I sometimes wonder whether dreams are only dreams. Yes, okay, this is going to be one of those surreal kind of blogs that sit on the very edge of sci-fi...sorry about that...
Last night I had a dream that I was on a planet far, far away (that sounds familiar!), and I was really happy. The planet wasn't necessarily beautiful - in fact it was pretty much rocky with a few oasis type places where the few people on the planet lived. There were no real buildings, no technology (don't scream...life CAN be worth living without computers...), and people only did what they needed to do to survive. It was some kind of utopian society, without the bullshit of everyone seeming to have something up their individual bottoms.
In the dream I knew about Earth, but I didn't want to go back. And, damn this dream seemed real. I've often wondered if there is something more to dreams - is it possible that they are not always just dreams, but may be something more? Perhaps even a way to see alternatives to what we have here?
I'd like to think so.
It's not that this planet is so awful, but sometimes I like to think there is more than this. Maybe it's even possible to enter a 'dream' and stay there.
There seem to be lights outside my house...hmmm...what do those men in white coats want?
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Jane Eyre in Space
I've just finished reading the most interesting novel. It's by Sharon Shinn and basically she has taken the story of Jane Eyre and set it in space. In case you aren't familiar with the story of Jane Eyre - set in basically an orphan girl is placed with her aunt who doesn't really like her, she ends up going to a boarding school, and from there goes to Thornfield Hall. And, that's all I'm going to tell you...so there!
Jane Eyre was set in the early 19th century, but Jenna Starborn (the alternate Jane) is set in an unidentified time in space.
I was initially sceptical about the book - but was pleasantly surprised. It was somewhat predicatable of course, given I know the story of Jane Eyre, but I did find myself intrigued as to how Sharon Shinn would incorporate aspects of the orginal story into her novel. It was an easy read and I enjoyed it. For a nice interlude between heavy sci-fi, Jenna Starborn is like a holiday on the coast doing nothing.
The one thing that has really been interesting is - my Mum! She's not really been into science fiction, but I convinced her to give Jenna Starborn a go. She read it in a couple of days and followed up with asking me 'is this science fiction? Is there any more like this?'. So, hey, if her books can get my Mum reading science fiction - I am all for Sharon Shinn's work!
Jane Eyre was set in the early 19th century, but Jenna Starborn (the alternate Jane) is set in an unidentified time in space.
I was initially sceptical about the book - but was pleasantly surprised. It was somewhat predicatable of course, given I know the story of Jane Eyre, but I did find myself intrigued as to how Sharon Shinn would incorporate aspects of the orginal story into her novel. It was an easy read and I enjoyed it. For a nice interlude between heavy sci-fi, Jenna Starborn is like a holiday on the coast doing nothing.
The one thing that has really been interesting is - my Mum! She's not really been into science fiction, but I convinced her to give Jenna Starborn a go. She read it in a couple of days and followed up with asking me 'is this science fiction? Is there any more like this?'. So, hey, if her books can get my Mum reading science fiction - I am all for Sharon Shinn's work!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Cloverfield
Okay, I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight. I just watched Cloverfield for the second time...
It is one scary piece of cinema! I think what makes it so scary is that it's not really clear at the beginning what's happening or what the 'thing' actually is. It's also the normality of it - say what? Normality? Creatures attacking New York? Have I lost my mind??
Let me explain - the movie starts with an everyday party with characters that could be friends of mine or yours. They are not typical 'movie' characters. I can imagine being at a party like that with people like that. If the lights suddenly went out and there was a loud bang - I could imagine my friends and I watching the news to try and find out what was happening. Nobody knows what's going on and everyone is starting to shit themselves. There's a bit of excitement and strange smiles as we get more and more nervous. Nobody knows what to do next.
If you have given Cloverfield a miss because you think it will be too much like 'Blair Witch' then put those sinful thoughts aside! Cloverfield is brilliantly done...and scary (have I mentioned that before?). About the only thing I found a bit odd was when they take off in the chopper - why the hell didn't the pilot fly away from where the creature was? It wasn't exactly small, so it was pretty easy to spot!
Aside from that though, Cloverfield is officially on my favourites list.
And, to finish off, here's a tip for you if you don't already know about it - keep your eye on the upper right side of the screen in the last scene on the ferris wheel...that's all I'm going to say...
It is one scary piece of cinema! I think what makes it so scary is that it's not really clear at the beginning what's happening or what the 'thing' actually is. It's also the normality of it - say what? Normality? Creatures attacking New York? Have I lost my mind??
Let me explain - the movie starts with an everyday party with characters that could be friends of mine or yours. They are not typical 'movie' characters. I can imagine being at a party like that with people like that. If the lights suddenly went out and there was a loud bang - I could imagine my friends and I watching the news to try and find out what was happening. Nobody knows what's going on and everyone is starting to shit themselves. There's a bit of excitement and strange smiles as we get more and more nervous. Nobody knows what to do next.
If you have given Cloverfield a miss because you think it will be too much like 'Blair Witch' then put those sinful thoughts aside! Cloverfield is brilliantly done...and scary (have I mentioned that before?). About the only thing I found a bit odd was when they take off in the chopper - why the hell didn't the pilot fly away from where the creature was? It wasn't exactly small, so it was pretty easy to spot!
Aside from that though, Cloverfield is officially on my favourites list.
And, to finish off, here's a tip for you if you don't already know about it - keep your eye on the upper right side of the screen in the last scene on the ferris wheel...that's all I'm going to say...
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