I scoped out a trilogy of novels to expose three oncoming challenges: computer viruses enhanced with artificial intelligence (set in 2012), the oncoming clash between religion and technology concerning what it means to be human (2022), and the beginnings of the integration of human and artificial intelligence into a network entity (2031). Each novel is written as a thriller -- packed with adventure, sex, greed, and romance -- as well as realistic science, technology, culture, and government.
What are your thoughts on religion versus technology? Are you mirroring certain present-day trends with your book?
Well, here we are, well into the twenty-first century and we’re still facing the same old problem: conflict between religion and science. In western nations, the conflict is verbal, often quite heated, but at least the two sides aren’t violent. The other end is the warfare between open, democratic societies and the Islamic fundamentalists who hate us.
The conflict has been going on for centuries. An old song that just keeps playing, even though nobody likes the tune. For example, there’s the old standby of evolution versus creationism. Seems like that argument has been with us forever. Many conservative Christians believe that the Bible tells them the world was created in a six-day period less than ten thousand years ago. Scientists have determined that all the evidence points to the formation of Earth about four to five billion years ago. Seems like this should be an easy one to resolve, right? But it ain’t happening.
Even though we can’t resolve the old issues, new ones keep piling on. A good one (well, not really a good one) is the issue of homosexuality. Scientists have concluded that homosexuality is a completely natural sexual orientation occurring in a small minority, caused mainly by genetics. On the other hand, religious conservatives believe that it is an unnatural, sinful state chosen by or taught to the individual. How do you bridge that gap?
And then there are the emerging issues, the ones just beginning to come into view. In Unholy Domain, I attempt to describe the oncoming issue of artificial intelligence versus natural humanity. Should we allow humans to enhance their intelligence artificially or should we continue with only human intelligence?
Scientists and clerics share a common problem. Both take a world that can’t be fully understood and try to explain its fundamental properties.
Clerics postulate beliefs that can never be proven; they demand you accept these postulates as your Faith, which will guide your actions and thoughts. Fundamentalists believe that God has revealed the Truth in scripture; no compromise of these beliefs is possible. It’s a top down way of thinking; start with the big picture and derive rules for living. Fundamental knowledge is static. Even the derived rules rarely change.
Article comments
1 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Excellent interview, both Q&A -- very engrossing.
2 - Tom
I am a fan of the fiction genre and a fan of Dan Ronco's thrillers. He knows how to write suspenseful pieces and I look forward to more!