Great observations, but personally I think it's overrated. It practically begs the reader to come to the conclusion that if you don't "get it" it's yoGreat observations, but personally I think it's overrated. It practically begs the reader to come to the conclusion that if you don't "get it" it's your own fault because you're a "grown up, and only kids can see what matters." It's heavy handed, clumsily executed observations on what's important in life. It's not wrong by any means, but it's kind of pseudo-intellectualist.
I'm going to go with a literal interpretation of the plot, because it's more fun that way:
A man crashes his plane in the desert, hallucinates a small alien boy that teaches him philosophical lessons, invents a history for him, finds a well just in time to stave off dehydration, as he re-hydrates, his hallucinated alien friend kills himself and disappears, he fixes his plane and flies home and is sad about it, but feels blessed for the experience as it has changed him.
Ready for the moral? It's really simple: "It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important." Or in other words, spend your time developing relationships, don't worry so much about the things, they're not important, it's the time you spend and how you spend it that is.
That's a nice philosophy, I get it. I even agree with it one hundred percent. I just think these metaphors are painfully clumsy. ...more
Good overview of how we discovered Pluto. It's fun comparing what we know about Pluto now, with what we knew in 1990.Good overview of how we discovered Pluto. It's fun comparing what we know about Pluto now, with what we knew in 1990....more
A fun little short story in the Old Man's War universe. I thought the Korba physiology was very interesting.A fun little short story in the Old Man's War universe. I thought the Korba physiology was very interesting....more
I really enjoyed the first half of this, it was very well written, mysterious, introspective, and original until about halfway through at which point I really enjoyed the first half of this, it was very well written, mysterious, introspective, and original until about halfway through at which point it turns into pretty typical YA fare. The last third falls apart pretty badly.
The setting and a few of the concepts were pretty original, but storywise it borrowed heavily from Harry Potter with some X-men sprinkled in.
The photo thing was kind of cool, and it's neat hearing that they're actual found photos. It seems like the story was probably constructed from the photos, but it ultimately felt like they were being shoe horned in....more
1/23/2017 edit: The world lost an absolute literary giant today. If you haven't read Ursula K. Le Guin, do yourself a favor. SPosted at Heradas Review
1/23/2017 edit: The world lost an absolute literary giant today. If you haven't read Ursula K. Le Guin, do yourself a favor. She's fantastic.
The Library of America just published these definitive hardcover collections of Le Guin’s Hainish Cycle novels and stories, which made my decision to finally start working my way through this classic series of speculative fiction that much easier. I’m going to be tackling these in no particular order, since my research shows that they’re only tertiarily connected to one another, but take place in a shared universe.
The Word for World is Forest is a terrific novella, originally published in the Harlan Ellison edited Again, Dangerous Visions anthology in 1972. It went on to win the Hugo award for best Novella later that year. I believe it was very influential to James Cameron's Avatar (which I am now certain was constructed entirely from story elements and themes originating in Old Man's War & The Word for World is Forest). The novella also definitely influenced George Lucas’s Ewoks from Return of the Jedi, to such a degree that I think plagiarism is the better suited word.
It's a social science fiction story, and a moralistic/ethical one with some wonderfully insightful and precient things to say about dangerous ideas entering the public consciousness. In this way it was perfectly suited for that Dangerous Visions anthology. My main takeaway from tWfWiF is that once a dangerous idea is out there for the first time, there is no turning back. It becomes a part of the public consciousness. Here, specifically that dangerous idea is the very concept of murder, introduced to the peaceful Athsheans by their human/yuman occupiers.
I enjoyed the waking dreams that the Athsheans were capable of, and how deeply dreaming was ingrained into their culture and at such a foundational level. Especially when that was contrasted with how little the humans/yumans dreamt; how they had almost lost the ability altogether and required drugs to fully dream. It speaks volumes to how overworked and under-rested western, and specifically American culture has become. Assuredly, this has only become a larger problem since the seventies when this was written. Dreams are necessary, not only as moments of respite from our chaotic lives, but as catalysts for forward imaginative thinking. We need downtime in order to reset. Dreams fuel us and encourage us to create. What are we without dreams? Without the possibility to imagine something different?
