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Logic Beach: Part I
Mathematician Polly Hare is missing. She leaves one cat, one scarf, and a hypergeometric theory of everything with the potential to end physics. Her husband Benjamin is determined to bring her home. Papers will be read. Cults will be infiltrated. Cats will be petted. Benjamin Hare cannot tie his shoes, but he may well steer the course of human history. Thousands of years later and humans have migrated into a great digital playground called Arcadia. Light is smelled. Music is eaten. Physics is near completion. These new humans have their own trials, however; an experiment in mind-blending has gone horribly wrong, giving birth to a rampant colossus. It is the end of history, but long-dead mathematician (and mediocre ukulele player) Polly Hare might have something to say on the matter. What is the origin of space and time? Why is logic built into nature? And how, exactly, does God take his tea?
203 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 27, 2017
254 people are currently reading
2773 people want to read
About the author
Exurb1a
8 books1,935 followersExurb1a likes fiction with a metaphysical backbone. He enjoys trying to write that kind of stuff himself.
He also runs a subpar YouTube channel of the same name.
He also runs a subpar YouTube channel of the same name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
December 7, 2017
/English version of this review can be found at the bottom/
"Отне 14 милиарда години, за да бъдеш направена, и няма да се случиш отново."
Не съм най-големият фен на sci-fi жанра, главно защото трудно харесвам каквото и да е свързано с него. Но това е както отчасти мой проблем, така и отчасти проблем на авторите. В sci-fi, поне за мен, не е важен замисълът, не е важен и финалът, защото тези брилянти идеи не са толкова редки, колкото човек би си помислил. Рядкостта на добрите sci-fi истории идва в факта, че изпълнението, прогресията на една sci-fi история я превръща в шедьовър. Няма да седя тук и да ви обяснявам как романът на Exurb1a е шедьовър, това ще си остане за вас да откриете (ако го откриете), но пък няма и как да не похваля писателя за невероятния му усет в тези неща. "Мостът към Люси Дун" е една от малкото книги, които съм отбелязал като любими тази година, главно защото Exurb1a просто е невероятен разказвач. И тук е, явно, тайната в този жанр, не е нужно да си най-умният писател, не е нужно да си най-оригиналният писател, но ако си много, ама много добър разказвач можеш да си спокоен, че каквото излезе от перото ти ще е добро.
"Плаж Логика" е sci-fi история, която събира студената логика на жанра с топлата емоция на човечеството. Роман за един мъж, който е изгубил своята (българка, което леко повдига мнението ми) съпруга математичка и, в същия момент, роман за една абстрактна утопия-дистопия в странен, футуристичен свят. "Плаж Логика" е роман за любовта, за математиката, за физиката, за философията, за загубата; "Плаж Логика" е най-добрият sci-fi роман, който съм чел тази година. Прозата на Exurb1a е коктейл, не е важно как се прави, не е важно даже как го пиеш, важно е как навлиза в кръвта ти и те оставя с махмурлук и с желанието да отпиеш отново и отново, и отново. Втора част не може физически да пристигне достатъчно скоро.
/English version/
"You took 14 billion years to make, and you won’t happen again."
I am not the biggest fan of the sci-fi genre, mainly because I find it hard to like anything that is connected to it. But this comes from as much a problem in me as it comes from a problem in the authors. In sci-fi, at least for me, the premise is not important, neither is the finale because these brilliant ideas aren’t as rare as one would think. The rareness of good sci-fi stories comes from the fact, that the execution, the progression of a sci-fi story is what turns it into a masterpiece. Now, I’m not going to sit here and tell you how Exurb1a’s novel is a masterpiece, that’s for you to discover (if you do at all) but there is also no way that I won’t congratulate the author for his incredible feel for these things. "The Bridge to Lucy Dunne" was one of the few books that I marked as favorites this year mainly because Exurb1a is such a damn good storyteller. And here, apparently, is the secret of this genre, you don’t need to be the smartest author or the most original author, but if you are very, very good storyteller you can rest assured that whatever comes out of your quill will be good.
"Logic Beach" is a sci-fi story which brings together the cold logic of the genre and the warmth of the human emotion. A novel about a man, who has lost his (Bulgarian, which slightly increases my opinion) mathematician wife, and at the same time a novel about an abstract utopia/dystopia in a strange, futuristic world. "Logic Beach" is a novel about love, about mathematics, about physics, about philosophy, about loss; "Logic Beach" is the best sci-fi novel that I have read all year. The prose of Exurb1a is a cocktail, it isn’t important how it’s made or how you drink it, what is important is how it enters your blood and leaves you hungover and wanting to drink it again and again, and again. Part Two can physically not come soon enough.
"Отне 14 милиарда години, за да бъдеш направена, и няма да се случиш отново."
Не съм най-големият фен на sci-fi жанра, главно защото трудно харесвам каквото и да е свързано с него. Но това е както отчасти мой проблем, така и отчасти проблем на авторите. В sci-fi, поне за мен, не е важен замисълът, не е важен и финалът, защото тези брилянти идеи не са толкова редки, колкото човек би си помислил. Рядкостта на добрите sci-fi истории идва в факта, че изпълнението, прогресията на една sci-fi история я превръща в шедьовър. Няма да седя тук и да ви обяснявам как романът на Exurb1a е шедьовър, това ще си остане за вас да откриете (ако го откриете), но пък няма и как да не похваля писателя за невероятния му усет в тези неща. "Мостът към Люси Дун" е една от малкото книги, които съм отбелязал като любими тази година, главно защото Exurb1a просто е невероятен разказвач. И тук е, явно, тайната в този жанр, не е нужно да си най-умният писател, не е нужно да си най-оригиналният писател, но ако си много, ама много добър разказвач можеш да си спокоен, че каквото излезе от перото ти ще е добро.
