Solaris Rising pt. II

My final blog post, here at last! What a truly sad occasion. As I mentioned in my previous post I have finished reading "Solaris Rising" edited by Ian Whates. The book is a collection of short science fiction stories, something that has been around for a long time, but was brought to fame by the iconic sci-fi writer Isaac Asimov. The stories all featured very abbreviated plot lines that focused on answering a what-if question. What if the Earth was going to be hit by an asteroid redirected by extremists? What if giant space vessels could reproduce in a process similar to animals? What if exposure to a time-space phenomenon allowed a man to traverse all dimension, releasing explosive amounts of energy as he goes? Another pattern, in apparently essential pattern, of these stories is that they place the reader in a state of unknowing, and the author will slowly and carefully reveal what is happening in their story, until a climax of understanding is reached. 

My absolute favorite story in the book was one about a "Trans-dimensional superhero" (Hutchinson 60). It is about a researcher at a super-collider doing, well, research. His team is in the process of performing what is supposed to be a ground-breaking experiment, when something goes terribly wrong. In short, the main character is able to traverse time and space, and manipulate the two at will. He is left to wander around a wasteland, which is another dimension with various portals of sorts to earth, and, I would assume, other places. This type of story, one dealing with vastly complex possibilities and questions of physics, are the one I enjoy the most. In the story's conclusion, the main character states, "what I really want is to be ordinary again, and that, of all things, I cannot do"  (Hutchinson 60). Like nearly all people displaced by the sudden acquisition of something that is completely unheard-of and impossible to relate to, this character did not ask for it. He was living -- maybe not completely enjoying, but tolerating -- a rather normal life, and preferred that it had not been interrupted. But had this wish been granted, such an interesting story would not be possible!

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book, as I did all the other books I read! I enjoyed this project as a whole, and was glad to have been given the opportunity to read some books of my choosing, even if it was on a tighter timeline than I would have preferred. I hope you enjoyed reading my blog (all 3 of you), and thanks!

Solaris Rising pt. I

This is such a great book, I could hardly put it down! In fact, I finished it, and my conclusion blog will be posted shortly after this one, but for this post I will be focusing on the first half of the book. The stories are all fascinating and very diverse. Everything I said I enjoyed about short sci-fi stories in my previous post stands true, except for one thing. I have noticed that some stories end before completely satisfying my curiosity, ending what seems to be a small plot arc just as a much larger makes itself apparent. Although this left me disappointed a couple time, I'm sure it was exactly the affect the author intended. These stories also went through enough of the exposition as to allow the reader to imagine their own continuation, an aspect I found to be interesting. Something else I remembered that I liked so much about science fiction is how the stories progress. The author makes as little of the setting evident as is necessary, and slowly reveals more to the reader, until all is clear, and everything makes sense. Often this is manifested in a main character suddenly finding themselves in an unfamiliar environment, and set out on a, in this case short, quest to figure out just what is happening. Another manifestation of this process is a character going about their daily lives, except the reader is completely unfamiliar with their daily lives, and something extraordinary happens.

So far, one of my favorite stories was one with a very interesting concept. In this futuristic world, giant mechanical star ships are able to breed to create new ships, and some are grown in a similar fashion as fruit. The main characters is assigned to oversee the fertilization of what is essentially a ship flower, something which is a rather routine process. Unfortunately for her, the bird machine thing that is supposed to impregnate this flower does not come at the expected time due to some mystifying glitch. When the protagonist's companion asks her how likely it was that this robot did a certain thing, and she replied, "it's as likely to do that as it is to write poetry" (Palmer 163). In context this means it to be nearly, if not completely, impossible. Of course, the robot wrote poetry, and did exactly what the character thought impossible. This sort of development is quintessential to science fiction writing: the main character will be tasked with rather something rudimentary, and it will inevitably take a very unexpected turn. 

I have enjoyed reading this book (all of it), and you can expect my blog conclusion shortly!

