Permutation City
#27 of 644 all-time
Permutation City
Greg Egan
24 people recommended it in 6 threads, 2008–2024.
2 commenters pushed back on it — worth reading the threads.
What people on Hacker News said
If you're interested in scifi about AI and brain simulation, this is it.
"Permutation City" by Greg Egan is mind-bending in a way similar to The Matrix, except taken up a few notches.
Reading Permutation City left me in a dazzled state for days because of the sheer number of reality-altering concepts it throws at you in such a short span.
Permutation city (or any of the Egan's short stories such as 'Closer') is probably the one of the most intense mind blowing experiences I ever had (at least regarding books), it shouldn't even be called "SciFi" it is... something else
I don't think a book has quite affected my thoughts on what consciousness means quite as much as that book, and it's very interesting to boot.
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before? 2020 · 9 recommendations
- Hard comp-fi reading list 2019 · 7 recommendations
- Ask HN: What is your favorite fiction book? 2022 · 3 recommendations
- Ask YC: What's the most inspiring sci-fi book you've read? 2008 · 3 recommendations
- Ask HN: What's the "best" book you've ever read? 2024 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What is the most mind expanding book(s) you have read till date? 2022 · 1 recommendation