Bewusstseinstransfer : Roman

by Janet Asimov

Was passiert mit einem menschlichen Bewußtsein, das in ein elektronisches System übertragen wird, das mit der Hardware eines Computers und mit der mechanischen Physiologie eines Roboters zurechtkommen muß?

Die Meinungen der Experten gehen weit auseinander, und die Fronten sind verhärtet: Hier die >>biologischen Fundamentalisten<<, denen jedes Fortleben in mechanischer Form ein Greuel ist und ein Sakrileg an der Natur; dort die enthusiastischen Wissenschaftler ud Zukunftsträumer, die in einer Bewußtseinsübertragung von der biologischen zur mechanischen/elektronischen Physis den konsequenten nächsten Schritt der Evolution sehen - und für viele alte und kranke Menschen ist es tatsächlich die einzige Möglichkeit weiterzuleben.

Auf der Erde ist diese Zukunft politisch und gesellschaftlich nicht durchzusetzen. Die Gegensätze sind unüberwindlich. Die Evolution wird draußen in der Galaxis weitergehen oder sogar jenseits unseres Milchstraßensystems. Hilfe erwartet man von den bereits >>aufgepfropften<< Robotern, die einst menschliche Bewußtseine waren, aber es gibt bereits >>reine<< Robotgehirne, die im Bewußtseinstransfer biologischer Wesen allenfalls eine Zwischenstufe, eher eine >>Verunreinigung<< des Robotbewußtseins sehen. >>Tod allem Biologischen<< ist ihre Devise. Sie betrachten sich als die eigentlichen Bewohner der Zukunft.

Janet Jeppson Asimov (J. O. Jeppson) ist Schriftstellerin, Psychiaterin und Hausfrau. Verheiratet mit einem Biochemiker, lebt sie in Manhatten. Wie bei ihrem berühmteren Namensvetter steht im Zentrum ihres Werks der Roboter. Sie wirft in einem Buch mehr interessante Fragen auf als Isaac in einem Dutzend >>Foundation<<-Romanen.

Heyne 06/4759

Genres: Science Fiction, Robots

378 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Also known as: Janet Jeppson Asimov, Janet O. Jeppson, J.O. Jeppson

Janet Asimov was an American science fiction writer, psychiatrist, and psychoanalyst. She originally wrote as J.O. Jeppson. She was an accomplished novelist and short-story writer who sometimes worked in collaboration with her husband, the late Isaac Asimov. Among the Asimovs' joint ventures as writers is the series of juvenile novels involving an endearing robot, Norby, and his young owner, Jeff Wells.

Reviews

[Phoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really creative book, the first book I have read by Janet Asimov, and she does not disappoint as a science fictionalist. The robots in this book are self-aware. They were originally created as much "smarter" robots by humans in order to transfer their own minds to them when their bodies aged,so they could enjoy a "second life." However, as expected, lots of humans are against this.

Humans have colonized parts of space by now, so that is interesting, and at some point in the book they are faced with being cut off from Earth, and just going ahead with the illegal mind transfers. IN the meantime, some of these robots that were intended for mind transfers have become self-aware (AI) and it's fascinating!

It's just, in a word, absolutely fascinating. I wish it was a series.

[Timothy Gretler · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Everything changes, yet this changing moment is eternity." Slow start, but interesting take on robots and the future of humanity. That's pretty much most 80's sci-fi right? The story picked up once the planet Far made its appearance.

[G.A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un po’ una delusione dalla moglie di un genio come Asimov. Ha buttato in mezzo tutta la fantascienza conosciuta, dai robot agli alieni, dal trasferimento mentale (che sinceramente immagino come trasferimento di coscienza e non di registrazione) ai viaggi interspaziali, ma alla fine il libro dice veramente poco.

[Kevyn Amezcua · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does not grab your attention at the start but if you are patient and open minded this book will satisfy the philosophical mind. Janet Asimov in her own right is a brilliant writer and does not shy away from taboo. The novel not only makes you question the possibility of uploading a persons conscience to a robot is possible, it also makes you question sentience of both organic and inorganic, and the the universe itself.

[Vicki · Rating 1 out of 5]

Two chapters in, I'm not impressed. The reviews on Amazon.com aren't good either. So I'm not sure I'm going to finish this one. I hope her other books are better.

[Claire Carton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good heavens, but this person cannot write. At all.. if she were not an Asimov nepo baby, I have no idea how anyone would publish this dreck. The dialogue is so stilted. To say the characters are one dimensional would be giving them extra dimensions. Half the time it’s unclear wtf is even going on, much less why. I mean this book is literally painful to read. I’ve read plenty of bad books in my day, but I have to say this one might exceed every one of them in terms of baffling incomprehensibility and unintentional lulz.

[Otto]

A

[alina virgilyn c. brooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mind Transfer, ah, what can I say? I suppose that it was a good book overall, and looking back upon the plot it was interesting enough but I can't say that I enjoyed the book while reading it. I was around ten years old, and oh gosh, there's some serious sex scenes between a twelve-year old and fourteen-year old, I believe, that were extremely detailed! The romance and break-ups seemed too soapy for a sci-fi novel, and some of the facts were incorrect (such as the details of photons, all that junk was incorrectly stated). But looking at it without a critical eye, I suppose it wasn't terrible. I've put it in my midteens-present bookshelf simply because I feel that I should have read it, if at all, at a later age where I wouldn't have been so "scarred," by the graphic, smutty sex scenes.

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some things in here that I don't think we're really necessary, but I thought it was pretty interesting overall.