World Of Null-a

Author: A. E. Van Vogt

Aristotelian logic for dummies 101: "X results of necessity from Y and Z if it would be impossible for X to be false when Y and Z are true." Clear as mud? Nonetheless it's the basis for most thinking labeled as 'logical', and thus for much of science. General Semantics, a thought discipline invented by the Polish-American Alfred Korzybski, proposed that it isn't necessarily the kind of logic that leads to the determination of truth; mainly because Aristotle's assumption that all things have an 'essence' is mistaken, and therefore, since we can't actually really 'know' what X, Y and Z are, we can't reliably perform Aristotelian deductions. World of Null-A (non-Aristotelian logic) is all about the powers one can derive from stepping outside the Aristotelian way of thinking. Suitably convoluted and great fun. With sequels. Why it's on the list: Van Vogt tackled the topic of non-Aristotelian logic explicitly and with gusto. Others also, did, but usually not by making it into a major theme of a novel (e.g. Heinlein, Asimov and Herbert). Also profoundly influenced was the famous editor John Campbell, who in turn had a major influence on the development of SF in its early years. Also, for this reviewer, the book was a revelation of sorts; so maybe it'll be for you as well. Read if you like: Philosophy. Convoluted plots with people who have special powers because they think differently.

Books in Null-a Series (2)

Players Of Null-a

Null-a 3