Isaac Asimov: Foundation

Foundation by Isaac Asimov
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Isaac Asimov was a genius who thought that people who were geniuses were pretentious. He wrote pulp science fiction, invented some laws of robotics, and was a proud humanist.

In many ways Asimov is akin to Philip K. Dick. They both wrote science fiction that found itself entrenched in the pulp side of things. However, these two managed to take the science fiction genre and add some real insight and thought. They both possessed a unique vision of the future, one that could be dark and cruel, or good and kind.

However, the similarities stop there. Dick's works could be dense and surreal, filled with strange occurrences and religious epiphany. Asimov was not so surreal as that. Dick's work relied on the every man, while Asimov was a fan of the academic.

This is not to say that Asimov is not readable or that he is unperceptive to the average person. Rather, he puts it on the people who have access to knowledge to be leaders and to use their knowledge wisely so as to lead us to a better future.

This is shown best in Foundation. Here we have a sprawling space opera that shows the rise and fall, trails and tribulations, and the work required to make a civilization grow. It is deep and the action is not that of the laser blaster being fired or a space war, but more the tension of the politics, the not knowing if they new civilization will survive the failing empire that surrounds it.

To some this may seem a rather boring undertaking and, at times, it can drag. However, the thought that Asimov put into this work and the way in which he shows us how one civilization might raise. It is a story of people and republic, not of heroes and dragons. While this story may take place in outer space it is not so far removed from the world that it fails to represent what challenges we face as humans.

If I have not said it before then I will say it here and now: the most amazing thing reading can do is connect us back to the world in which we live. It is not about escaping the problems of the world, that is not what makes art powerful or moving. It is rather that, be it just something that makes us smile and laugh, or something that makes us think of what is around us, we come out of it and feel more connected to what surrounds us.

Many times it is assumed that a writer writes only to entertain or to allow escape, however, that is not the case. Entertainment is a fine thing. I won't lie to you and say that I don't find Bay's Transformers films entertaining, or find Batman & Robin to be something fun to watch. However, when I am finished with them then I have been given nothing, have taken away nothing. When I am done with Foundation or with Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey I feel as though I been given something, as though I have come away and found myself a better person, a person better connected with the world.

Asimov is a man that understands that, perhaps better than he is given credit for.


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Toula Mavridou-Messer: Mortal End: A Simmering Pit of Jiggery Pokery

Mortal End: A Simmering Pit of Jiggery Pokery by Toula Mavridou-Messer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was a really interesting blend. It had a sort of Gaiman take on Terry Pratchett humor, which I found to be very interesting. It also managed to build an interesting and grotesque world.

It isn't often when I find a book that builds up a world quiet so well as this one. It really felt like the town had history to it, demented as that history may have been. History is a funny thing. It can easily be over-looked when creating a story and a lot of times it isn't a huge deal when such things happen. Walking the line between a vivid world and a vague world is an art in and of itself.

That is not to say, of course, that creating a world is not important. Far from. Environment is key as without it there is no way to influence the characters and their actions. That being said, there have been many great novels where the setting is secondary, such as Vonnegut's "The Sirens of Titan."

This novel, however, constructs an interesting and plausible world with ease. Further, it produces a history to that world and its characters. It does this without arduous details and lists of family histories, which is far from easy, even for the most seasoned of writers.

I also enjoyed how each character had their own motivations and plans. Each character had his own personality and way of doing things, yet they were also uniquely damaged and deranged.

There were, however, times when I felt that these characters fell a little flat, yet those times were few and far between.

No, if there were any real issues I had it would be that, at times, it felt as if the multiple threads of story were a little too spread out. It did not feel as though they connected and, during those times, I felt myself removed from the setting.

Aside from that, however, this book was quick, strange, and easy to read. If you are looking for a dark fantasy mystery that you can breeze through then this is a great place to come.

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Naruto in Retrospect

Naruto, Vol. 01: The Tests of the Ninja by Masashi Kishimoto
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Naruto is probably one of the most popular manga/anime that has enjoyed success, and it is very easy to see why. In the character of Naruto we have someone who refuses to give up on his dreams. Someone who is not a genius, but rather a normal person that comes to be a genius through hard work. Naruto, throughout this story, grits his teeth and never give up.

In the face of fellow Ninja, such as Sasuke or Neji, you know, actual genius's, Naruto is able to hold his own.

