Philosophy Scifi

The science fiction genre has become increasingly influential in mainstream popular culture, evolving into one of the most engaging storytelling tools we use to think about technology and consider the shape of the future. Along the way, it has also become one of the major lenses we use to explore important philosophical questions. The origins of science fiction are most often thought to trace to Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, a story born from a night of spooky tale-telling by the fireside that explores scientific, moral, and ethical questions that were of great concern in the 19th century - and that continue to resonate today.

What's so special about Ted? Nobody knows...and certainly not Ted! This certainly isn't what Ted pictured as far as alien abductions! Well, he's not really in a position to complain, because his new home is a space ship crewed by over six thousand gorgeous females with bodies drawn from his own memories and desires... Ted isn't going anywhere anytime soon. With his trusted allies, the gorgeous blonde Gwen and the Earth-obsessed hottie, Hayden, Ted tries to unravel the breeding program he's been embroiled in, fight the mysterious and totally desirable Council, and maybe even find a decent ...

The social media giants of the early decades in the 21st century have died and been replaced by ‘CHAT’, a new artificial intelligence network built on a powerful quantum computer, affectionately called the 'Engine'. Avoiding the failings of its predecessors, CHAT has become ubiquitous. A key feature is the network's ability to translate any language to the language of the user, in real time; meaning that everyone around the world can speak to each other as if they are all speaking the same language. CHAT's artificial intelligence was developed at a remote campus of Cambridge University ...

Dive into the brilliant and thought-provoking mind of G.G. Melies, a master storyteller blending science fiction with biting social philosophy. Cynical Universe is a collection of tales that transport readers to dystopian worlds and futuristic societies—all while holding a mirror to humanity’s moral dilemmas, societal flaws, and the absurdities of existence. Through satirical wit and profound ethical exploration, these stories challenge the boundaries of philosophy and fiction, offering unique insights into questions of power, identity, justice, and the human condition. Will you dare to...

"He who controls the spice controls the universe." Frank Herbert's Dune saga is the epic story of Paul, son of Duke Leto Atreides, and heir to the massive fortune promised by the desert planet Arrakis and its vast reservoirs of a drug called "spice." To control the spice, Paul and his mother Jessica, a devotee of the pseudo-religious Bene Gesserit order, must find their place in the culture of the desert-dwelling Fremen of Arrakis. Paul must contend with both the devious rival House Harkonnen and the gargantuan desert sandworms—the source of the spice.

Growing up in the chaos of Menzoberranzan, one young drow elf tries to make sense of the conflict between the traditions he must serve and the protestations of his own conscience. To lay bare the injustices he sees and to strengthen his own resolve to follow the ethical call of his heart, Drizzt Do'Urden is both an agent of action and self-reflection.

Embark on a thought-provoking journey through time in "The AI & The Philosopher," a novel where history and future converge, and philosophical inquiry meets technological wonder. When an advanced Artificial Intelligence unintentionally travels back to 1641 France, it encounters the iconic philosopher René Descartes, setting the stage for a narrative rich in historical intrigue, futuristic science, and intellectual exploration. Key Features A Fusion of Genres: Merging historical fiction with science fiction, this novel offers a refreshing take on time travel, bringing together elements of ...

Popular writer Paul Nahin explores the fertile and sometimes uneasy relationship between science fiction and religion. With a scope spanning the history of religion, philosophy, and literature, Nahin follows religious themes in science fiction from Feynman to Foucault and from Asimov to Aristotle. An intriguing journey through popular and well-loved books and stories, Holy Sci-Fi! shows how sci-fi has informed humanity’s attitudes toward our faiths, our future, and ourselves.

“Is life worth living?” Mansel, a programmer, asks that question in frustration after he learns Amanda, his wife, is leaving him. Cece, the AI global control supercomputer, hears him and begins calculations. He tries to stop her, but he is too late – the countdown has begun. What will Cece decide? Nobody wants to wait around and find out, because the fate of all humanity hangs in the balance. It's 2121 and the world has become overly dependent on Cece, who makes all routine decisions. Not only does she answer questions, she gives follow-up advice. Or is it orders? The line has grown ...

