Dresden Codak
dresdencodak.com · Personal blog · on HN since 2008
Dresden Codak is a science fiction webcomic by Aaron Diaz, mixing one-off strips with longer stories about science and technology.
What HN saysHN commenters recommend it as well drawn and fun, and frequently cite its "Caveman Science Fiction" strip when discussing technology and progress.
62HN people shared it
51linked it in comments
13stories submitted
85story points
3 months agolast shared
2008people per year2026
Most-shared posts
- 1Caveman Science Fiction24 people · 2 points · first shared 2009 · discussion on HN
- 2Fabulous prizes8 people · first shared 2012
- 3Dresden Codak - Great comics by Aaron Diaz4 people · 1 points · first shared 2009 · 1 comments on HN
- 4Dark science 013 people · first shared 2014
- 5Summer dream job3 people · first shared 2011
- 6A Thinking Ape’s Critique of Trans-Simianism2 people · 4 points · first shared 2009 · discussion on HN
- 7Stall10.jpg (900×688)2 people · 1 points · first shared 2011 · discussion on HN
- 8Exorcising laplaces demon2 people · first shared 2014
- 9Pom2 people · first shared 2013
- 10Artificial Flight and Other Myths1 people · 57 points · first shared 2010 · 24 comments on HN
- 11The Best Anti-SOPA/PIPA I've Seen Yet1 people · 7 points · first shared 2012 · discussion on HN
- 12Tomorrow is Pretend to be a Time Traveller Day1 people · 5 points · first shared 2009 · discussion on HN
- 13Grand Unified Field Theory (geeky guest comic by Dresden Codak)1 people · 3 points · first shared 2009 · discussion on HN
- 14Dresden Codak is Back With a Vengeance1 people · 2 points · first shared 2009 · discussion on HN
- 15Enough is Enough: A Thinking Ape’s Critique of Trans-Simianism1 people · 1 points · first shared 2010 · discussion on HN
What HN people wrote when they linked it
somat · 2023-01-30
For what it's worth the comic is Dresden Codak by Arryn Diaz. It started out as random one off's and somehow found a story along the way. Very well drawn with fun science fiction. Highly recommended.
http://dresdencodak.com/
inamberclad · 2024-02-27
I'd love to see an algorithm try and segment this: https://dresdencodak.com/2009/07/12/fabulous-prizes/
mcphage · 2024-01-11
I do love the Dresden Codak reference ("Me am play god", which refers to Caveman Science Fiction: https://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/22/caveman-science-fiction/)
crooked-v · 2023-11-24
I'm reminded of the classic "Caveman Science Fiction" comic page: https://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/22/caveman-science-fiction/
4bpp · 2023-04-08
> Now consider that if the planet is a burnt out carcass that can't support life beyond bacteria that the project of technology maybe didn't serve us humans too well in the end.
Sure, but as far as I can tell, it doesn't seem to be.
If you don't feel the need to put a probability on your hypothetical scenario, you can doomsay anything, including what I would guess your preferred strategy to be: "Now consider that if the planet gets struck by a rogue cosmic body and shattered into an asteroid belt that the project of controlled deindustrialization and focus on conservation and social justice maybe didn't serve us humans too well in the end."
Relatedly, a classic take: http://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/22/caveman-science-fiction/
Kim_Bruning · 2020-12-23
Would fitness landscapes help for part of it?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fitness_landscape
They're typically used for reasoning about other things, but there's a few useful intuitions you can draw.
Notably, you can't optimize to a point that is not on the fitness landscape in the first place... so the following comic can't happen: http://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/22/caveman-science-fiction/
Which doesn't mean there can't be any surprises of course!
saulrh · 2020-01-13
I know the story is intended to be "caveman science fiction" [1], but I can't help but think that that hole is probably still an excellent way to dispose of most of the things they're disposing of, particularly nuclear waste. After all, it spends, what, a couple decades totally isolated from the rest of the world? Great place for it to decay and become less active.
