A fellow inmate. The Rake.
3 out of 5
Friday, March 18, 2011
Ali : Lost Continent - Greg Egan
A young man in trouble in Khurosan. Ends up in another world as refugee inmate 3739.
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Learning To Be Me - Greg Egan
Short Story
Number of words : 5900
Percent of complex words : 11.4
Average syllables per word : 1.6
Average words per sentence : 15.7
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 10.8
Flesch : 57.7
Flesch-Kincaid : 9.1
PEOPLE
Worrier
A man who stresses about the philosophy and reality of having his own brain and self replaced with the Jewel.
Eva
His first love and girlfriend at sixteen.
Plato and Descartes and Marx
Philosophers.
St. Augustine, Sartre, heard of Godel, Turing, Hamsun and Ki
More philosophers.
Daphne
His wife, a merchant banker.
Cathy
His lover.
TECHNOLOGY
Ndoli Device
The Jewel. A technology that replaces the human brain gradually enmeshing itself in childhood via nanotech surgical robots and teaching itself the brain functions of the person, so the brain can be replaced later in adulthood.
MEDIA
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
A movie.
PLOT
A man worries about his Ndoli Device process and if he will remain himself after the operation to insert it. His parents underdog the process and don't tell him and he doesn't notice. His wife and later lover do as well and seem no different. This causes even more stress when he is a rare case of the Teacher unit process failing. This causes him and the Jewel to get more out of synch - which means there will be a difference on switchover of that time period. Maybe this happens more than people know, and is covered up. His relationship with his former lover is discarded.
3.5 out of 5
Number of words : 5900
Percent of complex words : 11.4
Average syllables per word : 1.6
Average words per sentence : 15.7
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 10.8
Flesch : 57.7
Flesch-Kincaid : 9.1
PEOPLE
Worrier
A man who stresses about the philosophy and reality of having his own brain and self replaced with the Jewel.
Eva
His first love and girlfriend at sixteen.
Plato and Descartes and Marx
Philosophers.
St. Augustine, Sartre, heard of Godel, Turing, Hamsun and Ki
More philosophers.
Daphne
His wife, a merchant banker.
Cathy
His lover.
TECHNOLOGY
Ndoli Device
The Jewel. A technology that replaces the human brain gradually enmeshing itself in childhood via nanotech surgical robots and teaching itself the brain functions of the person, so the brain can be replaced later in adulthood.
MEDIA
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
A movie.
PLOT
A man worries about his Ndoli Device process and if he will remain himself after the operation to insert it. His parents underdog the process and don't tell him and he doesn't notice. His wife and later lover do as well and seem no different. This causes even more stress when he is a rare case of the Teacher unit process failing. This causes him and the Jewel to get more out of synch - which means there will be a difference on switchover of that time period. Maybe this happens more than people know, and is covered up. His relationship with his former lover is discarded.
3.5 out of 5
Ndoli Device : Learning To Be Me - Greg Egan
The Jewel. A technology that replaces the human brain gradually enmeshing itself in childhood via nanotech surgical robots and teaching itself the brain functions of the person, so the brain can be replaced later in adulthood.
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
St. Augustine, Sartre, heard of Godel, Turing, Hamsun and Ki : Learning To Be Me - Greg Egan
More philosophers.
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
Worrier : Learning To Be Me - Greg Egan
A man who stresses about the philosophy and reality of having his own brain and self replaced with the Jewel.
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
A Kidnapping - Greg Egan
Short Story
Number of words : 5800
Percent of complex words : 11.8
Average syllables per word : 1.5
Average words per sentence : 18.0
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 11.9
Flesch : 58.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 9.6
PEOPLE
David
A man whose wife refuses to be scanned so she can be uploaded on dying. Sells digital artworks.
Loraine
His wife. An artist who likes physical media.
Detective Nicholson
Works in the Communications Crime Division that David contacts.
MEDIA
Spectral Density
An animated abstract Kreyszig piece in the office.
TECHNOLOGY
Scanning
High-resolution imaging techniques used to generate a detailed map of a body down to the cellular level, including neurons in the brain. This can can them be uploaded on the physical body's death.
Coney Island
An environment for the scanned and resurrected. David's mother lives there.
Visual cortex taps
A body augmentation used for image copying and reproduction.
CONCEPTS
Orbitals
Nations in space.
