What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech
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@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
Any one have a book recommendation for something sci-fi but also fantasy? Anything good in that space?
They're in the B range of books, but L.E. Modesitt's Timegod series might fit that category. Sort of. I think you're going to have to go to books written prior to 2000 or so to find a space where people thought more imaginatively. Most writers today feel that they have to thoroughly explain their worlds and have them hang together, so it is difficult to find blendings of magic and SciFi.
I'm trying to find examples of it done well because my friend and I are designing an isometric RPG together for fun that fits that genre. The more I find, the more ideas I'll have about how it should be done. Thanks!
So you want a technical world where magic works? Or a fallen magical society where technology is their past?
More like Cyberpunk with mysticism/religion that is "real" -- affecting peoples digital selves. It's still being developed though. A lot could change. I'd have to figure out how to deal with people who have no enhancements in a creative way mechanically within the game rather than making them immune or simply never including a character that is au natural.
And...digital selves, meaning a Shadowrun type interface where a person is effectively completely in the virtual world when they're jacked in?
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@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
Any one have a book recommendation for something sci-fi but also fantasy? Anything good in that space?
They're in the B range of books, but L.E. Modesitt's Timegod series might fit that category. Sort of. I think you're going to have to go to books written prior to 2000 or so to find a space where people thought more imaginatively. Most writers today feel that they have to thoroughly explain their worlds and have them hang together, so it is difficult to find blendings of magic and SciFi.
I'm trying to find examples of it done well because my friend and I are designing an isometric RPG together for fun that fits that genre. The more I find, the more ideas I'll have about how it should be done. Thanks!
So you want a technical world where magic works? Or a fallen magical society where technology is their past?
More like Cyberpunk with mysticism/religion that is "real" -- affecting peoples digital selves. It's still being developed though. A lot could change. I'd have to figure out how to deal with people who have no enhancements in a creative way mechanically within the game rather than making them immune or simply never including a character that is au natural.
And...digital selves, meaning a Shadowrun type interface where a person is effectively completely in the virtual world when they're jacked in?
Or Johnny Mnemonic. Yeah sort of.
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@kelly I want to add in some interesting mini-games that are not necessary but benefit you a lot in the game. Like hacking corporations in a netrunner inspired hacking simulation. The asset you access can be sold, creating side quests that can go well or very poorly depending. Stuff like that
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@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly I want to add in some interesting mini-games that are not necessary but benefit you a lot in the game. Like hacking corporations in a netrunner inspired hacking simulation. The asset you access can be sold, creating side quests that can go well or very poorly depending. Stuff like that
Well, you have Clarke's third law to lean on. All you have to do then is clothe the character's technical actions in religious trappings and it becomes a mystical act in character. I'm not sure what you mean by a person without enhancements. Would they not be able to jack in then, or is the level of a person's "holiness" measured by the number of cybernetics they sport?
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@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly I want to add in some interesting mini-games that are not necessary but benefit you a lot in the game. Like hacking corporations in a netrunner inspired hacking simulation. The asset you access can be sold, creating side quests that can go well or very poorly depending. Stuff like that
Well, you have Clarke's first law to lean on. All you have to do then is clothe the character's technical actions in religious trappings and it becomes a mystical act in character. I'm not sure what you mean by a person without enhancements. Would they not be able to jack in then, or is the level of a person's "holiness" measured by the number of cybernetics they sport?
I meant if "magic" is only manifested inside of this digital world humans created, it stands to reason that a person that is normal, ie un-upgraded/zero enhacements would be completely unaffected by it. This creates problems mechanically within the game. If I do go with religion, which is the plan right now, I think the more cybernetic you are the more it shows your dedication
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@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly I want to add in some interesting mini-games that are not necessary but benefit you a lot in the game. Like hacking corporations in a netrunner inspired hacking simulation. The asset you access can be sold, creating side quests that can go well or very poorly depending. Stuff like that
Well, you have Clarke's first law to lean on. All you have to do then is clothe the character's technical actions in religious trappings and it becomes a mystical act in character. I'm not sure what you mean by a person without enhancements. Would they not be able to jack in then, or is the level of a person's "holiness" measured by the number of cybernetics they sport?
