The dilemma felt by science fiction writers will be perceived in other creative endeavors.

Well, what do you know," Pham said. "Butterflies in jackboots.

Here I had tried a straightforward extrapolation of technology, and found myself precipitated over an abyss. It's a problem we face every time we consider the creation of intelligences greater than our own. When this happens, human history will have reached a kind of singularity - a place where extrapolation breaks down and new models must be applied - and the world will pass beyond our understanding.

We’re long on high principles and short on simple human understanding.

All evil and good is petty before Nature. Personally, we take comfort from this, that there is a universe to admire that cannot be twisted to villainy or good, but which simply is.

How to explain? How to describe? Even the omniscient viewpoint quails.

We humans have millions of years of evolutionary baggage that makes us regard competition in a deadly light.