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ClydeFrog posted:
great writeup I am still amused that Aixue's name just sounds like Loves Learning. Maybe it actually is that. Very funny.
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Apr 8, 2024 16:40
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silvergoose posted:great writeup Or Loves Snow or Loves Blood  
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Apr 8, 2024 17:00
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branedotorg posted:i enjoyed Kate Elliott's Unconquered Sun too, space opera version of Alexander the great I was looking forward to these, and, must admit, didn't really get on with the first one. Thought it was a bit flat, didn't excite me. Which, considering the author and the pedigree is weird, but what can you do?
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Apr 8, 2024 22:36
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Finished Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds. Thoroughly enjoyed it. As a blue collar shift worker myself, I was very sympathetic to the “most bullshit possible shift imaginable” premise for the crew of the Rockhopper. (full book spoilers) I don’t think they ever fully explained the “Cutoff” as far as the Fountainhead aliens metering future (past) human tech to the stranded Rockhopper crew. It was established that it’s very improbable the Fountainheads would have encountered only one of the Thai ships, if they encountered any at all. It was also speculated that intelligence is very rare, and that two star-faring races would never exist in our galaxy simultaneously (hence the “Spican” Structure they occupy at end of book, as a means to facilitate contact at the end of time and space). I also remember a throwaway line from Ryan Axford pointing out that the Fountainheads’ description of their (past) galactic empire closely matched Chromis’ description of the Congress of the Lindblad Ring. Also, one of the competing ideas to commemorate 10,000 years of human hegemony was a “Fountain” project. I guess we are meant to assume the Fountainheads are highly evolved humans? Also, I would totally read a Cosmic Avenger sequel about Svetlana et al. larping Star Trek at the end of time.
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Apr 8, 2024 23:19
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Galactic North by Alistair Reynolds - $2.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0819VGW5P/ Wireless by Charles Stross - $4.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002AU7MEK/
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Apr 8, 2024 23:38
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Harold Fjord posted:I just finished the dark profit trilogy. Same actually. Well, I also read Legends and Lattes and then the Dark Profit trilogy as palate cleansers after Exordia. Fully agree with this synopsis.
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Apr 9, 2024 03:26
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Lead out in cuffs posted:Same actually.
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Apr 9, 2024 06:46
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Remulak posted:Oh that’s why I went full-bore Christopher Moore a couple of months ago. Forgot to mention that Noir and Razzmatazz are a lotta fun, and include some well-done SF history. Christoper Moore is an awesome author. Lamb is one of my all-time favorite books. 10/10 would do kung-fu with Jesus again
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Apr 9, 2024 07:42
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I'm now reading some Star Wars. Alphabet Squadron is a trilogy about a former Tie Fighter pilot turned New Republic analyst and I'm about to start the second book. It's got some rather interesting ideas hidden in there about how existing in a background of awfulness inevitably effects the best of intentions so, you join the Empire with the idea that this is the only way out but can you help take it down from within? and what happens when the overwhelming omnipresence of facism in fact changes you into the kind of person you wanted to fight against. Yrica Quell is the ex-empire pilot leading 4 others overseen by a very brittle intelligence analyst who may as well have a label that says "loose cannon obsessive" slapped across his forehead. I'm pleased to see there is no sense at all of "both sidesing" things or "the Empire had some good ideas" apart from its use for Empire POV. You are definitely meant to be repulsed. There is a real advantage to writing within such a well-established milieu which allows for allusions aplenty that the reader implicity understands. There are however lots of shades of grey within individual characters that allow for interesting dynamics. Yes you can be a rebel and a twat and you can also be an empire foot soldier wondering how the gently caress you got here and how do you get away from it, but I hope these ideas are developed rather than just floated briefly to make minor characters seem more relatable to the reader. Stories that do this well succeed in making the reader ponder how they would act in this situation and the struggle between what you know you should do and what you feel you can do can be really effective. This is something that Andor did at a far superior level but I could definitely see this trilogy working as a 10 episode series (ok, this is mainly because I do love an X-wing v Tie dogfight). After Exordia this is not a palate cleanser as such (because I do not wish to have anything cleansed thank you very much) but it is written well enough and doesn't demand very much from me to enjoy.
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Apr 9, 2024 08:35
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ClydeFrog posted:I'm now reading some Star Wars. Alphabet Squadron is a trilogy about a former Tie Fighter pilot turned New Republic analyst and I'm about to start the second book. I like how they add in a (book 2/3 spoilers) "noble Imperial pilot with honor flying to defend his peers" and he's still a collosal rear end in a top hat instead of being a secret good guy. E: added spoilers, missed where you were in the series.
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Apr 9, 2024 13:00
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Lead out in cuffs posted:palate cleansers after Exordia General Battuta should put some recommendations for nice light follow-ups, in the afterword or something.
