Slant

📘 About This Book

Lustvoll zelebrierter virtueller Tod Am Ende des 21. Jahrhunderts leben die Menschen in einer Gesellschaft, die von virtuellen Realitäten geprägt ist: Kapitalverbrechen sind selten, psychischer Stress wird früh erkannt und vorsorglich abgebaut, Nanotechnologie ermöglicht es sogar, die wildesten sexuellen Fantasien auszuleben, ohne das Haus verlassen zu müssen. Doch auch in dieser standardisierten Welt gibt es perverse Bedürfnisse, die Pornografie ist ein Milliardengeschäft, und immer findet sich ein Weg, die strengen Sicherheitsvorkehrungen auszutricksen, um sich einen neuen Kick zu verschaffen. Und mehr und mehr Menschen verlieren die Grenze zwischen der virtuellen und der realen Wirklichkeit aus den Augen ...

📖 Summary

Set at the end of the twenty-first century, Greg Bear's expansive novel Slant presents a vividly imagined future where humanity is profoundly shaped by advanced technologies, including immersive virtual realities and sophisticated nanotechnologies. In this highly standardized and seemingly orderly society, daily life is heavily regulated and monitored. Psychological stress is detected early and actively managed through preemptive care, while capital crimes have become rare occurrences. Furthermore, cutting-edge nanotech allows individuals to indulge in their wildest and most intense sexual fantasies completely from the comfort and safety of their own homes, entirely redefining the boundaries of human interaction and personal privacy. However, even within this heavily engineered and secure world, human nature proves difficult to fully contain or standardize. Perverse and transgressive desires still find a way to manifest, and the pornography industry remains a multi-billion-dollar enterprise that constantly pushes the limits of the system. Clever individuals continually discover innovative ways to bypass strict security protocols and regulatory frameworks in search of a novel thrill or a forbidden experience. As these digital and physical loopholes are exploited, a deeply unsettling psychological phenomenon begins to spread among the populace: an increasing number of people start losing the ability to distinguish between virtual reality and tangible, real-world reality. Spanning over six hundred pages, Bear weaves a complex narrative that explores the psychological, social, and technological ramifications of living in a hyper-connected, virtualized society. The book challenges readers to consider the true cost of convenience, emotional monitoring, and technological escapism. As the line separating what is real from what is simulated blurs, the characters must navigate a landscape where safety and standardized peace of mind come at the direct expense of authentic human experience. Slant stands as a rich, thought-provoking exploration of a future that feels simultaneously futuristic and hauntingly plausible, examining how far humanity will go to escape stress, seek pleasure, and ultimately redefine existence in an age of intelligent machines and programmable biology.

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