Reading Between The Lines: Sci-fi storytime!
Everything around the corner
during Halloween seems bent on
scaring the bejeezus out of you,
doesn't it? Well, if you're looking
for a change, why not step into the
realm of science fiction, a realm of
fantasy that doesn't want you ruining
your nice pants?
The Ugly Little Boy by Isaac Asimov
Yes, believe it or not, Asimov wrote stories that weren't about the sentience of computers, and there are plenty of great ones, too. This story is about time travel, but science fiction itself takes a backseat for the plot. Recovered from his time and kept sealed in a stasis bubble for an experiment, a young Neanderthal boy is raised by a nurse to the ways of modern human society, as nothing more than a publicity stunt. During this experiment, the nurse begins to realize how much more sapient the proverbial ugly little boy is than she ever thought, and forms an unconventional bond with him. This fairly short story packs quite a punch despite its length.
I Hope I Shall Be Home Soon by Phillip K. Dick
Dick's stories are always incredible mind-screws for the reader, and I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon certainly doesn't disappoint there. Like his many other works, that disturbing question of what reality really is; whether it is what we perceive it or something far different, looms over this story, ready to take you out of your comfort zone. Victor Kemmings, a traveller embarking on a decade-long spaceflight, is cryogenically frozen for his journey, until the cryostasis tube he's paralyzed in malfunctions. Unable to move, left with only his mind active, the ship's onboard AI attempts to placate his brain with sensory input in the form of allowing him to relive his best memories. The story also carries an interesting self-examination of ourselves; why exactly do we prevent ourselves from enjoying... nice things?
Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut
A darkly funny examination of our society's quest for social equality, Harrison Bergeron takes place in a rather ludicrous future; one where, in order for people to be balanced, its citizens must disable any physical or mental exceptionality they have, through the use of “handicappers.” The eponymous Harrison Bergeron, a physically and mentally spry young man, attempts to create a revolution and bring down the system, with less-than-desirable elements. The balance between the story's satire and humour is just right; never does it get preachy with imparting values, nor does it lose focus of what it means to say either.
The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster
In a manner of speaking, this hundred-year-old story touches a raw nerve with our way of life in the year 2013... namely, our reliance on technology. What makes The Machine Stops exceptional is that it never treads into being dangerously Luddite; rather, it warns us that what we create with our genius can also destroy us. A future where society is isolated within underground pods, entertained and placated by The Machine, a scorched, seemingly hostile earth exists above as a reminder of humanity's follies. While it follows a somewhat conventional lone-hero-breaking-the-mold format, the story is still nevertheless a fascinating read.
The Last Question by Isaac Asimov
“What? Another Asimov story?” you scream from your ivory tower, but really, this selection wasn't for a lack of trying. The Last Question is a story that will evoke strange emotions within you; a simultaneous feeling of both fuzzy warmth as well as cold emptiness within you. Fans of Asimov will consider this one of his finest, and probably most impactful story, to the point where Asimov would correctly answer people before they could even ask what story of his whose title they forgot. It poses, in many forms, the simple question, “What will become of humanity by the time the universe collapses?” From drunk space workers of the future to interplanetary pioneers of an even further future, every instance of the question posed to the global computer system is reciprocated with, “INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR MEANINGFUL ANSWER...” Enjoy.
Reading Between The Lines explores books that you may have missed out on that are worth your while. If you have a book to suggest, email Eshaan at e_gupta@fanshaweonline.ca.
The Ugly Little Boy by Isaac Asimov
Yes, believe it or not, Asimov wrote stories that weren't about the sentience of computers, and there are plenty of great ones, too. This story is about time travel, but science fiction itself takes a backseat for the plot. Recovered from his time and kept sealed in a stasis bubble for an experiment, a young Neanderthal boy is raised by a nurse to the ways of modern human society, as nothing more than a publicity stunt. During this experiment, the nurse begins to realize how much more sapient the proverbial ugly little boy is than she ever thought, and forms an unconventional bond with him. This fairly short story packs quite a punch despite its length.
I Hope I Shall Be Home Soon by Phillip K. Dick
Dick's stories are always incredible mind-screws for the reader, and I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon certainly doesn't disappoint there. Like his many other works, that disturbing question of what reality really is; whether it is what we perceive it or something far different, looms over this story, ready to take you out of your comfort zone. Victor Kemmings, a traveller embarking on a decade-long spaceflight, is cryogenically frozen for his journey, until the cryostasis tube he's paralyzed in malfunctions. Unable to move, left with only his mind active, the ship's onboard AI attempts to placate his brain with sensory input in the form of allowing him to relive his best memories. The story also carries an interesting self-examination of ourselves; why exactly do we prevent ourselves from enjoying... nice things?
Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut
A darkly funny examination of our society's quest for social equality, Harrison Bergeron takes place in a rather ludicrous future; one where, in order for people to be balanced, its citizens must disable any physical or mental exceptionality they have, through the use of “handicappers.” The eponymous Harrison Bergeron, a physically and mentally spry young man, attempts to create a revolution and bring down the system, with less-than-desirable elements. The balance between the story's satire and humour is just right; never does it get preachy with imparting values, nor does it lose focus of what it means to say either.
The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster
In a manner of speaking, this hundred-year-old story touches a raw nerve with our way of life in the year 2013... namely, our reliance on technology. What makes The Machine Stops exceptional is that it never treads into being dangerously Luddite; rather, it warns us that what we create with our genius can also destroy us. A future where society is isolated within underground pods, entertained and placated by The Machine, a scorched, seemingly hostile earth exists above as a reminder of humanity's follies. While it follows a somewhat conventional lone-hero-breaking-the-mold format, the story is still nevertheless a fascinating read.
The Last Question by Isaac Asimov
“What? Another Asimov story?” you scream from your ivory tower, but really, this selection wasn't for a lack of trying. The Last Question is a story that will evoke strange emotions within you; a simultaneous feeling of both fuzzy warmth as well as cold emptiness within you. Fans of Asimov will consider this one of his finest, and probably most impactful story, to the point where Asimov would correctly answer people before they could even ask what story of his whose title they forgot. It poses, in many forms, the simple question, “What will become of humanity by the time the universe collapses?” From drunk space workers of the future to interplanetary pioneers of an even further future, every instance of the question posed to the global computer system is reciprocated with, “INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR MEANINGFUL ANSWER...” Enjoy.
Reading Between The Lines explores books that you may have missed out on that are worth your while. If you have a book to suggest, email Eshaan at e_gupta@fanshaweonline.ca.