PLOT
David gets a phone call that his wife has been taken, and will be tortured if he doesn't pay up. However, he calls his wife who is at home and fine. They only have a computer simulation.
This works eventually on David after multiple attempts because his real wife refuses to have a scan done so she can live on after death, unlike his mother. So the only way David will be able to be with her after they die is via this illegal method. They agree to let him be with the simulation after he dies as long as he continues to cough up the big bucks over time.
4.5 out of 5
Number of words : 5800
Percent of complex words : 11.8
Average syllables per word : 1.5
Average words per sentence : 18.0
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 11.9
Flesch : 58.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 9.6
PEOPLE
David
A man whose wife refuses to be scanned so she can be uploaded on dying. Sells digital artworks.
Loraine
His wife. An artist who likes physical media.
Detective Nicholson
Works in the Communications Crime Division that David contacts.
MEDIA
Spectral Density
An animated abstract Kreyszig piece in the office.
TECHNOLOGY
Scanning
High-resolution imaging techniques used to generate a detailed map of a body down to the cellular level, including neurons in the brain. This can can them be uploaded on the physical body's death.
Coney Island
An environment for the scanned and resurrected. David's mother lives there.
Visual cortex taps
A body augmentation used for image copying and reproduction.
CONCEPTS
Orbitals
Nations in space.
PLOT
David gets a phone call that his wife has been taken, and will be tortured if he doesn't pay up. However, he calls his wife who is at home and fine. They only have a computer simulation.
This works eventually on David after multiple attempts because his real wife refuses to have a scan done so she can live on after death, unlike his mother. So the only way David will be able to be with her after they die is via this illegal method. They agree to let him be with the simulation after he dies as long as he continues to cough up the big bucks over time.
4.5 out of 5
Visual cortex taps : A Kidnapping - Greg Egan
A body augmentation used for image copying and reproduction.
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
Coney Island : A Kidnapping - Greg Egan
An environment for the scanned and resurrected. David's mother lives there.
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Scanning : A Kidnapping - Greg Egan
High-resolution imaging techniques used to generate a detailed map of a body down to the cellular level, including neurons in the brain. This can can them be uploaded on the physical body's death.
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Spectral Density : A Kidnapping - Greg Egan
An animated abstract Kreyszig piece in the office.
3.5 out of 5
3.5 out of 5
Detective Nicholson : A Kidnapping - Greg Egan
Works in the Communications Crime Division that David contacts.
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
David : A Kidnapping - Greg Egan
A man whose wife refuses to be scanned so she can be uploaded on dying. Sells digital artworks.
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Into Darkness - Greg Egan
Novelette
Number of words : 7300
Percent of complex words : 9.6
Average syllables per word : 1.5
Average words per sentence : 16.8
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 10.5
Flesch : 62.4
Flesch-Kincaid : 8.7
PEOPLE
John Nately
High-school science teacher and on his eleventh call as a volunteer Intake Runner.
Angelo
John's driver this time.
Elaine
A fellow Runner and long-time acquaintance.
Dolores
A programmer who produces Intake software for Runners.
TECHNOLOGY
The Intake
A giant black dome, completely non-reflective, blotting out a great bite of the sky. Possibly a wormhole. Appears at random around the world for a few minutes. Inside, any movement which equates to travelling from the future into the past is forbidden. It destroys whatever was in its touchdown path when it leaves.
The Core
The inner part of The Intake. If you can reach here, you will generally be safe.
South Operations Centre
A couple of vans of tracking electronics on someone's lawn to monitor The Intake.
WEAPONS
Demolition Gun
Used by Runners in The Intake.
PLOT
The Intake is a suspected wormhole/hyperspace travelling artifact that haunts the author, appearing at random places and devastating the small area it affects and trapping people inside, many of whom die, some of them because they don't understand it.
It changes the underlying physics of the area which also means the processes of the human body. John is a fit Runner, able to venture inside The Intake and attempt to assist and rescue people, which he volunteers to do along with others.
On his eleventh run he manages to help a child although it turns out she was dying anyway, and a man who has lost his legs.
He meets Elaine at The Core. Their wait for The Intake to depart is longer than usual. Very rarely, it can last for many hours, dooming all those inside. It ends with Elaine snoozing on John's shoulder, as they wait and see if this time it is all over for them, or if it will go away shortly.
