Isaac Asimov is probably my favourite Sci-Fi writer. To me, he is the unequivocal classical sci-fi writer.
I Robot is similar to Asimov’s other books in the sense that it is made up of a collection of short stories centered around robots. These series of stories were actually originally published in a series of pulp magazines. The common thread throughout the stories is Dr. Susan Calvin, a robopsychologist employed by Earths largest robot manufacturers US Robot Inc. The stories of Dr. Calvin’s retrospection on her career, narrated to an eager journalist.
Gone are the tales of robot killers and cold hearted armies of metal over throwing the human race. Each story explores the moralistic, practical and ethnical arguments for developing artificial life. The novel is seminal in the fact that many future writers included Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics which are pinnacle to the plot: 1) A robot may not injure a human being or through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm; 2) A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law 3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
These laws are created in Asimovs’ story to ensure humans place as the master because ultimately, future robots are far more intelligent and physically durable than humans will ever be. They are also more moralistic than humans (for the afore mentioned rules). Asimov uses his stories to explore this relationship and even debate if Robots should be the rulers, being more capable.
Asimov has a great sense of comedy and the stories are equally comical, as some are dark. Each story generally centers around a problem or fault with a robot which must be solved which by the end leaves you trying to figure out the solution first. The character of Dr. Susan Calvin is outshone by the robots she encounters. Dr. Calvin is not likable - this is particularly relevant when she drives a robot into madness just to spite him and you begin to empathize with her view that robots are nicer than humans. The first story of Robbie (a little girls Nanny Robot) is particularly endearing to robots.
I’ve never been that much of a ‘robot story’ reader but I really enjoyed this book. The great thing about Asimov is that he creates books that really speculate the future. I Robot (which is nothing like the film!) could be renamed A Comprehensive Investigation into the Possible Affects to the Development of AI. You get the impression that Asimov spent a great deal of time looking into every side affect from the advances this kind of technology would create when in reality, he probably didn’t spend very long on each story. In the height of his career Asimov was churning out stories and ended his career with nearly five hundred books to his name and several hundred articles to his name.
As I mentioned, I received a shiny (the cover really is shiny) signed copy of crescendo that I’m delighted to give it a review.
Great start to the sequel with the murder of Nora’s father. We wanted to know more since the first novel and it’s immediately revealed that his death is linked to the dangerous world of angels – the plot thickens.
The book then starts from where it left off which is a nice touch. Naturally, everyone wants to know about Patch and Nora and the reader hasn’t missed anything. I hate when stories leave out the ‘happy months’ after the first novel and immediately go into the drama. Great! We knew they happened but a couple of paragraphs about summer days snuggling on the beach doesn’t really cut explain much does it? At least we know the happy period didn’t last long and there’s trouble from the onset. Understandable, when a fallen angel/come guardian angel is trying to have a sneaky relationship with his protected. So although the novel starts with a blissful relationship we all know it inevitably won’t last long. Fitzpatrick tackles this well. It’s usually the guy who’s the sensible one and breaks it off but Nora manages to beat him to it. In light of the Arch Angels threatening Patch if he doesn’t end the relationship she quickly decides to end it herself (lessening the heartache by making it quick and ensuring Patch doesn’t stay with her but at least stays alive!) Clever girl! Reminds me of a Buffy plot! But surely they have to find some way to get back together?
Of course, trying to keep away from the guy you love is never easy. Especially for a teenage girl and especially when he decides to spend his new found freedom in the company of your slutty arch rival – Marcie Millar (cue for girl drama). It’s not often you get a girl fight in a fantasy novel. I found it pretty entertaining! Nora suddenly plays the typical girl writhed with jealously. She becomes consumed with the fact that Patch is suddenly with Marcie and becomes obsessed with finding out what’s going on. This annoyed me a little as it seemed obvious to me that Patch was performing some angelic duty. But fair enough! At least she doesn’t sit sulking in her room and Fitzpatrick really captures the emotional rollercoaster of being a teenage girl in love. The truth is her irate behavior and snap decision are a little annoying and get her in trouble but they also make her character interesting and exciting. I didn’t like the sensible Nora. I like the Nora that goes to pool halls with random boys to prove she’s cool and breaks into people’s bedrooms to find their secrets.
Fitzpatrick’s Patch is as ever, delightfully mysterious, sexy and secretive. His attitude to the break up is handled brilliantly. He comes off uncaring and cold to Nora but to the reader he seems to be acting like an adult trying to handle the situation; it is obvious there is more to the story than Nora is aware of. He refuses to be drawn into the unnecessary drama that Nora creates in her angst.
The great thing about these novels is they manage to mix the everyday drama and angelic drama really well! In the midst of worrying about demonic and angelic attacks, Nora still manages to worry about buying a car, landing a job and getting one over on Marcie Millar.
Another irritation about Nora during the novel is her inability to reaction to threats. During the novel, Nora keeps having glimpses of her dead father. One of these sightings turn into a supernatural attack but at no point does Nora think she should mention it to someone. Anyone. Nor does she realize it’s strange that Patch doesn’t notice the danger and come to the rescue? Stupid things like that get heroines killed. Not to mention she didn’t get a punch in during the girl fight!
The main thread in this novel is Nora’s quest to find out who killed her father. She receives a mysterious note claiming the murderer is The Black Hand. Could it be that Patch is The Black Hand? All clues lead to him… This is a brutal blow to Nora. Fitzpatrick has set up the worst kind of betrayal. I really was swaying from yes to no. He couldn’t have done it? Could he? Maybe? The brilliance of the novel is that Patch really does appear capable of anything.
The end is a good twist. And the setting is great. The mythology of the nephilim, archangels and fallen angels, progresses and it’s a plot that has potential for an epic fantasy if Fitzpatrick hadn’t gone down the Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy root.
I think this is the success and the downfall of a novel like this. People who want a paranormal romance might find it falls short of a novel enthralled in romance whereas readers who love a good plot with a love line thrown in are going to be slightly put off by the huge focus on Patch and Nora. I personally think the Hush Hush series does well to tick all the boxes. It has an original idea that is undoubtedly evolving; a great love story; and a firm grasp on the elements you need for an urban fantasy.
What I also found interesting in the novel is it had the sequel feel to a novel series and not a trilogy. If the series was a trilogy it should have packed more punch. Crescendo sits well against other fantasy series for a sequel. Not as good as the first but leaves you excited for the third. And just over the horizon you feel a bigger plot could immerge. If it is a trilogy I'll be disappointed. It has more potential than that.
Plus, Crescendo has a cliffhanger that guarantees you will be buying the next book! You have been warned.
