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Classification: Effects of Time Travel Technologies on Society
Two masters of science fiction, Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter, have joined forces to bring us The Light of Other Days.
In the year 2035, a new technology, a system of “WormCams” is invented; this technology enables opening a microscopic wormhole and sending a tiny camera to the other side – allowing the controller to see and hear what goes on on the other side. Although at first this technology is only available to very few, later it becomes widespread.
In its first incarnation, this technology is used to spy on various locations. This means that the concept of privacy is forever lost, obviously, with enormous repercussions. Imagine: How would society react if nothing is private anymore: everyone’s most personal and intimate moments could be viewed by everyone else. Celebrity or not, no one is impervious.
Then the technology is further refined, allowing the wormholes to be opened in any time. It is now possible to solve every crime that has occurred in any point in time, by moving the wormhole camera backward from the victim. More importantly, this technology gives humanity the ability to watch every historical character and scenario. Unsurprisingly, this has enormous ramifications: many historical beliefs are debunked – some of which are quite fundamental.
In my opinion, this premise is superb, as befitting of two giants of science fiction. In fact, this could’ve easily been split to two novels, as there is so much potential to either one of the underlying premises. The problem is that the novel is written in a very dry manner. The characters are not too interesting, and what they do with the technology is not that fascinating either. Although the book is definitely not bad – it’s actually quite good – what I find frustrating is that it could’ve been so much better.
Furthermore, although the effects on society made by the invention of the WormCams is done pretty well, I thought some of the ideas were implausible. In particular, the emergence of an organization of people who’ve decided to live their life in darkness and communicate using a sign language, only so that their privacy is maintained. Suspension of disbelief aside, I thought this is just plain silly. (Not to mention the fact that surely in the even more distant technology a new technology would be able to overcome this barrier as well, no?)
All in all, criticisms aside, this work is good and should appeal to any sci-fi lover. It’s a shame that it could’ve been so much more.
Link to the book’s details on Amazon.com
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Thank you I read this book quite a while ago and the lent it to someone, never got it back and forgot the name your site helped me find the title I will buy it again and reread it thank you!