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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?).'"

6 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. Maybe his novel wasn't so novel by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    A lot of fiction looks dated when current events or technology surpass what was supposed to be a look at the future. This time it caught up with this novelist before he even finished his story. Some are suggesting it caught up with him before he finished the previous piece of it.

    Such is the life of a novelist. Next time be more novel.

    1. Re:Maybe his novel wasn't so novel by lgw · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Good SF is a period piece set in the future. OK SF is about discovering some revolutionary new wonder. TV/Movie "skiffy" is about explosions and effects and depictions of new technology - ick.

      --
      Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  2. Re:Pick your favourite outcome! by HeckRuler · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So...
    Corporocracy
    Totalitarian states in constant war
    A post-scarcity utopia that hinges on karma
    A utopia where the people are bribed into apathy/foolishness

    I'd go with Doctorow.

  3. Re:Pick your favourite outcome! by Esteanil · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Definitively a Iain M. Banks world (The Culture)

    --
    I'm a dreamer, the world is my playpen. But hey, I'm a serious person, I can't dream all the time.
  4. Re:Scottish Independance by Bill,+Shooter+of+Bul · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Well, if Europe doesn't want Scotland. We could use a 51st state. Especially one with such great scotch.

    --
    Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
  5. Re:See what you have done, NSA ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    With this sentence you've given away the fake.

    C'mon that sentence with its postcedent: "Anywhere will be fine" is the payload.

    Email it anywhere ... too good!