Customer Reviews

The Hacker and the Ants

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book seems largely an attempt to explain Rucker's ideas about using artificial evolution to create artificial intelligence--the same scientific ideas that underlie his Software trilogy, but here presented in a much more "realistic" setting. I prefer the surrealism of Software (which also packs more of a philosophic punch) but I did enjoy reading this book--as much for the slacker main character as for the AI inspired plot--and would recommend it over Software for those who are mainly concerned about the science in their science fiction.

This novel is much more realistic than William Gibson or Neal Stephenson, at least in the cyberspacial aspect of the book. The timeline of the book seems to be just one or two decades in the future, and although the robots maybe doesn't seem so realistic, the plot and the hacking, which I consider utterly realistic, more than compensates for it. The protagonist, Jerzy Rugby, is, compared to other cyberpunk novels, very vivid and detailed, probably because Rucker chose to write in 1st person perspective. The conspiracy reminds me of some similar American movies, and it is clear that Rucker knows quite a lot about computers. This is the most realistic cyberpunk novel that I've read, and I think that you should do the same.

I'm a big fan of Rucker's books and this was no exception. Hacker tells the tale of a programmer stumbling headlong into a new (artificial) lifeforms' evolutionary struggle. The concept may sound familiar to many cyber-punk fans, but Rucker adds his own eclectic style to make a real page turner. It may not be up to the level of some of his later works, but its definitely worth the time.

What happens when man creates an inorganic self-sustaining entity that has the ability to evolve into a higher level of existence? What happens when the bugs come out to play? Rucker has some interesting answers to the questions. Enter Jerzy Rugby, hacker, and Studly, his pet project, er, robot.

From the book:

<><>
Studly came wheeling up to me. "I think we should leave very soon, Jerzy," said he. I noticed that Studly's pincer was dark and wet. I peered closer. Blood.

"Where's the dog?"

"I dragged him behind the Vos' house."

"You killed him?"

"It seems so. I poked very hard at his neck and the material of the animal's skin gave way."

"You've ... you've killed something, Studly! You aren't ever supposed to kill!"

"I was only defending you and your friends."

"Oh brother. I have to go back inside for a few minutes before we leave. Meanwhile I want you to drag that poor dog's body to the yard behind its own house. And then you get in the trunk of my car and close the trunk, you hear?"

"To hear is to obey, Master."

"Oh, and one more thing. What did you feed into the Fibernet back there, Studly?"

"GoMotion ants."
<><>

HACKER is technically superior to NEUROMANCER by William Gibson. Where Gibson describes "ice", visual representations of software barriers in a computer system, Rucker dabbles a bit more carefully and realistically in virtual scenes. I enjoyed the variety of characters that play throughout his story.

Rucker's SciFi writing has matured from his early works, SOFTWARE and WETWARE (now published in a single volume, LIVE ROBOTS). Understand that the man is a mathematician, having peered into infinity and returned to write about it; his writings on four dimensional geometry are a work of genius.

THE HACKER AND THE ANTS is good fun. The technology is Earth 20 years or so from now, perhaps even less. The story moves well, and it is relevant with regard to the current computer revolution.

I enjoyed reading it, a personal recommendation indeed.

Intelligent computers that run mega-corporations. Cyberjockeys that are being blackmailed into stealing something from them. The gangs that populate the overcrowded metropolis. Some weird notions of what cyberspace is going to be in ten years. When you're finally fed up with them all, pick up "The Hacker and the Ants" and read it. There's a fiction book with some real science, from someone who knows what he's talking about and shows it.

Ok. I like this stuff. Fantastic super-reality. Is there really a SuperC language. IDK. I plan to read more of Rucker. It is fun, modern, silicon valley based. As a Cali, I can relate. If you like computers, games, make-believe and toys, try it.

There aren't a whole lot of SF books that represent realistic views of what it means to be a programmer. This is one of them. For that reason it's recommended if you're a coder. It's also a fun story with some very interesting ideas.

Cracker: "I've seen your code."

Hacker: "Yeah, but you didn't understand it."

Great book as expected from Rudy Rucker, it's a lot of fun, reads fast, has at least one new twist and one new idea every 3 pages. Light-reading, moves quickly, but gets you thinking.

NOTES: There are several references to other SF works, including "Perky Pat" (from PK Dick), "Imipolex" (a kind of plastic) from Thomas Pynchon, and there were others as well.

If Douglas Adams were a dirty old man he might have written like this. It's fairly light and frequently amusing. There is a bit of substance if you require that, but mostly the entertaining misadventures of a no longer youthful brainiac with a modest amount of self loathing. Somewhat of a fish out of water he manages to get by through luck and pluck while all hell breaks loose around him.

I enjoyed Hacker and the Ants more than any other Rucker book I've read. When working in silicon valley in the 90's I lived near White Road, in the dry east hills of San Jose, and also had my share of lusting after Vietnamese girls. Reading this book in 2008 takes me back to those days and resonates with the feel of the whole place. Rucker is right on with this one.