Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site topaz.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!packard!topaz!@RUTGERS.ARPA:Purtill.SIPB@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA From: @RUTGERS.ARPA:Purtill.SIPB@MIT-MULTICS.ARPA Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: Re: Ref. Computers in SF (story request) Message-ID: <1849@topaz.ARPA> Date: Tue, 30-Apr-85 17:57:12 EDT Article-I.D.: topaz.1849 Posted: Tue Apr 30 17:57:12 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 1-May-85 04:38:05 EDT Sender: daemon@topaz.ARPA Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 22 From: Mark Purtill "The Last Question", by Isaac Asimov, I think. The computer at the end was the Universal(?) AC, and it existed in hyperspace (or else it had gone before that and a previous model existed in hyperspace), and at this point mankind has evolved into one, pure energy, mind, which merges with the AC just befor the last scene. I think Asimov thinks this is his best short story (or at least at one time did). This brings to mind something that occured to me while reading _Robots_of_Dawn_. It seems to me that in several of Asimov's story's, he essentially creates God (or /a/ god, anyway), "The Last Question" being the most obvious example. Others include some of the robot stories, eg "The Evitable Conflict" and _The_Robots_Of_Dawn_, wherein robots play the "god" role. The ending of _Foundations_Edge_ also seems to have that feel to it, but its been so long since I read it I'm not sure. What does the net think? Mark ^.-.^ Purtill at MIT-MULTICS.ARPA **Insert favorite disclaimer here.** ((")) 2-032 MIT Cambrige MA 02139