Perfect Imperfection

Perfekcyjna niedoskonałość. Pierwsza tercja Progresu

Polish edition cover.
Author Jacek Dukaj
Original title Perfekcyjna niedoskonałość. Pierwsza tercja Progresu
Translator not translated
Cover artist Tomasz Bagiński
Country Poland
Language Polish
Genre hard science fiction
Publisher Wydawnictwo Literackie
Publication date
 2004
Pages 456
ISBN 83-08-03647-3
OCLC 60361233
LC Class PG7163.U4 P47 2004

Perfect Imperfection: First third of progress (Polish: Perfekcyjna niedoskonałość. Pierwsza tercja progresu; also sometimes translated as "Ideal Imperfection") is a science fiction novel published in 2004 by the Polish science fiction writer Jacek Dukaj as the first part of a planned trilogy. It was published in Poland by Wydawnictwo Literackie. The novel received the prime Polish award for science-fiction literature, Janusz A. Zajdel Award, in 2004.

Dukaj himself wrote that he set out to write "a space opera to end all space operas", but for this he had to create a scientifically plausible and challenging universe, thus creating a hard science fiction novel.

The story

A 21st century astronaut, Adam Zamoyski, is recovering after an accident. At first, he thinks that he is recovering from a plane crash, and any bizarre things he perceives are hallucinations due to his convalescence. He soon finds out that to prevent him from suffering a culture shock—or perhaps what would be better described as a profound future shock—all information he receives is filtered through an implant, creating a semi-VR world, and in fact he was revived in the 29th century, in a post-technological singularity world. However, his implant becomes damaged, and he finds himself in a world where normal Homo sapiens are just relics. Most of the individuals he meets are artificial intelligence agents, scarcity has been eliminated through nanotechnology, virtual reality is merged with 'reality', the currency is exotic matter used in spacetime experiments—and suddenly Adam is caught in the web of a trans-galactic intrigue spin-doctored by beings vastly more intelligent than an unaugmented human. What is the secret that he presumably learned before his spaceship was destroyed back in the 21st century? The secret that he cannot remember, and that the science of the 29th century cannot restore, despite having resurrected him? And in a world where whole universes are dedicated to the sole purpose of serving as the weapon laboratories for the arms race between multiversal civilizations, can a normal human become anything more than a toy of inconceivably intelligent beings?

The universe

As with all of Dukaj's novels, the world of Perfect Imperfection is teeming with various concepts and ideas.

Remy's curve

This diagram (Remy's curve) shows the development of humanity in the Perfect imperfection. The vertical axis represents intelligence, the horizontal, adaptation, with the two points indicating physics and meta-physics.
Translation of terms: * zwierzęta - animals * stahsowie - STAHS, Standard Homo sapiens * phoebe'owie - PHB's, Post-Human Beings * inkluzje - inclusions * Komputer Ostateczny - Ultimate Computer * Inkluzja Ultymatywna - Ultimate Inclusion * plateau - the ultimate communication network

Remy's curve, which shows the course of the humanity evolution, is one of the most fundamental concepts in Perfect Imperfection. Dukaj used concepts of anthropic principle, technological singularity and transhumanism to propose a division of intelligence along the lines of intelligence and adaptation:

The curve illustrates the relationship between intelligence (vertical axis) and adaptation (horizontal axis), where adaptation means the ability to use for one's own purposes the resources of the universe. It starts with animals and ends with the optimal form, the Ultimate Inclusion, able to utilize most efficiently all resources of the universe, both by perfecting their use of the resources and by adapting their form to the most efficient in their use. Named after the fictional scientist, Remy, this curve is supposed to be universal for all intelligent species throughout the multiverse.

The adaptation axis is divided by two points (thresholds) into three thirds. The first third is the natural evolution. The first point, Autocreation or Physics, divides naturally evolved entities from those using technology to further evolution, but technology still limited by the physics of one universe. The second point, Meta-physical (it should be stressed - not metaphysical), divides them from logical inclusions, which use the 'better' physics of other universes to improve themselves. Note that Dukaj defines metaphysics as the science of changing physics (physical constants).

One of the conclusions of Remy's theory is the Convergence Principle. After several centuries of evolution on second and third thirds, there is relatively little difference between various civilizations. Even if they have originated in different universes, each has spawned many subtypes, as alien to itself as any of those created by others, and in fact when they are approaching the Ultimate Inclusion they become more and more alike. First contact may be shocking and daunting for young civilizations, but for old ones, it is just a daily occurrence, with newly encountered races being no more surprising than the new youth fashion civilization seen a few years back.

Many concepts important for stahs are mostly irrelevant for phoebes (like gender) or inclusions (like age). Stahs are nonetheless preserved, allowed to live their lives and change into phoebes or inclusions at will, as due to elimination of scarcity and the ability to create new universes, there is no competition for resources (at least, for such as may be used by stahs).

Craft

Craft (or kraft) is the practice of meta-physics, the science of changing the physical constants, or shaping of spacetime through changing the laws of physics themselves.

References

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