What do you think?
Rate this book
SF++ Science Fiction Stories for Linux Geeks
If you think the penguin on the cover represents the Penguin Publishing Group, then perhaps this anthology is not the book for you. On the other hand, if you fondly recognize Tux, the Linux penguin, then yes, you are among friends. The idea here was to assemble an anthology for geeks--smart, independent, computer and science savvy geeks with a sense of humor. And, for me, that pointed to Linux. Linux geeks are smart (I mean they use Linux, after all). They're independent enough not to use that other operating system. And finally, there's a tradition of humor and word play in the Linux community. And so, SF++ Science FICTION Stories for Linux Geeks The first plus in the title indicates that, in addition to stories, there's a science fact article ('Challenge of the Anthropic Universe'). The second plus indicates an experiment--a story ('Roblocks') that can't be done in dead-treeware. It requires an html capable reader. Most of the 0x10 works in this ninety three thousand word collection have appeared in pro SF magazines. Many also appear in my earlier anthologies. (If words were kilo-miles, this anthology would stretch from the Earth to the Sun.) We are Linux! Resistance is...measured in ohms. SF++ has Linux in its title, and the Linux operating system doesn't cost anything. I thought then I'd make this book also not cost anything. And anyway, most of the stories herein have already paid for themselves--seven of them have appeared in Analog Magazine. (Some of the stories though, are even too geeky for Analog.) Experimentally, I've found that e-book buyers tend to equate price with worth. So (since I believe SF++ has sufficient worth) I've priced the book on Kindle at $4.00. To keep with the Linux philosophy though, I'm providing the book for free through my website. www.frithrik.com/eb.htm. Go there for your free copy and I'll e-mail the book to you within a few days. In the unlikely event that I'm flooded with requests, it might take a little longer. Table of ContentsPreface01 : The Lycanthropic Principle (About 7k words)02 : The Architects' Playground (12.5k)03 : DECFSZ (5k)04 : Teddy Bear Toys (5.5k)05 : A Boy and his Bicycle (4k)06 : The Fruitcake Genome (4k)07 : Synthetic Sentience (3.5k)08 : We are the Cat (6k)09 : The Emancipation of the Knowledge Robots (1k)0A : The Dyslexicon (1.25k)0B : Transitivity (5.5k)0C : The Skeekit-Woogle Test (5k)0D : Roblocks (3.5k + 4.5k)0E : Guess Who (7.5k)0F : The Challenge of the Anthropic Universe (4.5k)10 : The Exoanthropic Principle (8.5k) Back Cover NotesOther E-books
- GenresScience Fiction
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2011
2 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Carl Frederick
76 books6 followersI am NOT the author of a book on EST. That's by a different Carl Frederick.
(And anyway, how can anyone write a whole book about Eastern Standard Time?)
(And anyway, how can anyone write a whole book about Eastern Standard Time?)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 5, 2012
I found this book quite by accident whilst looking for manual to help me persuade, bully or bribe my paranoid iMac into sharing files with my trusty Linux box. (Or even forcing the totally smug iMac to admit that it knew where it was putting the files I created) As a C++ coder battling with the counter intuitive, nanny knows best, draw pictures and don't frighten the horses by admitting computers use code, Apple operating system how could I resist the title
SF++ Science Fiction Stories for Linux Geeks - the title ticked all the right boxes.
I wasn't disappointed. This is a beautiful little book of short stories which assumes you know something about the odd way computers interact with wetware and then paints knowing word-pictures of the sort of peculiar people who enjoy writing code and feel at home using text driven computer interfaces.
The moment the book posed the question Why is Linux like a Tipi? And answered “No Gates, No Windows and Apache inside” I was hooked, although I would have answered “No Gates, No Windows, better than a Macintosh at keeping you out of the rain and with Apache inside.” but that's only because I find Apple's OS X Lion operating system the most secretive, evasive and counter intuitive computer control freak assumption-ware I have ever been forced to use - just to get access to the wonderful video editing suite of iMovie.
SF++ not only writes from a knowledgable viewpoint and doesn't patronise its readers by explaining the obvious but is wonderfully funny. It fact it has embarrassed people sitting near me as I read it by forcing me to laugh out loud and made innocent non-geeks wonder about my sanity when I repeated the joke.
This is the first Carl Frederick book I have read but I intend to read more of his work.
It does exactly what it says on the cover
As a fellow dyslexic I know that spelling is either a creative adventure or a task left to a fuzzy-lookup table. (just to help the rest of the world who are reading disabled) If you are not a Linux geek but just blessed with the outsider's viewpoint of the dyslexic then The Dyslexicon alone is worth the purchase price,
Thank you Carl for speaking up for us dyslexically logical scientists.
SF++ Science Fiction Stories for Linux Geeks - the title ticked all the right boxes.
I wasn't disappointed. This is a beautiful little book of short stories which assumes you know something about the odd way computers interact with wetware and then paints knowing word-pictures of the sort of peculiar people who enjoy writing code and feel at home using text driven computer interfaces.
