MotherJones MJ93: Hacking in the valley of the dolls
By Peter Laufer
May/June 1993 Issue
Just This Once is a new novel about sex, drugs, and power, with an odd author's credit. Instead of "By Scott French" it reads: "As told to Scott French." French is a Northern California writer, computer buff, and fan of Jacqueline Susann, whose Valley of the Dolls is the best- selling American novel of all time. Using his Macintosh IIcx computer and an artificial-intelligence program, French claims to have created a novel such as Susann would have written were she still alive. Just This Once is "the first novel," he says, "ever written by a computer."
Over several years, French analyzed the components that created Susann's specific style. He then supplied the computer with a basic plot, scenes, and characters. "I wrote several thousand rules to describe my characters," says French, "and then as the plot developed the computer told me what Ms. Susann would likely have written under the circumstances were the story hers."
There have been grumblings from the inheritors of Susann's estate, who apparently want part of the proceeds from Just This Once, but French and his publisher Steven Schragis are confident that they are on solid legal ground. "My book," French insists, "does not duplicate Susann's writing. It is simply and magically reminiscent of America's most popular novelist."
French's Mac is still humming. When asked about his next project, he grins and says, "I really enjoy Tom Clancy's work."
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The book is available at amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0517131927/qid=1118083950/sr=8-3/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i3_xgl14/104-4604921-2861555?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
- Re: A novel written by a computer (ZT)posted on 06/09/2005
Hi Benben,
Have you read it? What do you think?
My first instinct was to dismiss it. Then I thought I better check with those who've read it.
- Re: A novel written by a computer (ZT)posted on 06/10/2005
Little,
I haven't read the novel yet. But I believe a novel can be written by a computer. I'll find another article for you, which talks a little bit about intelligent software. - Re: A novel written by a computer (ZT)posted on 06/10/2005
I just posted "The mind, artificial intelligence and emotions". I found it quite interesting myself. It's not all about computer science.
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