Rucker, Rudy

Spaceland: A Novel of the Fourth Dimension

Average customer rating:

Space Falls a Little Flat
Not quite top-drawer Rucker, but clever and fun. 4.6 stars
Interesting yet confused
Plot secondary to concept
A sprightly homage to Abbott

Spaceland: A Novel of the Fourth Dimension
Rudy Rucker
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0765303671

Amazon.com

The product manager for a Silicon Valley startup, Joe Cube thinks the best way to enter the new millennium is to stay safely home with his wife and watch the year 2000 come in on an experimental television/interactive device "borrowed" from work. His wife, however, is less than pleased. And after Jena passes out from too much New Year's imbibing, Joe discovers the undertested device has opened a gateway to a new universe: he is contacted by a fourth-dimensional woman named Momo....

Usually, tribute novels are like movie remakes: a bad idea. However, this tribute to Edwin A. Abbott's classic novel Flatland works wonderfully. This is because Spaceland is written by Rudy Rucker, a Silicon Valley professor of mathematics and computer science who is also a hard-SF writer with the most gonzo sensibility in science fiction.--Cynthia Ward

Book Description

Joe Cube is a Silicon Valley hotshot--well, a would-be hotshot anyway--hoping that the 3-D TV project he's managing will lead to the big money IPO he's always dreamed of. On New Year's Eve, hoping to impress his wife, he sneaks home the prototype. It brings no new warmth to their cooling relationship, but it does attract someone else's attention.When Joe sees a set of lips talking to him (floating in midair) and feels the poke of a disembodied finger (inside him), it's not because of the champagne he's drunk. He has just met Momo, a woman from the All, a world of four spatial dimensions for whom our narrow world, which she calls Spaceland, is something like a rug, but one filled with motion and life. Momo has a business proposition for Joe, an offer she won't let him refuse. The upside potential becomes much clearer to him once she helps him grow a new eye (on a stalk) that can see in the fourth-dimensional directions, and he agrees. After that it's a wild ride through a million-dollar night in Las Vegas, a budding addiction to tasty purple 4-D food, a failing marriage, eye-popping excursions into the All, and encounters with Momo's foes, rubbery red critters who steal money, offer sage advice and sometimes messily explode. Joe is having the time of his life, until Momo's scheme turns out to have angles he couldn't have imagined. Suddenly the fate of all life here in Spaceland is at stake.Rudy Rucker is a past master at turning mathematical concepts into rollicking science fiction adventure, from Spacetime Donuts and White Light to The Hacker and the Ants. In the tradition of Edwin A. Abbott's classic novel, Flatland, Rucker gives us a tour of higher mathematics and visionary realities. Spaceland is Flatland on hyperdrive!

Customer Reviews:

Space Falls a Little Flat.......2007-03-05

I'm a big fan of Rudy Rucker, and the sheer power of his imagination continually blows the reader's mind. Unfortunately, this novel overdoes the imaginative science at the expense of a readable story. Granted, the backdrop of this novel is quite fascinating, as the misguided dot-commer protagonist Joe Cube finds himself in the fourth dimension. Rucker does an amazing job with prose, because he himself is exploring what 4D would look like to us spacelanders who are hopelessly stuck in 3D. It's also true that Rucker has engagingly built upon the influential "Flatland" by Edwin Abbott, which concerns a 2D person in our third dimension. But while the science of this novel is mindbending, and the 4D characters and their climactic battle are freaky, you eventually get the impression that Rucker was so interested in exploring his concept that he didn't get around to a useful plotline or likeable characters. The personalities of the characters and their interactions are either stereotypical or implausible, and the love story subplot is poorly constructed and dangerously close to sappy treacle. Rucker also dabbles briefly in some pseudo-religious big thoughts that go nowhere, and the storyline wraps up very awkwardly with implausible resolutions for everyone involved. Of course, this book is still a fine display of Rucker's remarkable imagination, but the story is what matters. And here that story is disappointingly two-dimensional. [~doomsdayer520~]

Not quite top-drawer Rucker, but clever and fun. 4.6 stars.......2006-01-22

____________________________________________
This is a clever takeoff on Flatland, starring Joe Cube, done up in the inimitable Rucker style. Joe, an employee of a Silican Valley startup, gets a visit from Momo, a pushy broad from 4D Klupdom, with a business proposition that he absolutely, positively can't refuse. Momo gives Joe an enhancement, a third eye that can see in the fourth dimension -- and a whole stack of hyperspace cellphone antennas. Can you guess that Momo doesn't have Spaceland's best interests at heart?

Not quite top-drawer Rucker, but clever and fun. Recommended.

Book's HP: http://www.cs.sjsu.edu/faculty/rucker/spaceland.htm
CAUTION: heavy SPOILERS

Happy reading--
Peter D. Tillman

Interesting yet confused.......2004-03-06

A sequel, of sorts, to Edwin Abbott's classic novel, 'Flatland'. Joe Cube is a high tech executive waiting for his company to be IPOed. One night, while playing with his company's product (a TV screen that turns standard television broadcasting into a 3D image), Joe is contacted by Momo, a creature from the fourth dimension. Momo 'augments' Joe, giving him the ability to see into the fourth dimension, and also the ability to see into our dimension using a four dimension perspective. This gives Joe the unique ability of seeing inside people and objects, naturally, Joe tries to use this to make money... Momo only asks (demands, to be more exact) that Joe start a company that will create a specific product that she will supply. The plot gets complicated when another race of four-dimensional creatures, the Wackles, seem intent on stopping Joe. What is going on? Try the book and see.

This sounds like a very cool premise and it really is. The author truly captured the feeling of a 4D universe, a 3D universe from a 4D perspective, as well as a one dimensional and a two dimensional universe. The book is worth reading if only for this.. or perhaps, only for this: The book suffers from the worst characterization I've ever read in a book. The characters are completely unbelievable, obnoxious, annoying, self-contradicting. They are ridiculous. It feels like a cartoon of a cartoon. Maybe that was the purpose? I've never read any other book by the author, so I can't really say if it's his style. It's a pity, because the book could've been so much better. At the end I couldn't stand any of the characters (including the protagonist). Another weakness is the plot itself: Until the middle of the book it's really quite a good story, but then the quality goes downhill from there.. Shame. I'm giving the book 4/5 stars, but if I could, 3.5/5 would be more appropriate.

Plot secondary to concept.......2003-11-22

I enjoyed this book, but thought that the fourth dimension concepts somewhat overpowered the plot. I found the Flatland references appealing, but readers who have not read Flatland may find this book difficult to enjoy. On the other hand, serious Flatland students might find this too lighthearted.

