Mindwebs: Test & The Nine Billion Names of God and The Meeting

[james_davis_nicoll]

Test & The Nine Billion Names of God

The first involves a test that by 1970s sf standards is not as draconian as it may appear to us; given the general tenor of '70s sf, liquidation immediately following failure was have been the better bet.

The second story is a justly famous Clarke about the utility modern technology can have for old societies. I do think the techies could have used a remedial customer relations course.



The Meeting

NOT recommended for parents whose children have developmental issues. You will regret listening to this.

As I recall, Pohl is writing from the perspective of the father of a developmentally challenged child; Kornbluth on the other hand was the go to guy for ideas focusing on how useful it would be to extract maximum utility from society's damaged members.

Comments

[were-gopher.livejournal.com]

My son is very like the boy in 'the meeting' and while I didn't listen to the Mindwebs recording I did look the story up and read it online and do not regret it. It is a great reminder of how much attitudes have changed in the last 40 years to kids like that.

I'm betting that story will end with the father telling the doctor 'No' as he's been shown the light at the end of the tunnel for his boy as he is, even if it is very faint and flickering. If you've managed to parent a kid with those sorts of problems to that age without breaking down or splitting up then you've developed a core of steel and a fierce sense of protection for your offspring.

[salix-03.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the warning, that was thoughtful of you and I appreciate it. As a parent of a special needs kid, who has yet to have her second coffee for the day, it is probably something best left unread for the time being :)

[james-nicoll.livejournal.com]

Also: wow, the wife in The Meeting. I EXPECT YOU TO MAKE THE LIFE OR DEATH DECISION ABOUT OUR SON ON YOUR OWN AND I EXPECT YOU TO MAKE IT NOW! (ps kill the little beggar)