I tried to get a fairly intelligent, friend who’s interested in science (generally, not necessarily any specific domains covered in the book) to read it and she gave up within about half an hour.
I (a layman, but well-acquainted with the set of singularitarian memes that the book draws from) found that trying to visualize the physics made my head hurt, even with the accompanying illustrative java applets at the author’s website.
It also might be valuable to link to those (there are probably some for Permutation City as well, but I haven’t checked since I haven’t been able to track a copy of it down): http://www.gregegan.net/DIASPORA/DIASPORA.html
In particular, the book starts with a description of how new minds are formed in the polis which is very abstract and technical. I wouldn’t be surprised if people who could enjoy the rest of the book bounce off the beginning.
You are right, the more technical aspects of the book are really hard. I took it as a whole, how it is portraying a society of uploads. I’m going to change it anyway, thanks.
ETA
I also added the links to Egan’s site as accompanying text.
Are you sure Diaspora should be marked Easy?
I tried to get a fairly intelligent, friend who’s interested in science (generally, not necessarily any specific domains covered in the book) to read it and she gave up within about half an hour.
I (a layman, but well-acquainted with the set of singularitarian memes that the book draws from) found that trying to visualize the physics made my head hurt, even with the accompanying illustrative java applets at the author’s website.
It also might be valuable to link to those (there are probably some for Permutation City as well, but I haven’t checked since I haven’t been able to track a copy of it down): http://www.gregegan.net/DIASPORA/DIASPORA.html
In particular, the book starts with a description of how new minds are formed in the polis which is very abstract and technical. I wouldn’t be surprised if people who could enjoy the rest of the book bounce off the beginning.
You are right, the more technical aspects of the book are really hard. I took it as a whole, how it is portraying a society of uploads. I’m going to change it anyway, thanks.
ETA I also added the links to Egan’s site as accompanying text.