SOCIETY OF THE MIND
by Eric L. Harry
New York: Harper Collins
1996
REVIEWED BY: Theresa L. Miller
November, 1996
Eric Harry's novel, SOCIETY OF THE MIND is an entertaining thriller introducing
the reader to the
cutting edge of computer technology. His primary purpose in writing the book is for enjoyment,
however, Harry takes you to a world where you question the moral dilemma of creating
a human computer. Where does the machine end and the human start...? Harry’s novel makes
the reader aware of the popular technological progressions of artificial intelligence.
SOCIETY OF THE MIND describes
the adventure of Dr. Laura Aldridge, a psychology professor at Harvard University. Laura has accepted a million
dollar offer from an eccentric billionaire, Joseph Gray, for a week's worth of counseling. Joseph Gray
is known as an unfeeling, arrogant, methodical, computer genius. Dr. Aldridge is shocked and surprised to
find her task is to psycho-analyze a supercomputer, "Gina". Like Gray's other robots she has been constructed
from neural networks. The "human-like" computer
is depressed and shows signs of hazardous and erratic behavior. Gray has to cure his computer enabling
it to destroy an asteroid that is on a devastating trajectory towards earth. By using the phase three anti-virual
program to cure Gina, Gray faces the inevitability of killing Gina's human side.
Robots! Neural networks! Romance! Virtual reality! Harry
seems to remain on this side of science fiction, while exhibiting futuristic possibilities. Harry's
novel is refreshing. Harry's intent is to let the reader draw his own conclusions and views. The novel is
definitely for the Sci-Fi reader and
the computer buff.
If you would like to read another novel by Eric L. Harry, try Arc Light.
Go back to: Titles of Book Reviews | AI and Expert Systems | Tentative Calendar | GSLIS
Page maintained by H. Haubitz
Last updated: November 16, 1996