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Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality #6
Harry James Potter-Evans-Verres and the Philosopher's Stone
313 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2015
About the author
Eliezer Yudkowsky
46 books1,715 followersFrom Wikipedia:
Eliezer Shlomo Yudkowsky is an American artificial intelligence researcher concerned with the singularity and an advocate of friendly artificial intelligence, living in Redwood City, California.
Yudkowsky did not attend high school and is an autodidact with no formal education in artificial intelligence. He co-founded the nonprofit Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence (SIAI) in 2000 and continues to be employed as a full-time Research Fellow there.
Yudkowsky's research focuses on Artificial Intelligence theory for self-understanding, self-modification, and recursive self-improvement (seed AI); and also on artificial-intelligence architectures and decision theories for stably benevolent motivational structures (Friendly AI, and Coherent Extrapolated Volition in particular). Apart from his research work, Yudkowsky has written explanations of various philosophical topics in non-academic language, particularly on rationality, such as "An Intuitive Explanation of Bayes' Theorem".
Yudkowsky was, along with Robin Hanson, one of the principal contributors to the blog Overcoming Bias sponsored by the Future of Humanity Institute of Oxford University. In early 2009, he helped to found Less Wrong, a "community blog devoted to refining the art of human rationality". The Sequences on Less Wrong, comprising over two years of blog posts on epistemology, Artificial Intelligence, and metaethics, form the single largest bulk of Yudkowsky's writing.
Eliezer Shlomo Yudkowsky is an American artificial intelligence researcher concerned with the singularity and an advocate of friendly artificial intelligence, living in Redwood City, California.
Yudkowsky did not attend high school and is an autodidact with no formal education in artificial intelligence. He co-founded the nonprofit Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence (SIAI) in 2000 and continues to be employed as a full-time Research Fellow there.
Yudkowsky's research focuses on Artificial Intelligence theory for self-understanding, self-modification, and recursive self-improvement (seed AI); and also on artificial-intelligence architectures and decision theories for stably benevolent motivational structures (Friendly AI, and Coherent Extrapolated Volition in particular). Apart from his research work, Yudkowsky has written explanations of various philosophical topics in non-academic language, particularly on rationality, such as "An Intuitive Explanation of Bayes' Theorem".
Yudkowsky was, along with Robin Hanson, one of the principal contributors to the blog Overcoming Bias sponsored by the Future of Humanity Institute of Oxford University. In early 2009, he helped to found Less Wrong, a "community blog devoted to refining the art of human rationality". The Sequences on Less Wrong, comprising over two years of blog posts on epistemology, Artificial Intelligence, and metaethics, form the single largest bulk of Yudkowsky's writing.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 12, 2020
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book / series / HP fanfic.
September 29, 2022
Satisfying ending. Will reread at some point now that I have the big picture and I need to understand the first few books a bit better :)
October 8, 2020
| Reader Fox Blog |
DNF at 21%.
I just couldn't suffer through it any longer. I've been trying to read this book for almost three years now and every time I read a little further, I just find myself disgusted with everything the writer has done. Now here's the thing...the idea was brilliant in its own right. But the execution was not only grossly unrealistic, but it was just downright awful in general.
I'd been really excited to read this, in part due to the fact that it somehow managed to find its way onto Goodreads as a fan fiction. I must admit I am utterly baffled as to how that came to be now that I've read as much as I have. And here's something to understand about this book. It's massive. The number of pages I managed to force myself to read through would equate to a 400+ page novel.
And I personally don't think this book deserved even that much of my time.
I think it's thoroughly apparent that I wanted to like this fan fic. I truly did. There is a lot to be praised from intelligence and rationality, but instead of actually telling an important tale with themes of rational understanding woven in, Yudkowsky simply gives us asinine characters that are poorly written and a story that jumps around so much you wonder how anyone could say there's even a plot at all.
Now, I had expected that there would be a fair amount of differences in the novel, especially on the part of Harry's character. His entire backstory had changed, after all. But ultimately that doesn't account for how an eleven-year-old boy never seems to have any of the traits of the young child that he is. Ironically, I think I might have been able to get past that--who doesn't want an immensely intelligent Harry Potter to read?--had it not been for how disgustingly out of character literally everyone else was.
And then, somehow along the line, Harry becomes disturbingly sociopathic and thus even more difficult to empathize with. I can't think of a single instance past the very first chapters of the tale where he didn't come off as a self-obsessed little jerk for absolutely no reason at all. He's manipulative and cruel on more than one occasion and does nothing to show intelligence in a positive light. This was immensely frustrating as it only furthered the often misconstrued notion that intelligent people are stuck up, snobbish assholes with no emotions whatsoever.
Harry's intelligence is also portrayed in a deeply unbelievable manner. Instead of needing to learn (as someone at eleven years old, even a very well read someone, would need to do) Harry simply thinks...and then somehow knows in a short period of time. Intelligence is not a trait that one simply has, but rather something someone has to work at constantly and Yudkowsky completely ignores this factor in favor of simply parroting his somewhat misguided beliefs through the mouth of his main character. In fact, Harry's solution to a great deal of events is simply to use a time-turner to travel back and re-do everything.
