"Lilith's Brood"

This week I had no homework and absolutely nothing to do. I remained home while everyone else got see their families. So i decided to occupy my mind with reading. I decided I was going to read all of Lilith's Brood by Octavia Butler.

The week's reading consisted of three books that come together to form the novel, Lilith's Brood. All three books are science fiction novels. In this novel, we are introduced to a new species called the Oankali. The main characters of this story, however, are humans. These characters are Lilith and her children. Her children were altered genetically. The novel begins with Lilith being revived by the Oankali after a nuclear war on earth. Humanity nearly killed itself. The war almost destroyed the entire human species. During the war, the Oankali watched far off in space. The Oankali's agenda is simple: to colonize planet Earth. They aim to collect a number of humans and create a hybrid species from them. Of course there are humans opposed to the Oankali and oppose their aim to genetically alter humanity. Lilith's son was genetically altered by the Oankali. When he is discovered by human rebels, he is taken to a hidden prison. The book ends with Her other son, Judahs. Judahs is able to combine both human and alien societies.

What interested me the most was not the main character, or her children, but rather the ambition of the Oankali. I believe that much of the metaphors and analogies were all meant to bring out the idea of colonization. This means that colonization would always take place, since advanced technology gives more power to those that have it. It also suggests that other species may not be so different from ours. Hierarchy (the need to control and be on top) is still present in this other spices. Although this species is peaceful and seems to have good intentions, in my opinion they are still playing God's hand.

Blade Runner

I know this post my not count as a grade, but since I have had too much homework I decided to just watch a movie this week. Blade Runner, directed by Sir. Ridley Scott, is my all time favorite science fiction movie. The movie has all my favorite genres combined together: film noir, detective, thriller, science fiction and action.

What I appreciate most about this movie is the futuristic environment it takes place in. It is a dark and advanced dystopian city. Cars can fly and buildings are taller than today's skyscrapers. As we distance ourselves away from the earth, and thus nature, we become less human, hence replicants. Almost the entire film takes place in evening or nighttime. The scenery is gorgeous as it shows the vast possibilities of technology.

To me, the most incredible aspect of this film is the gorgeous lighting. The lighting is extremely visible, since smoke is constantly diffusing it. It usually comes from a window creating a dark shadows where it does not touch. The lighting is always artificial as most of the film takes place during night time. This contrasty lighting with the dirty downtown cityscape creates a film noir style.

The music, by Vangelis, is perfect for the film. It is all electronica music, thus made from computers.

Ridley Scott trys to stay completely away from the organic. In the end we are not even sure if the protagonist, Deckard, is human or cyborg. Deckard is a blade runner. He is forced on a mission to terminate four cyborgs that have come back to earth to find their creator. Deckard is reluctant to carry out the job. As cyborgs are able to develop their own feelings over time, killing one is almost liking killing a human. In fact when Deckard kills the first cyborg, a woman, we feel some sympathy for her.
Deckard is troubled by his job, and he lives his life in the darkness of his empty apartment.

Babel 17

Babel 17 is a science fiction novel written by Samuel R. Delany. The story takes place during an interstellar war. The female protagonist, Rydra Wong, is sent to find out how the enemy is able to predict their strategies. This science fiction is different from any other that I have seen or read. The main focus is the new language that Rydra discovers. This language is called Babel 17. Once you learn it, you gradually turn into a traitor. It alters your mind and way of thinking. When Rydra finally realizes the effects of the language, she gradually neutralizes its effects.

The main theme of the movie is how language limits thought. Without language you cannot think. You need words for thoughts. Babel 17 can determine the actions of those who learn it.

One thing that bothered me about the novel was the lack of description of the environments and settings. I felt that I only got a sense of the world rather than a true and clear understanding of it. For example some of the props are not described to the fullest. 

Gully

This is the first time in my life a read a true science fiction novel. Much of the story is at times too complex, but it is overall interesting and satisfying. The novel's protagonist is Gully Foyle and the setting is the future in a war-stricken, hyper kinetic solar system. Throughout the story Gully turns from a mere human to a hero for mankind. Vengeance is the dominant theme of the novel. Gully is the sole survivor of a wrecked ship called the Nomad. Another ship, the Vorga, flies by but does not stop to aid the ship. He tried signaling the ship, but the Vorga leaves him to die there in outpace. He vows eternal revenge on the people who left him out there. The pressures of his circumstances forces his intellect. Gully now only has one objective: to find the commander of the Vorga and kill him. Vengeance drives him throughout the story. Towards the end, vengeance stops becoming the dominant theme and is replaced by the survival of mankind. He is a complete anti-hero since we want him to succeed even though his actions are harmful and selfish.


