Magisterial timeline of futures from science fiction, dreamed up…
Magisterial timeline of futures from science fiction, dreamed up my Maria Pavlova and rendered by Georgia Lupi.
“Science fiction isn’t just thinking about the world out there. It’s also thinking about how that…”
Work Futures Daily – A Small Step, Kinda
Work Futures Daily – Mobilizing!
Tentacles Coming Out of the Pigeonhole in All Directions
I was reading a 2013 interview with Ursula Le Guin, and discovered this wonderful beginning by John Wray, the interviewer:
INTERVIEWER
How do you feel about the term science fiction, as connected to your work?
LE GUIN
Well, that’s very complicated, Wray.
INTERVIEWER
I’m sorry. Are you at peace with it? Do you find it reductive?
LE GUIN
I don’t think science fiction is a very good name for it, but it’s the name that we’ve got. It is different from other kinds of writing, I suppose, so it deserves a name of its own. But where I can get prickly and combative is if I’m just called a sci-fi writer. I’m not. I’m a novelist and poet. Don’t shove me into your damn pigeonhole, where I don’t fit, because I’m all over. My tentacles are coming out of the pigeonhole in all directions.
INTERVIEWER
That’s how one can identify a sci-fi author, I guess—tentacles coming out of the pigeonhole.
LE GUIN
That’s right.
I guess if I ever turn my hand to fiction, it will have to be science fiction, or whatever Le Guin thought it should be called. Because of the tentacles.
What else I’ve been watching
I started this post when I was talking about The Wire, I figured I’d put out a list of what else has been keeping my attention TV wise these days. Its late, but I already wrote most of it so I figured why not. I’m not really a huge TV person, never have been. I tend to time-shift my shows and then watch them when I’m not doing anything else, which usually ends up being late at night.
- Battlestar Galactica: This has been one of my favourite television shows of the last few years and is now heading towards an ending. If you haven’t seen any of it, you should have. Its really, really good. Basically its a rimagining of on old science fiction show in which the human race is wiped out my a race of machines we’ve created and the survivors are forced to run for their lives while being hunted by the same machines. Along the way thugh it becomes a great meditation on the nature of humanity, morality, religion etc. Its science fiction at its upper end. I recommend highly.
- Big Bang Theory: This I was determined not to like. Its a sitcom about a pair of socially awkward physicists and their friends. I pretty much expected that the writers would settle for the dumbest possible nerd stereotypes, add no real depth and screw the story up. Instead, they kept the stereotypes but managed to add enough depth and authenticity to make them real people. Interestingly enough, there are quire a few scientists I know who are followers of the show because of how well its written and the inside jokes it throws our way. Also recommended
- The Unit: Dennis Haysbert shooting people and looking cool in the process. Need I say more? Its a bit on heavy handed in its stance at times,but its great pulp action and good acting. All things I’m partial to.
Other stuff I’m watching but not so keen on writing a short paragraph about, Mobile Suit Gundam 00 and the new season of Hajime No Ippo (yes, I like anime. It doesn’t say geek up there because I couldn’t come up with another name)
I was also watching Dr. Who and Torchwood until both seasons ended. I’m really, really waiting for them to start back up again, even though they shall no longer be servicing my Freema Agyeman crush. Again, if you are a science fiction fan and not watching these, your loss. Majorly.