Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
20th out of 763 books
—
660 voters
The Golden Age (Golden Age #1)
The Golden Age is 10,000 years in the future in our solar system, an interplanetary utopian society filled with immortal humans.
Phaethon, of Radamanthus House, is attending a glorious party at his family mansion celebrating the thousand-year anniversary of the High Transcendence. There he meets an old man who accuses him of being an imposter, and then a being from Neptune...more
Phaethon, of Radamanthus House, is attending a glorious party at his family mansion celebrating the thousand-year anniversary of the High Transcendence. There he meets an old man who accuses him of being an imposter, and then a being from Neptune...more
Paperback, 416 pages
Published
April 14th 2003
by Tor Science Fiction
(first published 2002)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,751)
While at a masquerade leading up to the celebration commemorating the High Transcendence, Phaethon finds certain people are shunning him and that a large segment of his memory has been erased. Phaethon slowly pieces together why his memory has been erased and learns that if he regains his memory, he will be exiled from Oecumene and the paradise it provides. But what does that have to do with his father, Helion, and the other six Peers?
The Golden Age is one mind-bender of a read. While wrapped in...more
The Golden Age is one mind-bender of a read. While wrapped in...more
18 likes · like · see review
view all 5 comments
Dude. This is one of those books that, for the first 60 pages, is impenetrable to the point of sheer frustration. I was reading it thinking, this guy is an ok writer but this whole "murky mysterious" thing is making me mental. Kind of like trying to read Greg Bear, or anyone who writes obscure prose out of some lack of story or character confidence. So it was like that for the first bunch of teh book, and Tim kept reading it on the sly and overtook me, and then he wouldn't put it down until it w...more
Extremely hardcore sci-fi, and very hard going at the start. I admit I came close to giving up, and did not enjoy the first parts of the book. I persevered only because I had nothing better to read and because I don't like leaving a book unfinished, but I'm very glad that I did. The first two books in this series are unequaled in page-turning power; it took me a fortnight to read the first half of this book, and about two days to read the second half.
Once you learn the terminology and can tell...more
Once you learn the terminology and can tell...more
Started reading it Jan 26th-ish. A bit hard to get into at first. Don't know why they bothered with the "dramatis personae" pages; they were more confusing than just jumping right into the narrative if you axe me.
Really enjoyed it, but feels like i'm not going to be moved by the Grand Theme. I suspect he's a bit of science fiction's answer to Ayn Rand? Not geeked to read the almost obligatory sequel, but i think i will eventually (if not next).
Terribly proofread, especially for a non-first-pri...more
Really enjoyed it, but feels like i'm not going to be moved by the Grand Theme. I suspect he's a bit of science fiction's answer to Ayn Rand? Not geeked to read the almost obligatory sequel, but i think i will eventually (if not next).
Terribly proofread, especially for a non-first-pri...more
This is the fourth book that i've read by John C. Wright (I read his Orphans of Chaos trilogy before moving on to his earlier writing) and I still feel like his imagination is much better than mine. Because a lot of images and concepts that Wright thinks up are just a tiny bit beyond me. However, a lofty imagination is not something that I would criticize and Wright still manages to produce a great ride.
The society that Wright creates and the issues of social expansion vs. social stability remi...more
The society that Wright creates and the issues of social expansion vs. social stability remi...more
космическая опера в силу особой эпичности и отсутствия особого пристрастия к художественным красивостям, свойственным иным жанрам, приближается в своей величественности к произведения классического искусства, напоминая собой массивные канонические шедевры античной скульптуры, с той невеликой разницей, что апоксиомены, дорифоры, парфеноны и прочие красно- и чернофигурные амфоры замещаются бластерами, фотонными пушками, неколонизированными планетами, политическими интригами, влияющими на жизнь в р...more
The protagonist of this novel is Phaethon of Radamanthus House on an Earth many millenia in the future where humanity is immortal and the people of society come in a range of material and mental forms. As the book begins, Phaethon discovers that there are large holes in him memory, ranging back through at least the last 250 years. As he tries to discover the truth, he begins to learn that all is not perfect in paradise. Civilisation has become stagnant and focussed on the safety of now, rather t...more
Jul 04, 2012
Heather
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction,
science-fiction
This is the first book in an epic space opera trilogy. Not your typical fast-paced action space opera, but one stuffed to the brim with socio-psychological philosophies and debates.