I meant if "magic" is only manifested inside of this digital world humans created, it stands to reason that a person that is normal, ie un-upgraded/zero enhacements would be completely unaffected by it. This creates problems mechanically within the game
Why does it have to only manifest in the digital world? If a person has the implants to transfer their consciousness to a digital world wouldn't they also have the capabilities to affect systems in the real world? Or, if they don't "jack in" or are digital athiests they could still have the means (perhaps not cybernetic) to alter external systems. E.g. shutdown security systems, overload power conduits, etc.
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@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly I want to add in some interesting mini-games that are not necessary but benefit you a lot in the game. Like hacking corporations in a netrunner inspired hacking simulation. The asset you access can be sold, creating side quests that can go well or very poorly depending. Stuff like that
Well, you have Clarke's first law to lean on. All you have to do then is clothe the character's technical actions in religious trappings and it becomes a mystical act in character. I'm not sure what you mean by a person without enhancements. Would they not be able to jack in then, or is the level of a person's "holiness" measured by the number of cybernetics they sport?
I meant if "magic" is only manifested inside of this digital world humans created, it stands to reason that a person that is normal, ie un-upgraded/zero enhacements would be completely unaffected by it. This creates problems mechanically within the game
Why does it have to only manifest in the digital world? If a person has the implants to transfer their consciousness to a digital world wouldn't they also have the capabilities to affect systems in the real world? Or, if they don't "jack in" or are digital athiests they could still have the means (perhaps not cybernetic) to alter external systems. E.g. shutdown security systems, overload power conduits, etc.
Going back to another L. E. Modesitt book, the Parafaith War, he has something happen like that except it is a person from a more advanced society using his implants to attack and subvert the systems in a church in order to alter their religion.
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@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly I want to add in some interesting mini-games that are not necessary but benefit you a lot in the game. Like hacking corporations in a netrunner inspired hacking simulation. The asset you access can be sold, creating side quests that can go well or very poorly depending. Stuff like that
Well, you have Clarke's first law to lean on. All you have to do then is clothe the character's technical actions in religious trappings and it becomes a mystical act in character. I'm not sure what you mean by a person without enhancements. Would they not be able to jack in then, or is the level of a person's "holiness" measured by the number of cybernetics they sport?
I meant if "magic" is only manifested inside of this digital world humans created, it stands to reason that a person that is normal, ie un-upgraded/zero enhacements would be completely unaffected by it. This creates problems mechanically within the game
Why does it have to only manifest in the digital world? If a person has the implants to transfer their consciousness to a digital world wouldn't they also have the capabilities to affect systems in the real world? Or, if they don't "jack in" or are digital athiests they could still have the means (perhaps not cybernetic) to alter external systems. E.g. shutdown security systems, overload power conduits, etc.
Yes but that's not exactly what I mean. Let's put it in D&D terms. If I cast fireball on you, it's a physical thing that hits an area. It's "real". In this game, it's not a physical thing unless I want to make it physical. It's kind a question of how I want to flavor magic within the game. Nothing about that would stop them from being able to hack systems and bring stuff down etc.
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@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly I want to add in some interesting mini-games that are not necessary but benefit you a lot in the game. Like hacking corporations in a netrunner inspired hacking simulation. The asset you access can be sold, creating side quests that can go well or very poorly depending. Stuff like that
Well, you have Clarke's first law to lean on. All you have to do then is clothe the character's technical actions in religious trappings and it becomes a mystical act in character. I'm not sure what you mean by a person without enhancements. Would they not be able to jack in then, or is the level of a person's "holiness" measured by the number of cybernetics they sport?
I meant if "magic" is only manifested inside of this digital world humans created, it stands to reason that a person that is normal, ie un-upgraded/zero enhacements would be completely unaffected by it. This creates problems mechanically within the game
Why does it have to only manifest in the digital world? If a person has the implants to transfer their consciousness to a digital world wouldn't they also have the capabilities to affect systems in the real world? Or, if they don't "jack in" or are digital athiests they could still have the means (perhaps not cybernetic) to alter external systems. E.g. shutdown security systems, overload power conduits, etc.
Yes but that's not exactly what I mean. Let's put it in D&D terms. If I cast fireball on you, it's a physical thing that hits an area. It's "real". In this game, it's not a physical thing unless I want to make it physical. It's kind a question of how I want to flavor magic within the game. Nothing about that would stop them from being able to hack systems and bring stuff down etc.
