Jonathan McCalmont is a critic of popular culture and science fiction whom I'll be watching. Not because I especially liked or agreed with his lengthy and rather incoherent screed: "Cowardice, Laziness and Irony: How Science Fiction Lost the?Future." In fact, I found his arguments dyspeptic and chaotic, cherrypicking examples in order to complain about this or that pet peeve.??
Nevertheless, while constantly aggravated I was also amused or fascinated often enough to keep reading and enjoying a chain of insightful snarks, some of which are extremely on-target.?
Hm... dolphins. ?Yes, that reminds me. ?Any exceptions Mr. McCalmont? ?But save that thought.
I might have hoped that McCalmont would have cited the work of SF scholar Judith Berman, who published a devastating?decryption of Isaac Asimov's SF Magazine, showing that its pages almost never portrayed problem-solving, progress, or even very often the future, but instead (sometimes artfully) wallowed in endlessly repeated themes of loss, regret and passive acceptance of limitation. The most frequently repeated lesson?? Ambitious endeavors often have unexpected side effects. (Duh?) Ah, but the lesson is, therefore, banish ambition.?
As you might expect, my biggest disappointment was McCalmont's reluctance to ponder exceptions -- authors who are trying to engage with the future and its myriad possible decision points, ranging from technological and social to political, scientific and transcendent.? No mention of Vinge, Robinson, Bear, Kress, Haldeman... or me. But beyond that, even when he takes on bold and eager authors, it is mostly in order to take jaundiced views of very narrow aspects of Iain Banks, Hannu Rajaniemi, Michael Chabon, Alastair Reynolds, and Peter Hamilton, without at least avowing that they try and try hard, to offer the grand vision he desires.? Nevetheless, in this review of a review-survey of some reviews, I do recommend McCalmont's screed. Don't get all in a twist where you disagree (you will!) He offers a different perspective and an ornery/contrarian one that challenged me! It got me sputtering and grinding my teeth.? That's the sort of fellow I like. I'd rather argue all night with a fellow like than, than spend an evening being flattered.?
== Br-interviews and podcasts galore! ==
== Sci Fi related miscellany ==???
== ...and... ==?
Wish I noted the URL. Otters eat the sea urchins that devastate kelp forests... that appear to be the fastest removers of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Otters otter get more appreciation, I guess.? Sorry, I couldn't kelp it.?
Source: http://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2012/10/has-21st-century-science-fiction-gone.html
marinol flight attendant pau gasol trade michael madsen spring forward day light savings day light savings
কোন মন্তব্য নেই:
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন