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The Soul of a New Machine Cyberpunk: Outlaws and Hackers on the Computer Frontier Neuromamcer

by mindcrime 4y ago

newsoul 4y ago
I need to buy Soul of a New Machine and read it. So many people seem to like it.
- mindcrime 4y ago
  It was very good. That said, I read it for the first time around 35 years ago, and it's hard to say now if my impression of it was a product of the times or not. But that I mean both my age and level of knowledge of computing at that time, as well as the prevailing zeitgeist regarding computers and technology. A person reading it for the first time today might not find it as profound. Or perhaps they would find it even more so. It's hard to say. In either case, I'd still highly recommend it.
mindcrime 4y ago
OK, now that I'm actually awake, I'll try to finish answering per the OP's request: Briefly mention the reason for the attribution. Or in other words write your heart out about why you love your field and why you love "the" books. For starters, the 3 books mentioned are the only three that really stand out to me as having specifically related to my interest in computing. But it's not fair to say that I credit them solely with sparking my passion for computing. In fact, despite being an avid reader who reads a number of books that most people would probably find ludicrous, I would probably credit more of my interest in computing to other factors. Those would include TV shows I watched as a kid (Whiz Kids, Knight Rider, Automan, Max Headroom, etc.), movies (War Games, Tron, and years later The Matrix), magazines (in the 90's I was constantly devouring issues of PC Magazine, Byte, Computer Shopper, and suchlike), and early exposure to text adventure games and so on. I'd also credit some books that sparked my overall interest in science / technology / engineering, if not computing specifically. Like a book on electronics that I borrowed from the high-school library over and over again until the cover was falling off (literally), a biography of Charles Proteus Steinmetz, etc. All of that said, the three books do stand out as having been influential to me. Here's why: The Soul of a new Machine - Kidder took a story that a lot of people would probably find very dry and boring, and made it into high adventure, involving a fascinating cast of characters. It's easy to read this book and come away with the feeling that creating a new computer is The Most Important Thing Ever. For my high-school aged self, that was profound. Neuromancer - one of my first exposures to the idea that computers were more than just fancy calculators, or utilitarian tools, and rather a gateway to an entirely different world. No, an entirely different kind of world. The idea of "cyberspace" and the adventuring that could happen there... wow. Ever since reading Neuromancer I think I've secretly, on some inner level, been hoping for the day when we achieve VR or simulations that are that immersive and engaging, to the point of truly feeling like you're entering another world. Watching The Matrix definitely amplified that. Cyberpunk: Outlaws and Hackers on the Computer Frontier - there are parts of this book that are of dubious veracity, especially some of the parts about Mitnick. Nonetheless, for me at age 24 or so, reading this was my first introduction to the idea that there were specific subcultures associated with computing, and frankly some of the exploits that these characters engaged in seemed rather exciting, if not even enticing. Who read this and didn't want to change the Class of Service on a friend's phone to "payphone" so they would pick up to dial and get the "Please deposit 25 cents for the next 5 minutes" message? C'mon, admit you. You all did.
- newsoul 4y ago
  Thanks for writing your heart out.

The Soul of a New Machine Cyberpunk: Outlaws and Hackers on the Computer Frontier Neuromamcer

newsoul 4y ago

I need to buy Soul of a New Machine and read it. So many people seem to like it.

mindcrime 4y ago
It was very good. That said, I read it for the first time around 35 years ago, and it's hard to say now if my impression of it was a product of the times or not. But that I mean both my age and level of knowledge of computing at that time, as well as the prevailing zeitgeist regarding computers and technology. A person reading it for the first time today might not find it as profound. Or perhaps they would find it even more so. It's hard to say. In either case, I'd still highly recommend it.

mindcrime 4y ago

OK, now that I'm actually awake, I'll try to finish answering per the OP's request: Briefly mention the reason for the attribution. Or in other words write your heart out about why you love your field and why you love "the" books. For starters, the 3 books mentioned are the only three that really stand out to me as having specifically related to my interest in computing. But it's not fair to say that I credit them solely with sparking my passion for computing. In fact, despite being an avid reader who reads a number of books that most people would probably find ludicrous, I would probably credit more of my interest in computing to other factors. Those would include TV shows I watched as a kid (Whiz Kids, Knight Rider, Automan, Max Headroom, etc.), movies (War Games, Tron, and years later The Matrix), magazines (in the 90's I was constantly devouring issues of PC Magazine, Byte, Computer Shopper, and suchlike), and early exposure to text adventure games and so on. I'd also credit some books that sparked my overall interest in science / technology / engineering, if not computing specifically. Like a book on electronics that I borrowed from the high-school library over and over again until the cover was falling off (literally), a biography of Charles Proteus Steinmetz, etc. All of that said, the three books do stand out as having been influential to me. Here's why: The Soul of a new Machine - Kidder took a story that a lot of people would probably find very dry and boring, and made it into high adventure, involving a fascinating cast of characters. It's easy to read this book and come away with the feeling that creating a new computer is The Most Important Thing Ever. For my high-school aged self, that was profound. Neuromancer - one of my first exposures to the idea that computers were more than just fancy calculators, or utilitarian tools, and rather a gateway to an entirely different world. No, an entirely different kind of world. The idea of "cyberspace" and the adventuring that could happen there... wow. Ever since reading Neuromancer I think I've secretly, on some inner level, been hoping for the day when we achieve VR or simulations that are that immersive and engaging, to the point of truly feeling like you're entering another world. Watching The Matrix definitely amplified that. Cyberpunk: Outlaws and Hackers on the Computer Frontier - there are parts of this book that are of dubious veracity, especially some of the parts about Mitnick. Nonetheless, for me at age 24 or so, reading this was my first introduction to the idea that there were specific subcultures associated with computing, and frankly some of the exploits that these characters engaged in seemed rather exciting, if not even enticing. Who read this and didn't want to change the Class of Service on a friend's phone to "payphone" so they would pick up to dial and get the "Please deposit 25 cents for the next 5 minutes" message? C'mon, admit you. You all did.

newsoul 4y ago
Thanks for writing your heart out.