
Implied Spaces
by Walter Jon Williams · first published 2008
10mentions
3recommended by
4HN commenters
2012–2025first – last mentioned
75% recommend25% neutral
Aristide is a scholar of the implied spaces, seeking meaning amid the accidents of architecture in a universe where reality itself has been sculpted and designed by superhuman machine intelligence. While exploring the pre-technological world Midgarth, one of four dozen pocket universes created within a series of vast, orbital matrioshka computer arrays, Aristide uncovers a fiendish plot threatening to set off a nightmare scenario, and must find a way to save the multiverse from subversion, sabotage, and certain destruction.
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…http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/stories/blit.htm https://www.nature.com/articles/44964 https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/different-kinds-of-darkness/ And following up from Glasshouse with Implied Spaces by Walter Jon Williams where the exploration of what could have been without the Vile Offspring and computers were harnessed without a singularity... but "tools" such as Curious Yellow are a part of the…
on “Oh, 2022” ↗…remembering his characters -- they are there primarily to present his themes. If you want a novelist who writes SF but actually creates 3D, memorable characters, try Walter Jon Williams (Aristoi, Metropolitan, Implied Spaces... but avoid his serials IMSHO)
on “A Senseless Conversation” ↗…https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/fiction/acceler... As an aside, I'd also recommend Glasshouse (also by Charles Stross) as an exploration into the human remnants post singularity (and war)... followed by Implied Spaces by Walter Jon Williams... > “I and my confederates,” Aristide said, “did our best to prevent that degree of autonomy among artificial intelligences. We made the decision to turn away from the Vingean…
on “The Singularity Is Nigh!” ↗…highly recommend the two “Bioforms” books. For standalone novels, I liked “Alien Clay” and “Doors of Eden” the most. For novellas, “Walking to Aldebaran” and “Elder Race”. Thank you for recommending “Implied Spaces” as well. Walter Jon Williams seems like a new author for me to follow.
on “Accelerando (2005)” ↗…Accelerando. A quick diversion to Vernor Vinge with Peace War and Marooned in Realtime https://www.goodreads.com/series/57273-across-realtime (there's a short story in there titled The Ungoverned) Implied spaces Walter Jon Williams https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2059573.Implied_Spaces which takes another approach to the unexplored events leading into Glasshouse and a possible path of escalation. The reference…
on “We can, must, and will simulate nematode brains” ↗…sequence of books and stories: BLIT stories by David Langford, Accelerando (references a Langford fractal), Glasshouse (hints of {spoilers} in a transhuman environment, feels sequelish to Accelerando), Implied Spaces by Walter Jon Williams (the Strossian singularity is averted, and explores {spoilers} more) ---- There's a kind of continuity in the refutation of the reference that each makes to the other that I find…
on “Crimes against transhumanity” ↗…godlike AI (which is explored much more as a character in the sequel Iron Sunrise (the third book in the series is not to be written - http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2010/09/books-i-... )) Implied Spaces by Walter Jon Williams (aside: it has a mention of the Vingean Singularity): > “I and my confederates,” Aristide said, “did our best to prevent that degree of autonomy among artificial intelligences.…
on “Don Knuth Plays with ChatGPT” ↗…causing anything worse than a mild headache.") Glasshouse by Charles Stross (side trip to The Peace War and Marooned in Realtime by Vernor Vinge as additional material for an alternative singularity) Implied Spaces by Walter Jon Williams (mentions averting a Vingeian singularity, though I see it more of a Strossian singularity that's at risk - and you've got suggestions of plot lines and backstory in Glasshouse…
on “Accelerando (2005)” ↗…Napoleonic sea fighting - early cyberpunk (Hardwired) - middle cyberpunk around the Solar System (Voice of the Whirlwind) - late cyberpunk post-scarcity space opera(Aristoi) - transhuman space opera (Implied Spaces) - New Mexican police procedural / thriller (Days of Atonement) - near future thrillers (This Is Not A Game and sequelae) - fantasy of city infrastructure (Metropolitan and City on Fire) - comedy…
on “All possible plots by major authors (2020)” ↗…https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/167844.Across_Realtim... True names is directly applicable, but Realtime is a view of what the singularity could be. It is also remarkably devoid of AI. And next, we head over to Implied Spaces https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/2059573 > “V naq zl pbasrqrengrf,” Nevfgvqr fnvq, “qvq bhe orfg gb cerirag gung qrterr bs nhgbabzl nzbat negvsvpvny vagryyvtraprf. Jr znqr gur qrpvfvba gb ghea…
on “Top science fiction short stories published in August” ↗