5 ms·

If you're new to HPMOR, don't read this. Instead, go to http://hpmor.com/chapter/1 http://hpmor.com/chapter/1 and scroll down to "Every inch of wall space is co

by kvee 12y ago

If you're new to HPMOR, don't read this. Instead, go to http://hpmor.com/chapter/1 http://hpmor.com/chapter/1 and scroll down to "Every inch of wall space is covered by a bookcase."

wingerlang 12y ago
I've always meant to read this one, although I usually don't even like the idea of fanfics. Reading just a bit, the constant "science!" is really off putting and I'm only half the chapter in. Just reading this [0] makes me want to close the tab. Is it this obvious and in the face throughout the whole 'book'? [0] > "Mum," Harry said. "If you want to win this argument with Dad, look in chapter two of the first book of the Feynman Lectures on Physics. There's a quote there about how philosophers say a great deal about what science absolutely requires, and it is all wrong, because the only rule in science is that the final arbiter is observation - that you just have to look at the world and report what you see. Um... off the top of my head I can't think of where to find something about how it's an ideal of science to settle things by experiment instead of arguments -"
- pooriaazimi 12y ago
  No. The first few chapters might sound a bit off-putting (though, personally, I like it), but it gets much, much better after chapter 4 or 5. And after chapter 10, it is just a joy to read. If you're into audiobooks, don't miss the podcast: http://www.hpmorpodcast.com http://www.hpmorpodcast.com -- It is excellently read by multiple voices.
  - wingerlang 12y ago
    Okay, thanks. Then I'll keep reading.
- wtallis 12y ago
  The tone changes greatly over the course of the story. The first several chapters are a lot more didactic and stilted before the humor gets going and the plot becomes gradually more character-driven and the story gets caught up in the actual events. The humor subsides further into the story as things get darker. The didactic bits don't go away entirely, but most of what remains of it through the second half of the story is inner monologue as part of the main character's problem solving process.
- eli_gottlieb 12y ago
  But that's the funny part! The later attempts at scheming-bastardry-oriented fantasy are the bad bits.
- qznc 12y ago
  One of the reasons to contact Rowling or get this officially published is that it needs some serious editing. Especially the first chapters.
  - TheOtherHobbes 12y ago
    Someone with the author's deep insight into almost everything should have been able to work out that you don't need to contact JKR to hire an editor. You can find editors for hire online. Some of them are very good. Of course, they won't be JKR or JKR's editors. They'll be ordinary professionals with a professional opinion. I suspect that may be enough to put the author off. I also suspect that JKR has glanced at this already. But since she's known for taking political positions rather different to the author's, I doubt first contact would be a happy experience.
    - gwern 12y ago
      > Someone with the author's deep insight into almost everything should have been able to work out that you don't need to contact JKR to hire an editor. You need to contact JKR to know what to tell the editor (is she offended by the many criticisms of canon? the occasional political comments eg on immigration? the notorious Draco rape bit? and so on); bonus points if the editor is trusted and can help make the deal work.
      - TheOtherHobbes 12y ago
        There's a deal? Does JKR know there's supposed to be a deal? You're not editing at this point, you're asking for official approval, which is a whole other thing. You're not going to get that from JKR, or from any other high-profile author who has a professional interest in keeping their own work separate from the vast flood of fanfic that surrounds it. But also - it's simply stupid (and irrational) to think that JKR is going to approve of political comments about immigration, or a rape scene. She's made her political position very obvious in interviews. Why would she change it for some fanfic? It's like trying to tell Steve Jobs that he should have made Macs run Windows, because OS X was a dumb mistake.
- ordinary 12y ago
  Chapter 11 was the turning point for me (for the better; much, much better), and I understand it's like that for many people.
- zx321 12y ago
  IF you found that annoying you may prefer Daystar's remix of the first few chapters : https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9676374/1/Daystar-s-Remix-of-Rationality https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9676374/1/Daystar-s-Remix-of-Ra....
dankohn1 12y ago
HPMOR is a wonderfully entertaining book, one of my favorites along with George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire and (non-fiction) Robert Caro's The Power Broker. The first ~7 chapters are clunky and then it really gets going. Harry vs. dementors is particularly amazing. Even his detractors [0] call HPMOR a "cracking good read". [0] http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Eliezer_Yudkowsky http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Eliezer_Yudkowsky

by kvee 12y ago

If you're new to HPMOR, don't read this. Instead, go to http://hpmor.com/chapter/1 http://hpmor.com/chapter/1 and scroll down to "Every inch of wall space is covered by a bookcase."

