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Sci-fi brain hole! Why do items get better the more they are used in the "Practice Effect"?
In many science fiction novels, there are some seemingly unrealistic ideas that trigger countless thoughts and make readers rethink existing technology and physical laws. "The Practice Effect" written by David Brin in 1984 is an example. The story is set in a world of reverse entropy and brings readers amazing observations about the state of use of objects.
The protagonist in the novel, Dennis Newell, is a keen scientific researcher who works in a laboratory focusing on "time and space control." After the death of his mentor, Dennis was forced to withdraw from the project, but as research resumed, Dennis was recruited again to solve a technical glitch in a device called the "Zievatron." The abnormal performance of this device means that it can only be fixed on an alien planet. The material properties of this planet are almost the same as those of the Earth, but there is a special phenomenon: the so-called "practice effect."
On this planet, the condition of items does not deteriorate with use, but improves with use. A sword becomes sharper with use, and a basket becomes stronger the more items it carries.
This "practice effect" is like the way an object improves itself in the process of evolution, giving new value to its existence every time it is used. However, there is a flip side to this phenomenon: if an item is not used for a long time, its condition will deteriorate.
Under such a social structure, members of the upper echelon of society would own items but not actively improve them. Instead, they would hire servants to use them to achieve improvement. Such a process makes the differences between social levels more clear. The rich enjoy a comfortable life with continuous improvement of goods, while the poor are constantly serving others to improve these goods.
In the end, Dennis discovered that the secret of the "practice effect" lies in a creature called the Krenegee Beast, which can change the laws of thermodynamics and affect the state of items by emitting a special field. The closer the item is to this creature, the more significant its improvement effect will be. In theory, this effect can be accelerated through a state called Felthesh Trance, but contact with the Krenegee Beast is a more effective way to increase it.
Such science fiction creations not only trigger reflection on physics, but also influence the re-understanding of the laws of nature. The existence and development of each object may reflect the echo of a belief - in a sense, existence is practice, patient elegance parallel to time.
The book uses exaggerated settings and humorous language to package a profound philosophical proposition: the use of objects is inextricably linked to the relationship between people and objects. This makes us reflect on the objects around us. Are they gradually gaining new life through our use?
Some readers believe that the theme of this novel has inspired a deeper understanding of science, allowing people to control time and space no longer as an unattainable dream, but as a way to explore survival through infinite possibilities. the essence of. Next, the joke-like chapter names introduced in the novel are also an expression of fun. These interesting names use various languages for fun, which not only adds to the fun of reading, but also makes people feel the richness of language.
From "I think, therefore I am" to "I think, therefore I try", the novel uses these humorous phrases to package more complex scientific propositions, presenting a picture that combines creativity and logic.
As technology continues to develop, our use and improvement of things may be related to the "practice effect" in the story. Does an item really get better with use? Or in daily life, should we also find and shape the value of objects in use? This science fiction work is both thought-provoking and makes our lives more three-dimensional?