Disturbing jokes are made throughout the prose and the writing is mediocre at best, only serving to create more problems with the story as a whole. And to make matters worse, there is almost nothing going on at all aside from Harry acting like a little brat all the time and taking advantage of the people around him. I'm pretty sure that by the point I stopped, he was still in his first few months of classes in his first year. Which brings me to another issue I had. There is absolutely no continuity. The story arcs hop around idly at random as the author appears to simply fill in whatever idea he had at the present moment and say, "well, who cares if it fits?"
I just couldn't stomach how unrealistic the entirety of this story was or how Yudkowsky regularly butchered characters in order for them to fit his own personal view of them. It's not the first time I've seen Dumbledore portrayed as a bumbling fool, but it's the first time that I've been thoroughly disgusted by it. He regularly degrades and insults well loved and kind characters from the original novels and does a horrible job of it in the process. The blatant disrespect the author shows the original story and characters is exceedingly difficult to accommodate.
It's a real shame, because ultimately the idea was one I had been really interested in. But, I suppose I just have to say that if you're interested in reading Harry Potter fan fiction, definitely read something else rather than waste your time with this one. There are much better ones out there and it doesn't take too long to find them.
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DNF at 21%.
I just couldn't suffer through it any longer. I've been trying to read this book for almost three years now and every time I read a little further, I just find myself disgusted with everything the writer has done. Now here's the thing...the idea was brilliant in its own right. But the execution was not only grossly unrealistic, but it was just downright awful in general.
I'd been really excited to read this, in part due to the fact that it somehow managed to find its way onto Goodreads as a fan fiction. I must admit I am utterly baffled as to how that came to be now that I've read as much as I have. And here's something to understand about this book. It's massive. The number of pages I managed to force myself to read through would equate to a 400+ page novel.
And I personally don't think this book deserved even that much of my time.
I think it's thoroughly apparent that I wanted to like this fan fic. I truly did. There is a lot to be praised from intelligence and rationality, but instead of actually telling an important tale with themes of rational understanding woven in, Yudkowsky simply gives us asinine characters that are poorly written and a story that jumps around so much you wonder how anyone could say there's even a plot at all.
Now, I had expected that there would be a fair amount of differences in the novel, especially on the part of Harry's character. His entire backstory had changed, after all. But ultimately that doesn't account for how an eleven-year-old boy never seems to have any of the traits of the young child that he is. Ironically, I think I might have been able to get past that--who doesn't want an immensely intelligent Harry Potter to read?--had it not been for how disgustingly out of character literally everyone else was.
And then, somehow along the line, Harry becomes disturbingly sociopathic and thus even more difficult to empathize with. I can't think of a single instance past the very first chapters of the tale where he didn't come off as a self-obsessed little jerk for absolutely no reason at all. He's manipulative and cruel on more than one occasion and does nothing to show intelligence in a positive light. This was immensely frustrating as it only furthered the often misconstrued notion that intelligent people are stuck up, snobbish assholes with no emotions whatsoever.
Harry's intelligence is also portrayed in a deeply unbelievable manner. Instead of needing to learn (as someone at eleven years old, even a very well read someone, would need to do) Harry simply thinks...and then somehow knows in a short period of time. Intelligence is not a trait that one simply has, but rather something someone has to work at constantly and Yudkowsky completely ignores this factor in favor of simply parroting his somewhat misguided beliefs through the mouth of his main character. In fact, Harry's solution to a great deal of events is simply to use a time-turner to travel back and re-do everything.
Disturbing jokes are made throughout the prose and the writing is mediocre at best, only serving to create more problems with the story as a whole. And to make matters worse, there is almost nothing going on at all aside from Harry acting like a little brat all the time and taking advantage of the people around him. I'm pretty sure that by the point I stopped, he was still in his first few months of classes in his first year. Which brings me to another issue I had. There is absolutely no continuity. The story arcs hop around idly at random as the author appears to simply fill in whatever idea he had at the present moment and say, "well, who cares if it fits?"
I just couldn't stomach how unrealistic the entirety of this story was or how Yudkowsky regularly butchered characters in order for them to fit his own personal view of them. It's not the first time I've seen Dumbledore portrayed as a bumbling fool, but it's the first time that I've been thoroughly disgusted by it. He regularly degrades and insults well loved and kind characters from the original novels and does a horrible job of it in the process. The blatant disrespect the author shows the original story and characters is exceedingly difficult to accommodate.
It's a real shame, because ultimately the idea was one I had been really interested in. But, I suppose I just have to say that if you're interested in reading Harry Potter fan fiction, definitely read something else rather than waste your time with this one. There are much better ones out there and it doesn't take too long to find them.