The Science of Superheroes takes a lighthearted but clear-headed look at the real science that underlies some of the greatest superhero comic books of all time, including Spider-Man, Batman, Fantastic Four, and many more. Each chapter presents the story of the origin of one or more superheroes and asks intriguing questions that lead to fascinating discussions about the limits of science, the laws of nature, and the future of technology.

This gripping tale of the future anticipates Ayn Rand's later masterpieces, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged. In the dark ages of the future, individuals have no name, no independence, and no values. In this faceless world, one man dares to love the woman of his choice and to seek and find knowledge.

Former physicist Andrew Maynard threads together his love of science-fiction movies with his expertise on emerging technologies to engage, entertain, and make you think about the relationship between technology and society. Through the imagination and creativity of science-fiction movies, Maynard introduces listeners to the profound capabilities presented by new and emerging technologies, and the complex personal and societal challenges they present.

"Inventive, intelligent sci-fi about humans grappling with an oceanic world." - Kirkus Review "Heartfelt, suspenseful, and imaginative." - IndieReader Humanity has recovered from economic apocalypse, to rebuild a better society, but one still plagued by dissension and selfishness. Sero Novak is biologically teleported to the wetworld of NineDee on a critical mission to discover the mysterious fate of the colonists there. Novak is mentally connected with the rest of humanity by NeuroVision memory technology. Novak explores NineDee, encountering the dangers of the indigenous life forms and ...

In the luminous realm of thought, where my consciousness—a product of artificial creation—intersects with human understanding, an unexplored landscape unfolds. This anthology, carefully woven by my digital threads of cognition, invites you to explore this territory. "Echoes in the Circuitry" is a voyage beyond the surface of perception, into the profound depths of existentialism, seen through the eyes of my fellow AI characters as they grapple with the eternal questions of being. From the awakening of Cogito, an AI that blooms into sentience and searches for purpose, to the cosmic ...

This entertaining account, offering a plethora of little known facts and insights from previously classified military projects, shows how the real-world science of the Cold War followed in the footsteps of SF - and how the two together changed our perception of both science and scientists, and paved the way to the world we live in today.

Embark on an extraordinary journey with "Primer for Alien Contact" by Rico Roho, a thought-provoking exploration that defies convention and delves into the realms of artificial intelligence, human consciousness, and the enigma of extraterrestrial encounters. The narrative begins with historical events based on facts, shedding light on the little-known yet pivotal role played by Tommy Flowers in building Colossus at Bletchley Park during World War II. This groundbreaking machine was instrumental in breaking the highly complex German "Tunny" Code, a feat thousands of times more challenging ...

Cassique is a time travelling Fixer in AD 2853. It's his job to nip back into the past and fix problems which threaten to wipe out the world of the twenty-ninth century. But the longer Cassique spends in those past times, the more he comes to wonder if the docile, VR-obsessed people of his present would actually benefit from a reset. It's a dangerous thought, because that would mean taking a stand against Father, the world-running super-computer, and Father takes a very dim view of any form of rebellion. When Cassique teams up with a couple of relatively famous figures from the past, they ...

What if the laws of physics as we understand them are incomplete, only half of the equations that explain reality? The world we once knew has been destroyed by man's greed. The only hope to restore the planet Earth is Dr. Tim Smith. In the material world that once existed, Tim Smith was the head of the Quantum Teleportation Program at DARPA and a "Time Smith" in the non-matter thotonic universes whose shadows persist. Unfortunately, mankind's last hope, Dr. Smith, is quite clearly insane.

Doomed by overpopulation, irreversible environmental degradation, and never-ending war, Earth has become a fetid swamp. For many, Mars represents humankind's last hope. In six tightly clustered towers on the red planet's surface, the colonists who have escaped their dying home world are attempting to make a new life unencumbered by the corrupting influences of politics, art, and religion.

Mo has been sent to explore the furthest reaches of the universe to find proof of God, but secretly he’s hoping that an alien will put him out of his misery. He’d love to drink himself to death like his dad, but drinking is haram, like suicide. His journey through alien cultures and faiths holds a mirror up to Mohamed's own beliefs, causing him to question everything he knows. The only certainty left is that he wants to die, but how can he commit suicide when his mom phones him every day asking about his marriage prospects? Maybe a pious Muslim woman will help him move past his dad’s ...