> Rainbows End was prescient in many ways.

Agreed. Great book for those looking for a read: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/102439.Rainbows_End

The author, Vernor Vinge, is also responsible for popularizing the term 'singularity'.

RIP to the legend. He has a lot of really fun ideas spread across his books.

I didn't realize Vernor Vinge had passed away... Sad TIL

I got to meet him and person and tell him that his books (along with The Coming Technological Singularity) had a huge influence on my decision to go into ML. He seemed pleased. I just wish he had wrapped up the Fire Upon the Deep series.

I got to meet him once too! Unexpectedly met him at a Media Lab demo day. I was trying to play it cool though and didn't gush to him around how he's one of my favorite authors. I regret not doing so now.

There was a nice discussion & nostalgia at the time (1151 points, 2024, 320 comments) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39775304

Cookie monster is his strongest work. It has a VIBE.

Reminds me of permutation city

One of my favorites

Interesting. I love Vernon Vinge’s books. Except Rainbows End. It was such a dissapointment after many of the others.

“Marooned in Real Time” remains my fav.