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So, I did find a few little references to other books or authors hidden (or in some cases not hidden at all). The planet being called "Brin's World" felt like a bit of a overt reference, considering author David Brin wrote the Uplift series, which was about genetically uplifted animals, who were augmented to make them sentient and eventually giving them human level intelligence - Kern's plan involved primates, and Brin's novels involved a bunch of non-primates as well (though I don't recall if he did anything with uplifted insects).

Also, the chief engineer's last name being Lain was just odd enough to make me wonder if it was a reference to the anime series Serial Experiments Lain.

Any other references anyone picked up?

Brin's World? I think it was Kern's Word, wasn't it? Or was Brin's world the (view spoiler)[Fungus Planet (hide spoiler)]?

Personally, there was only one instance where I kind of think I found a reference: Fabianism is a socialist movement that rejects the revolutionary doctrines of Marxism and recommends instead a gradual transition to a socialist society - which pretty much could describe Fabian's approach to changing Spider culture...

I mean Portia as the scientific name for jumping spiders was explained in the book itself and I am certain Bianca is also a reference, but I have no idea to what...

It was called Brin's World at the very beginning, before Kern decided to rename it Kern's World when they're establishing her as a Mad Scientist.

EDIT: Correction - the name of the facility was "Brin 2"

I don't remember the planet being called Brin's World, but I do remember the name of the space station or spaceship that blows up in the first chapter as The Brin. It was clearly a nod to his Uplift series, which I especially enjoyed because I just happened to read Sundiver last month.

Are there additional references to other works besides Brin? I haven't recognized any yet, but I'm just past 1/3 the way into the book.

The ship was called Brin. I have it in my list of spaceship names.

Pics behind spoiler tag because they be big, boyyyy.

(view spoiler)[
By author:




By ship:




(hide spoiler)]

I did think of another reference. On page 224 of my paperback edition, a crew member says “maybe we killed them with our germs�� which is a pretty obvious reference to the ending of The War of the Worlds.

RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "I did think of another reference. On page 224 of my paperback edition, a crew member says “maybe we killed them with our germs�� which is a pretty obvious reference to the ending of [book:The War of..."

Or real life European colonialism.

Kern's AI computer is known as Eliza. It's probably a reference to the early IBM program Eliza that was a sort of early artificial intelligence and famously mimicked a therapist in its responses.

I'm not sure, but the genetic memory passed down as Understandings may be a reference to the memories Leto II experiences as the God Emperor of Dune.

Robert wrote: "Kern's AI computer is known as Eliza. It's probably a reference to the early IBM program Eliza that was a sort of early artificial intelligence and famously mimicked a therapist in its responses.

..."

This is definitely a reference to the IBM program- it is confirmed in the third book.

Ruth wrote: "Robert wrote: "Kern's AI computer is known as Eliza. It's probably a reference to the early IBM program Eliza that was a sort of early artificial intelligence and famously mimicked a therapist in i..."

I just finished the third book. I know some reviews took issue with it. But to me, it was still great and raised a lot of interesting philosophical ideas. Almost unkind.

Jan wrote: "Fabianism is a socialist movement..."

Thank you. As soon as the spiders got names that were more diverse than Portia I knew they must be in reference to something, but didn't know what.

Well here we go

The whole planet is a nod to the Dr Who third Doctor serial the Planet of the Spiders or Metabelius 3.

War of the Worlds was inspired by the genocide of the Tasmanian aboriginals so yes it is about colonisation and is a clear reference.

Kern is reminiscent of Frankenstein and Moreau.

The evolution scenes are a touch reminiscent of Olaf Stapleton First and Last men.

I heard an interview where AT confessed to lifting names from some of his favourite oils but I cannot recall the authors name at the moment.

(view spoiler)['he had read somewhere of some philanthropic rules on the fabled old artificial intelligences.'
I though that could be a reference to Asimov's Laws of Robotics. (hide spoiler)]

I’m really impressed by the double references. All of the spider names are also characters from Shakespearean plays. Portia is a genus of jumping in spider but also a character in The Merchant of Venice. Bianca is used in both Taming of the Shrew and Othello while Viola and Fabian are both from Twelfth Night. I didn’t realize Fabianism also referenced a socialist movement as well but now I think it’s another amazing double reference.

While the characters don’t seem to have many ties to their Shakespearean namesakes, the use and reuse of the names really gave me a sense of the historical scale of their society and the epics we were reading, especially coupled with the Gilgamesh. Slightly different reaction from Veronica’s valley girl interpretation, but once an English major, always an English major.

The Fabian Society (the socialist movement referenced above) takes its name from the Roman general Fabius Cunctator (the delayer) who was famous for his guerrilla-warfare-style tactics against Hannibal - attacking supply lines and refusing to fight unless on favourable grounds. The society was founded in the late nineteenth century with the intention to achieve socialism through gradual reform within the existing political system rather than through violent revolution. It’s still going today and has had a big influence on the Labour Party, which has introduced things like the national health service. So historically it’s been pretty successful and I’ll stop talking about British politics now before I start grinding my teeth.
So there’s another layer of reference for you!

^lol where is that picture from?

I binged for "communist spider":

Robert wrote: "Kern's AI computer is known as Eliza. It's probably a reference to the early IBM program Eliza that was a sort of early artificial intelligence and famously mimicked a therapist in its responses.

..."

Wait, that’s a real thing? I played a game called Eliza that was about AI counselling, and that’s what I was thinking of when Eliza came up in the book. I had no idea that Eliza in the game was based on a real thing! How neat!

Chapter Titles:

"2.5 All These Worlds are Yours" 2010 Arthur C. Clark
"4.1 The Cave of Wonders" possibly Aladdin
"8.1 To Boldly Go" Star Trek
"3.5 Bearing a Flaming Sword" is either a reference to the flaming sword that guards the entrance to Eden or the flaming sword of Michael.

Robert wrote: "
"3.5 Bearing a Flaming Sword" is either a reference to the flaming sword that guards the entrance to Eden or the flaming sword of Michael."

The final coming of Vishnu has the incarnation riding a white horse and bearing a flaming sword.

Surtr in Norse mythology kicks off Ragnarok with a flaming sword.

It’s been too long since I read the book �� are there context clues to support any of these versions of flaming swords? Redemption or destruction or guarding the gate?

Page 433 (of my copy): "...as though his mouth had been left tuned to a dead channel."

Opening sentence of Neuromancer by William Gibson: "The sky above the port was the colour of television, tuned to a dead channel."

Robert wrote: "Chapter Titles:

"2.5 All These Worlds are Yours" 2010 Arthur C. Clark
"4.1 The Cave of Wonders" possibly Aladdin
"8.1 To Boldly Go" Star Trek
"3.5 Bearing a Flaming Sword" is either a reference to..."

Also, 2.2 "Earth's Other Children" is probably a nod to the "Earth's Children" series by Jean M. Auel, which began at the critical moment in human evolution when Cro-Magnons and Neanderthals co-existed.

2.6 Metropolis - the 1927 Fritz Lang film

3.9 First Contact - the short story First Contact by Murray Leinster which is included in the Science Fiction Hall of Fame vol. 1

3.11 This Island Gulag - the 1955 film This Island Earth

4.9 Ex Machina - the 2014 Alex Garland film

5.1 The Prisoner - refers to the TV show and The Prisoner by Thomas M. Disch

6.3 Communion - Communion: A True Story by Whitley Strieber

Part 8 Diaspora - Diaspora by Greg Egan