Tangentially related!: have any of you read Echopraxia by Peter Watts? There is a scene in which a malicious nation state or other actor weaponizes… echopraxia! I have to go back and read how they supposedly do this, but Watts’ bad guys all seem to have a strong preference for bioweapons.
There’s also a scene toward the end of Blindsight where <spoilers> Sarasti suffers a grand mal seizure and Theseus cannibalizes his nervous system with a drone by having it dig into the top of his spinal cord I think so he can continue with what he was doing </spoilers>
Finally, on the topic of oxytocin: Blindsight has another scene early on where we flashback to the main character’s childhood. He has suffered a terrible brain injury and follow up procedure which saves his life and function while making him more robotic. His father catches his mother slipping him oxytocin pills from the pharmacy advertised as promoting the mother son bond.
So anyway I guess my point is that Watts digs these topics and that I’ve read too much of his stuff. But if you have the stomach for zombie sci-fi and dark stuff in general then I would definitely add him to the reading list!
Yeah I love Peter Watts! I've read both Blindsight and Echopraxia, they're great. If you haven't read it, his short story collection (Beyond the Rift) is one of my favorites
Thank you! I had read the first two Starfish books but not the short stories.
I actually *don’t* have the stomach anymore for the dark stuff since kiddo #1 was born. Chalk that one up to “pregnancy changes behavior”. I’m hoping I’ll work up the nerve to enjoy Watts again, though, because his books are just so well done. I’ll check out the short stories if I do.
Anyway this a super fun listen, thank you for posting the recording!
Horsehair worms manipulate the behaviour of praying mantises, causing them to seek water and drown themselves so the horsehair worm can reproduce... or something.
Tangentially related!: have any of you read Echopraxia by Peter Watts? There is a scene in which a malicious nation state or other actor weaponizes… echopraxia! I have to go back and read how they supposedly do this, but Watts’ bad guys all seem to have a strong preference for bioweapons.
There’s also a scene toward the end of Blindsight where <spoilers> Sarasti suffers a grand mal seizure and Theseus cannibalizes his nervous system with a drone by having it dig into the top of his spinal cord I think so he can continue with what he was doing </spoilers>
Finally, on the topic of oxytocin: Blindsight has another scene early on where we flashback to the main character’s childhood. He has suffered a terrible brain injury and follow up procedure which saves his life and function while making him more robotic. His father catches his mother slipping him oxytocin pills from the pharmacy advertised as promoting the mother son bond.
So anyway I guess my point is that Watts digs these topics and that I’ve read too much of his stuff. But if you have the stomach for zombie sci-fi and dark stuff in general then I would definitely add him to the reading list!
Big Peter Watts fan too! I have found my people 😉
I love how he blends biology with a dark, cynical vision.
Yeah I love Peter Watts! I've read both Blindsight and Echopraxia, they're great. If you haven't read it, his short story collection (Beyond the Rift) is one of my favorites
Thank you! I had read the first two Starfish books but not the short stories.
I actually *don’t* have the stomach anymore for the dark stuff since kiddo #1 was born. Chalk that one up to “pregnancy changes behavior”. I’m hoping I’ll work up the nerve to enjoy Watts again, though, because his books are just so well done. I’ll check out the short stories if I do.
Anyway this a super fun listen, thank you for posting the recording!
I have not read, guess it's time to change that!
Good luck 😅!
Really enjoyed this virtual round table.
@Gunnar you're good looking to the point of distraction. Taken? 👀
Oh, thank you. Yes, taken. Completely taken by this amazing woman.
Damn. Please pass along my praise for her good taste 😌😉
Oh, you know her well…
HA
I'm never going on a live stream next to Gunnar ever again 😂 it's a losing proposition.
Just angles and lighting 😉
Yeah yeah yeah ;)
The humble always downplay :p
Nicholas, you were delightful too... I think.
Was distracted by the PhD but I have no doubt your parents are proud too 🤭😁
😂 Yeah I don’t blame you, I got PhD envy so bad. Two PhDs and one High School drop-out, I think I lose!
I think that makes your invite all the more impressive. Hanging with the big bosses.
They had to do like 8 extra years of school to get where you are... amateurs 😉
I prefer to think of you as a high school realist.
Horsehair worms manipulate the behaviour of praying mantises, causing them to seek water and drown themselves so the horsehair worm can reproduce... or something.