1: http://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/22/caveman-science-fiction/
bloaf · 2017-11-25
I must have missed it, was there some multi-billions-in-damage quake caused by reinjection? I suspect the lack of consequences will simply be due to the fact that they haven't caused enough damage for it to be worthwhile.
The reality is that quakes are treated by the anti-drilling lobby as a proof of "me am play gods"[1]. A sign from above/below that we're angered mother earth. I think the more sober minded should realize that the important numbers when talking about "consequences" is not how angry mother earth is, but the quakes' cost in terms of damage and human lives.
http://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/22/caveman-science-fiction/
astrodust · 2013-05-16
Absolutely fantastic stuff. The Kurzweil and FM-2030 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM-2030) nod in the third strip (http://dresdencodak.com/2007/04/07/rule-110/) is hardly subtle, but amusing.
BoppreH · 2013-05-16
Aaron Diaz is amazing. The time travel/transhumanism comic Hob is greatly recommended ( http://dresdencodak.com/2007/02/08/pom/ ).
aphyr · 2010-07-19
I'd donate it to Aaron Diaz, in thanks for his work on http://dresdencodak.com.
abetusk · 2026-03-07
A pattern that keeps repeating:
https://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/22/caveman-science-fiction/
Terr_ · 2025-03-04
spin = audience_size * ((renown + defamation) / skeleton_mass
https://dresdencodak.com/2010/06/10/dark-science-02/
schiffern · 2025-02-13
The portrayal of technology and its invention reminds me of this:
https://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/22/caveman-science-fiction/
Not 'bad' really, but it's clear that in this plot the all-to-human morality tale takes precedence over what's actually possible in the physical world.
pavel_lishin · 2023-11-09
Don't forget Harvet Ismuth's 42 Essential 3rd Act Twists: https://dresdencodak.com/2009/05/11/42-essential-3rd-act-twists/
renewiltord · 2023-08-23
Of course it does. That's the structure of all sci-fi horror https://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/22/caveman-science-fiction/
gaganyaan · 2023-05-05
Counterpoint: you're just doing a modern version of this:
https://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/22/caveman-science-fiction/
shadowgovt · 2022-10-30
My take on most of the content of Syfy channel pretty much aligned with this old comic. http://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/22/caveman-science-fiction/
optimalsolver · 2022-07-05
truffdog · 2022-01-01
It reminds me of http://dresdencodak.com/2009/04/19/onald-creely/ , which meant a lot to me when I was younger for no reason that I can explain.
c-oreills · 2021-10-26
Comic with a similar twist: http://dresdencodak.com/2009/07/12/fabulous-prizes/
teddyh · 2020-11-29
It could be worse:
http://dresdencodak.com/2009/07/12/fabulous-prizes/
SonOfLilit · 2020-06-27
I mean, not exactly, but it brings this to mind:
http://dresdencodak.com/2009/07/12/fabulous-prizes/
yyyk · 2020-05-29
Taleb's position in a nutshell:
http://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/22/caveman-science-fiction/
Symmetry · 2020-03-03
Just as good as using famous authors I suppose
http://dresdencodak.com/2010/06/03/dark-science-01/
FiatLuxDave · 2019-12-20
Obligatory Dresden Codak: http://dresdencodak.com/2009/07/12/fabulous-prizes/
gwern · 2019-12-13
You know, in DC (http://dresdencodak.com/2015/05/18/dark-science-46/), the character who gives that answer is turning into a villain.
savanaly · 2018-12-22
Your comment reminds me of this comic [0].
http://dresdencodak.com/2009/09/22/caveman-science-fiction/
Tossrock · 2018-10-14
Aaron Diaz may have beaten you to that particular punch: http://dresdencodak.com/2009/07/12/fabulous-prizes/
tgb · 2017-04-06
I've always enjoyed this similar satire: http://dresdencodak.com/2009/05/15/a-thinking-apes-critique-of-trans-s…