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## 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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