Retorts

And No Again

"By year 2099 the experts agree, only a few will inhabit a biological body" says Shaun Burnett in your last issue [February 1999]. What remarkable confidence he has in them!

Which experts might those actually be, one wonders? Even the most extreme futures painted by science fiction authors rarely involve humanity shedding its biological nature in such a short timescale. Are we talking serious speculation in reputable journals, or B-grade horror pictures?

Certainly many suggest that, as it becomes possible, people will most likely supplement their bodies with various devices, but these are as often seen as biological as electro-mechanical. Further, they are generally seen as enhancements to our current bodies, not complete replacements.

Even if they did have great advantages, factors such as sentiment and religious belief would cause many people to retain their original bodies.

If some significant number of people were suggesting that such a development was likely, how could one call them "experts"? Experts in what? Certainly not in the anthropology of the late 21st century, which would seem to be the most relevant area of knowledge!

The record of future-guessers (whether scientists, politicians or other types of fiction writers) has not, on the whole, been an impressive one. I suggest that Mr Burnett not rely on prognostications of years to come, but simply sit back and wait until he can see what happens for himself...

P. Dalton
Nelson