"Плаж Логика" е sci-fi история, която събира студената логика на жанра с топлата емоция на човечеството. Роман за един мъж, който е изгубил своята (българка, което леко повдига мнението ми) съпруга математичка и, в същия момент, роман за една абстрактна утопия-дистопия в странен, футуристичен свят. "Плаж Логика" е роман за любовта, за математиката, за физиката, за философията, за загубата; "Плаж Логика" е най-добрият sci-fi роман, който съм чел тази година. Прозата на Exurb1a е коктейл, не е важно как се прави, не е важно даже как го пиеш, важно е как навлиза в кръвта ти и те оставя с махмурлук и с желанието да отпиеш отново и отново, и отново. Втора част не може физически да пристигне достатъчно скоро.
/English version/
"You took 14 billion years to make, and you won’t happen again."
I am not the biggest fan of the sci-fi genre, mainly because I find it hard to like anything that is connected to it. But this comes from as much a problem in me as it comes from a problem in the authors. In sci-fi, at least for me, the premise is not important, neither is the finale because these brilliant ideas aren’t as rare as one would think. The rareness of good sci-fi stories comes from the fact, that the execution, the progression of a sci-fi story is what turns it into a masterpiece. Now, I’m not going to sit here and tell you how Exurb1a’s novel is a masterpiece, that’s for you to discover (if you do at all) but there is also no way that I won’t congratulate the author for his incredible feel for these things. "The Bridge to Lucy Dunne" was one of the few books that I marked as favorites this year mainly because Exurb1a is such a damn good storyteller. And here, apparently, is the secret of this genre, you don’t need to be the smartest author or the most original author, but if you are very, very good storyteller you can rest assured that whatever comes out of your quill will be good.
"Logic Beach" is a sci-fi story which brings together the cold logic of the genre and the warmth of the human emotion. A novel about a man, who has lost his (Bulgarian, which slightly increases my opinion) mathematician wife, and at the same time a novel about an abstract utopia/dystopia in a strange, futuristic world. "Logic Beach" is a novel about love, about mathematics, about physics, about philosophy, about loss; "Logic Beach" is the best sci-fi novel that I have read all year. The prose of Exurb1a is a cocktail, it isn’t important how it’s made or how you drink it, what is important is how it enters your blood and leaves you hungover and wanting to drink it again and again, and again. Part Two can physically not come soon enough.
September 16, 2018
It’s a good read, no doubt. It builds on one of my favourite Exurb1a videos, “Humanity: Good Ending” with the concept of the Etherea being expanded upon. Did a good job of grabbing my attention with the writing style in the early chapters, and managed to keep it through the book. The writing in the first few chapters was The book is riddled with philosophical undertones typical of Exurb1a but this time, there’s a plot and characters.
Minor annoyances were that some explanations of concepts were a bit draggy (nitpicking here it was just one place) and that the writing style at times was just inconsistent. The characters would sometimes say something out of character and completely break the tone of the scene. Being one of his early books, its not a big deal.
Good book. Good science and philosophy. Yeah, pleasant read. I'm looking forward to part 2.
Minor annoyances were that some explanations of concepts were a bit draggy (nitpicking here it was just one place) and that the writing style at times was just inconsistent. The characters would sometimes say something out of character and completely break the tone of the scene. Being one of his early books, its not a big deal.
Good book. Good science and philosophy. Yeah, pleasant read. I'm looking forward to part 2.
April 23, 2023
Two worlds intertwined. ~
One is our common world. Archeologist Benjamin Hare, on one of his trips to do research in Sofia, Bulgaria, comes to meet and fall in love with Polly, a very skilled Bulgarian mathematician. Regardless of their differences, they end up getting married and moving to England, where Polly gets a position as Professor. One day, out of thin air, she disappears, not a single trace is left. Nobody knows where she is or whether she is dead or alive. Benjamin's life becomes a nightmare of despair and he decides to start writing his feelings in a notebook.
The second world is post-human, thousand years later in the future where humanity opted into a digital world divided into three sub-worlds, being the basic one the Ape Cellar, which gave reason to the appearance of Arcadia, and its sub-divisions into Lemuria and Indigo. Ape Cellar is still a kind of sapiens world, but the other is in an advanced phase of abstractness.
This is just the starting point in both worlds. And I must say I appreciated the writing, though it tends to some too many attempts of explaining things at times, mostly at its end, but it is alright still.
One is our common world. Archeologist Benjamin Hare, on one of his trips to do research in Sofia, Bulgaria, comes to meet and fall in love with Polly, a very skilled Bulgarian mathematician. Regardless of their differences, they end up getting married and moving to England, where Polly gets a position as Professor. One day, out of thin air, she disappears, not a single trace is left. Nobody knows where she is or whether she is dead or alive. Benjamin's life becomes a nightmare of despair and he decides to start writing his feelings in a notebook.
The second world is post-human, thousand years later in the future where humanity opted into a digital world divided into three sub-worlds, being the basic one the Ape Cellar, which gave reason to the appearance of Arcadia, and its sub-divisions into Lemuria and Indigo. Ape Cellar is still a kind of sapiens world, but the other is in an advanced phase of abstractness.
