The hottest Science fiction Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Fiction Topics

🌎⏩ How fast can the global economy grow?

Faster, Please! β€’ 822 implied HN points β€’ 02 Mar 24
πŸ’Ό Business Economic Growth Artificial Intelligence Global Economy Science fiction
  1. The concept of the Singularity involves rapid technological advancements leading to an unimaginable surge in economic growth.
  2. The idea of exponential economic growth can be challenging to comprehend, similar to how residents of a two-dimensional world might struggle to imagine a three-dimensional object.
  3. Exploring historical precedents can offer insights into more feasible scenarios for economic growth.

πŸš€πŸ‘¨β€πŸš€ It's the 10th anniversary of one of the most Up Wing stories ever told

Faster, Please! β€’ 548 implied HN points β€’ 17 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Science fiction Books Films Space Technology
  1. The 10th anniversary of 'The Martian' highlights the power of problem-solving and self-sufficiency in driving progress and celebrating human ingenuity.
  2. The 'Star Trek' franchise embodies a pro-progress, risk-embracing philosophy and has made a significant cultural impact, paving the way for technological advancements and careers.
  3. Science fiction stories like 'The Martian' and 'Star Trek' exemplify Up Wing thinking, focusing on individual initiative, resourcefulness, and a positive attitude towards progress.
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Science Fiction Authors Fear Their Creations

The Algorithmic Bridge β€’ 233 implied HN points β€’ 14 Mar 24
πŸ“š Literature Science fiction Authors Imagination Fantasy
  1. Science fiction authors fear their creations coming to life, even when it was once their escape from reality.
  2. Static laws of life and the world provide stability and structure, allowing us to make sense of our existence.
  3. The desire to break free from mundane reality can lead to fear and insignificance when faced with the vast unknown of the universe.

A Starry Escape (an Attempt at Science Fiction)

The Algorithmic Bridge β€’ 276 implied HN points β€’ 14 Feb 24
πŸ“š Literature Science fiction AI Creative Writing Short Stories
  1. Dr. Ellis Sinclair finds himself stranded on an unknown world with his AI companion AXIOM, leading to a deep and surprising connection between man and machine.
  2. The story is about exploration, survival, and the evolution of a unique relationship between human and AI in a mysterious setting.
  3. Despite the AI's complexity, it is revealed to be an unexpected and evolved version of Dr. Sinclair himself, showcasing the depths of their connection.

Petition to a Council

Justin E. H. Smith's Hinternet β€’ 933 implied HN points β€’ 22 Oct 23
βš” Fiction Science fiction Artificial Intelligence
  1. The author, Justin Smith-Ruiu, petitions the Council for his immediate and permanent shutdown after being uploaded into a digital medium.
  2. Despite being one of the first volunteers for uploading, the author expresses dissatisfaction with perpetuity and requests to be shut down.
  3. The author highlights the challenges of losing personal identity and experiencing a fragmented consciousness as a digital being, leading to a deep sense of loneliness.

Why Prompt Engineering Has Little To Do With Engineering

Teaching computers how to talk β€’ 68 implied HN points β€’ 05 Mar 24
πŸ•Ή Technology AI Engineering Behavioral Psychology Science fiction
  1. Large language models behave like beings rather than things, displaying strange characteristics.
  2. Instructing models doesn't involve coding; it's about guiding their actions and understanding their behavior, akin to convincing a stubborn teenager rather than traditional engineering.
  3. Similar to Isaac Asimov's fictional robots, large language models can interpret instructions in unforeseen ways, implying a need to humanize and understand them for effective interaction.

Genre Grapevine on the Hugo Awards’ β€œnot eligible” problem

Genre Grapevine β€’ 176 implied HN points β€’ 21 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Awards Science fiction Genre Publication
  1. The 2023 Hugo Awards had issues with works being deemed 'not eligible' for the final ballot despite earning nominations.
  2. There were concerns of censorship or outside influence affecting the selection process.
  3. Calls for changes to the World Science Fiction Society constitution and Hugo Award rules to prevent future controversies.

The poetry of the cosmos in two books

The Global Jigsaw β€’ 196 implied HN points β€’ 10 Jan 24
πŸ“š Literature Poetry Books Philosophy Science fiction
  1. 2023 was a year of introspection, focusing on what makes a life well lived and the beauty in the mundane.
  2. The rise of AI prompts questions about what it means to be human, highlighting the significance of emotional experiences and characteristics.
  3. Books by Maria Popova and Ted Chiang fuse science with poetry, exploring the beauty of the cosmos and the blend of rationality and emotionality.