I'm probably not getting a full picture of what you're going for, but it sounds like a narrative problem and not a mechanical one (at least not yet).
Why would a cyber-athiest care about the magic of a digital world if they can just shoot one of the faithful? What level of separation are you thinking there would be between the digital and real? It is very hard to emphasize both. You can have a real world that impinges on the digital one (Ready Player One), or a digital one that impinges on the real (can't think of an example right off), but having both be as important as the other gets to be pretty hard to encompass within one game/story.
Going back to how you can narratively establish cybernetics being able to extend magical powers, nanites are an incredibly useful means to make this happen. Cybermage casts fireball. Actually, he is expelling high speed nanites who fly at his target and create a brief plasma globe around the target and immolating themselves in the process.
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@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly I want to add in some interesting mini-games that are not necessary but benefit you a lot in the game. Like hacking corporations in a netrunner inspired hacking simulation. The asset you access can be sold, creating side quests that can go well or very poorly depending. Stuff like that
Well, you have Clarke's first law to lean on. All you have to do then is clothe the character's technical actions in religious trappings and it becomes a mystical act in character. I'm not sure what you mean by a person without enhancements. Would they not be able to jack in then, or is the level of a person's "holiness" measured by the number of cybernetics they sport?
I meant if "magic" is only manifested inside of this digital world humans created, it stands to reason that a person that is normal, ie un-upgraded/zero enhacements would be completely unaffected by it. This creates problems mechanically within the game
Why does it have to only manifest in the digital world? If a person has the implants to transfer their consciousness to a digital world wouldn't they also have the capabilities to affect systems in the real world? Or, if they don't "jack in" or are digital athiests they could still have the means (perhaps not cybernetic) to alter external systems. E.g. shutdown security systems, overload power conduits, etc.
Yes but that's not exactly what I mean. Let's put it in D&D terms. If I cast fireball on you, it's a physical thing that hits an area. It's "real". In this game, it's not a physical thing unless I want to make it physical. It's kind a question of how I want to flavor magic within the game. Nothing about that would stop them from being able to hack systems and bring stuff down etc.
I'm probably not getting a full picture of what you're going for, but it sounds like a narrative problem and not a mechanical one (at least not yet).
Why would a cyber-athiest care about the magic of a digital world if they can just shoot one of the faithful? What level of separation are you thinking there would be between the digital and real? It is very hard to emphasize both. You can have a real world that impinges on the digital one (Ready Player One), or a digital one that impinges on the real (can't think of an example right off), but having both be as important as the other gets to be pretty hard to encompass within one game/story.
Going back to how you can narratively establish cybernetics being able to extend magical powers, nanites are an incredibly useful means to make this happen. Cybermage casts fireball. Actually, he is expelling high speed nanites who fly at his target and create a brief plasma globe around the target and immolating themselves in the process.
It's not about them caring. It's sort of how an illusion may affect you (fear, reaction etc) but only if you can see it. If a normal human being has no way of interacting with that world then it has no effect on them.
Nanites are an interesting idea
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@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly I want to add in some interesting mini-games that are not necessary but benefit you a lot in the game. Like hacking corporations in a netrunner inspired hacking simulation. The asset you access can be sold, creating side quests that can go well or very poorly depending. Stuff like that
Well, you have Clarke's first law to lean on. All you have to do then is clothe the character's technical actions in religious trappings and it becomes a mystical act in character. I'm not sure what you mean by a person without enhancements. Would they not be able to jack in then, or is the level of a person's "holiness" measured by the number of cybernetics they sport?
I meant if "magic" is only manifested inside of this digital world humans created, it stands to reason that a person that is normal, ie un-upgraded/zero enhacements would be completely unaffected by it. This creates problems mechanically within the game
Why does it have to only manifest in the digital world? If a person has the implants to transfer their consciousness to a digital world wouldn't they also have the capabilities to affect systems in the real world? Or, if they don't "jack in" or are digital athiests they could still have the means (perhaps not cybernetic) to alter external systems. E.g. shutdown security systems, overload power conduits, etc.