This is just the starting point in both worlds. And I must say I appreciated the writing, though it tends to some too many attempts of explaining things at times, mostly at its end, but it is alright still.
June 16, 2022
Feeling disappointed. The most interesting 'science' concepts were never properly hashed out. Most of the book was just weird action and drama. The letters of Hare were enjoyable, and Arcadia was interesting in the beginning but lost coherence towards the end, and as someone else mentioned, it didn't do a very good job of suspension of disbelief at that point.
May 29, 2019
I’m extremely intrigued by the concept of the book. (Meaning - the long wait for the sequel has begun :D )
For long I’ve wanted to read a book like this, and earlier this month I accidentally found Exurb1a’s channel on YouTube. Who would have guessed that such a person, who creates extremely hilerious content online can actually write top notch literary works... I was genualy surprised!
Even though I was confident that this book will consist of Youtube-like witty content, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Yes, there were some parts which cracked me up, but not as many as I anticipated beforehand.
Recommended to all, who enjoy pondering about the future of humanity and its possible outcomes.
For long I’ve wanted to read a book like this, and earlier this month I accidentally found Exurb1a’s channel on YouTube. Who would have guessed that such a person, who creates extremely hilerious content online can actually write top notch literary works... I was genualy surprised!
Even though I was confident that this book will consist of Youtube-like witty content, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Yes, there were some parts which cracked me up, but not as many as I anticipated beforehand.
Recommended to all, who enjoy pondering about the future of humanity and its possible outcomes.
February 11, 2022
What It's About:
Logic Beach - Part I is a post-humanist sci-fi novel that follows two stories in parallel. Benjamin is an English researcher in Bulgaria still reeling from the disappearance of his wife, and Argie is a denizen of the Ape Cellar seeking out her daughter and the means to reach the upper tiers where she might be. Though separated by innumerable cycles, they both face the loss of their loved ones and the daunting task of finding and bringing them back home -if they're even interested that is.
Thoughts:
This is very much an Exurb1a novel. If you've seen his videos, this will not be an unfamiliar style.Despite being a sci-fi novel, this isn't really about sci-fi. Sure, the setting is very science-y, but the book focuses on other things. To quote the author;
Sci-fi is usually terrible at predicting the future, but sometimes it’s all right for saying a thing or two about the present. -exurb1a
What I Liked About It:
This book does not hesitate to throw you into the fray. Like many of my favorite sci-fi novels, the explaining is generally done a short period after something happens (or never sometimes). It's a popular way of conveying the foreignness of the setting, since you can't get familiar with something you don't understand.
What I Didn't Like About It:
Due in part to the way this book treats it's science, when events occur that are dependent on the setting, their impact is generally lost and can even appear as Deus Ex Machina, to some extent.I also think that this section could have been slightly longer.
Who Would Like It:
If you're into far future sci-fi where there's almost nothing familiar besides the things that people keep as souvenirs, or the struggles of a modern man trying to find his identity after a tragic loss, this may be the book for you.I should warn you that the narrator is occasionally (okay perhaps regularly) vulgar, so keep that in mind.
Similar Books:
The Jean Le Flambeur Series by Hannu Rajaniemi,Also a post-humanist sci-fi novel, but this one is finished and by far one of my favorite of the genre.
Remembrance of Earth's Past by Cixin Liu,This is directly mentioned in the book as a source of "inspiration" (no plagiarism here) and is indeed similar, though suffers heavily from a badly paced ending.
The Expanse Series by James S. A. Corey,These books are much more rooted in modern science, as opposed to the two above, but is an excellent series that I heartily recommend.
Personal Commentary:
Ah, science-fiction. What an excellent way of exploring the possibilities of the future and how humans might adapt. There are, however, pitfalls in creating stories so divorced from reality.
In the real world, it is not particularly difficult to discern what is and isn't possible. Things fall, knives hurt, and pigs, generally, do not fly. These are all known facts and the reader can use them to predict what might happen (i.e. have expectations). Naturally, defying these expectations is surprising and acts as a way to attract the interest of the reader.
In science-fiction, this is more difficult, especially in settings like that of this book (or trans/post human sci-fi in general), where there are so many new things that the reader can become incapable of knowing what is possible or not. Dramatic revelations lose their impact when the reader doesn't realize why it should be dramatic, and conflicts lose their tension if the author starts to pull unexpected and unexplained twists so often that the reader just gets used to it.
This book, unfortunately, falls into this trap, and the story ultimately becomes meaningless. Characters are literal gods, the villain turns into a fucking lizard for no apparent reason other than "she's evil", and a weapon presented as a final solution is overcome with no effort approximately a minute after it's introduced. Ultimately, the story is just a vehicle for whatever the author is trying to say.
On a side note; The book alternates between modern Earth and the far future in Arcadia. My critique of the story only applies to the far future sections and I actually think that the modern Earth bits are well written story, as well as my favorite parts of the book, so that's why I only took away a single star.
Overall, if you are interested in reading about characters or in exploring far-future settings, then this is a good book, but I really can't recommend it to you if you need an engaging story to get invested in.
I host reviews like these in an arguably prettier format on my website: https://www.israelkobi.com/
Logic Beach - Part I is a post-humanist sci-fi novel that follows two stories in parallel. Benjamin is an English researcher in Bulgaria still reeling from the disappearance of his wife, and Argie is a denizen of the Ape Cellar seeking out her daughter and the means to reach the upper tiers where she might be. Though separated by innumerable cycles, they both face the loss of their loved ones and the daunting task of finding and bringing them back home -if they're even interested that is.
