What do you think?
Rate this book
Chasing Shadows: Visions of Our Coming Transparent World
A science fiction and tech-vision anthology about the coming era of transparency in the Information Age
David Brin, Hugo award-winning author of The Uplift War , presents Chasing Shadows , a collection of short stories and essays by other science fiction luminaries. As we debate Internet privacy, revenge porn, the NSA, and Edward Snowden, cameras get smaller, faster, and more numerous. Has Orwell's Big Brother finally come to pass? Or have we become a global society of thousands of Little Brothers―watching, judging, and reporting on one another?
Partnering with the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination, and inspired by Brin's nonfiction book The Transparent Society , noted author and futurist David Brin and scholar Stephen Potts have compiled essays and short stories from writers such as Robert J. Sawyer, James Morrow, William Gibson, Damon Knight, Jack McDevitt, and many others to examine the benefits and pitfalls of technologic transparency in all its permutations.
David Brin, Hugo award-winning author of The Uplift War , presents Chasing Shadows , a collection of short stories and essays by other science fiction luminaries. As we debate Internet privacy, revenge porn, the NSA, and Edward Snowden, cameras get smaller, faster, and more numerous. Has Orwell's Big Brother finally come to pass? Or have we become a global society of thousands of Little Brothers―watching, judging, and reporting on one another?
Partnering with the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination, and inspired by Brin's nonfiction book The Transparent Society , noted author and futurist David Brin and scholar Stephen Potts have compiled essays and short stories from writers such as Robert J. Sawyer, James Morrow, William Gibson, Damon Knight, Jack McDevitt, and many others to examine the benefits and pitfalls of technologic transparency in all its permutations.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 10, 2017
18 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
About the author
David Brin
320 books3,299 followersDavid Brin is a scientist, speaker, and world-known author. His novels have been New York Times Bestsellers, winning multiple Hugo, Nebula and other awards. At least a dozen have been translated into more than twenty languages.
Existence, his latest novel, offers an unusual scenario for first contact. His ecological thriller, Earth, foreshadowed global warming, cyberwarfare and near-future trends such as the World Wide Web. A movie, directed by Kevin Costner, was loosely based on his post-apocalyptic novel, The Postman. Startide Rising won the Hugo and Nebula Awards for best novel. The Uplift War also won the Hugo Award.
His non-fiction book -- The Transparent Society: Will Technology Force Us to Choose Between Freedom and Privacy? -- deals with secrecy in the modern world. It won the Freedom of Speech Prize from the American Library Association.
Brin serves on advisory committees dealing with subjects as diverse as national defense and homeland security, astronomy and space exploration, SETI, nanotechnology, and philanthropy.
David appears frequently on TV, including "The Universe" and on the History Channel's "Life After People."
Full and updated at:
http://www.davidbrin.com/biography.htm
Existence, his latest novel, offers an unusual scenario for first contact. His ecological thriller, Earth, foreshadowed global warming, cyberwarfare and near-future trends such as the World Wide Web. A movie, directed by Kevin Costner, was loosely based on his post-apocalyptic novel, The Postman. Startide Rising won the Hugo and Nebula Awards for best novel. The Uplift War also won the Hugo Award.
His non-fiction book -- The Transparent Society: Will Technology Force Us to Choose Between Freedom and Privacy? -- deals with secrecy in the modern world. It won the Freedom of Speech Prize from the American Library Association.
Brin serves on advisory committees dealing with subjects as diverse as national defense and homeland security, astronomy and space exploration, SETI, nanotechnology, and philanthropy.
David appears frequently on TV, including "The Universe" and on the History Channel's "Life After People."
Full and updated at:
http://www.davidbrin.com/biography.htm
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 29, 2017
Introduction: Private Lives James Gunn
AD JUSTITIAM PER LUCEM
**** Mine, Yours, Ours - Jack Skillingstead
Terrified of dying from heart failure like her mother did, a neurotic woman joins an "organ donation exchange program" - if she needs a transplant; she's guaranteed one. The catch, of course, which is only fair, is that she is required to reciprocate if another member needs a transplant. It's no surprise that her 'gamble' doesn't put her ahead...
