Metazoa
Discover more from Eliot Peper
I wrote my first novel because it was the book I wanted to read that didn’t exist yet. When Version 1.0 launched, it turned out others shared my taste, which was a fun surprise. I edit with others in mind, but still write for myself. Never underestimate the power of solving your own problem.
And now, a book I love that you might too:
Metazoa by Peter Godfrey-Smith is a profound synthesis of philosophy and biology that explores what science has learned about the evolutionary basis for subjective experience in order to ask better questions about consciousness. By closely examining the lives of shrimp, fish, octopuses, and many more of our animal cousins, Peter illuminates countless subtle truths about what it means to be human. Learning how biological intelligence works is especially valuable when everyone’s talking about artificial intelligence, but, most importantly, this book will help you better understand yourself and the people you love.
Things worth sharing:
For the past few years I've been writing a near-future spy thriller about the geopolitics of semiconductors, and, based on my research for the novel, I bought NVDA shares. Always nice when a book starts to pay off before publication.
Over in The Science of Fiction, Maddie Stone published a wonderful review of Veil.
Successful writers have at least as much self doubt as aspiring writers, they just have more practice working through it.
I found Richard Hamming’s “You and Your Research” essay so fascinating that I snuck a quote into Reap3r.
Such a joy to hear feedback like this.
Maria Haskins generously featured Victory Condition in a recent roundup of speculative short stories.
You can read an excerpt from Cumulus over in TechCrunch.
Beautiful compendium of some of the best writing on the internet.
Loving what you do is a huge competitive advantage because when work is intrinsically compelling, you don’t need extrinsic motivation.
From my conversation with Cory Doctorow about writing Attack Surface: “Technology and politics are inseparable. There’s a kind of nerd determinism that denies politics (‘Our superior technology makes your inferior laws irrelevant’). But just as pernicious is the inverse, the politicos who insist that technology is irrelevant to struggle, sneering about ‘clicktivism’ and ‘solutionism.’”
Silo is spectacularly good television. I love the books, and this is one of those rare adaptations that captures the spirit of the original story while elevating it in a new medium. Highly recommend.
It's so damn fun to make things with a small group of people who bring out the best in each other.
Thanks for reading. We all find our next favorite book because someone we trust recommends it. So when you fall in love with a story, tell your friends. Culture is a collective project in which we all have a stake and a voice.
Best, Eliot
Eliot Peper is the author of Reap3r, Veil, Breach, Borderless, Bandwidth, Neon Fever Dream, Cumulus, Exit Strategy, Power Play, and Version 1.0. He also consults on special projects.
“Offers readers a special lens into a unique and compelling world packed with intrigue and adventure. A must-read trilogy.”
-Huffington Post Books