Thoughts:
This is very much an Exurb1a novel. If you've seen his videos, this will not be an unfamiliar style.Despite being a sci-fi novel, this isn't really about sci-fi. Sure, the setting is very science-y, but the book focuses on other things. To quote the author;
Sci-fi is usually terrible at predicting the future, but sometimes it’s all right for saying a thing or two about the present. -exurb1a
What I Liked About It:
This book does not hesitate to throw you into the fray. Like many of my favorite sci-fi novels, the explaining is generally done a short period after something happens (or never sometimes). It's a popular way of conveying the foreignness of the setting, since you can't get familiar with something you don't understand.
What I Didn't Like About It:
Due in part to the way this book treats it's science, when events occur that are dependent on the setting, their impact is generally lost and can even appear as Deus Ex Machina, to some extent.I also think that this section could have been slightly longer.
Who Would Like It:
If you're into far future sci-fi where there's almost nothing familiar besides the things that people keep as souvenirs, or the struggles of a modern man trying to find his identity after a tragic loss, this may be the book for you.I should warn you that the narrator is occasionally (okay perhaps regularly) vulgar, so keep that in mind.
Similar Books:
The Jean Le Flambeur Series by Hannu Rajaniemi,Also a post-humanist sci-fi novel, but this one is finished and by far one of my favorite of the genre.
Remembrance of Earth's Past by Cixin Liu,This is directly mentioned in the book as a source of "inspiration" (no plagiarism here) and is indeed similar, though suffers heavily from a badly paced ending.
The Expanse Series by James S. A. Corey,These books are much more rooted in modern science, as opposed to the two above, but is an excellent series that I heartily recommend.
Personal Commentary:
Ah, science-fiction. What an excellent way of exploring the possibilities of the future and how humans might adapt. There are, however, pitfalls in creating stories so divorced from reality.
In the real world, it is not particularly difficult to discern what is and isn't possible. Things fall, knives hurt, and pigs, generally, do not fly. These are all known facts and the reader can use them to predict what might happen (i.e. have expectations). Naturally, defying these expectations is surprising and acts as a way to attract the interest of the reader.
In science-fiction, this is more difficult, especially in settings like that of this book (or trans/post human sci-fi in general), where there are so many new things that the reader can become incapable of knowing what is possible or not. Dramatic revelations lose their impact when the reader doesn't realize why it should be dramatic, and conflicts lose their tension if the author starts to pull unexpected and unexplained twists so often that the reader just gets used to it.
This book, unfortunately, falls into this trap, and the story ultimately becomes meaningless. Characters are literal gods, the villain turns into a fucking lizard for no apparent reason other than "she's evil", and a weapon presented as a final solution is overcome with no effort approximately a minute after it's introduced. Ultimately, the story is just a vehicle for whatever the author is trying to say.
On a side note; The book alternates between modern Earth and the far future in Arcadia. My critique of the story only applies to the far future sections and I actually think that the modern Earth bits are well written story, as well as my favorite parts of the book, so that's why I only took away a single star.
Overall, if you are interested in reading about characters or in exploring far-future settings, then this is a good book, but I really can't recommend it to you if you need an engaging story to get invested in.
I host reviews like these in an arguably prettier format on my website: https://www.israelkobi.com/
September 28, 2022
When part 2 tho
April 22, 2024
No part 2 :(
October 12, 2025
Some of it is SO good. The rest is a little half baked.
The epistolary chapters are the sweet treat. It is evident these chapters are spun off of real life experiences to varying extent due to their sincerity.
The conspiracy and the Diaspora by Greg Egan-ripped secondary plot are…derivative and unfortunately uninspired.
This is very clearly an early piece from exurb1a and as we all start somewhere I think it is still very respectable
The epistolary chapters are the sweet treat. It is evident these chapters are spun off of real life experiences to varying extent due to their sincerity.
The conspiracy and the Diaspora by Greg Egan-ripped secondary plot are…derivative and unfortunately uninspired.
This is very clearly an early piece from exurb1a and as we all start somewhere I think it is still very respectable
October 30, 2024
Would give 10 stars if I could. Looking forward to the next part.
June 5, 2023
hui wtf
December 3, 2023
Weirdness from the Master
More of a 3.5 - Exurb1a is very good at explaining but he does do a tad too much of it. The ideas are familiar to sf fans anyways and the story gets side-lined to them quite a bit, which is actually ok due to the wit and eccentricity of the prose. The main characters are well drawn and there are some very funny moments. More action and tension is needed for a five star rating, though. The most consistent work I've read from this author so far. He's worth following if you like the more whacky end of sf.
More of a 3.5 - Exurb1a is very good at explaining but he does do a tad too much of it. The ideas are familiar to sf fans anyways and the story gets side-lined to them quite a bit, which is actually ok due to the wit and eccentricity of the prose. The main characters are well drawn and there are some very funny moments. More action and tension is needed for a five star rating, though. The most consistent work I've read from this author so far. He's worth following if you like the more whacky end of sf.