At times Rucker over-explains the science; at times he under-explains the science; and sometimes he makes significant plot twists without enough context. That said, this is a very creative story. The silicon valley references, and its characters, are amusing. I also appreciated Rucker's sketches sprinkled throughout the book.

I think this book would be most appealing to casual Flatland readers looking for a light, humorous read.

A sprightly homage to Abbott.......2003-09-25

Spaceland isn't the first attempt to honor Abbott's classic "Flatland", it won't be the last, and it probably won't be the best. And it isn't, by a fair stretch, Rudy Rucker's best novel. But it's a rollicking comic strip of a ride. It's every bit as good at teaching neophytes about the fourth dimension as its model, and (dare I say it?) in prose that's far less tedious. (For one thing, Rucker's hero Joe Cube unabashedly explores the sexual possibilities of every dimension he enters. Don't assign this text for extra credit to your sixth grade math class.)

It's superior to most other updates of "Flatland", in that it captures the full flavor of the original, which was one third math instruction, one third humane philosophical musing, and one third sharp social satire. As a professional mathematician, and perhaps the best popularizer of math around today in nonfiction, Rucker is more than equal to the first task. The war between the sort-of-animals living on one 4D "side" of our universe, and the Loki-like sort-of-plants dwelling on the other, takes on a nearly theological dimension before it's through, although it's a zany kind of Pixar-production theology drawn in primary colors. Rucker's satirical target is less timeless than the simple bead that Abbott drew on heirarchy and stratification: Silicon Valley society at its frenetic dot-com peak. Better read it now while it's still funny - but it sure is comical now.

Customer Reviews:

paperback version.......2006-02-04

If you're looking for the paperback version, look for ISBN 0395393884. It doesn't show up as the paperback version of this hardback, probably because the author's name for the paperback is listed as Rudolph Rucker instead of Rudy Rucker.

Hope this helps.

Good overview.......2003-06-16

This book presents its material in a well-organized manner.

The author is a brilliant theoretical physicist and explains the concepts wonderfully.

I recommend this book for any and all who wish to understand the essence of time, reality, and the universe in general.

From a very personal level, the book affirms many of my own views pertaining to the cosmos and consciousness. There is indeed a Primary Mover (aka "God"), and he exists and operates in infinite (!) dimensions.

Nice intro to 4-D.......2003-05-04

I bought this book about ten years ago, and recently rediscovered it. It is full of nice (though very simplistic) illustrations and lots of references to other books and writers that touch the subject. Not very profound, but enough to tickle the mind and awaken interest for futher investigation into this realm. Rucker has obviously read a lot on this matter and he has made me want the same.

Would you please repeat that........2002-11-04

I found this book a difficult read. "Flatland" by A. Square (an illustrator) is a definite pre-requisite, and helpful, but even with that under my belt I had problems following Mr. Rucker.

Mondo 2000: A User's Guide to the New Edge : Cyberpunk, Virtual Reality, Wetware, Designer Aphrodisiacs, Artificial Life, Techno-Erotic Paganism, an

Average customer rating:

If you read mondo 2000, there are no surprises here, but...
Very '1990' look at the future

Mondo 2000: A User's Guide to the New Edge : Cyberpunk, Virtual Reality, Wetware, Designer Aphrodisiacs, Artificial Life, Techno-Erotic Paganism, an
Rudy Rucker , R. U. Sirius , and Queen Mu
Manufacturer: Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Customer Reviews:

If you read mondo 2000, there are no surprises here, but..........1998-04-02

If you have read Mondo 2000 before, then nothing in this book will be much of a surprise. In fact in 1998 this book is clearly retro. Still, to the new reader you will find much of the information interesting. The format is basically an A-Z of popular memes and cultural phenomena with a pseudo hypertext interface.
High gloss and flashy. Suitable for a coffee table, but you might want to keep it on your reference shelf.

Very '1990' look at the future.......1997-09-12

A very 1990 look at the future, but well done withgood graphics. Covers music, fashion, Industry,etc.

Average customer rating:

Surfer mathpunks rule, dog!
Wackyland
amusing not by the numbers satire

Mathematicians in Love
Rudy Rucker
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

Mad Professor: The Uncollected Short Stories of Rudy Rucker
Frek and the Elixir
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The Lifebox, the Seashell, and the Soul: What Gnarly Computation Taught Me About Ultimate Reality, the Meaning of Life, and How to Be Happy
The Jennifer Morgue

ASIN: 076531584X
Release Date: 2006-11-28

Book Description

A riveting new science fiction novel from the writer who twice won the Philip K. Dick Award for best SF novel.

Bela and Paul, two wild young mathematicians, are friends and roommates, and in love with the same woman, who happens to be Alma, Bela's girlfriend. They fight it out by changing reality using cutting edge math, to change who gets the girl. The contemporary world they live in is not quite this one, but much like Berkeley, California, and the two graduate students are trying to finish their degrees and get jobs. It doesn't help that their unpredictable advisor Roland is a mad mathematical genius who has figured out a way to predict isolated and specific bits of the future that can cause a lot of trouble. . .and he's starting to see monsters in mirrors.

Bela and Paul start to mess around with reality, and when that happens, all heaven and hell break loose. Those monsters of Roland's were really there, but who are they?

This novel is a romantic comedy with a whole corkscrew of SF twists.

Customer Reviews:

Surfer mathpunks rule, dog!.......2007-04-09

Another very entertaining Rucker novel -- one of his best. Surfer mathpunk rules, dog!

You won't be surprised to learn that Robert Sheckley was his first inspiration to write SF -- see rudyrucker[dot]com[slash]mathematiciansinlove

Interesting guy. Cute pix, too. He has a massive pdf of notes for the book online -- -- but for heaven's sake, don't read it first! Some (spoiler-free) samples:

"In principle you could hypertunnel from a Zone B world, but in practice you can't get the tech together. The evil rays revel in chaotic class-three and class-four zones." -- p.183

"What is wrong with those stubborn, clannish SF fans, Frek is exactly the kind of book they want, for heaven's sake, it's just like Lord of the Rings or Henry Potter or The Golden Compass..." --p.185

Very cool book, from an underappreciated author. If you've never tried a Rucker, this would be a good place to start.

Happy reading--
Peter D. Tillman

Wackyland.......2007-03-27

There aren't too many books that attempt to make a story out of mathematical theories, but this one gives it a go. In some ways, this book does a pretty good job of satirizing academia, political and financial shenanigans, patent law, video blogging, and the sub-genre of alternate realities.