There was a great line in this book about how suicide harms those who live on, but murder harms the murderer herself. I really liked that. It may not be entirely true, but poetically, it was beautifully constructed. This story almost represents the antithesis of that sentiment, when the concept of murder enters the societal consciousness of the Athsheans, it continues to harm them after the fact, by perpetuating itself ad infinitum. It’s impossible to go back once innocence is lost. The Athsheans are forever changed by the invading yumans. Be cautious what you allow into your lives and societies.
Okay, so onto the Ewok/Return of the Jedi connection:
You've got a forest planet, filled with furry little creatures about a meter tall. They’re described as looking quite a bit like teddy bears. They live in the forest city named Endtor. Some of them were being used as slaves. They eventually rise up and decide to take on their occupiers, and reclaim their planet. All of their names are exactly 2 syllables long. Hmm… sounds a little familiar.
Are you kidding me George Lucas? For real dude? It took about 9 years, but you massively ripped that concept off from Le Guin. You didn’t even scrape the serial numbers off it. If Le Guin were particularly litigious, she could probably get a percentage on all Ewok merchandizing past and future. She doesn’t strike me as the type to sue, and Disney is a bit of giant to go up against these days. Still, credit should be given where credit is due. The Ewoks originated in Le Guin’s mind, and she deserves the recognition....more
A great little pulpy scifi thriller. Well written, and very self aware. Thoroughly enjoyable, like Cronenberg in his body-horror prime.
I would've likeA great little pulpy scifi thriller. Well written, and very self aware. Thoroughly enjoyable, like Cronenberg in his body-horror prime.
I would've liked another chapter in the middle, after the protagonist meets Arya, and before the big showdown. But, it works well as is, nice and concise.
I'll be keeping an eye on this Doctor Gaines fellow. I have a feeling we'll get lots more great stuff from him in the future....more
I was hoping it was an actual story, but this was really just an Adlib booklet that someone filled out using only the words "shitting" "ass-shaped" anI was hoping it was an actual story, but this was really just an Adlib booklet that someone filled out using only the words "shitting" "ass-shaped" and "dick juice"....more
Terrific. I really feel like this should've been included at the end of The Ghost Brigades. It closes off a lot of plot lines opened previously, and gTerrific. I really feel like this should've been included at the end of The Ghost Brigades. It closes off a lot of plot lines opened previously, and gives a great internal look at the character of Jane Sagan, and the differences between her and 'Realborn'.
“I am not Death. I am killing; I am the verb, I am the action, I am the performance. I am the movement that cuts the spine; I am the mass which pulps the brain. I am the headsnap ejecting consciousness into the air. I am not Death but she follows close behind, the noun, the pronouncement, the denouement and the end. She looks for where I have gone next, and where she is needed, and sometimes where she is wanted; desired as the worlds for those whom I have visited narrow down to a point too heavy to be long borne.” ...more
An existential detective novel, set against a backdrop of an impending apocalypse. As soon as I heard the synopsis for this, it had me completely soldAn existential detective novel, set against a backdrop of an impending apocalypse. As soon as I heard the synopsis for this, it had me completely sold, and it really delivered on that premise. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series....more
A terrific character study. It's equal parts terrifying, humbling, and humanizing. I thoroughly enjoyed what this novella had to say about empathy, meA terrific character study. It's equal parts terrifying, humbling, and humanizing. I thoroughly enjoyed what this novella had to say about empathy, mental illness, love, and the horrors that we are all capable of, given the right/wrong situations and stimuli.
The chronology of this one is all over the place. As always, I recommend reading The Expanse in order of publication, but this especially shouldn't be read any earlier than Abaddon's Gate as it would spoil some major events in that book....more
Creepy and awesome. Considering that this was published in 1972, I can't think of a more fitting story for that time period.Creepy and awesome. Considering that this was published in 1972, I can't think of a more fitting story for that time period....more
A solid little collection of human stories. Clever themes, tight writing, and very vibrant three dimensional characters. SometPosted at Heradas Review
A solid little collection of human stories. Clever themes, tight writing, and very vibrant three dimensional characters. Something to relate to in every story, with only one stinker in the bunch. Neil Smith is Canadian, so there was a little more french in it than I was prepared for. I should probably learn at least some basic French at some point.
3.5 stars averaged, rounded up because there are some killer ones in here.
Isolettes: 4/5 Sad, but very poetic and knowing. Love this guy’s writing.
Green Fluorescent Protein: 3/5 Coming of age, dealing with the hand you’re dealt. Being comfortable with yourself.
