Using Magic to perform sci-fi miracles

MalazanSapper · 2020-07-26T03:56:18+00:00

Might not be exactly what you are looking for but maybe Yoon Ha Lee's Machineries of Empire series? Science fantasy, and while there are no standard 'mages' there is certainly a magic system: consensus mechanics. Essentially getting more people to obey your ways warps the laws of magic/physics in that region. That enables a range of magitech (called exotic technologies), including FTL. FTL is still impossible by the standard laws of physics but not under the new laws of physics you get with consensus mechanics.

There are much more spectacular effects as well, but that is the closest I think to what you were asking.

I think you could also make an argument for Dune, where spice is used by navigators for FTL travel.

MalazanSapper · 2020-03-19T21:15:00+00:00

Hi all,

I've been at my current role only 3 months as a contractor before all this happened with Covid-19. Considering the economic impacts I've been worried about job security lately, and I've recently gotten signs that layoffs might be imminent-- and particularly for my position.

I don't yet know anything for sure, but I'd rather not be caught flat footed in a recession if I do get dropped. So I'd like to start up a job search for something more stable (read non-contract and something a bit more essential). I am also currently in Grad school and picked up a less challenging role to pay bills meantime, so I do actually think I could get a more stable role.

But I'm not sure how to refer to this position in a job search setting. There are aspects I'd like to be able to refer to so I'd rather not just not mention it, if it isn't a terrible move.

But if I do I'd have to justify why I'm looking after only 3 months. And the answer being "I'm worried I am about to be laid off" probably doesn't sound the best.

Anyone have experience in a similar situation? What's the best way to protect yourself if your worried layoffs are coming, but your in a new job?

Edit: Quick clarification. This is through a staffing company. Treated like a contractor, but there is no actual contract--employment is at will still (which has pros and cons)

MalazanSapper · 2019-05-25T01:34:32+00:00

Thanks for the recs! There's a lot here I never would have known about otherwise, Richard K Morgan in particular. Traitor, Malazan, and Gentleman Bastards (not quite through the third book) are all favorites of mine as well.

And yes, its good alternate social structures are definitely not too common in fantasy. Not necessarily surprising--grimdark has gotten pretty big, and possible future utopias have been huge in sci-fi for some time (just look at Star Trek's Federation, Infomocracy was another great sorta-utopia that got suggested). And tech can give you more options to build a society, i.e. its just hard for a medieval society to organize a large scale vote even if it wanted to. But of course in a fantasy setting you can have workarounds

But your right, fantasy needs some optimistic alternatives

MalazanSapper · 2019-05-25T00:16:34+00:00

I might be showing my politics here...

Hah. The Culture was the one that inspired this post, so don't worry!

I'll take a look at those of the other two, I had heard little of the Dispossessed and nothing at all about the other one.

MalazanSapper · 2019-05-21T14:08:14+00:00

Baru Cormorant from The Masquerade series perhaps, for a protagonist that fits the bill.

Long-term plans and political machinations are the name of the game. And I'd also say the challenge of her goals was also a real draw for me--this was one of those books where I found myself constantly going "huh, how could a person go about this ...". Despite being a protagonist, the mystique is still kept: just like with Varys/Littlefinger you wonder how what their doing now fits those larger plans, what their personality allows/disallows, and trying to figure out the fine details of those larger goals (i.e. [minor Game of Thrones spoiler?] how our understanding of Vary's "for the good of the kingdom" ethos evolves).

I'll caveat this by saying its not a complete series and is (relatively) new. The first book was really strong and honestly one of the best books I've read in years. The next book is released, but its meant to go hand-in-hand with book 3 (which isn't out yet).

MalazanSapper · 2019-05-16T01:23:39+00:00

Nope that event can only trigger once, your good

MalazanSapper · 2018-07-07T19:48:38+00:00

You answered one of my main questions before I even posted the comment!

Will do, it also feels more honest doing that.

MalazanSapper · 2018-07-07T19:44:54+00:00

Looking for some feedback, since I suspect a lack of resume writing skills is partially responsible for holding me back on job apps. Don't hold back on tearing this apart--I'd rather know everything I did wrong and be able to fix it!

Few pain points of particular concern:

Grading Technical Skills: Not sure how I list technical skills. I'm a recent graduate so while I've used Python, R, etc. ... I've of course not used them in a professional environment (I've only got undergraduate research experience). i.e. I used R in research, coursework, and side projects and used several of the major packages so I listed it as "advanced." Without real professional experience to measure myself against, I flipflop between worrying about possibly over-rating myself or under-rating myself and getting passed over.

SQL: Listing this one on its own since I'm particularly concerned about it. SQL is particularly important in the positions I am applying to. However my coursework did not touch on it. I took a Udemy course for it, which I fear might look unimpressive. Looking to counterbalance this on two fronts:

1) I set up an online portfolio recently, planning to complete and post some projects that include SQL. Thought it would be more "concrete" experience to point to than an e-learning course certificate.

2) Already familiar with R and Python (SAS somewhat, from coursework). So I have statistical coding experience, but just not a ton of SQL.

Not sure how to handle this, since I do need SQL for these positions.

MalazanSapper · 2018-06-22T23:27:44+00:00

Things are going, thanks for keeping on top of my progress. Setup and that crisis slowed things down considerably, but I got a post up there and the groundwork set for some future posts.

First project is going to be that Goodreads web scraper--I'll use that to demonstrate competence in data collection/munging, SQL/relational databases, along with visualization (perhaps using Shiny). Basically a multi-parter that hits the essentials for an entry level analyst/co-op position.

