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Plugged: How Hyperconnectivity and The Beam Changed How We Think
Plugged: How Hyperconnectivity and The Beam Changed How We Think
Are We Who We Were?
Throughout the 21st Century, our world (at least for those of us inside the NAU) has become increasingly connected. So much so that we really are now thinking as a single fluid organism, changing not just how we live our daily lives, but who we are as a species. In Sterling Gibson's newest thoughtful exploration, one of the NAU's most renowned thinkers explores and illuminates how hyperconnectivity and The Beam have changed us forever.
Are We Who We Were?
Throughout the 21st Century, our world (at least for those of us inside the NAU) has become increasingly connected. So much so that we really are now thinking as a single fluid organism, changing not just how we live our daily lives, but who we are as a species. In Sterling Gibson's newest thoughtful exploration, one of the NAU's most renowned thinkers explores and illuminates how hyperconnectivity and The Beam have changed us forever.
- GenresScience Fiction
138 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2013
3 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 10, 2014
I'm a sucker for this kind of book, a fiction written to support another fictional work. A number of authors have done it, most notably to my mind are Fred Saberhagan ('The Dracula Tapes') and Philip Jose Farmer ('The Other Log of Phileas Fog') where they have told parallel stories to some of the great works of speculative fiction written by other authors (Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' and Jules Verne's 'Around the World in Eighty Days' respectively).
This book, 'Plugged' by Sterling Gibson, is slightly different though. It is written as an ancillary book to the science fiction novel, 'The Beam', written by Johnny B Truant and Sean Platt. It is different in two ways. First, Sterling Gibson's name is not only a tip of the hat to two of the greats of the cyberpunk genre, it is also a nom de plume of Truant and Platt. Second, it is purported to be a 'nonfiction' account describing the advances in technology that were required to make the world of 'The Beam' possible.
The first difference might seem a little like blowing one's horn, but as it is a stand-alone book separate from the story of 'The Beam', one might forgive the authors for separating out the exposition that might have weighed down the main story and provided it separately where people like me, who would enjoy the detail, could find it. I'll give the guys props for that.
The second difference I see as an attempt to present the 'facts' in as readable a fashion as possible. The book is written from the point of view of Sterling Gibson, an inhabitant of the North American Union (NAU), in 2097. It explores the world of the fortunate by way of an explanation of the people involved in the development of the NAU and then looks at some of the different lifestyles of the world of 2097.
This idea works well, but I had a few problems with their proposed future history. I won't go into detail, but as an Aussie my main issue is with what happened to my own country. The fate of most of the northern hemisphere was well covered in the book, but nothing at all was mentioned about what happened in Australia and the newly thawed Antarctic territories and the resources they must contain. By the way, the last was said with my tongue firmly in my cheek.
So, I'm going to end this review with a weird sort of caveat: if you like this type of book, I think you will like this book.
This book, 'Plugged' by Sterling Gibson, is slightly different though. It is written as an ancillary book to the science fiction novel, 'The Beam', written by Johnny B Truant and Sean Platt. It is different in two ways. First, Sterling Gibson's name is not only a tip of the hat to two of the greats of the cyberpunk genre, it is also a nom de plume of Truant and Platt. Second, it is purported to be a 'nonfiction' account describing the advances in technology that were required to make the world of 'The Beam' possible.
The first difference might seem a little like blowing one's horn, but as it is a stand-alone book separate from the story of 'The Beam', one might forgive the authors for separating out the exposition that might have weighed down the main story and provided it separately where people like me, who would enjoy the detail, could find it. I'll give the guys props for that.
The second difference I see as an attempt to present the 'facts' in as readable a fashion as possible. The book is written from the point of view of Sterling Gibson, an inhabitant of the North American Union (NAU), in 2097. It explores the world of the fortunate by way of an explanation of the people involved in the development of the NAU and then looks at some of the different lifestyles of the world of 2097.
This idea works well, but I had a few problems with their proposed future history. I won't go into detail, but as an Aussie my main issue is with what happened to my own country. The fate of most of the northern hemisphere was well covered in the book, but nothing at all was mentioned about what happened in Australia and the newly thawed Antarctic territories and the resources they must contain. By the way, the last was said with my tongue firmly in my cheek.
So, I'm going to end this review with a weird sort of caveat: if you like this type of book, I think you will like this book.
October 13, 2017
How to survive total connectivity
I was part of an NPR project focused on reducing connectivity. It was called “Bored and Brilliant”. It was based on the theory that boredom was necessary for creativity, where boredom is the “space” needed to create. You might think (if bored!), Noah West has no boredom. But consider this, where does his thinking come from? For Noah “boredom” goes by so fast, we don’t see it! But at any time in history, the wacky Wests are pulling into the direction that is good for them. There is one, and only one, proven method to save the rest of us, and that is religion. “Plugged” will sow you the alternative.