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March 9, 2021
Це настільки потужна книга, що мені аж страшно давати на неї відгук. Страшно за те, що я у своєму маленькому огляді можу не дати повноцінної оцінки, на яку заслуговує цей фанфік на Гаррі Поттера.
Мова піде про роман Елізера Юдковського «Гаррі Поттер і Методи Раціональности». Що розповідає альтернативну історію малого чарівника, який виріс не в сім'ї злого дядька та тітки, а в сім'ї поважного науковця.
Перш за все, думаю, варто сказати за шалену раціональність цієї книги. Тут усе відбувається настільки послідовно, що розповідь дійсно виглядає правдоподібною. Згадайте, як в інших книгах або фільмах відбуваються вкрай нелогічні події, які, як виявляється, потрібні лише для того, щоб розвивати сюжет. Тут же ми такого не знайдемо. Істинний смак насолоди від такої раціональности можна, мабуть, відчути лише особисто за читанням.
До того ж, на відміну від багатьох інших книг, тут розумні персонажі дійсно розумні. Це означає, що щоб показати розумність Гаррі Поттера та інших персонажів, автор не говорить, що вони є розумними та бла-бла-бла. Замість цього він безпосередньо показує, як працюють їхні розумові здібності.
Доречно буде порівняти його з іншим псевдорозумним персонажем — Шерлоком Холмсом. Останній лише виглядає розумним, бо якщо ми подивимося на його "дедукцію", то не виявимо там розуму. Шерлок звертає увагу на якісь предмети-докази, а потім псевдомагічним чином робить висновок про вбивцю. А читач залишається розгубленим: що? як? чому увага була звернена саме на ці предмети? чому саме такі висновки, а не інші?
Подібні питання тільки й псують усю атмосферу від читання. Адже єдиною правдоподібною відповіддю на них є "так задумав автор". Це сюжет штовхає героя до розгадок. Замість того, щоб герой, розгадуючи загадки, штовхав сюжет. І між цим є величезна різниця.
Натомість у раціонального Гаррі Поттера ми бачимо, якими саме методами мислення він доходить до потрібних висновків. І видається можливим, що якби нам дали достатню кількість часу, то за допомогою цих методів ми також змогли би знайти елегантне рішення зі схожих проблем. Тобто ми не тільки читаємо про розумного персонажа, ми вчимося бути розумними: вчимося використовувати методи раціональности. Чого, на жаль, не відбувається під час читання Шерлока Холмса.
Описана раціональність є ядром усього твору, проте автор не обмежується лише нею. У книзі також глибоко підіймаються теми політики, проблем у суспільних стосунках, ідеї смерті, моралі, якості шкільної освіти, булінгу, пенітенціарної системи та відповідальності людей за власні вчинки. На останній темі я хочу загострити особливу увагу, оскільки, на мій погляд, вона є другою за важливістю у творі.
Хто такий герой? Ми звикли вважати, що це той, хто потрапляє в різні пригоди. Але ми забуваємо, що пригоди приходять самі собою лише в казках. У дійсності все інакше: щоб бути героєм, необхідно рухати сюжет власноруч, а не чекати у моря погоди. Це означає брати відповідальність за власні вчинки та робити так, як вважаєш правильно. Зауважте, я не кажу, що треба робити правильно, книга передусім нас вчить робити так, як ВВАЖАЄШ ПРАВИЛЬНО. Не стояти осторонь, не піддаватися "ефекту свідка", а усвідомлювати, що відповідальність за будь-які наслідки лежить саме на тобі. Саме це відрізняє героя від звичайних пересічних людей.
Однак бути відповідальним не так просто, як здається (або, краще сказати, ще складніше, ніж здається). Інакше ми б не називали таких особистостей героями. Бо відповідальність означає, що ти тепер не зможеш звалити вину на когось іншого. Означає, що ти картатимеш лише себе за ті вчинки, які тепер не зміниш, і особливо за ті, де ти навіть не втрутився.
Герой — це той, хто виходить за межі образу своєї ролі, яким його наділив сюжет. Іронічно, але такий герой є непередбачуваним навіть для самого автора. Тільки так він зможе вирішити поставлені перед ним труднощі, та ще й в напрочуд вишуканому стилі. Тепер же я маю запитати себе, а чи не граю я свою роль? Чи беру я відповідальність за власні вчинки? Бо якщо ні, то мені ніколи не вийти з тенет другорядного персонажа.
Тому, на жаль чи на щастя, щоб бути героєм у наш час, замало мати суперсилу. Насамперед необхідно бути відповідальним. І вже така риса, як би це іронічно не звучало, стане причиною появи твоєї суперсили.
Наостанок скажу, що Гаррі Поттер і Методи Раціональности — одна з найкращих книг, прочитаних мною. Яка зайвий раз підтверджує, що наукову фантастику не люблять лише ті, хто не читав достойної. 10 з 10!
P.S. Окрема подяка ентузіастам з гпімр.укр за чудовий український переклад.
