12-02-2014, 10:20 PM
This thread is so useful to create a reading list from 
I have a long haul flight next week, definitely going to be dipping in here to top up my kindle. A long those lines perhaps we should sticky this thread?
In either case two more additions:
Transmetropolitan - a cyberpunk graphic novel with a lot of transhumanist tropes and dark humour. Concerns a writer/journalist who is called back into "the City" after living as a hermit in the hills. First volume deals with corruption, rise of cults and conflict between ordinary citizens and those trying to change their species with technology.
Ancillary Justice - only half way through this one but it's an excellent story about an ex-warship, now in human form, looking for revenge. It's quite a deep book, despite focusing on the military of an imperialist empire there's little fighting. When there is the story focuses on the emotional fallout, the nature of military obedience and complicity in atrocity. There aren't many ideas that haven't been seen before but they are extremely well executed. Two big examples: the warship main character inhabits not only the ship but also scores of bodies. The writing style effortlessly deals with different bodies having different conversations in different places in a way that's easy to follow. Another aspect of this universe is that the main empire has no real concept of gender, as the story is written in a language that does have one the main character refers to everyone as "she" even if they are male.
I have a long haul flight next week, definitely going to be dipping in here to top up my kindle. A long those lines perhaps we should sticky this thread?In either case two more additions:
Transmetropolitan - a cyberpunk graphic novel with a lot of transhumanist tropes and dark humour. Concerns a writer/journalist who is called back into "the City" after living as a hermit in the hills. First volume deals with corruption, rise of cults and conflict between ordinary citizens and those trying to change their species with technology.
Ancillary Justice - only half way through this one but it's an excellent story about an ex-warship, now in human form, looking for revenge. It's quite a deep book, despite focusing on the military of an imperialist empire there's little fighting. When there is the story focuses on the emotional fallout, the nature of military obedience and complicity in atrocity. There aren't many ideas that haven't been seen before but they are extremely well executed. Two big examples: the warship main character inhabits not only the ship but also scores of bodies. The writing style effortlessly deals with different bodies having different conversations in different places in a way that's easy to follow. Another aspect of this universe is that the main empire has no real concept of gender, as the story is written in a language that does have one the main character refers to everyone as "she" even if they are male.
OA Wish list:
- DNI
- Internal medical system
- A dormbot, because domestic chores suck!