Galactic North
by Alastair Reynolds · first published 2006
56% recommend44% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Short science fiction stories set in Reynolds's far-future universe, often linked to his Revelation Space novels. Standouts include Glacial. The collection suits readers who already enjoy his longer space operas.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
The first short story collection by "ONE OF SCIENCE FICTION'S BEST AND MOST AMBITIOUS NOVELISTS"(SFX).With eight short stories and novellas, Galactic North imparts the centuriesspanning events that have produced this dark and turbulent world.Centuries from now, solidarity stretches thin as humanity spreads past the solar system and to the nearest stars. Technology has produced powerful new tools, but lethal risk accompanies each new advancement.
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You should read the short story “Glacial” in “Galactic North” by Alastair Reynolds.
on “Ursula K. Le Guin Was a Creator of Worlds” ↗You might want to read the “Glacier” short story by Alastair Reynolds in the “Galactic North” anthology.
on “What's the Minimum Number of People for a Generational Ship to Proxima Centauri?” ↗Galactic North - Alastair Reynolds House of Suns - Alastair Reynolds Lilith’s Brood - Octavia Butler The Expanse
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite sci-fi books?” ↗I think you'd enjoy Alastair Reynolds' sci-fi stories, particularly the short story "Glacial" in the "Galactic North" collection.
on “Army ants use collective intelligence to build bridges. Robots can learn from it” ↗Alastair Reynolds - Galactic North is a fantastic collection of short stories, and his House of Suns is an excellent shorter novel. He is an astrophysicist, turned, science-fiction writer, and his world building is incredible.
on “Ask HN: Science Fiction Starter List” ↗Alastair Reynolds’s House of Suns (novel) and Galactic North. Incredibly fun sci fi. I Am That by Nisargadatta Maharaj. It’s a collection of recorded conversations in QA format. I read from it on a weekly basis.
on “Ask HN: What books do you want to read over again?” ↗A bit “harder” sci-fi but incredible world building - Alastair Reynolds. I recommend his short stories first - Galactic North is a good start. Or Beyond the Aquila Rift. House of Suns is a good first novel.
on “Life is more than an engineering problem” ↗Yeah his Revelation Space universe deals with this. Read the 4 main novels (RS, CC, AG, RA) and make sure you read the short stories in Galactic North.
on “Fermi Paradox Points To Fewer Than Ten ET Civilisations” ↗I read Galactic North, Beyond the Aquila Rift, and House of Suns - all by Alaistair Raynolds and loved all of them.
on “Ask HN: What Books Do You Recommend Reading for 2022?” ↗There's a nice sf short story, I think by Alastair Reynolds, which concerns worms in a glacier essentially acting as neurons in a vast, slow brain. Found. "Glacial", Galactic North anthology.
on “Can a Living Creature Be as Big as a Galaxy?” ↗Likewise the short story "Glacial" in Alastair Reynolds's Galactic North book explores this concept. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactic_North#"Glacial"
on “Ant Colonies Retain Memories That Outlast the Lifespans of Individuals” ↗Shielding at the speed of light is an interesting challenge. The beginning of Alastair Reynolds's short story "Weather" (in "Galactic North") addresses this.
on “Ways to travel at nearly the speed of light” ↗Yes, I think you did! It's a brilliantly diabolical design! It's not quite the same, but there's a short story by Alastair Reynolds (I think in Galactic North) where a missile forces a ship to run forever, chasing it out of the galaxy as the universe ages around them (I think).
on “The Problem with Sci-Fi Body Armor” ↗…sequence. THE PREFECT (AURORA RISING) and ELYSIUM FIRE may be read alone or jointly, but should best be read in the above order. CHASM CITY, as well as the collections DIAMOND DOGS, TURQUOISE DAYS and GALACTIC NORTH, can be read at any point."
on “Ask HN: Are books worth it?” ↗