Our hero Phaethon becomes aware of something amiss in his reality. Certain people are shunning him, except for a very strange encounter, and a large segment of his memory appears to have been erased. In a culture where memory is malleable, programmable, and subject to analysis for veracity on a regular basis, sleuthin...more
Our hero Phaethon becomes aware of something amiss in his reality. Certain people are shunning him, except for a very strange encounter, and a large segment of his memory appears to have been erased. In a culture where memory is malleable, programmable, and subject to analysis for veracity on a regular basis, sleuthin...more
John C. Wright's _The Golden Age_ is a worthy read. Taking place in the far future, 10,000 years from now, it is a world where the transhuman 'singularity' has occurred long before and the population of the solar system is made up of humans of massive (and varied) intellects and powers as well as the 'sophotechs', huge supercomputers of intellectual capacity to dwarf even their superhuman creators who make sure that the society of humanity does not lack for anything except perhaps risk and adven...more
The Golden Age (2002) by John C. Wright.
"Finally, a keeper!"
After picking up Robert Reed's _Marrow_ (2000) while perusing my local public library's "Books You May Have Missed" bookcase, I was a little wary to try another author I hadn't read. I found John C. Wright's _The Golden Transcendence_ (2003) in the same section, and noticed it was "Book Three of the Golden Age." I located Wright's first book in the series, aptly titled _The Golden Age_ (2002).
Super-science abounds here, with engineerin...more
"Finally, a keeper!"
After picking up Robert Reed's _Marrow_ (2000) while perusing my local public library's "Books You May Have Missed" bookcase, I was a little wary to try another author I hadn't read. I found John C. Wright's _The Golden Transcendence_ (2003) in the same section, and noticed it was "Book Three of the Golden Age." I located Wright's first book in the series, aptly titled _The Golden Age_ (2002).
Super-science abounds here, with engineerin...more
Jun 11, 2011
John David
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
everyone who isn't stupid
my favorite story of all time (meaning, the trilogy as a whole). yes, it is even better than the night angel trilogy. and yes, even better than the sword of truth series.
i rarely read a book twice. i read jurassic park about ten times in junior high, but other than that, it is extremely rare that i read anything more than once. three times is out of the question. it can be hard to say just which book you like more than another because each book can be so different... even in the same genre. so t...more
i rarely read a book twice. i read jurassic park about ten times in junior high, but other than that, it is extremely rare that i read anything more than once. three times is out of the question. it can be hard to say just which book you like more than another because each book can be so different... even in the same genre. so t...more
I'm really impressed with this post-Singularity novel (and the follow-ups). This appears to be a first novel, and the copyedit was less-than-impressive (what's up with copyeditors these days?), but when I read this book in 2003, I found it the most inventive thing I'd read since LAST AND FIRST MEN. The very first page hooked me, and I couldn't put it down afterward. Wright creates a truly unique society and fashions it in such fascinating detail that you feel yourself thinking, "SF until now has...more
I really, really enjoyed this book. There are so many ideas and concepts jammed into it (not all new by any stretch) and yet "jammed" is an unlovely term for what the author's done in this book. He's taken all of these ideas and used them to create a thouroughly believable future society. He's integrated them together to form a whole bigger than the sum of its parts. Definitely worth checking out for anyone with an interest in science fiction.
Apr 28, 2008
Andreas
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
science-fiction,
favourite
I cannot praise this book high enough. Such a mix of beautiful, baroque language and high tech on a breath-taking scale is really rare. If you like AI concepts or the simulation of personalities in a computer environment including all the options that this offers, this book is for you. But that's not all. As the story unfolds it's less and less clear which side plays which role and how our hero can overcome the obstacles.
A true masterpiece.
A true masterpiece.
This book envisions a pretty interesting universe, although its dialogue is amateurishly written and its pacing is very confusing.
One problem with a book set in a world where people may change their environment to appear however they wish is that the book doesn't really have a setting for a good hundred pages, or a discernible plot, or characters with any actual character.
Once the story kicks in it's pretty fun, though, if one can manage to suspend one's expectations of the craft. This book is...more
One problem with a book set in a world where people may change their environment to appear however they wish is that the book doesn't really have a setting for a good hundred pages, or a discernible plot, or characters with any actual character.
Once the story kicks in it's pretty fun, though, if one can manage to suspend one's expectations of the craft. This book is...more
This book is really something, though it is only 1/3rd of the whole story. Normally I am utterly opposed to the idea of spending more than one book on a given story, but I'm prepared to give John C. Wright a pass on this, and am more willing to reconsider my opposition in the future.