#гпімр_укр #hpmor #гпімр
Мова піде про роман Елізера Юдковського «Гаррі Поттер і Методи Раціональности». Що розповідає альтернативну історію малого чарівника, який виріс не в сім'ї злого дядька та тітки, а в сім'ї поважного науковця.
Перш за все, думаю, варто сказати за шалену раціональність цієї книги. Тут усе відбувається настільки послідовно, що розповідь дійсно виглядає правдоподібною. Згадайте, як в інших книгах або фільмах відбуваються вкрай нелогічні події, які, як виявляється, потрібні лише для того, щоб розвивати сюжет. Тут же ми такого не знайдемо. Істинний смак насолоди від такої раціональности можна, мабуть, відчути лише особисто за читанням.
До того ж, на відміну від багатьох інших книг, тут розумні персонажі дійсно розумні. Це означає, що щоб показати розумність Гаррі Поттера та інших персонажів, автор не говорить, що вони є розумними та бла-бла-бла. Замість цього він безпосередньо показує, як працюють їхні розумові здібності.
Доречно буде порівняти його з іншим псевдорозумним персонажем — Шерлоком Холмсом. Останній лише виглядає розумним, бо якщо ми подивимося на його "дедукцію", то не виявимо там розуму. Шерлок звертає увагу на якісь предмети-докази, а потім псевдомагічним чином робить висновок про вбивцю. А читач залишається розгубленим: що? як? чому увага була звернена саме на ці предмети? чому саме такі висновки, а не інші?
Подібні питання тільки й псують усю атмосферу від читання. Адже єдиною правдоподібною відповіддю на них є "так задумав автор". Це сюжет штовхає героя до розгадок. Замість того, щоб герой, розгадуючи загадки, штовхав сюжет. І між цим є величезна різниця.
Натомість у раціонального Гаррі Поттера ми бачимо, якими саме методами мислення він доходить до потрібних висновків. І видається можливим, що якби нам дали достатню кількість часу, то за допомогою цих методів ми також змогли би знайти елегантне рішення зі схожих проблем. Тобто ми не тільки читаємо про розумного персонажа, ми вчимося бути розумними: вчимося використовувати методи раціональности. Чого, на жаль, не відбувається під час читання Шерлока Холмса.
Описана раціональність є ядром усього твору, проте автор не обмежується лише нею. У книзі також глибоко підіймаються теми політики, проблем у суспільних стосунках, ідеї смерті, моралі, якості шкільної освіти, булінгу, пенітенціарної системи та відповідальності людей за власні вчинки. На останній темі я хочу загострити особливу увагу, оскільки, на мій погляд, вона є другою за важливістю у творі.
Хто такий герой? Ми звикли вважати, що це той, хто потрапляє в різні пригоди. Але ми забуваємо, що пригоди приходять самі собою лише в казках. У дійсності все інакше: щоб бути героєм, необхідно рухати сюжет власноруч, а не чекати у моря погоди. Це означає брати відповідальність за власні вчинки та робити так, як вважаєш правильно. Зауважте, я не кажу, що треба робити правильно, книга передусім нас вчить робити так, як ВВАЖАЄШ ПРАВИЛЬНО. Не стояти осторонь, не піддаватися "ефекту свідка", а усвідомлювати, що відповідальність за будь-які наслідки лежить саме на тобі. Саме це відрізняє героя від звичайних пересічних людей.
Однак бути відповідальним не так просто, як здається (або, краще сказати, ще складніше, ніж здається). Інакше ми б не називали таких особистостей героями. Бо відповідальність означає, що ти тепер не зможеш звалити вину на когось іншого. Означає, що ти картатимеш лише себе за ті вчинки, які тепер не зміниш, і особливо за ті, де ти навіть не втрутився.
Герой — це той, хто виходить за межі образу своєї ролі, яким його наділив сюжет. Іронічно, але такий герой є непередбачуваним навіть для самого автора. Тільки так він зможе вирішити поставлені перед ним труднощі, та ще й в напрочуд вишуканому стилі. Тепер же я маю запитати себе, а чи не граю я свою роль? Чи беру я відповідальність за власні вчинки? Бо якщо ні, то мені ніколи не вийти з тенет другорядного персонажа.
Тому, на жаль чи на щастя, щоб бути героєм у наш час, замало мати суперсилу. Насамперед необхідно бути відповідальним. І вже така риса, як би це іронічно не звучало, стане причиною появи твоєї суперсили.
Наостанок скажу, що Гаррі Поттер і Методи Раціональности — одна з найкращих книг, прочитаних мною. Яка зайвий раз підтверджує, що наукову фантастику не люблять лише ті, хто не читав достойної. 10 з 10!
P.S. Окрема подяка ентузіастам з гпімр.укр за чудовий український переклад.
