The Magicians

The Magicians was discussed in class as being a kind of college students Harry Potter. And it could be classified as such; it certainly has all the appeal of an escapist novel. Very well written and fast paced the characters are realistic and relatable, which is what makes the read so enthralling. Quentin reacts to be suddenly disturbed out of his normal life into the fantastical one just as we would. He doesn’t step into Narnia, so to speak, have a series of adventures and be all smiles. He gets angry that no one is explaining anything right away, just as anybody would. And we, as readers, feel that frustration along with him. Quentin himself is a guy we all know. My favorite line pretty much sums him up stating that “the Fillory books were both a consolation for Julia not loving him and also probably a major reason why she didn’t”, (page 6).  This book takes the genres of urban fantasy and pairs it with that of spiritual education.  While I am still reading this novel I am finding it truly engrossing and a nice break from finals week when I need it. 

The Picture of Dorian Gray

I adore Oscar Wilde so of course I had to read his novel. I love this story. I truly enjoyed that the monster is simply man and his hubris. Dorian represents the epitome of excess with absolutely zero ramifications on his physical person. His “mentor” Harry attempts to live the same life style, in fact he leads Dorian into it. Harry also tends to have the best lines of the novel such as, "There is no such thing as a good influence, Mr. Gray. All influence is immoral--immoral from the scientific point of view," and “The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it,”(chapter 2). Yet Harry pays the price for his behavior, old age. Harry is also much more talk then action.  Dorian will never experience this tiring that comes with old age. Therefore Dorian never fully learns this lesson. The language is fluid and flamboyant at times to reflect Dorian’s vain view of the world.  After reading this novel I stumbled across the recent adaptation of it made in 2009 simply titled Dorian Gray starring Ben Barnes and Colin Firth. I loved this movie. I had high expectations visually because the book explains each scene so well and gives the reader a real emotional reaction in each description. But from the opening credits you get the overwhelming eeriness of he story.  Of course the movie takes some liberties and doesn’t always show events in order but with the help of lighting and music they are able to show Dorian’s transition from an innocent young boy to a monstrosity of a man.  I can’t help but see the parallels to Frankenstein here, particularly in the film.  While Harry doesn’t create, that’s Basil’s job for which he pays for, the painting he helps to shape the man.  Then of course it is Harry who must put a stop to him as well.  In the book however, Dorian is his own downfall. His paranoia, regret, and emptiness lead him into a desire to destroy any evidence of his ugliness. That includes the painting. This story does make you wonder whom you are influencing and how. 

Tan- Tan and the Rolling Calf By Nalo Hopkins

            The use of language is hugely important in this short story and sets the tone and imagery for the short story. Ones the dialect and use of grammar was established I couldn’t help but imagine a world that appears like a twist on the Deep South.  The place where Tan- Tan hides out in, the bush, even sounds southern mixed with Australian landscape. Also the use of the bandit and robber gives a western feel. It is just with the monster (the rolling calf) and the statement about coming into this world “Then he grab his little girl and flee through plenty dimension veil” it doesn’t seem like an unattainable idea of a place.  The background of the main character is also a very human one with a young strong woman rebelling against her murdering rapist father and having the stepmother not really want to comprehend.  I really enjoyed the dialogue here particularly the monologue that Tan- Tan gives. This allows the reader to feel her strength and then also have insight into her thoughts and how she is struggling to live up to her legend wile also being pregnant which profoundly demonstrates her humanity. And it is hard to be larger than life when she is dealing with such a set back physically. Overall a very fluid read that demonstrated a powerful female protagonist. 

Bloodchild by Octavia E. Butler

Bloodchild is narrated by the host of the soon to be young of the Tlic that adopted his family. Gan’s insight shows the suspense and horror of the story. The plot is a mix between a story of childbirth and the film Alien. This story literally gives you the creeps from the very beginning. When it fist describes the many limbs of T’Gatoi and the way she moves, her size and how she keeps members of the family close for warmth was a tad unnerving. Her sterile eggs are used to keep her humans healthy and high when they first consume them. The power exchange between Gan and T’Gatoi is seen in their conversation towards the end of the story before the egg-laying act is consummated. There is a definite blending of what defines the sexes here with indistinguishable differences between the male and female in characters behavior. Gans father actually “birthed” T’Gatoi and now Gan would “mother” her young.  The dialogue in this story keeps you invested in the characters and their decisions. The story is also very fast passed and keeps the tension until the very end. It’s a story at its core about family and what a person is willing to do for them.

Snow Crash

Snow Crash was my first experience reading anything in the cyberpunk genre and it exemplified the style and definition of the genre itself. You have technology being for the elite. This is shown in the metaverse. You have the different styles of avatar for different types of people. You have to be wealthy or smart (good at hacking) to have a good avatar. The novel even mentions the bargain store types of avatars you are able to have.  The way you get to the metaverse is through your  private “home” or if you can't afford it or don't have the skill there are public domain type of entries into it. This again shows a class distinction. This class distinction though does not translate into the real world. Hiro Protagonist (love the name) is living in an old U-Store-It in the real world and has his own mansion in the metaverse. It is no wonder that people take more worth out of the metaverse and spend more time there in this type of future. I did enjoy the humoristic elements in the novel. Such as the idea that one of the things American still does best in the world is delivering pizza. Also I noticed hat often these genres we are studying take an idea to its extreme. This is shown with the freedom in America being taken to its height.  I really enjoyed the double narrative from Y.T and Hiro, I thought that allowed for a nice difference in view points and it kept the story fresh. It is definitely a high velocity plot. There are a lot of anime elements to the style of cyber punk and this is reiterated with out protagonist in not only his heritage but also his use of weapons and in the fight scenes of the novel. Over all I am really enjoying reading Neal Stephenson’s work.

Cyber Punk

·      1980s

·      Definition:  technology is elite, everyone controlled by technology, post human, sub realities, virtual realm/ internet

·      William Gibson- “noir prophet” of the cyberpunk- cyber cowboys and adventure elements- data becomes more important than anything

·      Post Human- humanist construction of the world changes into the human just being a part of the system// a movement away from humanist preoccupation

·       Post human vs. fundamentalism (idea that there is an absolute and a truth as we know it)

·      Cyber punk as a style

o   Hackers

o   Dystopian view

o   Corporations rule

o   Money

o   Retro

o   Film noir

o   Cyber punk heroine – influenced by 70’s feminism- “ still has babe powers”

·      Donna Haraway- Cyborg Manifesto 

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

Cat's Cradle is a dark comedy at it's very core with Sci-Fi themes layering over it. This novel deals with science and religion in an end of the world scenario. There is extreme foreshadowing through out the novel so the reader already knows that doom approaches. Yet the fresh wit of the narrative keep the story lively.  There are riddles and interweaving story lines that connect the dots of destruction, as it were, so that we clearly see how the narrator reached his fate. The rapture is a growing popular theme in science fiction and connects to the religious elements of the novel. Martyrdom as well reinforces this theme. It is very well written and a captivating read. It also presents the idea of accepting the end of the world and in what way different people handle it. It presents a dark reality with the concept of Ice 9 and the possibility of man's self districting nature. Great read but be warned, do something happy after you read it.