Qntm

Last updated

Sam Hughes
Born1983 (age 41–42)
Pen nameqntm
Occupation
  • Author
  • programmer
NationalityBritish
Genre Science fiction
Notable works
  • There Is No Antimemetics Division
  • "Lena"
Website
qntm.org

Sam Hughes (born 1983), [1] known online as and publishing under the pen name qntm (pronounced "quantum"), [2] is a British programmer and science fiction author. [3] Hughes writes short stories such as "Lena", about the first digital snapshot of a human brain, and serial novels such as Ra and Fine Structure. [1] [4] [5] He has also written for the SCP Foundation wiki. His book There Is No Antimemetics Division , a high-concept blend of science fiction and cosmic horror, began as a series on the wiki. [6] [7] In 2024, Del Rey Books acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to the book, while Ballantine Books acquired the US rights. [8] qntm also contributed to SCP-055 alongside user CptBellman. [9]

Contents

In 2022, Hughes created Absurdle , a variant of Wordle wherein the word changes with every guess, while still remaining true to previous hints. [3] [10] [11] The Guardian described it as "the Machiavellian version of Wordle", and Hughes described it as an "experiment to find the most difficult [...] variant of Wordle", comparing it to one of his previous projects, the Tetris variant Hatetris. [12]

Bibliography

Versions of most of Hughes' serials and short stories have been initially made freely available online prior to being published.

References

  1. 1 2 "Summary Bibliography: Sam Hughes". Internet Speculative Fiction Database .
  2. ↑ qntm. "About me". Things of Interest.
  3. 1 2 McCammon, Sarah (23 January 2022). "You've heard of Wordle — now get ready for Sweardle and Absurdle". NPR (Interview). Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  4. ↑ Adee, Sally (9 February 2022). "Mickey7 review: If you want to live forever, read the small print" . New Scientist . Retrieved 24 October 2022. A well-meaning neuroscience grad student donates his digital consciousness to science, a decision he may find he "lives" to regret.
  5. ↑ Ritter, Dan (20 June 2018). "SF For Nothing, Stories For Free". Charlie's Diary. Charles Stross . Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  6. ↑ Adee, Sally (6 April 2022). "Sci-fi is starting to exploit the infectious horrors of memes" . New Scientist . Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  7. ↑ O'Connor, Alice (2 February 2022). "Iconic Internet monster SCP-173 is losing its look". Rock Paper Shotgun . Retrieved 24 October 2022. I liked the There Is No Antimemetics Division tales by "qntm", who also wrote SCP/Control crossover fanfic. And I've only just realized qntm is also behind Absurdle, a Wordle variant that changes the answer while you play. Huh!
  8. ↑ Woods, Heloise (3 July 2024). "Del Rey snaps up high concept sci-fi cosmic horror from Sam Hughes" . The Bookseller . Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  9. ↑ Potvin, James (22 September 2022). "What Is The SCP Foundation? 15 Best Pieces Every New Fan Should Read". Screen Rant . Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  10. ↑ Haysom, Sam (20 January 2022). "Hooked on 'Wordle'? You're really going to hate 'Absurdle'". Mashable . Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  11. ↑ Rocha, Paul (8 May 2022). "How and where to play Absurdle". Dot Esports . Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  12. ↑ Winkie, Luke (14 January 2022). "Absurdle: the machiavellian version of Wordle". The Guardian . Retrieved 24 October 2022.
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