#Planetfall

[startrekships]

Defiant-class planetary landing via

[misforgotten2]

Books you very likely don’t have on your shelf #750 & 751

Covers by unknown & Alex Jay -- 1988 & 1989

[retrocgads]

USA 1993

[wizardsvslesbians]

A strange, squirmy book riddled with xenophobia and colonial guilt, which posits that it might all have been worth it if we manage to achieve human instrumentality. Still, pretty good!

[agardenandlibrary]

next up on my podcast Backlog Books (link in pinned post)

Planetfall by Emma Newman

I liked this book so much. I immediately went and read the rest of the series. I like the technology, which is not indistinguishable from magic but seems like it’s nearly within our own reach. But there’s also the mystery of how Suh-Mi knew about the planet at all, how she led them there, and what God’s City even is. As the story unfolds, you get glimpses back to the beginning, to Suh-Mi’s coma and visions, to choosing the candidates for the journey, to arriving and to the fateful Planetfall. In the fine tradition of science fiction, Newman uses a vision of the future to showcase the potential end destination of our current system. 

Recommended:

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

Solaris by Stanisław Lem

[katrinahays]

Alright, here's an updated book rec list. I've been reading a lot recently and damn I've gotten some good books.

-Circe by Madeline Miller

-To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini (some people hate this book, some people like it. I honestly love it. Its a new favorite).

-The Library of Shadows by Rachel Moore

-Planetfall by Emma Newman

-The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler

-Loki; Journey into Mystery by Katherine Locke

Honestly, it's not too many but these are some that I've read so far in January. I'll update again probably in April with more recommendations.

[mewtwobootleg]

Planetfall the mewtwo in the Dark Forest

[spettelt]

Planetfall

"Brothers, prepare yourselves for battle!"

[jtggaming]

Age of Wonders Planetfall Deluxe Edition Global Steam Key Only $11.99 Instant Delivery

Platform: Steam/PC – Global – Instant Delivery…

[queereads-bracket]

Queer Adult SFF Books Bracket: Round 1

Book summaries below:

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff (The Nevernight Chronicle series)

In a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a school of assassins, seeking vengeance against the powers who destroyed her family.

Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is barely able to escape her father’s failed rebellion with her life. Alone and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god, hunted by the Senate and her father’s former comrades. But her gift for speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer, and a future she never imagined.

Now, Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic—the Red Church. If she bests her fellow students in contests of steel, poison and the subtle arts, she’ll be inducted among the Blades of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the vengeance she desires. But a killer is loose within the Church’s halls, the bloody secrets of Mia’s past return to haunt her, and a plot to bring down the entire congregation is unfolding in the shadows she so loves.

Will she even survive to initiation, let alone have her revenge?

Fantasy, secondary world, series, adult

Planetfall series (Planetfall, After Atlas, Before Mars, Atlas Alone) by Emma Newman

Renata Ghali believed in Lee Suh-Mi’s vision of a world far beyond Earth, calling to humanity. A planet promising to reveal the truth about our place in the cosmos, untainted by overpopulation, pollution, and war. Ren believed in that vision enough to give up everything to follow Suh-Mi into the unknown.

More than twenty-two years have passed since Ren and the rest of the faithful braved the starry abyss and established a colony at the base of an enigmatic alien structure where Suh-Mi has since resided, alone. All that time, Ren has worked hard as the colony's 3-D printer engineer, creating the tools necessary for human survival in an alien environment, and harboring a devastating secret.

Ren continues to perpetuate the lie forming the foundation of the colony for the good of her fellow colonists, despite the personal cost. Then a stranger appears, far too young to have been part of the first planetfall, a man who bears a remarkable resemblance to Suh-Mi.

The truth Ren has concealed since planetfall can no longer be hidden. And its revelation might tear the colony apart…

Science fiction, mystery, psychological thriller, series, adult

[boredtechnologist]

Infocom's Planetfall for the PC-9800

Reviewing Infocom's "Planetfall" from a philosophical perspective involves an exploration beyond its surface as a pioneering interactive fiction game, delving into its narrative structure, thematic elements, and the broader existential, ethical, and sociopolitical implications it presents.

1. Isolation, Existentialism, and the Human Condition: "Planetfall" places the player in the role of a low-ranking space fleet ensign who crash-lands on an alien planet. The ensuing narrative of survival and exploration in an isolated environment can be interpreted through the lens of existential philosophy. The game echoes themes of existentialism, particularly the notion of confronting the absurdity of existence. The player's struggle for survival and sense of isolation on an alien planet resonates with the existentialist idea of individuals facing an indifferent universe, where they must create their own meaning and purpose.

