Thread

1. tuzemec · 1789991123 · focus · HN ↗

   Dunno why I remembered "The Quantum Thief" by Hannu Rajaniemi. Basically, you had fine-grained control over what others perceived of you. Your friends can see you completely, while strangers can only see a blur.

   It was an amazing book.

   1. jan_m_savage · 1789991897 · focus · HN ↗

      Thanks for the book recom.

      BTW, I will also recommend 'a hero of our time' by Lermontov. In it, you will get an updated view of what the meaning of 'friends' will be. :)

      EDIT: since this is getting upvotes, I will also mention that Lermontov is a descendant of the Learmonts, who were British folk.

      Also, the book is small but it's jampacked with a lot of wisdom--street and abstract both-- and presented using a language that shines with poetry, it shines even through translation (Penguin Classics trans. is best).

   2. TeMPOraL · 1789991981 · focus · HN ↗

      Makes me think of a Black Mirror episode where similar technology ends up with unlucky/unwanted people becoming inaudible blurs in perception of everyone.

      As digital dystopias go, this is one of the worst I've seen; the episode ending with this happening to the protagonist shook me to the core.

      1. treszkai · 1789993123 · focus · HN ↗

         uhm, spoiler alert?

         1. Permik · 1789993753 · focus · HN ↗

            Don't worry, doesn't actually spoil plot of the episode, it's all spelled out for you pretty clearly at the start.

            1. kdjdkcneixj · 1789994104 · focus · HN ↗

               And it’s not even a good episode so, you know… nothing lost here anyways.

               1. TeMPOraL · 1790004451 · focus · HN ↗

                  Judging by how many people in this thread seem eager to reinvent the hellhole presented in that episode, it's good enough to recommend as required watching.
         2. silisili · 1790015653 · focus · HN ↗

            The episode is 12 years old. At some point it must be acceptable to stop coddling anyone who hasn't seen something yet to allow discussion, no?

            1. linkregister · 1790017211 · focus · HN ↗

               I think OP was doing a "hu-mor" there
   3. cavoirom · 1789992132 · focus · HN ↗

      There was a Black Mirror episode called White Christmas with similar concept.
   4. ColinWright · 1789993102 · focus · HN ↗

      I know Hannu, and he tells an interesting story about getting his first book published. I should write it up sometime ... in my Copious Free Time ...

      This comment box is too small to contain the story.

      * The Quantum Thief

      * The Fractal Prince

      * The Causal Angel

      Actually, most of the story is on his WikiPedia page:

      <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Hannu_Rajaniemi" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Hannu_Rajaniemi

      1. shantnutiwari · 1789993979 · focus · HN ↗

         The 1st 2 were great but I didnt like the 3rd one. Its like the author was in a hurry to finish the book and just started killing characters to make his wordcount.

         The 1st 2 are independent, I recommened people stop after 2nd book

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