The Golden Age is 10,000 years in the future in our solar system, an interplanetary utopian society filled with immortal humans.
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reviews
Apr 10, 2011
Dan
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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. Wh More...
The Golden Age is one mind-bender of a read. Wh More...
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Oct 05, 2007
Hillary
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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
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Feb 11, 2008
Luke
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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 More...
Once you learn the terminology and can More...
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Oct 09, 2007
Jeff
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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 proofre 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 proofre More...
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May 22, 2008
Craig
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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 More...
The society that Wright creates and the issues of social expansion vs. social More...
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Aug 30, 2011
Dulac3
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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
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Jun 25, 2011
Jay
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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_ 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_ More...
Jun 11, 2011
John David
rated it:
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 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 More...
May 17, 2011
Niklas
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2nd read of the trilogy sustains this as an extraordinarily detailed and intelligently extrapolated journey into the far future – a visionary, philosophical and gripping read. The first book of a trilogy – if you appreciate well written, mind-expanding writing that gets under your skin, and you don’t mind stretching your brain to get a handle on the new language, concept and phenomenology at the outset – then you may as well just save yourself the discomposure and get the trilogy all at once. It
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Sep 28, 2010
Christopher
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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 no
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Jun 22, 2007
Jordan
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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.
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Apr 28, 2008
Andreas
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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.
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Apr 13, 2010
Ian
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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 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 More...
Jun 11, 2009
Noah
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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 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 More...
Nov 08, 2008
M.D.
rated it:
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.
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Feb 15, 2011
Cláudio
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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,
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Sep 27, 2010
Tgut
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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 world
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Mar 01, 2011
Tancredi
rated it:
"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 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 More...
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Aug 05, 2011
Janne
rated it:
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
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Oct 13, 2011
Eloisa
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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 tin 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 tin More...
Jun 24, 2010
Nicolas
rated it:
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 d 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 d More...
Mar 15, 2010
DJ
rated it:
When reality is only perceived through multiple layers of filters, what is truth?
When memories are readable, writable, and editable, what is an individual?
When superintelligences are capable of predicting the vast majority of our decisions, what is free will?
When biochemistry and emotional states are hackable (and therefore suppressible), what is discipline?
When every human has the option to plug in to their own custom virtual world, what is humani More...
When memories are readable, writable, and editable, what is an individual?
When superintelligences are capable of predicting the vast majority of our decisions, what is free will?
When biochemistry and emotional states are hackable (and therefore suppressible), what is discipline?
When every human has the option to plug in to their own custom virtual world, what is humani More...
Feb 05, 2009
Duncan
rated it:
this is one of my favorite science fiction books of the last decade. it's hard sci-fi and can be a tough read, but it's utterly brilliant and beautiful. phenomenal speculation about a post-singularity society with deep philosophical questions intermixed with some really well done set pieces and an intriguing central mystery.
i've read these books twice in the last three years as it's one of those series that demands multiple reads to truly appreciate the multiple layers.
i've read these books twice in the last three years as it's one of those series that demands multiple reads to truly appreciate the multiple layers.
Jan 29, 2011
Chris
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My favorite science fiction story of all time. John C. Wright manages to portray a far future humanity in a way I've never encountered before. The physics are totally realistic: no faster than light anything! no artificial gravity! inscrutable artificial intelligences that run society! Also interesting is how he portrays what is essentially a libertarian utopia made possible by high technology.
I re-read this trilogy every couple of years and it continues to amaze.
I re-read this trilogy every couple of years and it continues to amaze.
Dec 15, 2009
Kevin
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An excellent story about post-(multiple)-singularity civilization.
It is unfortunate that the author seems to have suffered brain damage in a near-death experience, and has become a Catholic God-Bot.
In (the world of) his stories, it is clear that one of his (the authors) backups would have been restored and emancipated as an alternative (truer?) version of his personality.
It is unfortunate that the author seems to have suffered brain damage in a near-death experience, and has become a Catholic God-Bot.
In (the world of) his stories, it is clear that one of his (the authors) backups would have been restored and emancipated as an alternative (truer?) version of his personality.
Jul 24, 2010
Stephen
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6.0 stars. Absolutely mind-blowing science fiction debut novel. I do not know how best to describe this. In tone, it reminds me of some of the "golden age" science fiction classics like The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester and The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov. However, the book is written in a very contemporary and highly "computer literate" style (think cyber punk) that reminds me of William Gibson. Absolutely incredible and very unique. I can't wait to read the se
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Dec 25, 2011
Robert
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Perhaps the best and most surprisingly creative sci-fi novels I have ever read. Highly recommended for those who like space opera, huge ideas, and interesting ideas of the far future. Rest of the series if quite good too, but this intro is outstanding.
Oct 30, 2011
David
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Widely imaginative future world of virtual realities and the vast reach of mankind - that is, ironically, adamantly opposed to further reach to the stars.
Jun 11, 2011
Kyla
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If I could change everything around me to make it pleasing aesthetically, it would be the best day of the word. This trilogy has become my favorite daydream.
May 12, 2010
Ethan
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This series, in some ways, is possibly the most difficult read I've encountered. Not in terms of storyline or plot, it has an excellent story, but in terms of vocabulary. Regardless it is a great read.