I'm not going to lie, its not adapted from a book, graphic novel or comic but just the trailer has made me unequivocally, manically excited! It just looks brilliant.
Zack Snyder (the director) has described Sucker Punch as "Alice in Wonderland with machine guns"
Visually Snyder is uncomparatable at the moment for artistic direction. Similar to Burton or Taranto, you know when your watching Snyder. Snyder is creating a visual signature for himself. The trailer follows The Watchmen with an almost immaculate PS3appearance that makes you want to watch the movie on a big screen.
The film actually has a Quentin Tarantino meets Baz Luhrmann/Death Proof meet Moulin Rouge. Girls with huge machine guns and burlesque show clothes
The plot is revealed in the trailer. Set in the 1950's, Babydoll has been institutioned in a mental hospital after murdering her Step Father. Facing lobotomy she must delve into a imaginary world to escape reality and her fate. Taking her inmates with her reality and fantasy are blurred as they enter a world of ww2 machinery, samurai swords and dragons.
I’ve never read Iain Banks or Iain M Banks before (the difference of name coincides with whether Banks is writing fantasy or science fiction). I probably should have chosen my first book from The Culture Series more carefully but I wanted to read a Culture novel before buying Surface Details (his latest) and my Mum had this one lying around (free book). My mum didn’t think to warn me that I would be extremely confused and not understand the context of the story without pre reading the other books. But that is very typical of my mother!
Inversions is by Iain M Banks and therefore a sci-fi. This surprised me, as it appears to be fantasy, particularly at the beginning of the novel. The novel is set on a world reminiscent of our feudal times. Rest assured the novel is speculative fiction but if you’re expecting advanced technology, spaceships and intergalactic mercenaries you will be disappointed.
The important thing to know with this book is if haven’t read The Culture Series before you are going to be left with loose ends and mystery. Like the narrator Uelph, you will not be able to understand certain events. The clues are there but without the background knowledge it’s hopeless to figure out unless you read some of the other novels. Fortunately, you can read the other novels after, which isn’t too bad because regardless of still being in the dark, I still quite enjoyed the novel.
Whereas, the other Culture novels take the bird’s eye view on society. Inversions is the point of view. It’s the micro as opposed to the macro. The main focus appears to be how one person (or indeed two people) can influence the culture of a country.
The novel is told by Uelph. He tells two stories that appear to have no connection. The connection, in reality, is the culture. Although he can’t explain it, Uelph believes something extraordinary influenced and connects the two stories – the culture.
The first story is of Doctor Vosill, Uelph’s mentor and the doctor to King Quience of Hapside.
The second story is set in another country where DeWar is the bodyguard of The Protector, General UrLeyn who is the target of assassination.
Both characters are mysteriously from other realms. Each is trusted in positions to the most influencial people. Both appear to be highly trusted and given the opportunity to influence the future of the nations. They are also hugely successful in their chosen pursuits; the Doctor is the best in her profession and DeWar demonstrates impeccable abilities to protect the General from harm.
The truth about the pair is revealed through a ‘fairy tale’ DeWar tells his General’s younger son. In this sense the novel is a moralistic tale above all else. The two members on the Culture must decide:
“ Was it better to leave them alone or was it better to try and make life better for them? Even if you decided it was the right thing to do to make life better for them, which way did you do this? Did you say, Come and join us and be like us? Did you say, Give up all your own ways of doing things, the gods that you worship, the beliefs you hold most dear, the traditions that make you who you are? Or do you say, We have decided you should stay roughly as you are and we will treat you like children and give you toys that might make your life better? ”
—Inversions, chapter 6
This book is a funny one because the plot appears relatively simple. It could of fallen flat on its face if Banks wasn’t a good writer and the characters weren’t interesting and likeable. The intrique carries you through though. And put together with the context of the culture series and the value behind it, it makes a good but not great read.
I’ve just finished the sequel to Hush, Hush so I thought I’d do a quick review in preparation for the second novel.
Everything is going to get compared to Twilight – especially if it’s a paranormal romance. Becca Fitzpatrick by no means breaks the stereotype of the teen paranormal romance but I think this book is the best in the genre (at least the ones I’ve read).
Synopsis: Falling in love was never so easy . . .or so deadly.
For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.
But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel. For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.
So why am I such a fan? To start, it’s well written. Fitzpatrick took five years creating this novel and it shows.
For young adult fiction the book is dark. It’s dangerous. The atmosphere is intense and the plot is actually pretty twisted. The love interest Patch isn’t just a dangerous being. He’s dangerous full stop. He spends the book playing with Nora like a cat plays with a mouse. Unfortunately, he’s a very charming cat. The appeal of Patch is that you are actually scared of him. But you still secretly want him. You shouldn’t. But you do anyway.
This kind of plot is always going to strike some controversy. It’s wrong to promote your heroine to fall in love with someone who’s no good for her. And considering Patch wants to kill her… He really is NO good for her! However, if this book was an adult novel, fantasy or not, we wouldn’t be questioning this. Some of the greatest novels are centered round the heroine falling for the wrong guy. The guy that is trying to seduce her. The guy with the shocking past. The guy who she can never truly be with… The truth is falling for that guy; the wrong guy; is great suspense and great reading. The sexual tension in Hush, Hush is unbelievable.
Suspense is the key to this novel. It has a crime thriller feel. Nora knows something is going on; she just needs to figure out what. And she does try. Branching out from the sensible girl next door, she takes on a Nancy Drew style sleuth role. I think people who have criticized Nora as a strong lead are overlooking this. She does go out her way to figure out the truth. Furthermore, she doesn’t trust Patch. Yes, she does want to and she puts herself in dangerous situations because of this. But she would get in these situations regardless. Patch can do whatever he wants. He’s immortal and she can’t escape. She doesn’t ignore his behavior; she recognizes Patch turning up constantly is stalking. So does the book. It’s never overlooked as romantic - it’s sinister and Nora strives to discover the truth behind it.
Fitzpatrick leaves you successfully guessing up to the last moment (apart from the angel part, which is hardly surprising considering the front cover). The Nephilim plot is interesting. It’s a new idea that hasn’t been done before which made the book refreshing. This plus the angel angle. It’s not exactly as astounding a concept as Philip Pullmans Dark Materials but at least it’s not another Zombie or Vampire book which is getting old.
The settings are well described and make a successfully eerie yet urban landscape. You can imagine every in horror movie overtones from the amusement park and to Nora’s home in the middle of nowhere. The plot also makes for a realistic plot for a teenager. Meet ups are arranged by text and sharing car rides presents problems getting home.
The other characters create some amusement in the novels which reminds me of PC Cast’s House of Night series. Vee is a vivacious character who brings fun into the book and also Nora’s’ life.
