Internet: Electronic Global Village

Alice Kidd is an editor with The New Catalyst editorial collective in
Lillooet, B.C.

The Megatech Series gives teen and preteen readers a glimpse into recent
and future trends in science and technology. The first four volumes in
the series—Artificial Intelligence, CyberSpace, Cloning, and Alien
Lifesearch—dealt with robots, the World Wide Web, genetic engineering,
and extraterrestrials, respectively. The current volumes deal with
artificial organs and genetic manipulation (BioTech), e-commerce and
loss of privacy (Internet), living in space (Into Infinity), and deep
diving and sunken wrecks (Super Subs).

Each volume begins with a brief introduction that pulls the reader in
with lots of fun facts. The tone is upbeat yet balanced as it looks at
the effects of advanced technology on society and the environment,
discusses controversies surrounding advanced technology, and weighs the
potential problems. Following the introduction is a series of topics
presented in a colorful, engaging format; each topic is usually covered
in a two-page spread that features lots of pictures, illustrations,
sidebars, and captions interspersed throughout the text. At the end of
the volume is a section titled “What’s Next?,” a reference section
with a timeline, a glossary, and an index.

The treatment of each topic is not very deep. There is no reference
list or any mention of source material. Some guidance for further
reading would be welcome. The best treatment of controversy is the
“Big Brother” spread in Internet, yet this is followed by the
classic unanswerable statement “The Internet is not going to go
away.” Strange how often the discoveries of science are presented as
facts, without any reference to the questioning attitude that makes them
possible.

I learned from these books and enjoyed reading them. It was only
afterward that I found them incomplete and strangely unsatisfying. As
part of a library collection with depth and balance, the books would be
very useful, but they should not stand alone. Read them with your
children, but encourage them to read further. Recommended with
reservations.