April 23, 2020
My first two words were after I finished this book were "holy shit". This book is a masterpiece, there is no other word for it. I did a speed reading of this book over the course of 2 and a half hours and many cups of tea, and was completely hooked. I then then slowed down and reread the book, and was blown away again. It is a spectacular book and some of the ideas scared the hell out of me. The style of writing is very well done and very unique, (at least to my knowledge) and I don't want to spoil because if you are reading reviews you probably haven't read the book. I highly recommend checking this book out, for anyone who likes science fiction, or has eyes alike. I probably cannot comprehend the time and effort that went into writing this , and I don't think just two reads give it justice. So check it out, 5 stars isn't high enough.
Usually I also give criticism in reviews, and not that this book was without fault, (although that may just be my ability to read) I couldn't find anything notibly wrong with this book.
So check it out, and I can't wait to see more!
Usually I also give criticism in reviews, and not that this book was without fault, (although that may just be my ability to read) I couldn't find anything notibly wrong with this book.
So check it out, and I can't wait to see more!
May 1, 2019
Interest Concept, Acceptable Execution
I'd recommend checking out the author's other works first. This is only the first half of the story and the second half has yet to come out.
If, however you're like me and you've read every other Exurb1a book and still yearn to fill the unending void of soul-shredding emptiness gnawing away at your spirit -- look no further!
Exurb1a's distinctive blend of fantasy and theoretical physics is wonderful. His playful language and relatably broken characters are also welcome hallmarks.
However, this is Exurb1a's first published work. It shows. The pacing is rough in places. Some scenes overstay their welcome, while others feel rushed. The ending, especially, was quite jarring. There were a lot of sudden reveals and hardly any time to explore their implications on the narrative.
Moreover, Exurb1a's legendary philosophical monologues are less polished here. Ideas repeat themselves and feel less fleshed out.
I'd recommend checking out the author's other works first. This is only the first half of the story and the second half has yet to come out.
If, however you're like me and you've read every other Exurb1a book and still yearn to fill the unending void of soul-shredding emptiness gnawing away at your spirit -- look no further!
Exurb1a's distinctive blend of fantasy and theoretical physics is wonderful. His playful language and relatably broken characters are also welcome hallmarks.
However, this is Exurb1a's first published work. It shows. The pacing is rough in places. Some scenes overstay their welcome, while others feel rushed. The ending, especially, was quite jarring. There were a lot of sudden reveals and hardly any time to explore their implications on the narrative.
Moreover, Exurb1a's legendary philosophical monologues are less polished here. Ideas repeat themselves and feel less fleshed out.
October 28, 2019
Two separate stories that (not unsurprisingly) turn out to be deeply connected. The near-future, detective story-like chapters are the most exciting, although the chapters that are played out in Arcadia are also highly entertaining, but quite difficult to grasp at times (which I guess is the author's intention). However, I don't buy the main premise of the story, to my knowledge chaos and randomness *must* be fundamental qualities of the universe. Heisenberg is probably spinning in his grave right now. 4 extremely weak stars, but I still look forward to Part II. And by the way, Kant was not a renaissance philosopher.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2020
A nice enough read, if you haven't read "Fall; or, Dodge in Hell" by Neal Stephenson. It might be one of those low hanging fruits that more than one person can get - the kind of idea that is on our collective minds because of the type of technology some of us face everyday.
Logic Beach starts with a great premise, nonlinear story telling, and enticing world building, then it gets a little loss on its character development, and it falls on clichés.
One big deterrent for me was the fact that the story is incomplete, so it leads you nowhere. The author does mention that, but it's literally just the first act of the story, not a complete story that will continue.
Logic Beach starts with a great premise, nonlinear story telling, and enticing world building, then it gets a little loss on its character development, and it falls on clichés.
One big deterrent for me was the fact that the story is incomplete, so it leads you nowhere. The author does mention that, but it's literally just the first act of the story, not a complete story that will continue.
September 10, 2020
Even better than what I expected. Who knew a youtuber could end up writing Sci-Fi as great as this
It seems heavily inspired on some novels I've read (or will read), but it still manages to tell a very original story in between. The science elements in it also reminded me a bit of Greg Egan's work
And not sure if this was just me, but I couldn't help but read one of the characters narration exurb1a himself, voice and everything.
The main disappointment is that it doesn't have a proper conclusion (which I was hoping for, and the book seemed to be going in that direction until the last few pages), but instead ends on a cliffhanger, with no promises on when the sequel will be out
It seems heavily inspired on some novels I've read (or will read), but it still manages to tell a very original story in between. The science elements in it also reminded me a bit of Greg Egan's work
And not sure if this was just me, but I couldn't help but read one of the characters narration exurb1a himself, voice and everything.
The main disappointment is that it doesn't have a proper conclusion (which I was hoping for, and the book seemed to be going in that direction until the last few pages), but instead ends on a cliffhanger, with no promises on when the sequel will be out
March 26, 2018
If you follow Exurb1a on YouTube you'll feel right at home with this novel, where he covers many of the same themes in a more dramatic format. Despite the novel being about ideas, great ideas, it doesn't come at the cost of characters. The mystery is engaging, and while I think I know where it's going, I'm still anxiously waiting to see it fulfilled.
The only draw back is that as a Part 1 there is little in the way of resolution at the end of the book. However, if the next part is half as good as the 1st the wait will be well worth it.
The only draw back is that as a Part 1 there is little in the way of resolution at the end of the book. However, if the next part is half as good as the 1st the wait will be well worth it.
