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Make up a guy

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Re: Make up a guy

#21

Post by subroutine »

codeflo wrote: post #3

I encountered the author’s short story that’s linked in the article, Lena [1], a while ago, possibly here on HN. It’s really great, but be warned. It’s one of the most deeply disturbing sci-fi horror stories I’ve ever seen. To be clear, most of the horror is implied rather than described, which I think only makes it worse. Part of me wishes I had never read it. Highly recommended, but if you’re at all in doubt if you…

qntm (Sam Hughes) is a great, and if you like this style also check out Greg Egan.

Re: Make up a guy

#22

Post by thegabriele »

walrus01 wrote: post #15
LargoLasskhyfv wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's also 'Source Code' https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0945513/ Not fully virtual, though. Just the badly maimed torso and head of a victim of a terrorist attack on a train, brain wired to systems, stimulating the last working remains to replay the last 8 minutes over and over again. To gather information and reconstruct 'whodunnit'.

Most of what I remember from source code, the film, is the cringe worthy Bing product placement.

There's a lot of products placement that nowadays are obsolete, but the story is still good.

Re: Make up a guy

#23

Post by rogual »

codeflo wrote: post #3

I encountered the author’s short story that’s linked in the article, Lena [1], a while ago, possibly here on HN. It’s really great, but be warned. It’s one of the most deeply disturbing sci-fi horror stories I’ve ever seen. To be clear, most of the horror is implied rather than described, which I think only makes it worse. Part of me wishes I had never read it. Highly recommended, but if you’re at all in doubt if you…

This story convinced me to buy two of the author's novels, "There Is No Antimemetics Division" and "Ra", both of which I also thoroughly enjoyed, the former a little more.

Re: Make up a guy

#24

Post by blarg1 »

LargoLasskhyfv wrote: post #14
walrus01 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Parts of it remind me a lot of the black mirror episode where a person's upload is trapped in a "cookie" to do menial task automation. Particularly the part where an upload can be run a multiples of hundreds, or thousands of times real world wall clock time for "conditioning".

There's also 'Source Code' https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0945513/ Not fully virtual, though. Just the badly maimed torso and head of a victim of a terrorist attack on a train, brain wired to systems, stimulating the last working remains to replay the last 8 minutes over and over again. To gather information and reconstruct 'whodunnit'.

Also the Bobiverse novels

https://www.goodreads.com/series/192752-bobiverse

Re: Make up a guy

#25

Post by joshxyz »

codeflo wrote: post #3

I encountered the author’s short story that’s linked in the article, Lena [1], a while ago, possibly here on HN. It’s really great, but be warned. It’s one of the most deeply disturbing sci-fi horror stories I’ve ever seen. To be clear, most of the horror is implied rather than described, which I think only makes it worse. Part of me wishes I had never read it. Highly recommended, but if you’re at all in doubt if you…

I've just read it. Wow you're right.

Re: Make up a guy

#26

Post by rogual »

toto444 wrote: post #5

The article points to a Twitter account named Two-Word Horror. I clicked on it not expecting much, it's actually quite disturbing. Here are some examples : > Riemann counterexamples > Unicode Corporation > Google Sex > procedurally-generated regulations > denim skin > peak humanity

> Unicode Corporation

There is an Emoji Corporation [1], which as far as I can tell exists to try and trick people into thinking they've got to pay them to use emojis. Looks like they got some Danegeld out of Sony Pictures for the Emoji movie.

[1] https://www.emoji.com/

Re: Make up a guy

#27

Post by sakoht »

echelon wrote: post #18
codeflo wrote: post #3

I encountered the author’s short story that’s linked in the article, Lena [1], a while ago, possibly here on HN. It’s really great, but be warned. It’s one of the most deeply disturbing sci-fi horror stories I’ve ever seen. To be clear, most of the horror is implied rather than described, which I think only makes it worse. Part of me wishes I had never read it. Highly recommended, but if you’re at all in doubt if you…

I have been thinking of this story since I first read it and have been unable to find it again until now. Thank you for sharing! This is such a haunting story. I love it so much. The future is going to be weirder than we can even imagine.

Same

Re: Make up a guy

#28

Post by sakoht »

A similar topic explored in the 2009 small movie Moon w/ Sam Rockwell (and Kevin Spacey as the robot voice). The main character doing labor on the moon figures out he is one of dozens of clones, and the original guy living his happy life back on earth. If you could clone yourself and have the clone take your burdens so your life was easier, is that a fair use of your own body and mind to do so? Clearly the jump to our children says “no”.

Re: Make up a guy

#29

Post by adastra22 »

justinclift wrote: post #19

> Without having more information, I'm guessing, probably you would not do it. Wrong. Pretty much every time I'd do it. Just coz. ;) What do you mean I'm "Chaotic Neutral"? :p

Actually I completely honestly would, and I'm confused that people wouldn't. That frog would hop off to lead a bleak, short, meaningless existence if I don't turn it into a person. Even if I wave the wand and make it human then fully abandon it, it'd still be a better outcome overall for a sentient being.

Re: Make up a guy

#30

Post by nlitened »

rogual wrote: post #23
codeflo wrote: post #3

I encountered the author’s short story that’s linked in the article, Lena [1], a while ago, possibly here on HN. It’s really great, but be warned. It’s one of the most deeply disturbing sci-fi horror stories I’ve ever seen. To be clear, most of the horror is implied rather than described, which I think only makes it worse. Part of me wishes I had never read it. Highly recommended, but if you’re at all in doubt if you…

This story convinced me to buy two of the author's novels, "There Is No Antimemetics Division" and "Ra", both of which I also thoroughly enjoyed, the former a little more.

Unlike the former, reading Ra triggered visuals so intense, I sometimes had to stop reading. Might be acid flashbacks from ten years ago.
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