Rest in peace RIP VIII – your work here is complete!
3 November 2013
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Little Red Reviewer, Rinn's Reads, Sci Fi Experience, Stainless Steel Droppings RIP, Vintage Sci Fi
Break out the dust sheets and cover up those stacks. We have once again reached the conclusion of RIP hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings. Where did the time go. I feel like I only just posted the start of the event and there I was at the end. I think it’s fairly safe to say that this year’s event has just about turned into a historical fact with masses of bloggers taking part and about 500 reviews posted! Whew – that’s a lot of reading and looking at a lot of the posts Dr Sleep seems to have been very popular! Cant wait to read that one.
I really enjoyed taking part although I think I fell far short of my over ambitious plans.
My books this year:
- The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
- Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
- Skulk by Rosie Best
- The Returned by Jason Mott
- Charm by Sarah Pinborough
- The Shining by Stephen King
- The Dolls House (Sandman Series Vol 2) by Neil Gaiman
- Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
So, ahem, didn’t exactly stick to my original list although I did complete three of my intended reads.
The biggest surprise for me was The Shining. And what I mean by that was I didn’t expect to find it superior to the film (because I do like the film) – but it was far superior! I loved it.
The Boneshaker was a great adventure to read with dirigibles and zombies. Charm was a lovely twisted take on Cinderella and Something Wicked This Way Comes exceeded my expectations magnificently.
Just remains to say a really enthusiastic thanks to Carl for hosting another amazing year. I love Stainless Steel Dropping because it allows me to take part in so many great blogger events. Thanks Carl 😀
Now, don’t be too sad that this event has ended because as the saying goes, one door closes and another one opens up. Wave goodbye to all things chilling and get ready for flying saucers and little green men.
Firstly Sci Fi month over at Rinn’s Reads – check out the details here – a whole month celebrating sci fi. Then from December 1st Carl’s own Science Fiction Experience will begin which also dovetails nicely with Vintage Sci Fi hosted by Andrea at Little Red Reviewer in the New Year.
Thinking caps and space helmets on then to find some great books to take read for these events! May the Force be with you…
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
20 January 2013
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson, Sci Fi Experience, Vintage Sci Fi
Just finished reading Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. I’m reading this book to include as part of my Vintage Sci Fi being hosted by the Little Red Reviewer and also the Sci Fi Experience over at Stainless Steel Droppings.
This is the classic story of a man who experiments with his own nature with disastrous results.
I do have mixed feelings about this story. I can’t say I didn’t like it but at the same time I felt a little bit underwhelmed, I think perhaps I was expecting something a bit more horrible and dastardly. It may also partly be due to the fact that the twist in the tale is already known to me. Perhaps reading this story when it was originally written and not at that point knowing that Mr Hyde was in fact Dr Jekyll I can imagine the surprise you would receive.
What the story is really good at is looking at people’s nature. I suppose you could say that Dr Jekyll struggles in keeping himself on the straight and narrow. He comes up with the idea that by experimentation he can separate his two identities – the good and the bad – and with this in mind he basically develops a drug. At this point I’m not quite sure that the drug really worked in the way he intended. It allows him to roll back the years and become a less inhibited version of his self where he has no reserves or rules, Mr Hyde. Nobody likes Hyde. People shy away instinctively from him. He seems to ooze evil. Now, this is one of the parts I wasn’t sure of – did Jekyll really intend to just release the ‘bad’ inner self – the nature of which soon starts to dominate the ‘good’? Or was he hoping that by separating the two he would have more control over both sides. Effectively he develops two personas, Dr Jekyll himself does indeed seem to become more gentle and reserved but in splitting the two aspects of his nature the bad side seems to have the upper hand and Dr Jekyll begins to struggle in maintaining a presence at all. Again, is this because Jekyll was already more predisposed to the evil side of his character – it does make you wonder.
