5 ms·

We have found OnOff! Beware the Emergence...

by _jal 5y ago

skywal_l 5y ago
Love Vernor Vinge. Too bad is not as proficient as other world building science fiction authors, but if the pattern is correct, he should drop a new Zones of Thought book pretty soon.
- carapace 5y ago
  s/proficient/prolific/ ?
- kabdib 5y ago
  I've pretty much given up hope.
  - throw1234651234 5y ago
    The part about the telepathic doggies was a downward slide anyway.
    - nitrogen 5y ago
      Have to disagree, the acoustically linked evolved hivemind concept was pretty mind opening for me.
      - wildylion 5y ago
        Acoustically linked __furries__. Pretty neat concept, really.
        TeMPOraL 5y ago
        Can't hold this against him; he wrote the book way before furries were a thing.
        ben_w 5y ago
        We might not have gone by that name, but we’ve been around at least since the ancient Egyptians drew a dog head on someone’s body and called them Anubis. And the name probably dates to 1980-ish: https://www.flayrah.com/4117/retrospective-illustrated-chronology-furry-fandom-1966–1996 https://www.flayrah.com/4117/retrospective-illustrated-chron...
- throw1234651234 5y ago
  He is probably in my top 5 after Stephenson and Gibson. He can't write aliens at all though. I skipped the alien half of a A Fire Upon the Deep (ok, skimmed) and missed nothing. The other books I tried by him were notably worse than that and a A Deepness in the Sky. As usual in these posts, recommend authors/books. Forever War is ok for central concept, author is meh. Haven't read anything decent recently.
  - sidibe 5y ago
    > I skipped the alien half of a A Fire Upon the Deep (ok, skimmed) and missed nothing You mean you still liked the book. Hard to know whether you missed something if you skipped or skimmed it. I read this over 10 years ago but the aliens are what I remember most
  - yodon 5y ago
    I can't tell if you're saying you like or dislike A Deepness in the Sky. From my perspective it's among the most thoughtful portrayals of a truly alien species I've encountered (trying hard to be respectful here and not include spoilers for those who have not read it)
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
himlion 5y ago
My first thought as well. Hope we can visit those spiders one day.

We have found OnOff! Beware the Emergence...

by _jal 5y ago

We have found OnOff! Beware the Emergence...

Love Vernor Vinge. Too bad is not as proficient as other world building science fiction authors, but if the pattern is correct, he should drop a new Zones of Thought book pretty soon.

carapace 5y ago
s/proficient/prolific/ ?
kabdib 5y ago
I've pretty much given up hope.
- throw1234651234 5y ago
  The part about the telepathic doggies was a downward slide anyway.
  - nitrogen 5y ago
    Have to disagree, the acoustically linked evolved hivemind concept was pretty mind opening for me.
    - wildylion 5y ago
      Acoustically linked __furries__. Pretty neat concept, really.
      - TeMPOraL 5y ago
        Can't hold this against him; he wrote the book way before furries were a thing.
        ben_w 5y ago
        We might not have gone by that name, but we’ve been around at least since the ancient Egyptians drew a dog head on someone’s body and called them Anubis. And the name probably dates to 1980-ish: https://www.flayrah.com/4117/retrospective-illustrated-chronology-furry-fandom-1966–1996 https://www.flayrah.com/4117/retrospective-illustrated-chron...
throw1234651234 5y ago
He is probably in my top 5 after Stephenson and Gibson. He can't write aliens at all though. I skipped the alien half of a A Fire Upon the Deep (ok, skimmed) and missed nothing. The other books I tried by him were notably worse than that and a A Deepness in the Sky. As usual in these posts, recommend authors/books. Forever War is ok for central concept, author is meh. Haven't read anything decent recently.
- sidibe 5y ago
  > I skipped the alien half of a A Fire Upon the Deep (ok, skimmed) and missed nothing You mean you still liked the book. Hard to know whether you missed something if you skipped or skimmed it. I read this over 10 years ago but the aliens are what I remember most
- yodon 5y ago
  I can't tell if you're saying you like or dislike A Deepness in the Sky. From my perspective it's among the most thoughtful portrayals of a truly alien species I've encountered (trying hard to be respectful here and not include spoilers for those who have not read it)
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]

himlion 5y ago

My first thought as well. Hope we can visit those spiders one day.