Someone wrote a letter to the wsws in response to the review of the World War Z book. In it they asked about the zombies themselves, as I did not write much about them. To be honest, they are less written about in the book than one would expect. They are The Threat, and they are also actually scientifically explained, but they are not the focus. The actions and reactions of the people not infected are the focuses.
But the zombies. Hmm... I could draw, I suppose, some parallels between their urge- to the point of self-destruction- to eat everything around them. It could be taken as a commentary on the environmental situation, or rampant consumerism and credit debt. But I do not think that's it.
I think of it as the determination to protect the status quo at any cost- where there was once a Join Or Die attitude, there is the current now of Join And Die and then bring others into it as well.
It's still in its development stages, this line of thought.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Break
I have been reading some intensive political documents which I have been finding confusing and annoying. I hate it when people's own sentences contradict each other, but there you go.
As a relief to that, I have also been reading a bunch of Babylon 5 novels. Now, I came late to the show (like, ten years), and enjoyed it immensly. The novels are another thing. I like some, I loathe some, I ambival some (yes, it's a word. Well, no, actually, it isn't. But it will be).
What I do like about the Babylon 5 world, if you will, is that there is not black and white going on, and sometimes there are no win situations in which no one wins. Unlike Star Trek, or a number of other sci-fi universes, failure is an option in Bab5. Technology and magic do not solve everything. You make a bad decision, and the consequences are there for you and everyone to try to clean up.
Anyhoo- I'm still alive.
Another book I read was The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming, by Lemony Snicket. Darned good, really. It's the tale of a misunderstood and scalded potato pancake who is so frustrated he cannot stop screaming. Even as the various christmas creatures he meets try to tell him what he "really" is, he clarifies patiently but with obvious annoyance what he actually is, why, and the symbolism he represents. It's heartwarming, charming, and also has a somewhat happy ending (not fot the latke, though).
If you MUST read a holiday book, make it this one.
As a relief to that, I have also been reading a bunch of Babylon 5 novels. Now, I came late to the show (like, ten years), and enjoyed it immensly. The novels are another thing. I like some, I loathe some, I ambival some (yes, it's a word. Well, no, actually, it isn't. But it will be).
What I do like about the Babylon 5 world, if you will, is that there is not black and white going on, and sometimes there are no win situations in which no one wins. Unlike Star Trek, or a number of other sci-fi universes, failure is an option in Bab5. Technology and magic do not solve everything. You make a bad decision, and the consequences are there for you and everyone to try to clean up.
Anyhoo- I'm still alive.
Another book I read was The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming, by Lemony Snicket. Darned good, really. It's the tale of a misunderstood and scalded potato pancake who is so frustrated he cannot stop screaming. Even as the various christmas creatures he meets try to tell him what he "really" is, he clarifies patiently but with obvious annoyance what he actually is, why, and the symbolism he represents. It's heartwarming, charming, and also has a somewhat happy ending (not fot the latke, though).
If you MUST read a holiday book, make it this one.
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