Aristoi

Come and read about an almost-paradise several thousand years in the future, one in which the concepts of VR and Nanotech are developed by Mr. Williams to a logical extreme given the huge passage of time. On the character/story side, human nature is examined at its best and worst; two truly altruistic viewpoints go to war, one of them one the side of maintaining paradise, and the other on the side of destroying it. There wasn't anything here I wasn't willing to believe in. Although a complete book, Mr. Williams cleverly leaves the door open for future novels. Somehow, though, I doubt there will ever be one. I hope I'm wrong. This book definitely represents one of the best books I've ever read on these subjects.

This is one of the few science fiction books where I have actually wished for a sequel upon finishing. Aristoi is a complete book, but there's still so much left to figure out -- I would really like to see what happens next. One of the things I really like about the book was the realistic-ness of the science. While Aristoi definitely isn't "hard" science fiction, a lot of it is based on actual science and psychology.

Being a long time fan of Walter Jon Williams, I was naturally delighted with Aristoi. Like many authors, there were many ideas that he borrowed from his previous works. But also there were plenty of new and refreshing ideas. I would say Aristoi is either a book a person reads before reading any other novel by Williams, or after they have read through his works. The ideas in it are covered in virtually every other book he has written, save each individual novel covers only one or two aspecs of Aristoi. What sets Aristoi aside as one of the best modern S/F novels written was the intriguing writing style of Williams. In the novel, people have controlled split personalities (who are beholden to the prime). Williams splits the page in half and while on one side the story progresses, the other side has the commentaries of the personailities. Unique to say the least. I can not recommend this book any higher. Buy it, borrow it or steal it.:

This is one of those books that can be curled up with and enjoyed for hours on end...like a good Heinlein novel, it keeps one engrossed in the details of the society at view. Set in the far, far, future, after nanotechnology and interstellar travel have become commonplace, it tells the story of the few who have the ability/responsibility to manage these awesome technologies. These "Aristoi" are absolute rulers of their domain, charged with the task of preserving and protecting lesser human beings. Problem is, how do you cope with that kind of stress? Not everyone is content to simply stay at home and putter about in a garden... Most interesting to me was the concept of "daimones" : semi-autonomous parts of the self which are conciously developed to "handle" events while the primary personality is otherwise engaged. The protagonist is posessed of an entire stable of such beings, each of which has distinct, but very limited, personalities. Mataglap is vengeful, Augenblick is diplomatic, etc. Any of them is capable of assuming control of bodily or netbourne functions when asked to do so...at other times, they simply remain as permanent voices in ones' head. Interaction with daimones forms a large part of the book and is handled well. Particularly effective was the technique of splitting the narrative into columns, with one conversation on the right, another on the left. The confusion created by trying to follow both threads at once brings home the multiple 'presences' of the character in a way impossible with a normal linear stream. I wish I could do that on IRC or in chat... At one point, we see a novice undergoing intense pain to summon and control his own fledgling daimones. The ceremony is portrayed as a means of gaining mastery over the self, but it also raises questions about the sanity of the Aristoi lifestyle. What does it say about society when a rite of passage involves creating multiple personalities? The protagonist, naturally, feels that concious control of the mind's aspects is a noble goal, even at the cost of exaggerating/alienating them into separate entities; he looks down on people who 'allow their daimones to control them.' Ironically, this emphasis on control is his undoing, as his own training/conditioning is used against him. What finally saves him is an untapped, uncontrolled, and previously unknown daimon, who resists all his attempts to name and identify it after his escape. The questions this raises are intriguing : what effect does power and control have on the human mind, and where can they go too far? What's the line between rationalism and hubris? The society described in Aristoi is very much influenced by "eastern" thought - traditionalist, deference to elders, status based on examniation, etc., but the book ends on a decidely expansive/activist note, with the surviving Aristoi roused to action. Wish I'd thought of more of this while actually reading the book... :-) Social pseudo-analysis

What happens after The Diamond Age? Will nanotechnology run amok and melt down everything it touches? (The concept of "rogue nano" is one good reason to read this book!) Williams explores a fascinating future in which access to the immense power of nanotechnology is permitted only to the aristoi. But how do you become one of "the best"? Why not employ nanomachinery to enhance your brain capacities, then develop and express multiple personalities, each gifted with specific abilities and skills? But will your emerging personalities work together? What surprises lurk in the depths of the mind? And who will watch the watchers? This is one of my all-time favorites -- fascinating, subtle, thought-provoking and a good read!