#гпімр_укр #hpmor #гпімр
May 11, 2020
A great endcap to a great series. I really liked the meta-commentary in this book, when Harry realizes that the price for using his dark side is the sacrifice of his own childhood. In many ways, that describes this series. It's totally worth reading, but the price of adult rationality is that you must sacrifice the childlike wonder of the original series. Does that mean Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality is BAD? Goodness no. It's amazing. Better than average for published fantasy (even though this was never published). It just means I wouldn't trade the original series for this one. The original series HAS to exist first in order for this one to be enjoyable.
February 14, 2020
I just loved these books. Just loved 'em.
Yes part of that is all the rationality stuff but I think they would be pretty accessible and enjoyable even if you hadn't done any pre-reading so to speak. I'd say they are just BETTER than the original, although part of what makes them so good is the way they bounce off the original Harry Potter. They are just smarter and funnier and richer and deeper.
Yes part of that is all the rationality stuff but I think they would be pretty accessible and enjoyable even if you hadn't done any pre-reading so to speak. I'd say they are just BETTER than the original, although part of what makes them so good is the way they bounce off the original Harry Potter. They are just smarter and funnier and richer and deeper.
January 30, 2023
Коли головний герой розумний, читання цікаве.
Коли ж ворог розумний, все стає знаааачно цікавіше.
Коли ж ворог розумний, все стає знаааачно цікавіше.
April 17, 2018
"You'd have lost," said Alastor Moody. "And the Boy-Who-Lived didn't just take out Voldie, he set it up so that his good friend Hermione Granger came back from the dead at the same time Voldie resurrected himself. There's no way in hell or double hell that was an accident, and I don't think it was David's idea either. Amy, the truth is, none of us know what the keeper of Merlin's legacy has to do. But we're not the right kind of crazy for this crap."
Amelia Bones frowned. "Alastor, you know I've dealt with strange things before. Dealt with them quite well, in my opinion."
"Yeah. You dealt with the crap so you could go back to real life. You're not the kind of crazy that builds a castle out of the crap and lives there." Moody sighed. "Amy, on some level you know exactly why Albus had to leave who-knows-what-job to the poor kid."
Such Is Alastor Moody's evaluation of the crazy world in which Harry James Potter-Evans-Verres lives. This conclusion to the fan fiction series goes out with a bang, bringing together elements of all seven books of the original and compressing the finale down into the plot line of the first book. This time I will refrain from giving any spoilers or plot summaries, but will hint that it includes a trip down to the Sorcerer's Stone. I have also chosen to write about the last two books at once, as I couldn't stop reading once I got started. However many its flaws, the book is all-engulfing once you begin it.
Some readers may actually find the books a bit dull, because many of the long chapters are filled with endless dialogue, both internal dialogue between Harry's many selves (Ravenclaw 1, Ravenclaw 2, Slytherin 1, Slytherin 2, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor), and with other external characters. He engages in philosophical debates, logical arguments, and utility functions. There is plenty of action as well, but it's like a physics professor wrote it. A good chunk of the humor in the book is poking fun at apparent flaws in the original series. For instance, this exchange between Harry and Hermione is quite good:
"I can just imagine it," Hermione said. "Harry James Potter, Sorted into Gryffindor, aspiring Quidditch player -"
"No. Just no."
"Remembered by history as the sidekick of Hermione Jean Granger, who'd send out Mr. Potter to get into trouble for her, and then solve the mystery from the library by reading books and using her incredible memory."
"You're really enjoying this alternate universe, aren't you."
"Maybe he'd be best mates with Ron Weasley, the smartest boy in Gryffindor, and they'd fight side by side in my army in Defense class, and afterwards help each other with their homework -"
"Okay, enough, this is starting to creep me out."
"Sorry," Hermione said, though she was still smiling to herself, appearing rapt in some private vision.
But again, I have the same qualms about Harry as I mentioned in previous posts. I mean, part of the appeal of fan fiction is pure entertainment value, pushing boundaries within the original series, and introducing elements that seem foreign to the world-building of the original universe. But still. To me, rather than a book with a well-developed plot, it is a mix of a logic puzzle and a childish fantasy. For instance, the pre-finale chapter is entitled "Final Exam" and the author sets up an impossible-sounding scenario, and asks his readers to propose solutions. It's like "Thinking Physics" (which is well-referenced throughout the book) for wizards. The childishness part is how both Harry's expectations and the actual responses of characters almost seem to bend entirely to Harry's will. Harry's logic is presented as so all-encompassing and complete that any opposing arguments are either mowed down, or none are proposed at all. Ultimately, things go exactly as Harry plans them. Reality doesn't work like that. You have to accept that people aren't going to bow to your will just because you have a well though-out argument.
I think this is a good place to summarize Dorothy Sayers' five problems with detective novels. While this fan fic isn't a detective novel, Harry does fulfill the role, and seems curiously similar to, Sherlock Holmes. He is a rationalist, solving problems purely with his intellect. The one I find most fitting, and Harry's fatal flaw, is the detective problem is solved in the same terms in which it is set:
Here is one of the most striking differences between the detective problem and the work of the creative imagination. The detective problem is deliberately set in such a manner that it can be solved without stepping outside its terms of reference. This is part of its nature as a literary form, and the symmetry of this result constitutes a great part of its charm. Does not an initiate member of the Detection Club swear to observe this entirely arbitrary rule?