I really enjoyed this book. Young Adult fiction should be addictive. A story you have to read in one night. This definitely left me tired in the morning.
Comics hit the mainstream news in England last week with the release of the much anticipated relaunch and revamp of the iconic comic The Dandy.
My personal favourite is probably the Sun’s ever witty puns... Chez and Si look Dandy. Featuring a little clip of Simon Cowell skipping through Xfactorville!
The Dandy is Britain’s longest running comic book and the third longest in the world. I remember it most for it’s character Desperate Dan. Sales figures have dropped since 2006 and this is DC Thomson’s latest attempt to reignite public interest in the comic.
Harry Hill adorns the front cover anticipating his new strip written entitled Harry Hill’s Real-Life Adventures in TV-Land (Featuring Knitted Character). Considering I hate TV Burp, it doesn’t appeal to me to check out the new Dandy… Although the references to the other celebrities sound hilarious! But not particularly, as Bleeding Cool points out, child orientated? So, on this note I’ll leave it to Bleeding Cool to make their (as always) informed opinion on the first issue.
Marvel Comics will begin to scale back the number of titles in some of its lines.
Marvel has decided to cut back these numbers based on retailer feedback that certain characters and teams in the Marvel Universe have such a high and varied number of titles that readers are confused over the purpose of each series, miniseries and one-shot.
The prime example of the overload of books in a series seems to be THOR and CAPTAIN AMERICA. Marvel have created multiple tie-in series in the running to the upcoming movies.
"I think it's going to take a few more months before you really see the evidence of that in the catalogue," executive editor Tom Brevoort told CBR. "But if you tally everything up for January, you can already see just the barest tip of the iceberg - we had fewer releases in January than in previous months, I believe."
The other news from Marvel was the cut costs of books from $3.99 to $2.99. The hope is that customer will still spend the same amount but be able to gain an extra book out of their comic book spree.
What was really interesting about the interview is Peoples mentions he has written a script based on the 1970's TV show The Prisoner. I was thinking about the show the other day because The Maze of Death by Philip K Dick reminds me of the show. I think a adaptation of the story is definitely due! Apparently Peoples had talks with Christopher Nolan (Inception) to direct the film but the deal fell through. I really hope this script finds a home. It would be a treat I would pay to see.
There was a remake of the show created with Ian McKellan released on ITV in spring. I didn't watch it because my mum (along with the rest of the world) said not to bother. The plot was significantly changed, including the character focus and everything that made the original iconic. Alot of criticism was given to attempting to remake a TV series (it never works) but I think adapting the storiy into a different medium would be a great, especially with a decent writer and director attached.
I am watching this space... I wonder if the old series is on youtube?
Want to make a Graphic Novel? When I started writing my graphic novel it was for my dissertation at University. This meant that instead of started from scratch and doing whatever the hell I wanted I had to actually research the process of making a graphic novel. I wrote a concise essay on the history, development and conventions of the graphic novel (which I may post when I manage to retrieve it from my back up hard drive!). The great thing about this was that it gave me confidence in what I was writing because I understood how others developed their scripts. I had notes on what made a graphic novel successful; what worked and what didn’t and how to do simple things like format my writing for the artist or describe techniques. For example, when pictures aren’t in the boxy thing anymore and it’s like they’re jumping out at you! These are the books that really helped. If you’re not sure where to start, I highly recommend reading them!
Understanding Comics- Scott McCloud
This would be the starter book for creating a graphic novel or comic. Everyone knows you need to first understand a medium to create a true masterpiece within it. What’s brilliant about this book is that Scott McCloud really delves into the history and psychology behind comics and sequential art to explain its fundamental appeal throughout different cultures. It also covers the basics like what speech bubbles are and in what order to read them. The great thing about McCloud’s books is that they are in sequential art themselves, creating a ‘how to write comics’ comic book which makes him illustrating his points all the more obvious.
Making Comics – Scott McCloud
This book is the real holy grail of making a graphic novel or comic book. It covers everything you can imagine - perception, visual sequencing, character development, style, transitions – the chapters are endless! This book made my critical evaluation.
Graphic Storytelling and Visual Narrative – Will Eisner This novel is mostly about how to effectively use sequential art. It really makes you think about every page set up and every panel.
Writing and Illustrating the Graphic Novel: Everything You Need to Know to Create Great Graphic Works – Mike Chinn
This book in particular gives some great examples for how graphic novel scripts are written and how character descriptions should be pitched.
Writing for Comics Vol 1 – Alan Moore
This book isn’t as useful as the others but does gives Alan Moore’s key points to writing a successful story, which can only be a good thing.
I picked up The Maze of Death from a second hand book shop. It’s included in the SF Masterworks though, so it may still be available in shops! For those of you that aren’t clued in on the SF Masterworks is a series of Sci-Fi classics that are being reprinted based on their merit by Gollancz, an imprint of the Orion Publishing Group.
The Maze of Death is one of the lesser known Philip K Dick novels (probably because it’s one of the few that hasn’t been adapted to the screen) and was written in the middle of his career. If you have a look at the SF Masterworks list you will see that Dick nominates the classics. What is truly a shame is that his genius didn’t get recognized by a mass audience until Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner in 1982 (the year of Dick’s death). Philip K Dick spent the majority of his writing period living in poverty, struggling to live off the salary of a novelist.
The Maze of Death can easily be identified as being written in the middle of Dick’s career. It has the 1970’s paranoia trip that bleeding into his work as he experimented with methamphetamines and LSD. This being said, the novel also has a beautifully classic feel about it that is lost with his more popular novels. In The Maze of Death fourteen people are selected and placed on a supposedly ‘uninhabited’ world for reasons they think will be explained when the last colonist arrives. The purpose of the mission is to be beamed from an orbiting satellite (their only communication and link to the outside universe). Unfortunately, or deliberately, the satellite breaks when they try to retrieve the message leaving them on the mysterious Delmak-O stranded with no escape and no purpose.
Things get bleaker when members of the group start being killed off and the books takes on a psychological twist leaving the reader and the colonists wondering if the whole situation is some sort of disturbing psychological experiment. This is strengthened by the fact that each of the 14 members of the new society appear to be dysfunctional and the rejects of the universe; from alcoholics and pill poppers to sex addicts.
The novel keeps you guessing and I doubt anyone has predicted the end. It’s the kind of resolution you are either going to love of hate. I would have hated this ending if it wasn’t for it’s pure bleakness. There is something about the thought of this ending which is truly terrifying… Even more so than an inescapable world of unhinged strangers… But I won’t give it away! More so, it complements the theme of the novel – perceived reality.
