Comments on: A uni essay about two of the most influential books I have read

By: Anthony J. Langford

Anthony J. Langford — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 04:44:08 +0000

You did well to persevere for 600 pages!

That's a good analysis of 1984. And people in general. They want to feel valued more than anything and what better way than being admired. (Like those who do anything for the sake of a few 'likes')

By: Graham Clements

Graham Clements — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 06:21:21 +0000

Hi Beach Bum,I was not aware of the complaints, but they do seem to have missed the point of Star Trek. Perhaps they should watch that episode were a planet had two "races" one with a white left side of the face and a black right side, the other with a black left side of the face and a white right side. And just look at the mixture races/sexes of the original crew – Voyager had a very diverse crew too. There have been a few people upset about the next Doctor on Doctor Who being female too. I am looking forward to it as it might force the writers to look at different stories and different ways of telling stories. My complaint in my essay though, was more about the moral certainty of near flawless characters in some of the American science fiction I have read. I like flawed characters who question not only whether they are doing the right thing, but who get selfish every now and then and do things they want to do no matter the cost to others.The crews of the ships on Dark Matters and Firefly come to mind. Graham.

By: Commander Zaius

Commander Zaius — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 06:01:56 +0000

It had me rejecting a lot of American science-fiction due to its formulaic heroes: alpha males full of moral certainty.

Don't know if you have heard about all the white male whining over the main characters in the new Star Trek series, but it's both funny and sad. At first, all we saw in the trailers was an Asian lady as captain and an African-American lady as first officer. A lot of white fan boys were literally up in arms screaming about "white genocide" and "the producers are ramming diversity down our throats."

With the appearance of Jason Isaacs as the captain of the Discovery things have calmed down. But I have to wonder did any of the moronic white male protestors ever really watch Star Trek and understand what it was trying to promote.

By: Graham Clements

Graham Clements — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 00:39:53 +0000

Hi Anthony, 1984 has always had me thinking that most people live peer driven lives and not the lives they want to live. If you do decide to read Lord Foul's Bane, it is part of a trilogy, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, and then there is a very good sequel trilogy. In recent years he wrote a four book further series, which I got stuck on in the second book, it had very little to do with Thomas Covenant and also spent 600 pages going in a circle, ie the the book virtually ends where it started. So the first seven books are great, the eighth was crap. And I haven't read the rest. Donaldson would be my most read author, with three series, The Gap Into, which is pure science fiction, and Mordant's Need, which is fantasy. Graham.

By: Anthony J. Langford

Anthony J. Langford — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 11:12:06 +0000

Nothing more interesting to the writer than flawed characters. Without them, there can be no drama. One that hate's himself though. That's interesting.

1984 had a profound effect on me too. I re-read it last year.
I haven't heard of Bane.
I bought The Sea and Summer based upon your recommendation.
I think science fiction readers tend to be astute and intelligent generally. They(we) want something more than what standard fiction offers us. A glimpse at the alternatives, as we're already pondering them.

By: Graham Clements

Graham Clements — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 04:14:28 +0000

Thanks Satima.

By: Satima Flavell

Satima Flavell — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 23:44:36 +0000

A wise and thoughtful post,Graham!