Whenever I’ve used an LLM to edit anything it goes right ahead and removes my voice from the text, even more advanced models and even when I repeatedly clarify that that’s not what I want. I don’t think it’s up to the task.

I am absolutely on the same page as you. I really don’t think the system we have in the liberal representative ‘democracies’ deserve the title democracy, nor can democracy exist meaningfully at that scale.

Local politics, local direct action, and volunteering are always a step towards a better future, but that isn’t enough without the structural changes you advocate.

I think that confederal municipalism is viable in the sense that, if set up correctly, it can work. Convincing more cetralised authorities to cede power is where it becomes difficult.

I read the first book and I think it is the first time in decades that I have encountered actual sci-fi concepts that weren’t a reworking of ideas that have been around for decades.

It’s not a character driven novel but the characters are fine, mostly they’re not that likeable - which in my opinion is not a reason to dislike a story - and I think they probably lose something in translation. When I was a teenager I devoured Asimov, Phillip K Dick, Heinlein etc for the concepts, compared to them the characters in 3 Body are masterfully written.

I haven’t yet read the second book as I found the first few chapters a bit of a slog but I plan to pick it up again once I’ve finished rereading some Ursula K LeGuin