July 5, 2020
Looking forward to part II
I like Exurb1a's books. Smart, insightful, and entertaining. The book alternates chapters between letters written by the book's narrator, and more, shall we say, abstract venues and characters. My favorites are the letters, as these are touching, funny, and set the background for the story in a very different way than what you typically find in scifi novels. You may have to brush up on your theoretical physics, or look up certain topics, but shouldn't good literature make you think? This book certainly does. Looking forward to part II.
I like Exurb1a's books. Smart, insightful, and entertaining. The book alternates chapters between letters written by the book's narrator, and more, shall we say, abstract venues and characters. My favorites are the letters, as these are touching, funny, and set the background for the story in a very different way than what you typically find in scifi novels. You may have to brush up on your theoretical physics, or look up certain topics, but shouldn't good literature make you think? This book certainly does. Looking forward to part II.
December 2, 2019
Loved the idea of the book. Also very intriguing story line. Bulgaria wasn't portrayed half that bad as well :)
March 20, 2024
mad ramblings of a scientist trapped in an artist's body
November 14, 2020
A Headline Won't Really Fit On This Line
I sincerely hope you've decided to go with the next part just being two and three combined. This is a book that is going to be fairly abstract to most upon cracking it open and through the first few chapters. For some it will be nonsense half the time. It is worth reading for those folks when the entirety of it has been released probably. This is by and far the most enjoyable presentation of hard science fiction I've ever read. It is the first work of its kind that has ever resonated with me quite strongly. Additionally it is exceptionally well written in all areas.
I'd write more but I don't believe breaking down plots in reviews is appropriate and is a disservice to the author and the reader. It isn't long nor is it expensive. Add that with what I wrote above and get it and read it. You might hate it immediately and never touch it again thinking you wasted four whole dollars. I assure you there are many things in this world that are a true waste of four dollars and The Logic Beach ain't it. You may find it "meh" and if so then, well, I'm sure you're a riot at parties and can espouse all of the reasons this book is boring and wrong and boring but the science stuff was okay. You and the hater can get together and play rock-paper-scissors for who gets to be Lambert tonight. Or maybe you'll love it and not know why, or exactly why, then finish the book longing for more. At which point you flood Exurb1a's inbox with question marks and sobbing emojis demanding the next part be released.
You'll probably fall somewhere in between those three options. Logically there are lots of gray areas there that can be fleshed out. Why? Because they have to that's why.
Now, I'm off to read the rest of what he has released here.... and flood his inbox with question marks and sobbing emojis demanding the release of the next part. I can only hope if you've made it this far down my review the only choice left is to buy and read the book to see what the fuss is about.
I sincerely hope you've decided to go with the next part just being two and three combined. This is a book that is going to be fairly abstract to most upon cracking it open and through the first few chapters. For some it will be nonsense half the time. It is worth reading for those folks when the entirety of it has been released probably. This is by and far the most enjoyable presentation of hard science fiction I've ever read. It is the first work of its kind that has ever resonated with me quite strongly. Additionally it is exceptionally well written in all areas.
I'd write more but I don't believe breaking down plots in reviews is appropriate and is a disservice to the author and the reader. It isn't long nor is it expensive. Add that with what I wrote above and get it and read it. You might hate it immediately and never touch it again thinking you wasted four whole dollars. I assure you there are many things in this world that are a true waste of four dollars and The Logic Beach ain't it. You may find it "meh" and if so then, well, I'm sure you're a riot at parties and can espouse all of the reasons this book is boring and wrong and boring but the science stuff was okay. You and the hater can get together and play rock-paper-scissors for who gets to be Lambert tonight. Or maybe you'll love it and not know why, or exactly why, then finish the book longing for more. At which point you flood Exurb1a's inbox with question marks and sobbing emojis demanding the next part be released.
You'll probably fall somewhere in between those three options. Logically there are lots of gray areas there that can be fleshed out. Why? Because they have to that's why.
Now, I'm off to read the rest of what he has released here.... and flood his inbox with question marks and sobbing emojis demanding the release of the next part. I can only hope if you've made it this far down my review the only choice left is to buy and read the book to see what the fuss is about.
December 16, 2023
You’re like everyone down here. You understand a hundredth of the truth and think you’ve got it licked.
This switches back and forth between a story about a researcher who disappeared while searching for the fundamental nature of reality, and a story of posthumans living in a strange simulated reality. I enjoyed it a lot, though it’s definitely just “part 1” and we’ll have to see whether the next parts can bring everything together well.
A fun idea mentioned in passing: for beings living in a simulation, time travel could be possible (if the simulator facilitates it), since they’re in “a closed system” and the simulator “itself knows what the denizens are going to do”. Although I would point out that in general, the only way for the simulator to know what happens at some future time is to actually run the simulation up to that time. So if you’re in a simulated universe and you see a vision of the future, it’s more like you’re seeing a vision of what has happened in another copy of your universe. And (assuming it’s a vision of events you have influence over, as opposed to, say, warning you that the simulated sun is going to have a solar flare next week) your own future will be different, since the future history that you saw came from a simulation that did not include you having the vision. Unless the simulator has gone to the trouble of constructing a paradox such that the vision it shows you causes you to behave in a way that makes the vision come true. Presumably only a very tiny fraction of all possible visions would have that self-fulfilling property and finding them would be extremely computationally challenging…
(crosspost)
June 11, 2018
The author explores some really complicated, abstract issues. Definetly gives you food for thought. On the other hand, he's always on the verge of getting too abstract in his imagery and explanations. There's no shame in expecting a degree of intelligence and imagination from your reader, but there's a fine line between writing a somewhat demanding book and writing a completely inaccessible book. I'm not saying that's what happened here. Just saying that the author should be watchful when it comes to that.