Yes but that's not exactly what I mean. Let's put it in D&D terms. If I cast fireball on you, it's a physical thing that hits an area. It's "real". In this game, it's not a physical thing unless I want to make it physical. It's kind a question of how I want to flavor magic within the game. Nothing about that would stop them from being able to hack systems and bring stuff down etc.
I'm probably not getting a full picture of what you're going for, but it sounds like a narrative problem and not a mechanical one (at least not yet).
Why would a cyber-athiest care about the magic of a digital world if they can just shoot one of the faithful? What level of separation are you thinking there would be between the digital and real? It is very hard to emphasize both. You can have a real world that impinges on the digital one (Ready Player One), or a digital one that impinges on the real (can't think of an example right off), but having both be as important as the other gets to be pretty hard to encompass within one game/story.
Going back to how you can narratively establish cybernetics being able to extend magical powers, nanites are an incredibly useful means to make this happen. Cybermage casts fireball. Actually, he is expelling high speed nanites who fly at his target and create a brief plasma globe around the target and immolating themselves in the process.
It's not about them caring. It's sort of how an illusion may affect you (fear, reaction etc) but only if you can see it. If a normal human being has no way of interacting with that world then it has no effect on them.
Nanites are an interesting idea
Pheromones and hypersonics can induce hallucinations (illusions).
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@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@kelly I want to add in some interesting mini-games that are not necessary but benefit you a lot in the game. Like hacking corporations in a netrunner inspired hacking simulation. The asset you access can be sold, creating side quests that can go well or very poorly depending. Stuff like that
Well, you have Clarke's first law to lean on. All you have to do then is clothe the character's technical actions in religious trappings and it becomes a mystical act in character. I'm not sure what you mean by a person without enhancements. Would they not be able to jack in then, or is the level of a person's "holiness" measured by the number of cybernetics they sport?
I meant if "magic" is only manifested inside of this digital world humans created, it stands to reason that a person that is normal, ie un-upgraded/zero enhacements would be completely unaffected by it. This creates problems mechanically within the game
Why does it have to only manifest in the digital world? If a person has the implants to transfer their consciousness to a digital world wouldn't they also have the capabilities to affect systems in the real world? Or, if they don't "jack in" or are digital athiests they could still have the means (perhaps not cybernetic) to alter external systems. E.g. shutdown security systems, overload power conduits, etc.
Yes but that's not exactly what I mean. Let's put it in D&D terms. If I cast fireball on you, it's a physical thing that hits an area. It's "real". In this game, it's not a physical thing unless I want to make it physical. It's kind a question of how I want to flavor magic within the game. Nothing about that would stop them from being able to hack systems and bring stuff down etc.
I'm probably not getting a full picture of what you're going for, but it sounds like a narrative problem and not a mechanical one (at least not yet).
Why would a cyber-athiest care about the magic of a digital world if they can just shoot one of the faithful? What level of separation are you thinking there would be between the digital and real? It is very hard to emphasize both. You can have a real world that impinges on the digital one (Ready Player One), or a digital one that impinges on the real (can't think of an example right off), but having both be as important as the other gets to be pretty hard to encompass within one game/story.
Going back to how you can narratively establish cybernetics being able to extend magical powers, nanites are an incredibly useful means to make this happen. Cybermage casts fireball. Actually, he is expelling high speed nanites who fly at his target and create a brief plasma globe around the target and immolating themselves in the process.
It's not about them caring. It's sort of how an illusion may affect you (fear, reaction etc) but only if you can see it. If a normal human being has no way of interacting with that world then it has no effect on them.
Nanites are an interesting idea
Pheromones and hypersonics can induce hallucinations (illusions).
I'll read up on it. I don't think I need to explain every little detail, but I like reading about this stuff because it gives me some inspiration. Thanks!
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So it sounds like you are maybe looking for recs mostly in the cyberpunk field but probably not exclusively.
If you haven't read any Gibson you should do it post haste.
I think something like the Marid Audran novels starting with When Gravity Fails by George Alec Effinger would also be excellent for you.
For something (relatively) recent and super cool but not cyberpunk check out Folding Beijing by Hao Jingfang. Not exactly SF or Fantasy, but has some great stuff going on.
