Permutation City

This was a really cool story. At first it starts out simple enough, the progression of computer science enabling all the wonderful and strange things that it does, but then the view pans out and we are left staring at something so vast that it’s hard to wrap your head around. I’ll once again try to avoid anything too detailed for the sake of those who want to read it, but the hard sci-fi holds true to Egan’s reputation. Fantastical and scientific while attempting to be grounded in the realm of plausibility, but simultaneously so outlandish that it leaves you reeling.

There are many philosophical questions in this, but Egan would rather watch them dance together in the uncertain and unfolding future than try to face them head on and reduce them to certainties. If you’re interested in consciousness, or computer science, or exotic ideas of maths, I can highly recommend this, and even if you’re not I would say give it a shot. This was a very fun, mind-bending read.