82 – Gunkel – Gaming the System

In 'Gaming the System', David J. Gunkel explores the intersection of deconstruction and video games, analyzing how the principles of deconstruction can be applied to understand game studies and virtual worlds. The book examines how games and virtual worlds are talked about and how game studies as a field conceptualizes its activities. Gunkel applies deconstruction to reveal interesting insights into the structure and meaning of games. Specific examples focus on language, social contracts, and ethics within computer technologies. The book engages with media and informatics history, and applies philosophical tools to questions appearing in technology.

Set in a world devastated by a nuclear apocalypse known as the 'Flame Deluge', the novel follows the monks of the Albertian Order of Leibowitz as they dedicate their lives to preserving scientific knowledge. The book is divided into three parts, each set in a different time period, spanning over 2,000 years. It delves into themes of Christian theology, the tension between religion and science, and the cyclical nature of human civilizations. Miller's work is a stark warning about the consequences of military build-up and the importance of the marriage between science and faith.