Babel-17

Babel-17 by Samuel Delaney was my second science fiction novel and I was looking forward to it because I enjoyed The Stars My Destination so much, but Babel-17 fell a bit short for me. Similar to Stars, Babel threw you right into the story without out giving much background at all, which is okay. I liked it in Stars so why not here. I knew that it would take a chapter or two to finally realize what was going on, I expected that, but I dont know if I ever really KNEW what was going on. Delaney is a good writer, but when it comes to letting you in on where you are in the story and what is going on, he fails. This was a very confusing read for me. I liked the main character, Rydra (which I started to call her Ryda because Rydra was awkward to say). She was smart, strong, fearless, and she was a poet. So she was a bit artsy. A little famous too. I like that she took it upon herself to figure out the mystery behind the language Babel-17. The fact that she went to a wrestling match to find a pilot was entertaining. Do they just walk around naked in this future though? I kept reading about them having to take their clothes off. Anyway, once the crew go involved I got really confused. Once more than a couple characters started coming into play because it was hard for me to distinguish who was who throughout most of the novel. I guess people get some really bizarre cosmetic surgery done in this world too. It was crazy trying to picture some of the characters. I would be interested in how they would be interpreted in a movie. The world Delaney was creating seemed very visual and interesting. I just wish I could picture it a little better. Maybe it was because I was so determined to understand what was going on. There were a few parts that I really enjoyed and they stuck out in my mind. I really liked the part where they visit with the Baron and Baroness. She was pretty entertaining. She was all about food and alcohol. She just wanted to have a good time. It was crazy because Rydra was telling them that something bad was about to happen but they all just kept on with the party and payed no attention. She was trying to prepare them and the Baroness just handed her a drink. I guess that could help calm the nerves. The scene where Rydra and Butcher start to connect was really deep and opened up a few more ideas for me to figure out what was going on. I figured out he spoke Babel-17 way before Rydra did though. It was pretty obvious in the novel. Especially when you compare what they knew about Babel-17 and the way Butcher talked. He didn't use words like I, me, you. That was a red flag. The whole novel was a bit fuzzy for me. Maybe it was because I read it pretty fast. I bet if I read it again it would make a lot more sense. Maybe Ill read Empire Star. I think that is the sequel or a spin off of some sort. Some writers I like really well, and some are acquired tastes. I think Delaney is going to be an acquired taste for me. I wont give up on him just yet. I wont give up on Sci Fi either.

The Stars My Destination

The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester was my first science fiction novel. I never really read them in the past because I imagined them all being about Star Wars and robots. Don't get me wrong, I love Star Wars, but I don't think I would enjoy reading about it. I really like Sci-Fi movies. I have always been more of a fantasy reader. I was nervous going into this book, because I assumed I would not understand and it would just be a bunch of science space babel. I also though that it would be really outdated since it was written in the 1950's about the future. So, not a lot of positive thoughts going into this novel. But I gave it a shoot...

...and I loved it! It was one of those novels that just threw you into it without giving you a lot of backstory but I like that because it makes you think about the story on a deeper level. It took a while for me to understand what was going on, but that just made me want to read it more. I was VERY surprised that this novel is not dated at all. What Bester wrote about then about the future is still what we currently think of the future. It is timeless, and I am assuming that timeless is a hard quality to find in science fiction novels, especially ones written in the 50s and 60s.

I have a love/hate relationship with the main character, Gully Foyle. In the beginning he is very cave man like and his speech it straight forward, sometimes rude, and very raw. I picture him being this huge brute of a man. He scares me a bit in the beginning. As the story goes on, Foyle gets more and more civilized. He realized he wont be able to get his revenge if he cant blend in with the crowd who possesses the knowledge he needs for revenge. He is also a wanted man, so getting rid of his tattoos (kinda), changing his name (kinda) and refining himself really helped him get to where he needed to be. It was just odd to me that he would not try to blend it though. His new persona is very charismatic and out there. Everyone knows who he is and what he does. He's famous. I guess that helps him even more, because nobody would suspect this new Foyle to be a ugly brute who is violent and vulgar. In a lot of ways, he reminds me of Bruce Wayne in Batman. Bruce Wayne is Gully Foyle's new refined, suave, high class persona and Batman is the real Gully Foyle; the Gully Foyle who is angry and seeks revenge. He is a vigilante I suppose. Towards the end though, when he gets closer and closer to seeking his revenge he realizes that there is no good in hiding who you are. You need to face your problems and your past head on or they will never go away. But face them with sense and smarts. Otherwise, you really wont solve anything.

All in all, very good read. I highly recommend everyone read it, even if you dont like sci-fi. I thought I wouldn't like it but it turns out I loved it. I would really like to read more by Alfred Bester and more sci-fi, now that I know its not all space ships and robots.