2. Bureaucracy, Authority, and Individual Agency: The game begins with the protagonist serving on a spaceship under a hierarchical, bureaucratic system, often engaging in menial tasks. This setting can be viewed as a critique of bureaucratic systems and their dehumanizing effect, reminiscent of Kafkaesque themes. The protagonist's eventual crash and subsequent autonomy on the alien planet can symbolize a break from oppressive structures, inviting philosophical contemplation on the nature of authority, the individual's role within larger systems, and the quest for personal agency.

3. Environmentalism and Responsibility Towards Other Lifeforms: As the player navigates the alien planet, interacting with its ecosystem and non-human entities, the game subtly addresses themes of environmentalism and ethical responsibility towards other forms of life. The player's actions towards the planet's environment and inhabitants raise questions about humanity's relationship with nature and the moral obligations we hold towards non-human entities and ecosystems.

4. The Role of Technology and Human Reliance on Machines: "Planetfall" features a notable character, a robot named Floyd, who assists the player. This relationship highlights the interdependence between humans and technology, prompting reflection on the philosophical implications of our reliance on machines. It raises questions about the bond between humans and artificial entities, the potential emotional connections with non-human companions, and the ethical considerations of creating sentient machines.

5. Discovery, Curiosity, and the Pursuit of Knowledge: The game's emphasis on exploration and discovery taps into the philosophical theme of human curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge. The player's journey on the alien planet, filled with unknowns and mysteries to uncover, mirrors the human quest for understanding and the desire to make sense of the unknown, a fundamental aspect of the human condition.

6. Solitude and the Search for Companionship: Throughout "Planetfall," the player experiences solitude, with Floyd as the only companion. This solitude can be interpreted as a reflection on the human need for social interaction and companionship. The game invites players to explore the emotional and psychological impact of isolation and the value of companionship, even when it comes from non-human sources.

In conclusion, Infocom's "Planetfall" is more than a text-based adventure game; it is a rich tapestry for philosophical exploration. The game engages with themes such as existentialism, bureaucracy and individual agency, environmentalism, the human relationship with technology, the pursuit of knowledge, and the human need for companionship. Through its narrative and gameplay, "Planetfall" offers a medium for players to engage with deep philosophical questions, making it a thought-provoking experience in interactive storytelling.

[agardenandlibrary]

I’ve just started Planetfall by Emma Newman and you were right. I’m in love already!

ehehehehe

[kyrylo-kot]

❛ — 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐥𝐞, 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥! 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞. ❜

[cultofthewyrm]

by Michal Kus

[cat-appreciator]

I’m thinking today about Civilization: Beyond Earth, aka “The Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri from wish dot com”. A spiritual sequel to the beloved SMAC without any of the spirit. The way I see it, Beyond Earth’s gameplay had multiple flaws:

* The starting factions had extremely minimal gameplay influence, which one you picked didn’t really mean anything.

* What resources you started near meant everything. You were planning to go down the Unity part of the tech tree, build big stompy robots? Too bad, there’s no Levistone nearby. You’ll choke down your Xenomass and go Harmony like RNJesus intended. Or you can reroll a new planet and hope for better luck next time … after you spend 10-20 turns finding out what resources you start with this time.

But the major problem with Beyond Earth was that it had big shoes to fill and didn’t really bother to try to fill them.

I mentioned before that the starting factions meant nothing in Beyond Earth? In SMAC they meant everything, because everything was voice acted. Build a recycling vat? Shen-Ji Yang will tell you “it is every citizen’s final duty to go into the tanks …”. Research the Industrial Base tech? Nwabudike Morgan says “Resources exist to be consumed, and consumed they will be!”. The faction leaders were given such depth of character, so well voice acted, that I can still quote them extemporaneously two decades later. SMAC had soul.

Beyond Earth, on the other hand, had one voice actor, a perfectly reasonable AI (human VA playing an AI, it has to be said in these stupid, stupid times) who stripped all the character and emotion from voice quotes attributed to Beyond Earth’s faction leaders. You could not get invested in them as characters - I can’t recall any of their names.

And still, if you win a science victory in Civ 6, you launch the exoplanet expedition, you win the game, and then there is no real sequel unless you want to choke down the bitter Xenomass of disappointment that is Beyond Earth … or return once more to the rolling pink hills and frolicking mindworms of Planet.

There’s space for some sort of near-future xenocolonization 4X game, is what I’m saying. The fallen torch is still there for some game dev to pick up. And I wish they would, instead of continually trying to retread the Civilization story as Old World, Humankind et al have done. Maybe there’s some game out there I’m missing. I hope so.

[cptgersh]

I see shit like this and it gets the cogs in my brain turning, the writing machine is activating. god i wanna write something about the Assembly so bad.