And I should take this opportunity to remind people that if you haven’t read NS’s latest book, Polostan, released fall 2024, you should do so posthaste.
Does the novel feel like a complete story despite being part of a series? Years ago I started to read Stephenson’s Baroque Cycle but stopped a few chapters into the first book because I wasn’t in the mood for a multi-thousand page meander.
Regarding Polostan, I think it works well as a self-contained story; the ending is kind of abrupt but isn’t a cliffhanger; there’s a natural break in the story that, for me, works well as an ending but still leaves me wanting more. The book is somewhat shorter than the typical Stephensonian thousand-page doorstop, which leaves me to hope the next one will hit the shelves within the next year.
Regarding the Baroque Cycle…I found the first volume a bit of a tough slog, the second much less of a slog but still slow in places, and the third excellent. At some point I’m going to reread the series and see if I have a better experience with the first book in particular.
In general, I think NS is one of the very best fiction writers working since the late ‘90s, but I definitely don’t like all of his stuff – I like Snow Crash and The Diamond Age but don’t quite love them; Cryptonomicon is a masterpiece IMO, as is Reamde; with Seveneves, I’m one of those who think the first two-thirds of the book is a slog but the “5000 years later” part is fascinating; I don’t like Fall at all; Termination Shock is very interesting but has its weak moments. But I think his 2008 novel Anathem is one of the best works of fiction I’ve ever read.
The Diamond Age and Cryptonomicon are the only two of Stephenson’s novels I have read. I liked them very much, so I then read almost all of his short fiction and non-fiction. His skill at shorter lengths is a reason I found those novels satisfying to read one chapter at a time. Cryptonomicon’s digressions into seemingly random subjects were part of the charm. As Paracelsus taught, the dose makes the poison.
My series(es) are mostly free-standing novels set against a common background. The exception is Venusworld, a two-million-word novel that no one wants to read.
With my adaptive radio helmet, maybe you can send it via shortwave as the Formian Doggo reads it to me…
My review of The Diamond Age based on reading the Wikipedia article:
The Diamond Age describes a near future where Drexler Assemblers allow an unimaginable plentitude of cool stuff. But people are still people and hijinks ensue.*
* I am stealing “hijinks ensue” from Jay Leno’s debut appearance before a national TV audience on the Johnny Carson Tonight show, where Leno read capsule summaries of the plots of TV “sitcoms” from TV Guide to make a point about how lame our culture is.
Queue Rod Serling: For your consideration…
Since the article mentions Black Mirror, which I’ve read from its creators was Twilight Zone inspired: Diabolus-Ex-Machina
Happy 4th of July everyone!
How many school papers have ever been more than paraphrases of encyclopedias, etc? How many 5th graders have either the resources or ability to do more? At least the process of paraphrase meant that they had to read and think through the material. Probably as much as you could ask for.
With the internet, you could copy and paste but teachers tended to catch that easily and confirmation was as easy as copying and pasting the suspect text into a search window.
The LLM’s are certainly glib, even articulate. I’m reminded of the episode of Tom Sawyer and the Bible verse prize. Maybe businesses will have to start insisting on hand written resumes delivered by snail mail. They’ll have to start evaluating job candidates on what really matters rather than who can put the most buzz words in the first paragraph.
I return test comments and scores securely, privately and electronically with Canvas software the U has standardized on for online instructional content.
Responding to MCS, I was attempting to replicate the annoying, patronizing glibness of when I got into an argument with the Microsoft AI as to why an intake manifold air leak would make any difference in the functioning of an automobile, like my 1997 Camry, that doesn’t have a mass airflow sensor (MAF) but instead control the fuel delivery using engine speed and manifold absolute pressure (MAP).
FWIW Two years ago they replaced the resonator on my 2010 Subaru Imprezza. Two months ago I replaced the muffler and its associated pipes. Two weeks ago it got a new cat converter. That’s keeping the Check Engine Light off. Taking bets on whether it’ll need a new exhaust header in September.
That’s a lot of repairs for a car brand with a reputation for reliability.
I am not impressed by your Imprezza/
Its best redeeming quality is that everything still has buttons and not touch screens that don’t work.
In that article he says:
And many who do use the Internet to “do research” and “educate” themselves are “learning” how Ivermectin cures COVID,
I have personal experience with how effective Ivermectin was, even with 80+ year old seniors.
And the former is a Neal…
And the former is a Neal…
Ha! Nialled it!
And I should take this opportunity to remind people that if you haven’t read NS’s latest book, Polostan, released fall 2024, you should do so posthaste.
