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I was interested in the series until I heard the worldbuilding bit about how the aliens have FTL 12-dimensional supercomputers the size of an atom that can caus

I was interested in the series until I heard the worldbuilding bit about how the aliens have FTL 12-dimensional supercomputers the size of an atom that can cause hallucinations and interfere with particle accelerators from orbit. Author basically just gave the antagonists god-powers to prove some kind of point about how hopelessly pathetic humans are?

edanm 2y ago
I don't think it's humans that are hopelessly pathetic, it's just species that are less advanced technologically, mostly because of developing later compared to another species.
Izikiel43 2y ago
> FTL They are not FTL, they are lightspeed. They managed the computers through quantum entanglement. It's not god powers, imagine 21st century humanity vs middle ages humanity. Like Arthur C. Clarke said, "advanced enough science is no different than magic" or something along those lines.
- dmonitor 2y ago
  My understanding was that they sent the computers faster than light while their ships were traveling at sub-lightspeed, or something like that, which is why they could get here and fuck up the planet centuries before their fleet would make it. My point, though, is that we're making up a fantasy world where the impossible is possible, and a bleak universe isn't more "realistic" than a hopeful one. It bothers me that people try to praise the "realism" in these books. They might as well have just sent Frieza to blow up the planet. It's within the same realm of possibility.
  - Izikiel43 2y ago
    No, they sent them at lightspeed, and arrived within 4 years (earth and their planet was 4 light years away) once they were completed.
dfex 2y ago
Interesting read - I thought that the reason the aliens sent the supercomputer probe things ahead of their invasion fleet was because they understood the humans capacity for advancement would far exceed their own capabilities if left unchecked for the duration of the invasion trip, indicating "pathetic" now, but capacity to be far superior. Devoured all three books - really interesting hard sci-fi, although as noted by others, the first one took a bit of effort to work through.
xolve 2y ago
I didn't mind some science fantasy like this. And I like how the author took this step to solve for lag in communication and it added to the speed and thrill of the story.

edanm 2y ago

I don't think it's humans that are hopelessly pathetic, it's just species that are less advanced technologically, mostly because of developing later compared to another species.

Izikiel43 2y ago

> FTL They are not FTL, they are lightspeed. They managed the computers through quantum entanglement. It's not god powers, imagine 21st century humanity vs middle ages humanity. Like Arthur C. Clarke said, "advanced enough science is no different than magic" or something along those lines.

dmonitor 2y ago
My understanding was that they sent the computers faster than light while their ships were traveling at sub-lightspeed, or something like that, which is why they could get here and fuck up the planet centuries before their fleet would make it. My point, though, is that we're making up a fantasy world where the impossible is possible, and a bleak universe isn't more "realistic" than a hopeful one. It bothers me that people try to praise the "realism" in these books. They might as well have just sent Frieza to blow up the planet. It's within the same realm of possibility.
- Izikiel43 2y ago
  No, they sent them at lightspeed, and arrived within 4 years (earth and their planet was 4 light years away) once they were completed.

dfex 2y ago

Interesting read - I thought that the reason the aliens sent the supercomputer probe things ahead of their invasion fleet was because they understood the humans capacity for advancement would far exceed their own capabilities if left unchecked for the duration of the invasion trip, indicating "pathetic" now, but capacity to be far superior. Devoured all three books - really interesting hard sci-fi, although as noted by others, the first one took a bit of effort to work through.

xolve 2y ago

I didn't mind some science fantasy like this. And I like how the author took this step to solve for lag in communication and it added to the speed and thrill of the story.