PRESIDENT: Do you promise that your detectives shall well and truly detect the crimes presented to them, using those wits which it shall please you to bestow upon them and not placing reliance upon, nor making use of, divine revelation, feminine intuition, mumbo jumbo, jiggery-pokery, coincidence or the act of God?
CANDIDATE: I do.
But life is no candidate for the Detection Club. It makes unabashed use of all the forbidden aids (not excepting mumbo jumbo and jiggery-pokery) and frequently sets its problems in terms that must be altered if the problem is to be solved at all.
All Harry needs to solve all his problems is Muggle science. There is no real dawning moment where Harry learns something new, because there seems to be nothing new to Harry. Yes, he learns new things as he learns magic at Hogwarts, but he still works within the same basic framework. My wife said that Harry never changes, he never learns or grows. And he doesn't. He is just reinforced in his belief that he is always right, he can solve any problem, and others are lower forms of intelligence.
The other problems with detective novels, also applicable to Harry Potter-Evans-Verres, are:
*
The detective problem is always soluble
*
The detective problem is completely soluble
*
The detective problem is finite
If you are interested in reading the entire essay, it is called "Problem Picture" included in the book "Letters to a Diminished Church: Passionate Arguments for the Relevance of Christian Doctrine."
These books include another condescending discussion of roles: how we often don't live life consciously, but live by a pattern or a role. Harry unleashes quite the rant on Professor McGonnagall accusing her of living the role of the strict disciplinarian. Harry seems to think he has somehow transcended such lowly approaches to life in the nirvanah of pure logic. I couldn't help but recall a similar discussion by Paul Tournier in The Meaning of Persons:
A foreign colleague remarked to me recently that he was in the habit of taking part in meetings for 'collective psychoanalysis', where he said the strict rule is that everybody must say exactly what he thinks, without any pretence or keeping anything back. I confess I burst out laughing. That was naughty of me, or those people are undoubtedly sincere, and believe that they do keep their rule. But I am very much afraid that, all trained in the same school of psychoananalysis, they unwittingly remain subject to a tacit convention of some kind. Psychoanalysis has liberated them from certain social conventions, but inevitably it has created new ones. Every society and every movement eventually acquires its own particular vocabulary and code of behavior. One does not notice it if one is on the inside; it is those outside who see it. Every army has its uniform. Even the language we speak inescapably moulds the way we express ourselves.
No matter Harry's arguments otherwise, he too plays the part of a role, and a very obvious one pointed out above: the rational detective. It also has its blind spots and its weaknesses.
There are many instances in the book where I would disagree strongly with Harry's proposed solutions. Perhaps he'd accuse me of being one of the NPCs on the Wizengamot. One book Harry probably hasn't read is Road to Serfdom, which I would also recommend to the author.
On a positive note, the book is absolutely fun, although a little dark at points. It does challenge you to re-evaluate how you think, and catch a few more of your own biases.
Amelia Bones frowned. "Alastor, you know I've dealt with strange things before. Dealt with them quite well, in my opinion."
"Yeah. You dealt with the crap so you could go back to real life. You're not the kind of crazy that builds a castle out of the crap and lives there." Moody sighed. "Amy, on some level you know exactly why Albus had to leave who-knows-what-job to the poor kid."
Such Is Alastor Moody's evaluation of the crazy world in which Harry James Potter-Evans-Verres lives. This conclusion to the fan fiction series goes out with a bang, bringing together elements of all seven books of the original and compressing the finale down into the plot line of the first book. This time I will refrain from giving any spoilers or plot summaries, but will hint that it includes a trip down to the Sorcerer's Stone. I have also chosen to write about the last two books at once, as I couldn't stop reading once I got started. However many its flaws, the book is all-engulfing once you begin it.
Some readers may actually find the books a bit dull, because many of the long chapters are filled with endless dialogue, both internal dialogue between Harry's many selves (Ravenclaw 1, Ravenclaw 2, Slytherin 1, Slytherin 2, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor), and with other external characters. He engages in philosophical debates, logical arguments, and utility functions. There is plenty of action as well, but it's like a physics professor wrote it. A good chunk of the humor in the book is poking fun at apparent flaws in the original series. For instance, this exchange between Harry and Hermione is quite good:
"I can just imagine it," Hermione said. "Harry James Potter, Sorted into Gryffindor, aspiring Quidditch player -"
"No. Just no."
"Remembered by history as the sidekick of Hermione Jean Granger, who'd send out Mr. Potter to get into trouble for her, and then solve the mystery from the library by reading books and using her incredible memory."
"You're really enjoying this alternate universe, aren't you."
