Ask HN: What are you reading right now? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What are you reading right now?

#261

Post by jonnathanson » Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 12:17 AM UTC

DanHulton wrote: post #57

* The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo * A Guide to the Good Life: The Anicent Art of Stoic Joy * Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality About the last, I typically abhor fanfic, and I admit, I started reading this one in a fit of ironic pique. However, it's actually quite damned good. Reimagine the world of Harry Potter if Harry grew up in a happy, rationalist houehold and was an exceptionally bright young scientist…

Thank you, thank you, thank you for that Harry Potter fanfic. I am neither a Harry Potter fan nor a fanfic fan, but the premise piqued my nerdy interests just the same. Perhaps it's coincidental that I'm writing a story (not a fanfic; original IP) that is sort of like Harry Potter but involves an alternate future in which the combination of nanomachines and quantum physics allows people to wield "magic"-like control over the physical world. It's magic from a theoretically plausible standpoint, even if I'd still consider it highly sci-fi and less spec-fi. Dorky? Ooooh, boy. Well, I'll put it this way: not exactly the project I'd bring up on a date!

Re: Ask HN: What are you reading right now?

#262

Post by markng » Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 12:42 AM UTC

Making Our Democracy Work: A Judge's View

Re: Ask HN: What are you reading right now?

#263

Post by nl » Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 1:01 AM UTC

ctkrohn wrote: post #154

Vivtek wrote: post #128

Right now, Charlie Stross Wireless , a short story collection. However, what I'm going to read very shortly will be Moby-Dick for the third time; my daughter just read it in her high school English class and it became clear to me that it's time to read it again. Good Lord, that man could turn a phrase.

Awesome. I'm a huge fan of Stross. "Missile Gap" was my favorite story in that collection. "Accelerando" is his best novel by far, IMO. Check it out if you haven't already.

Missile Gap is fantastic.

Accelerando was ok. But I don't think any singularity fiction lives up to Vinge's classics (A Fire Upon the Deep etc).

Re: Ask HN: What are you reading right now?

#264

Post by sibsibsib » Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 1:08 AM UTC

I'm reading China Miéville's The City And The City. It's quite interesting so far. I also have some Charles Stross on my list.

Re: Ask HN: What are you reading right now?

#265

Post by gregpilling » Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 1:12 AM UTC

m0th87 wrote: post #130

Predictably Irrational. A really fun read and great educational material for an aspiring entrepreneur.

Loved that book. Also loved that Arielly noticed his own irrational behavior when he bought a sports car instead of a minivan.

Re: Ask HN: What are you reading right now?

#266

Post by secret » Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 1:42 AM UTC

Walden by Henry David Thoreau. It's public domain, so you can get it free. I challenge anyone here to read the first page and not immediately want to read the whole thing.

Re: Ask HN: What are you reading right now?

#267

Post by Calamitous » Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 2:41 AM UTC

Vivtek wrote: post #126

Calamitous wrote: post #58

Just finished CryoBurn by Lois McMaster Bujold, probably the last in her Miles Vorkosigan series. Any of her works are excellent, but she's (rightfully) best-known for her Miles books.

I doubt it's the last. I thought that of Civil Campaign (Miles' ultimate triumph ["Why, yes , madam. Now?"]) and then Diplomatic Immunity. I think once the little git got in her brain, it was all over. Clearly she loves him dearly. So do I. Really, I believe the tricky part was figuring out new ways to get him into crises, since he keeps winning . Unfortunately, I don't think I can even say anything more about this w…

I would very much like to be wrong, but reading the scene carefully sounds very final for Miles as we know him. I don't disagree that she could pull something out of her sleeve, but...

At some point, all the best artists put down their favorite art, otherwise the characters and situations we've come to love become farcical stereotypes, all their charm and uniqueness gone.

Bill Watterson famously did this with Calvin & Hobbes, which is still fondly remembered by many (as would Xanth be, if Piers Anthony had stopped twenty or more novels ago).

If she picks Miles back up, there's no doubt I'll have a copy of her next book as soon as Amazon can get it into my hands. If not, I'll be disappointed, but not displeased.

And yes, it is really hard to talk about Cryoburn without spoiling the final scene...

Re: Ask HN: What are you reading right now?

#268

Post by makeramen » Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 2:48 AM UTC

Switch: How to Change When Change is Hard -- Chip and Dan Heath (http://www.amazon.com/Switch-Change-Things-When-Hard/dp/0385...

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us -- Dan Pink (http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Surprising-Truth-About-Motivates...)

Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? -- Seth Godin (http://www.amazon.com/Linchpin-Are-Indispensable-Seth-Godin/...)

The Laws of Simplicity -- John Maeda (http://www.amazon.com/Laws-Simplicity-Design-Technology-Busi...)

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance -- Robert M. Persig (http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Art-Motorcycle-Maintenance-Inquiry...)

Invisible Man -- Ralph Ellison (http://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Man-Ralph-Ellison/dp/0679732...)

How to Win Friends and Influence People -- Dale Carnegie (http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/06...)

The Kindle app has really got me buying a lot of books that I now need to finish...

Re: Ask HN: What are you reading right now?

#269

Post by Calamitous » Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 2:52 AM UTC

wiredfool wrote: post #181

Calamitous wrote: post #58

Just finished CryoBurn by Lois McMaster Bujold, probably the last in her Miles Vorkosigan series. Any of her works are excellent, but she's (rightfully) best-known for her Miles books.

I just read Young Miles. (just as in taking up the last 4 or 5 evenings on the ipad). It's hilarious, chaotic, and sweet. Check it out: http://baencd.thefifthimperium.com/24-CryoburnCD/CryoburnCD/ - Most of the series from the CD that Baen is distributing with the book, free and distributable, in lots of formats.

Oh wow. Holy. Cow. I figured the CD was typical promotional schlock. I forgot this was Baen.

I had no idea they were giving the Miles series away for free.

That is either brilliant or the most insane thing I've ever seen.

Re: Ask HN: What are you reading right now?

#270

Post by Calamitous » Thu, Nov 04, 2010, 3:03 AM UTC

rikthevik wrote: post #161

Discworld! I just finished the second one, The Light Fantastic, and loved it. Terry Pratchett is a brilliant and very funny author. I find after long days of technical thinking I really enjoy a lighthearted funny piece of fiction to help me unwind and get to sleep. At this point I don't think I could handle much more math or computer science and stay sane.

Yep. And they just keep getting better the further into the series you go.

It was a shame to hear about his Alzheimer's. His work will be sorely missed.