The start of the story is told through Jekyll’s solicitor who has recently rewritten the Dr’s will to ensure that Hyde inherits his fortune. The solicitor suspecting fowl prey begins to insist on seeing more of Jekyll to satisfy himself that the gentleman hasn’t become the victim of some scheme of Hydes. Of course, it becomes more and more difficult to see Jekyll as he is rapidly losing control to the bad side of his nature. Things spiral more out of control after Hyde is witnessed committing a murder which necessitates him going into hiding – difficult to do as the drug taken by Jekyll to induce the split seems no longer to work effectively and Hyde has become the dominant one.
At about two thirds into the story we then change tack in the way the story is told as we read a memoir written by Jekyll before his ultimate and untimely demise in which he writes of his experiments and subsequent struggles.
I did like the way this makes you think about human nature. Clearly Jekyll seem more predisposed to commit wrongs and struggled to remain on the side of good – in taking this drug he appears to have indulged not just in his own guilty pleasures but also in his own addictive nature. By the time he realises the damage he’s causing it’s already two late for him and he seeks solitude in a desperate attempt to remain undiscovered.
I certainly wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading this – it’s only a short story and very readable. I think personally I had some misguided notion about spending time with Jekyll as he tries to uncover his serum and works into the early hours, pent up in his laboratory and also maybe being more of a witness to the struggles he encounters during the change. I also hadn’t quite realised just how literal the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde change would be – I always kind of imagined it was almost like a dual personality – but in the actual story Jekyll physically changes – his looks, his age, even his stature.
Anyway, I’m glad I read this but I think it’s probably one of those books where it’s own fame has outreached the actual story itself.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A Heinlein
11 January 2013
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Robert Heinlein, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Vintage Sci Fi
Hey, smile if you bundled last night!!
Okay, that out of the system, just finished reading The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A Heinlein. I’ve read this as part of the Vintage Sci fi event I’m taking part in and happily this also counts to my other none challenge event being hosted over at Stainless Steel Droppings.
Oh my giddy aunt. What a thought provoking book. It creates a little tornado of emotions and, yes, (slight spoiler) it has a somewhat sad end (did I say somewhat! slight understatement) but it also has plenty of humour – a good deal of which I probably missed or that went over my head but, I’m getting away with myself.
The Moon really is a Harsh Mistress! Without a doubt. The story brings to us a Moon that has been colonised – mainly with criminals or political exiles but what is interesting is that the population is obviously now increased due to the number of people actually being born to families within these colonies (the reason I found this interesting is that there is no return to earth for any of these people – it seems a little like the children are also suffering from the sins of the parents in a way although it’s not like they could return on their own). The families live in underground tunnels and work hard to survive sending a good deal of their produce back to earth, probably as part of their punishment. They pay for air and they live without luxury. And yet, they seem content. They have their own strict rules that they abide by and woe-betide anybody who breaks the code – think of honour among thieves – put basically you keep your good family name, you settle your debts and you don’t step out of line otherwise you might as well walk out onto the surface without your airtight suit. Think not of being sent to Coventry but of being sent to a small planet in the outer ring of Saturn. Dead.
So, life goes on. However, the inhabitants have no idea that at the current rate that they are using the planets resources they are likely to run out fairly quickly and that will have disastrous results. (Actually, now I’ve actually stated that in print was Heinlein trying to make a point about our use of the Earth’s natural resources?)
At the start of the story we’re introduced to Manuel, who used to be a farmer but due to the loss of a limb is now an engineer who is frequently called upon to service the planet’s mainframe computer – Mike. Mike is developing a personality and Manuel or Man is becoming his only friend. Then step up and meet Wyoming and Professor de la Paz. Manuel meets Wyoming at a sort of political rally that goes a little bit pear shaped and means that the two of them have to keep a low profile for a while. Wyoming is something of a political activist, fairly well known in her home town and the authorities have their eye on her. The professor is a ‘rational anarchist’ – what a lovely phrase and contradiction in terms. Anyway, to cut a long story short and not to go too much into detail Manuel introduces his two friends to Mike. They pretty soon become aware of the impending threat to their way of life and start to cook up a rebellion. That’s all I’m going to say for the plot.