Does the novel feel like a complete story despite being part of a series? Years ago I started to read Stephenson’s Baroque Cycle but stopped a few chapters into the first book because I wasn’t in the mood for a multi-thousand page meander.
Regarding Polostan, I think it works well as a self-contained story; the ending is kind of abrupt but isn’t a cliffhanger; there’s a natural break in the story that, for me, works well as an ending but still leaves me wanting more. The book is somewhat shorter than the typical Stephensonian thousand-page doorstop, which leaves me to hope the next one will hit the shelves within the next year.
Regarding the Baroque Cycle…I found the first volume a bit of a tough slog, the second much less of a slog but still slow in places, and the third excellent. At some point I’m going to reread the series and see if I have a better experience with the first book in particular.
In general, I think NS is one of the very best fiction writers working since the late ‘90s, but I definitely don’t like all of his stuff – I like Snow Crash and The Diamond Age but don’t quite love them; Cryptonomicon is a masterpiece IMO, as is Reamde; with Seveneves, I’m one of those who think the first two-thirds of the book is a slog but the “5000 years later” part is fascinating; I don’t like Fall at all; Termination Shock is very interesting but has its weak moments. But I think his 2008 novel Anathem is one of the best works of fiction I’ve ever read.
The Diamond Age and Cryptonomicon are the only two of Stephenson’s novels I have read. I liked them very much, so I then read almost all of his short fiction and non-fiction. His skill at shorter lengths is a reason I found those novels satisfying to read one chapter at a time. Cryptonomicon’s digressions into seemingly random subjects were part of the charm. As Paracelsus taught, the dose makes the poison.
My series(es) are mostly free-standing novels set against a common background. The exception is Venusworld, a two-million-word novel that no one wants to read.
With my adaptive radio helmet, maybe you can send it via shortwave as the Formian Doggo reads it to me…
My review of The Diamond Age based on reading the Wikipedia article:
The Diamond Age describes a near future where Drexler Assemblers allow an unimaginable plentitude of cool stuff. But people are still people and hijinks ensue.*
* I am stealing “hijinks ensue” from Jay Leno’s debut appearance before a national TV audience on the Johnny Carson Tonight show, where Leno read capsule summaries of the plots of TV “sitcoms” from TV Guide to make a point about how lame our culture is.
Queue Rod Serling: For your consideration…
Since the article mentions Black Mirror, which I’ve read from its creators was Twilight Zone inspired: Diabolus-Ex-Machina
Happy 4th of July everyone!
How many school papers have ever been more than paraphrases of encyclopedias, etc? How many 5th graders have either the resources or ability to do more? At least the process of paraphrase meant that they had to read and think through the material. Probably as much as you could ask for.
With the internet, you could copy and paste but teachers tended to catch that easily and confirmation was as easy as copying and pasting the suspect text into a search window.
The LLM’s are certainly glib, even articulate. I’m reminded of the episode of Tom Sawyer and the Bible verse prize. Maybe businesses will have to start insisting on hand written resumes delivered by snail mail. They’ll have to start evaluating job candidates on what really matters rather than who can put the most buzz words in the first paragraph.
Cogent observation!
Would you like some links to examine this effect more closely . . .
Paul was this you getting creative at the end of the spring semester?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJUP3BmsJsK/?igsh=cGRwdjJqemM2NTJn
I have the hair but not the beard.
I return test comments and scores securely, privately and electronically with Canvas software the U has standardized on for online instructional content.
Responding to MCS, I was attempting to replicate the annoying, patronizing glibness of when I got into an argument with the Microsoft AI as to why an intake manifold air leak would make any difference in the functioning of an automobile, like my 1997 Camry, that doesn’t have a mass airflow sensor (MAF) but instead control the fuel delivery using engine speed and manifold absolute pressure (MAP).
FWIW Two years ago they replaced the resonator on my 2010 Subaru Imprezza. Two months ago I replaced the muffler and its associated pipes. Two weeks ago it got a new cat converter. That’s keeping the Check Engine Light off. Taking bets on whether it’ll need a new exhaust header in September.
That’s a lot of repairs for a car brand with a reputation for reliability.
I am not impressed by your Imprezza/
Its best redeeming quality is that everything still has buttons and not touch screens that don’t work.
In that article he says:
And many who do use the Internet to “do research” and “educate” themselves are “learning” how Ivermectin cures COVID,
I have personal experience with how effective Ivermectin was, even with 80+ year old seniors.
It discredits him.
In that article he says:
And many who do use the Internet to “do research” and “educate” themselves are “learning” how Ivermectin cures COVID,
I have personal experience with how effective Ivermectin was, even with 80+ year old seniors. It discredits him.