The story explores thorny ethical issues, and is more about what we owe to society than the technicalities of organ transplants. What makes a neighbor, and who is a stranger? When we give, what do we get back?
This is a story that grew on me - I wasn't immediately that impressed, but complexities gradually rose to the surface. Although slightly old-fashioned in style, it's really a very thought-provoking query into our very current social issues.
**** Insistence of Vision - David Brin
A re-read (previously read in Brin's anthology that takes it's name from this story.)
"Through a personal story, Brin explores the possible ramifications of a future alternative to the prison system.
As the piece opens, we meet a man who's strangely unable to perceive the majority of the people around him... he perceives them only as blurs. We can tell he's desperately lonely, as he takes the opportunity to speak to one of the only people he can 'see' - a young woman.
Nicely structured."
*** Planetbound - Nancy Fulda
After many generations of separation, a kind of journalist from gravity-less orbitals takes the bold step of coming back to Earth to see how her ancestors - and her people's planet-bound cousins live. Her people watch through her eyes, and feel what she feels. But not everyone welcomes the cultural exchange.
The ending was a little too feel-good to ring true.
* The Right's Tough - Robert J. Sawyer
I never really like Sawyer, and this story hasn't changed my mind. After a century away, a group of astronauts return to a utopian Earth where governmental authority has been abolished, replaced by a social-media-based system of 'credit.' Needless to say, they don't fit in.
There's the germ of a good idea here, but the story fails to develop it. The fact that the one concrete example the author gives of the astronauts' failure to adapt of modern times is an attempted rape, makes no sense, plot-wise. And the end is just dumb.
*** The Circuit Riders - R.C. FitzPatrick
Interesting, older story, published in 1964. Worth pulling out of obscurity.
Policemen of the future rely on an electronic circuit board that gives the location of every citizen - and the level of emotional intensity they're feeling at that moment. It takes talent and a 'feel' for the zeitgeist of the precinct to read this board, but it can be used to predict who's about to commit a violent crime. Several issues with this concept are immediately obvious, but the author deals with most of them rather well. I think the piece is really quite a bit too optimistic, but it's still a good read.
** The Werewolves of Maplewood - James Morrow
I admit that this story had a few genuinely humorous moments, but overall, it didn't work for me. A professor uses his injectable werewolf serum (designed as a recreational drug) to try to pursue Social Justice especially as regard his personal conflict with another professor.
I've previously read Morrow's "Only Begotten Daughter" and I didn't like that either, so I think this writer's style is just not my thing.
***** The Road to Oceania - William Gibson
Previously read in Gibson's essay collection, "Distrust That Particular Flavor." Gibson, as always, is freakin' brilliant and I nearly always agree with him.
Here, he explores the divergence between Orwell's view of a surveillance-based future, and how our current reality has developed.
SURVEILLANCE — SOUSVEILLANCE
*** I See You - Damon Knight
A vision of radical social change, brought about by the invention of one man, loosed upon the world. The 'viewer' known s the Ozo allows anyone to see anything: anywhere, at any time. There's not much plot, but the extrapolation is fascinating. (Originally published in 1976.)
** Eyejacked - David Walton
Husband is upset that his wife is a "life blogger," and that she's dragging their young daughter into it. Since this is a sci-fi story, the blogging is done via corneal cameras; viewers get a direct POV of the 'bloggers' field of vision. However, the issues are thoroughly those of today.
However, the story, I thought, had two weaknesses: it doesn't acknowledge that becoming a popular blogger requires careful curation, and it doesn't show us any reason why the woman in the story would be popular. And, it ties everything up too neatly and quickly, with a full capitulation. I didn't buy it. (Maybe that means I'm an old-fashioned fuddy-duddy, lol.)
*** FeastWar - Vylar Kaftan
A "chatroom transcript" reveals how a group of gamers leverage their access to population data sets to stymie a bioterrorist set on spreading a viral plague. Interesting ideas (I could see the game catching on!), and although this format isn't my favorite, it kept me engaged. However, these gamers were so annoying that I found myself sympathizing with the bioweapons guy. (#notwhattheauthorintended)
*** Your Lying Eyes - Jack McDevitt
A scientist confides in a colleague while both are literally standing on the edge of a cliff. (Note to self: never discuss momentous topics, cliffside.) He's invented a pair of glasses that detects when people are lying. Our narrator's first thought is of how the course of his life has depended on partial truths and "white" lies. He's not delighted by the thought of this discovery going public...