B9ers: 3/5 Clever and cute story about pushovers and correlation. One race based plot point fell flat for me near the end.
Bang Crunch: 5/5 Really reminded me of Ted Chiang’s writing. Good stuff.
Scrapbook: 3/5 Could’ve been terrific, but ultimately left me wanting something more from it. I’m not sure what, so that may just be my fault.
The Butterfly Box: 5/5 Damn, this was beautiful and real.
Funny Ha Ha or Funny Weird: 4/5 Alcoholism and dealing with loss. Excellent follow-up on a specific secondary character from Green Fluorescent Protein.
Extremities: 1/5 Just not a good story at all. It felt more like a creative writing exercise on weird POVs.
Jaybird: 5/5 Thespian life has always seemed for the crazies. I went back and forth between loving and hating this one as I read it, ultimately I settled on loving it. Revenge against a crazy industry, and life working better when you accept who you are and work with it instead of against it....more
...look to change, look to the future, look forward, etc. In the introduction this book was dedicated to the Gulf War veterans, and that seems very ap...look to change, look to the future, look forward, etc. In the introduction this book was dedicated to the Gulf War veterans, and that seems very appropriate after finishing it.
It deals primarily with PTSD, suicide, revenge, apathy, and the effects of trauma; the true cost of war both societally, and individually. It accomplished this while also somehow being the most humorous novel in the series so far.
In a lot of ways it is a direct sequel to the first Culture book, 'Consider Phlebas', even taking its name from the same line of the infamous T.S Eliot poem 'The Wastelands'. It is a much, much better story.
The more of this series I read, the more difficult it is for me to pick a favorite. It seems that each entry becomes a new favorite in a different way. I think that sounds a bit trite, but it really is accurate. Reading the culture novels has established Banks as my new favorite author, as well as one of the most capable authors I've read.
This book shows the terrific maturity of Banks as a compelling storyteller and epic world-builder. 'Consider Phlebas' was 90% world-building / 10% story, and it was extremely boring as a result. Look to Windward is very nearly half-and-half. The whole thing reads like Banks wasn't quite happy with the end result of 'Consider Phlebas' and decided to take a crack at covering the same moral message in a better story. It is also the most detailed look at life aboard an Orbital in the series so far....more
I definitely understand those that see Inversions as an inferior Culture novel, but I absolutely disagree with them. This is a view of the Culture froI definitely understand those that see Inversions as an inferior Culture novel, but I absolutely disagree with them. This is a view of the Culture from below, through all kinds of obfuscation.
It’s definitely the most subtle of the Culture novels; so subtle that I think a lot of readers aren’t grasping the scope of what it's about. I would suggest only reading Inversions after having read a few other culture novels in close succession; it is very, very subtle but absolutely brilliant.
Told from the perspective of two very different characters, one a personal account, the other an amalgamation comprised of a dramatization of events prior and a memoir, it is a story about the brutalities of man, war, sovereignty, and progress.
If you're left scratching your head after finishing it, as I have been both times I read it, I highly recommend picking up the Culture Series of Iain M. Banks: A Critical Introduction by Simone Caroti. He brilliantly analyzes and clears up a lot of details in Inversions....more
A beautifully written, but still pretty unsatisfying conclusion to the series. I completely understand why it ended the way that it did though. A heavA beautifully written, but still pretty unsatisfying conclusion to the series. I completely understand why it ended the way that it did though. A heavy amount of closure would've undercut the eerie atmosphere and mystery setup by the first 2 novels to some extent. Still, I wanted something more definitive, but that may be entirely my fault as a reader.
I really liked the lighthouse keeper character and his story.
Ultimately, VanderMeer's writing is so good that you don't mind the vague cop-out ending....more
This is my first time reading a Murakami novel. It was very good, and very weird. Either large sections are entirely metaphorical, or we've got some hThis is my first time reading a Murakami novel. It was very good, and very weird. Either large sections are entirely metaphorical, or we've got some heavy unreliable narrator action going on. Honestly, either way or any combination of the 2 is totally fine with me; this book was beautifully written.
It was eerily similar to Christopher Priest's The Affirmation in themes and quite a few plot points. I can't help but think that Murakami is a fan of his....more
Terrific essay detailing a lot of background history and tidbits about the functional elements of 'The Culture'. Terrific essay detailing a lot of background history and tidbits about the functional elements of 'The Culture'. ...more
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