>I am working on research for a thesis about the portrayal of computers in
>imaginative literature and film.  In my research, I am compiling a primary
>bibliography and secondary bibliography.  I also want to include a section
>on techno theory.
>
>I need suggestions on SF literature to read which includes computers play
an
>important role in the development of the plot or is the premise of the
>story.  I also would appreciate suggestions about techno theory.
>
>Regards,
>Steve
>

The following are the endnotes from a 1993 article written by Vernor Vinge
called: "What is the Singlarity?"  The whole article can be found at:

http://search.nytimes.com/search/daily/bin/fastweb?getdoc+site+site+6391+1+w
AAA+Vinge

The paper begins with he following statements:

"Within thirty years, we will have the technological means to create
superhuman intelligence. Shortly after, the human era will be ended.
Is such progress avoidable? If not to be avoided, can events be guided so
that we may survive? These questions are investigated. Some   possible
answers (and some further dangers) are presented. "


Annotated Sources [and an occasional plea for bibliographical help]
[1] Alfve'n, Hannes, writing as Olof Johanneson, _The End of Man?_, Award
Books, 1969 earlier published as "The Tale of the Big Computer",
Coward-McCann, translated from a book copyright 1966 Albert Bonniers Forlag
AB with English translation copyright 1966 by Victor Gollanz, Ltd.

[2] Anderson, Poul, "Kings Who Die", _If_, March 1962, p8-36. Reprinted in
_Seven Conquests_, Poul Anderson, MacMillan Co., 1969.

[3] Asimov, Isaac, "Runaround", _Astounding Science Fiction_, March 1942,
p94. Reprinted in _Robot Visions_, Isaac Asimov, ROC, 1990. Asimov describes
the development of his robotics stories in this book.

[4] Barrow, John D. and Frank J. Tipler, _The Anthropic Cosmological
Principle_, Oxford University Press, 1986.

[5] Bear, Greg, "Blood Music", _Analog Science Fiction-Science Fact_, June,
1983. Expanded into the novel _Blood Music_, Morrow, 1985.

[6] Cairns-Smith, A. G., _Seven Clues to the Origin of Life_, Cambridge
University Press, 1985.

[7] Conrad, Michael _et al._, "Towards an Artificial Brain", _BioSystems_,
vol 23, pp175-218, 1989.

[8] Drexler, K. Eric, _Engines of Creation_, Anchor Press/Doubleday, 1986.

[9] Dyson, Freeman, _Infinite in All Directions_, Harper && Row, 1988.

[10] Dyson, Freeman, "Physics and Biology in an Open Universe", _Review of
Modern Physics_, vol 51, pp447-460, 1979.

[11] Good, I. J., "Speculations Concerning the First Ultraintelligent
Machine", in _Advances in Computers_, vol 6, Franz L. Alt and Morris
Rubinoff, eds, pp31-88, 1965, Academic Press.

[12] Good, I. J., [Help! I can't find the source of Good's Meta-Golden Rule,
though I have the clear recollection of hearing about it sometime in the
1960s. Through the help of the net, I have found pointers to a number of
related items. G. Harry Stine and Andrew Haley have written about metalaw as
it might relate to extraterrestrials: G. Harry Stine, "How to Get along with
Extraterrestrials ... or Your Neighbor", _Analog Science Fact- Science
Fiction_, February, 1980, p39-47.] [13] Herbert, Frank, _Dune_, Berkley
Books, 1985. However, this novel was serialized in _Analog Science
Fiction-Science Fact_ in the 1960s.

[14] Kovacs, G. T. A. _et al._, "Regeneration Microelectrode Array for
Peripheral Nerve Recording and Stimulation", _IEEE Transactions on
Biomedical Engineering_, v 39, n 9, pp 893-902.

[15] Margulis, Lynn and Dorion Sagan, _Microcosmos, Four Billion Years of
Evolution from Our Microbial Ancestors_, Summit Books, 1986.

[16] Minsky, Marvin, _Society of Mind_, Simon and Schuster, 1985.

[17] Moravec, Hans, _Mind Children_, Harvard University Press, 1988.

[18] Niven, Larry, "The Ethics of Madness", _If_, April 1967, pp82-108.
Reprinted in _Neutron Star_, Larry Niven, Ballantine Books, 1968.

[19] Penrose, Roger, _The Emperor's New Mind_, Oxford University Press,
1989.

[20] Platt, Charles, Private Communication.

[21] Rasmussen, S. _et al._, "Computational Connectionism within Neurons: a
Model of Cytoskeletal Automata Subserving Neural Networks", in _Emergent
Computation_, Stephanie Forrest, ed., pp428-449, MIT Press, 1991.

[22] Searle, John R., "Minds, Brains, and Programs", in _The Behavioral and
Brain Sciences_, vol 3, Cambridge University Press, 1980. The essay is
reprinted in _The Mind's I_, edited by Douglas R. Hofstadter and Daniel C.
Dennett, Basic Books, 1981 (my source for this reference). This reprinting
contains an excellent critique of the Searle essay.

[23] Sims, Karl, "Interactive Evolution of Dynamical Systems", Thinking
Machines Corporation, Technical Report Series (published in _Toward a
Practice of Autonomous Systems: Proceedings of the First European Conference
on Artificial Life_, Paris, MIT Press, December 1991.

[24] Stapledon, Olaf, _The Starmaker_, Berkley Books, 1961 (but from the
date on forward, probably written before 1937).

[25] Stent, Gunther S., _The Coming of the Golden Age: A View of the End of
Progress_, The Natural History Press, 1969.

[26] Swanwick Michael, _Vacuum Flowers_, serialized in _Isaac Asimov's
Science Fiction Magazine_, December(?) 1986 - February 1987. Republished by
Ace Books, 1988.

[27] Thearling, Kurt, "How We Will Build a Machine that Thinks", a workshop
at Thinking Machines Corporation, August 24-26, 1992. Personal
Communication.

[28] Ulam, S., Tribute to John von Neumann, _Bulletin of the American
Mathematical Society_, vol 64, nr 3, part 2, May 1958, pp1-49.

[29] Vinge, Vernor, "Bookworm, Run!", _Analog_, March 1966, pp8-40.
Reprinted in _True Names and Other Dangers_, Vernor Vinge, Baen Books, 1987.

[30] Vinge, Vernor, "True Names", _Binary Star Number 5_, Dell, 1981.
Reprinted in _True Names and Other Dangers_, Vernor Vinge, Baen Books, 1987.

[31] Vinge, Vernor, First Word, _Omni_, January 1983, p10.

[32] Vinge, Vernor, To Appear [ :-) ].