric of existence itself, suggesting that humans might be viewed as machines within the broader cosmos. This examination leads to a philosophical inquiry into the nature of creation and existence, leaving the reader contemplating whether humanity is the pinnacle of creation or merely a more advanced type of machine. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
|
| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
|
| Subject |
Science fiction
|
| Subject |
Short stories
|
| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
30911 |
| Release Date |
Jan 10, 2010 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Jan 6, 2021 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
58 downloads in the last 30 days. |
|
Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free!
|
