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Death and the Gorgon - Greg Egan (asimovs.com)
submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by Soyweiser@awful.systems to c/sneerclub@awful.systems
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Begrudgingly Yeast (@begrudginglyyeast.bsky.social) on bsky informed me that I should read this short story called 'Death and the Gorgon' by Greg Egan as he has a good handle on the subjects/subjects we talk about. We have talked about Greg before on Reddit.

I was glad I did, so going to suggest that more people he do it. The only complaint you can have is that it gives no real 'steelman' airtime to the subjects/subjects it is being negative about. But well, he doesn't have to, he isn't the guardian. Anyway, not going to spoil it, best to just give it a read.

And if you are wondering, did the lesswrongers also read it? Of course: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/hx5EkHFH5hGzngZDs/comment-on-death-and-the-gorgon (Warning, spoilers for the story)

(Note im not sure this pdf was intended to be public, I did find it on google, but might not be meant to be accessible this way).

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[-] Amoeba_Girl@awful.systems 7 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

I've avoided reading Greg Egan until like last year because I entirely expected him to be a cold stemlord shithead and people only talk about his earlier books that have more to do with consciousness and identity and stuff, which these days feels very zzzzz, but he is SO COOL and SO FUN!!! He cares in a deep way about people, lived experience, about societies, he loves physics and maths in themselves because they're beautiful and fun and not because they're ways to look smart or reveal the secrets of the universe, his books are very beautiful. Complete opposite of Yud, Scott, nostalgebraist (I have a grudge) et al.'s silly books.

[-] 5teverin0@mastodon.social 2 points 16 hours ago

@Amoeba_Girl @Soyweiser What book(s) of his would you recommend as starters, for those who have not read him?

[-] schrotie@fosstodon.org 2 points 16 hours ago

@5teverin0 @Amoeba_Girl @Soyweiser
First thing I read from him was the short story collection "Luminous" and I still think that's a great entrypoint because it touches on many of his subjects.
I didn't read his more recent works though.

[-] blakestacey@awful.systems 3 points 16 hours ago

I had the Dark Integers story collection, but I lent it to a colleague and they haven't given it back.

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this post was submitted on 13 May 2025
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