The Nanotechnology in Science Fiction Bibliography
Issue #17, March 18, 1997
anthony.napier@lexis-nexis.com
http://www.erinet.com/prass/nanowars/ninsf/n_in_sf.html
This is primarily a list of Science Fiction novels & short stories that are nanotech related. I have not read everything on this list.
Additions and corrections should be sent to <n-sf@lucifer.com>. Thanks to all who have contributed to this bibliography.
Four stars **** nanotech is the center of the story Three stars *** nanotech is a major component of the story Two stars ** nanotech is a minor component of the story
Nanotech may be explicitly or implicitly stated, or be called by different names. People who have read one of the non-fiction books listed below should have a feel for the general definition of molecular nanotechnology.
Non-Fiction books on nanotechnology
1986 Engines of Creation K. Eric Drexler
1991 Unbounding the Future K. Eric Drexler, et al.
1992 Nanosystems - Molecular
Machinery, Manufacturing,
and Computation K. Eric Drexler
_Further_information_ can be obtained from the sci.nanotech homepage located at URL <http://nanotech.rutgers.edu/nanotech/> or Sean Morgan's page at <http://www.lucifer.com/~sean/Nano.html/>
T H E - L I S T
Isaac Asimov (1920-92)
Code (default is Novel)
(C) collection, anthology (N) novella, novelette (M) magazine, pulp (F) fantasy (R) reissue, reprint
(b) biotech pathway - organic molecules, "wet" environment.
(mm) molecular manufacturing - machine phase, "dry" environment,
indicates the work shows detailed portrayal of nanoengineering.
(si) Singularity (gg) Gray Goo (uf) Utility Fog (cr) Cryonics
(h-yy) Hugo award winner - year
(n-yy) Nebula award winner - year
Author Title Date,Code,RatingHonorable Mention (predates modern nanotech concepts)
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Anderson K. & Beason D. Assemblers of Infinity 1993 4 Anderson, Poul Boat of a Million Years, The 1989 2.4 Anderson, Poul Harvest of Stars 1993 3 Anderson, Poul Stars are Also Fire, The 1994 Banks, Iain M. Feersum Endjinn 1994 3 Banks, Iain M. Excession 1996 Barnes, John Kaleidoscope Century 1995 Barnes, John Mother of Storms 1994 2 Baxter, Stephen Ring 1994 2 Baxter, Stephen Timelike Infinity 1993 2 Bear, Greg Anvil of Stars 1992 3 Bear, Greg Blood Music 1985 (b) 3.5 Bear, Greg Forge of God, The 1987 3 Bear, Greg Heads 1990 2 Bear, Greg Moving Mars 1993 (n94) 2 Bear, Greg Queen of Angels 1990 3 Benford, Gregory Furious Gulf 1994 2 Benford, Gregory Great Sky River 1987 2 Benford, Gregory Sailing Bright Eternity 1995 2 Benford, Gregory Tides of Light 1989 2 Bishop, Michael Secret Ascension, The 1987 2 Bisson, T. Pirates of the Universe 1996 2 Bova, Ben Moonrise 1996 3 Bova, Ben Voyagers 3: Star Brothers 1990 3.5 Brenner, Mayer Alan Spell of Apocalypse 1994 (F) Brin, David Earth 1990 2 Brunner, John Maze of Stars, A 1991 3 Bull, Emma Falcon 1989 2 Calder, Richard Dead Boys 1995 Calder, Richard Dead Girls 1995 Carter, Raphael Fortunate Fall, The 1996 Carver, Jeffrey From a Changeling Star 1988 2 Carver, Jeffrey Down the Stream of Stars 1990 2 Clarke, Arthur C. Hammer of God, The 1993 2 DeChancie, John Innerverse 1996 Egan, Greg Permutation City 1994 2 Egan, Greg Quarantine 1992 2.5 Elliott, Elton (Editor) Nanodreams 1995 (C) 4 Feeley, Gregory Oxygen Barons, The 1990 3 Flynn, Michael Nanotech Chronicles, The 1991 (C) 4 Frankowski, Leo Copernick's Rebellion 1987 (b) 3.5 Gibson, William Idoru 1996 2 Gibson, William Mona Lisa Overdrive 1988 1.9 Gibson, William Virtual Light 1993 2 *Goonan, Kathleen Ann Bones of Time, The 1995 2.5 Goonan, Kathleen Ann Queen City Jazz 1994 4 Harrison H. & Minsky M. Turing Option, The 1992 2.5 Jennings, Phillip C. Bug Life Chronicles 1989 3 Keith, William H. Warstrider 1993 3 Keith, William H. Warstrider: Rebellion 1993 3 Keith, William H. Warstrider: Jackers 1994 3 Keith, William H. Warstrider: Netlink Keith, William H. Warstrider: Symbionts