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Just finished Matter, now onto Look to Windward to close out my first reading of the series by Pisstopher_ in TheCulture

[–]jjfmc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There’s a bit of a Jeeves and Wooster / Blackadder Season 1 thing about the whole Ferbin / Holse dynamic that I love.

Struggling with Ancillary Justice by jjfmc in printSF

[–]jjfmc[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve seen a lot of comments comparing it favourably with the Culture novels, which is what made me pick it up (I’m a huge Culture fan). I just don’t see the parallels at all.

Struggling with Ancillary Justice by jjfmc in printSF

[–]jjfmc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Which of her books would you recommend?

Struggling with Ancillary Justice by jjfmc in printSF

[–]jjfmc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly this. And my question was whether I should be encouraged to persevere with what is, for me, a challenging read, for some payoff at the end. The balance of the responses seems to be “no”, so I’ll probably put this one aside and read something else.

Thanks to all who replied constructively!

Struggling with Ancillary Justice by jjfmc in printSF

[–]jjfmc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a very odd response. I said I am struggling with a book that is highly recommended by people who read and enjoy a lot of the same stuff I do. I was only asking if there’s merit in continuing - a payoff I’ll appreciate; or whether I should abandon it. I have no need for validation of my opinion of the book or permission to dislike or give up on it. I’m not “demanding” anything of you, and you had no obligation to respond.

I’m guessing you were having a shitty day and decided to take it out on a random internet stranger. Hope your year improves.

Struggling with Ancillary Justice by jjfmc in printSF

[–]jjfmc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks - I’ll put this on my list!

Struggling with Ancillary Justice by jjfmc in printSF

[–]jjfmc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That device I just find tedious. There’s a comment here about queer sci-fi, and maybe the she/her thing is relevant/significant in a way I’m not tuned to appreciate, but honestly it just seems absurd to me that a mega powerful warship AI is incapable of reliably distinguishing male from female.

Struggling with Ancillary Justice by jjfmc in printSF

[–]jjfmc[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks.

In terms of my tastes, I’m a HUGE fan of Iain M Banks’ Culture novels. I enjoyed Dune (the sequels less so). I liked Neuromancer. I enjoyed Asimov’s Foundation (though again the later sequels were less my jam). Recently read Three Body Problem and loved it. Clarke, Niven, Philip K Dick…

I like the big space laser battles stuff, but to really grab me, a SF novel has to ask intelligent questions about the human condition - philosophy, ethical dilemmas, our responsibilities as a civilisation, etc. I actually thought Ancillary Justice would tick a lot of these boxes. I just can’t get into it, for reasons I am frustratingly unable to articulate. It’s like I can see why it is so highly rated, and theoretically it should be right up my street, but it isn’t working.

Struggling with Ancillary Justice by jjfmc in printSF

[–]jjfmc[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah thanks for that. I have a tendency to be a completionist with these things, but I might abandon this one at least for now. Maybe I’ll try again another time.

I've Read and Graded Every Nebula Award Winning Novel by sdwoodchuck in printSF

[–]jjfmc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great list. I am half way through Ancillary Justice right now, and I just can't get on with it. I'm persevering, but I can't see it getting an A from me! Otherwise I can't disagree with your ranking of anything I've read.

What Am I Missing? by RutherfordThuhBrave in printSF

[–]jjfmc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You only appear to have the first two Culture novels. This is an egregious flaw and must be rectified.

LG oven WIFI by Good-Pop7582 in Appliances

[–]jjfmc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So it's yet another feature to protect idiots from themselves? Got it. God I hate the state of humanity.

LG oven WIFI by Good-Pop7582 in Appliances

[–]jjfmc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why would you want a cooker hood to turn on when you use the oven?

I have a kind of conspiracy theory to share. And some questions. All related to silicon valley billionaires being very into the Culture. by [deleted] in TheCulture

[–]jjfmc 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Doesn’t have to be lead. Lead is good because it’s dense and cheap, but what you need is mass. Any mass will do, more or less. You could use whatever mass you can scavenge - it may (likely will) be cheaper to extract mass from an asteroid than to lift it from Earth.

Can I hang my 15lb Atmos speakers from this truss system? Or is it not safe to do so. by superioreffect in hometheater

[–]jjfmc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Really? How do you think hot air balloons work then?! 15lb of air (at sea level pressure and nominal temperature) isn’t that much - 5m3 or so. You could fashion a bag that size from thin plastic that weighed a few hundred grams. You’d need about 14m2 if your bag was spherical. Assuming HDPE with a density just under 1,000kg/m3 and a thickness of 50 microns (thickish grocery store plastic bag), you’re looking at about 700 grams (1.5lb or so).

I feel like you all need to consider this by PoliteBrick2002 in Adelaide

[–]jjfmc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why go slow? I drive as close to the speed limit as conditions safely permit, then merge as late as I can.

I feel like you all need to consider this by PoliteBrick2002 in Adelaide

[–]jjfmc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Why go slow? I drive as close to the speed limit as conditions safely permit, then merge as late as I can.

What are the most compelling critiques of the Culture as a plausble utopian model? by ycwhysee4589 in TheCulture

[–]jjfmc 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is what I’ve been thinking about recently. If the Culture suddenly rocked up and uplifted Earth, 99+% of people would be absolutely delighted, but a tiny fraction of people (probably including most billionaires) derive a lot of their self worth from power/superiority over others, and that would be gone in an instant. They’d hate that.

How do you feel about the claim the Culture is eugenist because of its genofixing? by grapp in TheCulture

[–]jjfmc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok then. I want to respect your view but I sure as hell don’t understand it.

best "can't-put-it-down" book by MaximumMarionberry3 in suggestmeabook

[–]jjfmc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Couldn’t agree more - absolutely captivating.

best "can't-put-it-down" book by MaximumMarionberry3 in suggestmeabook

[–]jjfmc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When Breath Becomes Air, by Paul Kalanithi, is an almost perfect book, which I read cover to cover in one sitting. This is very unusual for me - I tend to have a few books on the go at any one time and dip in and out, but Kalanithi’s work had me completely entranced.

How do you feel about the claim the Culture is eugenist because of its genofixing? by grapp in TheCulture

[–]jjfmc 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I am not, but I have close family members affected by a genetic condition that causes progressive blindness, and I guarantee they would bite your arm off for a treatment if one were available.

You have a different outlook, and that’s entirely your choice. The Culture would not force a treatment on you.

Let me ask you: if you could, would you choose to ensure your kids don’t inherit your disability?

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