On 6/9/25 07:45, James Nicoll wrote:
Which 2000 Clarke Award Finalists Have You Read?
Distraction by Bruce Sterling
A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
Silver Screen by Justina Robson
The Bones of Time by Kathleen Ann Goonan
Time by Stephen Baxter
This time, I've read all of them.
I read
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
I quite enjoyed it. A rousing good story of a Marine
who done good!
Here is a phone transcribed section I particularly
appreciated:
(some first read corrections by me have been done.)
ranscribe. From Neil Stevenson's Cryptonomicon.
No one in my family has ever had much power or money, he said.
I think that the point that Charlene's making is, like this, said
Thomas, one of their house guests who had flown in from Prague with his
wife, Nina. He had now appointed himself Conciliator.
He paused long enough to exchange a warm look with Charlene just by
virtue of coming from a scientific family. You are a member of a
privileged Elite. You're not aware of it. But members of privileged
Elites are rarely aware of their privileges.
Randy finished the thought. Until people like you come along to explain
to us how stupid to say nothing of morally bankrupt. We are.
The false Consciousness Thomas is speaking of is exactly what makes
entrenched power Elites so entrenched, Charlene said. Well, I don't feel
very entrenched, Randy said. I've worked my ass off to get where I've
gotten.
A lot of people work hard all their lives and get nowhere, someone said accusingly. Look out the sniping hit begin!
Well, I'm sorry. I haven't had the good grace to get nowhere, Randy
said. Now, feeling just a bit surly for the first time? But I've found
if you work hard. Educate yourself and keep your wits about you. You can
find your way in this Society.
But that's straight out of some 19th century. Rachel Algerbook, Thomas sputtered.
So?
Just because it's an old idea doesn't mean it's wrong, Randy said.
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