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A Personal Statement from Iain Banks

littlebrown.co.uk

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Re: A Personal Statement from Iain Banks

#181

Post by richardjordan »

SkyMarshal wrote: post #127
gargoiler wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We'll likely all die from overcrowding problems in the end anyway... Solve all the diseases you want, but we'll all die at some point.

That assumes we'll never colonize other planes/satellites/space stations and expand beyond earth.

Sadly I think we squandered that chance. We had one cubic mile of oil. We're half way through it. The rest is being burnt off at record rates. This was a one time energy bounty.

We're mining ores with tiny percentages of what we want in them nowadays and at increasing energy cost.

We had a bounty of natural resources that we could have focused to get off this planet and become an interplanetary species. I suspect we will never get there as we've squandered these resources and overpopulated the planet beyond carrying capacity.

If you're waiting for a miracle solution, or believe alternatives will solve everything I recommend you study the principles of energy return on energy investment.

It makes me sad but I think we will never colonize other planets.

Re: A Personal Statement from Iain Banks

#182

Post by swombat »

limmeau wrote: post #107
swombat wrote: post #13

I am very upset about that... In my opinion he's the best living science fiction author... but not for long, I guess... :-( I've read most of his books (all of his SF books). The Culture is an amazing universe, but the rest of his works are also outstanding.

What do you recommend as a first book to read? (edit: never mind, sibling thread has it covered: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5485695 )

If you LOVE science fiction already, I'd go straight for the jugular and start with Excession. It's hardcore, it's full of awesome technology, it will blow your mind and forever seduce you into the world of the Culture.

If you're just a normal science fiction fan, start with Use of Weapons. It's complex and sci-fi-ish enough, but not as hardcore as Excession. The plot is amazing. To me it is one of the most memorable books of science fiction that I've read. It really made me question some basic beliefs about ... well, you'll see.

If you're a normal person, who wants a slightly softer intro into the Culture universe, or someone who's not particularly into science fiction, Player of Games is a great starting point because it is less about the tech and more about the ideas and the people, but nevertheless a great book.

Ultimately, the only one I wouldn't start with is Consider Phlebas, which is good, but imho nowhere near as good as the rest. To me, Consider Phlebas was about the same level as, say, the Reality Dysfunction by PFH - great space opera, fast paced, gripping, but not exceptional in any way. Every subsequent book (with very few exceptions) is not just great, but also unique and different from all the other science fiction books out there.

Re: A Personal Statement from Iain Banks

#183

Post by brazzy »

engtech wrote: post #157
hyperbovine wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

More money is not what is needed here--we already pour tons of money into cancer research. What's needed are new ideas. If you really want to fight cancer, skip the startup and go to graduate school. Computational and mathematical approaches to understanding and fighting cancer are still in their infancy. There is a lot of scope for smart, motivated people to do good.

No, more money is needed. 41% of deaths are due to cancer. It really is one of the biggest problems we have as a species and we should spend more effort on it rather than the things we do spend effort on. But I wholeheartedly agree that rather than trying to be a billg and earn money to fund philanthropy, the world needs more researchers.

> 41% of deaths are due to cancer.

That's not even true if you look only at rich countries - cardiovascular diseases cause more deaths.

The amount of effort, let alone money, spent on cancer research is already obscene compared to what is spent on other serious problems.

Re: A Personal Statement from Iain Banks

#184

Post by jschulenklopper »

arethuza wrote: post #49

According to Ian Rankin: "Typical of Iain to propose marriage to his partner Adele with the words 'Will you do me the honour of becoming my widow?" Makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time, like so much of his work.

Not only from Ian Rankin, as it was also in the original statement: "I've asked my partner Adele if she will do me the honour of becoming my widow."

That last past is almost a six word story, but sadly reality instead of fiction.

Re: A Personal Statement from Iain Banks

#185

Post by soapdog »

I have all his SF novels. I think he is the most original and refreshing author I've seen in the past decade. I always looked forward for those thrilling weeks after he released a new book. It was one of the best parts of a year for me. Mr Banks inspired me to dream about the future and what wonderful culture we could become. Even though I never met him, I will really miss him for I cherished his writings and opinions. One thing I won't do is forget him because his work is the kind that ressurects genres and is timeless.

Re: A Personal Statement from Iain Banks

#186

Post by Cushman »

tjic wrote: post #176
lifeisstillgood wrote: post #87

This is sad news, and there is really nothing to add to his own words. I just want to highlight two things, firstly his support for the NHS, which despite every newspaper and politician gunning for it still usually manages to deliver top quality care. Secondly, can we leave off the cryogenic stuff ? The guy is dying, and pretending it will just be a pause is insulting all round. This was a touching and accepting note…

> I just want to highlight two things, firstly his support for the NHS Which is meaningless; an anecdotal impression is not data. > Secondly, can we leave off the cryogenic stuff ? The guy is dying, and pretending it will just be a pause is insulting all round. Some people think that cryogenics is a better chance of resurrection than burying a body in dirt. The case isn't settled, but it's not a stupid or crazy belie…

> Some people think that cryogenics is a better chance of resurrection than burying a body in dirt.

And some people think burying a body in dirt is the best chance of resurrection. These beliefs do not seem, at this point in time, differentially stupid or crazy.

It is quite all right to hold such beliefs, but bringing them up every time someone dies as if-only-they-had is rather insensitive.

Re: A Personal Statement from Iain Banks

#189

Post by nicholassmith »

at-fates-hands wrote: post #138
swombat wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would donate money to a "Cryo-freeze Iain Banks" fund - though I'm sure he has more than enough funds himself.

I'm pretty sure he would be against cryo: "Firmly restating his atheism, Banks spoke of his belief that death is an important 'part of the totality of life', to be treated realistically, not feared." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iain_Banks

I really wish this were higher in the comment thread.

Re: A Personal Statement from Iain Banks

#190

Post by bluetshirt »

engtech wrote: post #157
hyperbovine wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

More money is not what is needed here--we already pour tons of money into cancer research. What's needed are new ideas. If you really want to fight cancer, skip the startup and go to graduate school. Computational and mathematical approaches to understanding and fighting cancer are still in their infancy. There is a lot of scope for smart, motivated people to do good.

No, more money is needed. 41% of deaths are due to cancer. It really is one of the biggest problems we have as a species and we should spend more effort on it rather than the things we do spend effort on. But I wholeheartedly agree that rather than trying to be a billg and earn money to fund philanthropy, the world needs more researchers.

People are going to die. If it's not cancer, it'll be heart failure.

I'm not convinced that what this world needs is research into keeping sick people alive longer. We have lots of people as it is.

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