Checking the covers of paperbacks for bits from our reviews is a pleasant
chore. But do the quotes give the true savour of the book? Yes, in the case of
George Dyson’s Darwin Among the Machines: “It reads as though the poet Robert
Frost had popped ecstasy in the company of Alan Turing.” This intriguing
application of evolutionary theory to computers was reviewed in 21 June 1997.
Published by Penguin, £8.99, ISBN 0140267441.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
We've found a mysterious substance on Titan and Pluto
2
A quantum state that lasts forever may finally be within our grasp
3
Can prebiotics, probiotics or postbiotics help your ageing microbiome?
4
Cervical cancer deaths have plummeted thanks to HPV vaccine
5
Our brains have their first thoughts surprisingly early in life
6
What is a ‘normal’ memory slowdown, and when should I worry?
7
Fully autonomous drones have killed human soldiers for the first time
8
We may have finally solved cosmology's chicken-or-the-egg problem
9
Carl Sagan's The Demon-Haunted World is still supremely relevant today
10
The last-ditch plan to save coral reefs from utter destruction
