Comments on: Fast Forward 2: original sf from the cutting edge, including "True Names," a novella by Benjamin Rosenbaum and me! http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 26 May 2013 03:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Matt Katz http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html#comment-344832 Matt Katz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-344832 #7 - that's .txt for ya. #7 – that’s .txt for ya.

]]> By: ralsina http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html#comment-344864 ralsina Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-344864 Using pdftohtml was not so successful. It kept some italics, but some things got merged into single words, and not all formatting was kept. It also has more cruft: http://lateral.netmanagers.com.ar/static/TrueNames.html It's probably easier to edit txt version than this one. Using pdftohtml was not so successful. It kept some italics, but some things got merged into single words, and not all formatting was kept.

It also has more cruft:

http://lateral.netmanagers.com.ar/static/TrueNames.html

It’s probably easier to edit txt version than this one.

]]> By: mcmikedermott http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html#comment-344876 mcmikedermott Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-344876 Here is a MS Word version - again, no italics, but most of the other formatting and section breaks: http://bowdoin.edu/~mmcderm2/true-names.doc Here is a MS Word version – again, no italics, but most of the other formatting and section breaks:
http://bowdoin.edu/~mmcderm2/true-names.doc

]]> By: Avram http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html#comment-345388 Avram Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-345388 <b>Charles Platt @15</b>, I'd presume it wasn't accidental at all. Cory's also written a story called "I, Robot". And then there are "I, Row-boat" and "Anda's Game", which play with well-known SF titles rather than reusing them exactly. Charles Platt @15, I’d presume it wasn’t accidental at all. Cory’s also written a story called “I, Robot”. And then there are “I, Row-boat” and “Anda’s Game”, which play with well-known SF titles rather than reusing them exactly.

]]> By: mcmikedermott http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html#comment-344888 mcmikedermott Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-344888 ...and for what it is worth - when I open the original PDF, I get an error about missing embedded fonts, and I don't see any italics anyway... <sigh> I'd never have know they were there, except for the comments above. …and for what it is worth – when I open the original PDF, I get an error about missing embedded fonts, and I don’t see any italics anyway…
I’d never have know they were there, except for the comments above.

]]> By: ralsina http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html#comment-346175 ralsina Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-346175 My HTML conversion has them, it's just that it also has all the annoying header/footers. I'll try producing a cleaned-up version later today. My HTML conversion has them, it’s just that it also has all the annoying header/footers.

I’ll try producing a cleaned-up version later today.

]]> By: arbitraryaardvark http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html#comment-344644 arbitraryaardvark Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-344644 I think you mean "taut". I think you mean “taut”.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html#comment-344658 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-344658 Re:Turning pdf to ASCII. I've done that several times. Adobe Acrobat have an OCR function that's more or less workable. And I suppose that you can find better OCR programs out there if you look. Good Luck! Re:Turning pdf to ASCII. I’ve done that several times.
Adobe Acrobat have an OCR function that’s more or less workable.
And I suppose that you can find better OCR programs out there if you look.
Good Luck!

]]> By: mcmikedermott http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html#comment-344930 mcmikedermott Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-344930 And again, for what it is worth: an HTML version based on the MSWord version. http://www.bowdoin.edu/~mmcderm2/true-names.html And again, for what it is worth: an HTML version based on the MSWord version.
http://www.bowdoin.edu/~mmcderm2/true-names.html

]]> By: Bloo http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html#comment-345239 Bloo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-345239 Adobe Reader Pro (sorry, don't have it) can 'Save As' RTF. It shows up in the About.. help for Plug-ins in the standard reader, but it will only Save As .txt unless you have the Pro version. Adobe Reader Pro (sorry, don’t have it) can ‘Save As’ RTF. It shows up in the About.. help for Plug-ins in the standard reader, but it will only Save As .txt unless you have the Pro version.

]]> By: shiva7663 http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html#comment-344729 shiva7663 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-344729 It sounds like this <em>True Names</em> is quite a bit different from the Vernor Vinge novella of the same name. It sounds like this True Names is quite a bit different from the Vernor Vinge novella of the same name.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html#comment-344738 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-344738 what about uploading the pdf to scribd, and allowing them to do the automatic conversion to txt? it might not be the best solution, but is quite fast. what about uploading the pdf to scribd, and allowing them to do the automatic conversion to txt? it might not be the best solution, but is quite fast.

