https://alias-sqbr.dreamwidth.org/ alias_sqbr - Dreamwidth Studios Mon, 12 Nov 2012 07:47:44 GMT LiveJournal / Dreamwidth Studios alias_sqbr personal https://v2.dreamwidth.org/455761/447961 https://alias-sqbr.dreamwidth.org/ 100 99 https://alias-sqbr.dreamwidth.org/475062.html Mon, 12 Nov 2012 07:47:44 GMT https://alias-sqbr.dreamwidth.org/475062.html I am super sleepy but if I don't post this now I will forget my Thoughts.<br /><br />So! <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lifecycle_of_Software_Objects">The Lifecycle of Software Objects</a> by Ted Chiang won best novella in the Hugos last year, and I finally got around to reading it a few days ago. <br /><br />It's one of those stories that feels two steps removed from being a non fiction meta essay, I liked the characters well enough but it doesn't really have a plot or emotional arc or anything, he's just having fun exploring the idea of sentient virtual pets. Still, if nothing else it was nice to see the idea explored without descending into tragedy or horror. I have a bunch of critical thoughts after the cut, but the fact that the story got me thinking about these questions so much at all is to it's credit.<br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___1" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">(&nbsp;</b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://alias-sqbr.dreamwidth.org/475062.html#cutid1">And now some spoilery thoughts. Should make sense if you haven't read it, but it's short and free, so why haven't you?</a></b><b class="cut-close">&nbsp;)</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___1" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=alias_sqbr&ditemid=475062" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> comments https://alias-sqbr.dreamwidth.org/475062.html books thoughts short stories ethics scifi artificial intelligence public 2