Macroscope by Piers Anthony
"Macroscope" is a science fiction narrative set in late twentieth-century Georgia, where the protagonist, Ivo Archer, navigates a world fraught with danger for those deemed nonwhite. Ivo, alongside Harold Gorton and a group of scientists, becomes involved with a powerful device known as the macroscope, capable of interpreting signals from galactic civilizations. This technology is not without peril, as it has the potential to mentally damage anyone who comprehends certain broadcasts.
The story explores themes of identity, intelligence, and moral ambiguity, particularly through Ivo's struggle with his own existence as a construct of an amoral genius named Schön. As political intrigue unfolds, the group is forced to confront the macroscope's capabilities and the dire consequences of its use. Their journey leads them to escape to Triton, one of Neptune's moons, where they seek to confront the dangers posed by the mind-destroying program embedded within the macroscope.
Throughout the narrative, significant character dynamics emerge, especially between Ivo, Schön, and Afra, culminating in a confrontation that challenges notions of love, identity, and the potential for transformation. Ultimately, "Macroscope" weaves a complex tale of survival, intellectual pursuit, and the quest for genuine connection in a technologically advanced but morally ambiguous universe.
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Subject Terms
Macroscope
First published: 1969
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Science fiction—cosmic voyage
Time of work: The late twentieth century, with flashbacks and flashforwards
Locale: Earth, Neptune, and local areas of the galaxy
The Plot
Nonwhite people must be wary in late twentieth century Georgia, but fleeing Ivo Archer stands still when his pursuer whispers “Swinehood hath no remedy.” The phrase from Sidney Lanier’s poem compels Ivo to accompany Harold Gorton to the secret space-borne macroscope facility where Bradley Carpenter works.
Brad and Ivo are products of a project to breed and raise highly intelligent people. Like many of the children in the project, Ivo chose an imaginary parent—in his case, Sidney Lanier—and strove to learn all he could about the poet. Brad knows that Ivo is a false personality of lesser intelligence and limited skills, created by the amoral genius Schön.
The macroscope reads both natural signals and programs from galactic civilizations. One broadcast destroys the mind of anyone intelligent enough to comprehend it. A politically ambitious U.S. senator has heard rumors of the device’s capabilities and what it has done. He comes to investigate, and Brad wants Schön to deal with the problem.
Ivo, who will be destroyed when Schön’s hidden personality emerges, is reluctant. Brad and his lovely girlfriend, Afra, cannot convince him. Brad views the mind destroyer with the senator at the politician’s demand, and both their minds are destroyed in a final attempt to force Ivo to release Schön. Ivo remains stubborn.
The powers that finance the macroscope belatedly figure out that it is the greatest spying device ever created, and they launch a ship to decommission it. The scientists on the project, unwilling to see the macroscope dismantled, hold a gaming tournament. Whoever wins will decide what is to be done with the device. Ivo, who has the necessary skills but does not understand what he is playing for, wins the contest.
Using a ship modified with alien technology, Ivo, Har-old, Harold’s wife, Beatryx, Afra, and the near-mindless Brad all flee with the macroscope. Neither Brad nor Ivo has revealed Schön’s true whereabouts. The others press Ivo to make contact with their potential savior even as they come to value Ivo. The concealed personality’s lifelong struggle to survive in Ivo’s body enables Ivo to bypass the mind-destroying program and to use the other material the macroscope makes available, including a traveler signal that allows the group to escape.
They set up a habitat on Triton, one of Neptune’s moons. Harold, using his hobby of astrology, finally stumbles on the truth about Schön’s whereabouts. Ivo is frank about what he is and how much he fears the amoral genius within. Afra attempts to use alien technology to repair Brad’s damaged brain. She fails, and Brad dies. The four decide to seek out the source of the program that extirpates intelligence and destroy it.
Technology from the macroscope enables them to use the mass of Neptune to punch through the convolutions of the space-time continuum. After a number of unsuccessful jumps, they leap out of the galaxy, only to discover that there is not one but seven destroyer sources, blanketing most of the stars. They also discover that at this distance, the macrons that the scope reads orbit the mass of the galaxy. They can sample from all of galactic history, although the reception is random. After pinpointing the locations of the destroyer signals, they go to one of the transmitting complexes. Entering, they find an environment adjusted to their needs and a series of educational exhibits. They, or people like them, have been expected.
The group works its way through the displays, finally entering a room with what appears to be a musical instrument on a pedestal. Like his hero, Lanier, Ivo is an accomplished flutist. He picks up the device and begins to play. His music helps to produce interactive scenarios for the other four personalities. In these scenarios, Schön has a military career, Beatryx dies, and Harold is transferred to another body in another time.
Afra rejects her projection, awakes, and sees that the effects of the scenarios are real: Beatryx dies, and Harold cannot be roused. When Afra breaks Ivo’s trance, she finds that she has released Schön instead. He taunts her with destroying the men she loves. Still, he wants her company on the long trip back to Earth.
She and the cruel, immature genius begin a contest, stated in terms of their astrological charts, which Afra eventually wins by risking the mind-destroying program. Ivo is forced to emerge to save her. Although she has admitted she loves Ivo, she rejects him and forces the two personalities of Ivo and Schön to combine. The synthesis of the positive portions of both, a man both mature and intelligent, is the one she can truly love.