It's the story of two Ph.D. candidates working on their doctoral thesis, who along with their advisor come up with a method to accurately model complex everyday happenings, so accurately that the future can be predicted, at least for the short term. Rather than being a very staid story of how to develop and publish the theory, however, it flies off in multiple directions, as both students fall in love with the same lady; their advisor, while brilliant, is also very egotistical and more than a little round the bend; everyone is suddenly subject to being plastered all over the net due to the distribution of cheap vlogging camera rings; playing in a rock band is, it seems, as important as developing his theory for one of the candidates; murder and rigging elections go hand in hand; and then it gets really weird with various odd aliens poking their snouts in to see just how predictable these 'humans' are.

Unhappily, while I found all these ideas made for great hodge-podge of story, the characters themselves neither engaged me nor were fully believable. Nor could I fully buy into the idea that current real-time and near future events would be fully computationally tractable, even with the caveat that the 'reality' of the starting world of this story was 'docile', not subject to truly random events. The last third of the book that deals with the consequences of how the theorem is implemented seems to be an adventure in pure wackiness, and doesn't seem to grow out of the initial theorem at all, though it is a fine example of fractal mathematics and infinite recursion as applied to 'alternate' realities. At least some of the mathematical statements will probably lose those readers without a solid background in the field, not good when the story arc depends on said mathematics.

Some fascinating concepts, some good skewering of some of today's trends and societal behaviors, but a story line that is out of control, with characters that aren't quite real people.

---Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)

amusing not by the numbers satire.......2006-12-10

In the university, the two mathematic graduate students, Bela Kis and Paul Bridge, are roommates who share much in common besides trying to obtain a PH.D by the numbers and a flat. Both are advised by maniacal mathematician Dr. Roland Haut and each enjoys the lifestyle of an advanced student living in college towns like Humelocke and Klownetown where the zaniest crazies of the universe come together to discuss the meaning of life (more often than not with various forms debating existence). However, what they most share in common is the love of Alma Ziff who is more or less Bela's girlfriend though she zips the bridge at times to be with Paul.

The two roommates compete for who gets the girl at a time when their insane faculty advisor has begun developing a mathematical model that predicts the future; that is when he is not seeing monsters. Jumping off of Mad Haut's theory, Bela and Paul inventing the paracomputer "Gobubble" that predicts even more accurately the future as their advisor's monsters prove real and their love triangle even more acutely convex than keenly isosceles than either student calculated.

Rudy Rucker lampoons politics, universities, mathematical theories, and humanity as he spins a terrific romantic science fiction satire that takes readers where they have never been before with perhaps the only recent exception being the author's novel FREAK AND THE ELIXIR. The math is highbrow insanity as the shortest distance between two points is an arc, but also augments the humorous story line. Haut is way outside the circle of sanity while Bela and Paul argue number theory to determine who ends up with Alma, monsters aside. Readers will appreciate this zany tale that proves the sum of the angles of a romantic triangle does not equal 180 degrees.

Harriet Klausner

Average customer rating:

"Wet" wears thin
Read it...........trust me
Read it...........trust me
exciting science fiction thrill ride
One of the best Sci-Fi's I've read in a long time

Wetware
Rudy V. B. Rucker
Manufacturer: Eos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Software
Freeware
Realware
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ASIN: 0380701782

Amazon.com

Humans created the sentient robot "boppers," but now it's the boppers who have started creating humans. Clones and DNA-splicing have spawned the meatbop, a human body infused with the software (the mind and personality) of a bopper. The meatbops are interested in propagating down on Earth, but that might not be so good for humanity (the boppers have a nasty habit of enslaving humans, actually). When a couple of (reasonably) innocent humans get tangled up in the bopper's machinations on the moon, it's time to drag out the stored mind of bopper-creator Cobb Anderson and see if he can help.

Book Description

In 2030, bopper robots in their lunar refuge have founds a way to infuse DNA wetware with their own software code. The result is a new lifeform: the meatbop. Fair is fair, after all. Humans built the boppers, now bops are building humans. . .sort of. Its all part of an insidious plot thats about to ensnare Della Taze--who doesnt think she killed her lover while in drug-induced ecstasy. . .but isnt sure. And its certainly catastrophic enough to call Cobb Anderson--the pheezer who started it all--out of cold-storage heaven.

Customer Reviews:

"Wet" wears thin.......2001-02-23

Rucker's "Wetware" is one of those books that confirms everything bad that some people believe about Science Fiction. Aside from a rushed pace and the overused "robotic messiah" plotline, the most frusturating thing about Wetware is the fact that you can't avoid its prevalent sexism. Women exist either as prostitutes for drug dealers or temporary carriers for robot/human hybrids. In such an environment it takes a strong author to create sympathies for a character, but here all we are left with is a depressing vision of all the characters as scum without the vitality of prose that Gibson or Stephenson manage to portray even their most unsympathetic character with.

Read it...........trust me.......2000-12-05

Rucker will open up your mind with this book Wetware. The imagination Rucker has of the future is crazy yet believable enough to immerse yourself in him world. Wetware takes you to a world with self-sufficient robots living on the moon and people melting themselves for pleasure. The humans no longer control the robots; the robots are trying to control humans. If you are thinking this is just another book about robots, you are wrong. This book is not the norm in robot books. Rucker's robots come is huge variety of different shapes and sizes. They can even show their emotions though colors flashing across there bodies. Rucker gives a fresh view and some new concepts in his world of the future.

How far will AI go? How far could the human race take drugs to satisfy sexual of emotional needs? Could human actually live off earth? After you read this book, you might wonder about these same things. This book does jump around a little but is still easy to follow. Wetware has made me want to read the other books in this series, Software, Freeware and Realware. If you are a cyberpunk fan then it is well worth the read!

Read it...........trust me.......2000-12-05

exciting science fiction thrill ride.......2000-12-05

Rudy Rucker's Wetware is a must read for any science fiction enthusiast. Rucker paints a very interesting view of the future where humans and robots have colonized the moon. After being exiled from Earth, robots created cities on the moon only to be again kicked out by humans. The robots, called boppers, now live beneath the moon's surface planning their revenge. When the boppers decide to re-colonize the earth through artificially impregnating a human woman, the story begins to take wild twists and turns. Like the rest of the book, Rucker does not disappoint his readers with the story's conclusion. Although Rucker adds a lot of his own jargon to the story, it is an easy read. Reading this book has turned me on to Rucker's other books in his four-part series and on to science fiction literature in general. Wetware appeals to a wide variety of people from the science fiction aficionado to the average reader.

One of the best Sci-Fi's I've read in a long time.......2000-11-13

A really inventive and fun book. I liked it so much I got the rest of them!

