Venture capitalists Menlo Ventures have released what purports to be a survey: “2025: The State of Consumer AI”. That is, chatbots. [Menlo Ventures] The subtitle is: “AI’s Consumer Tipping Po…
Doing the tour of other fiction books within arm’s reach…
My name is Hermann Soergel. The curious reader may have chanced to leaf through my Shakespeare Chronology, which I once considered essential to a proper understanding of the text; it was translated into several languages, including Spanish.
Jorge Luis Borges, “Shakespeare’s Memory” (translated by Andrew Hurley)
When her father had been executed, her aunts and uncles on both sides of the family had declined to speak out against his killers, and Nasim had been so angry that she’d cut herself off from everyone, even before she and her mother had fled.
Greg Egan, Zendegi (this, like the Jennifer Morgue example, was on the page to which I opened at random)
Now the mayor’s cousin has been arrested for murder.
John Chernega, “Almond”, in Machine of Death: A Collection of Stories About People Who Know How They Will Die
Older books, also within arm’s reach, also opened at random…
Whatever was thought, whatever was said, I had my full reward in John’s friendship. This friendship was the more precious for its tenderness being intentionally concealed, especially when we were not alone, by that gruffness which stems from what can be termed the dignity of the heart.
Vladimir Nabokov, Pale Fire
I was set apart by Nature to live alone, and draw comfort from her breast, and hers only.
Perhaps the Mysteries’ secrets could be learned, and their powers could be thwarted.
Bill Watterson and John Kascht, The Mysteries
The girl and her companion obediently fell silent then, realizing they had been heard through the microphones embedded in the walls of the dining room.
Doing the tour of other fiction books within arm’s reach…
Jorge Luis Borges, “Shakespeare’s Memory” (translated by Andrew Hurley)
Greg Egan, Zendegi (this, like the Jennifer Morgue example, was on the page to which I opened at random)
John Chernega, “Almond”, in Machine of Death: A Collection of Stories About People Who Know How They Will Die
Older books, also within arm’s reach, also opened at random…
Vladimir Nabokov, Pale Fire
H. Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure
Bill Watterson and John Kascht, The Mysteries
Lois Lowry, Son
side note, but I freaking love Machine of Death. what a cool book that came into existence in such a weird way