Put basically this is a book about revolution and an overthrowing of unacceptable control.
Like I said earlier, there is such a lot to think about in this book. I wish I’d actually kept some notes as I was reading because I’m sure that I’ve forgotten more than I ever knew and everything is now a big jumble! But, for example, the Professor’s idea of not living with rules – he basically states he’s a free man, he abides with the rules he can tolerate and not by those he can’t. Yet, we all do live with rules don’t we? Even in the colonies on the moon the inhabitants live by their own self-imposed rules. They don’t have a Government or Royalty or a President – and yet again, interestingly, when they begin their revolution they almost start to emulate the very systems on the planet they’re rejecting (puts you in mind of animal farm – no more farmer, all the animals in a co-operative until the pigs get bigger ideas that is). Really there is such a lot of interesting reading going on here.
I admit that at first I wondered what was going on with the form of writing. It’s told in a strange type of translated Russian – not sure whether that is a reflection on the author’s thoughts in terms of the Russian Revolution? or not?? But, it took me a little while to get used to it until I suddenly seemed to have turned a corner and was almost reading with an accent going on in my head! I also confess – when Mike kept saying things to Manuel such as ‘you’re my only friend man’ – I just thought he was imitating some strange type of hippie talk until it dawned on me that Man was short for Manuel (ahem, well I never said I was going to split the atom!) Anyway, once I got used to Manuel’s form of narration I found myself enjoying the book a lot more and actually understanding a lot of the fun that is incorporated.
I thought there was a lot of humour in the book, although there is a very strong possibility that I’m reading it wrong. And, I’m sure that I missed things that will be funny for some whilst laughing at other things that they may have missed. But that’s part of the reading experience after all. For example, I loved the little speech during the revolution that the Professor made to the crowds on luna – which was virtually the famous ‘we will fight them on the beaches’ speech made by Churchill adapted for the current situation. I loved the fact that the inhabitants of Luna are called loonies. And, I thought it was great that due to the ratio of men to women on the planet the women on Luna really do rule the roost! So original. Let’s face it chaps – one wrong move and you’ll find yourself ejected into outer space!
Now, obviously there’s a revolution and as we know from history we can’t have a revolution without some casualties. I won’t say any more except TANSTAAFL! Ain’t it the truth!
Very enjoyable read. Now reading Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep – only two chapters in but I think it’s got me already!
Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov, Group readalong part 1 Chapters 1 – 13
29 January 2012
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Foundation and Empire, Isaac Asimov, Vintage Sci Fi
This week I picked up Foundation and Empire as part of a group read along being hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings. We’ve read Chapters 1-13 and the questions and discussion points are below. If you’re not taking part but are interested head on over to Carl’s site and check it out! I should also say that if you haven’t read this or the previous novel, Foundation, then spoilers may be contained below.
1. In the opening chapters of Foundation and Empire we get to see things from the Imperial side. What are your thoughts on this part of the book? Were you surprised to find parts of the Galactic Empire that still seemed to be thriving?
It puts me in mind very much of the earlier comments made after the first readalong comparing the Empire with that of the Roman Empire. We have an Emperor who is constantly aware of the threat to his life from the ‘next’ strong general (which is how the current Emperor came to rule after all). Mistrust and jealousy are rife. And we have this sort of spoiled and pampered planet that actually contributes virtually nothing to anything and by sheer brute force has the surrounding planets subservient to it’s needs. Strangely, even though it seems to be thriving it isn’t really. It’s losing any sort of knowledge that it once had and is just a hotbed of maneouvering, bribery, manipulation and internal politics with the Emperor sat in the middle of his web ultimately trusting no one.
2. The examination of psychohistory continues in this book. What are your thoughts about the statement that was made: “Seldon’s laws help those who help themselves” in light of our previous discussions about Seldon, his predictions, and the interaction of the individuals that we are exposed to in the story?
