5 ms·

I sent out about 8 copies of this book to friends/relatives for christmas a couple years ago, and it was very well received. It's not without flaws, but it's ab

I sent out about 8 copies of this book to friends/relatives for christmas a couple years ago, and it was very well received. It's not without flaws, but it's absolutely packed with novel concepts, relatively short, and provides a unique experience for unsuspecting readers. The physical book cover is quite good looking as well in my opinion. I also loved Ra by the same author, but it felt a little messier plot-wise, so I hesitate to recommend it to an audience who isn't already accustomed to reading "out-there" online/sci-fi/rationalist fiction.

KboPAacDA3 2y ago
The cover reminds me of John Harris's _A Dream of Starlight_. https://www.alisoneldred.com/john-harris/fine-art-prints-1/science-fiction-4/2504-a-dream-of-starlight/ https://www.alisoneldred.com/john-harris/fine-art-prints-1/s...
michaelbuckbee 2y ago
I also came here to try and convince folks to read "Ra" which I thought was fantastic. Though that being said, I feel like we're flipped on which is more "out there" as Ra feels much less slippery of an idea.
- LoganDark 2y ago
  Fine Structure too!
  - robbiep 2y ago
    Fine structure is great!
LoganDark 2y ago
I love Ra. (also Fine Structure.) I don't think the plot is necessarily that much messier as much as it is more complex. As in, this is super mega nerd shit. Unless you can relate things you're reading to things you've read before, it won't make too much sense to you. But if you're constructing a theory of the book's universe and story as you read, it's downright addictive. I don't know where to find more books like those but I really, really want to.
- mopierotti 2y ago
  True, perhaps "messy" was the wrong word. I think what I was trying to get at was that I feel "There Is No Antimemetics Division" is more accessible for the average reader -- More narrowly focused, with a more immediate hook. Regarding recommendations similar to Ra, it's not exactly the same thing, but https://unsongbook.com/ https://unsongbook.com/ is fantastic and has a similar flavor I think.
  - epiccoleman 2y ago
    Unsong is one of my favorite books ever, and the newly released print edition has some nice changes to the "base model" that I enjoyed a lot. The book honestly changed the way I thought about religion. It's fantastic. (also, I liked Antimemetics, but not Ra, so I will just say I think unsong is leaps and bounds better than Ra)
    - LoganDark 2y ago
      I think Unsong is less math/physics and more just mega nerd. But it has a very very similar vibe. I love it so far (on chapter 20 or so right now).
  - LoganDark 2y ago
    > Regarding recommendations similar to Ra, it's not exactly the same thing, but https://unsongbook.com/ https://unsongbook.com/ is fantastic and has a similar flavor I think. The religious references on the actual website (and lack of much real explanation) made it very difficult for me to give it a chance, but I looked it up a bit and it seems like there is more to it than that, so maybe I'll give it a try. edit: reading the first chapter definitely changed my first impression. It definitely has many similarities to qntm's writing. I will certainly be reading more...
    - cwillu 2y ago
      “Why would God do that?” “STOP TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE WILL OF GOD,” said Uriel. “IT NEVER HELPS.” --the archangel Uriel
alexpotato 2y ago
I haven't read Ra but if people like a mix of magic, fantasy, scifi, govt techno thriller, history and even romance, I highly recommend the Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. I think it's best read with no summary or introduction but if you are a Neal Stephenson fan, I think you would like it.
- Filligree 2y ago
  There’s no resemblance at all.
- pugio 2y ago
  I've read most of Stephenson's books, and loved many of them, but the only one I absolutely tell people to never read is the Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. (despite the signed copy on my shelf). I haven't read it since publication, so the details are a bit hazy now, but I remember it feeling like a waste. The conceit is: What if there were a government organization that dealt with <cool scifi thing>, and we emulated that with high fidelity – complete with lots of reporting and bureaucracy . To me, it made <cool scifi thing> about as fun to read about as... tedious government bureaucracy. It's nice to hear that other people really liked it. Definitely highlights the breadth of approaches and styles that Stephenson has.
  - sbierwagen 2y ago
    >To me, it made <cool scifi thing> about as fun to read about as... tedious government bureaucracy. This is also the problem with Charles Stross' Nightmare Stacks. The concept was kinda funny in 2004, but by book number 10 it just gets tedious. The reader cries out, What is the point of all this, and Stross answers with a shrug.
    - hnmullany 2y ago
      I always think of this part from Wonderboys: https://youtu.be/BrVl1hWrWBs?si=UPgOdjd6ujlJ1UKP&t=95 https://youtu.be/BrVl1hWrWBs?si=UPgOdjd6ujlJ1UKP&t=95
  - disillusioned 2y ago