"Maybe he'd be best mates with Ron Weasley, the smartest boy in Gryffindor, and they'd fight side by side in my army in Defense class, and afterwards help each other with their homework -"
"Okay, enough, this is starting to creep me out."
"Sorry," Hermione said, though she was still smiling to herself, appearing rapt in some private vision.
But again, I have the same qualms about Harry as I mentioned in previous posts. I mean, part of the appeal of fan fiction is pure entertainment value, pushing boundaries within the original series, and introducing elements that seem foreign to the world-building of the original universe. But still. To me, rather than a book with a well-developed plot, it is a mix of a logic puzzle and a childish fantasy. For instance, the pre-finale chapter is entitled "Final Exam" and the author sets up an impossible-sounding scenario, and asks his readers to propose solutions. It's like "Thinking Physics" (which is well-referenced throughout the book) for wizards. The childishness part is how both Harry's expectations and the actual responses of characters almost seem to bend entirely to Harry's will. Harry's logic is presented as so all-encompassing and complete that any opposing arguments are either mowed down, or none are proposed at all. Ultimately, things go exactly as Harry plans them. Reality doesn't work like that. You have to accept that people aren't going to bow to your will just because you have a well though-out argument.
I think this is a good place to summarize Dorothy Sayers' five problems with detective novels. While this fan fic isn't a detective novel, Harry does fulfill the role, and seems curiously similar to, Sherlock Holmes. He is a rationalist, solving problems purely with his intellect. The one I find most fitting, and Harry's fatal flaw, is the detective problem is solved in the same terms in which it is set:
Here is one of the most striking differences between the detective problem and the work of the creative imagination. The detective problem is deliberately set in such a manner that it can be solved without stepping outside its terms of reference. This is part of its nature as a literary form, and the symmetry of this result constitutes a great part of its charm. Does not an initiate member of the Detection Club swear to observe this entirely arbitrary rule?
PRESIDENT: Do you promise that your detectives shall well and truly detect the crimes presented to them, using those wits which it shall please you to bestow upon them and not placing reliance upon, nor making use of, divine revelation, feminine intuition, mumbo jumbo, jiggery-pokery, coincidence or the act of God?
CANDIDATE: I do.
But life is no candidate for the Detection Club. It makes unabashed use of all the forbidden aids (not excepting mumbo jumbo and jiggery-pokery) and frequently sets its problems in terms that must be altered if the problem is to be solved at all.
All Harry needs to solve all his problems is Muggle science. There is no real dawning moment where Harry learns something new, because there seems to be nothing new to Harry. Yes, he learns new things as he learns magic at Hogwarts, but he still works within the same basic framework. My wife said that Harry never changes, he never learns or grows. And he doesn't. He is just reinforced in his belief that he is always right, he can solve any problem, and others are lower forms of intelligence.
The other problems with detective novels, also applicable to Harry Potter-Evans-Verres, are:
*
The detective problem is always soluble
*
The detective problem is completely soluble
*
The detective problem is finite
If you are interested in reading the entire essay, it is called "Problem Picture" included in the book "Letters to a Diminished Church: Passionate Arguments for the Relevance of Christian Doctrine."
These books include another condescending discussion of roles: how we often don't live life consciously, but live by a pattern or a role. Harry unleashes quite the rant on Professor McGonnagall accusing her of living the role of the strict disciplinarian. Harry seems to think he has somehow transcended such lowly approaches to life in the nirvanah of pure logic. I couldn't help but recall a similar discussion by Paul Tournier in The Meaning of Persons:
A foreign colleague remarked to me recently that he was in the habit of taking part in meetings for 'collective psychoanalysis', where he said the strict rule is that everybody must say exactly what he thinks, without any pretence or keeping anything back. I confess I burst out laughing. That was naughty of me, or those people are undoubtedly sincere, and believe that they do keep their rule. But I am very much afraid that, all trained in the same school of psychoananalysis, they unwittingly remain subject to a tacit convention of some kind. Psychoanalysis has liberated them from certain social conventions, but inevitably it has created new ones. Every society and every movement eventually acquires its own particular vocabulary and code of behavior. One does not notice it if one is on the inside; it is those outside who see it. Every army has its uniform. Even the language we speak inescapably moulds the way we express ourselves.
No matter Harry's arguments otherwise, he too plays the part of a role, and a very obvious one pointed out above: the rational detective. It also has its blind spots and its weaknesses.
There are many instances in the book where I would disagree strongly with Harry's proposed solutions. Perhaps he'd accuse me of being one of the NPCs on the Wizengamot. One book Harry probably hasn't read is Road to Serfdom, which I would also recommend to the author.
On a positive note, the book is absolutely fun, although a little dark at points. It does challenge you to re-evaluate how you think, and catch a few more of your own biases.