*** The Disaster Stack - Vernor Vinge
An essay on how society might better prepare itself for a major disaster. Not bad; feels like brainstorming notes for a 'positive' spin on a post-apocalyptic novel.
LIES AND PRIVATE LIVES
***** First Presentation - Aliette de Bodard
The advanced social media technology of the future has made a world that would, at least at first, seem quite alien to a reader of our day. But the human emotions and drama that fuel this story are all too familiar. Our narrator has accepted an invitation to a formal party thrown by an ex-lover, with whom she parted on bad terms. She desperately hopes for reconciliation, but sadly realizes that her presence has more to do with social status than personal matters.
Beautifully crafted.
*** AfterShift Memories - David Ramirez
New technology that assists medical personnel with their scheduling and procedures might be able to save lives - but one doctoe has mixed feelings about it. Does his experience and expertise even matter, any more?
**** Spew - Neal Stephenson
Neal Stephenson, described as "a classic"? Boy, I'm old.
Surprisingly, I don't think I'd read this before. (It was originally published in WIRED, in 1994.)
A monitor whose job is to analyse social media profiles for commercial exploitation is dedicated to the work; aiming for a promotion. But when he encounters a group of hipsters gaming the system and doing their art under the radar; he might have to reevaluate...
I wish the piece was a little bit more fleshed-out, but it's still very good.
** Private Life in Cyberspace - John Perry Barlow
Early 1990s concerns about cyberprivacy. This essay is really mostly of historical interest at this point - but it's certainly a window into another era, already.
BIG BROTHER, LITTLE BROTHER, VILLAGE
** Elderjoy - Gregory Benford
Citing health concerns, the government levies a high tax on sexual activity for senior citizens. The couple who thinks of a way to get around the fees gets rich.
** Street Life in the Emerald City - Brenda Cooper
Starry-eyed look at how benevolent tech innovators could help out homeless people.
*** The Eyes Have It - Stephen W. Potts
A more up-to-date essay on our surveillance society, dealing with current issues and concerns.
NO PLACE TO HIDE
*** Preferences - Cat Rambo
Do we really want everything to be targeted toward us? Getting "just what we want" eliminates the feeling of serendipity. In this story, a couple on a cruise, grieving a personal loss, wrestles with this issue.
*** Vectors - Stephen Gaskell
Bribed into a daring act of sabotage, a woman hopes against hope for a cure to her brother's rare degenerative condition. But will the corporate espionage she's being pushed into undercut her most vital goals?
** Public Domain - Scott Sigler
Ripped right from the pages of today's agony aunt/relationship advice columns - this barely felt speculative. A man suspects his girlfriend of cheating, and uses facial recognition technology to spy on her. It's unsurprising that this technique backfires on him.
*** To See the Invisible Man - Robert Silverberg
In this thought experiment, our future society has made the punishment for crimes "invisibility." This is not literal invisibility, but an extreme social shunning. No one is allowed to acknowledge a marked criminal, upon pain of facing the same punishment. The story follows one such punished man. Some interesting ideas, but I didn't find it wholly convincing.
** The Disconnected - Ramez Naam
I found the second-person POV rather off-putting.
In a 'connected' future, there are only rumors of individuals who have manage to disconnect, and live 'off the grid.'
LOOKING BACK ... AND LOOKING UP
**** Eminence - Karl Schroeder
This is very much an "idea" story, functioning mainly as a vehicle for the concept - but I found it quite interesting and convincing. Schroeder floats the proposal of an electronic currency which is tied to social credit, raises potential problems with the idea, and also argues for possible solutions. Works well!
*** Sport - Kathleen Ann Goonan
Mutant girl with psychic abilities is taken advantage of by a government program that wants to use her abilities for political agendas... Yes, we've heard this before, but I have a big soft spot for this genre.