Equal Rites

I thought I would really enjoy this book since it is about witches and wizards and the magical world. Usually, those things are a guarantee for me. I love the Harry Potter books. That is kinda what I was expecting when I heard it was about a young girl going to wizard school. When I started reading it it dawned on me that this world is more complex than Harry Potters world and the writing is a little more advanced and deep. It took a while for me to really get into this book. When I say a while, I mean a while, probably like more than half way through. It took a long time for the story of Esk's journey to becoming a wizard to start. Not that her stay with Granny Weatherwax wasn't enjoyable. Maybe it was because I was expecting something else. I usually do not assume anything about novels. This time I assumed that it would like Harry Potter, with teenage kids going through wizard school and running into problems with good and evil. I learned my lesson not to make assumptions about novel I do not know a whole lot about. Since the story started out pretty slow, once the story did start, it felt like it was over in a flash. I felt like the most important parts of the story were condensed to the last quarter of the book. Right when the book was picking up pace and getting exciting, it just ended. The ending was very abrupt. I'm assuming that the story continues in the following discworld books so maybe Ill pick those up in the future to read. I really like the characters. Granny Weatherwax is funny and Esk is entertaining. I really like the world that Terry Prachett created for the reader, I just wish more happened and faster. If I did not know that this book was part of a series I would be feeling pretty robbed right about now, but since I know that it continues, I don't feel so robbed.

When I get a chance to read the other Discworld books, I am hoping that the books after go deeper into Esk becoming a wizard and I hope that there is more action. I am usually a big fan of anticipation in novels, but this book took it to extremes and it got frustrating. I may read the first two books as well, then re-read Equal Rites just to get back into it. I think I have forgotten a lot of what happened already, lol. I just could not get into it, but I am willing to give it a second chance. I promise.

Anansi Boys

After reading Anansi Boys and watching the MIT talk, I really love Neil Gaiman. I have added all of his books to my Amazon wish list, so if anyone wants to be supper nice to me and buy me something, my email is klgrigs@yahoo.com! I love how he makes these two completely different worlds mesh so well together. It is like that is the way the world has always been and its normal. I tend to really like pessimistic smart ass characters, so Fat Charlie and Spider were right up my alley. I love things like mythology and gods, and am really happy to have found a writer who can work them into modern novels so flawlessly. My only issue was the singing at the end of the book. That was a bit cheesy but it didnt turn me off from the entire book. It was just random and really odd to visualize.

His MIT talk really put a lot of things into perspective for me as a designer. The fact that he can take all these stories that already exist and are popular and change them in a way that they don't copy the original but still hold the impact and meaning of the original story really opened up a lot of paths for me. It's just improving on what already exists. We are getting to a place where it feels like everything has already been done, so thinking like a writer will really help with designing.

Mirrormask

I am a fan of Jim Henson movies — love Labyrinth. Anything with puppets is awesome! Mirrormask was obviously more advanced than simple puppetry, but still very visually stunning. It was a little confusing to watch because there was so much going on visually. The story was enjoyable and easy to follow once I understood what was going on. I do agree with what we talked about in class about the main character being too old. Her character did seem a bit immature for the actor playing her. There were a lot of creepy things like the man face cat things and the giants. After watching this Jim Henson movie, Labyrinth is still my favorite. Gotta love David Bowie and puppets!

Time Bandits

I watched the movie Time Bandits and thought it was cute. I could see myself really enjoying this movie as a kid. As an adult, I found it cute, but was not blown away. The story was interesting though. Who would have thought to time travel and steel from all the famous people in history. Brilliant! I did really enjoy Shaun Connery though. I forgot how attractive he was young. He still is a pretty handsome old dude though. After watching this, I totally picture those time travel squares while I read the rest of His Dark Materials now. All in all, cute movie for kids. It has a lot of elements kids would really enjoy. Adults should watch it for young Shaun Connery!

His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass

I purchased His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman a few years ago with good intention to read it but I kept of forgetting about it and continued to buy other books to read, so it sat on the bookshelf and collected dust. I started it a few times but for some reason never finished. I was really excited when I saw that it was a reading for my literature class because then I would have to read it. I am really glad I did. I really enjoyed it. Every minute of it. It is one of those books that makes you think. Not just at some parts, but all parts. Pullman did a really good job and making the reader question life and everything that is associated with life. He put it in ways that are very easy to grasp. Some of the content is pretty deep and do not see a child reading this and understanding it.

I really like the concept of a daemon. To wear you soul on the outside really lets people into your character and it shows who you really are. In this book, you can tell a lot about a person by the form of their daemon or by they way they act. The individual may be able to hide their true feelings, but they're daemon can not. It says a lot about children and growing up too. Their daemons, or souls, are constantly changing forms and once they reach adulthood their daemon chooses a fixed form. Its like innocence is over and you cant keep changing your mind all the time. This is who you are so deal with it. It is sort of like being forced into growing up, which I think a lot of us need sometimes. I think right now, if it were up to me, my daemon would still be changing forms. If I were to have a daemon, I think it would be a chocolate labrador retriever, because they are fun, playful, loyal, smart, and always there when you need them. They know when to goof around but also when to be serious. They also make great companions. That would by my daemon.

I enjoyed The Golden Compass so much that I have continued onto the Subtle Knife. I was shocked in the beginning because it started out completely different with a new character in a new world but was relieved when Lyra made her appearance. I think her and Will are going to be going on some crazy adventures and am really looking forward to finishing it.