Marc Stiegler
Encyclopedia
Marc Stiegler is a science fiction
author
and software developer. He co-authored Valentina: Soul in Sapphire with Joseph H. Delaney
. This is one of the earliest examples of sentient computer software
in fiction — as opposed to mainframe
AI
's such as HAL
and Colossus
. He also wrote the short story
, "The Gentle Seduction" based on Vinge
's ideas about a technological "singularity," the exponential growth of future technology --- that will drastically affect the nature and experience of being a human being.
Stiegler's characters in "The Gentle Seduction" are augmented with molecular nanotechnology
. The 'seducer' is the technology itself, and perhaps the programmers of the technology. He realized the majority of mankind is more willing to swallow a pill that fixes one's back (this happens in the story) than take a pill that installs a computer in one's forehead (also from the story). He also realized that many humans do not have the mental fortitude to survive the Technological singularity
. The heroine of "The Gentle Seduction" is a normal woman whose very elemental connection with her own identity is key in soothing humanity's jarring experience of finally meeting an alien mind.
Stiegler's software development career partly parallels his science fiction. His non-fiction work, "Hypermedia and the Singularity" predates the development of the Web and predicts that hypertext
will play a key role in accelerating the evolution of knowledge. Shortly after writing this article, he took over development of Project Xanadu
, the hypertext system envisioned by Ted Nelson
. Later software development efforts included the development of DecideRight (1995) which won the Software Publishing Association's CODIE Award for Best New Business Software. In the late 1990s his attention turned to computer security, then writing the web page Introduction to Capability Based Security that became the top Google hit for capability-based security
. Later he wrote the online book E in a Walnut about the programming language E, specifically designed for developing secure distributed systems. He also developed CapDesk
, a capability-based desktop resistant to cyberattack, and invented the principles underlying Polaris, an overlay for the Windows operating system that secures the system against several important kinds of computer viruses and trojan horses. His sf book EarthWeb
takes place in a future where computers have been secured from attack, the Web has evolved to largely supplant government as the underpinning fabric of human civilization, and idea futures are used to make decisions about important future events.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and software developer. He co-authored Valentina: Soul in Sapphire with Joseph H. Delaney
Joseph H. Delaney
Joseph Henry Delaney was a US lawyer and science fiction writer. He was first published rather late in life, 1982 when he was nearly fifty, and was most associated with Analog Science Fiction and Fact. He would go on to be nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Novella several times and win readers...
. This is one of the earliest examples of sentient computer software
Computer software
Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it....
in fiction — as opposed to mainframe
Mainframe computer
Mainframes are powerful computers used primarily by corporate and governmental organizations for critical applications, bulk data processing such as census, industry and consumer statistics, enterprise resource planning, and financial transaction processing.The term originally referred to the...
AI
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
's such as HAL
HAL
-Companies and organisations:* HAL Computer Systems, a defunct computer manufacturer* HAL Laboratory, a Japanese video game developer* Halliburton, by NYSE ticker symbol* Hamburg America Line, a shipping company* Hawaiian Airlines...
and Colossus
Colossus (novel)
Colossus is a science fiction novel by British author Dennis Feltham Jones, about super-computers assuming control of man. Two sequels, The Fall of Colossus and Colossus and the Crab continued the story...
. He also wrote the short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
, "The Gentle Seduction" based on Vinge
Vernor Vinge
Vernor Steffen Vinge is a retired San Diego State University Professor of Mathematics, computer scientist, and science fiction author. He is best known for his Hugo Award-winning novels and novellas A Fire Upon the Deep , A Deepness in the Sky , Rainbows End , Fast Times at Fairmont High ...
's ideas about a technological "singularity," the exponential growth of future technology --- that will drastically affect the nature and experience of being a human being.
Stiegler's characters in "The Gentle Seduction" are augmented with molecular nanotechnology
Molecular nanotechnology
Molecular nanotechnology is a technology based on the ability to build structures to complex, atomic specifications by means of mechanosynthesis. This is distinct from nanoscale materials...
. The 'seducer' is the technology itself, and perhaps the programmers of the technology. He realized the majority of mankind is more willing to swallow a pill that fixes one's back (this happens in the story) than take a pill that installs a computer in one's forehead (also from the story). He also realized that many humans do not have the mental fortitude to survive the Technological singularity
Technological singularity
Technological singularity refers to the hypothetical future emergence of greater-than-human intelligence through technological means. Since the capabilities of such an intelligence would be difficult for an unaided human mind to comprehend, the occurrence of a technological singularity is seen as...
