Musings

1. What is your reaction to the text you just read?          I found it strangely interesting… as in, I was disgusted by the concept of this centipede-like creature implanting eggs inside a human, and yet I couldn’t stop reading until I was finished. (For some odd reason, the gory and grotesque always fascinates me, especially if it involves some sort of underlying message/commentary on humanity itself. i.e, "Brave New World", "Atlas Shrugged"). In this case,    Octavia Butler seems to have a common theme within all of her works, in that she has some sort of message or theme to convey about humanity in some way, shape, or form (through descript sci-fi, filled with monsters and fantastical creatures). For example, in “Lillith’s Brood”, she reflects on the concept that humanity has an instinctual drive towards corruption. In this short story, she seems to be commenting on the overall morale of humanity through the character of Gan. One of several sibli...

Snow Crash is a rather complex novel that deals with the nature of humanity, including the past and the future. It's view of the future is positive, for the most part-- with certain reservations, of course, thus making it a perfect fit for the Cyberpunk genre of literature. Snow Crash  begins with an extremely effective opening hook (especially considering the genre of this novel!) which involves a loving description of a high-tech, armored driver and car. He's a man on a mission with wonderful high-tech toys who works for the Mafia doing a job that we all know and can greatly appreciate on a late Friday night-- h igh-speed pizza delivery.  It's a beautiful setup, even if the pizza delivery job doesn't last far beyond the opening pages. It introduces the reader to Hiro Protagonist -- yes, a seemingly stupid, yet unforgettable name. (Can you guess who the protagonist of the novel is yet? Hmmm, I wonder... )  Hiro is a skilled hacker and a great swordsman, but ...

The Left Hand of Darkness  addresses the concept of science fiction (exceptionally well for the times), as well as  feminism. It  is a book about making whole. It’s also a book about what it means to be a good person and where gender is significant in that.  It, in a way, defined what it truly was to be a man or a woman. I t’s a fantastical story set in a fascinating culture, and the content regarding gender is only part of that.  This deftly constructed story touches on all key themes, including the  complexity of  gender roles, both in their biological and culturally imposed  forms. LeGuin probes the nature of political institutions and  examines the fragility  of pacifist attitudes as they try to reach a meeting of minds  in a dynamic setting.  Overall,  The Left Hand of Darkness  is the story of the journey that the two main protagonists take together. What's more is that the book is written in such a way ...