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two unlikely self-discoveries
Jul. 19th, 2003 08:21 am1. I don't really like babies. With one notable exception. I love my baby, I really do. And I *like* her too. But other kids, I don't know-- I'm quick to see their variety and quirks as unpleasant. I suppose I should be damned for this.
2. Military science fiction is my guiltiest pleasure. The really good stuff is also really heavy on ideas and speculation, so it's really well thought out. The best military SF points to a future that's exciting and is rich with discovery, and embraces other fields of study like anthropology and humanities (or alienities)--basically it posits futures *worth* fighting for. But I don't know really how to explain it and I'm not going to defend myself against my superego because who cares what I read.
Appended note to this entry: actually the best military science fiction (imho) was and still is Starship Troopers by Heinlein and what sets that apart from the stuff I mention above is that actually the future they're fighting for sounds really *unpleasant* to me, like who gives a damn about a nearly-fascist federation filled with joyless morons-- although the diversity is pretty subtly done and there's a fine nod to the Philippines. But it's really well written and focused with a deep undercurrent of sorrow. Don't get me wrong, I loved Total Recall, but I would punch Paul Verhoeven in the mouth, right in the mouth, for what he did with that movie adaptation.
2. Military science fiction is my guiltiest pleasure. The really good stuff is also really heavy on ideas and speculation, so it's really well thought out. The best military SF points to a future that's exciting and is rich with discovery, and embraces other fields of study like anthropology and humanities (or alienities)--basically it posits futures *worth* fighting for. But I don't know really how to explain it and I'm not going to defend myself against my superego because who cares what I read.
Appended note to this entry: actually the best military science fiction (imho) was and still is Starship Troopers by Heinlein and what sets that apart from the stuff I mention above is that actually the future they're fighting for sounds really *unpleasant* to me, like who gives a damn about a nearly-fascist federation filled with joyless morons-- although the diversity is pretty subtly done and there's a fine nod to the Philippines. But it's really well written and focused with a deep undercurrent of sorrow. Don't get me wrong, I loved Total Recall, but I would punch Paul Verhoeven in the mouth, right in the mouth, for what he did with that movie adaptation.