Psychohistory was explored a bit more this time round and I suppose it was shown that the actions of the individuals aren’t necessarily influencing the outcomes. But, even though that might be the case, I do think Seldon’s laws help those who help themselves. Basically there are always people who are quick to see and take advantage of a situation if possible and the predictions by Seldon helped those people to be in a position to do so.
3. How do you feel about Devers, Barr and Bel Riose? Did you like this section of the book and/or these characters? Was there anything about their stories that stood out to you, entertained you, annoyed you?
I really liked Devers and Barr and thought they were a really good pair to read about. I enjoyed their partnership. Devers insinuating his way into Riose’s captivity and behaving as though he knew nothing but all along with his own agenda and Barr who was just totally laid back in his confidence that nothing would change the outcome. Although, even though Barr insisted throughout that the Empire would fail he still allowed himself to go and try one last trick with Devers. I liked the twists – if I’m going to be honest I did keep thinking that their efforts would have an impact, and I suppose the previous stories gave an expectation of this so this felt like a learning experience – I felt like I hadn’t been listening! All along we’re told Seldon bases his prediction on huge numbers not individual actions and yet I got totally sucked into Devers and Barr’s mission to see the Emperor. I wouldn’t say I disliked Riose although I don’t suppose he was a particularly nice fella – not to the extent that I disliked Brodrig. He was young and ambitious and obviously knew what he was about – his failure was ultimately caused by the paranoia of the Emperor who was afraid of anybody else’s success. In terms of being annoyed – I suppose Trantor was annoying – it didn’t seem to have anybody decent at all – everybody seemed to be corrupt or open to bribes.
4. Perhaps continuing from Question 2, do you agree or disagree, and what are your thoughts on, Barr’s devotion to Seldon and his belief that the “dead hand of Seldon” was guiding the events that led up to Riose’s undoing.
I suppose, given that a lot of Barr’s knowledge of Seldon/Foundation had been gathered secondhand over a fairly lengthy period of time it would be easy to wonder why he was so confident about events. But, I think that he was also playing a game. It’s like his very confidence and calm demeanour was almost infuriating to Riose and was goading him to take the action he did. I can’t help thinking that Barr played Riose very well – he was the one who told Riose about Foundation in the first place and piqued his interest enough to want to go to war and really it helped to serve the rebellion that was brewing on his own planet so I thought it was very cleverly done. (Of course I’ve probably got the wrong end of the stick there!)
5. Did you think I was lying to you when I said in previous conversations that there are more female characters in books 2 and 3, LOL, since we didn’t get to Bayta until near the end of this portion of the read?
I knew we’d get to that part eventually! All good things to those who wait…
6. We haven’t spent much time with them yet, but talk about your initial impressions of Toran and Bayta.
Well, if first impressions are anything to go by, and unless something goes horribly amiss, I think I’m going to enjoy reading more about Toran and Bayta and I’m intrigued about this Mule not to mention the end of Chapter 13! I was pleased at how much I enjoyed reading about the two of them – it felt a little more grounded almost with the two of them new to a relationship and going to meet the ‘in-laws’. I didn’t think that I was particularly missing the inclusion of females in the stories so far but maybe on a different level I was because I thought these chapers were really good. I think Bayta is going to be resourceful and tough, she’s confident and not afraid to have her own opinions. I was really surprised about her description of Foundation – I’m probably not going to articulate this well but it felt to me like it was going down hill rather more quickly that I thought and seemed to be mimicking the mistakes of the Empire. It puts me in mind of Animal Farm – the animals want change and they’re all going to work together – but ultimately does it work? Foundation started out different, no power, small planet, clever people, not aggressive but slowly and surely they seem turning into a mini Empire!
Thanks Carl
A Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
8 January 2012
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Jules Verne, Vintage Sci Fi
Just finished reading A Journey to the Centre of the Earth which I have read as part of the Little Red Reviewer’s Vintage Sci Fi (not a challenge). I don’t suppose this story needs much introduction really. In a nutshell this is a story of a professor and his nephew who, after discovering a mysterious parchment and uncovering the content embark upon a dangerous journey. A journey to the centre of the earth. Following in the footsteps of Arne Saknussemm – an explorer who made the same journey a few hundred years earlier.
