| Abe was a visionary writer and while being a ’serious‘ writer, he didn’t shy away from writing science fiction. Inter Ice Age 4 stands out from all other science fiction from the 50’s I’ve read so far. While most SF novels from that time are horribly outdated and it wasn’t before approx. 1970 that SF got more relevant socially, Abe’s book reads as if he had got insights into what moves the world 60 years later.
There are two main topics that couldn’t be more relevant today. AI and genetics. While obviously, he didn’t use those terms and the specifics of technology are off, the implications hinted at are real. Instead of AI, there’s a prediction machine giving insights into subjects which they themselves aren’t aware of. Instead of gene technology, there’s hormonal manipulation of animals and humans to breed new species being able to live under water. The addressed conflict is between conservatism, progress and morale. All this happens in the context of a murder mystery. While the start was a bit slow, Inter Ice Age 4 increasingly grabbed me the more the plot developed. A great absurd vision of the future that is partially already today. |
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