''Code of the Lifemaker'' is a 1983 novel by British science fiction author James P. Hogan. NASA's report ''Advanced Automation for Space Missions'' was the direct inspiration for this novel detailing

first contact First contact may refer to: *First contact (astronomy), the moment in astronomical transit when the apparent positions of the two bodies first touch *First contact (anthropology), the first meeting of two cultures previously unaware of one another ...

between Earth explorers and the Taloids,

clanking replicator A self-replicating machine is a type of autonomous robot that is capable of reproducing itself autonomously using raw materials found in the environment, thus exhibiting self-replication in a way analogous to that found in nature. The concept of ...

s who have colonized

Saturn Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It is a gas giant with an average radius of about nine and a half times that of Earth. It has only one-eighth the average density of Earth; h ...

's moon

Titan Titan most often refers to: * Titan (moon), the largest moon of Saturn * Titans, a race of deities in Greek mythology Titan or Titans may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Fictional entities Fictional locations * Titan in fiction, fictiona ...

. A sequel titled '' The Immortality Option'' was published in 1995.

Plot summary

About 1,000,000 B.C., an unidentified alien race sent out robotic factories to many worlds in their part of the galaxy to prepare for future settlement. One of those factory ships suffers severe radiation damage from a near-miss by a

supernova A supernova is a powerful and luminous explosion of a star. It has the plural form supernovae or supernovas, and is abbreviated SN or SNe. This transient astronomical event occurs during the last evolutionary stages of a massive star or when ...

and goes off course, drifting in space for a hundred thousand years before landing on the Saturnian moon Titan. Due to a malfunction in its database, it begins producing imperfect copies that begin to evolve on their own. (The description of this background is presented in a prologue that proved sufficiently popular among readers that it was later anthologized on its own in a collection of Hogan's short fiction.) The resulting machine ecosystem eventually gives rise to humanoid robots with human-like intellects, who develop a civilization similar to early civilization of Earth. Almost all of them have reverence for their mythical creator, a being they call the "Lifemaker". Early in the 21st century, the North Atlantic Space Organization (combining NASA and NATO) dispatched the ''Orion'' with a cover story of terraforming Mars for human habitation. Karl Zambendorf, a con artist who is present on this expedition to verify ESP over interplanetary distances, prematurely learns that the ''Orion'' and its crew of researchers is headed for Titan, where the discovery of the Taloids has been kept need-to-know on Earth. When the ''Orion'' arrives, the first landing party sets down in a freethinking state where Thirg, a Taloid who was cast out of his home state Kroaxia, has fled. They are mistaken for the Lifemaker because they have come from the sky, which the Taloids cannot see out of due to Titan's atmosphere. But Thirg becomes more discerning as he and the humans begin to understand more of each other's speech. Thirg's brother Groork has come from Kroaxia to apprehend him, but Zambendorf intercepts him and sends him back to Kroaxia as a prophet. Zambendorf learned that NASO plans to exploit Titan's natural resources and use the Taloids to build the factories they need, reducing them to

slaves Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...

. The NASO business administrators on the ''Orion'' are already in agreement with the Kroaxian government to use human (the Taloids call humans "Lumians" because they glow brightly in their infrared vision) weapons to conquer Titan, believing the Kroaxian leadership buttressed by priests will be the easiest to control. Zambendorf, in his unanticipated role as Messenger for the Lifemaker, has given Groork guidelines akin to the Ten Commandments for his people to prevent a war from starting. "All Taloids are brothers" and "No Taloid is to enslave or be a slave" does not sit well with the ruling establishment of Kroaxia, and Groork is saved by the ''Orion'' crew not working for NASO. There will be use of Titan's resources, but the partnership between humans and Taloids will be one of equals.

Reception

Dave Langford David Rowland Langford (born 10 April 1953) is a British author, editor, and critic, largely active within the science fiction field. He publishes the science fiction fanzine and newsletter ''Ansible'', and holds the all-time record for most ...

reviewed ''Code of the Lifemaker'' for '' White Dwarf'' #73, and stated that "''Lifemaker'' never comes to terms with its own absurdity, but if you survive the stodgy opening it has its charms."

Reviews

*Review by Dan Chow (1983) in '' Locus'', #269 June 1983 *Review by Chris Henderson (1983) in ''

Dragon Magazine Dragon Magazine may refer to: * ''Dragon'' (magazine), an American magazine for ''Dungeons & Dragons'' players * ''Dragon Magazine'' (Fujimi Shobo), a Japanese light novel magazine {{disambig ...

'', November 1983 *Review by Robert Coulson (1983) in ''Amazing Science Fiction'', November 1983 *Review by Tom Easton (1983) in ''

Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact ''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'' is an American science fiction magazine published under various titles since 1930. Originally titled ''Astounding Stories of Super-Science'', the first issue was dated January 1930, published by William C ...

'', December 1983 *Review by Baird Searles (1983) in '' Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine'', December 1983 *Review by Don D'Ammassa (1984) in '' Science Fiction Chronicle'', #61 October 1984 *Review by W. Ritchie Benedict (1984) in '' Thrust'', #21, Fall 1984/Winter 1985 *Review by Ken Lake (1986) in ''Paperback Inferno'', #60 *Review renchby Hervé Hauck (1990) in ''A&A'', #132

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Code Of The Lifemaker 1983 science fiction novels Artificial life 1983 novels Space exploration novels Fiction set on Titan (moon)

Plot summary

Reception

Reviews

See also

References