The moment the book posed the question Why is Linux like a Tipi? And answered “No Gates, No Windows and Apache inside” I was hooked, although I would have answered “No Gates, No Windows, better than a Macintosh at keeping you out of the rain and with Apache inside.” but that's only because I find Apple's OS X Lion operating system the most secretive, evasive and counter intuitive computer control freak assumption-ware I have ever been forced to use - just to get access to the wonderful video editing suite of iMovie.
SF++ not only writes from a knowledgable viewpoint and doesn't patronise its readers by explaining the obvious but is wonderfully funny. It fact it has embarrassed people sitting near me as I read it by forcing me to laugh out loud and made innocent non-geeks wonder about my sanity when I repeated the joke.
This is the first Carl Frederick book I have read but I intend to read more of his work.
It does exactly what it says on the cover
As a fellow dyslexic I know that spelling is either a creative adventure or a task left to a fuzzy-lookup table. (just to help the rest of the world who are reading disabled) If you are not a Linux geek but just blessed with the outsider's viewpoint of the dyslexic then The Dyslexicon alone is worth the purchase price,
Thank you Carl for speaking up for us dyslexically logical scientists.
June 5, 2012
I bought this book after Robert Lomas sent me a tweet informing me of the book and saying i would enjoy it and recognise people in it.
And with a title like "SF++ Science Fiction Stories for Linux Geeks" and an introduction that included. "Not any more. Now, though the wuggies (see story 01) might not realize it, at long last, geeks rule!
I wanted to assemble an anthology for geeks—smart, independent, science and computer savvy geeks with a sense of humor. And, for me, that pointed to Linux. Linux types are smart (I mean they use Linux, after all). They're independent enough not to use that other operating system. And finally, there's a tradition of humor and word play in the Linux community: Pine Is Not Elm, if you knew Suse, GNU is Not Unix, and all that."
This book is well worth a read, and if you have had any dealings with IT, Linux or geeky people in general you will probably spot people in here you know.
I also admit to having woken up once to the realisation I was coding in my sleep.
So unless you want to be a wuggle all your life. read this book, then hunt out and read his other books.
and remember
Q:"Why is Linux like a Tipi?"
A:“No Gates, No Windows and Apache inside”
And with a title like "SF++ Science Fiction Stories for Linux Geeks" and an introduction that included. "Not any more. Now, though the wuggies (see story 01) might not realize it, at long last, geeks rule!
I wanted to assemble an anthology for geeks—smart, independent, science and computer savvy geeks with a sense of humor. And, for me, that pointed to Linux. Linux types are smart (I mean they use Linux, after all). They're independent enough not to use that other operating system. And finally, there's a tradition of humor and word play in the Linux community: Pine Is Not Elm, if you knew Suse, GNU is Not Unix, and all that."
This book is well worth a read, and if you have had any dealings with IT, Linux or geeky people in general you will probably spot people in here you know.
I also admit to having woken up once to the realisation I was coding in my sleep.
So unless you want to be a wuggle all your life. read this book, then hunt out and read his other books.
and remember
Q:"Why is Linux like a Tipi?"
A:“No Gates, No Windows and Apache inside”
September 19, 2014
I bought this book after Robert Lomas sent me a tweet informing me of the book and saying i would enjoy it and recognise people in it.
And with a title like "SF++ Science Fiction Stories for Linux Geeks" and an introduction that included. "Not any more. Now, though the wuggies (see story 01) might not realize it, at long last, geeks rule!
I wanted to assemble an anthology for geeks—smart, independent, science and computer savvy geeks with a sense of humor. And, for me, that pointed to Linux. Linux types are smart (I mean they use Linux, after all). They're independent enough not to use that other operating system. And finally, there's a tradition of humor and word play in the Linux community: Pine Is Not Elm, if you knew Suse, GNU is Not Unix, and all that."
This book is well worth a read, and if you have had any dealings with IT, Linux or geeky people in general you will probably spot people in here you know.
I also admit to having woken up once to the realisation I was coding in my sleep.
So unless you want to be a wuggle all your life. read this book, then hunt out and read his other books.
and remember
Q:"Why is Linux like a Tipi?"
A:“No Gates, No Windows and Apache inside”
And with a title like "SF++ Science Fiction Stories for Linux Geeks" and an introduction that included. "Not any more. Now, though the wuggies (see story 01) might not realize it, at long last, geeks rule!
I wanted to assemble an anthology for geeks—smart, independent, science and computer savvy geeks with a sense of humor. And, for me, that pointed to Linux. Linux types are smart (I mean they use Linux, after all). They're independent enough not to use that other operating system. And finally, there's a tradition of humor and word play in the Linux community: Pine Is Not Elm, if you knew Suse, GNU is Not Unix, and all that."
This book is well worth a read, and if you have had any dealings with IT, Linux or geeky people in general you will probably spot people in here you know.
I also admit to having woken up once to the realisation I was coding in my sleep.
So unless you want to be a wuggle all your life. read this book, then hunt out and read his other books.
and remember
Q:"Why is Linux like a Tipi?"
A:“No Gates, No Windows and Apache inside”
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews