tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18052302.post4821770287412553063..comments2024-03-23T11:23:29.270-04:00Comments on Music of the Spheres: KSR's 2312 is Very CoolFlyingSingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12015886527228889332noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18052302.post-20456131308050573372012-08-05T19:27:13.173-04:002012-08-05T19:27:13.173-04:00I hate to admit it, but I never read any of Asimov...I hate to admit it, but I never read any of Asimov's longer works, only a few short stories. So I don't know if it intentionally plays off of any of Foundation's elements. But KSR says in the interview that there are many references to other SF authors in the book.<br /><br />I just finished it today. I found it really fascinating and thought-provoking. Better than Green Mars, I thought. Bursting with ideas. I love the way he takes solar system facts like Mercury's slow rotation or the size of the Olympus Mons volcano on Mars and turns them into story elements or "you are there" descriptive passages. I love the diversity of the many hollow-cylinder asteroid worlds zipping around the solar system (get me fusion propulsion, stat!). He and his characters are not in love with technology by any means, but they are utterly immersed and dependent upon it - as we are. He likes to take long walks in the Sierras. His characters like to take long walks on Mercury. In his 300 year future world, "spacers" are a large and diverse minority, though much of earth remains like now. Spacers are somewhat resented by Terrans. I feel like I could get a lot from thinking more deeply about this book about how to live in this paradox- and contradiction filled world. The thoughts of his characters on how you deal with relationships, long lives, self-reinvention, creativity, and many other things are as interesting as his "world building." I think I may have to read it again!FlyingSingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12015886527228889332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18052302.post-18285484623306614702012-08-04T20:50:33.319-04:002012-08-04T20:50:33.319-04:00Terminator = Terminus? Second Foundation, anyone?...Terminator = Terminus? Second Foundation, anyone? Actually it sounds interesting. I regret that we will not be around in 100 years to see the products that are based on quantum entanglement. Apple will probably have an iPhone named Alice. And it can only call Bob.Craig H Collinshttp://chcollins.com/100Billionnoreply@blogger.com