October 24, 2022
So now that I've read the entire fanfiction... I would say if you're a huge Harry Potter fan and want your characters to be true to who they are, maybe pass on this. It felt that characters were changed beyond the "what if" of Harry being raised in a different home. It has a lot of inconsistencies to canon which can certainly be overlooked but are a bit irritating (Spoiler but not a plot relevant one: such as the Sirius Black in Azkaban is actually Peter Pettigrew while the real Sirius is a death eater). I also continued to find the explanations and plot development a bit absurd for the most part. While some of that can be excused with suspension of disbelief to enjoy a story, it felt like that was needed to often to enjoy the read. To me it's not a read that adds much and being so long (while divided into books, each book does not stand alone well), I would recommend passing on it unless you think it is a perfect fit for the type of read you enjoy. Or maybe read a few chapters past the sorting ceremony and if you dislike it at all stop there. IMO there are much better fan fics out there that I would recommend over this one (such as All The Young Dudes, Stealing Harry, or the not yet completed Two Turns Should Do).
December 10, 2020
The finishing book in the series is pretty good! There were some fun moments of self-aware humor and some great plot twists that I didn't see coming! There were some moments, however, where certain plot twists or exposition felt so outlandish to a point where I was no longer able to uphold my suspension of disbelief. Other times, it felt like the books was trying to hard to break standard conventions and subvert expectations, to a fault. But because the point of the whole series is not specifically to have an entertaining storyline but to teach the methods of rationality in a way more engaging than a standard lecture series, I think it succeeds wonderfully.
I would recommend this series to anyone who is wanting to learn the methods of rationality.
I would recommend this series to anyone who is wanting to learn the methods of rationality.
January 11, 2018
Harry Potter e i metodi della razionalità. Quasi duemila pagine di un'opera che mi ha fatto rivivere vecchie emozioni e me ne ha fatte provare di nuove. Gli stessi personaggi, situazioni diverse. Trovarsi davanti un Harry desideroso - come tutti noi del resto - di comprendere il suo mondo in profondità, e che non sa che farsene di spiegazioni preconfezionate. Una trama portata avanti con coerenza e suspance, costellata da momenti spiegoni e citazioni da vero nerd, ma intessuta di ambizione, coraggio e legami. Grazie a chi ha inventato questo nuovo mondo, e grazie a chi lo ha tradotto. (Qui in italiano https://sites.google.com/site/hpeimdr/ )
March 2, 2023
- super convoluted plot reveals
- very long book compared to the other parts
- not everything is wrapped up at the end but it is satisfying enough of an ending point and open to a possible continuation fic
- enjoyed the author's fan interaction component in this book
- the audiobook / hpmorpodcast was really well done and loved that they read the footnote about the reader interaction when this was still serializing
- references back to source material more
- very long book compared to the other parts
- not everything is wrapped up at the end but it is satisfying enough of an ending point and open to a possible continuation fic
- enjoyed the author's fan interaction component in this book
- the audiobook / hpmorpodcast was really well done and loved that they read the footnote about the reader interaction when this was still serializing
- references back to source material more
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2019
Books with a driven purpose usually irk the heck out of me. Most of this, however, was a great deal of fun. And, later, still a whole pile of fun.
Kinda nifty reading this as individual books rather than one giant chonk, too.
Kinda nifty reading this as individual books rather than one giant chonk, too.
January 10, 2022
This I felt was the best of the six fanfiction books. All the pieces began to come together. Harry places the glory elsewhere attempting to place him not as the hero but someone else. It's a wild ride to the end which takes place over a short period of time.
October 4, 2022
One of the best Harry Potter fan fiction out there.
It is always difficult to finish a good book with good ending .I didn't liked the meaning of the ending .otherwise it was a rollercoaster ride for me .
It is always difficult to finish a good book with good ending .I didn't liked the meaning of the ending .otherwise it was a rollercoaster ride for me .
August 17, 2017
An awesome end to the series. I will explore some of the continuations on this story in other fanfic.
The best thin about it is that it has gotten me exploring rationality in more detail.
The best thin about it is that it has gotten me exploring rationality in more detail.
January 7, 2021
I can't wait to reread this someday but with the author's notes and podcast as well
This was just genius and I loved every bloody minute of it
This was just genius and I loved every bloody minute of it
April 5, 2022
На перечитывание обязательно! Офигенная книга!
November 19, 2023
Amazing
December 9, 2015
Okee. Dus. Het einde is best leuk, omdat de auteur op volgorde al zijn losse eindjes aan elkaar knoopt en dat vind ik meestal prettig. Het laat ook mooi ruimte voor een gepast idioot vervolg. Maar deze serie was ongeveer 1200 pagina's te lang. En dat is veel.
Verder: mooi dat je een plotmatig excuus kunt verzinnen waarom je elfjarigen zich gedragen als volwassenen, maar het zou indrukwekkender zijn als je over elfjarigen als elfjarigen schreef. Vind ik.
Verder: mooi dat je een plotmatig excuus kunt verzinnen waarom je elfjarigen zich gedragen als volwassenen, maar het zou indrukwekkender zijn als je over elfjarigen als elfjarigen schreef. Vind ik.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews