• dnzm
    40•1 year ago

    Iain M. Banks: we’re living in an AI-regulated Utopia, but the AI that we totally trust might be doing some light imperialism on the side.

    Pratchett / Baxter: we’re headed for some bleak imperialist nonsense, and another one, and another one, and another one, and oops, a blank…

    Edit: added the Long Earth one.

    • McKee
      11•1 year ago

      Fuck I love the Culture series. Such a good read.

      • 6daemonbag
        6•1 year ago

        The Culture is so incredibly fascinating. Banks’ death was a loss to science fiction.

    • @eestileib@sh.itjust.works
      6•1 year ago

      The Culture stuff is great but nothing tops The Algebraist. A near-perfect standalone sf doorstop imo.

      Big ideas, some laughs, a mystery that you can solve if you’re paying attention, strong characters, interesting aliens…

      The last one that hit that sweet spot for me was Mother of Storms by John Barnes.

      • dnzm
        1•1 year ago

        Hadn’t read The Algebraist yet, so there’s a new one on my list. Thanks! I’ll make sure to check out Barnes, too.

    • @NuPNuA@lemm.ee
      3•1 year ago

      The Culture weren’t actually the future of humanity though right? Non-canon stuff has indicated we join eventually in the future but the society formed independent of us and even visit and examine us in one.

      • dnzm
        1•1 year ago

        Actually, you’re right.

        Oh well, a humanity, then, just not ours.