downpunxx to Science Fiction • 11 months agoFoundation vs Dunemedia.kbin.socialimagemessage-square221fedilinkarrow-up12.33Karrow-down131
arrow-up12.3Karrow-down1imageFoundation vs Dunemedia.kbin.socialdownpunxx to Science Fiction • 11 months agomessage-square221fedilink
minus-squarednzmlinkfedilink40•edit-211 months agoIain M. Banks: we’re living in an AI-regulated Utopia, but the AI that we totally trust might be doing some light imperialism on the side. Pratchett / Baxter: we’re headed for some bleak imperialist nonsense, and another one, and another one, and another one, and oops, a blank… Edit: added the Long Earth one.
minus-square6daemonbaglinkfedilink6•11 months agoThe Culture is so incredibly fascinating. Banks’ death was a loss to science fiction.
minus-square@[email protected]linkfedilink6•edit-211 months agoThe Culture stuff is great but nothing tops The Algebraist. A near-perfect standalone sf doorstop imo. Big ideas, some laughs, a mystery that you can solve if you’re paying attention, strong characters, interesting aliens… The last one that hit that sweet spot for me was Mother of Storms by John Barnes.
minus-squarednzmlinkfedilink1•11 months agoHadn’t read The Algebraist yet, so there’s a new one on my list. Thanks! I’ll make sure to check out Barnes, too.
minus-square@[email protected]linkfedilink3•11 months agoThe Culture weren’t actually the future of humanity though right? Non-canon stuff has indicated we join eventually in the future but the society formed independent of us and even visit and examine us in one.
minus-squarednzmlinkfedilink1•11 months agoActually, you’re right. Oh well, a humanity, then, just not ours.
Iain M. Banks: we’re living in an AI-regulated Utopia, but the AI that we totally trust might be doing some light imperialism on the side.
Pratchett / Baxter: we’re headed for some bleak imperialist nonsense, and another one, and another one, and another one, and oops, a blank…
Edit: added the Long Earth one.
Maybe sometimes there are special circumstances?
Fuck I love the Culture series. Such a good read.
The Culture is so incredibly fascinating. Banks’ death was a loss to science fiction.
The Culture stuff is great but nothing tops The Algebraist. A near-perfect standalone sf doorstop imo.
Big ideas, some laughs, a mystery that you can solve if you’re paying attention, strong characters, interesting aliens…
The last one that hit that sweet spot for me was Mother of Storms by John Barnes.
Hadn’t read The Algebraist yet, so there’s a new one on my list. Thanks! I’ll make sure to check out Barnes, too.
The Culture weren’t actually the future of humanity though right? Non-canon stuff has indicated we join eventually in the future but the society formed independent of us and even visit and examine us in one.
Actually, you’re right.
Oh well, a humanity, then, just not ours.