. The heroine of "The Gentle Seduction" is a normal woman whose very elemental connection with her own identity is key in soothing humanity's jarring experience of finally meeting an alien mind.
Stiegler's software development career partly parallels his science fiction. His non-fiction work, "Hypermedia and the Singularity" predates the development of the Web and predicts that hypertext
Hypertext
Hypertext is text displayed on a computer or other electronic device with references to other text that the reader can immediately access, usually by a mouse click or keypress sequence. Apart from running text, hypertext may contain tables, images and other presentational devices. Hypertext is the...
will play a key role in accelerating the evolution of knowledge. Shortly after writing this article, he took over development of Project Xanadu
Project Xanadu
Project Xanadu was the first hypertext project, founded in 1960 by Ted Nelson. Administrators of Project Xanadu have declared it an improvement over the World Wide Web, with mission statement: "Today's popular software simulates paper...
, the hypertext system envisioned by Ted Nelson
Ted Nelson
Theodor Holm Nelson is an American sociologist, philosopher, and pioneer of information technology. He coined the terms "hypertext" and "hypermedia" in 1963 and published it in 1965...
. Later software development efforts included the development of DecideRight (1995) which won the Software Publishing Association's CODIE Award for Best New Business Software. In the late 1990s his attention turned to computer security, then writing the web page Introduction to Capability Based Security that became the top Google hit for capability-based security
Capability-based security
Capability-based security is a concept in the design of secure computing systems, one of the existing security models. A capability is a communicable, unforgeable token of authority. It refers to a value that references an object along with an associated set of access rights...
. Later he wrote the online book E in a Walnut about the programming language E, specifically designed for developing secure distributed systems. He also developed CapDesk
CapDesk
CapDesk is a desktop environment that rigorously applies the Principle of least authority, in order to provide security for the user when running applications....
, a capability-based desktop resistant to cyberattack, and invented the principles underlying Polaris, an overlay for the Windows operating system that secures the system against several important kinds of computer viruses and trojan horses. His sf book EarthWeb
EarthWeb
EarthWeb is a science fiction novel written by author Marc Stiegler, and released in May, 1999 by publisher Baen Books.-Plot summary:EarthWeb is set in a future where Earth is attacked roughly every five years by spaceships from an unknown extraterrestrial society. Named Shivas, after the Hindu...
takes place in a future where computers have been secured from attack, the Web has evolved to largely supplant government as the underpinning fabric of human civilization, and idea futures are used to make decisions about important future events.
Books
- Valentina: Soul in Sapphire (1984) (with Joseph H. DelaneyJoseph H. DelaneyJoseph Henry Delaney was a US lawyer and science fiction writer. He was first published rather late in life, 1982 when he was nearly fifty, and was most associated with Analog Science Fiction and Fact. He would go on to be nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Novella several times and win readers...
) ISBN 0-671-55916-8 - Programming Languages: Featuring the IBM PC and Compatibles (1985) (with Bob Hanson)
- David's Sling (1987) ISBN 0-671-65369-5
- Earthweb (1998) ISBN 0-671-57809-X
Collection
- The Gentle Seduction (1990) ISBN 0-671-69887-7
- "Masters of the Mortal God" (1990)
- "Too Loving a Touch" (1982)
- "Petals of Rose" (1981)
- "The Bully and the Crazy Boy" (1980)
- "Evolution of Entropic Error in Closed Conservative Systems" (1982) non-fiction article
- "A Simple Case of Suicide" (1983)
- "The Gentle Seduction" (1989)
- "Hypermedia and the Singularity" (1989) non-fiction article
Short works
The following three stories comprise the novel Valentina: Soul in Sapphire:- "Valentina" (1984) (with Joseph H Delaney) Hugo nominee
- "The Crystal Ball" (1984) (with Joseph H Delaney)
- "The Light in the Looking Glass" (1984) (with Joseph H Delaney)
Awards
- Hugo AwardHugo AwardThe Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
Best NovellaHugo Award for Best NovellaThe Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
nominee (1985): Valentina - Prometheus AwardPrometheus AwardThe Prometheus Award is an award for libertarian science fiction novels given annually by the Libertarian Futurist Society, which also publishes a quarterly journal Prometheus. L. Neil Smith established the award in 1979, but it was not awarded regularly until the newly founded Libertarian Futurist...
Best Novel nominee (1988): David's Sling