What I love most about the story is the tattoo on Gully's face. The tattoo comes out whenever he is looses control of his emotions. The markings thus show his emotional state. He trains himself to become more disciplined in his emotional reactions.

Brandon Sanders War Breaker

Since I've been swamped with work this week, I was only able to read about a hundred pages of this novel. War Breaker, by Brandon Sanders, is a novel about two princesses. Vivianna is the brightest and most intellectual of the two. Siri on the other hand is the youngest of the two and is kinder. In their world, it is not money that counts, but rather the amount of breath you have. Breath is another word for the soul, and it is either traded or sold. The more you have, the more abilities you acquire. There are also Gods in the story. These are returned gods who do not understand their position. There is much misconception as no one knows what these Gods truly do. The story is filled with intrigue and mystery.

Neil Gaiman Anansi Boys

I was unable to read the entire book. The novel by Neil Gaiman, is interesting and entertaining at the same time. The novel has a great sense of humor. The book is essentially about two brothers that find each other and go on a journey together. Their quest is to explore their background and heritage. 

The story is basically about a minor deity who has two children that had never met. One of them, Spider, is the only one that posses powers. He is able to transform into a spider and do other things.  The story is set into a modern world. What I appreciate most is the African culture and traditions put into the modern world. Gaiman successfully brought mythology into modern literature. The main character is Charlie because he has much to change about himself. He reflects over his childhood in the hopes of understanding why he has failed in life. The story unfolds quicker as his confidence grows and develops. Also, with the introduction of spider, he is also introduced into the magical world. It is another way of the 'Hero' leaving the known world for the unknown world, where he will have to deal with unknown conflicts.

There is also another story in the novel involving another character, Grahame Coats. This character is Charlie's boss. Spider discovers long-standing practice of financial fraud. Spider, in the guise of his brothers reveals this knowledge to Grahame in order to not get fired. Grahame keeps Charlie but later is able to frame him for the financial fraud. Thus Charlie faces his brother and his own boss. One with magical powers and the other with financial powers.

It is interesting and humorous to see the relationship between Charlie and his brother. Both are exact opposites. Spider, unlike charlie, is wealthy, charming and the center of attention.

Lev Grossman The Magicians

Unfortunately because of my busy week, I was not able to read the entire book.

The Magicians is a fictional story that revolves around Quentin Coldwater, a brilliant yet miserable high school student. His life changes dramatically when he is given a secret invitation to join an unknown college of magic in New York. Once enrolled, he learns the secrets to wizardry and is taught how to summon enchantments. Coldwater's miserable existence slowly fades away as he settles more into the magical community. He slowly familiarizes himself with new discoveries: love, friendship, loss, boredom, etc.

I didn't really enjoy the amount I was able to read from the book. It reminded me much of Harry Potter and it wasn't as interesting. There didn't seem to be much magic and it lacked any optimism. I was unable to fully appreciate the main characters or even the other characters. I felt that the author tried to hard in incorporating an existentialist outlook to the novel and just didn't pull it off well. I feel that he should have stuck with pure fantasy. In the end, the book is too cold and sterile.

However, there are a few things I did enjoy in general about the novel. Coldwater turning from a nobody into a sorcerer is done well here. It is interesting to see the evolution from man to sorcerer. Grossman successfully conveys the huge rush of empowerment a disenfranchised teen would feel if magical powers were suddenly introduced to him.

The Hobbit by Tolkein

The Hobbit is a fantasy novel about the heroic tale of Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo is a simple, home-loving, hobbit who lived all of his life in the Shire, a community of peaceful hobbits. Bilbo embarks on a quest with a wizard named Gandalf and a band of dwarfs. The quest takes up almost the entire novel. It is a sort of right of passage for Bilbo, as he becomes more mature and wiser. He journeys away from the comfort of his home to the dark unknown territories of the Wilderland. After all his encounters with danger, he succeeds in doing something grand and heroic by facing the Dragon. In the end Bilbo lives to share his tale and returns home to the Shire. Bilbo's journey is a great example of the hero cycle. He explores his identity and confidence with the world beyond the Shire. Bilbo was first introduced as a timid and easily frightened hobbit. But he later proves to prove himself multiple times. He never lets himself be engulfed by greed. Stones and precious jewels do not corrupt him. He learns to become selfless and put the needs of others before his own. Indeed Bilbo transforms himself from a common hobbit into a purely heroic figure.

