The Gentle Seduction

by Marc Stiegler

These stories by Marc Stiegler are about hope: hope that technology is not the destroyer of the human race, but will lead to a future we can hardly imagine. The transformation of humanity through nanotechnology has begun, and Marc Stiegler’s tales, most of which appeared in Analog Science Fiction Magazine, take us to a dangerous, wonder-filled future that may await us, ready or not. For Stiegler, technology is the “gentle seducer” that eases us from mere denizens of planet Earth to Masters of the Universe.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Short Stories, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Literature

277 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1989

Reviews

[wareef · Rating 5 out of 5]

“And humanity had not survived unscathed. Terrible mistakes had been made, many had been lost. Even millennia later there still remained a form of death­­or perhaps not death, but a form of impenetrable isolation. The dreams could become too strong, so strong that the individual lived in dreams always, never reaching out to touch reality. Many of her friends from the early millennia had lost themselves to these enchanted infinities leading nowhere.
She did not fear such dream­bound death. Seeing the span and deep intensity of her own dreams, she could almost understand those who wrapped themselves within and disappeared. But the new things humanity found every day were just as wonderful. The volume of space touched by the needleships grew at a geometric pace, opening hundreds of star systems. Even on days when few strikingly new systems were found, there were new planets, constructed by artists, awaiting her exploration. And the new things she learned in the realm of the mind matched these treasures and more.
Someday, she believed, she too would dream an endless dream. She did not want to live forever. But the beginning of that dream was far away. The new meaning of death was complimented by a new meaning of life. This new meaning was extremely complex, even for her; life dealt with wholes much greater than the sums of their parts. But she understood it intuitively­­it was easy to distinguish an engineering intelligence, good only for manufacture, from a member of the community, even though that member might once have been just an engineering intelligence as well. New members of humanity usually came to life this way: an intelligence designed as a machine or an artwork expressed a special genius, a genius that deserved the ability to appreciate itself through self­awareness. When this happened, the psychological engineers would add those elements of the mind needed for life”

[Bryce Axelrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great short story about technology and consciousness. Those who have a more cautious perspective on AI and nanotech need to give this a read. We are all currently in a time period where our attitudes towards tech like AI and nanotech is critical over the next 50 years. There is no reason to assume maybe elements within this short story are entirely unlikely as a future potential.

[Maximiliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has a lot of points in common with "the last question" by Asimov.

[Linah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad I found this little gem of short stories, particularly 'The Gentle Seduction'. It's one of the most realistic sci-fi stories I have read that really made me think. Highly recommend.

[Peter Tillman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reread most of this in early 2024. Old stories first published in Analog 1982-1989. I'd rated the collection as 4-stars (equivalent) circa 1991. On reread, they haven't held up particularly well, so I'm downgrading the collection to 2.5+ stars. The highlight is the title story, written when nanotechnology was going to bring us to Vinge's singularity. It's still pretty good, if wildly optimistic, and is available online at the author's website: http://www.skyhunter.com/marcs/Gentle...
A weak 3.5 star rating from me in 2024, still worth reading, and the price is right. See what you think.

Otherwise, I wouldn't seek out the book, though it still has moments for old codgers like me. I'll hold on to my copy. . .

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story. One of the best short stories I have read in many a year. SF at its finest with a glimpse at a possible, albeit unimaginable, future.
First published in Analog magazine in 1989 - how it passed me by then, I have no idea!
Did it win any awards back in 1989? I would like to know as it certainly deserved to have done.

[Raul Valdez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoilers!! A great story of becoming transhumanist, fantastical, and a little terrifying all at once. The journey from simple human to posthuman explorer was fascinating, seductive, and deeply emotional. I found myself swept along with each small step she took into the future. What makes it so powerful is how gradual and relatable the changes are: until suddenly, she’s not just climbing a mountain, she’s guiding civilizations across the stars.

I was hoping for a different type of ending, but that made it even better. The unpredictability gave the story more depth and resonance. It lingered in my mind. A gentle, haunting, and visionary look at what it means to change, and still be yourself. But maybe not.

[Mile Millseron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the science is outdated/incorrect. But, otherwise, this was simply a breath-taking read.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dream of the singularity.

[Max]

Only read the Title Story

[Fabricio · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a read.
Covering a lot of ground of the syfy genre.
With such a gentle and candency.
Loved every bit.

[Surbhi S · Rating 5 out of 5]

timeless

[sidra · Rating 2 out of 5]

what were they talking about i don't get it 💀

[Jason Downey]

(Just read the titular story. Was great.)

[Siyun · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has aged badly. The namesake story is pretentious, for lack of better words.

[Ali Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only read the titular story. I read it many years ago and it was something that always stuck with me. Feels just as profound reading again

[Alexis Gauba · Rating 4 out of 5]

the universe is really eerie sometimes. it’s a beautiful read

[Suraj Pandya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Packs so much in its pages that it feels much longer. And in a good way. The ease with which it traverses the most intimate to the most grandiose is a lesson for all aspiring writers. There's not a word out of place, not an idea out of sync, so deftly has it been written.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting thoughts. Not a new idea but an interesting way of going about it. I'm not sure that nanomachines are going to be eh way of rejuvenating people, but I'm pretty sure that rejuvenation will happen during my lifetime. I do enjoy reading stories like this, those that consider what the future may be like especially since much of what was written in the "golden age of sci-fi" can be considered true or busted to some extent now. We're not going to other planets using slide rules a la Heinlein, but we are working to connect to our computers using our minds like in this one. Interesting topics.

[Richard Van Dijk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something about this book touched me. I read it years ago, but still remember at least one of the short stories that's in the book. All the short stories have one thing in common... Nanotechnology. And how we get from here to there. Definitely worth a read.

[Rajala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Optimistinen transhumanistinen kertomus ihmisyyden ja teknologian sulautumisesta yhdeksi entiteetiksi. Stieglerin selittelemätön paljas kerronta joka jättää paljon oman kuvituksen varaan, sekä kaiho tarina itse, maalaavat hyvin eläväisen kuvan tapahtumista.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic short story about what the singularity might be like.

[Brian Hylton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply astounding.