Solaris Rising

Hello, and welcome to my final first post. For my final book I will be reading "Solaris Rising" edited by Ian Whates. Solaris Rising is a collection of short science fiction stories, two of my favorite things in literature. This book is part of the Solaris Book of New Science Fiction series of anthologies, boasting a "fabulous line-up of authors and... an equally impressive st of stories" (Whates 7). As for one of the main components of this book, the short stories, I enjoy them because they are capable of delivering a quick, sharp fix, with almost instant gratification, as opposed to the often slow burn of novels. As for the sci-fi aspect of this, it is one of, possibly the, favorite genre of mine. Science fiction is always about exploring possibilities, and answering a question. The format allows the author to let their imagination run wild in a way that just is not present in other types of fiction. Science fiction also has a vast array of very diverse sub-genres. Sci-fi is not always about some far-off futuristic technology, it can just as often be based around an event that could very feasibly happen tomorrow. In short, I look forward to reading this book, and cannot wait to see just what questions the authors will be answering.

Pigs No More

I am bringing you this post after having recently finished "Animal Farm" by George Orwell. It was a great book and I truly enjoyed reading it, short as it was. I was not disappointed with any aspects of the book, and really enjoyed reading what Orwell had to say. If you missed my previous blog posts about this book, it is an allegory for Soviet communism played out through farm yard animals. In this second half of the book the pig Napoleon rose to power using terror tactics, and manipulating rules and the other animals to remain in popular opinion, lying and deceiving the whole way. This is shocking because the original beliefs that Animal Farm were founded under were that all animals were equal, and that to act in any way like a human was to be evil. Napoleon and his fellow pigs ignore both of these and are able to place themselves in a position of great privilege. The animals grow uncertain of their ruler, but feel liberated and are willing to work longer and harder under the pretense that they have been liberated from the harsh humans, only to be replaced by the pigs. In the very end of the book the pigs take neighboring human farmers for a tour of their farm. The other farmers are amazed by how much the animals are working, which the animals had not realized was an excessive amount. The book ends with most of the animals overlooking a scene where the pigs are dining and drinking with the humans, acting as humans, and the animals cannot tell the two species apart.

My favorite quote from the second half of this book was when Orwell says of Clover, one of the older animals on the farm, "If she could have spoken her thoughts, it would have been to say that this was not what they had aimed at." This books main goal was to illustrate the downfall of Communism, and how it could never succeed, especially in the case of the Soviet Empire. Napoleon has recently slaughtered several animals who admitted to be aligned with Snowball, a pig who is Napoleon's arch enemy and old co-ruler, before he was chased off the farm by savage dogs. All the animals are horrified, and beginning to doubt that what they had set out to do had been achieved. Overall I was very impressed by this book, and glad to have had the opportunity to read such a classic.

Pigs of Wrath

I am blogging to you today to inform you of the excitement I have witnessed in the first half of "Animal Farm" by George Orwell. As you may have realized by the timing of this post that the book is a rather short one, but it manages to not sacrifice anything to achieve this, and so far I am enjoying reading it.

As a stated in my first post this book follows a group of barnyard animals who are able to overthrow their human master and take complete control of the farm, all as an allegory to communist Russia. The book begins with the last speech of a dying pig, whom is greatly respected among the other animals. He tells them that man is the root of all unhappiness among the animals and that they should overthrow him. At the same time he also warns the animals to never become like man, and to engage in any human-like activities would be evil. Shortly following this elder pig's death, the animals stage a rebellion, and, to their great excitement, succeed. Shortly following this moral is high, and more crops are produced then ever before. Unfortunately, this doesn't last long. Without ruining anything for you, I'll say that the farm quickly turns to the darker days of the Soviet Empire.

In the beginning of the book one of the elder pig's main points was that all animals, and all should be treated as such. Unfortunately, some animals decide they are more equal than the others. Orwell writes, "The pigs did not actually work...With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume leadership " (30). Though the animals all worked rather hard to escape the leadership of the farmer, they are very quick to allow a new leader into power, one which ultimately ends up granting themselves special privileges and benefits. This is symbolic of how unstable communism is, especially on anything larger than a very small scale. I have been enjoying this quick read and cannot wait to finish it up tomorrow.

Animal Farm

As you may have guessed by the title, the next book on my list is "Animal Farm: A Fairy Tale"  by George Orwell. A classic work of fiction, famous for being an allegory for 19th century communist Russia. I know that the overt plot is a group of farm animals who overthrow their owner and begin to run the farm on their own. At first everything is going well and moral is high, but this does not last long. I know a little about this book because I saw a few clips from a movie that was made from it. This book is very widely known, and I look forward to reading it.

A Stranger Here Myself No More

I have very recently finished reading "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" by Bill Bryson, and have come here to blog about it. I enjoyed the entirety of the book very much, and wished it would have gone on longer, with more columns. Bryson ended his collection of columns with a nice one wrapping up the gist of everything he felt about America, and the experience he had when first trying to move here. As for any major developments in the book since my last blog, there have been none. The structure has been majorly the same, with the same general messages throughout (America is a land of extreme variety, complexity, and excess), though not to say I enjoyed it any less.

As for a line between fiction and non-fiction, there was not really one present here. The characters were all real, set in real settings, going through events that actually happened. This book was entirely factual, with one exception. Each story had a theme, a message it tried to send, which was the point of the story, beyond simply retelling events. Many reoccurring messages were somewhat cliche things, like enjoy every day and don't let the past bring you down, but there were a many unique ones, each with there own interesting message.

One article I particularly enjoyed from the second half of this book was one in which Bryson talked about the seeming increase in absentmindedness and forgetfulness he experienced as he got older. This article was decidedly different than most of the other's about America's infatuation with excess and variety. The article itself, like all the others, was composed of funny anecdotes and witty insights, but it was still fundamentally different, and, I thought, somewhat more enjoyable for this. Overall, I truly and greatly enjoyed the book, and can't ait to eventually read more from Bill Bryson.

I'm a Bit Less of a Stranger

As I mentioned in my previous post, "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" by Bill Bryson is a collection of columns he has written for a British newspaper. The subject of said columns is to relate Bryson's experience of moving back to America after 20 years in England, during which he married and had 4 children. The book is filled with hilarious anecdotes and witty insights into parts of America that many natives either take for granted or choose to ignore. So far I have found the book to be wholly entertaining, and a very fun read. Bryson goes through these witty observations with columns interspersed full of heart-felt emotion. Although, to my minor disappointment, some topics are beginning to be repeated, though they are always talked about from different perspectives and with different styles. My favorite topic covered in the book so far is when Bryson recounts things he remembers from his childhood in America, and how much things have changed since them. Some of these things include drive-in movie theaters, interstate turnoff attractions ("Visit World-Famous Atmic Rock - It Really Glows" (135)), and small family-owned motels. In each of these topics Bryson has a great hankering to rekindle his childhood nostalgia, only to be greatly disappointed by them, and realize just why they went out of fashion. So far, I believe my favorite article is one titled "Your Tax Form Explained" that parodies American tax forms, featuring quotes such as "failure to do so may result in a fine of $1,500,000 and seizure of a child" (172).

In my opinion, the most powerful article Bryson wrote was one about his first son going off to college. He starts the column with an anecdote about playing baseball with his son in the yard and experiencing the epitome of the American father-son relationship. He then goes on to the experience of his son leaving for college, and the void he left behind. Bryson begins to wrap it up by saying, "For the past week I have found myself spending a lot of time wandering aimlessly though the house looking at the oddest thing--a basketball, his running trophies, an old holiday snapshot--and thinking about all the carelessly discarded yesterdays they represent" (132). Bryson spends a lot of time thought out the book reminiscing of days past, and wishing they would have lasted longer. He took the constant presence of his son for granted, even if he was always out of his house. Things like a stray sock, a pair of sneakers, or a dirty shirt served as a constant reminder of his son and has inhabitance of the house. When he went off for college he took all these things with him, leaving behind him regret for days past.

On a lighter note, the rest of the book is very funny and entertaining, and I can't wait to read it!

I'm a Stranger Here Myself

After finishing up Fellowship of the Ring, I have begun to read I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away, by Bill Bryson. Bill Bryson also wrote A Walk in the Woods, which is in the works of becoming a movie, and has been read by myself previously. Bryson's writing style is full of smart, witty, and quite relate-able observations. I really enjoy his sense of humor, and find his writing to be incredibly funny. As for the book, it is a collection of columns he has written for a British newspaper, where Bryson had lived for 20 years, about his many observations while living in America. After returning to his home, America, he has found everything he previously took for granted to be rather bewildering, and comical. One of my favorite things about this book is the way it is organized. Each story is no more than 4 or 5 pages long, making it very easy to read, and more entertaining overall. While reading A Walk in the Woods, one thing I did find myself doing was growing bored with the book as it drew on. I expect this to be a rather quick, easy read, and am looking forward to it greatly!

Wrapping Up #1 (Finally)

I have finally finished up my first book, Fellowship of the Ring of the Lord of the Rings series, and am glad to say I truly enjoyed reading the whole thing and look forward to reading the remainder of the series in the future. The ending set up the remainder of the series well, although it did so by ending on a bit of a cliff hanger, which I found to be less than satisfying.

