Sci-Fi on Nanikore

Book shelf - Rendezvous with Rama

Sun, 30 Sep 2012 23:38:22 +0000

It’d been a while since I read some classic science fiction, so I just finished up Arthur C. Clarke “Rendezvous with Rama”. Somehow, this is the first of Clarke’s sci-fi books I’ve ever read, which, given the man’s stature in the genre seems almost strange in itself.

The last couple of first encounter books I’ve read have been quite different. I thought ’ The Mote in God’s Eye’ by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle was well crafted, but somewhat laborious to read, and though interesting, just didn’t quite hit the spot. After that was ’ [Blindsight](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blindsight_(science_fiction_novel%29)' by Peter Watts, which I found far more interesting, both for the aliens and their native habitat, but also for the rather dangerous relationship between the human protagonists, who appear far more of a threat than even the most aggressive alien. It’s also available as a free e-book still I think.

Of course, most first contact novels work along the lines that they act as a mirror to the humans race itself, as we project our own fears onto the unknown.

’ Rendezvous with Rama’ takes a different tack, partly focusing on the state of humanity at the time of the event, relaying the politics of the planets, but also playing on the fact that actually, first contact may be, as in Rama’s case, a fleeting bypass where we only get a tiny glimpse of an alien civilization as it speeds through on it’s way somewhere else, in this case, in a giant cylinder which is intercepted by a makeshift commercial crew as the only people who could intercept it in time.

The novel plays up the limited time angle well as you know the book is nearing the end and they just don’t seem to have got to the core of the alien concept, and then it looks like they might, only to be dashed as they have to abandon the mission and head back.

I don’t want to give too many spoilers away, but it’s fair to say it’s more about the idea than the characters, who aren’t too deep, but the pacing it excellent, and you’re always checking how many pages are left, hoping they can crack the clues in time. It’s perhaps not true hard sci-fi, but it isn’t fantastical either, and most of the developments follow a well thought out premise and the world and the potential creatures encountered do seem to obey the rules of the world within the cylinder.

It’s definitely worth the read, if you haven’t read any classic sci-fi lately, or if you’re looking for something that just unfolds for you.

Bookshelf: Wool

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:23:32 +0000

It’s always good when you happen upon a book series by an author you don’t know, and it turns out to be very decent indeed so here’s one from the bookshelf: Wool. I was actually introduced to the ‘Wool’ series written by Hugh Howey by a friend who happens to be an avid reader. Wool as it currently stands is a 5-part compendium of short stories, and some further prequel reading in ‘Wool - First Shift’. I picked the 5-part omnibus up for 5 USD on Amazon as a Kindle e-book.

I don’t want to give too many spoilers here, but it’s almost inevitable. Essentially it’s the story of the people of the Silo in the future. The remnants of humanity live in a bunker called the Silo, unable to go outside, and indeed forbidden to even speak of the intent.

The silo - 144 floors going down into the earth - has simple governance, a sheriff, a mayor and groups of levels tasked with functions such as hospitals, mechanics, IT, food production etc., all connected via a massive spiral staircase from top to bottom with porters running messages and goods up and down. On the top floor are massive LCD screens showing the brown apocalyptic view outside, the scene coming from cameras mounted outside which gradually degrade in picture quality from the never ending toxic winds until someone speaks the words that they wish to go outside, at which point they are suited up and sent outside to clean, using wool pads to clean the cameras - and hence the title ’ Wool’. They always clean, and they never come back.

The stories get progressively longer, with some characters continuing from one short story to the next. The writing is functional but does lend a certain claustrophobic feel to it, and you can feel the author’s development and confidence grow with each of the 5 initial story lines. Much of the drama revolves around the interactions of the Mechanics who keep the generators running, pump oil and live in the bottom floors, and the IT department and it’s somewhat sinister boss. There are a good collection of characters, and fortunately Howey is willing to kill off characters as required which I count as a plus (I’m looking at you, most manga series!), meaning there’s some good weight and consequence to the stories.

Howey also manages to give more depth (so to speak) to his world as he goes on without any of it feeling too reworked (or retconned) to fit the earlier stories. Whilst some of the twists are a bit obvious he still managed to pull a few from nowhere even in the 5th installment.

Again, I can’t go too much into the plot without spoilers, but much of the revelation and plot drive is based on the simple questions we would have in the Silo - why is it there, who made it, what is it’s history?

