Status Updates From Permutation City

Maybe the time came, for everyone, when there was no way forward, no other choice but death. Maybe the Lambertians were right, maybe “infinity” was meaningless… and “immortality” was a mirage no human should aspire to.

“But I don’t believe it, anymore. Each person I create is stamped with the illusion of still being this imaginary thing called ‘me’ —but that’s no real part of their identity.” -Peer

I'm over halfway through this book and I do not understand the premise. It's still possible that it will be explained, but my hope is dwindling. Side note: I never thought I'd find a full-length novel that only has about 3 scenes with an action or plot point. It's more of a series of loosely-connected essays in dialog form about simulated consciousness.

Chapter 25 was deep! Thomas Reimann is such an interesting character, and has touched me the most. His battle with reality, good and evil, the afterlife and immortality… is complex and challenging. There is a lot of pain behind his thoughts, and I find that in a world where he could afford to change every bad thing about himself… he didn’t. He chose to acknowledge murder, he chose to remember Anna. Hmm.

What in the f*** happened to Durham???? How is he dead? I’m genuinely confused… gotta read further!

There is a lot to unpack in this book lol. There are so many questions about reality.. questions about fate… the “real” lives left behind. I am intrigued at the amount of philosophy that is implemented into this book as well.

I find it interesting how in a VR, most Copies preferred to keep as close as possible to the real life that they’ve had. Even with endless options to change… they decide to mimic their once reality.

Page 86 starts the conversation between God vs. science. In a heated discussion with Francesca, Maria’s dying mom, Maria cannot fathom and utterly despises anything about God while Francesca is a part of understanding God and ultimately turning down the idea of science and it’s idea of becoming a Copy.

Aden and Maria’s disagreement on technological advancements raise great concerns. Is technology that alters nature something that is ultimately positive or negative? Should Mother Earth be left alone to do what it is meant to do, and does technology really elongate Earth’s chances of survival or does technology damage things we believe should be left alone?

I thinkkkk Maria is a scientist?

Paul describes where he is as a recording, not a simulation. Though convincing, it was “essentially photographic.” Only a small party of this world/space/place was physically acceptable.

Does Paul live in a virtual reality/simulation? And what is a Copy?