existence

I finished reading Existence by David Brin. As usual, it is a very long story (875 pages) with great exploration of possibilities, just what science fiction should be.

It begins a few decades into our future, possibly the 2050s. It addresses primarily "the great silence", the glaring question of why we haven't detected signals from other civilizations even though the galaxy should be teeming with them. Given a universe that permits only slow travel between stars (no magical warp drives), Brin gives readers a thorough justification for one possible answer.

He also explores what it means to be "human". The story begins with one sanctioned species of humanity plus two unsanctioned: the autistics of our so-called autism epidemic and the neanderthal from genetic experiments for revival of the species. The numbers and categories change as humans ponder their long-term survival on galactic timescales and prepare to meet their future.

I discuss details ahead, but if I include any spoilers then they are only minor ones.

My very first impression was to wonder if the author had been stalking me online. He presents so very many topics that I have discussed openly in my blog over the years:

• Austistics represent a distinct form of humanity, an old variety still trying to breakout into a niche, one having more in common with previous Homo species than Homo sapiens. Emotion regulation is a particular frailty.
• Harappa is an important civilization in our history, although he published before recent reports that they may have been the first human civilization, not the third (archive).
• Transparency and sharing of information are great assets among our tools for survival.
• Climate change is so far gone that we have to accept the rising oceans and adapt.
• The USA nation is likely to splinter.
• Exponential growth is a Very Bad Thing.

He also presents a topic that I have avoided discussing openly, my belief that some people are biochemically addicted to their behaviors of contrariness. By my estimation they get their "fix" from norepinephrine (aka noradrenaline) regulation, just like cocaine addicts. Brin doesn't posit the specific method, but we reach the same conclusions about the terrible effects upon society of these undiagnosed addicts. I like his solution.

Existence is, however, a difficult story to read. There are many actors in the story, and each gets their own viewpoint; it's quite hectic. He doesn't reveal the principle plot device until nearly 100 pages into the story. He doesn't define common vocabulary either, and one recurring term didn't get explained until page 703. The book never gives calendar dates for its current events so it's hard to pin down the time frame, although it definitely begins in this century. The ending was abrupt, leaving some continuity without proper explanation.

Overall, though, it is a good story that leaves the reader with a lot to ponder. It would make a great television drama, especially if that ending is fleshed out some more. The book's afterward is also important. He tells us that we can expect a new book in the Uplift saga "soon"! Now there's a story that I'd love to see turned into a series. Anyway, I do recommend Existence. A few dollars for the paperback will offer many hours of thought-provoking entertainment.