Godlike Machines
Jun. 12th, 2008 01:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
adelaideseanI'm absolutely delighted to have had a piece accepted for publication in Godlike Machines, an anthology edited by Jonathan Strahan, featuring Stephen Baxter, Cory Doctorow, Greg Egan, Robert Reed, and Alastair Reynolds.
Part of the Science Fiction Book Club's original anthology series (which includes such wonderful titles as Forbidden Planets, Galactic Empires and Alien Crimes), Godlike Machines is composed entirely of six or so novellas inspired by this particular theme.
Unlike Cenotaxis, "A Glimpse of the Marvellous Structure (and the Threat It Entails)"* isn't set in the Astropolis universe. It taps into a world I first wrote about in 1992, and may yet evolve into something much larger, one day. Weighing in at 24,000 words, this will by my only new "short" work published this year.
I am doing a happy dance, but will spare you a detailed description of that.
* The title, btw, was inspired by the following Einstein quote: "I cannot conceive of a God who rewards and punishes his creatures, or has a will of the kind that we experience in ourselves. Neither can I nor would I want to conceive of an individual that survives his physical death; let feeble souls, from fear or absurd egoism, cherish such thoughts. I am satisfied with the mystery of the eternity of life and with the awareness and a glimpse of the marvelous structure of the existing world, together with the devoted striving to comprehend a portion, be it ever so tiny, of the Reason that manifests itself in nature." Smart fellow, that one.
Part of the Science Fiction Book Club's original anthology series (which includes such wonderful titles as Forbidden Planets, Galactic Empires and Alien Crimes), Godlike Machines is composed entirely of six or so novellas inspired by this particular theme.
Unlike Cenotaxis, "A Glimpse of the Marvellous Structure (and the Threat It Entails)"* isn't set in the Astropolis universe. It taps into a world I first wrote about in 1992, and may yet evolve into something much larger, one day. Weighing in at 24,000 words, this will by my only new "short" work published this year.
I am doing a happy dance, but will spare you a detailed description of that.
* The title, btw, was inspired by the following Einstein quote: "I cannot conceive of a God who rewards and punishes his creatures, or has a will of the kind that we experience in ourselves. Neither can I nor would I want to conceive of an individual that survives his physical death; let feeble souls, from fear or absurd egoism, cherish such thoughts. I am satisfied with the mystery of the eternity of life and with the awareness and a glimpse of the marvelous structure of the existing world, together with the devoted striving to comprehend a portion, be it ever so tiny, of the Reason that manifests itself in nature." Smart fellow, that one.
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no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 05:22 am (UTC)Completists will no doubt be able to pick up the footage of your happy dance on YouTube.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 06:58 am (UTC)For the footage, follow this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAWurnyKZUM) link and pretend that's me.
(One of my favourite songs ever, btw.)
no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 05:59 am (UTC)Only trouble is that bloody SFBC books aren't available outside of Amerikkka, at least until they appear on eBay or wherever. I got Galactic Empires earlier this year via a contact in the US who was willing to order a second copy and take payment from my by PayPal, so I guess there's that - unless you're going to get a stash for local peeps to get direct from you :)
no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 06:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 07:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 07:04 am (UTC)Really looking forward to the new album, btw. And hopefully, depending on your dates, I'll get it to see it live!
no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 08:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-13 12:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-13 02:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 06:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 06:54 am (UTC)He returned to this theme several times:
“What I see in Nature is a magnificent structure that we can comprehend only very imperfectly, and that must fill a thinking person with a feeling of humility. This is a genuinely religious feeling that has nothing to do with mysticism”
“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.”
no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 11:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 11:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 10:29 am (UTC)I'd read the first quote, but not the second. thanks for telling me.
Do you know the story of Einstein nad the mother who wanted her child to be a scientist?
no subject
Date: 2008-06-12 11:27 pm (UTC)I don't. Do tell!
Congratulations!
Date: 2008-06-16 05:47 pm (UTC)Re: Congratulations!
Date: 2008-06-17 03:35 am (UTC)