OUTLINE According to H. Bruce Franklin, science fiction is "the only literature capable of exploring the macro-history of our species. . . in a cosmic context" (Science Fiction: The Early History, Internet) which suggests that man's place in the univers...

In The Age of Spiritual Machines: When Computers Exceed Human Intelligence, Ray Kurzweil foretells a future where intelligent machines outnumber carbon-based life forms by the year 2099. While some of his claims may seem fantastic, Kruzwiel's credentials are impeccable, and many of his pr...