David Brin
Existence
Copyright © 2012 by David Brin
To “Tether Joe” Carroll, who spins real space lariats…
and
“Doc” Sheldon Brown, who teaches time travelers…
… and Ralph Vicinanza, who helped many dreams and dreamers to thrive.
PART ONE
SLINGS AND ARROWS
Those who ignore the mistakes of the future are bound to make them.
– Joseph Miller
SPECIES
what matters? do i? or ai? + the question spins
+/- as my body spins!/+ in time to a chirping window-bird
“normal people” don’t think like this -/-/-
nor aspies -/- nor even most autistics
stop spinning! -/- there -/- now back to the holo-screen -›
rain smatters the clatter window -
bird is gone -/+ hiding from falling water + +
like i hide from a falling civilization
what matters then?/? progress? New minds??
after cortex, after libraries, the web, mesh, ai-grid
– what’s next ?/!
will it offer hope/doom for foolish humanity +/?
for the glaring cobbly minds +/?
or autistic-hybrids like me +/?
1.
I, AMPHORUMThe universe had two great halves.