** Elephant on Table - Bruce Sterling
Kept alive by advanced technology, the former leader of Italy has become an anachronism. He lives as a recluse in his secure beach house, alone but for his attendants, and curiosity-seeking whores.
The tone here is an odd combination of ominous and humorous, reminding me a bit of Kurt Vonnegut. It's not to my taste, but I could see others liking it rather a lot.
A Tsunami of Light - Afterword by David Brin
Many thanks to Tor for the opportunity to read.
AD JUSTITIAM PER LUCEM
**** Mine, Yours, Ours - Jack Skillingstead
Terrified of dying from heart failure like her mother did, a neurotic woman joins an "organ donation exchange program" - if she needs a transplant; she's guaranteed one. The catch, of course, which is only fair, is that she is required to reciprocate if another member needs a transplant. It's no surprise that her 'gamble' doesn't put her ahead...
The story explores thorny ethical issues, and is more about what we owe to society than the technicalities of organ transplants. What makes a neighbor, and who is a stranger? When we give, what do we get back?
This is a story that grew on me - I wasn't immediately that impressed, but complexities gradually rose to the surface. Although slightly old-fashioned in style, it's really a very thought-provoking query into our very current social issues.
**** Insistence of Vision - David Brin
A re-read (previously read in Brin's anthology that takes it's name from this story.)
"Through a personal story, Brin explores the possible ramifications of a future alternative to the prison system.
As the piece opens, we meet a man who's strangely unable to perceive the majority of the people around him... he perceives them only as blurs. We can tell he's desperately lonely, as he takes the opportunity to speak to one of the only people he can 'see' - a young woman.
Nicely structured."
*** Planetbound - Nancy Fulda
After many generations of separation, a kind of journalist from gravity-less orbitals takes the bold step of coming back to Earth to see how her ancestors - and her people's planet-bound cousins live. Her people watch through her eyes, and feel what she feels. But not everyone welcomes the cultural exchange.
The ending was a little too feel-good to ring true.
* The Right's Tough - Robert J. Sawyer
I never really like Sawyer, and this story hasn't changed my mind. After a century away, a group of astronauts return to a utopian Earth where governmental authority has been abolished, replaced by a social-media-based system of 'credit.' Needless to say, they don't fit in.
There's the germ of a good idea here, but the story fails to develop it. The fact that the one concrete example the author gives of the astronauts' failure to adapt of modern times is an attempted rape, makes no sense, plot-wise. And the end is just dumb.
*** The Circuit Riders - R.C. FitzPatrick
Interesting, older story, published in 1964. Worth pulling out of obscurity.
Policemen of the future rely on an electronic circuit board that gives the location of every citizen - and the level of emotional intensity they're feeling at that moment. It takes talent and a 'feel' for the zeitgeist of the precinct to read this board, but it can be used to predict who's about to commit a violent crime. Several issues with this concept are immediately obvious, but the author deals with most of them rather well. I think the piece is really quite a bit too optimistic, but it's still a good read.
** The Werewolves of Maplewood - James Morrow
I admit that this story had a few genuinely humorous moments, but overall, it didn't work for me. A professor uses his injectable werewolf serum (designed as a recreational drug) to try to pursue Social Justice especially as regard his personal conflict with another professor.
I've previously read Morrow's "Only Begotten Daughter" and I didn't like that either, so I think this writer's style is just not my thing.
***** The Road to Oceania - William Gibson
Previously read in Gibson's essay collection, "Distrust That Particular Flavor." Gibson, as always, is freakin' brilliant and I nearly always agree with him.
Here, he explores the divergence between Orwell's view of a surveillance-based future, and how our current reality has developed.
SURVEILLANCE — SOUSVEILLANCE
*** I See You - Damon Knight
A vision of radical social change, brought about by the invention of one man, loosed upon the world. The 'viewer' known s the Ozo allows anyone to see anything: anywhere, at any time. There's not much plot, but the extrapolation is fascinating. (Originally published in 1976.)
** Eyejacked - David Walton
Husband is upset that his wife is a "life blogger," and that she's dragging their young daughter into it. Since this is a sci-fi story, the blogging is done via corneal cameras; viewers get a direct POV of the 'bloggers' field of vision. However, the issues are thoroughly those of today.
