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There Is No Antimemetics Division (2018)

(qntm.org)
728 points squircle | 8 comments | 12 Aug 24 13:37 UTC | HN request time: 1.324s | source | bottom
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mopierotti ◴[12 Aug 24 15:07 UTC] No.41225298[source]▶
I sent out about 8 copies of this book to friends/relatives for christmas a couple years ago, and it was very well received. It's not without flaws, but it's absolutely packed with novel concepts, relatively short, and provides a unique experience for unsuspecting readers. The physical book cover is quite good looking as well in my opinion.

I also loved Ra by the same author, but it felt a little messier plot-wise, so I hesitate to recommend it to an audience who isn't already accustomed to reading "out-there" online/sci-fi/rationalist fiction.

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LoganDark ◴[12 Aug 24 16:46 UTC] No.41226530[source]▶
I love Ra. (also Fine Structure.) I don't think the plot is necessarily that much messier as much as it is more complex.

As in, this is super mega nerd shit. Unless you can relate things you're reading to things you've read before, it won't make too much sense to you. But if you're constructing a theory of the book's universe and story as you read, it's downright addictive.

I don't know where to find more books like those but I really, really want to.

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1. mopierotti ◴[12 Aug 24 17:09 UTC] No.41226818[source]▶
True, perhaps "messy" was the wrong word. I think what I was trying to get at was that I feel "There Is No Antimemetics Division" is more accessible for the average reader -- More narrowly focused, with a more immediate hook.

Regarding recommendations similar to Ra, it's not exactly the same thing, but https://unsongbook.com/ is fantastic and has a similar flavor I think.

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2. epiccoleman ◴[12 Aug 24 17:38 UTC] No.41227152[source]▶
Unsong is one of my favorite books ever, and the newly released print edition has some nice changes to the "base model" that I enjoyed a lot. The book honestly changed the way I thought about religion. It's fantastic.

(also, I liked Antimemetics, but not Ra, so I will just say I think unsong is leaps and bounds better than Ra)

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3. LoganDark ◴[12 Aug 24 20:57 UTC] No.41229245[source]▶
> Regarding recommendations similar to Ra, it's not exactly the same thing, but https://unsongbook.com/ is fantastic and has a similar flavor I think.

The religious references on the actual website (and lack of much real explanation) made it very difficult for me to give it a chance, but I looked it up a bit and it seems like there is more to it than that, so maybe I'll give it a try.

edit: reading the first chapter definitely changed my first impression. It definitely has many similarities to qntm's writing. I will certainly be reading more...

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4. cwillu ◴[12 Aug 24 23:59 UTC] No.41230721[source]▶
“Why would God do that?”

“STOP TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE WILL OF GOD,” said Uriel. “IT NEVER HELPS.” --the archangel Uriel

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5. LoganDark ◴[13 Aug 24 09:00 UTC] No.41233634{3}[source]▶
Probably one of my favorite parts so far:

> "Are you all right?" Sohu finally asked.

> "I WAS TRYING TO WIGGLE MY EARS."

> Sohu wiggled her ears again.

> "YOU ARE VERY INTERESTING."

> "So will you teach me the kabbalah?"

> "NO."

it's so cute!! I love this

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6. mopierotti ◴[14 Aug 24 22:23 UTC] No.41251163{4}[source]▶
You might be the first person that I've recommended Unsong to that actually gave it a chance. :)
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7. LoganDark ◴[15 Aug 24 01:40 UTC] No.41252412{5}[source]▶
That's probably because the website doesn't have any hook at all! I had to google the book and find a summary of it in order to actually get curious. Then the first few paragraphs into the first chapter, it had already gotten me. The writing style is almost exactly like that of Ra. And it has over 70 chapters. wonderful!!

also, I love how many references it makes to actual programming; it's always hilarious to see Uriel explaining code bugs in reality.

8. LoganDark ◴[15 Aug 24 16:10 UTC] No.41257608[source]▶
I think Unsong is less math/physics and more just mega nerd. But it has a very very similar vibe. I love it so far (on chapter 20 or so right now).