The Lifebox, the Seashell, and the Soul: What Gnarly Computation Taught Me About Ultimate Reality, the Meaning of Life, and How to Be Happy

Average customer rating:

Anything but Muddled
A Technical Introduction with Soul to Spare
universal automaton
This book will change the world!
Open your mind for a great purpose

The Lifebox, the Seashell, and the Soul: What Gnarly Computation Taught Me About Ultimate Reality, the Meaning of Life, and How to Be Happy
Rudy Rucker
Manufacturer: Thunder's Mouth Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1560258985

Book Description

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step,” goes the ancient saying. This concept is at the root of the computational worldview, which basically says that very complex systems — the world we live in — have their beginnings in simple mathematical equations.

We’ve lately come to understand that such an algorithm is only the start of a never-ending story — the real action occurs in the unfolding consequences of the rules. The chip-in-a-box computers so popular in our time have acted as a kind of microscope, letting us see into the secret machinery of the world. In Lifebox, Rucker uses whimsical drawings, fables, and humor to demonstrate that everything is a computation — that thoughts, computations, and physical processes are all the same. Rucker discusses the linguistic and computational advances that make this kind of "digital philosophy" possible, and explains how, like every great new principle, the computational world view contains the seeds of a next step.

Customer Reviews:

Anything but Muddled.......2005-12-03

This is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. Rudy Rucker is an accomplished science fiction author and popularizer of mathematics and computer science. In this book he seems to bring together everything he has written in the past while playing with constructing a coherent world-view and philosophy of life. It works quite well. (Rucker is such a fascinating writer that my son was going to apply to San Jose State just to take classes from him. The book's revelation that Rucker is retiring disappointed my college-bound son and left him scrambling for other schools.)

Any description of this book with less complexity than the book itself will do the book an injustice. If you're a fan of Rudy Rucker, of infinity, or of mathematical and speculative philosophy, you MUST read this book. Students of the social sciences may have some difficulty wrapping their minds around the computational science ideas, but this book is an essential part of understanding what it means to be human.

Rucker has structured the book well. Each chapter is prefaced with a piece of microfiction that illustrates the concepts to come. The chapters begin with an annotated outline that relates the concepts discussed. Ideas are reconnected with earlier mentions in the book as well as preceding ideas.

Rucker is not afraid to make novel combinations of philosophy, psychology, math, computer science, quantum physics, science fiction, and personal anectdotes. This is one of the best books produced for handling notes well. Turning to the back of the book for a note is generally rewarded with insights or speculations related to the text. Only occasionally is a note simply a bibliographic or web reference.

The book itself is a gnarly computation as well as a gnarly program for gnarled minds. It should be required reading for everybody who things they have a grip on life, the universe, or anything. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would.

A Technical Introduction with Soul to Spare.......2005-11-28

I found Rudy Rucker on a road trip. Or at least, I found part of his lifebox. If you haven't yet read this book, you probably don't know that the lifebox is a fictional invention into which a person speaks, and eventually it gets to know him well enough to tell his stories, and perform more menial conversational duties. That was Wetware, the first of his books that I read. Since then, I've read everything of his I could get my hands on, and I anxiously awaited the arrival of my pre-ordered copy of The Lifebox, the Seashell, and the Soul.

I had a bad experience with submitting a snarky review about A New Kind of Science after I'd only read 200 pages, so I decided to actually read this whole book before trying to draw any conclusions. I believe that is something the crappy reviewer from Publishers Weekly just didn't do. My conclusions after the first read:

1. This is the most phenomenal, approachable, and thorough introduction (certainly leaves Fredkin and Wolfram in the dust for approachability) to cellular automata and computation that I've ever met.
2. This book, true to its title, has soul. It's wacky, interesting, fun, deep, and self-critical of the so-called "Universal Automatist" philosophy.
3. The illustrations, stories, personal anecdotes, and tables (yes, he loves his tables) are what makes the book work- it would have been possible to write this book (and probably to read it) without them all, but it would have been less fun, less interesting, and less illuminating.
4. Rucker obviously spent a tremendous amount of time in actual experimentation- doing it himself. He articulates a better "feel" for the field than anything else I've read.

I'm sending this book to my dad and my brothers for Christmas. I got them all A New Kind of Science year before last, but none of them got past the first chapter. I can't wait to hear what they think of this one!

universal automaton.......2005-10-27

As a disiple of the Stephen Wolfram's universal automaton paradigm this book does a good job of looking at the different areas of science to see how they work with such a view. Taking on issues like free-will, quantum mechanics, and psychology he attempts to demonstrate there compatibility with his thesis that the world consists of computations. I recommend this book to anyone how has interests in determinism, aritificial intelligence, and/or Wolframs "new science" as this book has something of value to offer on all this areas.

This book will change the world!.......2005-09-20

Genius SF writer Rudy Rucker's new book is fantastic, and just in time, too! He writes, among other things, that we are
presently in the midst of a third global intellectual revolution. The
first came with Isaac Newton: the planets obey physical laws. The second
came with Charles Darwin: biology obeys genetic laws. In today's third
revolution, says Rucker, we are coming to realize that even minds and societies
emerge from interacting laws that can be regarded as computations.
Everything is a computation. Cool!

Does this, then, mean that the world is dull? Far from it. The
naturally-occurring computations that surround us are richly complex.
For example, a tree's growth, the changes in the weather, the flow of daily news, a
person's ever-changing moods --- all of these computations share the
crucial property of being gnarly. Although lawlike and deterministic,
gnarly computations are --- and this is a key point --- inherently
unpredictable. The world's mystery is preserved.

Mixing together anecdotes, graphics, and fables, Rucker teases out the
implications of his new worldview, which he calls "universal
automatism." His analysis reveals startling aspects of the everyday
world, touching upon such topics as chaos, the Internet, fame, free
will, and the pursuit of happiness. More than a popular science book,
this book is a philosophical
entertainment that teaches us how to enjoy our daily lives to the
fullest possible extent.

Open your mind for a great purpose .......2005-09-20

This book is Rudy Rucker's latest mind-child, and incorporates all the many threads of his very active and acute intellect. For those who have read some of his earlier books on math (esp. the superb Infinity and the Mind), this latest work builds on the vital importance of approaching the cosmos from the perspective of computability. Rucker's thinking on this is precise and playful, a rare and valuable combination. He extends the ideas toward applications of how to view your own "lifebox," and offers great suggestions for booting up an expanded appreciation of your reality. Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Rucker is both a literary and science master
Godzoon Goggy Gollywog
Fun novel full of biological, mathematical, and physically cool ideas
Excellent Story; Excellent Allegory
amazing adventures in the space-time continuum

Frek and the Elixir
Rudy Rucker
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0765310597
Release Date: 2005-01-13

Book Description

In the year 3003, nothing in the world is the same, except maybe that adolescents are still embarrassed by their parents. Society and the biosphere alike have been transformed by biotechnology, and the natural world is almost gone.Frek Huggins is a boy from a broken family, unusual becaise he was conceived without technological help or genetic modifications. His dad, Carb, is a malcontent who left behind Frek's mom and the Earth itself several years ago.Everything changes when Frek finds the Anvil, a small flying saucer, under his bed, and it tells him he is destined to save the world. The repressive forces of Gov, the mysterious absolute ruler of Earth, descend on Frek, take away the Anvil, and interrogate him forcefully enough to damage his memory. Frek flees with Wow, his talking dog, to seek out Carb and some answers. But the untrustworthy alien in the saucer has other plans, including claiming exclusive rights to market humanity to the galaxy at large, and making Frek a hero. Frek and the Elixir is a profound, playful SF epic by the wild and ambitious Rudy Rucker.

Customer Reviews:

Rucker is both a literary and science master.......2007-01-16

I fell in love with Rucker's work after reading Spaceland, and Frek and the Elixir proved to be yet another science and literary masterpiece. Rucker makes the most complex aspects of science obtainable to the average reader who has a bit of imagination. Rucker is a pure creative genius. Frek and the Elixir is a wonderful tale that I would highly recommend to any reader who enjoys imaginative stories that offer a bit of science education at the same time.

Godzoon Goggy Gollywog.......2006-08-21

This has got to be one of the most inventive and imaginative novels in recent memory. Rudy Rucker has created an astonishingly creative story by mixing well-drawn comedy and drama with the latest knowledge in biotech, computing, and quantum physics. Not to mention a visual richness that will turn on the inner freakiness of even the most stoic reader. Here we have the adventures of 12 year-old Frek, who lives in the 31st century in a world of forced conformity, and where a megalomaniac biotech corporation has eliminated most of the Earth's life forms, patented the genomes of the few remaining utilitarian species (including humans), and prohibited reproduction except by contract. Meanwhile, several different species of aliens are trying to turn the human race into a giant reality show, via interactive technologies controlled by weird multi-dimensional demigods. In short, Frek is the chosen human negotiator, and decides to bargain for the return of Earth's lost species in a deadly high-stakes production deal, becoming a hero in the process.

Thanks to Rucker's knowledge of advanced science and the wildest future possibilities of technology, this novel benefits from a setting and characters quite unlike most sci-fi. The story is overflowing with crazy but strangely possible biotech and interactive technologies, while Rucker has also turned up the creativity meter with loads of inventively bizarre and truly "alien" aliens (I especially liked the wisecracking Orpolese and the droll Unipuskers). Rucker has also envisioned a completely mindboggling method of space travel called yunching, which is based on actual currently-known concepts from superstring theory. In a few places, Rucker lets the plotline slip while breathlessly inventing pile upon pile of future phenomena, but this is a novel that is as relentlessly fascinating as it is fun and empathetic. There are even good themes of friendship and family lurking beneath the wild and wooly sci-fi wonderments. This novel is highly recommended for any reader looking for something both really new and really different. [~doomsdayer520~]

Fun novel full of biological, mathematical, and physically cool ideas.......2006-05-18

Here is a rather delightful novel from Rudy Rucker. Frek and the Elixir is set more or less at the next millennium -- to be exact, in 3003. Hundreds of years before, NuBioCom destroyed the remaining natural species on Earth, and replaced them with a very few genetically engineered variants. They even destroyed the records of the genetic code of the natural species. Now, in 3003, Houses are grown from trees, the only pets are dogs, much of the food comes from anyfruit trees, and in many other ways it is clear that species diversity is rare. Frek Huggins is a 12-year-old boy living with his mother and his two sisters. He resents the fact that his father, Carb, left for the asteroids several years before. His life is nominally fairly pleasant but he doesn't quite fit in.

Then a flying saucer shows up, looking, it appears, for Frek. Frek is suddenly the object of the not-entirely-friendly attentions of the "counselors" of Gov, the worm-like alien that controls his city. He finds a saucer under his bed, and inside it is an alien cuttlefish, who assures him he will save the world and find the elixir that will restore the natural species to Earth. But Gov's representatives are not happy, and soon Frek is fleeing, at first into the dangerous Grulloo woods, home to many unusual kritters such as the Grulloo, intelligent people consisting of only a head, a tail, and two arms. Frek and a Grulloo make their way to Stun City to free the captured saucer and kill Gov -- but that doesn't work quite as expected. Soon they are off on a trip around the Galaxy, and indeed to different "branes". The situation is a lot more complicated than expected. Frek is to act as agent for a group of aliens who want to control the broadcasting of human experience to eager alien "viewers" -- but that broadcasting might also include mind control. And there are other aliens interested in controlling the same rights. Moreover, Frek meets his father, in the company of his new girlfriend and her daughter Renata. Naturally, sparks fly between Frek and Renata. So things continue, with visits to a number of alien milieus, some really fun and wacky SFnal ideas, and with Frek always keeping in mind not only the saving of the Earth's ecosystem, and the freeing of humans from potential mind control, but the restoring of his family.

I don't think I've really captured the fun of this novel very well. Rucker has long been known as an ideas man, and he doesn't disappoint here, with a couple of nicely portrayed alien species, some interesting mathematical and physical notions, and lots of clever biological ideas. The plot is not quite as successful, though it is fun to follow -- still, Frek's powers grow alarmingly as the novel continues, and the ultimate resolution, though emotionally satisfying, isn't fully convincing. The novel, with its 12-year-old protagonist, has a rather YA feel to it, though distinctly in the "YA to please adults" mode -- that is, I think it's a novel that will wow teen readers, but it's also quite fun for adults. I liked it, at any rate!

Excellent Story; Excellent Allegory.......2005-12-02

This book is simply one of the best science fiction titles to be written. The main character is young, true, but this is soon forgotten in the complex, intriguing, and yes, allegorical storyline. The book is Rucker's denoucement of monoculture, a perfect statement for our day and age. The innovation in this book is spectacular; no old reused ideas here. I strongly recommend this book.

amazing adventures in the space-time continuum .......2005-09-13

A joyful, picaresque novel full of mind-blowing concepts from veteran mathematician-cyberpunk-sci-fi writer guru, Rudy Rucker.

It's 3003. Earth is a true nano-biotech Eden. Or is it? Well, families live in comfy house trees, food comes from the anyfruit tree, friendly dogs can talk to their masters but...

...there are only 256 highly-tweaked species created by the powerful NuBioCom corporation who also destroyed the Earth's original biodiversity in 2666...

Sure the families might have a happy time inside their house tree but the Gov is trying hard to keep them in line. (Gov - government - giant media-controlling brain-washing worms, now that invention won't need a 1000 years to be accomplished on this planet.)

Also there is the small problem of alien species determined to turn humankind into a massive reality TV show, each human monitored and more or less tele-controlled by an alien "player" to spice up the aliens' own boring lives.

Frek Huggins (a modern Frodo Baggins?), a twelve-year-old kid becomes humankind's unlikely hero and only hope after a few clashes with Gov, NuBioCom and a dozen different alien species.

Frek has no choice but to navigate the whole universe, visit different galaxies, enjoy or suffer the physics of different dimensions while fighting for his own sanity, his life and his friends and family. Can he also be the one who finds the Elixir, the DNA blueprints of all the lost biodiversity of planet Earth? Will he also free humankind from government, corporate and alien influence?

This post-modern odyssey sounds like a recipe for big time disaster (a few Hollywood script writers would fry their brains after the first scene) but Rudy Rucker pulls off the impossible with a surprisingly joyful, intense and interesting novel. Other than him it may only be Paul Di Filippo (Fuzzy Dice, anyone?) who can convincingly push his heroes through ten dimensions, hurl them into a sun or have a billion cartoon characters fight the last crusade.

Early in the book the English words and familiar mental images run out - Rudy forged some 80-100 new words to describe as many astonishing concepts regarding life in the 3000s, alien species and the joys and perils of intergalactic or transdimensional travels.

The ever wilder adventures and the thought-provoking ideas jump at the reader with an alarming speed every half page or so. Science, science fiction and a great dose of humane concerns about our future mix with a ripping yarn.

The intended audience (science fiction or science fans) might find it weird to follow a twelve-year-old character through interspecies business dealings, psychedelic space travel or battles against biotech-enhanced monsters, omnipotent aliens and evil governments. Hopefully, twelve-year-old kids, too, will pick this book up and allow it to create another few trillion neural connections in their developing brains.

Perhaps the protagonist could have been older. However, if the child is a metaphor for humankind's lack of knowledge regarding sustainable living, space travel or using and not abusing advanced technology then I suppose we can live with that.

The novel may be a little long or is just the right size at 460 pages. It is hard though rewarding to get through all the high concepts. The joyful, humorous writing does compensate for the effort.

The only negative aspect might be the frequent recaps on the adventures. Every day or so (as the majority of the novel spans the most exciting fortnight in Frek's life) the boy is thinking about the grand adventures he just had and we get a ten sentence summary of the last 40-50 pages. If we spent a whole delightful chapter in that galaxy or among those aliens why do we have to read a review at the end of that adventure. This happens probably 6-8 times in the book and I find it jarring.

Rudy may have wanted to follow a children's tale structure where you have to remind the children what happened just a little while ago. As the audience most probably will be in their twenties, thirties, forties, this may be unnecessary. Don't worry about our attention span, Rudy.

All in all, a very strong, enjoyable novel, hundreds of great new ideas, profound, gripping insight into our own government-, media-, globalisation-controlled lives.

For all aspiring writers and people fascinated by a writing process or a humanist thinker's mind, you can read an additional 145-page PDF document available for free download from Rudy Rucker's website. It is full of detailed notes and deleted scenes, the triumphs and nightmares of the whole novel creation.

Rudy did wrote a few pages on how old his hero should be, he was considering adolescents, teenagers, young adults and even burnt-out adults.

He mentions that he followed a heroic "monomyth" story structure, making sure that chapters reflect various significant parts such as "meeting a temptress" or "atonement with the father". This gives a strong push to the events and we don't get lost in the wonders of these super-weird worlds.

Three (million) cheers for such a brave and ambitious attempt. A true myth for the space age. Kids, please track this book down before the H-P reading fever leaves your veins.

Average customer rating:

Creative, quick read
A light, enjoyable read.
Good ideas, great fun, colorful and zany action!
A Wild Ride
Excellent cyberpunk

Software
Rudy Rucker
Manufacturer: Eos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Wetware
Freeware
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Spaceland: A Novel of the Fourth Dimension

ASIN: 0380701774

Amazon.com

Cobb Anderson created the "boppers," sentient robots that overthrew their human overlords. But now Cobb is just an aging alcoholic waiting to die, and the big boppers are threatening to absorb all of the little boppers--and eventually every human--into a giant, melded consciousness. Some of the little boppers aren't too keen on the idea, and a full-scale robot revolt is underway on the moon (where the boppers live). Meanwhile, bopper Ralph Numbers wants to give Cobb immortality by letting a big bopper slice up his brain and tape his "software." It seems like a good idea to Cobb.

Book Description

It was Cobb Anderson who built the"boppers"--the first robots with real brains. Now, in 2020, Cobb is just another aged "pheezer" with a bad heart, drinking and grooving an the old tunes in Florida retirement hell. His "bops" have came a long way, though, rebelling against their subjugation to set up their own society an the moon. And now they're offering creator Cobb immortality but at a stiff price: his body his soul ... and his world.It was Cobb Anderson who built the "boppers"--the first robots with real brains. Now, in 2020, Cobb is just another aged pheezer with a bad heart, drinking and grooving on the old tunes in Florida retirement hell. His "bops" have come a long way, though, rebelling against their subjugation to set up their own society on the moon. And now they're offering creator Cobb immortality, but at a stiff price: his body, his soul. . .and his world.

Customer Reviews:

Creative, quick read.......2004-08-01

I blew through this book for two reasons:

1. It was short
2. It was addictive

This book is an interesting mix of "modern" cyberpunk type writing and content with older Heinlein style creativity. It has some of the hard edge of cyberpunk but I couldn't help feel that I was reading an updated "boy's adventure" style sci-fi story where we are taken on a ride and shown wondrous things without much background explanation.
I'm looking forward to reading some of the other books by this author but I'm hoping for more content since it definitely needs an increase in density.

A light, enjoyable read........2000-04-12

Fans of the cyberpunk style of sci-fi should find this an entertaining read. Not a heavyweight such as Gibson's Neuromancer (my basic unit of cyberpunk measurement), it nonetheless strikes a similar chord along the lines of Gibson's Chiba City.

You can deduce my opinion of the book in that there are three books that I'm aware of in this series... and I liked Rucker's Software enough that I will buy the other two.

On a side note, it's a short read... almost a novella.

Good ideas, great fun, colorful and zany action!.......1999-11-06

All Hail Happy Cloak! A wild and joyous romp from the get-go. Unique in that it moves so well from comedy to ideas to action and into supercool character developement. Lots of weird events and images. Superb SF entertainment.

A Wild Ride.......1999-09-20

I really enjoyed Sofeware and all the rest of the Ware series, and can't wait too read Realware.

Excellent cyberpunk.......1999-07-18

Wonderful book, a must read for cyberpunk fans (along with wetware and freeware). He takes you to the brink of total chaos but manages to hold it all together.

Infinity and the Mind: The Science and Philosophy of the Infinite (Princeton Science Library)

Average customer rating:

Misleading
Reclaiming the Greek Heritage: A Modern Mathematical Philosophy
This review is not true.
At the intersection of parallel lines...
a mind-blowing trip to the infinite

Infinity and the Mind: The Science and Philosophy of the Infinite (Princeton Science Library)
Rudy Rucker
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Consciousness & Thought | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Infinity | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books
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White Light, Third Edition

ASIN: 0691121273

Book Description

In Infinity and the Mind, Rudy Rucker leads an excursion to that stretch of the universe he calls the "Mindscape," where he explores infinity in all its forms: potential and actual, mathematical and physical, theological and mundane. Rucker acquaints us with Gödel's rotating universe, in which it is theoretically possible to travel into the past, and explains an interpretation of quantum mechanics in which billions of parallel worlds are produced every microsecond. It is in the realm of infinity, he maintains, that mathematics, science, and logic merge with the fantastic. By closely examining the paradoxes that arise from this merging, we can learn a great deal about the human mind, its powers, and its limitations.</p>

Using cartoons, puzzles, and quotations to enliven his text, Rucker guides us through such topics as the paradoxes of set theory, the possibilities of physical infinities, and the results of Gödel's incompleteness theorems. His personal encounters with Gödel the mathematician and philosopher provide a rare glimpse at genius and reveal what very few mathematicians have dared to admit: the transcendent implications of Platonic realism.</p>

Customer Reviews:

Misleading.......2007-06-20

Rucker had finished writing this by June 19, 1981, as his preface says. Yet, he has the naivete (or perhaps the gall) to say something inane like "Set theory is, indeed, the science of the Mindscape. A set is the form of a possible thought." on p. 41. Since Zadeh published his landmark "Fuzzy Sets" paper in 1965, and Black and others had written similar ideas years earlier, along with multivalued logicians like Lukasiewicz developing possibly infinite-valued logics as far back as the 1920s, one would think that Rucker would be informed or wise enough than such statements. It appears otherwise. I find it curious that Rucker also knew Godel who did work in multivalued logics, but basically Rucker doesn't acknolwedge multivalued logics as even possible forms of thought.

As for the comments about Mr. Rucker qualifying as an intellectual descendent of Hegel, they simply don't hold water. Rucker denies the property of contradiction (it is not the case that A and not A hold). Hegel accepted it and sought some other way to do logic than Aristotle's logic.

Reclaiming the Greek Heritage: A Modern Mathematical Philosophy.......2006-06-30

Rudy Rucker deals with the concept of Infinity in regard to our mental conceptions and the structure of reality. The question is whether or not the concept of Infinity makes sense, and then the relation of finite thought and human consciousness relates to the possibility of infinites in the structure of reality.

Rucker is a professor of Calculus and centres this discussion in the History of Mathematical stemming form the ancient Greeks. For the Greeks there was no distinction between mathematics and philosophy. He takes a mathematical approach, but converses fluently in the disciplines of Quantum Physics and Philosophy.

I classified this book as Epistemology (the Philosophy of Knowledge) because the central concept is the meaning and definition of Human Consciousness. In this regard Rucker probes the meaning of consciousness and the relationship of the individual mind to the concept of Universal Mind.

The title includes Infinity, because the investigation considers all aspects of the ultimate or Absolute. So at the root of this is the question of whether it makes sense for anything to be Infinite. Is there such a thing as Infinity? Are there multiple infinities? Involved is the question of whether the human mind can conceptualize an infinite thought, or is every human thought a finite thought?

The reason this is a question of Epistemology is that one must consider how we know, and what a finite mind can know. Thus Rucker looks at the question in terms of many disciplines of knowledge. Basically, we are asking whether it is possible for something in the universe (one mind, and its thoughts) to know the Absolute or Ultimate reality, of which it is a part!

Another term for the discipline commonly dealing with this problem is Theory of Mind. Rucker I have not looked at the concepts of Theory of Mind and the Philosophical question of the Absolute and the One-Many debate in a mathematical perspective before. This latter entails the concept of whether there is some ultimate unity to the universe, including the recent question of multiple universes, and whether the Absolute is sentient, as an active God or relatable entity.

Rucker points out that any ultimate question, posed in terms mathematical, theological or otherwise, is a mystical question. He references concepts of Zen Buddhism as well as classical Western Philosophy and Christian theology. He lays a firm foundation for the problem in a historical format by reviewing the ancient Greek concepts.

I had never looked at these questions from a mathematical approach. His discussion of set theory helps to see the issues involved in considering whether humans, as finite entities, can conceptualize the ultimate. He deals with the relationship between thoughts and concepts and the external objective world. Set theory and its refinements, which Rucker discusses in terms of the history of their development, provide a way of objectively evaluating whether there can be infinite.

Rucker lays out the formulas in geometry and calculus, but discusses the implications from practical and theoretical perspectives in science and theology. I did not campout in the mathematical formulas, but could generally follow the arguments. But the philosophical implications and the factors discussed in the practical and theoretical scientific disciplines was very helpful. Rucker uses very practical life-situations and analogies to provide a reality for these concepts, which can seem ethereal and abstract.

One of the practical aspects is a whole chapter critically evaluating ideas of Artificial Intelligence, "Robots and Souls." He asks whether an artificial intelligence can become self-developing to the stage comparable to human consciousness. He ruminates on the relationship of artificial intelligences to human consciousness.

Rucker reviews the creative and ground-breaking theories and writings of Kurt Gödel, a mathematical philosopher in the 20th century. Gödel conclusively established the concept of Infinity. Rucker reports on personal discussions he had with Gödel, who was a mystic and philosopher. They discussed the concept of Universal Mind and the existence of mind beyond body.

It was also interesting to see this perspective on the Theory of Mind, various concepts of the Absolute, and critical analysis of the possibilities and limitations of human conception, as written almost 25 years ago, and see that most of what is known and considered now was active knowledge back then. The critical analysis Rucker provides was helpful for a fresh perspective on the methods mathematics brings to metaphysics involved now in Particle Physics and the Cosmogony now entailed by Theoretical physics on the astronomical level.

This review is not true........2005-09-08

This book is spooky! I love it! The infinite is such a fascinating topic. I contemplate it on a daily basis and wrestle with some of its concepts almost constantly. This book is a must read for anyone who has ever wanted to know more on this subject. Robot conciousness is an incredible topic and really makes one think about what conciousness really means. Some of the concepts are difficult to relate to, but give it time and open your mind. If I could, I would give this book infinity - 1 stars!

At the intersection of parallel lines..........2003-06-05

Rudy Rucker, son of a cleric and mathematics whiz kid, produced this book on `Infinity and the Mind' years ago, but reading and re-reading it, I continue to get insights and the chance to wrap my mind around strange concepts.

`This book discusses every kind of infinity: potential and actual, mathematical and physical, theological and mundane. Talking about infinity leads to many fascinating paradoxes. By closely examining these paradoxes we learn a great deal about the human mind, its powers, and its limitations.'

This book was intended to be accessible by those without graduate-level education in mathematics (i.e., most of us) while still being of interest to those even at the highest levels of mathematical expertise.

Even if the goal of infinity is never reached, there is value in the journey. Rucker provides a short overview of the history of 'infinity' thinking; how one thinks about divinity is closely related often, and how one thinks about mathematical and cosmological to-the-point-of-absurdities comes into play here. Quite often infinite thinking becomes circular thinking: Aquinas's Aristotelian thinking demonstrates the circularity in asking if an infinitely powerful God can make an infinitely powerful thing; can he make an unmade thing? (Of course, we must ask the grammatical and logical questions here--does this even make sense?)

Rucker explores physical infinities, spatial infinities, numerical infinities, and more. There are infinites of the large (the universe, and beyond?), infinities of the small (what is the smallest number you can think of, then take half, then take half, then take half...), infinities that are nonetheless limited (the number of divisions of a single glass of water can be infinite, yet never exceed the volume of water in the glass), and finally the Absolute.

`In terms of rational thoughts, the Absolute is unthinkable. There is no non-circular way to reach it from below. Any real knowledge of the Absolute must be mystical, if indeed such a thing as mystical knowledge is possible.'

At the end of each chapter, Rucker provides puzzles and paradoxes to tantalise and confuse.

* Consider a very durable ceiling lamp that has an on-off pull string. Say the string is to be pulled at noon every day, for the rest of time. If the lamp starts out off, will it be on or off after an infinite number of days have passed?

Rucker explores the philosophical points of infinity with wit and care. He explores the ideas behind and implications of Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem, and leads discussion and excursion into self-referential problems and set theory problems and solutions.

He also discusses, contrary to conventional wisdom, the non-mechanisability of mathematics. We tend to think in our day that mathematics is the one mechanical-prone discipline, unlike poetry or creative arts and more 'human' endeavours. But Rucker discusses the problems of situations which require decision-making and discernment in mathematical choices that no machine can (yet!) make.

* Consider the sentence S: This sentence can never be proved. Show that if S is meaningful, then S is not provable, and that therefore you can see that S must be true. But this constitutes a proof of S. How can the paradox be resolved?

This is a beautifully complex and intriguing book on the edges of mathematics and philosophical thinking, which is nonetheless accessible and intellectually inviting. You'll wonder why math class was never this fun!

a mind-blowing trip to the infinite.......2002-12-09

What is infinity? How do we train our minds to understand the idea? This one of the hardest questions to answer for non-professional mathematicians, and one that Rucker address superbly - and, believe it or not entertainingly in this excellent book. And once you think you grasped that, how about a higher level infinity? Next one? Infinite series of higher level infinities? Sound very scary, and it is. It takes an amazing capacity to explain these concepts to a (relative) layman, and Rucker has it in abundance. An exhilarating intellectual tour de force, perhaps comparable to climbing mount Everest - infinite number of times, with deep philosophical, and perhaps, religious connections, presented in a light, funny, and yet rigorous manner. The book also provides a history of the concept of the infinite, and interesting people who developed it. A must read for a curious mind.

As Above, So Below: A Novel of Peter Bruegel

Average customer rating:

M. C. Eschers inspiration......
Spend some time in Renaissance Belgium
My Favorite Book of this Year
Painless History
Look deeper!

As Above, So Below: A Novel of Peter Bruegel
Rudy Rucker
Manufacturer: Forge Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 076530404X

Book Description

Bruegel's paintings-a peasant wedding in a barn, hunters in the snow, a rollicking street festival-define our idea of everyday life in sixteenth century Northern Europe. In sixteen chapters, each headed by one of the artist's famous works, Rudy Rucker brings Bruegel's art and his colorful world to vibrant life, doing for Bruegel what the bestselling Girl With A Pearl Earring did for Vermeer.

Customer Reviews:

M. C. Eschers inspiration.............2007-01-01

Rudy Rucker has managed to give some insight into the thought processes that created the wonderful works of this 16th century Flemish painter as well as exposing the reader to the hardships endured by the residents of the "low countries" during the merciless Spanish control of the Netherlands.

Brugels early works give a birds-eye perspective of the subject matter as well as depicting religious events as if they were happening in the 16th century. It is my belief that M.C. Escher as well as Salvador Dali both capitalized on Brugels early vision.(See Escher's Tower of Babel as well as Ascending & Descending and several of Dali's works appear to have been inspired by Brugel's "Fall of the Rebel Angels".) Both of these men owe a large debt of gratitude to Brugel for his inspiration.

Although this book is "historical fiction", the author has done such an exemplary job of providing a discerning and perceptive insight into Brugels life and times, it almost reads like an autobiograpy.

If you enjoy history, art, and great storytelling this book is definitely for you! 4 1/2 stars!!!!

Spend some time in Renaissance Belgium.......2003-12-22

Rucker builds a series of chapters around particular paintings by Bruegel, in order to produce a biographical novel that is well-informed concerning the (known) historical details of Bruegel's life and the political and cultural history of the day. The book offers a good way to get engaged with the period and with the paintings. The writing is a bit clunky, and the novel works more because of the inherent interest of the artist and the period than by what the writer contributes. I could easily have put the book down had other things been available, but as it was it served as a welcome companion during a day of many, many delayed flights and long layovers as I flew across the US.

My Favorite Book of this Year.......2003-08-13

My husband and I both love this story of Peter Breugel's life. The book was well researched and obviously written by someone with a life-long passion for Breugel the man, as well as his paintings. It is a beautiful story. My husband and I both agree, we want to go to Europe and see his original paintings after reading this book.

Painless History.......2003-02-22

Not only is this book well-researched and documented but it is an easy read. The times of Europe in the l6th century are colorfully presented and the characterizations are believable. It's easy to get caught up in the intrigues. I'll now view Peter Bruegel's works in a new light. Well-worth a read!

Look deeper!.......2003-01-05

I picked this up blind from the new book bin at the Kailua-Kona public library, and boy, I'm glad I did. I've always enjoyed Bruegel, but this novel really makes you look at each picture with new eyes. Thank goodness I had an art book (Phaidon) of Bruegel at home with big color plates, which really complemented the text of this book. I love the feeling of delving into the past, but with good friends, which is how I think of Bruegel now that I've read this book.

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