Kilian, Crawford Gryphon 1989 3 Kress, Nancy Beggars and Choosers 1994 4 Kress, Nancy Beggars Ride 1996 Kube-McDowell,Michael P. Exile 1992 2 McAuley, Paul J. Fairyland 1995 3.5 McAuley, Paul J. Red Dust 1994 McCarthy, Wil Murder in the Solid State 1996 McDonald, Ian Terminal Cafe 1994 3 Nagata, Linda Bohr Maker, The 1995 4 Nagata, Linda Tech Heaven 1995 (cr) 4 Noon, Jeff Pollen 1995 Noon, Jeff Vurt 1993 Platt, Charles Protektor 1996 Preuss, Paul Human Error 1985 (b) 3.5 Quinn, Daniel Ishmael 1995 (R) Robinson, Kim Stanley Blue Mars 1996 Robinson, Kim Stanley Green Mars 1994 (h94) 2 Robinson, Kim Stanley Red Mars 1992 (n93) 2 Robinson, Spider/Jeanne Starmind 1995 Ryman,Geoff Child Garden, The 1990 Sawyer, Robert J. Foreigner 1994 2 Sawyer, Robert J. The Terminal Experiment 1995 (n95) 2.5 Smith, L. Neil Venus Belt, The 1980 3 Steele, Allen Labyrinth of Night 1992 3.5 Stephenson, Neal Diamond Age, The 1995 h96,mm 4 Stirling, S. M. Drakon 1996 2.5 Sullivan, Tricia Lethe 1996 Swanwick, Michael Stations of the Tide 1991 (n91) 2.7 Varley, John Steel Beach 1992 2.8 Vinge, Joan D. Dreamfall 1996 Vinge, Joan D. Snow Queen, The 1980 (h81) 2.5 Vinge, Joan D. Summer Queen, The 1991 2.5 Vinge, Vernor Fire Upon the Deep, A 1992 (h93) 3 Vinge, Vernor Marooned in Realtime 1986 (si) 2 Vinge, Vernor Peace War, The 1984 2.2 Watson, Ian Nanoware Time 1991 Williams, Walter Jon Aristoi 1992 (mm) 4 Wilson, Robert Charles Bridge of Years, A 1991 2 Wilson, Robert Charles Harvest, The 1993 3.2 Wolverton, Dave On My Way To Paradise 1989 Young, Jim Armed Memory 1996 Zindell, David Neverness 1988 2
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1941 ...... Microcosmic God ............... Theodore Sturgeon 1942 ...... Waldo ......................... Robert A. Heinlein 1952 ...... Surface Tension ............... James Blish 1954 ...... Autofac ....................... Philip K. Dick 1966 ...... The Mechanic .................. Hal Clement 1970 ...... Dancer at the End of Time ..... Michael Moorcock 1978 ...... Sight of Proteus .............. Charles SheffieldNanoWars, Illustrated Science Fiction by Anthony S. Napier http://www.erinet.com/prass/nanowars/nw.html (ftp available)
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Short Stories or Serials - These are loose items that appear in magazines, collections, etc, amidst other non-nano related works.
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Burns, Stephen L. Down Under Crater Billy (M) Analog, January 1995 Rating 3 Di Filippo, Paul Any Major Dude (C) New Worlds Anthology #1 Rating ? Di Filippo, Paul Up the Lazy River (M) Science Fiction Age, September 1993 Rating 4 Feeley, Gregory Mind's Place, The (C) Full Spectrum 4, 1993 Rating 2.9 Johnson, Todd Legacy (C) Bolos Book 2, 1994 Rating 3 Kress, Nancy Margin of Error (C) The Years Best Science Fiction #12, 1995 Rating ? Niven, Larry Procrustes (C) Crashlander, 1994 Rating 3.5 Stiegler, Marc The Gentle Seduction (C) in collection of same name, 1990 Rating 4 Sterling, Bruce The Shores of Bohemia (C) Globalhead, 1992 Rating 4 Swanwick, Michael Griffin's Egg (C) The Years Best Science Fiction #10, 1993 Rating 2.5 Tonnies, Mac Alchemist's Planet (C) Illumined Black, 1995 Rating 3
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NanoWars Chapter 1: Breakthrough
1994
Rating 4
"The year is 2020, and mankind's advancement of technology continues.
In fact, it has reached the ignition point!"
NanoWars Chapter 2: Propagation
1995
Rating 4
"Machine fights machine. Do men even matter?"
Nanothinc has a NanoWars page at...
http://nanothinc.com/NanoWorld/NanoFun/NanoWars/NanoWars.html
Milestone Comics
Xombi (now discontinued)
Rating 2
Valiant Comics
Bloodshot
Rating 3
Doom Patrol
no other info at this time
Adam Warren
Dirty Pair - Sim Hell
Hsieh, Paul
Axioms
http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~diana/objectivism/hsieh/axioms.html
Rating 2.2
Napier, Anthony S.
