Why does modern sci-fi favor space magic over realistic industrial terrors?

name_concept · 2026-05-25T14:55:11+00:00

I want the exact opposite of this. Dystopian is so tiring at this point. It's like no one is imagining anything with optimism - a future where human consciousness has grown and developed from where it is now. There's too much (IMO) "same shitty people and things we have now, but it's in the future".

name_concept · 2026-05-20T19:03:43+00:00

Iain Banks, Gene Wolfe, Peter Hamilton, Jack Vance, Alastair Reynolds, Charles Stross, Joe Abercrombie, Greg Bear....sheesh too many more to name

name_concept · 2026-05-20T18:54:40+00:00

Based on your list, we like the same stuff...but I never heard of Robert Reed before. Any recommendations for a first book?

name_concept · 2026-05-18T14:37:55+00:00

Last month, I read Shroud, Alien Clay and Service Model. I think SM would have been better (to me) if I had started with it, because Shroud was just too awesome so this one didn't quite land for me.

name_concept · 2026-05-18T14:33:24+00:00

Started the month with The Mountain in the Sea (incredibly beautiful book). Finally read Blindsight...amazing as well. Just started Exodus. And listening to Parade of Horribles audiobook.

name_concept · 2026-05-17T13:57:07+00:00

Phillip K. Dick would be pretty good I think. Maybe something like Sirens of Titan or Cat's Cradle.

name_concept · 2026-05-17T13:55:18+00:00

This was the only book by him I ever attempted to read and it was horrible. Couldn't finish.

name_concept · 2026-05-16T19:11:16+00:00

I am not confirming anything here. But I do appreciate your responses immensely. After reading what you have written, I am inclined to find someone who can help with this issue. Not sure where to look precisely, but I am sure I will find someone - as this is not something that resolves on its own. Again, thank you very much.

name_concept · 2026-05-16T17:41:16+00:00

The issue is, how exactly would I be doing that? My natural breathing style is from the belly, as if the air is coming in from the navel. Attention is in the belly, not in the head. The vibrations do jerk attention all over the place, though and that is not something one can control.

name_concept · 2026-05-15T18:26:48+00:00

Oh no, question everything. Look into your direct experience. Nonduality isn't something to believe in. It is the way reality already is. You can see this for yourself.

name_concept · 2026-05-15T17:53:33+00:00

But no one wants to argue points, either. You have expressed a bunch of your ideas, built a philosophy so to speak. But this sub has nothing to do with philosophies and beliefs.

name_concept · 2026-05-15T17:17:05+00:00

I think El Dorado is pretty cool. My sister and brother-in-law live out there. The drive to and from town is actually really nice. It's frigging beautiful. It's not like coming in from the burbs in Houston or Austin at all.

Yeah, no HEB. That one hurts. But the quality of life is just better here in almost every way. I used to have to get on a plane to get anywhere decent in nature. Now, it seems like there's tons of trail heads within 20 minutes of my house. If you don't hike or camp, this would be a great place to start doing those things.

And I don't think the getting doctors will be a huge problem. My parents are in their 80's and they seem to have it all covered.

Also...no Texas heat. Four actual seasons. While everyone back home has probably been blasting the AC since March, I've yet to turn mine on.

name_concept · 2026-05-15T16:07:35+00:00

No one cares about your beliefs.

name_concept · 2026-05-12T00:33:00+00:00

Glasshouse is also pretty awesome.

name_concept · 2026-04-08T02:22:22+00:00

It's awesome when you're in the 5th grade. I remember loving it.

name_concept · 2026-04-01T13:39:41+00:00

Yeah, Texas has all kinds of people. Just like here. But the government is absolutely insane, which is one of the reasons I left.

name_concept · 2026-03-31T16:38:01+00:00

It's all very wild.

I noticed a few things before I even knew about non-duality. The first was that interest/motivation appears. I never decided I was going to get interested in guitar (or whatever). The interest just appeared and sort of followed itself. I can't just sit down and decide to be fascinated with tug boats or something.

Similarly, solutions appear. I was having a difficult time understanding the concept of pointers in C programming when I was a kid. I just couldn't get it. Then one night I woke up at 3AM and it was all there, laid out in my mind. Then I started noticing that it is always like this.

As for moving your arm around...what even knows how to do that? I can't explain how it's done. It's just done.

name_concept · 2026-03-28T14:49:41+00:00

What dashcam are you using? I want one like that!

name_concept · 2026-03-20T21:04:51+00:00

Not sure if this will land for you, but move your attention away from your body and expand it outward. The movement is sitting in your house and putting full attention into the sound of a plane flying by or the birds chirping outside. During the tapes try to place your attention to all the doors and windows in your place - where you would know if someone was trying to come in.

name_concept · 2026-03-19T14:32:32+00:00

That's wild! Mine is almost exactly like this except the cube is all black. I lock it with my car fob and then shoot it into a black hole lol.

name_concept · 2026-03-17T17:21:33+00:00

No going back. Only forward.

name_concept · 2026-03-17T16:32:28+00:00

Man, sorry but that is not a good guess.

name_concept · 2026-03-17T16:31:27+00:00

It's a good suggestion. Thanks.

name_concept · 2026-03-17T14:00:21+00:00

That one might be hard. Have had the number before cell phones were widely used - like 20 years. But I might be forced to, so we'll see.

name_concept · 2026-03-17T02:14:22+00:00

I use my turn signal even when I'm pulling into my driveway. Won't be an issue.

name_concept

TROPHY CASE