The Golden Age is the story of Phaethon, son of Helion (the mythological references are heavy). He lives in a world where the wealthy define reality for themselves, and wish to trap mankind in a stasis that will pres...more
The Golden Age is the story of Phaethon, son of Helion (the mythological references are heavy). He lives in a world where the wealthy define reality for themselves, and wish to trap mankind in a stasis that will pres...more
Still my favorite science fiction novel of the last few years. Incredible vision of the far future that blends Jack Vance and Vernor Vinge into a classic space opera.
All I can say is, grit your way through the first 50-100 pages, where everything is impenetrable and the narration assumes you know what's going on, and hold on until it starts making sense. After I finally got to where it started making sense (when you solve the mystery of why they're talking about two suns, and you realize "wait, they ignited...they ignited frickin Jupiter to make a second sun!"), it fast became one of the most unforgettable and enjoyable books I've ever read. As someone who l...more
Finiquitado el primer volumen (es una trilogía) de La Edad de Oro de John C. Wright. Tal y como me había comentado es cierto que no te enteras de mucho hasta la mitad del libro. Luego, entras en el juego que propone el autor y ya resulta mucho más sencillo.
El autor te suelta en su particularísimo mundo sin dar ninguna explicación, así sin más. De modo que tienes que ir enterándote de como funciona su universo a medida que va transcurriendo la historia. No es una lectura para nada fácil. Encierra...more
The Golden Age describes our world far in the future where technology was developed to the point of being almost symbiotic with humans and where nanotechnology is just another skin. In the first pages I was overwhelmed with all the new concepts and notions but the author frames our hero in a context that makes life easier for us, but not less exciting. Phateon, in the Silver-Gray Manorial house. is a human more or less like us and follows old traditions, that is, is actions, vision of the world,...more
Wow, what a completely original, thought provoking bit of science fiction! Imagine our world 10,000 years into the future. Here, we're watched over by a group of super intelligent artificial intelligences called Sophotechs, with whose help has finally brought about immortality & with it, the ability to view everything around us in whatever perspective suits us best. This world is also one where, since it's possible to live whatever life you choose as wells as have the ability to see the worl...more
"Era il tempo della mascherata."
Questo libro comincia proprio così. L'autore vuole semplicemente dire che è in corso una specie di festa di carnevale, ma io utilizzo questa frase perché ci vedo di più. E' ben rappresentativa di questo romanzo così folle e così estremamente visionario, dove l'identità non è mai stata così labile e fuori fuoco.
E' un grande romanzo di fantascienza, una vera sorpresa. Il futuro di Wright è lontanissimo, millenni avanti nel futuro, ed è un trionfo dell'immaginazione....more
Questo libro comincia proprio così. L'autore vuole semplicemente dire che è in corso una specie di festa di carnevale, ma io utilizzo questa frase perché ci vedo di più. E' ben rappresentativa di questo romanzo così folle e così estremamente visionario, dove l'identità non è mai stata così labile e fuori fuoco.
E' un grande romanzo di fantascienza, una vera sorpresa. Il futuro di Wright è lontanissimo, millenni avanti nel futuro, ed è un trionfo dell'immaginazione....more
While I know this author to have an extremely convoluted writing style, this book was strangely clear at the same time. I especially love the big question posed by this narrative: Which is better, easy happiness, or the hard truth. Phaethon, the main protagonist, wrestles with the decision he must make that will either change his life, or give him more of the same life. At times the narrative feels like watching Inception for the first time; suddenly transitioning between realities and it become...more
Interesting philosophical concepts. Direct memory manipulation and intentionally forgetting/remembering things as an everyday option - does it make us different, what is the real you? Gives an opportunity for sudden plot twists, almost reminded me of Memento (the movie). The background of high tech AIs, implants and avatars being the standard way for living makes this very cyberpunky, everyone living in the matrix. Disliked the overly long lawyer/aftermath part, but still recommended for anyone...more
Mas que surpresa!
Emprestaram-me este livro dizendo que não conseguiam passar das primeiras páginas, e realmente pareciam ter razão para afirmar isso mesmo. Quando lhe peguei pela primeira vez não percebi nada do que estava a ler. E por nada quero dizer que parecia que estava a ler um livro técnico sobre qualquer coisa muito técnica. Ficou muitos meses na minha prateleira à espera que lhe pegasse outra vez.
Mas obriguei-me a ler, pois a curiosidade para perceber porque o personagem tinha todas as...more
Emprestaram-me este livro dizendo que não conseguiam passar das primeiras páginas, e realmente pareciam ter razão para afirmar isso mesmo. Quando lhe peguei pela primeira vez não percebi nada do que estava a ler. E por nada quero dizer que parecia que estava a ler um livro técnico sobre qualquer coisa muito técnica. Ficou muitos meses na minha prateleira à espera que lhe pegasse outra vez.