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Apr 9, 2024 19:51
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A review of what's probably the first actual fantasy novel in its modern form - from the 1830s. https://paperback-picnic.ghost.io/phantasmion-the-first-fantasy-novel/?ref=paperback-picnic-newsletter Phatasmion sounds like a decent novel with the first actual worldbuilding for an imaginary land. e. Subjunctive posted:General Battuta should put some recommendations for nice light follow-ups, in the afterword or something. "Almost anything"
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Apr 9, 2024 19:57
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When coming down off this book here's a list of lighter titles to act as a balm for your mind: The Wasp Factory, The God of Small Things, etc.
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Apr 9, 2024 20:02
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Max Gladstone's latest in the Craft Sequence, Wicked Problems, came out today. I've got a pile of other books I want to get through but I'll be adding this high up in the pile.
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Apr 9, 2024 20:21
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Omg there’s another Garth Marenghi book and it’s on sale today. https://www.amazon.com/Garth-Marenghis-Incarcerat-TERRORTOME-BESTSELLER-ebook/dp/B0CSYZ8TVS Dare I buy it? 
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Apr 9, 2024 22:07
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Red Moon by Kim Stanley Robinson - $2.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079L5PTZS/ Evil for Evil (Engineer #2) by KJ Parker - $2.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002B9MHPO/ Martian Time-Slip by Philip K Dick - $1.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006R8PD4C/
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Apr 9, 2024 22:50
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voiceless anal fricative posted:Max Gladstone's latest in the Craft Sequence, Wicked Problems, came out today. I've got a pile of other books I want to get through but I'll be adding this high up in the pile. Book is well named, having a new book you really want to read on top of a pile of new books is indeed a set of wicked problems
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Apr 9, 2024 22:51
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I'm the lucky ducky who got sick today and took the afternoon off and gets to read more of Wicked Problems than expected. For real, actually sick, so not entirely lucky.
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Apr 9, 2024 23:16
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Stuporstar posted:Omg there’s another Garth Marenghi book and it’s on sale today. https://www.amazon.com/Garth-Marenghis-Incarcerat-TERRORTOME-BESTSELLER-ebook/dp/B0CSYZ8TVS Book 1, TerrorTome is on sale https://www.amazon.com/Garth-Mareng...ps%2C104&sr=8-1 I'm phone posting so sorry about the url junk. E jfc that's what you were saying my brain is just a puddle today sorry
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Apr 10, 2024 00:20
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StumblyWumbly posted:Book 1, TerrorTome is on sale https://www.amazon.com/Garth-Mareng...ps%2C104&sr=8-1 If you want smaller URLs you can just click this: 
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Apr 10, 2024 00:31
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StumblyWumbly posted:Book 1, TerrorTome is on sale https://www.amazon.com/Garth-Marenghis-TerrorTome-Dreamweaver-bestseller-ebook/dp/B0BCVJPPXC The one I linked is book 2, which I didn’t even know was a thing until today. I already got book 1 (it’s cool they’re both on sale today though). It was terrible in all the best ways, like a cross between Cronenburg and John Waters as written by Dean Koontz, but I’m wondering if it’s gonna feel a little played out in the 2nd or somehow top the first one I suppose $1.99 is worth the risk lol Stuporstar fucked around with this message at 00:38 on Apr 10, 2024 |
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Apr 10, 2024 00:36
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Sometimes they really do take the piss with pricing, here's this in precisely reverse order 
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Apr 10, 2024 03:08
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What are people's experiences with Django Wexler? His next work captured my attention because it's going to feature fighter planes and airships. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D157Z6KS
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Apr 10, 2024 04:46
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FPyat posted:What are people's experiences with Django Wexler? His next work captured my attention because it's going to feature fighter planes and airships. Loves lesbian characters I didn't mind the thousand names (shadow something) series, sort of Napoleonic/french revolution campaigns with magic. It was a bit variable but a decent read overall. Nothing else I've read I particularly liked, hard reboot was a ya thing about mech Gladiator pilots - the synopsis sounds better than it was imo. Wells of sorcery had an interesting premise but I only read the first one and was whelmed. Stratified society, girl has outlawed magic, caught and made to try and steal a legendary magic ship, sort of a flying Dutchman meets an oil tanker full of mutants.
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Apr 10, 2024 09:32
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My bestie went to a live reading of Terrortome and he stayed in character for an entire Q&A session afterwards.
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Apr 10, 2024 19:06
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A Proper Uppercut posted:Good to hear, I need a new audiobook shortly. Only sad thing about the book is that it is obvious what the kaijus are. Bennett is not that innovative based on his other series.
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Apr 10, 2024 19:17
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HopperUK posted:My bestie went to a live reading of Terrortome and he stayed in character for an entire Q&A session afterwards. I’m considering getting the audiobooks as well, even though I normally can’t pay attention to audiobooks, as well as Philomena Cunk book, cause it’s gotta be even better than just reading them
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Apr 10, 2024 19:52
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Groke posted:Greg Egan[...], I love that. HopperUK posted:My bestie went to a live reading of Terrortome and he stayed in character for an entire Q&A session afterwards.
