{"product_id":"technophobia-daniel-dinello-9780292709867","title":"Technophobia!: Science Fiction Visions of Posthuman Technology","description":"\u003cp\u003e Techno-heaven or techno-hell? If you believe many scientists working in the emerging fields of twenty-first-century technology, the future is blissfully bright. Initially, human bodies will be perfected through genetic manipulation and the fusion of human and machine; later, human beings will completely shed the shackles of pain, disease, and even death, as human minds are downloaded into death-free robots whereby they can live forever in a heavenly \"posthuman\" existence. In this techno-utopian future, humanity will be saved by the godlike power of technology. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e If you believe the authors of science fiction, however, posthuman evolution marks the beginning of the end of human freedom, values, and identity. Our dark future will be dominated by mad scientists, rampaging robots, killer clones, and uncontrollable viruses. In this timely new book, Daniel Dinello examines \"the dramatic conflict between the techno-utopia promised by real-world scientists and the techno-dystopia predicted by science fiction.\" \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Organized into chapters devoted to robotics, bionics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and other significant scientific advancements, this book summarizes the current state of each technology, while presenting corresponding reactions in science fiction. Dinello draws on a rich range of material, including films, television, books, and computer games, and argues that science fiction functions as a valuable corrective to technological domination, countering techno-hype and reflecting the \"weaponized, religiously rationalized, profit-fueled\" motives of such science. By imaging a disastrous future of posthuman techno-totalitarianism, science fiction encourages us to construct ways to contain new technology, and asks its audience perhaps the most important question of the twenty-first century: is technology out of control? \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Daniel Dinello\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0292709862\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780292709867\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of Texas Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/01\/2006\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 341\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.30lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.02h x 6.48w x 0.83d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePW Notes and Reprints\u003c\/i\u003e 11\/21\/2005 pg. 32","brand":"Daniel Dinello","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":45476839457023,"sku":"9780292709867","price":32.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_893d7bb8-19f5-4fb6-84b0-efd34297f43a.jpg?v=1715918308","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/technophobia-daniel-dinello-9780292709867","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}