4.5 out of 5
Number of words : 7300
Percent of complex words : 9.6
Average syllables per word : 1.5
Average words per sentence : 16.8
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 10.5
Flesch : 62.4
Flesch-Kincaid : 8.7
PEOPLE
John Nately
High-school science teacher and on his eleventh call as a volunteer Intake Runner.
Angelo
John's driver this time.
Elaine
A fellow Runner and long-time acquaintance.
Dolores
A programmer who produces Intake software for Runners.
TECHNOLOGY
The Intake
A giant black dome, completely non-reflective, blotting out a great bite of the sky. Possibly a wormhole. Appears at random around the world for a few minutes. Inside, any movement which equates to travelling from the future into the past is forbidden. It destroys whatever was in its touchdown path when it leaves.
The Core
The inner part of The Intake. If you can reach here, you will generally be safe.
South Operations Centre
A couple of vans of tracking electronics on someone's lawn to monitor The Intake.
WEAPONS
Demolition Gun
Used by Runners in The Intake.
PLOT
The Intake is a suspected wormhole/hyperspace travelling artifact that haunts the author, appearing at random places and devastating the small area it affects and trapping people inside, many of whom die, some of them because they don't understand it.
It changes the underlying physics of the area which also means the processes of the human body. John is a fit Runner, able to venture inside The Intake and attempt to assist and rescue people, which he volunteers to do along with others.
On his eleventh run he manages to help a child although it turns out she was dying anyway, and a man who has lost his legs.
He meets Elaine at The Core. Their wait for The Intake to depart is longer than usual. Very rarely, it can last for many hours, dooming all those inside. It ends with Elaine snoozing on John's shoulder, as they wait and see if this time it is all over for them, or if it will go away shortly.
4.5 out of 5
South Operations Centre : Into Darkness - Greg Egan
A couple of vans of tracking electronics on someone's lawn to monitor The Intake.
3.5 out of 5
3.5 out of 5
The Core : Into Darkness - Greg Egan
The inner part of The Intake. If you can reach here, you will generally be safe.
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
The Intake : Into Darkness - Greg Egan
A giant black dome, completely non-reflective, blotting out a great bite of the sky. Possibly a wormhole. Appears at random around the world for a few minutes. Inside, any movement which equates to travelling from the future into the past is forbidden.
It destroys whatever was in its touchdown path when it leaves.
4 out of 5
It destroys whatever was in its touchdown path when it leaves.
4 out of 5
Dolores : Into Darkness - Greg Egan
A programmer who produces Intake software for Runners.
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
John Nately : Into Darkness - Greg Egan
High-school science teacher and on his eleventh call as a volunteer Intake Runner.
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Thursday, March 17, 2011
The Infinite Assassin - Greg Egan
Short Story
Number of words : 5900
Percent of complex words : 10.8
Average syllables per word : 1.5
Average words per sentence : 16.7
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 11.0
Flesch : 60.9
Flesch-Kincaid : 8.9
PEOPLE
Assassin
Tasked with eliminating the producers of S drug-induced whirlpool effects throughout universes.
Blue-haired woman
Offers the assassin assistance in this particular task and universe, but has other motives.
TECHNOLOGY
S
A reality altering drug. "S grants dreamers the power to live vicariously in any parallel world in which they have an alter ego — someone with whom they share enough brain physiology to maintain the parasitic resonance of the link... For one in a hundred thousand, though, dreams are only the beginning. During their third or fourth year on S, they start to move physically from world to world, as they strive to take the place of their chosen alter egos."
Tritium/phosphor
Type of light globe.
ORGANISATIONS
The Company
The assassin's employer.
CONCEPTS
The Whirlpool
Reality shift focus of increasing power caused by mutant S users.
Cantor dust
A fractal set, uncountably infinite, but with measure zero. Assassin is mapped into this by the locals.
Superspace
Higher levels of reality.
PLACES
Leightown
Site of a job for the assassin, and of a whirlpool cult.
Fifth floor Apartment 522
The assassin's S using target lives here.
MEDIA
Fat Single Mothers Must Die
A band.
PLOT
The assassin's job is to put down users of the drug S who develop reality altering superpowers and cause devastating whirlpools that can grow to affect all their infinite lives. These might harm rich people's existence, so he gets called in when wealthy areas are threatened. He has to do this across all the realities they might exist in, in a probabilistic fashion. Chosen as an extremely stable individual, his latest target has help. A whirpool cult there employs their ability to co-ordinate across infinite lives to negate the assassin's skills. This shakes his sense of identity, which he has to rethink at the end.
