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I just finished reading "A Deepness in the Sky" a 2000 SF book by Vernor Vinge. It's a great book with an unexpected reference to seconds since the epoch. >Tak
by ascorbic 2y ago
I just finished reading "A Deepness in the Sky" a 2000 SF book by Vernor Vinge. It's a great book with an unexpected reference to seconds since the epoch.
>Take the Traders' method of timekeeping. The frame corrections were incredibly complex - and down at the very bottom of it was a little program that ran a counter. Second by second, the Qeng Ho counted from the instant that a human had first set foot on Old Earth's moon. But if you looked at it still more closely ... the starting instant was actually about fifteen million seconds later, the 0-second of one of Humankind's first computer operating systems.
- jvanderbot 2y agoThat is one of my favorite books of all time. The use of subtle software references is really great. I recommend Bobiverse series for anyone who wants more "computer science in space" or permutation city for anyone who wants more "exploration of humans + simulations and computers"
- nnf 2y agoI’ll second the Bobiverse series, one of my favorites. Its descriptions of new technologies is at just the right level and depth, I think, and it’s subtly hilarious.
- noja 2y agoThe audio books are narrated brilliantly too. Stange fact: bobiverse has no dedicated Wikipedia page.
- MobileVet 2y agoRay Porter, the narrator, is quite the talent. He does a brilliant job with ‘Project: Hail Mary’ as well which is the second book from the author of ‘The Martian.’ It has quite a bit more science and humor than The Martian and is one of my favorites.
- MobileVet 2y agoJust starting the third book, really fun series. Highly recommend for anyone interested in computing and science fiction.
- ascorbic 2y agoThanks for the recommendation. Looks like they're on Kindle Unlimited so I'll definitely give them a try