Nanotech by Jack Dann & Gardner Dozois

Author:Jack Dann & Gardner Dozois [Dann, Jack & Dozois, Gardner]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Baen Books
Published: 2013-02-19T20:52:30+00:00

Hans met him in an ancient java house and actually argued with him over curry. He was short and heavy with a florid face mostly covered with a reddish beard which came to a point beneath his chin. Apparently Lise had told Hans what she knew about Stannis and that worried Hans somewhat. “You’re a grown man, of course, but this has proven particularly dangerous. This was developed by your own government and for very odd reasons, from what I can tell. Most people want nans which are—shall we say—a bit more recreational.”

“What reasons?” asked Stannis.

Hans shrugged. “Who can say? I have been with three people who tried it. One of them went around talking about what would happen tomorrow. Of course, none of it happened, but they were so very sure. The other—well—she kept reliving going to the circus one day when she was five. That’s all. What are the strategic implications of knowing the future? Even just a bit of it? Even a predictable percentage of it? Is that truly impossible? Computers can’t do it, but humans are different than computers, aren’t they?”

“Did they die?”

“Neither died, but I can’t say that they were the same again. Theirs were time-limited, of course. Both of them pretty much dropped out. Agreed there was no point. But that was a while ago. I’ve lost touch.” Stannis was not surprised. Perhaps their genes had not been modified in the particular way of himself, Claire, and Annais. Apparently the way it bonded to a particular type of mitochondria was crucial.

“The third?” Stannis asked.

“It seemed to have no effect on the third,” said Hans.

“How long did it take to—take effect, with the others?”

Hans signaled for another coffee. “About an hour.”

“The other took three years.”

“That’s easy enough to program if you like.”

“No,” said Stannis.

“We can make it self-limiting,” Hans said. “At least that.”

Stannis thought. Finally he said, “No.”

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