[extropy-chat] Vinge's next novel, Rainbow's End

[BillK]

On 12/16/05, "Hal Finney" wrote:
> I see that Vernor Vinge's next novel, Rainbow's End, is available for
> pre-purchase at Amazon, with a release date of May 2, 2006.  It is based
> on the same world as his Hugo-winning short story "Fast Times at Fairmont
> High".  An excerpt called Synthetic Serendipity is available online at
> http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/publicfeature/jul04/0704far.html
> Here is the description from Amazon.
> >
> >
> > As Robert becomes more deeply involved in conspiracy, he is shocked
> > to learn of a radical change planned for the UCSD Geisel Library; all
> > the books there, and worldwide, would cease to physically exist. He
> > and his fellow re-trainees feel compelled to join protests against the
> > change. With forces around the world converging on San Diego, both the
> > conspiracy and the protest climax in a spectacular moment as unique and
> > satisfying as it is unexpected. This is science fiction at its very best,
> > by a master storyteller at his peak.
>


Too late! This is already happening. Libraries are already getting rid
of their physical books and digitizing them.

<http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/14/education/14library.html?ex=1134882000&en=baa3149ee4efbfe2&ei=5070>

College Libraries Set Aside Books in a Digital Age
By RALPH BLUMENTHAL
Published: May 14, 2005

Correction Appended

HOUSTON, May 13 - Students attending the University of Texas at Austin
will find something missing from the undergraduate library this fall.

Books.

By mid-July, the university says, almost all of the library's 90,000
volumes will be dispersed to other university collections to clear
space for a 24-hour electronic information commons, a fast-spreading
phenomenon that is transforming research and study on campuses around
the country.
--------------------

BillK