World of zero-A

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The science fiction - Roman world of zero-A! (Eng. Original title: The World of Null-A ) by Alfred Elton van Vogt takes place in a distant future and thematizes the transition of humans to a kind of superman with a range of extraordinary abilities. It first appeared as a series in Astounding Science Fiction in 1945 , and as a novel in book form in 1948, and is considered one of the main works by AE van Vogt. The author had the novel followed by two sequels.

action

The central figure in the book is Gilbert Gosseyn, who wants to take part in “the games”, which is a kind of extensive selection system whose function is to give people a better understanding of themselves, the world and being in general . The whole thing is carried out by a huge computer. Right at the beginning, doubts about the existence of Gosseyn arise, as the computer has a reliable polygraph function and determines that Gosseyn's identity is false, but he himself is convinced of its authenticity. From here his odyssey begins with the aim of finding out who and especially what he is. Even death cannot end this search, as it wakes up again somewhere else. In addition, skills gradually arise, such as teleportation , which he mastered better and better over time. As the story progresses, it's up to Gosseyn to uncover a conspiracy that threatens all the inhabitants of the solar system.

backgrounds

In his book, van Vogt repeatedly refers to general semantics , a model of thought for the perception of reality that Alfred Korzybski developed between 1920 and 1950 and described in his book Science and Sanity , among other things . In this context, the chapters are introduced with suitable philosophical quotations from a wide variety of thinkers - in some cases by Korzybski himself. Null-A in the novel stands for a non- Aristotelian logic , as Korzybski describes it as mental programming in general semantics. In the following two books ( The Cosmic Chess Players and The Third Gosseyn ) this philosophy of general semantics is further discussed and the reader is familiar with its underlying principles. In this way, the reader can follow the intellectual development of Gosseyn, at least in theoretical terms. The differences between what is reality and what appears to many people to be reality are repeatedly worked out very clearly.

effect

Influences on the early development of Dianetics and Scientology are attributed to the book, since the "go sane" process that Gosseyn undergoes in the novel in order to be accepted into the group of the selected "General Semanticists" is the steps of the Scientologists to attainment the “clear” status is similar. Van Vogt himself practiced Dianetics and for some time was the first director of the Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation of California near Los Angeles . However, he always rejected Scientology as the religious orientation of Dianetics.

Lawrence Alloway discovered the concept of non-Aristotelian logic through The World of Null-A and introduced it to the Independent Group , in whose artistic work this concept became a formative element.

German editions

  • 1958: World of Zero A. Science fiction novel. Translated by Armin von Eichenberg, Balowa-Verlag, Balve.
  • 1959: World of Zero A. Moewig Verlag, Munich, Terra issue 89. (heavily abbreviated)
  • 1968: World of Zero A. Utopian novel. Translated by Walter Brumm, Heyne Verlag, Munich.
  • 1986: Zero-A. A cycle in 3 novels. In an unabridged new translation with a picture section on the history of the publication as well as a foreword and an afterword, edited by Rainer Eisfeld , Heyne Verlag, Munich ( Library of Science Fiction Literature , Volume 58). ISBN 3-453-31287-2 (contains The World Of Null-A , The Players Of Null-A, and Null-A Three )

literature

  • Beetz, Kirk H .: Beacham's encyclopedia of popular fiction . Beacham Pub., 1996, pp. 4718-4720 ( ISBN 0933833385 )
  • Friedrich Leiner / Jürgen Gutsch: Texts and materials for teaching literature . Diesterweg, Frankfurt am Main etc., 1972, p. 65 ( ISBN 3-425-06204-2 )
  • Magill, Frank N .: Survey of science fiction literature: five hundred 2,000 word essay reviews of world famous science fiction novels with 2,500 bibliographical references . Salem Press, 1979, pp. 2501-2504 ( ISBN 0893561991 )
  • Pfleger, Alexander Martin: Alfred Elton van Vogts Null-A-Romane. In: Franz Rottensteiner (Ed.): Quarber Merkur 99/100; Passau 2004. pp. 145 - 196. ISBN 3-932621-71-9
  • Sharp, William Henry: AE van Vogt and the World of Null-A. (Critical essay) , in: A Review of General Semantics, Institute of General Semantics, January 1, 2006

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Ashley, Michael: The History of the science fiction magazine . Liverpool University Press, 2000, p. 171 ( ISBN 0853238553 )
  2. ↑ Nosnivel, Nitram: Quotations from The World of Null-A. In: A Review of General Semantics, Institute of General Semantics, July 1, 2008
  3. ^ A b Luckhurst, Roger: Science Fictio . Polity, 2005, pp. 74f ( ISBN 0745628931 )
  4. ^ David G. Bromley, Phillip E. Hammond: The Future of New Religious Movements . Mercer University Press, 1987, pp. 60ff ( ISBN 0865542384 )
  5. ^ Platt, Charles: AE van Vogt - A Profile .
  6. ^ Massey, Anne: The Independent Group . Manchester University Press, pp. 85ff ( ISBN 0719042453 )