Science Fiction

[breepf]

Ursula LeGuin from 2005: "We have been so desensitized

by a hundred and fifty years of ceaselessly expanding technical

prowess that we think nothing less complex and showy than a

computer or a jet bomber deserves to be called “technology” at all.

As if linen were the same thing as flax — as if paper, ink, wheels,

knives, clocks, chairs, aspirin pills, were natural objects, born with

us like our teeth and fingers — as if steel saucepans with copper

bottoms and fleece vests spun from recycled glass grew on trees,

and we just picked them when they were ripe...One way to illustrate

that most technologies are, in fact, pretty “hi,” is to ask yourself of

any manmade object, Do I know how to make one?"

I think Le Guin is correct and, more to the point, I also think this is one reason why her science fiction is almost invariably about the "technology" of reading and storytelling.

 

[Ddseddse]

I have not read it but it’s on the list. My tattoo artist also raved about how good the audio book is- said it’s more like a radio play. It’s not on Spotify though.

Right now I’m finishing a re-read of the Hyperion Cantos. Kind of timely given the focus on humanity’s relationship with AI. I know it’s considered one of the all-time SF greats, but as I’m reading it just seems so ridiculous and ambitious it absolutely shouldn’t work. And yet it does, superbly, on every level possible.

The audio version sounds great! Some books are just perfect for making into audio books and I can see how this one would be. Shame about no Spotify though.

Your description of Hyperion Cantos makes me want to read that too.