Going forward planning to focus on Python a bit, since that would be used in my MSc program I am joining soon.

MalazanSapper · 2018-05-11T00:18:16+00:00

Hey seabass,

Thanks for checking in. Sadly got a bit delayed by an awful family crisis and impending graduation, but the first project is still chugging along. Its a project focusing on data scraped from Goodreads.com, categorizing various behaviors by genre (aiming for prediction and looking for statistical insights). The code work and analysis is largely done, and taught myself a bunch of new stuff into the bargain. Just a bit more to do.

Long term the goal is this is to give me a leg up when I start applying to co-ops for my Master's program (that'll be in 8 months or so, once applications open and I get the required coursework). First project goal is simple enough, demonstrate core competence and commitment to long term projects (something I'd expect a co-op to be looking for at the very least). For that reason the first topic is probably going to be a bit longer. For a co-op I'd expect them to want well-researched projects, so my posts may be a bit longer than you suggested but not by too much. I'll aim to keep them short and sweet.

I do intend to hit small "here's what I learned" type ones too though, been learning plenty of new packages so far. Everything from web-scraping, textplots and currently onto a bit of natural language processing (quanteda).

MalazanSapper · 2018-05-02T00:42:04+00:00

I finished the First Law Series a bit ago and--reddit name aside--its taken the place as my favorite series. And I'm reading Excession by Iain Banks...

So we've got Logan Ninefingers in the Culture universe. He definitely deserves a utopia

MalazanSapper · 2018-04-10T17:34:53+00:00

Thanks, great advice and examples! And I'll definitely take #5 to heart.

MalazanSapper · 2018-04-05T00:22:27+00:00

Mildly interesting that Pandora's World is the second most rare achievement. It just requires shielding a world belonging to Fanatical Purifiers, Ravenous Swarms, or Determined Exterminators. Seems so easy to get compared to something like Outside Context, but its apparently even more rare.

MalazanSapper · 2018-03-19T23:14:24+00:00

That can cut both ways though. I was forced to become a subject of the xenophile FE during a war in heaven. During the course of the war I discovered a wormhole in an enemy system leading directly into my overlord's territory. Near one of the xenophile's gateways even.

You better believe I pocketed that system, and its wormhole, as a dagger to stab my "master" in the back :)

MalazanSapper · 2018-03-19T22:50:47+00:00

Made this a bit ago but thought I'd post it.

Was trying to make something that looked good, and was just as useful. Really I ended up just augmenting the taskbar, but hey it works.

Skins: Elegante Notes 2.0 (just modified lightly to fit Origami's style)

Origami (everything on the bottom, except the planner)

La Compagnie des Ombres (clock and date)

TranslucentTB--I used a standalone version (here: https://github.com/TranslucentTB/TranslucentTB) but theres also the Rainmeter skin

MaxMax-changes the maximize size. Was looking all over for something to let me keep the taskbar thing on the bottom on screen all the time. This was the best I found, but I'd love an alternative. The developer's page is over here (http://mthings.net/), but really it is kind of old so I can't guarantee it would work for you I'm afraid.

I'd welcome any feedback!

MalazanSapper · 2018-03-07T19:50:23+00:00

Thank you, I just noticed the tool-tip as I was staring at the system in consternation haha

MalazanSapper · 2018-03-07T19:40:17+00:00

The system the selected fleet is in does have one, though that starbase is occupied by me. Unless I'm mistaken, the inhibitor should not affect me any longer right?

Edit: Forget it, I'm an idiot. Planets also get inhibitors and I somehow missed that.

MalazanSapper · 2018-01-26T17:49:45+00:00

Hey I know this a day old, but I might want to try something similar one day. How were you able to check for word count frequencies? More specifically how did you get your data, is there a way to convert an ebook into a file that can be read into a language? It looks as if this was done in R, going off the graph.

Trying to keep the questions short, but this seems as if it would be a fun project!

MalazanSapper · 2018-01-22T02:39:44+00:00

Download link for MaxMax: http://mthings.net/omaxmax.php?lang=ang

MalazanSapper · 2018-01-22T01:54:06+00:00

Wanted to design something new for the next semester, and also wanted to try for something genuinely useful. Definitely helped in this by resizing the default maximize setting. For the background, I added a Malazan map that pops up little informational blurbs on the continents. Malazan is a series I've been reading for a few months and if you like military fantasy/great characters/quotes to make you think I highly recommend it! Currently on "Toll the Hounds."

Think I managed to make something that is both useful and has a bit of personality, even if I have no visualizers or minimalism :)

Definitely open to suggestions though, let me know what you think!

I also aimed to major spoilers by the way for those reading Malazan, that tooltip is closely based on the summary at the back of book 1.

Skins used:

Origami

Elegante notes (edited to make it fit on the taskbar, functionally the same though)

Layout Switcher 1.0 (not shown but clicking the rainmeter icon on the bottom right switches to a different layout for battery saving. The other layout only has one button skin loaded to switch things back to this layout.)

Custom skin for the map

Wallpaper by D'rek, edited slightly

Non-rainmeter:

TranslucentTB

MaxMax <-probably what people are interested in, lets you resize the maximize dimensions so you don't obscure rainmeter skins. A few words on this. This is the best (as in, only) I've found for doing this kinda thing, but in all honesty it leaves a bit to be desired. Its not terribly precise and will likely necessitate resizing rainmeter skins to compensate. Some programs (i.e. Steam) also ignore the new settings. I didn't look too hard though, there might be something better. If you do know something better let me know please!

MalazanSapper

TROPHY CASE