Dead Reckoning
http://www.erinet.com/prass/nanowars/story/story2.html
Rating 4 (mm,gg)
Napier, Anthony S.
The Quiet Revolution
http://www.erinet.com/prass/nanowars/story/story1.html
Rating 4
Porter, Mitchell
Outward Bound
*http://www.thehub.com.au/~mitch/fiction/suncorp.html
Rating ?
Vader, Paul
Post-industrial revolution
http://www.mcs.net/~pv/web/stories/postind.html
Rating 4 (mm,gg)
Van Oflen, Jeff
Notes from the G.O.D.
http://erie.csis.gvsu.edu/~vanoflej/NanoTech/TheBook.html
Rating 4 (uf)
Deep Red
1994 MCA/Universal, 85 minutes.
Michael Biehn, Joanna Pacula, John DeLancie.
Science fiction: A young girl whose blood conveys immortality, due
to an encounter with extraterrestrials, is hunted by a ruthless
scientist...
Rating: 4
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
1991 139 minutes.
Although the "n" word is not used, general consensus is that
nanotechnology is the only realistic way the T-1000 could be
implemented. James Cameron should take note of this when doing T3.
Rating: 2.5
VIRTUOSITY
1995 Paramount Pictures, 97 minutes.
Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington
With (silicon-based) nano, VR takes a physical form.
Rating: 3.5
Gargoyles (Disney Animated Series)
"Walkabout" aired (U.S.) 02/07/96
nanomachines, goo, ai
Journey to Mars
1996 [made for TV movie?]
On Monday, March 25th, CBS ran a prime time movie of the week titled
"Journey to Mars." ...this had to be one of the top 10 worst movies of
all time. To compound the matter, it had a nanotechnology theme:
"Nanotech devices implanted in the landing module pilot/commander --
designed to systematically destroy neurons and synapses in the cortex,
thereby impairing the pilot's memory and ability to land." Very clever
-- HA! Rat poison would have been a lot easier and undeniably more cost
effective. - pwg@nanothinc.com
Outer Limits, The
"The New Breed" aired (U.S.) 07/09/95
Richard Thomas, Peter Outerbridge, Tammy Isbell
A scientist who's trying to find a way to repair damaged cells
develops robots of microscopic size - with which a lab assistant
secretly injects himself in hopes of curing his cancer.
Star Trek
The STTNG "nanite" episode "Evolution" aired (U.S.) 09/23/89
http://nanotech.rutgers.edu/nanotech/papers/update7.html#StarNanotale
contains comments on this episode.
See Star Trek Appendix for further details on other episodes.
X-Files, The
"War of the Coprophages" aired (U.S.) 01/05/96
Extraterrestrial nanotechnology cocroaches anyone?
SimEarth Commercial Software, PC, MAC Outpost Commercial Software, PC NetBots Networked X11 game available on the net *Obsidian Commercial Software, PC, MAC *Apocalypse Activision PlayStation (due XMAS 97)M A I L I N G - L I S T - I N F O R M A T I O N
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Nanotechnology in Science Fiction (N-SF)
This is a forum to discuss any work of fiction that has portrayed nanotechnology in some way. N-SF is an unmoderated list. The hypertext archive of the mailing list can be found on the world wide web at <http://maxwell.lucifer.com/n-sf/archive/>.
This bibliography (you are reading) can be used as a starting point for discussion. "Engines of Creation" by K. Eric Drexler will be used as the baseline definition of molecular nanotechnology (MNT).
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# 17 Mar 18, 1997 # 16 Nov 13, 1996 # 15 Sep 04, 1996 V 2.3 Jun 13, 1996 V 2.2 Apr 16, 1996 V 2.1 Feb 12, 1996 V 2.0 Dec 07, 1995 V 1.9 Sep 21, 1995 V 1.8 Aug 07, 1995 V 1.7 Jun 22, 1995 V 1.6 May 10, 1995 V 1.5 Jan 26, 1995 V 1.4 Dec 01, 1994 V 1.3 Oct 28, 1994 V 1.2 Oct 04, 1994
A form of this list is also maintained at nanothinc.com http://nanothinc.com/NanoWorld/scifi/tnscifi.html
Forsight Update comments on "NanoTek"
http://nanotech.rutgers.edu/nanotech/papers/update8.html#TechnologyFiction
Internet Movie Database
http://us.imdb.com/
Book Catalog with one million titles
http://www.amazon.com/
Rebuttal to Scientific American April 1996 Nanotech Story http://www.foresight.org/SciAmOverview.html
HarperCollins Voyager Science Fiction Site http://www.harpercollins.co.uk/voyager