KboPAacDA3 2y ago

The cover reminds me of John Harris's _A Dream of Starlight_. https://www.alisoneldred.com/john-harris/fine-art-prints-1/science-fiction-4/2504-a-dream-of-starlight/ https://www.alisoneldred.com/john-harris/fine-art-prints-1/s...

michaelbuckbee 2y ago

I also came here to try and convince folks to read "Ra" which I thought was fantastic. Though that being said, I feel like we're flipped on which is more "out there" as Ra feels much less slippery of an idea.

LoganDark 2y ago
Fine Structure too!
- robbiep 2y ago
  Fine structure is great!

LoganDark 2y ago

I love Ra. (also Fine Structure.) I don't think the plot is necessarily that much messier as much as it is more complex. As in, this is super mega nerd shit. Unless you can relate things you're reading to things you've read before, it won't make too much sense to you. But if you're constructing a theory of the book's universe and story as you read, it's downright addictive. I don't know where to find more books like those but I really, really want to.

mopierotti 2y ago
True, perhaps "messy" was the wrong word. I think what I was trying to get at was that I feel "There Is No Antimemetics Division" is more accessible for the average reader -- More narrowly focused, with a more immediate hook. Regarding recommendations similar to Ra, it's not exactly the same thing, but https://unsongbook.com/ https://unsongbook.com/ is fantastic and has a similar flavor I think.
- epiccoleman 2y ago
  Unsong is one of my favorite books ever, and the newly released print edition has some nice changes to the "base model" that I enjoyed a lot. The book honestly changed the way I thought about religion. It's fantastic. (also, I liked Antimemetics, but not Ra, so I will just say I think unsong is leaps and bounds better than Ra)
  - LoganDark 2y ago
    I think Unsong is less math/physics and more just mega nerd. But it has a very very similar vibe. I love it so far (on chapter 20 or so right now).
- LoganDark 2y ago
  > Regarding recommendations similar to Ra, it's not exactly the same thing, but https://unsongbook.com/ https://unsongbook.com/ is fantastic and has a similar flavor I think. The religious references on the actual website (and lack of much real explanation) made it very difficult for me to give it a chance, but I looked it up a bit and it seems like there is more to it than that, so maybe I'll give it a try. edit: reading the first chapter definitely changed my first impression. It definitely has many similarities to qntm's writing. I will certainly be reading more...
  - cwillu 2y ago
    “Why would God do that?” “STOP TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE WILL OF GOD,” said Uriel. “IT NEVER HELPS.” --the archangel Uriel

alexpotato 2y ago

I haven't read Ra but if people like a mix of magic, fantasy, scifi, govt techno thriller, history and even romance, I highly recommend the Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. I think it's best read with no summary or introduction but if you are a Neal Stephenson fan, I think you would like it.

Filligree 2y ago
There’s no resemblance at all.
pugio 2y ago
I've read most of Stephenson's books, and loved many of them, but the only one I absolutely tell people to never read is the Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. (despite the signed copy on my shelf). I haven't read it since publication, so the details are a bit hazy now, but I remember it feeling like a waste. The conceit is: What if there were a government organization that dealt with <cool scifi thing>, and we emulated that with high fidelity – complete with lots of reporting and bureaucracy . To me, it made <cool scifi thing> about as fun to read about as... tedious government bureaucracy. It's nice to hear that other people really liked it. Definitely highlights the breadth of approaches and styles that Stephenson has.
- sbierwagen 2y ago
  >To me, it made <cool scifi thing> about as fun to read about as... tedious government bureaucracy. This is also the problem with Charles Stross' Nightmare Stacks. The concept was kinda funny in 2004, but by book number 10 it just gets tedious. The reader cries out, What is the point of all this, and Stross answers with a shrug.
  - hnmullany 2y ago
    I always think of this part from Wonderboys: https://youtu.be/BrVl1hWrWBs?si=UPgOdjd6ujlJ1UKP&t=95 https://youtu.be/BrVl1hWrWBs?si=UPgOdjd6ujlJ1UKP&t=95
- disillusioned 2y ago