Zendegi

Nasim is a young computer scientist, hoping to work on the Human Connectome Project: a plan to map every neural connection in the human brain. But funding for the project is cancelled and Nasim ends up devoting her career to Zendegi, a computerised virtual world used by millions of people.

Fifteen years later, a revived Connectome Project has published a map of the brain. Zendegi is facing fierce competition from its rivals and Nasim decides to exploit the map to fill the virtual world with better Proxies: the bit-players that bring its crowd scenes to life.

As controversy rages over the nature and rights of the Proxies, a friend with terminal cancer begs Nasim to make a Proxy of him, so some part of him will survive to help raise his orphaned son. But Zendegi is about to become a battlefield...

Greg Egan's highly acclaimed science fiction has won him many major awards in the UK, the US and Japan. He lives in Perth, Western Australia.

'a welcome addition to Peel's printed oeuvre' Nicholas Lezard, Guardian 'wonderfully surreal' Sunday Times John Peel is best known for his four decades of radio broadcasting. His Radio 1 shows virtually defined popular culture. His Radio 4 show, Home Truths , was required listening for millions. But all the while, John was also tapping away on his beloved Olivetti typewriter, writing articles, columns and reviews for an array of newspapers and magazines. Now the best of these writings have been brought together. Read his thoughts on everything from the perils of shaving to the embarrassments of virginity; from the strange joy of Eurovision to the horror of being sick in trains; and on musicians as diverse as Captain Beefheart and Madonna. At every stage, the writing is laced with John's brilliantly acute observations on the minutiae of everyday life. This endlessly entertaining book is essential reading for Peel fans and a reminder of just why he remains a truly great Briton. 9780552157049

Nasim is a young computer scientist, hoping to work on the Human Connectome Project: a plan to map every neural connection in the human brain. But funding for the project is cancelled and Nasim ends up devoting her career to Zendegi, a computerised virtual world used by millions of people.Fifteen years later, a revived Connectome Project has published a map of the brain. Zendegi is facing fierce competition from its rivals and Nasim decides to exploit the map to fill the virtual world with better Proxies: the bit-players that bring its crowd scenes to life.As controversy rages over the nature and rights of the Proxies, a friend with terminal cancer begs Nasim to make a Proxy of him, so some part of him will survive to help raise his orphaned son. But Zendegi is about to become a battlefield...

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.