I was part of an NPR project focused on reducing connectivity. It was called “Bored and Brilliant”. It was based on the theory that boredom was necessary for creativity, where boredom is the “space” needed to create. You might think (if bored!), Noah West has no boredom. But consider this, where does his thinking come from? For Noah “boredom” goes by so fast, we don’t see it! But at any time in history, the wacky Wests are pulling into the direction that is good for them. There is one, and only one, proven method to save the rest of us, and that is religion. “Plugged” will sow you the alternative.
May 23, 2014
Plugged is a fictional history through the year 2097 set in the world of The Beam. According to the "author" the book is following the "here is my theory, and here are the facts to back it up" style of exposition, while in reality the authors were using it as a method of world-building and providing the fans with more background information without bogging down the series itself with endless exposition. In both instances, the book works fantastically.
If you haven't read The Beam then I recommend reading that ahead of time; many of the concepts and events in this book are at least mentioned or implied and knowing where this book is going to end up (as the fictional intended audience already would, as they live in that world of 2097) will lead to enjoying the book more than just coming into it cold.
One thing that I did miss, however, was the introduction of Respero (it's need, it's implementation, it's consequences, etc) which isn't touched on at all, and would have enjoyed more information about the AI Clerics although in the context of this book I think that mentioning them was probably enough.
Hopefully in the future there can be other "non-fiction" or persuasive books or short stories published by the folks in the future in this world to further flesh things out; for example, an invitation to the Church of West would be fun to read.
Merged review:
I've now read this book a good half dozen times; more, really. I read it originally when I bought the book after it went on sale, then read it again as I was recording the audiobook after getting hired for that edition of it. Then I listened to the audiobook multiple times while proofing, plus re-reading for parts I had to rerecord, then proofing it again...
So, I've read and listened to this book a bunch of times. :)
If you haven't read The Beam then I recommend reading that ahead of time; many of the concepts and events in this book are at least mentioned or implied and knowing where this book is going to end up (as the fictional intended audience already would, as they live in that world of 2097) will lead to enjoying the book more than just coming into it cold.
One thing that I did miss, however, was the introduction of Respero (it's need, it's implementation, it's consequences, etc) which isn't touched on at all, and would have enjoyed more information about the AI Clerics although in the context of this book I think that mentioning them was probably enough.
Hopefully in the future there can be other "non-fiction" or persuasive books or short stories published by the folks in the future in this world to further flesh things out; for example, an invitation to the Church of West would be fun to read.
Merged review:
I've now read this book a good half dozen times; more, really. I read it originally when I bought the book after it went on sale, then read it again as I was recording the audiobook after getting hired for that edition of it. Then I listened to the audiobook multiple times while proofing, plus re-reading for parts I had to rerecord, then proofing it again...
So, I've read and listened to this book a bunch of times. :)
July 12, 2015
This book itself is an interesting concept.
It is referred to in "The Beam" series by Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant.
So it is a book, that was mentioned in another book, and was subsequently released as a supplement to that book.
The authors use it as a tool to enrich and build upon the universe presented in "The Beam", which it does well.
Plus they decided to name the fictitious author of "Plugged" Sterling Gibson, which is a tip of the hat to authors that influenced them.
"Plugged" isn't requisite reading for fans of "The Beam", but it does add another layer to the narrative and elaborates on the events and concepts in Episodes 1 and 2 of "The Beam".
It is referred to in "The Beam" series by Sean Platt and Johnny B. Truant.
So it is a book, that was mentioned in another book, and was subsequently released as a supplement to that book.
The authors use it as a tool to enrich and build upon the universe presented in "The Beam", which it does well.
Plus they decided to name the fictitious author of "Plugged" Sterling Gibson, which is a tip of the hat to authors that influenced them.
"Plugged" isn't requisite reading for fans of "The Beam", but it does add another layer to the narrative and elaborates on the events and concepts in Episodes 1 and 2 of "The Beam".
November 7, 2015
Plugged is a thought-provoking work of science fiction and a helpful companion to The Beam Series by Platt and Truant. It looks at how technology evolved, changed the way people think, how it affected their lives, and the nightmare of a future they experienced when the powers that be used it for their own evil purposes. Plugged, written as a history of The Beam saga, is both a captivating and frightening read.
December 12, 2014
Such a clever book! If you're a fan of The Beam by the authors Platt and Truant, this is a smart companion piece that explains more of the world of The Beam. A fake history book for a fake world...how cool is that?
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews