Comments on: Seveneves by Neil Stephenson https://habitablezone.com/2015/10/06/seveneves-by-neil-stephenson/ Fri, 03 Apr 2026 18:20:54 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: SDG https://habitablezone.com/2015/10/06/seveneves-by-neil-stephenson/#comment-33021 SDG Wed, 07 Oct 2015 15:51:32 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=50966#comment-33021 I thought it was pretty funny how some of the characters seem to be almost plucked out of real life: Doc Dubois = Neil DeGrasse Tyson Sean Probst = Elon Musk Camila = Malala Yousafai Those are the only ones I could confidently identify, but it seems like some of the other characters could also have real life counterparts. I want to say JBF = Hillary, but that may just be my own political bias speaking. Still I can't shake the thought that a President Hillary would figure out a way to survive against all odds regardless of laws or people in her way. Another weaker association would be Marcus who seemed to personify Chris Hadfield in my mind as the "Mr Competent" character. Any others? (even if just a loose association) I thought it was pretty funny how some of the characters seem to be almost plucked out of real life:

Doc Dubois = Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Sean Probst = Elon Musk
Camila = Malala Yousafai

Those are the only ones I could confidently identify, but it seems like some of the other characters could also have real life counterparts.

I want to say JBF = Hillary, but that may just be my own political bias speaking. Still I can’t shake the thought that a President Hillary would figure out a way to survive against all odds regardless of laws or people in her way.

Another weaker association would be Marcus who seemed to personify Chris Hadfield in my mind as the “Mr Competent” character.

Any others? (even if just a loose association)

]]> By: Robert https://habitablezone.com/2015/10/06/seveneves-by-neil-stephenson/#comment-33014 Robert Tue, 06 Oct 2015 17:54:46 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=50966#comment-33014 I liked "Seveneves" too, and I'd make all the same observations, centrally the one about "geekporn"--rarely do you read so much exposition in a novel, and rarely do you enjoy it as much as when Stephenson does it. This to me is classic science fiction, in which it's the science itself that makes the story so enjoyable. I know what you mean about the vast difference between the first and second eras of the story. Not sure he had enough material in either one to flesh out an entire novel, though. Or at least the first half wallowing in orbital mechanics; perhaps in the second half he's built himself a world that will now provide the setting for a series of stories. That world has possibilities, not least because it bears some resemblance to post-singularity universes like Charles Stross's Saturn's Children or everything by Alistair Reynolds. You're not done yet, but it's not really a spoiler to observe that for me it seemed to end abruptly with no particular climax (or perhaps I mean it didn't really seem to end at all), but I took it as a sign that Stephenson would be returning to this universe to continue the story. Enjoy. I liked “Seveneves” too, and I’d make all the same observations, centrally the one about “geekporn”–rarely do you read so much exposition in a novel, and rarely do you enjoy it as much as when Stephenson does it. This to me is classic science fiction, in which it’s the science itself that makes the story so enjoyable.

I know what you mean about the vast difference between the first and second eras of the story. Not sure he had enough material in either one to flesh out an entire novel, though. Or at least the first half wallowing in orbital mechanics; perhaps in the second half he’s built himself a world that will now provide the setting for a series of stories. That world has possibilities, not least because it bears some resemblance to post-singularity universes like Charles Stross’s Saturn’s Children or everything by Alistair Reynolds.

You’re not done yet, but it’s not really a spoiler to observe that for me it seemed to end abruptly with no particular climax (or perhaps I mean it didn’t really seem to end at all), but I took it as a sign that Stephenson would be returning to this universe to continue the story. Enjoy.

]]> By: podrock https://habitablezone.com/2015/10/06/seveneves-by-neil-stephenson/#comment-33013 podrock Tue, 06 Oct 2015 17:52:50 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=50966#comment-33013 Not his best novel, but still highly readable. I didn't mind the two parts. Only the second part could have been longer. Neil is a master at the info dump. Fun fact: Neil writes his novels with a fountain pen. Not his best novel, but still highly readable. I didn’t mind the two parts. Only the second part could have been longer. Neil is a master at the info dump.

Fun fact: Neil writes his novels with a fountain pen.

]]>