4 ms·

This story reminded me of Neal Stephenson's 2015 novel Seveneves, where the Moon, struck by some unknown object, breaks apart. Most life on Earth is destroyed e

This story reminded me of Neal Stephenson's 2015 novel Seveneves, where the Moon, struck by some unknown object, breaks apart. Most life on Earth is destroyed except for a few thousand people who can escape. Humanity has one year to prepare civilization for 5000 years in orbit before they can safely return to Earth again. Very interesting thought experiment on the technological and genetic outcomes! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seveneves https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seveneves

quizme2000 8y ago
Spoiler Alert! Yes in the first pages there is a moon event, the rest of your comment just gives away the plot.
- cmpaul 8y ago
  Agreed, could probably have avoided giving away the plot here. The book is definitely worth the read!
  - cpeterso 8y ago
    I see what you mean, but I don't think I gave away too much of the plot. The back of the book itself provides all those same details, other than the word "Moon" which is revealed in the first sentence of the book. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/515blU3eIzL.jpg https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/515blU3eIzL...
    - detritus 8y ago
      I have this book on my shelf to read and, as with most books, I try not to read synposes or cover details in advance, preferring instead to have it be as much of an unknown journey as possible, so ... thanks for giving away what sounds like a fundamental part of the book and arguing against perhaps editing your original post.
      - cpeterso 8y ago
        FWIW, I would edit or remove my original comment to remove spoilers but HN no longer allows me to edit that comment. Also, there was a study that showed spoilers actually increase readers' enjoyment (except for mystery books): https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/spoiler-alert-spoilers-make-you-enjoy-stories-more https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/spoiler-alert-sp...
buzzert 8y ago
This book has my second favorite opening line in a sci-fi book (right behind Neuromancer). You can read the first few pages for free on Neal's website! https://www.nealstephenson.com/news/2015/04/13/seveneves-excerpt/ https://www.nealstephenson.com/news/2015/04/13/seveneves-exc...
doh 8y ago
I have a crazy deja vu. I picked up this boom yesterday night and read the first chapter before going to sleep. And then this came along. I though for a second that I had to dream the plot.
Tepix 8y ago
Did you really have to put a spoiler in the first sentence? Sheesh!
- _whiteCaps_ 8y ago
  > The moon blew up without warning and for no apparent reason. It was waxing, only one day short of full. The time was 05:03:12 UTC. Later it would be designated A+0.0.0, or simply Zero. These are the first few sentences of the book. The rest of the comment are spoilers though.
  - cpeterso 8y ago
    "Spoilers" that are revealed on the back of the book itself: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/515blU3eIzL.jpg https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/515blU3eIzL... All those same details are there, other than the word "Moon" which is revealed in the first sentence of the book. FWIW, I would edit or remove my original comment to remove spoilers but HN no longer allows me to edit that comment. :(

quizme2000 8y ago

Spoiler Alert! Yes in the first pages there is a moon event, the rest of your comment just gives away the plot.

cmpaul 8y ago
Agreed, could probably have avoided giving away the plot here. The book is definitely worth the read!
- cpeterso 8y ago
  I see what you mean, but I don't think I gave away too much of the plot. The back of the book itself provides all those same details, other than the word "Moon" which is revealed in the first sentence of the book. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/515blU3eIzL.jpg https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/515blU3eIzL...
  - detritus 8y ago
    I have this book on my shelf to read and, as with most books, I try not to read synposes or cover details in advance, preferring instead to have it be as much of an unknown journey as possible, so ... thanks for giving away what sounds like a fundamental part of the book and arguing against perhaps editing your original post.
    - cpeterso 8y ago
      FWIW, I would edit or remove my original comment to remove spoilers but HN no longer allows me to edit that comment. Also, there was a study that showed spoilers actually increase readers' enjoyment (except for mystery books): https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/spoiler-alert-spoilers-make-you-enjoy-stories-more https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/spoiler-alert-sp...

buzzert 8y ago

This book has my second favorite opening line in a sci-fi book (right behind Neuromancer). You can read the first few pages for free on Neal's website! https://www.nealstephenson.com/news/2015/04/13/seveneves-excerpt/ https://www.nealstephenson.com/news/2015/04/13/seveneves-exc...

doh 8y ago

I have a crazy deja vu. I picked up this boom yesterday night and read the first chapter before going to sleep. And then this came along. I though for a second that I had to dream the plot.

Tepix 8y ago

Did you really have to put a spoiler in the first sentence? Sheesh!

_whiteCaps_ 8y ago
> The moon blew up without warning and for no apparent reason. It was waxing, only one day short of full. The time was 05:03:12 UTC. Later it would be designated A+0.0.0, or simply Zero. These are the first few sentences of the book. The rest of the comment are spoilers though.
- cpeterso 8y ago
  "Spoilers" that are revealed on the back of the book itself: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/515blU3eIzL.jpg https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/515blU3eIzL... All those same details are there, other than the word "Moon" which is revealed in the first sentence of the book. FWIW, I would edit or remove my original comment to remove spoilers but HN no longer allows me to edit that comment. :(