I’ve been meaning to read this book for some time and so this none challenge gave me a little push in the right direction. I really enjoyed this story and the way it’s told. The story is told in the form of a memoir by the ever complaining nephew Harry. Harry does not want to undertake the journey, he is very aware of the dangers and the idea of climbing down into a volcano doesn’t appeal. To be honest Harry does come across as a little bit ‘cowardly’ at points but that being said I’m totally on his side in not wanting to climb into a volcano – extinct or/and definitely not otherwise!
This is a really imaginative story – the idea of coming up with the worlds beneath the crust of the earth – I’m not sure that anything has been done like that since this book? I must admit that upon reading, and already having seen the film and a tv adaptation some time ago I did have preconceived ideas of what to expect and I suppose the element of surprise was stripped away in certain areas. However, the book does still hold some surprises.
What I found really enjoyable was the different characters, the uncle, cool and stubborn who absolutely refuses to be thwarted in his goal to reach the centre of the earth and never doubts their ability to succeed. Harry, who for the most part of the book, spends his time worrying about every conceivable way in which they may die upon the adventure whether by earthquake, volcanic eruption, starvation, lack of water or any number of other things that I won’t go into. And Hans, the Eider Duck Hunter, who is their steady and reliable guide. Strangely enough, and despite all their education and knowledge neither the professor or his nephew would never have stood any chance at all with their adventure if not for Hans – he is the definite unsung hero! And, more to the point with these characters, is the way they interact with each other which at times is very amusing. We get to hear all Harry’s inner thoughts, and then we hear him voicing these to his uncle, couched in ways not to aggravate (because the professor can have a bit of a temper) and then we hear the professor shoot Harry’s theories down in his calm, collected way.
The other thing I really liked was the old fashioned style of story telling and writing which lends the story a strangely amusing appeal. One particular part of the story where the adventurers have uncovered a most fantastic cavern of huge proportions and with some strange inhabitants Harry, who is unable to believe what he is actually seeing but has no choice but to do so, says ‘I looked, shrugging my shoulders, decided to push incredulity to its very limits. But whatever might have been my wish, I was compelled to yield to the weight of ocular demonstration.’ ! who on earth says that – it made me laugh (in other words seeing is believing). That phrase is a definite keeper.
Now, in all this, one thing that you must be aware of is that although Jules Verne was considered to be something of an expert in this area of writing you clearly have to remember when this book was written. Advances in science are always moving forward and therefore some of the speculation and theories of the Professor and Harry have dated or become completely null and void. The other thing is you really do have to suspend some of your disbelief in certain areas – for example, the notion of building a raft out of bits and pieces of wood to set sail on a massive ocean – which can withstand the brunt of terrible weather – is a bit of a stretch, as is the method of expulsion of our travellers from their volcano. But, don’t we suspend our disbelief in many of the works of fiction we read? I suppose what makes you more critical of these stretches of imagination with this particular novel is that it comes across as very factual with all sorts of detail to try and lend it credulity so when you do read certain areas you can’t help thinking ‘no way’ – I suppose that shows the talent of Jules Verne really in that he carries you along on this tale and makes you feel it’s believable (but for a few parts).
All in all, a great read.
In conclusion, my particular book says on the jacket that Jules Verne is considered to be the father of science fiction. Not sure if that’s something that everybody will agree with or not. He certainly tells a good and imaginative story backed up with a lot of what was, then, considered to be believable science. Personally, if I had to make a choice, I would probably veer towards HG Wells, simply because I think some of his works, and The Time Machine in particular, are so brilliant. Maybe it’s down to the different writing styles and I suppose the fact that my copy of JttCoTE is a translation, and not possible the best one produced! But there it is.
A fun read.
Rating B+
Books and travelling with Lynn 