However, there is a fundamental issue with this little cliche. See, fantasy of any type is usually pretty cookie-cutter. Saving the world from an evil wizard with a magic sword that the farm boy inherited from his long lost relative is pretty standard stuff. Everyone knows at least one book of the sort. This alone does not mean that Naruto is bad. If you can put an interesting spin or have a unique vision then any cliche can become a classic.

The problem with Naruto is not what makes it like other things, it is what the author uses to try to set it apart.

In both Naruto and it's squeal manga we are often presented with issues of killing, or hate, of pain, and of belonging. Some of these issues are handled decently. In fact, I'd say that the parallel but separate paths that Sasuke and Naruto follow are interesting and handled very well.

However, Naruto early on declares that he will not kill. This isn't a huge issue, though it is strange as you would think that, due to the fact he lives in a society where his chosen profession dictates that killing is necessary, he would have been raised and come to understand that to kill is necessary and, perhaps, honorable. Still, if that was not the way the world was created then fine, I suppose it is vague enough to be up for speculation. The real issue, however, is that, unlike Trigun where there is a psychology and reason behind the characters inability to kill, Naruto seems to decide against such a thing simply because he his a child and does not understand.

This would be fine if they treated the decisions that Naruto and Co made as child-like. But no, they treat them as if they are law. Naruto is not progressing and maturing, but rather shaping the world to fit his philosophy. In some ways that is the point. The protagonist is supposed to try and shape the world, however, for the world to not really affect them or change them, well, that's another issue.

On top of that, Naruto's ban on killing does not seem to really ever be an issue. There are times when a hero must face things that are unpleasant and transgress what they believe is right. It is in those times the mettle of the hero is tested and they are changed and shaped. To put it simply, the journey should change the hero by the end, if it does not then you have done something wrong.

Further, Naruto lacks maturity as a manga. Characters die but it does not feel as though the death is significant. For a specific instance there is the death of Neji toward the end. When he dies it does not hold impact. This is due to an issue of character development that plagues the story. Not one character is three-dimensional throughout the entirety of the manga and that is a big problem.

Now, to put this in perspective, a manga like Dragonball Z, which I enjoy, is much better, Yes, the story is just basically people fighting and the themes are not always deep or meaningful. However, the comedy works well and it does not bother bogging itself down with pseudo-philosophy. Instead we focus on the actions of our characters.

Whereas in Dragonball Z we have the character of Vegeta, prideful, arrogant, and often times a total dick, we see that he can rise above these traits. And we do SEE them. When Trunks is nearly killed we see Vegeta react, not talk about reacting. When Vegeta realizes that he loves his wife and child and wishes to protect the earth and his home, he puts aside his pride and blows himself up in an act of redemption.

Vegeta, in the story of Dragonball Z, is a constantly changing character. One who has many sides and evolves because the events of the story shape him, not the other way around.

On the Naruto side we have Sasuke, a character that is very similar. Sasuke, however, only goes further and further into the darkness, embracing his inner emo. Sasuke is defined by his pride and hatred and little else, making him flat and tiring.

Overall, Naruto can be fun, I suppose, but as far as its popularity and the love it gets from fans, well, all I can say is that Naruto is offensive in terms of its plotting and characterization and, aside from the action, which can be fun, there is little that really makes this an enjoyable experience, but at least it's over.

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Suggested Reading: Science Fiction and Fantasy

In the past I have been asked about what fantasy or science fiction books one should read and, during those times, I often find myself reaching for a list that I can throw at the person. This is a pretty simple task as I have read and continue to read from these genres everyday.

So, with that in mind, I have decided that, as this is a blog about writing and its importance, a list of science fiction and fantasy for those who don't know where to start (as well as the appropriate links so that anyone can purchase said books) and would like to immerse themselves in the genre. So, here it goes, my suggested reading in science fiction and fantasy.

Slaughterhouse-Five By Kurt Vonnegut

While not Vonnegut's most sci-fi work by any extent, this novel does what Vonnegut does best. It is zany, moral, and without reproach, In short, Slaughterhouse-Five is a post-modern science fiction master piece that struggles with meaning in wartime and life, taking on these huge and important questions with wit and humor, as well as a sympathetic humanist view. For those looking to enter the world of science fiction, here is your gate-way drug.