4.5 out of 5
Number of words : 5900
Percent of complex words : 10.8
Average syllables per word : 1.5
Average words per sentence : 16.7
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 11.0
Flesch : 60.9
Flesch-Kincaid : 8.9
PEOPLE
Assassin
Tasked with eliminating the producers of S drug-induced whirlpool effects throughout universes.
Blue-haired woman
Offers the assassin assistance in this particular task and universe, but has other motives.
TECHNOLOGY
S
A reality altering drug. "S grants dreamers the power to live vicariously in any parallel world in which they have an alter ego — someone with whom they share enough brain physiology to maintain the parasitic resonance of the link... For one in a hundred thousand, though, dreams are only the beginning. During their third or fourth year on S, they start to move physically from world to world, as they strive to take the place of their chosen alter egos."
Tritium/phosphor
Type of light globe.
ORGANISATIONS
The Company
The assassin's employer.
CONCEPTS
The Whirlpool
Reality shift focus of increasing power caused by mutant S users.
Cantor dust
A fractal set, uncountably infinite, but with measure zero. Assassin is mapped into this by the locals.
Superspace
Higher levels of reality.
PLACES
Leightown
Site of a job for the assassin, and of a whirlpool cult.
Fifth floor Apartment 522
The assassin's S using target lives here.
MEDIA
Fat Single Mothers Must Die
A band.
PLOT
The assassin's job is to put down users of the drug S who develop reality altering superpowers and cause devastating whirlpools that can grow to affect all their infinite lives. These might harm rich people's existence, so he gets called in when wealthy areas are threatened. He has to do this across all the realities they might exist in, in a probabilistic fashion. Chosen as an extremely stable individual, his latest target has help. A whirpool cult there employs their ability to co-ordinate across infinite lives to negate the assassin's skills. This shakes his sense of identity, which he has to rethink at the end.
4.5 out of 5
Fifth floor Apartment 522 : The Infinite Assassin - Greg Egan
The assassin's S using target lives here.
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Leightown : The Infinite Assassin - Greg Egan
Site of a job for the assassin, and of a whirlpool cult.
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Cantor dust : The Infinite Assassin - Greg Egan
A fractal set, uncountably infinite, but with measure zero. Assassin is mapped into this by the locals.
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
The Whirlpool : The Infinite Assassin - Greg Egan
Reality shift focus of increasing power caused by mutant S users.
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
S : The Infinite Assassin - Greg Egan
A reality altering drug. "S grants dreamers the power to live vicariously in any parallel world in which they have an alter ego — someone with whom they share enough brain physiology to maintain the parasitic resonance of the link... For one in a hundred thousand, though, dreams are only the beginning. During their third or fourth year on S, they start to move physically from world to world, as they strive to take the place of their chosen alter egos."
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Blue-haired woman : The Infinite Assassin - Greg Egan
Offers the assassin assistance in this particular task and universe, but has other motives.
3.5 out of 5
3.5 out of 5
Assassin : The Infinite Assassin - Greg Egan
Tasked with eliminating the producers of S drug-induced whirlpool effects throughout universes.
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Gollancz Ebooks - Greg Egan
With Teranesia, finally :-
Incandescence (eBook) December 2010 £7.99
Axiomatic (eBook) December 2010 £7.99
Quarantine (eBook) December 2010 £7.99
Diaspora (eBook) December 2010 £7.99
Distress (eBook) December 2010 £7.99
Luminous (eBook) December 2010 £7.99
Permutation City (eBook) December 2010 £7.99
Teranesia (eBook) December 2010 £7.99
Schild's Ladder (eBook) December 2010 £7.99
Zendegi (eBook) June 2010 £14.99
Oceanic (eBook) September 2009 £12.98
Incandescence (eBook) December 2010 £7.99
Axiomatic (eBook) December 2010 £7.99
Quarantine (eBook) December 2010 £7.99
Diaspora (eBook) December 2010 £7.99
Distress (eBook) December 2010 £7.99
Luminous (eBook) December 2010 £7.99
Permutation City (eBook) December 2010 £7.99
Teranesia (eBook) December 2010 £7.99
Schild's Ladder (eBook) December 2010 £7.99
Zendegi (eBook) June 2010 £14.99
Oceanic (eBook) September 2009 £12.98
Monday, January 31, 2011
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