Mas obriguei-me a ler, pois a curiosidade para perceber porque o personagem tinha todas as...more
Feb 13, 2013
Tommy Darby
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone with nostrils
Recommended to Tommy by:
Mitch Richling
Shelves:
science-fiction,
fiction
"The Golden Age" by John C. Wright is my kind of science fiction, but maybe with one little caveat. The entire story in this book seems to be confined to our solar system and is not galactic wide. Now if you want to be a well known author, you have got to for the big one and shoot for the stars. No doubt about it.
But, I might note this is only the first volume of what I believe is a three volume trilogy. So no telling what happens in the next two books. We may be skipping around in the Andromeda...more
But, I might note this is only the first volume of what I believe is a three volume trilogy. So no telling what happens in the next two books. We may be skipping around in the Andromeda...more
5 Stars
The Golden Age is a gem of a sci-fi. It does not even matter that it is the first book in a trilogy; it is still worth a read. I want to say Thank You! To all my friends here at Goodreads that reviewed this book and put out the warning that although the beginning of this book is extremely difficult to get through, the persistent reader will be rewarded with a remarkably written hard science fiction mystery novel. This was my first exposure to John C. Wright as an author, but now I will se...more
The Golden Age is a gem of a sci-fi. It does not even matter that it is the first book in a trilogy; it is still worth a read. I want to say Thank You! To all my friends here at Goodreads that reviewed this book and put out the warning that although the beginning of this book is extremely difficult to get through, the persistent reader will be rewarded with a remarkably written hard science fiction mystery novel. This was my first exposure to John C. Wright as an author, but now I will se...more
An extraordinarily detailed and intelligently extrapolated journey into the far future – a visionary, gripping and philosophically stimulating read.
A profound vision into the evolved future of humanity and civilisation – technology, philosophy, engineering, semantics, culture, intelligence, virtual and abstract reality, perversity, morality, art, fantasy and desire, where biology and neuro-form are augmented and interfaced with vast, benevolent, self-aware scholarly and planetary computer networ...more
A profound vision into the evolved future of humanity and civilisation – technology, philosophy, engineering, semantics, culture, intelligence, virtual and abstract reality, perversity, morality, art, fantasy and desire, where biology and neuro-form are augmented and interfaced with vast, benevolent, self-aware scholarly and planetary computer networ...more
A common cliche in science fiction is to take a person from an ancient society and drop them into the present day, and observe their bewilderment in response to our technology and culture. The Golden Age is the first book that effectively put me in that situation.
With no preamble or explanation (other than a Dramatis personæ) the reader is thrust 10,000 years into the future and dropped into a very strange world. This may sound great, and it ultimately becomes great, but at first it is bewilderi...more
With no preamble or explanation (other than a Dramatis personæ) the reader is thrust 10,000 years into the future and dropped into a very strange world. This may sound great, and it ultimately becomes great, but at first it is bewilderi...more
J’ai rarement lu quoi que ce soit d’aussi étrange.
Et pourtant, j’en ai lu des bouquins décrivant des univers un peu dingues, des visions de l’avenir un chouïa corrompues, ou tout au moins gauchies, mais des comme ça … jamais, je crois.
En fait, le point troublant dès le départ, c'est que l’auteur nous envoie directement à ce qui est sans doute pour lui la fin de l’humanité. Enfin, la fin, pas vraiment, puisque tout le monde est immortel, avoir un corps est devenu un mode de vie comme un autre, le...more
Et pourtant, j’en ai lu des bouquins décrivant des univers un peu dingues, des visions de l’avenir un chouïa corrompues, ou tout au moins gauchies, mais des comme ça … jamais, je crois.
En fait, le point troublant dès le départ, c'est que l’auteur nous envoie directement à ce qui est sans doute pour lui la fin de l’humanité. Enfin, la fin, pas vraiment, puisque tout le monde est immortel, avoir un corps est devenu un mode de vie comme un autre, le...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What's The Name o...: Solved-murder mystery with people using surrogate bodies to live but is not "Surrogates" [s] | 6 | 39 | Apr 19, 2013 05:38am | |
| Utopia vs Dystopia? | 1 | 6 | Jan 23, 2012 10:43am |
John C. Wright (John Charles Justin Wright, born 1961) is an American author of science fiction and fantasy novels. A Nebula award finalist (for the fantasy novel Orphans of Chaos), he was called "this fledgling century's most important new SF talent" by Publishers Weekly (after publication of his debut novel, The Golden Age).
More about John C. Wright...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
