Be Afraid

December 13, 2002 | Source: Reason

Prey, Michael Crichton’s latest techno-thriller, fictionalizes Bill Joy’s notorious Wired article, “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us,” which warned, “Our most powerful 21st-century technologies — robotics, genetic engineering, and nanotech — are threatening to make humans an endangered species.”

The technophobic novel (and coming film version) is based on the “gray goo” scenario (nanoparticles out of control).

“Crichton’s new novel further solidifies his position as our generation’s bush-league Mary Shelley, constantly hectoring readers about the dangers of humanity’s technological hubris. By all means enjoy the book and the movie. But please keep in mind that the beasties in Prey are more Stephen King horror than Jules Verne prediction.”