alt Hacker NewsThis is one of the books that left me with the most profound sense of unease. And it deserves very high prait for being able to do that.
While people might remember it for other more striking ideas, I was impressed with how it expounds the theory behind the claims that "intelligence implies violence". That entire narrative was quite chilling.
That, and the way the author explains how to establish a means of communication using just... pain.
It's a brilliant book.
Replies
BLKNSLVR • today at 9:48 AM
> intelligence implies violence
Feels like a precursor to the Dark Forest theory.
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exe34 • yesterday at 6:48 PM
I read it every couple of years and it makes me feel weird for several weeks at a time. Like nothing is real, nothing matters, I'm not really here. I eventually snap out of it, but it's an odd feeling.
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It's interesting that "story of your life" By Ted Chiang has also military meeting aliens whom are squids and the process of developing understanding is very very different. One tries to find common understanding, the other uses torture.
Peter Watts has a very dark view of humanity.