Brucker author with a new novel: A computer becomes the savior of the world

Created: 2022-02-23Updated: 2022-02-23, 12:25 p.m

By: Ulrike Osman

In the corona pandemic, Theresa Hannig had had enough of gloomy dystopias.

© Hanning

The Fürstenfeldbruck author Theresa Hannig draws a positive vision of the future in her new novel "Pantopia".

Fürstenfeldbruck

- The first books by Brucker science fiction author Theresa Hannig were dystopias - gloomy paintings of the future of a totalitarian, completely monitored world.

But in the depressing Corona reality of 2020, the 37-year-old made a turn.

In her new novel, she once again presents readers with a vision of tomorrow's world – but this time a positive one.

"Pantopia" (Verlag Fischer Tor) is the name of the almost 600-page work that will be published this Wednesday.

The focus is on Patricia and Henry, two young programmers who inadvertently develop a powerful artificial intelligence (AI) - a computer system that has the same mental abilities as a human being, has its own motivations, even humor and empathy.

The two call the program "Einbug" because they initially believe there is an error in the system when the artificial intelligence begins to communicate with them at eye level.

While Hannig depicts the risks of AI in earlier works and warns that computers are developing their own consciousness, Einbug lets her become the savior of the world.

Without revealing too much - the system has an idea how wars, climate change and environmental destruction can be stopped.

The fascinating, logical-sounding plan, which refers to current political discussions, has already inspired the first reviewers on internet literature platforms.

Pantopia is the author's fourth novel and this time it doesn't take a negative look at artificial intelligence.

© tb

"I didn't feel like dystopias anymore," says Theresa Hannig.

"I was in the mood for hope and positive visions, for a story in which we finally do everything right and that ends well." For the Brucker woman, writing the story was also an escape from everyday Corona life in 2020. She created herself a world of its own as an alternative to the fear of the future and helplessness spread by the pandemic.

"That helped me tremendously.

In fact, I was always really happy when I was writing.” What was difficult, however, was the switch back to the real world whenever she switched off the writing computer.

Less than five years after her award-winning debut novel "Die Optimierer", the former software developer, SAP consultant and project manager has established herself well in the literary world.

Pantopia is her fourth book.

The 37-year-old manages the workload by largely forgoing free time, especially since a political mandate was added in November - Hannig moved up to the Brucker city council for the Greens.

"I'm still in the introductory phase."

Next on Hannig's schedule are readings in Leipzig, Saarbrücken and Berlin.

A sample of "Pantopia" will be streamed live on YouTube tonight at 8 p.m. (link at https://pantopia.world).

The actors Tom Ditz, René Oltmanns as well as Tina and Alexander Schmiedel, the latter three of whom are known to the Brucker audience from the New Stage, will also be there.

The author then answers questions from the audience.

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