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Writer. Scientist. Thoroughly Disappointing Flesh Muppet.

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Soviet Electrode-Powered Supersoldiers

Posted on July 19, 2011January 8, 2025 by eidolon

(or, I Am A Visionary, Part 2)

A while back, I posted about DARPA experiments into the possibility of using cranial electrodes to enhance peoples’ performance at particular tasks.  (Which is just slightly reminiscent of a particular book.)

Now reader Chris Bachmann just sent me — Thanks, Chris! — this link to a piece in Wired.

The executive summary apparently involves “unwitting” test subjects, cranial electrodes, and, best of all, the elimination of pain.  Or could we perhaps call that the transcendence from man to superman?  Well, that’s what I’m going to call it.

Battery powered supermens?  They haz them.

Oh, sure.  There’s some indication that the original story in Pravda might be hinky, because it’s short on details, long on speculation, and apparently derives from work from a nonexistent American historian.  Oh, and apparently it follows a storyline from Captain America.  I suppose some people would see that as evidence that stories of battery powered supersoldiers are nothing but meaningless fancy.

I see something darker at work.  It involves a copy of Bitter Seeds and a time machine.  In fact, that would explain both the Soviet and DARPA angles. 

It’s really cool when people have send along articles suggesting real-life parallels to events in the Milkweed books.  It makes me feel like Nostradamus.  But I really, REALLY hope nobody finds evidence for life imitating The Coldest War…

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2 thoughts on “Soviet Electrode-Powered Supersoldiers”

  1. Alejandra says:
    July 20, 2011 at 2:51 am

    That’s a tantalizing hint as to the content of “The Coldest War”! Haha. But yeah, thanks for signing my book at Mythcon. Sorry if I came across as taciturn, I was a bit preoccupied. Anyway, it was nice chatting, too. Good times.

  2. Ian says:
    July 20, 2011 at 9:26 am

    No worries at all! I greatly appreciate the enthusiasm for my book. I was happy to sign it for you. Have fun at Urbana!

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