The other interesting part of this novel is Dick’s exploration of Religion (some might argue another perceived reality). The foreword of the story states:
It stems from an attempt by William Sarill and myself to develop an abstract, logical system of religious thought, based on the arbitrary postulate that God exists.
In this world, Dick has seemed to throw together all religions into a scientific blender to make sense of the rhetoric and put the biblical into layman’s terms. The world’s bible is dubbed Specktowsky's How I Rose From The Dead In My Spare Time And So Can You. In this reality prayers can be relayed through futuristic post and answered accordingly. Religious figures include the Intercessor, Mentufacturer and Form Destroyer who control, monitor and create the universe, occasionally appearing to mortals. The Walker-on-Earth is a prophet of sorts who destiny is to appear to mortals and help them in hours of need. In a novel where Dick explores perception and reality, this philosophical meander gives the deepest meaning to the novel. Where each character has a different perception about their purpose or the true identity of Delmak-O , they also have different perceptions through their religious upbringings. A good example of this is when Seth claims the Walker on Earth who tells him not to go to Delmak-O. The group questions him on how he knew this man was the Walker on Earth. Was it just his perception of an irrelevant comment? Also, how does this relate to their fate? It the Gods tried to intervene but Seth ignored the message. This is also true of Tallchief who was selected for the mission by answer to his prayer. Perhaps this is punishment? Is Delmak-O hell? It almost seems such... The Maze of Death is really more of a short story that a true novel which means it lacks any character development and plot progression that could of made the story stronger. But it’s a very enjoyable read and you can't get annoyed at a book that is short and sweet!
Edward Nawotka raises a good point in Publishing Perspectives http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/10/graphic-novels-better-suited-to-telling-non-fiction/
I wouldn’t necessarily say that graphic novels are more suited to non-fiction. One of the most popular traits of sequential art is its ability to depict the fiction and fantasy of a story (a reason why fantasy/superhero and scifi) are the most popular forms of the genre.
Non fiction graphic novels are becoming increasingly popular and I agree that one of the main reasons is their ability to use imagery to sensationalize and create visual impression of real life events. The reason we go to a museum or pick up a historical of autobiographical book is to learn what happened, what it was like and how people felt. This is how graphic novels are successful. Imagery is highly emotive and gives a much better sense of feeling and atmosphere than words ever could. This however is also the reason, I feel, graphic novels can work badly as pieces of non-fiction.
One of the main purposes of historical research is to remain objective. The best graphic novelist’s use their imagery to influence their reader’s perceptions and this is something true historians should avoid. Are we really going to stay unbiased when we are seeing the images of dead bodies instead of a numeric figure of the death toll? To really understand some events we need a lot of facts and figures which can’t be accommodated within a speech bubble.
I think non-fiction graphic novels that have been produced are successful, particularly the autobiographical (Perspolis - Marjane Satrapi and Cuba: My Revolution - Dean Haspiel) which strived to be emotive. They encourage people who would never consider picking up a history book (myself included) to become more learned. Education research has also found that sequential art can help children retain knowledge which is another benefit of using graphic novels for non-fiction. However, if you are proposing to create a novel based on two years research, with a bibliography of facts and figures it’s probably best to stick to writing.
Real Life Qudditch is actually old news. However, my blog is shiny and new!
Muggle Quidditch was concocted in 2005 by university students at Middlebury College. Around the States, the sport has now spread and students are grabbing their brooms and donning their capes to go head to head in real life competitions to catch the snitch.
Over 400 teams now play the sport represented by the The Intercollegiate Quidditch Association or (IQA).
Wondering how it works? Each Muggle Quidditch team has seven players: three chasers, two beaters, a keeper, and a seeker. Chasers score points by throwing a quaffle (volleyball), through one of three hoops (worth 10 points) while trying to avoid bludgers (dodgeballs!!) that are thrown by beaters. Chasers hit by a bludger must drop the quaffle. The keeper's job is pretty standard - protect the goalposts, while the seeker must capture the snitch! Unfortunately the snitch isn’t a golden ball with wings but a sock stuffed with tennis balls carried by a person dressed in gold, however, I’ve also heard they have recently been using a toy helicopter to represent the snitch. Capturing the snitch gets you an additional 30 points and ends the game.
The sport has come a long way since 2005 and The "Quidditch World Cup" is moving to New York this year with More than 60 college and high school teams have registered to compete. The event will be in DeWitt Clinton Park from Nov 13 to 14. If you’re interested in the idea of Muggle Quidditch, be warned that it really isn’t some frolic in the park but a real sport. New rules have been brought in to accommodate for last year’s broken bones but in general pushing, tripping and some tackling is allowed!
The special extended 3D edition of James Cameron’s science fiction film Avatar has been withdrawn in the US by its distributors after the classification board gave it a 12-rating rather than PG.
Well, at least they aren't that desperate to milk Avatar for all its worth! Apparently the 8 WHOLE extra minutes of scenes have bumped it up to a 12 rating...
KRS Film Distributors said they do not agree with the new classification.
“The additional scenes in the special edition do not justify the film being given a higher classification than that of the original film,” KRS said.
In the UK, the original version of Avatar in 2D and 3D and its extended 3D version were classified 12A, which means the material is suitable, in general, only for those aged 12 and over. According to the British Board of Film Classification no one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult and films classified 12A are not recommended for a child below 12. An adult may take a younger child if, in their judgment, the film is suitable for that particular child.
I really don't see the fuss. Most people that would pay again to see Avatar AGAIN on the big screen would have to have the obsessive qualities of an adult.
Will Eisner, the man who coined the term Graphic Novel and gave integrity to the medium at literature is heading towards the big screen. His novel A Contract with God, which is consider by many the first graphic novel is set to be adapted to film with directors Alex Rivera, Tze Chun, Barry Jenkins and Sean Baker (that’s a lot of directors!). Actually, they we each be in charge of a story each.
Eisner (ie the Eisner Award) published A Contract with God in 1978. The work is made up of four stories - A Contract With God, The Super, The Street Singer and Cookalein. All set in the NY Bronx being semi biographical and where Eisner grew up.
As seen with The Spirit (Eisner) and The Watchmen (Alan Moore) some graphic novels just don’t work on the big screen but it will be interesting to see if this one sinks or swims considering its historical importance in comic history.
As part of their Film Season The Guardian have been listing their top movies in all genres. Check out their video of the Top 25 Sci-Fi Films with Andrew Pulver.
Twilight is a cultural phenomenon. The Twilight Effect has tweens, teens and adults (who should know better) swooning at the sight of sparkly fangs. I thought I’d have an in-depth look at the figures and facts that make the Twilight Effect worthy of its notorious title. Books There hasn’t been this much craze surrounding a book since Harry Potter and Meyers has definitely given Rowling some tough competition. Thankfully (a big Harry Potter fan myself!), Rowling has managed to hold her title as bestselling author having sold more books than Meyer - the Harry Potter series selling over 400 million copies worldwide compared to 100 million copies of the Twilight Saga. However, the vampire series by Stephenie Meyer sold one million copies in little over two and a half years and has been noted by book sellers as the fastest selling book ever seen. Twilight didn’t just stimulate its own sales; it created a market for all vampire books. The Twilight Effect can be seen in every Waterstones where fantasy novels have become main stream. No longer hidden away with the sci-fi section, Waterstones includes paranormal fantasy’s such as Charlaine Harris, L.G Smith and P.C Cast in it’s 3 for 2 deals at the front of the store. A huge demand for vampire based novels has been established and new paranormal romances are published by the week. Another remarkable profiteer of the Twilight effect is Wuthering Heights which after being mentioned in the saga quadrupled in sales. The publishers even reissued the novel with new ‘Twilight’ branding to appeal to a modern audience.
TV and Film The big screen has been no different and the Twilight Saga’s first three movies have been top sellers of the year. The first screening of Eclipse, the third installment of Summit Entertainments films, generated sales over $30million just from the first midnight showing in US and Canada theatres, beating all previous records (the previous record held by New Moon). The film also received three million sales of the DVD the day it arrived in stores. Twilight also instigated its vampire fanfare on the small screen with a sudden appearance of vampire shows such as HBO’s True Blood and The Vampire Diaries (wish they had brought Buffy back!).
Music Not only has the book, film and TV industries experienced the Twilight affect; the success of the Twilight franchise also streams into music. Nielsen SoundScan, stated the soundtrack sold 2.2 million copies in 2009, a rare feet in the new music market. It topped the charts the first week of release on Nov 21st starting with 165,000 sales. Downloads of the album accounted for 29% (48,000) of its first week, making it the second-biggest digital week for a soundtrack. Sales for bands on the soundtrack also significantly increased. For example, Paramore’s single Decode went Platinum and was nominated for a Grammy. It also caused a spike in sales for their previous album RIOT! By late 2008, when the Twilight craze was peaking, “Decode” was selling over 100,000 copies a week, while RIOT! was selling over 17,000 copies a week.
Merchandising Then we get into the merchandising. Movies with multiple installments always produce big sales in merchandising - particularly of the cult fantasy and sci-fi variety. Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter are Twilights predecessors and all made billions from retail revenue. The Twilight Saga is already level with the Lord of The Rings’ figure sales with only three of the five saga movies already released. There is speculation that at this rate it will topple the highest ranking of merchandise revenue - Star Wars.
Names You think that would be it? Surely! Twilight is also topping the name charts. The Social Security Administration released its list of 2009's most popular baby names, and the leading choices were Isabella and Jacob. For anyone who is not a Twi-hard these are two of Twilights main characters. I was surprised Edward didn’t meet the cut? Is it really that bad a name?
Bites The fact is when you have such a huge franchise fans are going to get obsessed. And obsession is never healthy. The most recent bad press regarding the Twilight Effect has been a biting craze sweeping American high school and panicking sensible parents and overzealous church goers. Apparently, the latest hickie is a real bite, drawing and even sucking blood.
In an interview with ABC, Michael Kaplor, 16, explained he has been biting his girlfriend on and off for about a year.
"For me, biting is the way to show affection toward the other person and to just get a crazy adrenaline rush and not so much to mark territory or to show I belong to something, but just to show the other person I care and there's a deeper sense of affection," he said.
Although he doesn’t draw blood a lot of kids are saying they do.
"I think a lot of people draw blood because they want to feel very powerful, when you bite the other person you get the huge adrenaline rush and it feels like you can't stop and some people just take it too far," he added.
Youtube and Facebook pages are devoted to this new symptom of the Twilight Effect, some teens filming themselves sucking each other’s blood. Considering up to 15 percent of bites from humans can become infected or spread hepatitis, syphilis and HIV, this is not a good effect of the Twilight madness.
Violence Even the cast has admitted the overly enthusiastic fans have left them feeling threatened. Kellan Lutz recently admitted to buying a dog to protect himself from fans. “I can run fast now! I also have a dog that doesn’t like females. She’s pretty protective!”
The slew of Twilight attacks against ‘Antis’ (Twilight Anti-Fans) has also been reported in several media outlets. Students have stabbed, beaten and choked fellow students for not liking twilight. The website Twilight Sucks has even dedicated a forum for people to discuss their own violent incidents.
Such extreme behavior has been seen many times over if you think about sports and music fans. I think the shock about The Twilight Effect is that it is happening in young teens and comes from a medium perceived as generally quite passive.
The huge question is why Twilight? What is it about the story that provokes such a strong reaction among readers? The Times describes it as capturing "perfectly the teenage feeling of sexual tension and alienation." Emma Watson has described herself as a Twilight fan and said, "I love those books ... I literally felt depressed when I finished reading them".
It is undeniable that Twilight evokes a strong emotional reaction amongst its readers. I think the story of such a passionate love story leaves people feeling disappointed with real life and want to remain immerged in the saga in any way possible whether it’s branding themselves with the franchise or replicating the novel in the real world. They strive for the passion within Twilight. Reading about Bella and Edward who ‘belong together’ can make real relationships fall short. The relationship between Bella and Edward hits a chord amongst girls, especially young girls in the same way Romeo and Juliet became a classic. At the end of the day, I think it’s important that everyone remembers that Twilight is fiction and unfortunately not every love story is epic.
Charles Yu has published his top 10 time travel books on The Guardian
Encompassing poetry, quantum physics and sexual fantasy, the author of How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe selects his favourite reading about 'the fundamental weirdness of moving around in time
Warning: This is what happens when cat lovers and sci-fi mix!!
I'm a bit disturbed! But if your the type of person that is amused by dressing up animals and putting them in funny situations... (maybe a little!) Check out the original link.
The Difference Engine is William Gibson and Bruce Sterling’s frolic into steampunk. As I mentioned, it’s the first steampunk novel I have read and I wasn’t sure what I would think. I’m not a fan of 19th century literature having waded through it in University. In his review, Robert J. Sawyer, describes the book as challenging. I have to agree. Like over period books, it is a challenging read but in terms of imagination and fascination it is worth the struggle to the end.
The novel is full of real life characters and events. The novel centralizes around the idea that Charles Babbage's general purpose mechanical computer was successfully created; throwing Victorian England into the alternative history of a technological revolution in the midst of the ongoing industrial revolution. The result is a strange play on the late 20th century's information technology revolution full of gears and steam on the smoky cobbled streets of London. Gibson and Sterling create an England obsessed with industry and science meticulously (and corruptibly) upheld by the ruling ‘Industrial Radical Party’.
The plot (which is a bit weak) is focused on the search for ‘clacking’ cards which are used to program Babbage's computer. The Difference Engine reminded me of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway in the sense that although there is a plot, the main focus of the novel is the atmosphere and world that overwhelms the book. Also similar to Woolf, The Difference Engines’ plot is explored through a series of intertwined stories. Using several stories focusing on different characters and their worlds allows the reader to get a broader grasp of how this other London works and feels. I enjoyed this use of style, particularly because the first character (Sybil Gerald’s) accent and personality irritated me. Fortunately, she is only in the first story! In fact, in general the first and last sections of the book are slow. The first story is worth powering through and the last leaves you feeling without a resolution. If you like tidily finished novels, you probably won’t enjoy The Difference Engine. Each story has various ends untied and the mysterious clacker cards’ purpose is never truly brought about. I however, enjoyed this method as it gave the novel a sense of ‘real life’.
The novel does have some good plots. I particularly enjoyed the thread focusing on Mallory, a ‘savant’ or paleontologist/explorer who uncovers a Brontosaurus skeleton in Wyoming and then becomes involved in a thrilling mystery to find the illusive Captain Swing. This is followed by a murder mystery investigated by Oliphant, a secret agent of sorts who enjoys posing as a Journalist. These stories focus on interesting debates throughout the novel such as uniformitarian vs catastrophic geology, chaos theory, communism, media propaganda and influence which are alluded from the ‘kinotrope’ shows. This is done very well and showed signs of the deeper thought and meaning behind the novel that make the writers reputable.
This alternative history is saturated in impressively accurate Victorian detail and extravagant description of the steam and gear contraptions that keep London running. This is the true enjoyment of the novel; being drawn into a whole steampunk world stemming from the single idea of Baggage’s. It’s exciting to imagine the logistics of a giant mechanical data machine. Or indeed how the environment would cope with London as an industrial hub of smoke and pollution (well, maybe we all have an idea about that one!)
Ultimately, the novel reminding me a lot of Asimov in the sense that Gibson and Sterling created a fantastic world and through the story touched on issues and debates worth commentary. However, Asimov has an impeccable ability to make his description intricate yet simple to understand. A lot of The Difference Engine got shrouded in smoke for me. Also apart from Mallory, I didn’t have any empathy for the characters. So although it was enjoyable, the book will never be epic for me.
I actually enjoyed the novel Gossip Girl (I only read the first). I also thought it was a lot better than the show... And the show is quite good if you want some girliness and to look at pretty people for an hour! But a graphic novel?
New York City-based publisher Yen Press have recently announced that they will be featuring a new monthly manga series based on the popular novels by Cecily von Ziegesar in Yen Plus Magazine.
Rather than adapting the novels or TV series, Yen Press are creating a series of new stories called Gossip Girl: For Your Eyes Only which will be an "original re-imagination of the girls' senior year focusing on the lives of Blair and Vanessa."
The first installment will be in the January 2011 issue of Yen Plus magazine written and drawn by HyeKyung Baek, creator of another Yen Press / Ice Kunion series - Bring It On!
Firstly, I think Gossip Girl will really suit a manga adaptation. Serena actually looks alot like a manga pin up (Perhaps another Serena?). I actually first become hooked on comics through Sailor Moon! Secondly with Minx's (DC's imprint aimed at teenage girls) being cancelled in 2008, it is obvious publishers need to look at creative and accesible ways to get girls interested in the medium.
Stan Lee joins forces with MTV for new digital comic series... And you could be involved!
LOS ANGELES – MTV is joining forces with Lee's POW Entertainment to create new digital comic series The Seekers
The Seekers will be available for free on the new MTV Geekwebsite that launched earlier this week.
Lee announced to New York Comic Con in a telephone interview;
"It involves superheroes, it involves a very high-concept plot, it's a story such as you never have seen before, and it spans the centuries..."
"It's thrilling because it's a whole new discipline,"
he said.
"But it's a funny thing: Whether it's electronic, whether it's digital, whether it's on paper, whether it's on a television screen, it's the story that counts. You don't let the fact that there's a different area of exhibition change the fact that you need a great story filled with action and surprises and suspense."
Lee aims to turn The Seekers into a franchise, evolving into a film or TV series.
Here is the exciting part; where comic making gets interactive! MTV will hold a contest to find an undiscovered writer and artist to work on the new comic series. The winners will work with Lee to develop the concept and create multiple issues. Could the lucky winner be you?
PS: Is it just me or does Stan Lee always look so bloody cool?
Dark Horse Comics announced at the New York Comic Con a new and ambitious digital publishing plan.
Having previous sold comics through the apple store, they have now created the Dark Horse Bookshelf app which has eliminated all third party fees on its digital editions. Not only will readers be able to enjoy Dark Horse comics at lower prices, but comic creators will receive a greater percentage of each digital sale.
In short, readers pay less and creators make more money. YAY!
The Dark Horse Bookshelf app will be available on iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone and is due to launch January 2011
I got told off by a friend for not knowing what Steampunk was. It seems to have come back into culture with the voracious force of the latest cult trend. Her better references to make me pay attention were the new Sherlock Homes film, Howl’s Moving Castle and Alan Moore's The Extraordinary League of Gentleman. She then mentioned a book I should read... which I obviously forgot so I decided to do my own detective work!
Howls Moving Castle - Studio Ghibli
Steampunk immerged around the 1980’s, the same time as cyberpunk (hence the terminology). Whereas cyberpunk can be related to the punk movement, steampunk lacks the anarchist 80’s vibe that gave cyberpunk its edge. The steam part of its name refers to the steam era; the Victorian and early Edwardian 19th Century where the genre is set. Exploring steam worlds where the latest invention is the steam engine, steam punk draws from the romance and adventure of 19th century literature to create alterative realities.
The Time Machine - H.G Wells
Steam Punk is often associated with the works of 19th century writers H.G Wells, Jules Verne and Mary Shelley. Similar to these writers, steampunk creates fantastical modern day inventions from old fashioned gears and mechanisms run purely by steam: from airships to computers, submarines to multi purpose clock pieces.
Most of the novels are set in alternative histories that appear to be from the minds and perspectives of the 19th centurians. These futuristic innovations come from how they expected to world to evolve. Strong characteristics of this are steam and clockwork features such as gears and intricate mechanisms. The future seemed bright in the steam era and there was the hope that every new invention was just around the corner and could be developed with this industrial technology.
Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan) comments that the reenergized interest in steampunk may be due to this lost optimism,
“Is it possible that steampunk is making a comeback as acquiescence to the notion that our more recent apparently plausible models for the futures will never come to reality?”
Sherlock Holmes
I greatly enjoy films under the influence of steampunk. The costumes and sets are stunning. The creativity and fantasy that go into them, create an experience better than any historically accurate film. I’m a little skeptical if I will enjoy steampunk in writing though. I'm not sure if the magnificent imagery on screen can work on the page? I'm also not a big fan of historical fiction and don't want to be left reading some bizarre version of it?
Kit Stolen - Steampunk Fashion
I got myself a copy of Bruce Sterling and William Gibson's The Difference Machine and Kenneth Oppel’s Airborne which are listed as some of the top steampunk novels on http://www.faqs.org/shareranks/2814,Best-Steampunk-Novels Philip Pullmans Dark Materials were my favourite books as a child (number 3 in best steampunk novels) which makes me more positive about steampunk literature. If you have a chance to read it, the start of the books depicting an alternative oxford is one of my favourite impressions of an alterative history. I’ve just started The Difference Machine and other than having to put up with some cockney dialect it’s not too bad! I'm looking forward to giving it a review.
I found this post via http://sciencefictionbiology.blogspot.com/ by molecular biologist Hannah Waters. I thought it was a really interesting read. Why Scientists should read Science Fiction
What I loved most was the quote by David Brin which sums up perfectly why I love Science Fiction and think everyone who thinks it lacks intellectual thinking is an idiot!
Science fiction is badly named — it should have been called speculative history… Whether you are in a parallel reality or exploring the future, it is all about the implications of change on human lives. The fundamental premise of sci-fi is not spaceships and lasers — it’s that children can learn from the mistakes of their parents.
Studying communications at University illustrated to me just how much change effects society. How we communicate, how we shop, how we eat, how we drink, how we listen to music, how we travel, how we live: everything is changed by new inventions and discoveries. I read a great example of this concept this morning! Reading Zero History by William Gibson this morning on my commute, Hollis (an ex rock star character) grabs a coffee in Paris and speculates how the coffee houses have changed to the Starbucks mentality of ‘coffee walking’. Everyone has a cardboard cup and consumes their coffee on the run. Starbucks has never been as successful in Europe because it conflicts with the European culture of coffee as a relaxed social event:
“One either sat to do it, in cafes or restaurants, or stood, at bars or on railway platforms, and drank from sturdy vessels, china or glass, themselves made in France.”
But sure enough the globalization of frenzied caffeine runs is getting hold of the world!
The point of Science Fiction is to explore just how much these changes affect us. Whether its advances in technology, globalization, medical breakthroughs, environmental changes or even experimental marketing. Speculative history draws from our past, our failures and achievements and debates whether we will react similarly to different changes in the future. Science Fiction can act as the devil’s advocate and prompt us to think implications. How should we handle change? How should we prepare for the future? This is obviously extremely relevant for scientists. Their progress is reaching the cusp of fantasy; genetic cloning and artificial organs. They are ethically responsible to consider all the implications of their creations and make sure we don’t wake up one day living in a world where extra limps and good health are commodities! That being said, it was incredibly refreshing to read how Hannah uses sci-fi literature to ignite her excitement about Science again. I can’t imagine being a scientist but I can understand how sitting for days in a lab can make you forget the big picture.
Everyone is already contributing to change in the 21st Century whether it’s developing new medicine, tweeting, blogging or reading an ebook. Tweet
What I loved most was the quote by David Brin which sums up perfectly why I love Science Fiction and think everyone who thinks it lacks intellectual thinking is an idiot!
Science fiction is badly named — it should have been called speculative history… Whether you are in a parallel reality or exploring the future, it is all about the implications of change on human lives. The fundamental premise of sci-fi is not spaceships and lasers — it’s that children can learn from the mistakes of their parents.
Studying communications at University illustrated to me just how much change effects society. How we communicate, how we shop, how we eat, how we drink, how we listen to music, how we travel, how we live: everything is changed by new inventions and discoveries.
I read a great example of this concept this morning! Reading Zero History by William Gibson this morning on my commute, Hollis (an ex rock star character) grabs a coffee in Paris and speculates how the coffee houses have changed to the Starbucks mentality of ‘coffee walking’. Everyone has a cardboard cup and consumes their coffee on the run. Starbucks has never been as successful in Europe because it conflicts with the European culture of coffee as a relaxed social event:
“One either sat to do it, in cafes or restaurants, or stood, at bars or on railway platforms, and drank from sturdy vessels, china or glass, themselves made in France.”
But sure enough the globalization of frenzied caffeine runs is getting hold of the world!
The point of Science Fiction is to explore just how much these changes affect us. Whether its advances in technology, globalization, medical breakthroughs, environmental changes or even experimental marketing. Speculative history draws from our past, our failures and achievements and debates whether we will react similarly to different changes in the future. Science Fiction can act as the devil’s advocate and prompt us to think implications. How should we handle change? How should we prepare for the future? This is obviously extremely relevant for scientists. Their progress is reaching the cusp of fantasy; genetic cloning and artificial organs. They are ethically responsible to consider all the implications of their creations and make sure we don’t wake up one day living in a world where extra limps and good health are commodities! That being said, it was incredibly refreshing to read how Hannah uses sci-fi literature to ignite her excitement about Science again. I can’t imagine being a scientist but I can understand how sitting for days in a lab can make you forget the big picture.
Everyone is already contributing to change in the 21st Century whether it’s developing new medicine, tweeting, blogging or reading an ebook. Tweet
Scott Pilgrim is could be the bestselling graphic novel of 2010.
ICv2 have carried out retailer surveys and sales analysis that suggest that Bryan Lee O'Malley's series will top the six-digit sales of the illustrated adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight by the end of the year (thank god!)
Sales had obvious boomed after the six-volume series was adapted onto the screen by Edgar Wright's, remaining at the top of bookstore graphic novel charts for weeks.
Still haven’t seen Scott Pilgram... It makes me ashamed! Another one for the ‘To do list..’
Check out the Prequel comic that Warner Brothers has brought out. It’s pretty terrific!
http://inceptionmovie.warnerbros.com/thecoboljob/
Also if you have a chance, check out the Inception deviant art page, it’s full of some amazing fanart. They also have the project The Big Under to create a prologue from various artists work… Deadline is October 8th to get involved
Check out the trailer for the upcoming Burke and Hare movie starring Simon Pegg, Tim Curry, Isla Fisher and Andrew Serkis. I love anything with Simon Pegg, so pretty excited for this treat!
If you want to know more about Burke and Hare, you should check out the amazing graphic novel by Martin Conaghan and Will Pickering. It's a historical account of the notorious pair that divides the fact from fiction. The novels full of original documents, biographies, contemporary maps, portraits, street scenes, architectural drawings, fashion illustrations, photos of antique furnishings and fireplaces - it really is something special! The novel was signed to Insomnia Publications, my previous publishing contract until it recently ceased trading. Hopefully, all the novels previous published by Insomnia will carry on strong!
JK Rowling has hinted about the possibility of a new Harry Potter book.
Rowling, who completed the series with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2007, told Oprah Winfrey in televised interview: "They're all in my head still. I could definitely write an eighth, a ninth book." When asked if she would write another book, she replied: "I'm not going to say I won't. I feel I am done, but you never know."
Rowling also explained she spent a lot of time planning the series last words. After planning the last word of the Harry Potter series to be"scar", at some point, she changed her mind and wanted the final words to read "All was well."
Sitting in the same hotel where she completed writing the Harry Potter series, Rowling described the pressure of her quick rise to fame. "It was like being a Beatle. But there were four Beatles, so they could turn to each other and say "My god, This is crazy!" I couldn't turn to anyone."
"I kept saying to people, 'Yeah, I'm coping, I'm coping.' But the truth was, there were times when I was barely hanging on by a thread."
The Book Seller commented, if Rowling did write a further novel in the Potter series it could spark one of the biggest rights auctions in publishing history. Her publisher Bloomsbury only bought the first seven books in its original deal. Tweet Share
Because in all fairness, people don’t want to read, they just want to stare at Robert Patterson. You will learn very soon from this blog that I am NOT a fan of the Twilight saga!
Little, Brown is to release an official illustrated guide for fans. The guide will be an encyclopedic reference to the five existing vampire-themed titles. The latest addition to the teen saga was announced exclusively in The Bookseller Daily at the Frankfurt Book Fair. The 500-page guide with 100 illustrations, it will be published worldwide on 12th April 2011. In the UK the book will be priced at £17.99.
Megan Tingley, publisher and senior vice-president of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, said: "The book is over 500 pages and while it includes some previously published information, fans will be especially interested in reading the rich, detailed histories of all the key characters."
Vintage Classics has announced it will publish a series of classic science fiction novels with 3D covers – snazzy!
The five novels in the series are Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne, The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle and The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Tales by H.P. Lovecraft. Between the pages of these books you will find prehistoric creatures and spaceships, renegade captains and civilised apes, giant squids and forty-foot mushrooms. Vintage Classics is delighted to bring together the grandfathers of the genre in this highly desirable and collectible series. 3-D glasses will be included with each novel.
Suzanne Dean, Creative Director, The Random House Group says: "The 3-D cover is an idea I had thought of a long while ago and had been holding until the right book came along. The Sci-Fi project, with all its B-movie connotations, was the perfect match.”
I’m intrigued… Wish there was a pic! Will you be reading with your 3D specs on?
The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel…
I’m pretty exciting because William Gibson will be in Forbidden Planet on Saturday signing copies of his new novel Zero History. I am planning on being a massive geek and queuing with my hardback copy.
I first read Gibson when I studied Neuromancer at University. I should have heard of him before this; spending time at college studying ‘cyberpunk’. This involved watching Blade Runner over and over again and not delving into the man who has been acknowledged as its literal pioneer…In fact, I didn’t learn much at college. I just watched a lot of films.
Neuromancer is considered the first literal exploration of cyberpunk; the urban, neo-noir subgenre of science fiction. Not only did Neuromancer elevate science fiction into the edgy 80’s but the book coined the term ‘cyberspace’ and created a bizarrely accurate portray of the information age years before the popularity of the internet. The novel claimed all three major science fiction literary awards in 1984 - the Nebula Award, the Hugo Award, and the Philip K. Dick Memorial Award and became a cult classic. The one downside to reading Neuromancer in the ‘now’ is that it is incredibly hard to understand just how ground breaking it was. Most of the techno babble Gibson created is now in common use. His remarkably accurate portrayal of a future dependent on technology astounded to the point of speculation: were his ideas merely prophetic or did they help shape the technology of our future?
Neuromancer is a dark, dirty and gritty sci-fi and I would recommend it as a must read for any sci-fi lover. That being said, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea… Be forewarned: Neuromancer is as wordy as it is Punk.
The Plot:
Case is a former console cowboy, slumming in Chiba City, Japan. After betraying his former employers, Case is punished by a neurotoxin attack that damages his nervous system and his ability to jack into cyberspace. Depressed and suicidal, Case desperately looks for a cure to get back into cyberspace. He is now as addicted to drugs as he was to ‘the matrix’. He is approached by Molly, a cybernetic enhanced mercenary to offer him the deal of a lifetime. Molly’s boss, Armitage offers to restore Case’s nervous system in exchange for his services as a Hacker. Both Molly and Case are unaware of Armitage’s master plan, where their heist will lead…The story unfolds into an exploration of artificial intelligence and identity in an age where physical presence or appearance isn’t relevant anymore. Gibson also delves into the addictive properties of virtual reality (another impressive prediction).
On its own, I don’t think Neuromancer’s plot would meet the novel’s reputation. The writing style and themes behind Neuromancer are what makes it truly noteworthy. What I loved most about Neuromancer was Gibson’s writing style. Emulating the beat writers of the 1950’s, Gibson creates a jumbling and jumpy ‘stream of conscious’ style. This and his over use of techno jargon can make Neuromancer a tough read. However, the style brings a strong sense of confusion and disembodiment to the book which illustrates its main characters’ frustrations. The jumps also bring a sense of urgency and desperation that drives the plot forward. The overload of technological jargon serves a purpose: creating a bombardment of high-tech imagery for the reader. Science fiction is often a normal story set in the future and Neuromancer is no exception. Essentially a heist plot, the overload of description brings to life the futuristic setting and existential experience of cyberspace; fulfilling Neuromancer destiny as a classic sci-fi. It makes the plot exciting; enhancing the twists. Gibson also manages to keep the reader guessing by creating ideas that are never fully explained until we see the characters using the technology in a way that explains the madness. This being said sometimes Gibson does take the description too far and it becomes irrelevant rambling that hinders the plot.
Not everyone is going to love it. But if you’re a sci-fi fan, Neuromancer inspired so many authors and writing, it would be a crime not to read at least once.
