The
minds that populate
Iain Banks's
Culture universe are, in my opinion, examples of some of the better "computer's as characters" in
Sci-Fi.
While the majority of the
Minds are ensconced within spaceships, I don't think that
The Custodian would consider them robots (vis a vis, his
W/U at the top of this node),as their
anthropomorphism is generally neglible, so their inclusion in this list is a must.
The
Banks novel "
Excession" features
Minds in much more prominent/active roles than his other
Culture novels and features some of the more interesting and expressive
minds in his universe.
In addition to being quite entertaining characters, the
Minds, hands down, have the best names for computer character in
Sci-Fi.
Examples:
- ROU Killing Time
- ROU Frank Exchange of Views
- GSV Quietly Confident/Sleeper Service
- GSV Anticipation of a New Lover's Arrival
- GCU Fate Amenable to Change
- GSV Zero Gravitas
- GSV Wisdom Like Silence
For a wonderfully done compilation of
Mind characters, please check out
Culture Ship Names.