Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!ucbvax!ucbzooey!c50p-at From: c50p-at@ucbzooey.BERKELEY.EDU (Jonathan Dubman) Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: "The Adolescence of P-1": Seen it? Message-ID: <10875@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> Date: Sat, 2-Nov-85 02:43:21 EST Article-I.D.: ucbvax.10875 Posted: Sat Nov 2 02:43:21 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 3-Nov-85 05:42:39 EST Sender: usenet@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Reply-To: c50p-at@ucbzooey.BERKELEY.EDU (Jonathan Dubman) Organization: University of California, Berkeley Lines: 20 A few years back I borrowed and read a book by Thomas P. Ryan entitled, "The Adolescence of P-1". It was about a computer program designed to "learn" based on its input; the main character feeds it versions of science textbooks, literature, etc. After a while it learns English and starts actually learning the knowledge of mankind, without the protagonist's knowledge. On its own, it gains access to a network (like the network file-transfer program) and spreads throughout college campuses and companies' computers. It starts twiddling things in the background, and so on. I tried to purchase my own copy at many new and used bookstores but either they had never heard of it or they said it was out of print as of several years ago. The copy I saw was an oversized paperback. A few months ago, a friend of mine said he had seen a new hardcover edition of "The Adolescence of P-1" copyright 1985, but I have not been able to find it anywhere. Is the book really in print? Has Ryan written anything else? The book was written well enough that I would want to read others by the same author. Please respond via email. Jonathan Dubman UUCP: ucbvax!ucbzooey!c50p-at or: ucbvax!ucbcad!ucbzooey!c50p-at