3 ms·

Schild's Ladder by Greg Egan

38 points by Bluestein 2y ago

Khelavaster 2y ago
An excellent, truly modern book!!
- Bluestein 2y ago
  (Found the author when "throwing about" some hefty ontological concepts around here - "reality", transcendence, math, physics ... ... and will definitely read).-
qubex 2y ago
Read it several years ago and loved it. Greg Egan is my go-to source for hard sci-fi.
- Bluestein 2y ago
  Two further points: - Appears a very well documented, well researched (in that he does his homework) author - This might sound trite, but ... his per-book websites have this '90s internet feel to them, which is grand. (And, in a way, an indicator of quality ...)
  - qubex 2y ago
    Greg Egan is a mathematician and has a fascinating Twitter/X account.
    - Bluestein 2y ago
      That explains much.-
kemmishtree 2y ago
My all-time favorite science fiction novel.
- Bluestein 2y ago
  That good, eh? PS. Also looking into "Diaspora".-
  - r2_pilot 2y ago
    You should read it! And Permutation City
    - Bluestein 2y ago
      Will read.- PS. "Permutation City" was how I first found out about Egan. Appears to be the "gateway drug" :) ... and a great tale.-
    - inopinatus 2y ago
      Interestingly, Egan pokes some holes in his own work here: https://gregegan.net/PERMUTATION/FAQ/FAQ.html https://gregegan.net/PERMUTATION/FAQ/FAQ.html (spoiler warning) and I think is all the more credible for doing so, totally on brand for a hard sci-fi author.
      - Bluestein 2y ago
        > all the more credible for doing so Agreed. It just means he is thorough and critical of self.-
r2_pilot 2y ago
Long ago(I guess around 2006),I read this and was struck by the amazing ideas. I couldn't remember the author, though, just the title. Then I came across some of Greg Egan's other works a decade or so later and it felt similar, so I checked and sure enough, same author. Fantastic ideas, although his character development is a bit lacking in my opinion.
- LeifCarrotson 2y ago
  "A bit lacking" is putting it mildly. I love Egan, but he wraps his hard sci fi worldbuilding efforts in the minimum veneer of a story that can be written to tell you about the universe he's imagined.
- inopinatus 2y ago
  Diaspora opens with a character literally developing itself, what more could you want?
flanger 2y ago
Amazing book! Also Diaspora! Great mind expanding hard science fiction. Highly recommended!
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

38 points by Bluestein 2y ago

Khelavaster 2y ago

An excellent, truly modern book!!

Bluestein 2y ago
(Found the author when "throwing about" some hefty ontological concepts around here - "reality", transcendence, math, physics ... ... and will definitely read).-

qubex 2y ago

Read it several years ago and loved it. Greg Egan is my go-to source for hard sci-fi.

Bluestein 2y ago
Two further points: - Appears a very well documented, well researched (in that he does his homework) author - This might sound trite, but ... his per-book websites have this '90s internet feel to them, which is grand. (And, in a way, an indicator of quality ...)
- qubex 2y ago
  Greg Egan is a mathematician and has a fascinating Twitter/X account.
  - Bluestein 2y ago
    That explains much.-

kemmishtree 2y ago

My all-time favorite science fiction novel.

Bluestein 2y ago
That good, eh? PS. Also looking into "Diaspora".-
- r2_pilot 2y ago
  You should read it! And Permutation City
  - Bluestein 2y ago
    Will read.- PS. "Permutation City" was how I first found out about Egan. Appears to be the "gateway drug" :) ... and a great tale.-
  - inopinatus 2y ago
    Interestingly, Egan pokes some holes in his own work here: https://gregegan.net/PERMUTATION/FAQ/FAQ.html https://gregegan.net/PERMUTATION/FAQ/FAQ.html (spoiler warning) and I think is all the more credible for doing so, totally on brand for a hard sci-fi author.
    - Bluestein 2y ago
      > all the more credible for doing so Agreed. It just means he is thorough and critical of self.-

r2_pilot 2y ago

Long ago(I guess around 2006),I read this and was struck by the amazing ideas. I couldn't remember the author, though, just the title. Then I came across some of Greg Egan's other works a decade or so later and it felt similar, so I checked and sure enough, same author. Fantastic ideas, although his character development is a bit lacking in my opinion.

LeifCarrotson 2y ago
"A bit lacking" is putting it mildly. I love Egan, but he wraps his hard sci fi worldbuilding efforts in the minimum veneer of a story that can be written to tell you about the universe he's imagined.
inopinatus 2y ago
Diaspora opens with a character literally developing itself, what more could you want?

flanger 2y ago

Amazing book! Also Diaspora! Great mind expanding hard science fiction. Highly recommended!

deleted 2y ago

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