However, the story, I thought, had two weaknesses: it doesn't acknowledge that becoming a popular blogger requires careful curation, and it doesn't show us any reason why the woman in the story would be popular. And, it ties everything up too neatly and quickly, with a full capitulation. I didn't buy it. (Maybe that means I'm an old-fashioned fuddy-duddy, lol.)
*** FeastWar - Vylar Kaftan
A "chatroom transcript" reveals how a group of gamers leverage their access to population data sets to stymie a bioterrorist set on spreading a viral plague. Interesting ideas (I could see the game catching on!), and although this format isn't my favorite, it kept me engaged. However, these gamers were so annoying that I found myself sympathizing with the bioweapons guy. (#notwhattheauthorintended)
*** Your Lying Eyes - Jack McDevitt
A scientist confides in a colleague while both are literally standing on the edge of a cliff. (Note to self: never discuss momentous topics, cliffside.) He's invented a pair of glasses that detects when people are lying. Our narrator's first thought is of how the course of his life has depended on partial truths and "white" lies. He's not delighted by the thought of this discovery going public...
*** The Disaster Stack - Vernor Vinge
An essay on how society might better prepare itself for a major disaster. Not bad; feels like brainstorming notes for a 'positive' spin on a post-apocalyptic novel.
LIES AND PRIVATE LIVES
***** First Presentation - Aliette de Bodard
The advanced social media technology of the future has made a world that would, at least at first, seem quite alien to a reader of our day. But the human emotions and drama that fuel this story are all too familiar. Our narrator has accepted an invitation to a formal party thrown by an ex-lover, with whom she parted on bad terms. She desperately hopes for reconciliation, but sadly realizes that her presence has more to do with social status than personal matters.
Beautifully crafted.
*** AfterShift Memories - David Ramirez
New technology that assists medical personnel with their scheduling and procedures might be able to save lives - but one doctoe has mixed feelings about it. Does his experience and expertise even matter, any more?
**** Spew - Neal Stephenson
Neal Stephenson, described as "a classic"? Boy, I'm old.
Surprisingly, I don't think I'd read this before. (It was originally published in WIRED, in 1994.)
A monitor whose job is to analyse social media profiles for commercial exploitation is dedicated to the work; aiming for a promotion. But when he encounters a group of hipsters gaming the system and doing their art under the radar; he might have to reevaluate...
I wish the piece was a little bit more fleshed-out, but it's still very good.
** Private Life in Cyberspace - John Perry Barlow
Early 1990s concerns about cyberprivacy. This essay is really mostly of historical interest at this point - but it's certainly a window into another era, already.
BIG BROTHER, LITTLE BROTHER, VILLAGE
** Elderjoy - Gregory Benford
Citing health concerns, the government levies a high tax on sexual activity for senior citizens. The couple who thinks of a way to get around the fees gets rich.
** Street Life in the Emerald City - Brenda Cooper
Starry-eyed look at how benevolent tech innovators could help out homeless people.
*** The Eyes Have It - Stephen W. Potts
A more up-to-date essay on our surveillance society, dealing with current issues and concerns.
NO PLACE TO HIDE
*** Preferences - Cat Rambo
Do we really want everything to be targeted toward us? Getting "just what we want" eliminates the feeling of serendipity. In this story, a couple on a cruise, grieving a personal loss, wrestles with this issue.
*** Vectors - Stephen Gaskell
Bribed into a daring act of sabotage, a woman hopes against hope for a cure to her brother's rare degenerative condition. But will the corporate espionage she's being pushed into undercut her most vital goals?
** Public Domain - Scott Sigler
Ripped right from the pages of today's agony aunt/relationship advice columns - this barely felt speculative. A man suspects his girlfriend of cheating, and uses facial recognition technology to spy on her. It's unsurprising that this technique backfires on him.
*** To See the Invisible Man - Robert Silverberg
In this thought experiment, our future society has made the punishment for crimes "invisibility." This is not literal invisibility, but an extreme social shunning. No one is allowed to acknowledge a marked criminal, upon pain of facing the same punishment. The story follows one such punished man. Some interesting ideas, but I didn't find it wholly convincing.