I also really enjoyed Tolkien's writing style, particularly the progression and pattern present in the book. His cheery style of writing is well contrasted by his ability to paint very grim pictures. I've noticed that he has used this contrast in writing styles to portray a pattern of adventure. The hobbits will start off somewhere they like, a place filled with feasting and dancing, a "good" place. From there they will set out to their next "good" location, and in between will encounter a "bad" place, a place full of evil and darkness. As the party approaches their "good" place, the setting will become more and more "bad", until it looks like there is no way they will make it. When they inevitably do it makes the satisfaction of a completed journey even more great. This is all aided by Tolkien's amazing ability to portray fantastic scenery and images. This series of ups and down add so much enjoyment to the reading. When the company reached a safe haven among a sea of evil, you feel genuinely happy for them and glad that they made it to live for another leg of the journey. When they are surrounded by evil, with almost no foreseeable means of escape, you can feel yourself growing more attached to the characters than ever. Tolkien uses this style of writing to drag you along one of the most enjoyable adventures he could have.

While reading, I came across a quote I liked, which also relates to the interesting cyclical nature of the book. The company's resident elf, Legolas, says "For such is the way of it: to find and to lose... But I count you bless Gimli so of Gloin: for your loss you suffer was of your own free will." Gimli the dwarf is terribly distraught at having to leave the stunningly beautiful forest of a nearly lost group of elves, but Legolas reminds him that it would have been far worse if he were forced to leave, and the decision not of his own free will. This is a theme that runs through most of the book: that an optional challenge is the most rewarding. None of the members of Frodo's company are obligated to go any certain distance with the hobbit, yet they all stay with him up until the final leg, where the book ends. Overall, I was very pleased with the book, and cannot wait until I eventually read the remainder of the series.

Midway #1

Hello again! Today I am bringing you my first "midway through a book" post. I've gotten about midway through the book (The Fellowship of the Ring) and am really enjoying it! Frodo and his gang of hobbits have already gotten into several conundrums, and the book is just starting to pick up. The general plot of the story is that Frodo the Hobbit has inherited a special ring from his uncle Bilbo. This ring is found to be evil, and must be taken far from Frodo's home of the Shire. On this journey he is pursued by dark, evil creatures, who wish to take the ring from Frodo and give it to their master, Sauron, the Dark Lord, who is beginning to rise in power again, and requires the One ring to fulfill ultimate power. Frodo has been given a major role in preventing this from happening, or so it is suspected. So far my favorite part of the book has been the companions' stop at the house of Tom Bombadil. The whole time the Hobbits are there you are expecting him to turn on them and be evil, but instead he is extremely helpful and kind. He provides the Hobbits with shelter, food, and even manages to save their lives from evil creatures more than once. Tom is also a very interesting character as he seems to be as old as the earth itself, and knows the secrets of even the most mysterious happenings. He is a character I would like to see return, but would be very surprised if he did. When Goldberry, Tom's wife, is asked just who Tom is, she replies simply, "He is." Tom Bombadil is a physical manifestation of the country side, existing before even the oldest creatures. His wife Goldberry is a representation of the seasons, ever changing. It seems Frodo's journey is about to really kick off. It seems Gandalf has sent word to Frodo of his whereabouts, and will be making an appearance wither shortly or not for a while. I'm in a spot currently where I just can't wait to get back to it. Look for my next post in the next few days.

Welcome!

Hello, my name is Will, and welcome to my blog. Over the course of the next 5ish weeks I will be reading 5 books and blogging about them: an introductory blog, midway review, and an end-of-book review. Today, as this is my first entry, I will be doing an introduction to my first book: The Fellowship of the Ring. This is the first book in the Lord of the Rings series, written by J.R.R. Tolkien. This book was published in 1954 , and eventually made into a movie in ... Having begun to read the book in the past I know a bit about the beginning, and have an idea of what happens in the rest of it. Frodo the hobbit sets out on a quest with several friends and relatives, most notably Gandalf the wizard, with no real purpose other than to take his mysterious ring he had inherited from his uncle Bilbo away from the Shire. I read and greatly enjoyed The Hobbit, so I look forward to reading this, which I have heard from one person is better. I'm already a ways in and enjoying what I've read so far. I can't wait to read the whole thing!