[mopierotti]

I sent out about 8 copies of this book to friends/relatives for christmas a couple years ago, and it was very well received. It's not without flaws, but it's absolutely packed with novel concepts, relatively short, and provides a unique experience for unsuspecting readers. The physical book cover is quite good looking as well in my opinion.

I also loved Ra by the same author, but it felt a little messier plot-wise, so I hesitate to recommend it to an audience who isn't already accustomed to reading "out-there" online/sci-fi/rationalist fiction.

[LoganDark]

I love Ra. (also Fine Structure.) I don't think the plot is necessarily that much messier as much as it is more complex.

As in, this is super mega nerd shit. Unless you can relate things you're reading to things you've read before, it won't make too much sense to you. But if you're constructing a theory of the book's universe and story as you read, it's downright addictive.

I don't know where to find more books like those but I really, really want to.

[mopierotti]

True, perhaps "messy" was the wrong word. I think what I was trying to get at was that I feel "There Is No Antimemetics Division" is more accessible for the average reader -- More narrowly focused, with a more immediate hook.

Regarding recommendations similar to Ra, it's not exactly the same thing, but https://unsongbook.com/ is fantastic and has a similar flavor I think.

[KboPAacDA3]

The cover reminds me of John Harris's _A Dream of Starlight_.

https://www.alisoneldred.com/john-harris/fine-art-prints-1/s...

[alexpotato]

I haven't read Ra but if people like a mix of magic, fantasy, scifi, govt techno thriller, history and even romance, I highly recommend the Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.

I think it's best read with no summary or introduction but if you are a Neal Stephenson fan, I think you would like it.

[pugio]

I've read most of Stephenson's books, and loved many of them, but the only one I absolutely tell people to never read is the Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. (despite the signed copy on my shelf). I haven't read it since publication, so the details are a bit hazy now, but I remember it feeling like a waste. The conceit is: What if there were a government organization that dealt with <cool scifi thing>, and we emulated that with high fidelity – complete with lots of reporting and bureaucracy . To me, it made <cool scifi thing> about as fun to read about as... tedious government bureaucracy.

It's nice to hear that other people really liked it. Definitely highlights the breadth of approaches and styles that Stephenson has.

[phren0logy]

> if people like a mix of magic, fantasy, scifi, govt techno thriller, history and even romance, I highly recommend

Tim Powers! https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/8835.Tim_Powers

[Filligree]

There’s no resemblance at all.

[michaelbuckbee]

I also came here to try and convince folks to read "Ra" which I thought was fantastic.

Though that being said, I feel like we're flipped on which is more "out there" as Ra feels much less slippery of an idea.

[LoganDark]

Fine Structure too!