** The Disconnected - Ramez Naam
I found the second-person POV rather off-putting.
In a 'connected' future, there are only rumors of individuals who have manage to disconnect, and live 'off the grid.'
LOOKING BACK ... AND LOOKING UP
**** Eminence - Karl Schroeder
This is very much an "idea" story, functioning mainly as a vehicle for the concept - but I found it quite interesting and convincing. Schroeder floats the proposal of an electronic currency which is tied to social credit, raises potential problems with the idea, and also argues for possible solutions. Works well!
*** Sport - Kathleen Ann Goonan
Mutant girl with psychic abilities is taken advantage of by a government program that wants to use her abilities for political agendas... Yes, we've heard this before, but I have a big soft spot for this genre.
** Elephant on Table - Bruce Sterling
Kept alive by advanced technology, the former leader of Italy has become an anachronism. He lives as a recluse in his secure beach house, alone but for his attendants, and curiosity-seeking whores.
The tone here is an odd combination of ominous and humorous, reminding me a bit of Kurt Vonnegut. It's not to my taste, but I could see others liking it rather a lot.
A Tsunami of Light - Afterword by David Brin
Many thanks to Tor for the opportunity to read.
December 28, 2020
This is a very interesting collection of short stories about privacy, transparency, surveillance, and how people respond in societies with different amounts of each. David Brin has for years been advocating for transparency rather than privacy, saying that the rich and powerful will always have ways to get around your privacy protections, and the best defense against it is to increase transparency of the rich and powerful. We have had good examples in the past few years where the ubiquity of cameras has caused widespread distribution of videos of police misconduct that in earlier times would have been buried in inaccurate police reports. This book is mostly a collection of new stories written specifically for this book in 2017, but includes a few classic stories as well including the unforgettable "I See You" by Damon Knight. Recommended.
June 21, 2020
This was a very interesting book. It was a thoughtful exploration of what things might look like if there was less privacy in our lives. A number of authors write about the plusses and minuses of this topic in an effort to explore some of the consequences. It provides a lot of food for thought. It think this was published around 16. Already we see a proliferation of technology that impacts our daily lives in this regard. From cell phones recording videos of police misbehavior during riots that are impacting the process of policing. These authors explore the good and the bad of these trends. Well worth reading.
October 18, 2017
Good collection, depicting our coming transparent society.
Some all-stars in here.
Some all-stars in here.
July 14, 2020
Very interesting collection of stories. Great food for thought in an era where privacy is eroding and surveillance is almost assumed.
May 25, 2017
This is a collection of short stories and essays (mostly stories) so as usual with any collection the quality is varied. Some were excellent, others less so, but on the whole they're a good assortment of stories looking at the ways technology and privacy concerns may shape the way we live in the future. If you're familiar with Brin's "Transparent Society" then you have an idea of the kind of discussions happening in this book. It includes stories/essays by Neal Stephenson, Vernor Vinge, William Gibson, and David Brin, which seems exciting, until you realize none of them are new. There ARE some new stories in the collection, but not from these four that I consider the "big names" and especially in the case of David Brin that's pretty disappointing since he PRESENTS this collection. Couldn't even be bothered to write something new for it? (Brin's short story, "Insistence of Vision", was originally published in 2013 and I strongly suspect is the basis for one of the season 2 episode of Black Mirror called "White Christmas".) So ... interesting stories, and if you don't follow these authors closely you may not have already read their included works, but if you do already follow this type of fiction closely you will already have read a fair part of this book.
April 21, 2017
A thought provoking collection of short stories and essays exploring the potential ramifications, responses, and unexpected challenges presented by our increasingly "transparent" world. Truly the best of what sci-fi has to offer.
May 3, 2018
A very good mix of excellent shorts and insightful essays.
The stories include classics and several good new ones that I've not read before.
The essays make interesting new points, and don't just regurgitate privacy/surveillance arguments.
The stories include classics and several good new ones that I've not read before.
The essays make interesting new points, and don't just regurgitate privacy/surveillance arguments.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews