Do readers dream of movie adaptations?

(tags book, 1968, science fiction)

I recently read Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Most people probably know it as original story inspiring the epic movie Blade Runner.

Um, my experience of reading the book was ruined because I already saw the movie. But of course! They are totally seperate, which is why the book felt ruined. I had the silly idea that the book should have a disclaimer that it's not related to the movie. Uh.

With that said, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. It's timeless sci-fi.

Spoilers in ROT13 below

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Borrow books or re-read yer collection: Baxter spree

(tags book, science fiction)

Over the last couple of weeks I've been re-reading some of my science-fiction books that I purchased a long time ago. I read The Light of Other Days by Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter, and more Stephen Baxter stuff like The Manifold Series which includes Time, Space and Origin. I am still looking around for my copy of Phase Space. Oh yeah, I also re-read his Timelike Infinity.

I think the whole thing started when I found that haven't read his 2006 book Resplendent, which finished off the Destiny's Children series. I found a copy at my local favorite (only?) import bookstore, Kobe Random Walk.

It was a shock to learn that there were closing down, because the parent company went bankrupt. Even the web page is dead, and I am searching Google's cache for more info without success. The Kobe location is still open, but the end seems near, because the sci-fi section is dwindling.

Just this weekend I finally applied for a library card. I don't expect to use it much, but I heard browsing and scheduling a book retrieval is easy over the Internet. But what exactly am I going to read in Japanese? I want to read some romance novels, actually. Then again, I could read my copy of Across Realtime by Vernor Vinge, again.

I am reminded to read a book read a book read a mother fucking book.

MOAR WANTZ: hardware version

(tags game, hardware, GameCube, Xbox 360, Dual Screen, television, science fiction, Contra)

Sorry for the title, but I just gotta get rid of my continuing irrational consumerist bent. At least for tonight.

I am searching for that GameBoy Player for the GC, but for the GC and DVD-playing combo unit Panasonic Q. I could level up my FFTA on the GameCube! But I keep losing the bidding on the auctions. I suppose I won't win unless I bid 1_0500 yen or more. Grr.

And yes, those Xbox 360 arcade sticks by Hori are still untouchable. The domestic Dead or Alive 4 or Virtua Fighter-themed Hori Fighting Stick EX2s seem to averaging 1_3000 yen at the bidding close. One recent auction was for the US version of the stick, and gone with the quickness for 1_0500 yen, whoa. The picture on the auction showed a Play Asia shipping box. Hm, duh, check there. I see it for a no-hassle 8250 yen, with free shipping to (within?) Japan. :-/ But no DoA polygon chick to soothe my fancy, har har.

I was contemplating getting one or two more Nintendo DS TV One-Seg adapters directly. I am using it at my rack daily, not even turning it off. I wonder if the screen will burn in? Since I have a couple of DS and DS Lites laying around, I should emulate the losers in the Max Headroom TV series. Whoa, nostalgia.

Episode 1 "Blipverts": Investigative TV news reporter Edison Carter uncovers the disturbing secret of a new TV technology called "Blipverts,” high-intensity commercials with the ability to overload people's neural network causing them to explode.

Imagine Japanese Blipverts. >:-]

Damn I wanna watch this series again. Reading the Predictions sections on the Wikipedia page makes me think it parallels the author Jules Verne's often accurate technological predictions.

I can't think of any other (specific) hardware that I want, save for the Asus EeePC, so this blog post is finished. Time to get whipped by Contra Dual Spirits (魂斗羅 Dual Spirits). I guess I'm looking forward to the hidden characters, fap fap.

Dated sci-fi but it's not too bad: Anything You Can Do by Randall Garrett

(tags science fiction, free, English)

I just wanna say right now that I'm reading more Free Speculative Fiction Online. One of the stories that stuck in my mind is Anything You Can Do by Randall Garrett (1963). I expect some antiquated plot devices and theories but there are always surprises.

Blindsight by Peter Watts, other noteworthy SF

(tags book, science fiction, free)

I read another excellent free book through Free Speculative Fiction Online, called Blindsight by Peter Watts. It's a near future space fiction about what to do after first contact, although a bit more psychological than technological. There is a long bibliography which makes this fiction more rooted in fact and logical speculation than others.

Spoilers below in ROT-13. SPOILERS

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END SPOILERS

Speaking of FSFO, I've read the other shorter stories and they are great. "Stars Seen Through Stone" by Lucius Shepard has great contemporary style and a knockout theme to boot. I am also glad that Ted Chiang is back to writing, with a award nomination as well: "The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate".

Nostalgia at Rainbows End

(tags book, San Diego, award, science fiction)

Vernor Vinge is one writer that is close to home, both literally and figuratively. He's a San Diegan like myself, and in fact is a retired math and computer science professor of San Diego State University. He's also one of the innovative science fiction writers with multiple Hugo Award under his belt. I (claim that) am a fan, but I have not read all of his works. In fact, the only one book I have of his is a tattered hardcover of Across Realtime, which I still hold in high esteem.

I only just now accidently bumped into his latest work online through the Free Speculative Fiction Online, because I was tired of not reading the RSS feed. I saw a listing of the 2007 Hugo Award Nominees (more than 8 month old, bleh), and Vinge's Rainbows End, available for free in HTML! What sci-fi fan could turn down that? It went on to win the 2007 Hugo Award for Best Novel, whoa.

I recommend this book! It has the realistic sci-fi treatment of the near future (2025?) of our Internet, government big brother vs anonymous little brother, wearable computing and the standard for books, while at the same time delivering fast-paced action. Though there is lots of high-tech pizazz, Vinge delivers the human element. He weaves strained family ties and deceits among conspirators and allies.

What I like, other than the coherent plot and believable action, is that the UCSD's (University of California at San Diego) architecturally distinct Geisel Library, takes center stage. I have spent years in this building, studying for classes, meeting friends, poaching study table openings, lounging around while reading novels and trying to absorb campus life despite living off. I have danced on the "third floor". When Vinge describes sitting on the south-east end of the sixth floor, I can personally recall the fantastic view looking out the windows over the inner campus and over parts of San Diego. I know the Snake Path he mentions. Vinge was SDSU faculty, but he gave UCSD some great advertising. Despite all the nostagia, Vinge laid down some real surprises.

I do feel sorry for the readers who won't understand all the geographical references. Also the novel didn't feel too US centric because of all the international backdrops and characters. Perhaps that's just me expending more imagination on the areas familiar to me.

Before I end with my spoiler'd review section, I just want to say that I'm going to recommend this book to my old school buddies in an private email. I bet they'll get a kick out of it, if they haven't read it already. And yeah, I'll try to get A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky, which I still haven't read!

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

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END SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

Go ahead and call me a coward: I Am Legend

(tags movie, science fiction, horror)

This weekend I watched the Will Smith movie I Am Legend. I went in without seeing so much as a trailer, though I did have to navigate to the official movie site to find a theatre. What breathtaking visuals. If Hollywood visual tech keeps improving like this, we won't be able to tell the difference between reality and CG (except for humans, I'm sure).

I must admit, I did not expect "horror" from this movie going in. And I hate to admit it, but images from the movie had me sleeping uneasy last night. And maybe tonight as well?

I like movies with simple plot resolution and an opening for questions. Too bad my movie companion did not want to discuss it much. "Wasn't it a great movie?" "Swell". WTF.

The original work is a novella by Richard Matheson in 1954. The movie however seems to be only related in concept, according to a review by Village Voice. No wonder there wasn't much use of the Internet. This makes me want to read the book.

Plus there's some mention of Bob Marley the singer. Smith's description of the artist "shot down but goes on" impressed me. He makes me want to find some music or at least read the wikipedia page on him. Hah.

The rest of my gibbering thoughts are in ROT-13: SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

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Finished The Time Traveller's Wife (book)

(tags book, fiction, science fiction, romance)

Just like one of the breathless recommendations written at the front of the book, The Time Traveller's Wife had me questioning the linearity of love. The constant jumping from time to time and viewpoint was like switching channels on the TV, random and totally unexpected. I am glad that the viewpoints are from both main characters, instead of just the time traveller's wife.

The first few pages show a Clare that knows Henry like a long-lost friend/lover but Henry doesn't know her is predictable, but the author adds zest to the scene by having her shout out and jump like she's won the lottery. Its zany and fresh but at the same time, the story has weight. I cringed and I wept as the characters experienced loss.

But ultimately we are not blessed/cursed with the unexpected, spontaneous time travelling, and we have to live love in the only possible progression we know.

From a technical point of view, I'm glad that the author didn't try to explain the time travelling too much. Its in his genes, but he's not doing Marty McFly. It was pretty funny of Henry being naked all the time. Henry is a practical man, eschewing stuff he knows he can't take with him the next time time snatches him away. He does have a lot of books, which let's the author's literary competence shine through. I must admit I tend to gloss and skip over anything that looks like a poem. I guess it needs to be a song in order to be palatable for me.

SPOILERS

I don't think it was fair that Henry visits Clare well into the future. I mean, she should be able to live without Henry but this gives her a false hope. But he knows this too and writes it in the letter. It's 50 years since he died so she could have remarried.

Anyways, how do you end a lifetime relationship?

END SPOILERS