Edited to add: Lady of Mazes by Karl Schroeder would also be an excellent addition to your list. It is more straight SF but has some really excellent takes on how augmentation might play out.
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@ndc said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
So it sounds like you are maybe looking for recs mostly in the cyberpunk field but probably not exclusively.
If you haven't read any Gibson you should do it post haste.
I think something like the Marid Audran novels starting with When Gravity Fails by George Alec Effinger would also be excellent for you.
For something (relatively) recent and super cool but not cyberpunk check out Folding Beijing by Hao Jingfang. Not exactly SF or Fantasy, but has some great stuff going on.
You mentioning Gibson reminded me of Gordon R. Dickson. Not exactly the same, but in it there are human subspecies that have developed their mental powers to the point that it is much like magic. I need to reread those too...
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@ndc said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
So it sounds like you are maybe looking for recs mostly in the cyberpunk field but probably not exclusively.
If you haven't read any Gibson you should do it post haste.
I think something like the Marid Audran novels starting with When Gravity Fails by George Alec Effinger would also be excellent for you.
For something (relatively) recent and super cool but not cyberpunk check out Folding Beijing by Hao Jingfang. Not exactly SF or Fantasy, but has some great stuff going on.
Edited to add: Lady of Mazes by Karl Schroeder would also be an excellent addition to your list. It is more straight SF but has some really excellent takes on how augmentation might play out.
I've read neuromancer
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@ndc said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
So it sounds like you are maybe looking for recs mostly in the cyberpunk field but probably not exclusively.
If you haven't read any Gibson you should do it post haste.
I think something like the Marid Audran novels starting with When Gravity Fails by George Alec Effinger would also be excellent for you.
For something (relatively) recent and super cool but not cyberpunk check out Folding Beijing by Hao Jingfang. Not exactly SF or Fantasy, but has some great stuff going on.
Edited to add: Lady of Mazes by Karl Schroeder would also be an excellent addition to your list. It is more straight SF but has some really excellent takes on how augmentation might play out.
You're reminding me of how long it's been since I've ready Isaac Asimov's stuff. I need to pick up digital versions of the robot series'.
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@travisdh1 Good stuff
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@travisdh1 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@ndc said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
So it sounds like you are maybe looking for recs mostly in the cyberpunk field but probably not exclusively.
If you haven't read any Gibson you should do it post haste.
I think something like the Marid Audran novels starting with When Gravity Fails by George Alec Effinger would also be excellent for you.
For something (relatively) recent and super cool but not cyberpunk check out Folding Beijing by Hao Jingfang. Not exactly SF or Fantasy, but has some great stuff going on.
Edited to add: Lady of Mazes by Karl Schroeder would also be an excellent addition to your list. It is more straight SF but has some really excellent takes on how augmentation might play out.
You're reminding me of how long it's been since I've ready Isaac Asimov's stuff. I need to pick up digital versions of the robot series'.
When @wirestyle22 first asked for recommendations of SF/Fantasy cross over stuff I had thought about suggesting Childhood's End due to he heavy use of psychic powers but I don't think it's really where he's headed. Good stuff though and worth a read.
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@ndc said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@travisdh1 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
@ndc said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
So it sounds like you are maybe looking for recs mostly in the cyberpunk field but probably not exclusively.
If you haven't read any Gibson you should do it post haste.
I think something like the Marid Audran novels starting with When Gravity Fails by George Alec Effinger would also be excellent for you.
For something (relatively) recent and super cool but not cyberpunk check out Folding Beijing by Hao Jingfang. Not exactly SF or Fantasy, but has some great stuff going on.
Edited to add: Lady of Mazes by Karl Schroeder would also be an excellent addition to your list. It is more straight SF but has some really excellent takes on how augmentation might play out.
You're reminding me of how long it's been since I've ready Isaac Asimov's stuff. I need to pick up digital versions of the robot series'.
When @wirestyle22 first asked for recommendations of SF/Fantasy cross over stuff I had thought about suggesting Childhood's End due to he heavy use of psychic powers but I don't think it's really where he's headed. Good stuff though and worth a read.
I'm open to anything really. Trying to see how other people have done it successfully
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@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Currently Reading Outside of Tech:
I'm open to anything really. Trying to see how other people have done it successfully
Out of context this could mean so many things. . .
