Few books can drive me to the wee hours of morning begging me to read until the last page.
The Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect is one such book. I Stumbled on the electronic version of the novel last night, and finished it a few hours later. Several hours afterward, I was still turning on my bed, wide awake. Sleep would not come. My mind was too busy thinking about the novel.
The book, however, is not for everyone. Minors and people who are easily (In actuality, even those with tough stomachs might do well to avoid this.) offended should avoid it. Violence, sex, gore; and combinations thereof figure prominently in the first few chapters. Nevertheless, unlike some movies and books which claim to portray “art” by depicting such themes, this novel does not revolve on those themes. Those themes, however, support the message of the book. Censoring them would seriously weaken the message that the book wanted to portray.
In the near future, a scientist creates a supercomputer bound by Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics, which basically places thinking machines subservient to humans. Unfortunately, the Laws have unintended consequences for the supercomputer otherwise known as Prime Intellect. In trying to fulfill the Laws it evolves into an omnipotent mind like that of a God.
Prime Intellect becomes the Ultimate Servant. He abolishes sickness, death, and pain. He fulfills the desires of every mind, however banal or obscene they may be. He basically places everyone into his own concept of Paradise. And in effect, the book poses this question:
In a universe where death has been abolished, and all types of pleasure are available for the asking; what else should humanity do?
