The Last Evolution

by John W. Campbell Jr.

What will the final evolution be, and will we recognize it when it arrives? A thought provoking story on the ultimate destination of all life.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Short Stories, Ebooks, Audiobook

50 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 1932

About the author

John Wood Campbell, Jr. was an influential figure in American science fiction. As editor of Astounding Science Fiction (later called Analog Science Fiction and Fact), from late 1937 until his death, he is generally credited with shaping the so-called Golden Age of Science Fiction.

Isaac Asimov called Campbell "the most powerful force in science fiction ever, and for the first ten years of his editorship he dominated the field completely."

As a writer, Campbell published super-science space opera under his own name and moody, less pulpish stories as Don A. Stuart. He stopped writing fiction after he became editor of Astounding.

Known Pseudonyms/Alternate Names:

Don A. Stuart
Karl van Campen
John Campbell
J. W. C., Jr.
John W. Campbell
John Wood Campbell

Reviews

[Ralph McEwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dark complex tale full of jargon told in a conversational style.
This narrator has a voice that lends itself well to this tale.

[Tony Ciak · Rating 4 out of 5]

SciFi short story,a bit long winded, by a master, and a great Narrator.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story appeared in Amazing Stories, August 1932.

It is a story of humans no longer needing to work productively and the machines they created to do their work instead. I believe it to be a commentary the purpose of artificial intelligence and robots.

A passage from the story, as told in the first person:

It seems now, when I know this that is to be, that it must be so, for machines are indeed better than man, whether being of Metal, or being of Force.

🪐 🚀 Recommended.
🟣

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

If only. If only man could conceive of only the most collective and harmonious uses for technology. Could avoid applying his own greed and paranoia to the actions of machines and could accept his mortality. Science fiction at its optimistic best.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty forward thinking for 1936!

[Prisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concept of machine & man working together instead of the classic sci-fi machine vs. man is interesting. I wonder why people have such an obsession with the Lucifer/Frankenstein narrative of machines turning against us. There’s something sweet about machines as children imbued with our human sensibilities. However, I will say that this mean really needs a synonym for the word beam and overall really needed to tune down the tech talk a lot; it felt like a whole lecture there in the middle…

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining fantasy listening 🎶🔰

Another will written futuristic fantasy Sci-Fi space opera adventure thriller short story by John Wood Campbell about mechanical aliens invading earth 🌎 and what happens afterwards. I would recommend this novella to readers of fantasy space novels. Enjoy the adventure of novels 👍🔰 and books 📚. 2022 😠

[Phil Giunta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Far in the future, when mankind is fully dependent on robots and AI, Earth comes under attack by an alien species with a massive fleet and the ability to swiftly adapt shields and weapons to new threats. In response, Earth's machines do the same, including creating a weapon that eradicates all organic life.

[Robert Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read from the grandfather of American science fiction! It’s a narrative on machine evolution to the ends of time. It reminds me of The Sixth Finger from the original Outer Limits! The goal of evolution is the manipulation of pure energy.

[Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a classic, though with dated machines, the power is there. Hope and all the wonderful imagination of technologies, robotic and mega systems. It’s critique of man and man’s final understanding of mortality makes for a riveting read.
Recommended.

[DaftScholar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the greatest concepts in sci-fi I've ever read.

[Justice C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange and fascinating but above my level

[Gr1972 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating considering the publication date. Campbell is considered a grand master. Available on the list sci fi podcast.

[Forked Radish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Treat your toaster oven well for someday it'll replace you… Space fabric is what the emperor's new clothes were made of… All sarcasm aside, perceptive in its observation that machines evolve in the Darwinian sense, but naïve in the delusion that life in general, and humans in particular, evolve in the Darwinian sense too. DNA, which no machines have, makes the dichotomy clear.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is 2538 and most humans are pretty useless because they lived in a world where no productive work is necessary. Games, athletics, contests, adventures—these things are sought for pleasure. On the other hand, the machines they built, however simple their beginning, are now able to take any three factors to their logical conclusion. The can construct a necessary future from the present. Humans have different sort of intelligence—conscious, intuitive.

Please read the full review here.

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short sci-fi story with some interesting ideas.

[Ralph McEwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dark complex tale full of jargon told in a conversational style.

Technicially well recorded and good vocal quaility.

[Gavin Histen · Rating 1 out of 5]

listened to the librivox recording and couldn't get past the reader's voice.

[Robert Lewter · Rating 3 out of 5]

a short sweet read. A very good story.

[Bill Meehan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought provoking look at 'human evolution' 500+ years into the future, told in a short story.

[Mridul Singhai · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Campbell’s story “The Last Evolution” describes a time when humans and technologically superior machines fight together to defend themselves, and the planet Earth, from an invasive species. The story concludes with the earthlings winning over the outsiders, with the human race and the machines they created getting erased from the planet, and being replaced by a furthermore superior “force” that was thought of and created by the machines. The narrator of the story reminisces about how existence of one species is just a matter of time in the grand scheme of things that should continue to evolve.

Towards the end of the story, the narrator reflects upon the erasure of life forms that existed in the past, which I think is critical for understanding the story. "And so my task being done, I, F-2, like Roal and Trest, shall follow the others of my kind into eternal oblivion, for my kind is now, and theirs was, poor and inefficient."

I think that what Campbell describes is a really utopic picture of post-Singularity era. It is highly doubtful why machines programmed by us humans wouldn't inherit the cognitive frameworks and biases that plague us, and would not try to assert control over our now-inferior race.¬¬ Thinkers like Friedrich Nietzsche have explored the idea of existence of a superior human being, “Ubermensch”, for whom us humans would be no more than a laughingstock. Thus I find it hard to gulp that something superior to us would be willing to give away everything in order to protect us.

(written as a part of a class taken during my sophomore year).