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Sci-fi Author Charles Stross Cancels Trilogy: the NSA Is Already Doing It

Posted by Soulskill on from the can-we-convince-the-NSA-to-spy-on-a-ringworld dept.

doom writes "Charles Stross has announced that there won't be a third book in the Halting State trilogy because reality (in a manner of speaking) has caught up to him too fast The last straw was apparently the news that the NSA planted spies in networked games like WoW. Stross comments: 'At this point, I'm clutching my head. Halting State wasn't intended to be predictive when I started writing it in 2006. Trouble is, about the only parts that haven't happened yet are Scottish Independence and the use of actual quantum computers for cracking public key encryption (and there's a big fat question mark over the latter-- what else are the NSA up to?).'"

12 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. Scottish Independance by LaminatorX · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Scotts are to have a referendum on independance next year, as far as that goes.

    1. Re:Scottish Independance by DMUTPeregrine · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes, but what would we do for the 52nd and 53rd states? We need 53, after all, the US is "One nation, indivisible."

      --
      Not a sentence!
    2. Re:Scottish Independance by ackthpt · · Score: 3, Funny

      ... and I've got my immigration application signed and ready to send out*, just in case the independence movement actually succeeds :)

      *Emigrating to Scotland, not from.

      Sorry, but there can be only one Highlander.

      --

      A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
    3. Re: Scottish Independance by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      If you never get insulted - just get married. Solved that problem for me.

  2. Scotland by Threni · · Score: 4, Funny

    Still, us English folk can only hope that a future which consists of the Scots living quietly amongst themselves and us not having to put up with that awful dirge Auld Lang Syne every bloody New Year's Eve isn't the stuff of science fiction...

  3. See what you have done, NSA ? by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dear NSA,

    You not only cost us our privacy, the privacy that we treasure so much.

    Now you cost us a good book !

    What else are you going to cost us, NSA ??

    --
    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
    1. Re:See what you have done, NSA ? by Cryacin · · Score: 5, Funny

      Dear Mr. Stross,

      It is with great regret that we have learned of the discontinuation of your how-to manual, Halting State.

      We have unfortunately not been able to encourage Scotland to secede from the United Kingdom in a timely manner, however, we assure you that our state of Quantum Computing has reached appropriate levels.

      We have been eagerly awaiting your third instalment. Considering your decision to discontinue your series, we would appreciate any notes you have to be emailed. Anywhere will be fine.

      Yours sincerely,

      Manne I. Black
      NSA

      --
      Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
    2. Re:See what you have done, NSA ? by flyneye · · Score: 4, Funny

      Dear Batman,

                Since I don't believe in Santa Claus, could you take a break from patrolling Gotham to dismantle the evil NSA and put those responsible for it in Arkham Asylum?
      I'm convinced the Penguin is behind it, due to the scope, peril and nuisance involved. Lotta tuxedos in the D.C. and burbs area. The proliferation of clowns in the White House/Capitol Hill/Lincoln Memorial areas would suggest that the Joker has been masquerading as President for years now. Could you rid us of these fiends and their henchmen?

      --
      *Repent!Quit Your Job!Slack Off!The World Ends Tomorrow and You May Die!
  4. Advice to Charles Stross by Mister+Liberty · · Score: 3, Funny

    Be quick and write that book where a large government structure, say like the Bastille,
    is being stormed by citizens, and the Repulbic of the truly Free can finally be established

  5. Re:Wow! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's not just books. There I was, happily watching Person Of Interest, and then it turns out the premise behind a Sci-Fi show is true.

    I don't know how many bottles of scotch the writers must have got through before they managed to start writing Season 3, but I'm guessing it came by the crate.

  6. A scary thought. by Molt · · Score: 4, Funny

    It could be worse, The Laundry could be becoming reality.

    --
    404 Not Found: No such file or resource as '.sig'
  7. Re:Maybe his novel wasn't so novel by psithurism · · Score: 3, Funny

    You mean the only thing that made it worth while was the ancilary descriptions of technology?

    These descriptions, to nerds, are like titty-shots in movies are to high school boys. Sure, maybe we go through the whole plot once once or twice, but what we really got the book for was to reread the technical, oh so technical, descriptions, and boners, err...uh, bonus for equations that we can work into simulations.

    plot development

    Also known as filler-between-technical-descriptions. I doubt anyone is ever entertained by that alone.

    interpersonal relationships

    I tried to Google this; still not sure what you're talking about here, but it sounds boring too.