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Apr 11, 2024 08:01
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HopperUK posted:My bestie went to a live reading of Terrortome and he stayed in character for an entire Q&A session afterwards. https://play.acast.com/s/offmenu/ep-212-garth-marenghi (spotify, apple podcats etc too) Mathew Holness has been utterly consumed by his creation, just like how Steve Coogan overcame Alan Partridge
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Apr 12, 2024 00:39
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mllaneza posted:Phatasmion sounds like a decent novel with the first actual worldbuilding for an imaginary land. I finished Hell Bent, the second in Leigh Bardugo's Ninth House ("dark academia") books. It's gripping, the characters actually develop and change -- not always for the good -- the stakes are much higher, and the heroine, bless her, is just as flawed as ever. And she knows it. Two things that irritate me about the series: 1. The architecture of Yale and the neighborhoods of New Haven and suburbs are meticulously described. The heroine's courses are ... over there somewhere. We constantly see her skipping important essays or studying because she has to fight horror, but there are never any consequences on the academic side. We are also asked to believe that an avid reader who is a high-school dropout can keep Bs and Cs as an English major at Yale. The problem is that she's never been taught to write a literature analysis paper; reading isn't good enough. It's a fantasy novel, shut up Arsenic. 2. The heroine is considerably more powerful by the end of Book 2, and I worry that this will continue through Book 3. It is hard for a writer to ramp up the challenges as convincingly as they ramp up the superpowers.
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Apr 12, 2024 01:12
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General Batuta has someone told you about the relation between the zeros of the zeta function and eigenvalues of random unitary matrices? https://kasmana.people.cofc.edu/MATHFICT/mfview.php?callnumber=mf1643
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Apr 12, 2024 02:19
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Probably but not in a way I understand
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Apr 12, 2024 02:30
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I love this thread.
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Apr 12, 2024 02:44
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fez_machine posted:General Batuta has someone told you about the relation between the zeros of the zeta function and eigenvalues of random unitary matrices? It sounds cool, is there an explanation for somebody whose level of understanding is "I took calculus a while ago, can still remember how to use the power rule, and I know very generally what a vector and matrix are." I happen to know a little more than that about stats, but not in a formal mathematical sense.
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Apr 12, 2024 03:50
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Danhenge posted:It sounds cool, is there an explanation for somebody whose level of understanding is "I took calculus a while ago, can still remember how to use the power rule, and I know very generally what a vector and matrix are." I happen to know a little more than that about stats, but not in a formal mathematical sense. It's quora, but I vaguely recall this being roughly the thing. https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-c...%20zeros%20have There's a note at the bottom about its uses in matrix theory.
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Apr 12, 2024 04:01
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Danhenge posted:It sounds cool, is there an explanation for somebody whose level of understanding is "I took calculus a while ago, can still remember how to use the power rule, and I know very generally what a vector and matrix are." I happen to know a little more than that about stats, but not in a formal mathematical sense. Take a bunch of zeros of the zeta function, and then compute all of the distances between all of these pairs of zeros (so if you have N zeros, you get roughly N^2 distances), and then plot those distances on a histogram. Do the same thing with the eigenvalues of a large random matrix. The histograms will look very similar (modulo some scaling factors). This was first noticed by Montgomery and Dyson in a chance meeting at Princeton, a story which you can read about on page 5 of this note (in italics): https://cims.nyu.edu/~bourgade/papers/TeaTime.pdf The connection between the two areas is not well understood. Mostly, anything you can prove is due to the fact that you can compute things for the zeta function, and compute similar quantities for random matrices, and then they happen to be the same. The general hope is that the zeta function is hard, and random matrices are "easy" and so you should be able to use the latter to understand the former. Source: I'm a random matrix theorist.
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Apr 12, 2024 04:23
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You are a much better source lol Sweet stuff
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Apr 12, 2024 04:35
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I'm good at a variety of engineering math ranging from Fourier to Bayes to complexity, and eigenvalues have always made me irrationally angry, partly because of stuff like that. I can't tell if it means something, or if it is the mathematical equivalent of 2 people wearing the same outfit to a party.
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Apr 12, 2024 04:35
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"eigenvalues make me irrationally angry" sounds like a line that could have been lifted directly from Exordia
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Apr 12, 2024 04:37
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prokaryote posted:Take a bunch of zeros of the zeta function, and then compute all of the distances between all of these pairs of zeros (so if you have N zeros, you get roughly N^2 distances), and then plot those distances on a histogram. Do the same thing with the eigenvalues of a large random matrix. The histograms will look very similar (modulo some scaling factors). This was first noticed by Montgomery and Dyson in a chance meeting at Princeton, a story which you can read about on page 5 of this note (in italics): https://cims.nyu.edu/~bourgade/papers/TeaTime.pdf I can generally see why that would be interesting to mathematicians without really understanding it. Final question - in what sense are the matrices "random"? Their dimensions, the values they contain, something more arcane?
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Apr 12, 2024 05:07
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