For 5 dollars it’s worth a download (or buying the print edition) to find out.

Wool

Elves and X-Files

Sun, 21 Aug 2005 05:40:58 +0000

Friday night saw myself and a couple of friends at the Toho/Virgin cinema at Roppongi Hills for the all-night “Lord of the Rings - Extended Editions” run. Thirteen and a half hours from start to end. I have to say it was worth every minute of it, even though I have those editions on DVD.

I hadn’t seen The Fellowship of the Ring at the cinema though, as I somehow managed to miss it, so that was an added bonus. I did discover a couple of new things though: firstly that Orlando Bloom is as bad as I suspected he was, and secondly that throughout the night, the only time I nodded off was during Liv Tyler’s scenes, which could be some kind of clever subliminal filter.

That theory ties in with most of my Saturday and Sunday, as I’ve managed to damage my big toe rather badly, meaning I can’t walk very far, so I’ve decided to watch the whole of ‘The X-Files’ season two, which I think is beginning to effect my mind. That said, one of the best lines in the many years of the show, is in the episode ’ [Soft Light](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_Light_(The_X-Files%29)' when Dr. Banton announces “They’ve been waiting to do the brain suck on me for years!” (that’s paraphrased). Indeed they have, sir, indeed they have.

Errant Posts

Mon, 03 Jan 2005 23:26:41 +0000

Actually, just as I was reading this blog, I realised all the things I don’t put on it. Of course, that’s mainly because they’re mundane and dull morsels of info that no-one is interested in.

For example, just before Xmas, we got our new dining table from Harumi Design in ‘Toriton Square’, and it’s great. It feels great to have a dining table back after 5 years of food off a low table in front of the TV. I think in part this is because when I was growing up, our kitchen dinner table was a community focus point for long conversations before, during and after the meal, so it feels good to have that back, and I’m very happy with the solid oak one we chose. It easily makes my ‘Best of 2004’ purchase list, which will be another post, maybe later this week.

Example 2; I went back to work today to have an Amazon package waiting for me! This is great, I now have the last series of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, but more importantly, Series 1 and 3 of ‘Black Books’ a hilarious comedy from the UK’s Channel 4. (If you’re wondering, I got series 2 as a gift, which is what got us into it).

Oh yes, and it snowed very heavily in Tokyo on New Year’s Eve, and I got caught out on my scooter going through 4 inches of snow - not fun on a 50cc! Still, the Zoomer’s chunky tyres were great - I definitely had sympathy for the Udon delivery chap on his old scooter with bald tyres.

OK, pointless post has finished. Please move along. Nothing to read here … for a while.

Alien Night

Tue, 05 Oct 2004 15:23:16 +0000

A late post [again], but just to say we survived the all night Alien movie fest at Roppongi Hills Cinema. It started at 10pm last Friday, and comprised of all 4 Alien films, with a 20 minute break between each film.

We emerged bleary eyed at 7am on Saturday and with Aliens on the mind. I’d never seen the first two in a cinema, so that was good to do, and amazingly, except for the odd nod, I stayed awake for the whole thing. I have to say that I still consider No.1 to be the best one, but I was surprised how much I thought No.2 had aged. No.3 I think would’ve been a decent film except for the poor ending, and Joss Whedon of Buffy fame should be slapped for penning part 4. Just a so-so Sci Fi flick at best. Anyway, it was a good night out - and remember, if you find some drool and a discarded skin on the floor of the apartment and you’re not a 6ft actress or a producer, it might be best to run like hell…or blast it out of the airlock, if your apartment has one.

Appleseed - the Movie

Mon, 26 Apr 2004 01:54:39 +0000

Just got back from seeing Appleseed - a CG animated sci-fi film based on the popular manga. Although it’s CG - and very well done CG, the makers have tried to keep it very cell based looking, and the fusion works well.

The story tells of a future where humans have all but destroyed the world, but where some are trying to rebuild from a new state. Human’s now live with Bionoids - human looking clone mixtures who help humans, but who are infertile, and with limited life spans. Into this there are several main characters who race to discover whether humans can live without destroying everything.

There’s a deep political plot with quite a few twists, but more importantly there are huge robots, battle suits and lots of gun battles. It’s a great film - decent plot, and none of the tiring speak-a-thons of ‘Innocence’ or ‘Matrix : Revolutions’.

Also, it features a pretty decent, loud score and soundtrack, available on CD.