Starship Titanic

I'd played the game Starship Titanic when I was younger and was very excited to listen to the radio story. It was hilarious, which is to be expected. After all, it's in the same tone as Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which has the same quirky and fun narration. The characters all have good dialog and are fun to listen to.

I think one of my favorite parts was when the earthlings couldn't recall which planet was theirs and their navigator then proceeds to excuse himself quietly to the bathroom so he can bang his head repeatedly on the wall haha. I also like how they kind of poke fun at things you expect to happen by calling itself out on it (such as the "you might be wondering how she figured this out, but its really all rather complicated, so just accept and trust that she did"). It's just witty writing, told very well, and fun all around.

Seventh Voyage

I tried reading Clockwork Orange, but I just couldn't get into it or follow it at all (tried the audiobook too, but same problem). So since I didn't get far in there at all, I ended up reading a short story instead - Stanislaw Lem's Seventh Voyage.

I found the story to be pretty entertaining, and a rather ridiculous tale that at times was very complicated, but really the absurdity added to the humor of it. I liked how even when all of versions of him were together they still only argued and couldn't fix the ship, and it ended up being fixed by two children - at least, that's supposedly what happened. I really liked the last line and felt it was quite appropriate to the tone of the story. ("But that is how people are; they'll willingly give credence to the most far-fetched drivel, but not to the simple truth, which is precisely what I have presented here.")

It was a fun read. I saw Margarete Atwood was listed for this week as well. I'd read The Handmaid's Tale in the past and I remember liking it, though my memory on it is a bit fuzzy now since that was many years ago. I like her style of writing and was tempted to read the other listed, but I didn't have much time for reading this week and it looked to be rather long. Ah well.

I look forward to the readings for next week though haha!

Bloodchild

This week I read Bloodchild by Octavia Butler. It was good, but really creepy. I had a hard time reading the scene with Lomas because it was really disturbing and grossed me out (so I no doubt understand Gan's predicament). It was good though, and definitely an interesting concept. Still really disturbing though. Don't really have that much else to say at the moment...will probably write more after class.

Johnny Mnemonic

I was going to read William Gibson's Neuromancer, but I didn't get very far and couldn't stand reading a whole book in that format (the formatting, it buuurns! I need page indents and proper formatting!)...So I read Johnny Mnemonic instead because even though it was in the same formatting, at least it was shorter and more tolerable. Except there were unfortunately numerous typos which were distracting and annoying. (this is exactly why I don't download books to read on the computer)

I didn't really care for the story that much as I didn't really get it.  I thought the main characters were really boring and dull. They didn't have very unique or interesting personalities at all - nothing that really made them interesting. The story moved along, but didn't have a feeling of having accomplished much. The cyborg dolphin was...interesting. And I gave I shall give props for creativity on that one.

But I did learn that apparently my definition of cyberpunk has been completely, horribly wrong for all these years. I don't know why, but for some reason I always associated "cyberpunk" with "badass female characters who are a cyborg/robot". Since that is apparently not a requirement to cyberpunk, I now haven't a clue how cyberpunk is different that regular sci-fi. Is it just because of cyborgs? Or other modifications? Is the Cassandra Kresnov trilogoy I read this year still cyberpunk like I thought it was? I don't know anymore...I'm so confused at what the definition is. It doesn't seem that different than the rest of sci-fi anymore.