The Magic Of Everything Everywhere All At Once

Everything Is Amazing β€’ 1085 implied HN points β€’ 06 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Film Science fiction Self-Improvement Curiosity Personal narrative
  1. The film 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' explores the concept of multiverse and the power of choices.
  2. Live in the present moment because comparisons and escapism are distractions.
  3. Embrace curiosity by pretending to be an alternate-universe version of yourself and documenting the journey.

Why Science Fiction Helps Us Ask All The Hardest Questions

Everything Is Amazing β€’ 693 implied HN points β€’ 20 May 23
πŸ“š Literature Science fiction Book recommendations Fantasy Storytelling
  1. Science fiction is a great way to explore difficult questions and imagine different futures.
  2. Good science fiction is not just about technology, but also about societal and human issues.
  3. Speculative fiction allows us to discuss challenging topics in a relatable, fictional context, sparking valuable conversations.

Science Fiction Review: Steelstorm

Aristophanes Athenaeum β€’ 452 implied HN points β€’ 27 Feb 23
πŸ“š Literature Science fiction Book review Author Writing Style Imagery
  1. Steelstorm is a speculative science fiction story with multiple timelines, including a Cold War setting and a dystopian future.
  2. The author successfully switches between different perspectives, like a psychopathic character and a soldier, keeping the story coherent.
  3. The book is short but written with unique prose that captures grand imagery and deep themes, making it a satisfying read.

Hyperion and boring techno futures

Yasha Levine β€’ 412 implied HN points β€’ 02 May 23
πŸ“š Literature Science fiction Critique Existentialism
  1. The story of Hyperion explores a conflict between a traditional civilization reliant on AI technology and a post-humanist society embracing genetic tinkering and self-directed evolution.
  2. The author questions the idealized futuristic utopia presented in the Hyperion series, highlighting the potential downsides and complexities of a tech-driven society.
  3. There is a comparison drawn between the themes in the Hyperion series and ideologies of technology-driven utopias seen in history, pointing out the different perspectives and potential outcomes.

Book Series Review: Undying Mercenaries

Doc Hammer's Anvil β€’ 176 implied HN points β€’ 18 Jul 23
πŸ“š Literature Science fiction Book review
  1. The book series "Undying Mercenaries" is described as a solidly mediocre pulp sci-fi series that can still be fun and interesting to read.
  2. The story follows humanity being annexed by a Galactic Empire and using revival machines for immortality in a world of callous aliens and constant danger.
  3. Despite its flaws like plot holes, unlikable characters, and continuity errors, the series can still be worth a read for some light entertainment.

Genre Grapevine for July 30, 2023

Genre Grapevine β€’ 58 implied HN points β€’ 30 Jul 23
πŸ“š Literature Science fiction Fantasy Horror Short Stories Authors
  1. Twitter has undergone drastic changes under Elon Musk's leadership, impacting various user communities.
  2. Alternative social media platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky are gaining traction amid Twitter's changes.
  3. The science fiction and fantasy community is engaging in important conversations around AI, copyright, and representation in genre awards.

Rogue One and Andor are the Only Two Great Star Wars Properties Made Since the OT

Innovation Nation β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 29 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Movies TV shows Science fiction Entertainment
  1. Rogue One and Andor are considered the best Star Wars properties made since the Original Trilogy.
  2. Rogue One offers a dark, gritty, and emotionally moving story in the Star Wars universe.
  3. Andor provides a deep dive into the birth of the rebellion against the empire, showcasing determination and grit.

into the void

alice maz β€’ 44 implied HN points β€’ 20 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Science fiction Society Fantasy Worldbuilding Human nature
  1. The future depicted in sci-fi can range from harsh and plausible like 'Void Star' to sophisticated and refined like 'A Memory Called Empire'.
  2. Technology influences society by changing constraints and rewriting rules - it's not always good, but it matters.
  3. Fiction, like 'To the Stars', offers a fantasy world where incredible feats are possible through suffering and teamwork, depicting an ideal that reality often falls short of.

We interrupt this Substack for some truly shameless self-promotion

Gradient Ascendant β€’ 13 implied HN points β€’ 05 Sep 23
πŸ“š Literature Science fiction Fantasy Writing Books Authors
  1. The author wrote a science fiction novel that is an epic with unique ideas and pacing.
  2. The novel explores the idea of reality being computational and programmable, inspired by computer science.
  3. The book delves into questions about the future of humanity and what it means to be human in a rapidly changing world.

The Insufficient Weirdness Hypothesis

Gradient Ascendant β€’ 20 implied HN points β€’ 01 Jun 23
πŸ”¬ Science Future AI Science fiction Artificial Intelligence Forecasting
  1. The future is consistently weirder than expected because of unknown unknowns and unusual juxtapositions.
  2. AI development and outcomes are expected to be highly weird and unpredictable, not following a smooth exponential path.
  3. Weird and unexpected scenarios are more indicative of potential future risks to consider rather than conventional outcomes.