[hailpixel]

I love this genre, and there is such a plethora of interesting reads. I think one of the most interesting, in terms of presenting technology's role in varied societies, is A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge. Great read if you are bored of the classic space opera.

[arethuza]

And the prequel A Deepness in the Sky is even better with very alien aliens (and a neat way of hiding that alien-ness from readers) and some very nasty antagonists with truly terrifying technology in the form of "focus".

Mind you, Vinge's Rainbows End is also really good and set in the near future with what may be an emerging AGI as a key character.

[layer8]

Vinge is one of my favorite authors, but the rape-y torture-y subplot of Deepness was difficult to endure.

[orbisvicis]

Huh, I think that features one of the protagonists from Fast Times at Fairmont High. Set in the early singularity age.

[globular-toast]

I really like that, but I definitely thought A Deepness in the Sky was even better despite probably being considered "classic space opera".

[lapcat]

> A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge

It's a great book, but everyone has heard of it already.

[mmcdermott]

I was talking to a fairly avid scifi reader who hadn't heard of the book before.

It's always someone's day to be one of 10,000.

https://xkcd.com/1053/