American Gods By Neil Gaiman 

Neil Gaiman is likely one of the most loved fantasy writers of the day, and for good reason. Gaiman, like Vonnegut approaches his work with a post-modern slant (anyone seeing a trend here) and bends toward the humanistic in his world view. However, unlike Vonnegut, Gaiman writes with refinement. There are passages in American Gods that stunned me for their sheer cold brilliance and, Gaiman being the master of myth that he is, he truly knows how to play with established deities such as Odin. If you are looking for urban fantasy that is more mature then this book is for you. If you just want a good book, well, you are in luck.

   Neuromancer By William Gibson

Here, in William Gibson's beautiful novel about cyber-space, dirty streets, and arcades buzzing with chip-tune and neon light, we get a glimpse into a world full of grit and of secrets and of cool. Not only that but Gibson's use of language in this novel is some of the most interesting I've ever read. This book is responsible for the existence of Cyber-punk as a whole just as Gibson himself is responsible for creating the world cyberspace. This is likely one of the most thematically interesting books I've ever read and one that oozes authenticity and, though they hold no meaning for me, without this book the idea of The Matrix would not exist as it does. Damn! William Gibson is the Brian Eno of literature.

The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicle) By Patrick Rothfuss

Oh, look at that! A book I've already reviewed on this site. Well, I'll be quick here. Rothfuss is great. He has a poetry to his prose that not many modern fantasy writers even reach for. To put it another way, his authorial voice is like dark chocolate (or milk, if you like that taste of that more). Now, there are some rough patches in this first effort, but don't worry, you'll love the story too much to get hung up on them.

 Ubik By Philip K. Dick

Much like Gibson, Philip K Dick's work is philosophically dense and uses the average man as its source for character. However, Dick's work is much, much deeper and does not possess the same play-fullness with description and language as Gibson. That is not to say that Ubik is a tedious or hard read as Dick writes clearly, the style of a pulp writer pushing him forward. However, in that simplicity there is a depth that few writers, even those making a career of such things, manage to reach. This is the book you want to read if you are the kind of person that listens to Pink Floyd and likes to be alone with their thoughts.

 

Three Parts Dead (Craft Sequence) By Max Gladstone

Yet another book that I've already talked about here and what a great one it is! Much like Rothfuss, Max Gladstone has a penchant for having a certain poetry in his prose. However, where Rothfuss is like the romantics, Gladstone in more akin to the beats or free-verse. This is the urban fantasy I would suggest to someone who is itching to find a badass female character in their story as well as an interesting world. I won't say too much as I believe my review can answer any question, but I'll leave you all saying that this is a clever book that you may have to take your time with, but then, isn't that the fun of it?



Ender's Game (The Ender Quintet) By Orson Scott Card


Ender's Game was a book I wanted to avoid and for good reason, or so I thought. Orson Scott Card does, after all, have a penchant for talking shit and saying ridiculous things about the gay community.

As a liberal and rational person I am wholeheartedly against giving money to someone that will use to it tear down another group for any damn reason.

Yet, here we have an example that proves that the person and the art aren't always the same. This is a story of the war machine and, while primarily for a younger audience, it does deal with themes of belonging, of death and life, and of having the power to destroy something. It humanize an enemy and shows that war is not a matter of honor and that, in war, we are all as children. Simply put, this is the novel you want to teach to a middle school or high school child. Hell, this is a novel to read in general. Too bad the rest of the books in this series show Card's political and religious beliefs overly much.

Hogfather: A Novel of Discworld By Terry Pratchett

The thing about Pratchett that I love is his humor. It is not as deep or vivid as someone like Adam's, but it is the kind of groaning humor that you tend to shun as you expand your horizons.


The other thing I love is that, while most people thing he is the fantasy version of Douglas Adam's, I would argue that he is much more akin to Vonnegut. His characters are profoundly human, just as is Pratchett's writing. This one, I think, is the best introduction to his work. It gives his view of death and absurdly uses Christmas. All around, this is where to start and it will be a journey you will continue to walk down. Thank you, Mr. Pratchett.

Well, that is it for now. This is not a complete list, it never will be. I expect fully to add to it over the coming years and when I do I'll be sure to make some sort of announcement or whatever. Regardless, I hope that those of you who follow those links and read these wonderful stories enjoy them as much as I have.

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