Sci-Fi is the Rodney Dangerfield of the book world

a completely sci-fi idea: the FT (FemaleType) robot

I just encountered an interesting article (that has absolutely nothing to do with robots) by Clive Thompson on WIRED. He says: “If you want to read books that tackle profound philosophical questions, then the best — and perhaps only — place to turn these days is sci-fi. Science fiction is the last great literature of ideas.” I completely agree…and that’s probably why I’m such a huge fan of science fiction. It’s all about the ideas.

He also asks: “So, then, why does sci-fi, the inheritor of this intellectual tradition, get short shrift among serious adult readers?” …and that is a question I’ve thought about many times. (Mostly when I recommend some type of sci-fi story to a friend and they act like I just asked them to eat their own poop. The only thing I’ve encountered that gets less respect than science fiction is comic books. And sci-fi comics? I keep those to myself…some of you just aren’t ready for things like Dreadstar. At least not until someone makes a movie. Anyway, I digress.) I’m sure the pulp adolescence of science fiction doesn’t help it’s credibility, but it seems like somebody might have noticed that sci-fi authors think. And the readers do too.

The evidence is right here: Sci-Fi Is the Last Bastion of Philosophical Writing

edit 1-29-08:

I just finished reading Children of the Mind by Orson Scott Card and in the afterword he mentions the term “junbungaku“, which apparently means “pure literature or belles lettres“. He then goes on to say:

“I do not believe the tools of science fiction are any less suitable to the task of creating junbungaku than the tools of contemporary serious literature, though of course we who wield the tools may fail to use them to best advantage.”

I completely agree…and that’s probably why I believe that science fiction is as equally valid as contemporary serious literature. We just need more great minds wielding those sci-fi tools. And the best way for that to happen is to remove the stigma on science fiction.

Jumper trailer and (new!) posters

I’ve liked every other Doug Liman movie that I’ve seen, so maybe this will be as cool as it looks. I guess anything is possible. Crap. I mean anywhere…wait, that doesn’t even make sense. And I’m a dork. Anyway, here are the posters and a link to the trailer:

Jumper HD trailer

So…which poster do you like better? It’s like modern Egypt vs. the Matrix with new Las Vegas.

 

Jumper by Steven Gould

Has anyone read Steven Gould’s book? It’s apparently one of the 100 most frequently challenged books of 1990-1999. (There’s a sequel too…in case the movie makes enough money.) I haven’t read it, but his other book Blind Waves was pretty darn cool and would probably make a great movie.

edit:

new foreign posters:

Harry Potter Reviews: Deathly Half-Blood Phoenix Prisoner Secrets and a Stone Goblet

The post with the Order of the Phoenix trailer has been popular on here lately so here’s a small update with my ratings for the films and the books.

Agree? Disagree? Don’t care?
Get started on some comments. I’m eager to interact.

it’s good to love Luna

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
movie: 60 / book: 80

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
movie: 65 / book: 85

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
movie: 88 / book: 90

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
movie: 73 / book: 95

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
movie: 86 / book: 75

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
book: 85

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
book: 90

more movie ratings:

my criticker profile

you like Harry Potter, right?

The international trailer was released a few days ago, but the quality was kinda ‘eh’ so I didn’t mention it. Now there’s a domestic version in HD (with only a couple added bits) and a poster:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix HD trailer

I really didn’t care for the first movie because it seemed like the adaptation to the screen somehow drained the magic from the story…and the second film wasn’t much better. Because of Alfonso Cuarón (and the time-travel!) the third installment has been my favorite so far…the dark tone and the look of the film really worked for me. And even though it seemed like half of the story was left out of the fourth movie I still liked that one okay.

The progression was much different in the books…each new story was better and they seemed to get more intricate…the high mark being the fourth one. The Order of the Phoenix was slightly disappointing to me in written form, but I was expecting quite a bit. Now the movie is almost here and this new director seems to have appeared from nowhere, but it looks like he might provide a fun ride. I really wish there wasn’t a clam* in the trailer though.

 

(edit: a small update with my ratings of all the Potter movies and books.)

 

 

 

*a joke that has outlived its shelf-life. (It’s the third example in the explanation on this page.)

Stardust

Stardust: official trailer | Stardust: casino implosion

exclusive HD trailer for Stardust

Stardust trailers on Apple.com

Stardust might very well be my favorite Neil Gaiman (text-only) book (I’ve not yet read Anansi Boys or Coraline) and I was originally excited that they were going to make it into a movie. That excitement has faded…from what I’ve seen so far it looks like the magic will be drained from the story in much the same way that I felt like it was drained from the first Harry Potter movie. I also don’t understand why they’re using some of the bigger names in the cast. I’ve never really cared for Michelle Pfeiffer (even in a catsuit!) and I can’t imagine that Robert DeNiro was very cost effective, but I guess I’m okay with Angela Chase Claire Danes and Rupert Everett.

 

Stardust Hotel and Casino

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, there was a completely different Stardust that lasted from July 2, 1958 until March 13, 2007, when it was imploded. I might be biased, but WhileLasVegasSleeps.com has a complete video of the implosion and I think it’s the best one that I’ve seen. The actual event was way more amazing than the video could capture (the entire fireworks segment was like one huge finale) and you really just have to be there to feel the explosions, but click through for the next best thing.

Coincidentally, in the movie Casino, Robert Deniro portrayed the head of the Stardust, but the name of the casino was changed to “Tangiers” for the film. (We know it was really the Stardust though, don’t we?)

a dream on Mars

I’ve stolen this entry because it looks almost exactly like a place I’ve been in a dream. I’m completely serious…my first reaction was recognition. I may even have been to the place in more than one dream. I think there was more than one pod-complex down by the water and they were all connected to a cave system though. Also: it’s slightly reminiscent of the structures on Mars in Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars trilogy. (I’m only halfway through the second book, but if your brain is sufficiently advanced enough to handle sci-fi then I would recommend reading Red Mars. …with a quickness.)

 

Atkin’s Architecture Group recently won the first prize award for an international design competition with this stunning entry. Set in a spectacular water filled quarry in Songjiang, China, the 400 bed resort hotel is uniquely constructed within the natural elements of the quarry. Underwater public areas and guest rooms add to the uniqueness, but the resort also boasts cafes, restaurants and sporting facilities.

The rest is here.

his materials are dark

The Golden Compass is coming to the silver screen. I’m really curious to see how the dæmon aspect of the story will be visualized. I liked the trilogy quite a bit…even though I thought some of the elements of the story weren’t quite fleshed out enough. Maybe they’ll fix it for the films. Here’s a picture of the compass (and some girl):

(I bet her name is Lyra.)

Perdido Street Station – China Miéville [9/10]

I read a quote not too long ago that said: “You like something because, you love something despite.” I’m not sure who said it, but according to that quote I love China Miéville’s writing*.

UK covers are usually better.

He creates a beautifully dirty and decaying world without happy endings and ‘racial’ stereotypes while blending elements of science fiction, horror and fantasy. I’d call his work science fantasy [maybe dark science fantasy], but he refers to it as “weird fiction.”
…maybe I’m just weird, but this book was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks, Mr. Miéville.

*If I was writing a story my insect creature would have been either completely an insect [and maybe humanoid] or, at most, 10% human. The fact that he could create what is essentially a human character with an insect body for a head and not completely turn me off as reader is precisely what I mean by that.