Earth
by David Brin · first published 1990
36% recommend64% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Near-future sci-fi novel praised for anticipating later events and technology, especially a world of widespread public surveillance and transparency; suits readers who like hard SF and reread it.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
A microscopic black hole has accidently fallen into the Earth's core and the entire planet is in danger of being destroyed within two years.
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…that may be accelerating the greenhouse effect. I doubt that there's anything we humans can do at this point other than preserve and restore the Amazon, stop polluting as much as possible, and pray. Earth by David Brin is a very good novel that describes a grim future some 40 years hence. It goes off into pure sci-fi regarding black holes bouncing around the earth's core, but the predictions in the novel…
on “Massive permafrost thaw documented in Canada, portending huge carbon release” ↗…kind of meant for people who have never done any Philosophy, ever, so would recommend to someone like that. Will pass it on to someone taking an interest in the subject) An introduction to Philosophy. Earth - David Brin 5+ Science fiction set in the not too distant future, written in the 90s. Really interesting themes / vision of post climate change world. SlaughterHouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut 5 Semi autobiographical…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2015?” ↗If you are a sci fi fan, you might enjoy David Brin's "Earth". Such devices feature prominently in some parts of the story. A good read, regardless.
on “Video 2.0: Tiny Cameras Watching (Over) You” ↗Here's a vote for David Brin's novel "Earth"... full of amazingly prescient ideas regarding the social effects of communication technology, transparency... and especially his Helvetian War* as part of the backstory, though presented as metaphor...…
on “Six scientists tell us about the most accurate science fiction in their fields” ↗If you want a "professional's" speculation on this, read David Brin's "Earth". It's several years old, now, but this type of technology is one of the topics it took in fairly head on fashion, if also somewhat incidental to the main plot.
on “I used Google Glass” ↗For this reason hard science novels are among my favorite. The uplift cycle by David Brin is amazing. The comment about Asimov misses reminds of another brin novel, Earth, that is known for envisioning several events and technology that appeared after its publication.
on “Forgotten Greats of Science Fiction” ↗…of comments). So it's really a question of achieving whatever level of security is practicable in relation to its costs in time, money and energy and as for the rest... Well read David Brin's novel "Earth" as well as his work on transparency. The war against an Orwellian world may be better won by making EVERYBODY a potential 'big brother'... which gives no oppressor an edge. Not sure how it'll work…
on “Internet Security is a Failure” ↗…science fiction. For more recent works, you might like: Vernor Vinge "Rainbow's End" -- more near term and what you describe "A Fire Upon the Deep" & "A Deepness in the Sky" David Brin "Earth" -- again, more near term, although with a fantastic ending The Uplift Trilogy (a bit more fantastic, but very well done, particularly the 2nd and 3rd novels) There are many "classic" authors and…
on “The Tomorrow Project: science fiction commissioned by Intel” ↗Widespread open and mutlidirectional surveillance comes to a mostly good ending in David Brin's Earth. The doctrine gets a non-fiction (and IMO persuasive) treatment in The Transparent Society. I'm not so concerned about a panopticon open to all.
on “Towards Battery-Free HD Video Streaming [video]” ↗Earth by David Brin, I think four times? It’s a really good pre-Internet look at a near future. Cryptonomicon a couple of times, and I’m planning on Anathem again.
on “Ask HN: Which book have you re-read the most times? how many times?” ↗Also Max Headroom, Neuromancer, Robocop, and a host of others. The first science fiction that I saw that deliberately bucked this trend was Earth by David Brin. There's a line something like "Can you believe that back in the late 20th century everybody thought Nihon was going to control the world's economy?"
on “True Story of the 1980s, When Everyone Was Convinced Japan Would Buy America” ↗Laws banning cameras will of course only cover some cameras and then you get all sorts of Orwellian visions. See David Brin's "Earth" for some earlier thinking about the impact of public surveillance society. I think the genie is out of the bottle, and far better that everyone who cares to can record what they see. Only the true gems…
on “Ask HN: Will we be forced to pass laws against filming anyone in public?” ↗Vinge is certainly one of the greats but so is David Brin. I would not consider him under the radar though. Some of his best are Earth, The Heart of The Comet, Glory Season.
on “Vernor Vinge has died” ↗The present just keeps making David Brin's 1990 book 'Earth' look more and more prescient.
on “Buckle Up, the Smart Glasses Backlash Is Coming” ↗I can't recommend David Brin enough: 1. The Postman 2. Earth 3. Existence
on “Sci-Fi Novels You Should Read” ↗