The same way anyone is convinced of ridiculous notions eventually. With sufficient evidence, with an open mind, and with an underlying appreciation of the terror of a new idea.” The other stories are also remarkable but I think I will leave that for you to discover and form your own conclusions. Finally a quote from the author, while I can never claim to know what crazy future awaits our species I do think there is some truth in these words, They began rendezvousing in that disgusting traditional way, eating breakfast off of each other, spending long mornings in bed, pretending they were the first humans to ever discover sex.

Anyway coming to the book itself, Exurb1a manages to create a most fabulous world. There are some true gems in there, It's fun to think that one day our great, great grandchildren may get that much closer to understanding what the hell creation is doing here in the first place, and glimpsing the underlying structure and nature of matter itself. Hopefully they won't live with the same existential horrors we all quietly face today in our own lives. My other concerns are ones probably more endemic to the genre itself—flat characterization, long expanses of expositionary dialogue, plots that more serve as an opening to offer pre-determined philosophy than develop themselves. The author may have some interesting things to say about consciousness, but this fiction did little to promote his thoughts to me.

Customer reviews

There was the first science which dealt with base reality: mathematics and logic. There was the second science which dealt with the fields based on mathematics: physics and chemistry you would call them. The third dealt with the study of individuals, psychology. The fourth dealt with large groups, population science, sociology, history, you know. Towards the end of the empire though, there was a fifth science, we believe. It was the study of making non-living things living.” It was an ugly term. Neither of us were to know then, but the idea itself would live on for millennia. While some might think it a bit silly to draw comparisons between machine learning and consciousness, I do honestly believe it is how we will best learn to understand it. The more complex systems we create, the more questions we will know to ask and subsequently have answers to pursue. In simple words, it is collection of short sci-fi stories that are easy to read and enjoyable. Each story, although different, follows an underlying narrative and philosophy unique to Ex. A Dictionary (Third Story) -Wow-My favorite so far. It was not so much the story, but the concepts presented. This story really made me stop and think. A doctor takes a 400-year sleep to go to a new world (already established) and for him to start over personally. A big accident occurs on an asteroid (hollowed-out asteroid for the outer shell) starship. This is really worth reading.

I love the videos this guy makes. Super inspiring, great stories, and other cool stuff that are hard to describe with a few words. The guy is unique. There is also a ton of controversy around him. Making him a prime case study for why it's ok to love the art and seperate it from the artist. But that is a topic worth really delving into.Thank you Exurb1a. You helped me realise my love of science-fiction into something more like real-science. The powerful feelings of wonder and mystery explored here have quite literally inspired me to jump on this opportunity. “The Fifth Science” has for me become some strange parallel to my career choice in machine learning; while I find the science intriguing, it is the potential and soulfulness (so deeply examined in this book) where I have really discovered my passion. I love the videos that this guy makes. Super inspiring, great stories, and other cool stuff that are hard to describe with a few words. The guy is unique. There is also a ton of controversy around him. Making him a prime case study for why (or if) it's ok to love the art and seperate it from the artist. But that is a topic worth really delving into, and I will later. I spent the duration of the travel in longsleep of course and woke to the almost-certain knowledge that my wife was long dead. This is one way to overcome marital issues. To the engineers and scientists who will one day build minds; from whatever materials, in whatever form.