## Greg Egan - "In the Ruins" - rational and rationalist.

* Author: u/ArgentStonecutter  *Emergency Mustelid Hologram**
* URL: http://gregegan.customer.netspace.net.au/MISC/RUINS/Ruins.html
* Score: 19

* Created: 2015-07-30T14:51:05

### Post:

[Link to content](http://gregegan.customer.netspace.net.au/MISC/RUINS/Ruins.html)

### Comments:

> **u/Rangi42** [+12]  (3 hours later)
> 
> Heh, "Kardashian type-3 civilization."

>> **u/Transfuturist** [+1]  *Carthago delenda est.* (12 hours later)
>> 
>> Rational Keeping Up.
>> 
>> ...

> **u/None** [+4]  (6 hours later)
> 
> This is easily the most horrifying dystopian satire I've seen since *Brave New World*.

>> **u/PeridexisErrant** [+2]  *put aside fear for courage, and death for life* (9 hours later)
>> 
>> Eh, it could be a lot worse.  Clearly other parts of the world are doing OK, and scientists can still be found...

>>> **u/None** [+1]  (10 hours later)
>>> 
>>> > Eh, it could be a lot worse.
>>> 
>>> Well yes, but that's why it's satire rather than "Everyone's dead, Jim."

>>>> **u/PeridexisErrant** [+2]  *put aside fear for courage, and death for life* (14 hours later)
>>>> 
>>>> I meant more that in most of the classic examples, you get a sense that this is the state of the whole world - eg *1984*, *Brave New World*, etc - whereas here it's just a country that many people don't like anyway.
>>>> 
>>>> I mean, there are *already* very large and powerful countries where things generally suck, and that's normal (for them, which is bad) not a dystopia.

>>>>> **u/None** [+6]  (21 hours later)
>>>>> 
>>>>> Actually, in *1984* we ever saw or heard anything outside the UK.  For all we know, it could have been a North Korea-style failed state.
>>>>> 
>>>>> >I mean, there are already very large and powerful countries where things generally suck, and that's normal (for them, which is bad) not a dystopia. 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Yes, but my original comment was a deliberate exaggeration for effect.

> **u/None** [+4]  (56 minutes later)
> 
> I'm not really a fan of how heavy-handed the story is. It reads as a caricature. And... the word "nerd" apparently bothers him? I mean, I see his point kind of, but I don't feel very persuaded by it. I mostly like Egan though, but I'm afraid the stories I like most are the least rational.

>> **u/ArgentStonecutter** [+7]  *Emergency Mustelid Hologram* (an hour later)
>> 
>> It was the heavy-handedness that reminded me of this subreddit. I mean, you wouldn't describe HPMoR as "subtle" would you? \^\^

>>> **u/BadGoyWithAGun** [+7]  (3 hours later)
>>> 
>>> On the Author Tract scale, HPMOR is right up there with Left Behind.

>> **u/ArisKatsaris** [+5]  *Sidebar Contender* (18 hours later)
>> 
>> > And... the word "nerd" apparently bothers him?
>> 
>> It IS an insult, you know. That some of us use it on ourselves is just like all "reappropriations" of words. Call yourself a nerd all you like, but if you don't consider yourself one, please also don't use it to describe others either -- not unless you want to belittle them.

> **u/hyenagrins** [+2]  (13 hours later)
> 
> From sidebar:
> 
> >  The story is like a puzzle; readers can reach the same solution as the characters by using the information provided earlier in the story.
> 
> The ultimate if a bit crude application of this principle, I stopped mid story and grabbed a piece of paper to work out the solution. And the final connection to higher dimension rotation is undoubtedly satisfying.

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