Talk:The Algebraist

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Some mistake, surely.

Charles Matthews 20:47, 5 May 2004 (UTC)

So. will be published. Is this encyclopedic?

Charles Matthews 07:13, 12 May 2004 (UTC)

It will be, in 5 months' time.
We can delete and then ressurect it, if you want. But that does seem a little pointless.
James F. (talk) 09:10, 12 May 2004 (UTC)

OK - I read Bsnks too. But, isn't this really just an advertisement, as it stands?

Charles Matthews 09:11, 12 May 2004 (UTC)

Yes, I suppose, but you could say that about most of the entries on books on the Wikipedia right now.
I've added a small amount of text extracted from the pre-print blurb, but it's still... non-optimal.
Thoughts?
James F. (talk) 10:40, 12 May 2004 (UTC)

Could redirect to Iain M. Banks and place this plot summary there, for now.

Charles Matthews 10:52, 12 May 2004 (UTC)

Hmm. I'm pretty much happy either way; you decide — be bold! ;-)
James F. (talk) 16:38, 12 May 2004 (UTC)

As this book will be released very soon, I have given this book it's own page again. --Dan Huby 15:58, 18 Aug 2004 (UTC)

I remember reading in an interview somewhere that The Algebraist might be the first of a series of books - but I can't for the life of me remember where. Anyone better at Googling than me able to find it?

I was reminded of this book when looking through Cassini pictures earlier. Here, have the original photo for the front cover! 194.247.44.210 3 July 2005 15:18 (UTC)

Found it - he says "It was always going to be a long book anyway, and it’s actually longer than I intended. It probably could become a trilogy, but for now it’s a standalone novel." So there you go, a possibility rather than a probability... 194.247.44.210 3 July 2005 17:12 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Cover picture

This library catalog ([here]) has a thumbnail-sized cover picture (and a larger one available on clicking). Can we use this picture? Can we use pictures from there in general (there are cover pictures for most, if not all books in the catalog)? I'm not sure of the copyright status. Golwengaud 05:29, 8 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] The truth

Guinnog: perhaps read the book again? http://www.hex4.com/ Joncolvin

[edit] Not a Culture novel?

I take it this is not set in the Culture universe?

Correct. Psychobabble 22:32, 1 September 2006 (UTC)
Yes, but there are some startling similarities! For example, the Beyonders seem to be a grouping that very much resembles the origins of the society that became the the culture (as described in Banks' notes on the culture essay). The Mercatoria is thus much like the oppressive regimes that were seeking to stifle the 'proto-culture'...
The AIs are very much like the Minds of the culture.
All a bit moot I suppose, since the history of the culture is older than that of Earth bound civilisations (which are explicitly referenced in the Algebraist) and the culture is known to have visited Earth (State of the Art).
Having said that though, the Algebraist does make reference to two strands of humanity the 'remainder humans' stuck on Earth and the ones who were kidnapped and 'mentored' as part of the galactic culture.
Even so, the timelines quoted for this book an the culture novels don't seem to tally, so what I think is a nice idea, doesn't seem to work! :-( 82.211.95.178 15:58, 14 August 2007 (UTC)
Couldn't possibly be in the Culture universe, because the Culture has hyperspace and no wormholes. It's a bit of a stretch to suggest that the laws of physics drastically changed at some point,or that everyone just forgot that hyperspace/wormholes had ever existed. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.168.175.190 (talk) 22:40, 10 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Dwellers vs Wikipedians

Has anyone else noticed some eerie similarities between the Dweller society and wikipedia?

  • Neither has any real system to motivate people, as in everyone just kind of does what they want in the hope of getting respect from others.
  • Both lack formal power structures. If a job needs doing, someone just does it. (Whether it's blasting ships out of orbit or deleting cruft).
  • Both settle disputes via arcane logistical structures that may or may not accomplish anything :)

hmm... any other ideas?

--Bfigura (talk) 04:31, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

  • Both exercise totally effective defense systems.WolfKeeper 05:14, 1 September 2007 (UTC)
  • Both conduct Formal Wats about aesthetic points that usually happen to be moot by the time they're settled. --Bfigura (talk) 05:26, 1 September 2007 (UTC)
Excellent suggestions. It is of course perfectly possible that Banks has edited Wikipedia. Or at least is conversant with such things. --John 06:10, 1 September 2007 (UTC)