place-based-experimentation
The idea that the physical and contextual setting of an experiment significantly influences its outcomes, leading to the choice of Underhill for the memory treatment.
1 chapter across 1 book
Blue Mars (1997)Kim Stanley Robinson
The chapter focuses on a group of survivors from the First Hundred who gather at Underhill, a preserved settlement on Mars, to undergo a risky memory restoration treatment aimed at recovering lost cognitive functions and potentially unlocking a new phase of human progress. Sax, a key proponent of the experiment, argues for the importance of place in the success of the treatment, emphasizing the necessity of 'wholeness of mind.' Despite Maya's refusal to participate, the others proceed with the treatment, experiencing intense emotional and cognitive effects, with Sax ultimately regaining a profound, though partial, recollection of their shared past.