wingerlang 12y ago

I've always meant to read this one, although I usually don't even like the idea of fanfics. Reading just a bit, the constant "science!" is really off putting and I'm only half the chapter in. Just reading this [0] makes me want to close the tab. Is it this obvious and in the face throughout the whole 'book'? [0] > "Mum," Harry said. "If you want to win this argument with Dad, look in chapter two of the first book of the Feynman Lectures on Physics. There's a quote there about how philosophers say a great deal about what science absolutely requires, and it is all wrong, because the only rule in science is that the final arbiter is observation - that you just have to look at the world and report what you see. Um... off the top of my head I can't think of where to find something about how it's an ideal of science to settle things by experiment instead of arguments -"

pooriaazimi 12y ago
No. The first few chapters might sound a bit off-putting (though, personally, I like it), but it gets much, much better after chapter 4 or 5. And after chapter 10, it is just a joy to read. If you're into audiobooks, don't miss the podcast: http://www.hpmorpodcast.com http://www.hpmorpodcast.com -- It is excellently read by multiple voices.
- wingerlang 12y ago
  Okay, thanks. Then I'll keep reading.
wtallis 12y ago
The tone changes greatly over the course of the story. The first several chapters are a lot more didactic and stilted before the humor gets going and the plot becomes gradually more character-driven and the story gets caught up in the actual events. The humor subsides further into the story as things get darker. The didactic bits don't go away entirely, but most of what remains of it through the second half of the story is inner monologue as part of the main character's problem solving process.
eli_gottlieb 12y ago
But that's the funny part! The later attempts at scheming-bastardry-oriented fantasy are the bad bits.
qznc 12y ago
One of the reasons to contact Rowling or get this officially published is that it needs some serious editing. Especially the first chapters.
- TheOtherHobbes 12y ago
  Someone with the author's deep insight into almost everything should have been able to work out that you don't need to contact JKR to hire an editor. You can find editors for hire online. Some of them are very good. Of course, they won't be JKR or JKR's editors. They'll be ordinary professionals with a professional opinion. I suspect that may be enough to put the author off. I also suspect that JKR has glanced at this already. But since she's known for taking political positions rather different to the author's, I doubt first contact would be a happy experience.
  - gwern 12y ago
    > Someone with the author's deep insight into almost everything should have been able to work out that you don't need to contact JKR to hire an editor. You need to contact JKR to know what to tell the editor (is she offended by the many criticisms of canon? the occasional political comments eg on immigration? the notorious Draco rape bit? and so on); bonus points if the editor is trusted and can help make the deal work.
    - TheOtherHobbes 12y ago
      There's a deal? Does JKR know there's supposed to be a deal? You're not editing at this point, you're asking for official approval, which is a whole other thing. You're not going to get that from JKR, or from any other high-profile author who has a professional interest in keeping their own work separate from the vast flood of fanfic that surrounds it. But also - it's simply stupid (and irrational) to think that JKR is going to approve of political comments about immigration, or a rape scene. She's made her political position very obvious in interviews. Why would she change it for some fanfic? It's like trying to tell Steve Jobs that he should have made Macs run Windows, because OS X was a dumb mistake.
ordinary 12y ago
Chapter 11 was the turning point for me (for the better; much, much better), and I understand it's like that for many people.
zx321 12y ago
IF you found that annoying you may prefer Daystar's remix of the first few chapters : https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9676374/1/Daystar-s-Remix-of-Rationality https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9676374/1/Daystar-s-Remix-of-Ra....

dankohn1 12y ago

HPMOR is a wonderfully entertaining book, one of my favorites along with George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire and (non-fiction) Robert Caro's The Power Broker. The first ~7 chapters are clunky and then it really gets going. Harry vs. dementors is particularly amazing. Even his detractors [0] call HPMOR a "cracking good read". [0] http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Eliezer_Yudkowsky http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Eliezer_Yudkowsky