Lovecraft Respect

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I was away for the extended weekend on a camping trip/canoe voyage in Errol, New Hampshire. Quite a grand time, i bonded with my friends and saw some amazing stuff. The centerpiece of the trip was canoeing down to Lake Umbagog, spending the night at a remote campsite, then packing up and head down river.

The point being that all the natural, eerie wilderness brings back distinct memories from the short stories of H.P. Lovecraft. Specifically, Whisperer in the Darkness which takes place in a remote cabin in NH. To actually be in a similar area, especially the lake in the morning, with fog rising in ethereal strands, makes that story much more compelling.

1984 : Scary Stuff

Hello folks, i just finished reading 1984 last night. [SPOILERS]

It is scary, hands down. The entire concept of doublethink is the single most twisted form of mental capacity capable in humans. And not only were the explanations about the eternal power of the Party scary but also the methods of transforming Winston into an automaton.

In truth, I felt a deep catharsis during the final third of the book. The slow destruction of Winston's humanity until he was a ghastly, gray skeleton then the party "rebuilt" him back to a healthy and "sane" individual. His undivided love for big brother a final, terrifying revelation in the mind of a western reader.

Orwell accomplished in writing a tragedy about not one man, but a species, and the message it leaves purges the readers. I was prepared at any moment for Goldstein or some rebel leader to break in an save the day but such fantasies never came. There was no way out until eventually; 2+2= 5

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Two points of consideration and contemplation i have are:

Was Winston's mother still alive? Could she have been the women washing the clothes outside Charrington's house?

And what is the relationship between Big Brother and Winston considering that Winston is an actual biological big brother?

District 9

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I saw it last weekend. I loved it. Star Trek from last may was a great mainstream sci-fi epic but District 9 holds the keystone in real science fiction so far for 2009 (and better than any sci fi i can remember from 08 and 07)

To begin, the actual setting of that was the slums of Johannesburg. Absolutely breathtaking and disgusting. The corrugated tin walls, crushed cardboard boxes, scraps of beef, and general dustiness took science fiction to a whole new domain. Even the space ship was a giant's step away from the classic sleek design. Instead, the exterior consisted of canisters , piping and matte steel plating.

Next, the film style. Part documentary, military log, security camera collection, and action sequences.

And the Prawns, stunning. Their chitinous exoskeletons caked with paint and filth was stunning. Their movement was a mix of hominid and extra terrestrial. Not to forget their eyes of course, clearly the gateway to connect with the human audience.

I feel that the movie will be a neo classic, on the shelf with Blade Runner as an intriguing look at humanity through the magic of science fiction.

Perseid

No not omicron Perseid 8, I'm talking about the meteor shower. Though technically not science fiction, any real life space events deserve a mention. I'll be up between 3-4 am eastern watching. (not the whole time, just thats the time frame i plan to drag myself out of bed)

Cities and Troops

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Summer is still going strong.

Right now im playing Bioshock and reading starship trooper (Robert Heinlen)

The Starship Trooper is great. Right now im reading about boot camp. the writing is tough and gritty. Like most sci fi of that era, there is little description of the equipment and setting allowing a for personal imagination to create a futuristic boot camp.

Bioshock now, that is a beast of a game. Do i dare call it the ultimate steam punk story and setting? I will, because it takes the cake in all categories. The quests are extraordinaryly gruesome and original , gameplay is seemingly clunky compared to other FPS shooters but logically real, weapons and powerups vivid and rustic, and the city: Rapture, Unbelievable. The immense scale of Ryan's dream is brought to life in a way unseen since the first 3D video games.

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