All in all I really enjoyed the book. It was nice to watch the different story lines connect and to see how characters react to different situations and different kinds of stress. I also enjoyed the letter-format that appeared regularly in the book, eventhough that's not something I usually like.
One thing though: (Not sure if this is a spoiler) I'm not a fan of the arthouse cliché of the kinda crazy, endlessly sexy, "exotic" woman from a mediterranean or balkan country, that refuses to be understood and refuses to behave rationally. Of course, Polly is a scientist and when it comes to pure maths she's bound to be more logical that one of the books main characters, Benjamin. But regarding everything else? She fits into that cliche quite nicely. And I'm not saying that that's where the author was going with this. Cause my own observations of men who are into that kind of woman are surely playing into my perception of this. But this is a subjective review so I thought I'd mention it.
All in all I really enjoyed the book. It was nice to watch the different story lines connect and to see how characters react to different situations and different kinds of stress. I also enjoyed the letter-format that appeared regularly in the book, eventhough that's not something I usually like.
One thing though: (Not sure if this is a spoiler) I'm not a fan of the arthouse cliché of the kinda crazy, endlessly sexy, "exotic" woman from a mediterranean or balkan country, that refuses to be understood and refuses to behave rationally. Of course, Polly is a scientist and when it comes to pure maths she's bound to be more logical that one of the books main characters, Benjamin. But regarding everything else? She fits into that cliche quite nicely. And I'm not saying that that's where the author was going with this. Cause my own observations of men who are into that kind of woman are surely playing into my perception of this. But this is a subjective review so I thought I'd mention it.
April 17, 2021
Not bad, not great. As another review noted, it feels a lot like a Greg Egan fan fiction; so I enjoyed the theming: physics, computer science, philosophy, grand theories of everything. The style is also more jocular, less pompous than typical Egan, which makes it an enjoyable read (part I of an unfinished series, it's not a large time investment).
On the other hand, I found it hard to suspend my disbelief and fully buy in to Arcadia, the virtual world where much of the action takes place. The description of the less familiar aspects of this world felt shallow and vague. Characters will run into extra-dimensional objects or will shift between different modes of perceiving the same nominal scene to "see" what is truly happening. But the descriptions of these events generally boiled down to something hand-wavey about storms of color and light and noise. The takeaway feeling was "gee-whiz, thinking and sensing in a computer world would be so wild!" without any further insights that would feed back into the narrative.
As a result, maybe, the plot felt to me more like a fantasy adventure than a hard-nosed exploration of the book's philosophical themes. This was a story of inexplicable wizards, dark forces, and magic. MIA was the level of rigor, the mind-blowing-but-just-believable-enough ideas that make reading Egan's novels by comparison so thrilling for me.
Still, if the 2nd and 3rd parts do ever come out, I'm probably hooked enough to come back for more!
On the other hand, I found it hard to suspend my disbelief and fully buy in to Arcadia, the virtual world where much of the action takes place. The description of the less familiar aspects of this world felt shallow and vague. Characters will run into extra-dimensional objects or will shift between different modes of perceiving the same nominal scene to "see" what is truly happening. But the descriptions of these events generally boiled down to something hand-wavey about storms of color and light and noise. The takeaway feeling was "gee-whiz, thinking and sensing in a computer world would be so wild!" without any further insights that would feed back into the narrative.
As a result, maybe, the plot felt to me more like a fantasy adventure than a hard-nosed exploration of the book's philosophical themes. This was a story of inexplicable wizards, dark forces, and magic. MIA was the level of rigor, the mind-blowing-but-just-believable-enough ideas that make reading Egan's novels by comparison so thrilling for me.
Still, if the 2nd and 3rd parts do ever come out, I'm probably hooked enough to come back for more!
September 3, 2021
Logic Beach: Part 1 was a generally fascinating dive into the outlandish science fiction that is based around consciousness, simulated reality, and the fundamental laws governing the universe. The choice to split the story between two perspectives, one following a British geologist in 2022 looking for his missing wife and the other a tale in the distant future concerning a woman searching for what most would call a child, is rather audacious. The split, however, works well to further the science fiction elements, theme, and tone throughout the book. The most pressing issue is the introduction the to story which attempts a slower start to allow the reader to learn about the world more naturally. The introduction fails to establish the captivating world building that is present and leaves the reader wondering more than is comfortable. This is rectified later as mysteries begin to unravel along with questions finally being answered, but the damage has already been done. In the end, I’d recommend this book to anyone with an interest in more abstract science fiction who doesn’t mind being patient with the story.
July 27, 2023
At the start it reminded me alot of Gibson, in the sense that the text was so dense with foreign ideas that it bordered on surrealist, specifically Argie's arc is so sci-fi its fantasy.
I gotta be honest, if I wasnt already such a big fan of Exurb1a I would have bounced off of this hard, but judging from his work on Youtube i trusted him as a story teller. It paid off.
Once you get past the initial setup, and sufficient enough threads are weaved between the two protagonist's lives the ground gets solid enough for you to confidently explore and my God is there so much here! 'Hard Logicality', AI specific speculative science, multiverse debunking and then some, this reeeally scratches that sci-fi philosophy itch.
Stylistically , It's unlike anything I've read before and at first I saw the book as janky and unrefined, but once you settle in the world, you start to notice all the charm that comes with that, as the kids say, "A feature not a bug"
It's a wholly unique narrative, the type you're proud to have experienced, the type you just have to talk about with your friends and half-interested girlfriend.
