Checking the covers of paperbacks for bits from our reviews is a pleasant
chore. But do the quotes give the true savour of the book? Yes, in the case of
George Dyson’s Darwin Among the Machines: “It reads as though the poet Robert
Frost had popped ecstasy in the company of Alan Turing.” This intriguing
application of evolutionary theory to computers was reviewed in 21 June 1997.
Published by Penguin, £8.99, ISBN 0140267441.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features

Space
UN space database aimed at easing global tensions is mysteriously down
News

Environment
Global warming already causing crop losses of over $20 billion a year
News

Mathematics
Mathematicians put AI to work on Fermat's last theorem
News

Mathematics
The sneaky maths trick for solving problems without answering them
91É«Ç鯬
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Mathematicians put AI to work on Fermat's last theorem
2
The sneaky maths trick for solving problems without answering them
3
How healthy is your brain? We now know how to find out
4
This book is essential reading before watching the new Odyssey film
5
Resuscitated human retinas respond to light 10 hours after death
6
Global warming already causing crop losses of over $20 billion a year
7
Salt batteries are about to shake up EVs and grid storage
8
The 4 best science-fiction shows of 2026 so far
9
Beetroot juice is trending – its benefits go beyond the hype
10
The strange metals forcing us to rethink how electricity really works