Rationally Speaking #102 - Zach Weinersmith on His "SMBC" Webcomic

In 'Fiasco,' Frank Partnoy recounts his experiences as a young derivatives salesman at Morgan Stanley. The book provides a detailed insight into the macho attitudes and competitive strategies of Wall Street traders and serves as a blistering indictment of the largely unregulated derivatives market, warning investors about the potential for significant financial losses.

Solaris, written by Stanisław Lem, follows psychologist Kris Kelvin as he arrives at a research station above the planet Solaris. The planet is covered by a living ocean that has the ability to create physical manifestations of the scientists' repressed memories. Kelvin's arrival is prompted by a cryptic message from his former mentor, Gibarian, and he finds the station in disarray. The ocean's responses to human experiments lead to the materialization of 'visitors,' including Kelvin's deceased lover, Rheya. The novel explores themes of human limitations, the impossibility of mutual communication with alien intelligence, and the psychological impacts on the scientists. It is a thoughtful and philosophical work that challenges the conventional science fiction narratives of alien contact and communication.