Bravo
I gotta be honest, if I wasnt already such a big fan of Exurb1a I would have bounced off of this hard, but judging from his work on Youtube i trusted him as a story teller. It paid off.
Once you get past the initial setup, and sufficient enough threads are weaved between the two protagonist's lives the ground gets solid enough for you to confidently explore and my God is there so much here! 'Hard Logicality', AI specific speculative science, multiverse debunking and then some, this reeeally scratches that sci-fi philosophy itch.
Stylistically , It's unlike anything I've read before and at first I saw the book as janky and unrefined, but once you settle in the world, you start to notice all the charm that comes with that, as the kids say, "A feature not a bug"
It's a wholly unique narrative, the type you're proud to have experienced, the type you just have to talk about with your friends and half-interested girlfriend.
Bravo
July 22, 2025
Starts off extremely strong with a fascinating premise. Yet in the last 20 percent it fizzles out without a satisfying conclusion and leaves many questions unanswered.
The story is split into two: letters from a man called Hare missing his wife and woman called Argie searching for her daughter in a futuristic place called Arcadia. At first it felt like the Arcadia part storyline was building up to something compelling but ended up being rushed into generic big bad situation, it was a disappointing development from such rich premise.
The Hare letters part grounded the story and gave it emotional weight at first. However, the utterly predictably revelation at the end of how the two storylines were connected soured the effect and made me reevaluate both Hare and his missing wife. Also the parts of how famous and revered Hare was within Arcadia felt in bad taste given that he is obviously a self insert from the author.
Ultimately, this was a very promising story and it's biggest sin lies in being so unfinished. Given that it's been 8 years since part 1 released, it is unlikely to receive a satisfying conclusion.
The story is split into two: letters from a man called Hare missing his wife and woman called Argie searching for her daughter in a futuristic place called Arcadia. At first it felt like the Arcadia part storyline was building up to something compelling but ended up being rushed into generic big bad situation, it was a disappointing development from such rich premise.
The Hare letters part grounded the story and gave it emotional weight at first. However, the utterly predictably revelation at the end of how the two storylines were connected soured the effect and made me reevaluate both Hare and his missing wife. Also the parts of how famous and revered Hare was within Arcadia felt in bad taste given that he is obviously a self insert from the author.
Ultimately, this was a very promising story and it's biggest sin lies in being so unfinished. Given that it's been 8 years since part 1 released, it is unlikely to receive a satisfying conclusion.
September 29, 2022
A SIMPLE MAN'S REVIEW:
Starts sort of depressing, but perks up as it gets more interesting. I knew it was the first part of three, (it's in the title), but I was expecting a little more than what it ended up being. Oh well, that's how writing is these days.
Half of the story (alternating chapters) are about a man searching for his missing wife. He is writing her letters as he learns more about her and her work, so basically we're reading his reaction to what he is learning. The other half of the story (the other alternating chapters) is about a "person" searching for their missing "daughter" in an alternative world (similar to other digital worlds created in many sci-fi stories). There's a connection between the two stories, and you'll guess it well before the plot reveals it, but we're still not sure of the details when the book ends.
If you like pondering about reality, this is a fun read. I hope the second book is right around the corner because the author said it's already written.
Read it!
Starts sort of depressing, but perks up as it gets more interesting. I knew it was the first part of three, (it's in the title), but I was expecting a little more than what it ended up being. Oh well, that's how writing is these days.
Half of the story (alternating chapters) are about a man searching for his missing wife. He is writing her letters as he learns more about her and her work, so basically we're reading his reaction to what he is learning. The other half of the story (the other alternating chapters) is about a "person" searching for their missing "daughter" in an alternative world (similar to other digital worlds created in many sci-fi stories). There's a connection between the two stories, and you'll guess it well before the plot reveals it, but we're still not sure of the details when the book ends.
If you like pondering about reality, this is a fun read. I hope the second book is right around the corner because the author said it's already written.
Read it!
April 16, 2024
It was a fun read!
The concept of the book is great, i enjoyed it a lot, but the explanations got draggy sometimes and (might just be me) it wasnt that clear at times. Dont be discouraged though, it's not as bad as i made it out to sound.
Written very well and is very entertaining.
It consists of two stories, one set at the beginning of new worlds creation and the second at its possible end.
I like how the book was from Argies perspective aswell, as when you read Benjamin Hares story, they are written as letters. I'll let you connect the dots since i dont want to spoil too much. But it helps clear up that the stories in the letters obviously happened in the past, and whats hppening in this new world is the present. Very creative way to tell a story.
The ending was a bit meh since it's a cliffhanger, super annoying since theres no next part but oh well.
The concept of the book is great, i enjoyed it a lot, but the explanations got draggy sometimes and (might just be me) it wasnt that clear at times. Dont be discouraged though, it's not as bad as i made it out to sound.
Written very well and is very entertaining.
It consists of two stories, one set at the beginning of new worlds creation and the second at its possible end.
I like how the book was from Argies perspective aswell, as when you read Benjamin Hares story, they are written as letters. I'll let you connect the dots since i dont want to spoil too much. But it helps clear up that the stories in the letters obviously happened in the past, and whats hppening in this new world is the present. Very creative way to tell a story.
The ending was a bit meh since it's a cliffhanger, super annoying since theres no next part but oh well.
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