Status Updates From Diaspora

why tell aspiring authors to "kill their darlings" and to avoid purely Author Appeal-driven scenes, when Greg Egan writes 40 pages to show how well he has envisioned the birth of an AI?

Probably the greatest science fiction book I've ever read. At least within memory. It's like Greg Egan wrote this exactly, precisely, for me.

Alas, this is such a monumentally challenging book, in terms of mathematics & physics required. I don't know anyone else I can recommend it to...

So far, probably my book of the year. Surprising considering it's so far very light on plot - but the authority and confidence with which it's written... Wonderful - but not for those who won't appreciate explorations of science & math.

Also helps that it's the first sci-fi I've read that uses non-gendered pronouns in a way that actually makes any sense.