What I appreciate most about the novel is Tolkein's way of describing his fantasy world. He describes it in full detail so that we can immerse ourselves into his world and creation. His descriptions of the extraordinary are approached in a casual manner, so that the reader does not feel that he is trying to be convinced. It is fascinating to enter Tolkein's world and get to know his imaginative characters. The different races (elves, dwarfs, trolls, goblins) are different physically and morally.

We can also detect a sense of humor in Tolkein's tone. Even in Bilbo's most dangerous moments, Tolkein is able to sooth the tension with his wit.

American Psycho Bret Easton Ellis

This was a fascinating book to read. I had never read a book told through words of a psychopathic serial killer. The killer's name is Patrick Bateman, a wealthy businessman who graduated from Harvard and now works for his father's company. On first appearance, Bateman seems to be a well educated, successful businessman who is charming and humorous amongst women and his co-workers.

This novel is a psychological thriller that is told by serial killer and businessman, Patrick Bateman. The novel is simply Bateman describing his day to day life. He goes to expensive bars, and nightclubs, comments on expensive clothing, makes dinner reservations with his wealthy business partners and brutally murders his victims. What is most disturbing is that no matter what he describes, the reader percieves no true emotion in his voice other than the occasional disgust and greed. I believe that Bateman represents American capitalism since his only interest is to be on top and kill any competition that's holdin him back. Gradually Bateman's murders become more frequent and more brutal in nature. He even goes so far as to pull out the insides of his victims from their mouths while they are still alive. the murders consist of mutilation, rape, torture and cannibalism. However, as the story progresses, Bateman's state of mind becomes increasingly unstable. He has visions that seem to be real. The reader begins to question whether Bateman is actually committing these murders or whether they are some twisted fantasy that is going out of control. 

What really disturbs me about the novel is Bateman's indifference in describing the mutilations and other atrocities he commits. Even as Bateman's mask of sanity slips away, he still speaks in a calm and very descriptive manner. Its clear that without emotions, man is unable to control his morality. Bateman's thirst for blood increases and he is unable to control his obsession with murder. There is no connection between the victims.

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

Generation Dead did not prove to be your typical zombie book, where corpses rise back from the dead to haunt and kill people randomly. Instead it is about a minority group of people, who share similar features to those of zombies. These people's organs do not function. They are slower in the movement and actions and seem to only be capable of thinking and talking. It is unclear why this phenomena is happening or how this genetic mutation came into being. What is even more strange is that it only happens to American teenagers. Generation Dead thus brings up the struggles that minority groups face against the rest of society. Discrimination, xenophobia, and ignorance are important themes in this book. This social minority faces continuous harassment, from being called "corpsicle" to being burned alive. I appreciate how this book shows these important, existing, social issues while also creating a humorous story about zombies. It is not often that the reader is sympathetic with zombies. It even leaves out the gore that we are used to from zombie stories. Zombies are usually a danger or a threat to society, but this book approaches it from another angle. It is also a coming of age novel. The main character, Phoebe Kendell, and her two friends, Margi and Adam, prove to be somewhat heroic in her struggle to integrate the "zombies" with the rest of society. Kendell's curiosity and attraction to one of the zombies lead her to enter the zombie's organization. She is a goth teenager and so is already familiar with being ostracized merely for being different. By establishing a new relationship with Tommy, Phoebe leaves her familiar world and enters a world of fear and struggle. There are no laws that protect the zombies, since theoretically they are  already dead. There are many dynamic characters in the story. Not all the zombies act the same. Each has his own opinions and struggles. there are those that want to be accepted by society while there are those that are against it, as a result of harassment.

Elements of Horror in Frankenstein

The elements of horror are used throughout the movie of Frankenstein. There are moments where the movie arouses emotions of terror, and disgust. Curiosity is always aroused in many cases throught the unkown, especially when Frankenstein is about to uncover a hidden room. He becomes intrigued to voluntarily travel deeper into the castle's mysteries. Fantasy and the supernatural also play crucial roles in the film. Frankenstein wishes to bring to life his own creation. Furthermore, Frankenstein seems to loose his sanity the closer he gets to realizing his goal. The lighting and setting sets the dark and mysterious atmosphere. Frankenstein is a character the fits the Gothic formula. His sensibilities are sympathetically familiar and contemporary. He is removed from the normal world that we ourselves are familiar with and placed into a darker setting. Also, Frankenstein sets to live up to his father's work.