Book: The Paper Menagerie

Ken Liu's book of short stories has been on my want list for about a year.  I couldn't remember why, but when I ran across a copy recently I snagged it.

I think I remember now why it was on my list.  I think Ted Chiang recommended it when I saw him at a book reading.  The stories are similar to his; enormously innovative, not a word wasted, mind-blowing concepts.  One wonders how a person can think so far outside the box and still function in society.  Amazing stuff.

The sixth story is called "Simulacrum" and raises an interesting question. Technology has advanced from photography to videography to holograms to 3-dimensional apparently solid simulacra of a person, indistinguishable from the real thing. Apparently they're even programmed with AI for realistic conversations.

So, the question: is having sex with one of these things cheating?

They're not "real" although they appear real. They can't get pregnant (or get you pregnant, if you're on the receiving end). They're just a moving, talking clothes store dummy.

But the extension from pornographic pictures to videos to holograms to simulacra begins to wander into some very thorny issues. Fantasies are one thing; but a full-fledged relationship with one is another. Maybe.

I used to have a video CD -- maybe I still have it around here somewhere? -- which was billed as an "interactive experience with the perfect girl." On it was a series of short video clips, and an extensive menu. The girl started out dressed. You asked her to take off her boots, and a video played of her taking off her boots. It went on from there, quite a few different scenarios but they had to be played in the proper sequence, use your imagination. The thing was just a shade creepy, and made me feel uncomfortable. I only played with it a handful of times.

I imagine a 3-d simulacrum would be even creepier. It would never talk back to you or say no.

Kind of like the mail order Russian wives.

Still working my way through this volume, after a couple of books in between. Still having my mind blown by the masterful writing.

"Mono No Awake" is about a generational starship that was launched as Earth was in imminent danger of being struck by an asteroid. The crew watched the Earth disintegrate as they sailed away on huge solar sails.

The sail gets a rip in it, and is in danger of becoming useless.

A Japanese crew member remembers playing Go with his father. Like chess, sometimes a piece must be sacrificed to win the game. He volunteers to go out and fix the sail, knowing it's a one way trip.

His bravery is intercut with Go strategy moves, until the two become interchangeable. Masterful storytelling.

After "Mono No Awake" the last half of the book is taken up with four long stories, factually based, about war atrocities. In 13th Century China, in 17th Century Manchuria and in Japan during the Second World War.

Not very fun to read. I skimmed a lot of it. I appreciate that Liu is a Japanese-American author and this history is probably of great interest to him, but not to me.