]]> By: Cory Doctorow http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html#comment-346025 Cory Doctorow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-346025 Thanks for all the conversions -- but we really need to preserve the italics! Thanks for all the conversions — but we really need to preserve the italics!

]]> By: ralsina http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html#comment-344761 ralsina Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-344761 Here you go. I used pdftotxt and some sed magic(hey, I'm a linux guy) to clean it up: http://lateral.netmanagers.com.ar/static/TrueNames.txt There are some minor issues but nothing a couple of hours of manual editing won't fix, and it's in "one-loooong-line-per-paragraph" format, so enable word wrapping in whatever you use to read it. I will only keep it there for a few days, so take it while you can ;-) Here you go. I used pdftotxt and some sed magic(hey, I’m a linux guy) to clean it up:

http://lateral.netmanagers.com.ar/static/TrueNames.txt

There are some minor issues but nothing a couple of hours of manual editing won’t fix, and it’s in “one-loooong-line-per-paragraph” format, so enable word wrapping in whatever you use to read it.

I will only keep it there for a few days, so take it while you can ;-)

]]> By: cnawan http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html#comment-344762 cnawan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-344762 Would 'pdftohtml' not do it for you? That, and the similar 'pdftotext' have been handy for me in the past - they're in the Ubuntu repositories. Unless the pdf is made of images of text, in which case, do shout the name of the best open OCR solution nice and loud when you find one - I'd like a local alternative to evernote. Would ‘pdftohtml’ not do it for you? That, and the similar ‘pdftotext’ have been handy for me in the past – they’re in the Ubuntu repositories.

Unless the pdf is made of images of text, in which case, do shout the name of the best open OCR solution nice and loud when you find one – I’d like a local alternative to evernote.

]]> By: cnawan http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html#comment-344770 cnawan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-344770 Pff. It's almost not worth playing these games. ;) You just know that while you're typing, some geek a couple of levels higher than you is going one better. Ralsina, I tip my Darth Vader helmet to you. (not that I have a Darth Vader helmet, but, y'know) Pff. It’s almost not worth playing these games. ;) You just know that while you’re typing, some geek a couple of levels higher than you is going one better.
Ralsina, I tip my Darth Vader helmet to you. (not that I have a Darth Vader helmet, but, y’know)

]]> By: pgt http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html#comment-345582 pgt Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-345582 I agree with Charles Platt. Vinge's 1981 novella held the first appearance of what we now call the Internet in SF, written by someone who had actual Arpanet experience. It is an important work in the field, foreshadowing cyberpunk. Homage and reference is one thing. Confusing duplication another. Why not "Turing Names" or something like that? I've downloaded the mp3, and look forward to listening to it. But I hate the title. pgt I agree with Charles Platt. Vinge’s 1981 novella held the first appearance of what we now call the Internet in SF, written by someone who had actual Arpanet experience. It is an important work in the field, foreshadowing cyberpunk.

Homage and reference is one thing. Confusing duplication another. Why not “Turing Names” or something like that?

I’ve downloaded the mp3, and look forward to listening to it. But I hate the title.

pgt

]]> By: charlesplatt http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html#comment-345328 charlesplatt Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-345328 The (presumably, accidental) recycling of a title first used by Vernor Vinge is unfortunate, especially since Vernor's work was likewise shorter than normal novel length, and was a very important predictor of shared virtual reality. Not quite as awkward as naming a novel something like "Schismatrix," but, close. Unless the new novella is intended as a tribute of some kind? The (presumably, accidental) recycling of a title first used by Vernor Vinge is unfortunate, especially since Vernor’s work was likewise shorter than normal novel length, and was a very important predictor of shared virtual reality. Not quite as awkward as naming a novel something like “Schismatrix,” but, close. Unless the new novella is intended as a tribute of some kind?

]]> By: Cory Doctorow http://boingboing.net/2008/12/02/fast-forward-2-origi.html#comment-344820 Cory Doctorow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-344820 Ralsina! That's fantastic, but it's stripped out all the italics! Ralsina! That’s fantastic, but it’s stripped out all the italics!

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