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Stones of Significance
Heard of the "Singularity"? A time of transition that some perceive just ahead of us, when our skill and knowledge and immense computing power transform us into... well... godlike beings? An immense topic! But from a writer's perspective, it presents a problem. One can write stories leading up to the singularity, about all the problems. (Little things like rebellious AI.) But how do you write a tale set AFTER the singularity has happened?
Never one to refuse a challenge, that's exactly the topic of "Stones of Significance."
Never one to refuse a challenge, that's exactly the topic of "Stones of Significance."
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2011
16 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
About the author
David Brin
330 books3,308 followersDavid Brin is a scientist, speaker, and world-known author. His novels have been New York Times Bestsellers, winning multiple Hugo, Nebula and other awards. At least a dozen have been translated into more than twenty languages.
Existence, his latest novel, offers an unusual scenario for first contact. His ecological thriller, Earth, foreshadowed global warming, cyberwarfare and near-future trends such as the World Wide Web. A movie, directed by Kevin Costner, was loosely based on his post-apocalyptic novel, The Postman. Startide Rising won the Hugo and Nebula Awards for best novel. The Uplift War also won the Hugo Award.
His non-fiction book -- The Transparent Society: Will Technology Force Us to Choose Between Freedom and Privacy? -- deals with secrecy in the modern world. It won the Freedom of Speech Prize from the American Library Association.
Brin serves on advisory committees dealing with subjects as diverse as national defense and homeland security, astronomy and space exploration, SETI, nanotechnology, and philanthropy.
David appears frequently on TV, including "The Universe" and on the History Channel's "Life After People."
Full and updated at:
http://www.davidbrin.com/biography.htm
Existence, his latest novel, offers an unusual scenario for first contact. His ecological thriller, Earth, foreshadowed global warming, cyberwarfare and near-future trends such as the World Wide Web. A movie, directed by Kevin Costner, was loosely based on his post-apocalyptic novel, The Postman. Startide Rising won the Hugo and Nebula Awards for best novel. The Uplift War also won the Hugo Award.
His non-fiction book -- The Transparent Society: Will Technology Force Us to Choose Between Freedom and Privacy? -- deals with secrecy in the modern world. It won the Freedom of Speech Prize from the American Library Association.
Brin serves on advisory committees dealing with subjects as diverse as national defense and homeland security, astronomy and space exploration, SETI, nanotechnology, and philanthropy.
David appears frequently on TV, including "The Universe" and on the History Channel's "Life After People."
Full and updated at:
http://www.davidbrin.com/biography.htm
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 30, 2016
A post-singularity Zen Master/researcher type who specializes in creating detailed AI simulations receives a delegation from a group who believes that simulations should be entitled to all the basic 'human' rights of other citizens (or recognized beings.)
Successful science fiction, I feel, wraps groundbreaking and interesting ideas into a compelling story. This piece had the ideas (and I'll take the 'author's notes' claim that they felt much more groundbreaking in 1998, when this was first published, in stride - it did come out a year before The Matrix, after all). However, the plot elements felt like no more than a flimsy skeleton to hang an essay on.
Successful science fiction, I feel, wraps groundbreaking and interesting ideas into a compelling story. This piece had the ideas (and I'll take the 'author's notes' claim that they felt much more groundbreaking in 1998, when this was first published, in stride - it did come out a year before The Matrix, after all). However, the plot elements felt like no more than a flimsy skeleton to hang an essay on.
April 10, 2015
Stones of (some) Significance
This was an interesting diversion, read over two lunch times. It poses some well developed ideas about evolution as it applies to both man and machines. Worth a quick read if you have some spare time and want a diversion.
This was an interesting diversion, read over two lunch times. It poses some well developed ideas about evolution as it applies to both man and machines. Worth a quick read if you have some spare time and want a diversion.
December 24, 2020
It genuinely surprised me!
I demand a lot of a Sci Fi book, and few are the author that I enjoy. Really the huge ones as Clarke, Asimov and Bradbury.
This book has a remarkably interesting and utterly unique history, highly creative and an end that should be obvious, but it isn't. You really don't think at it and it surprises at the and.
I positively recommend to Hard Sci Fi fans!
Pity it's too short...
I demand a lot of a Sci Fi book, and few are the author that I enjoy. Really the huge ones as Clarke, Asimov and Bradbury.
This book has a remarkably interesting and utterly unique history, highly creative and an end that should be obvious, but it isn't. You really don't think at it and it surprises at the and.
I positively recommend to Hard Sci Fi fans!
Pity it's too short...
April 11, 2018
A short post-singularity story on the difficulty of being a deity, on the question of whether to grant simulated people rights.
February 15, 2019
Wow. Beautiful rendering of a post-Singularity existence, still easily comprehended. Mind-stretching and believable.
April 6, 2019
Meh
Really just a speculative piece without a good resolution. The matrix without neo. It's predictable and then ends. It was really the authors variant on a common thought.
Really just a speculative piece without a good resolution. The matrix without neo. It's predictable and then ends. It was really the authors variant on a common thought.
August 4, 2024
Some interesting ideas, but I could see the 'wist' a mile away.
March 2, 2012
David Brin is hands down my favorite modern science fiction writer. Like the masters of old he can write any length of story and make it good. I especially like his short stories as they are usually easy reads with good stories, but the ideas behind them stick with you for years. If you like this story check out his collection of short stories in "River of Time", you won't be disappointed.
July 20, 2014
I liked the hard science tack of this book while at the same time keeping the social aspects that make good science fiction.
While the ending might be a little bit too foreshadowed it is still a very enjoyable story.
While the ending might be a little bit too foreshadowed it is still a very enjoyable story.
May 7, 2015
Would a well-made computer simulation of a person be alive? And how do we know we aren't simulations ourselves? This is the type of question asked in this very entertaining and thought-provoking story.
January 25, 2012
Interesting short story on the Singularity. We may be just living in someone else's simulation...
June 11, 2014
Love these types of stories as they touch topics I often find myself occupied with. Highly recommended.
January 17, 2014
David Brin has such a way with vision and a clarity of words that make reading his work a true pleasure for the soul. This story is an amazing adventure of thought and exploration.
January 25, 2012
A fun, memorable, short story about the Singularity and artificial life.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews