Stanley Kubrick’s look at the Vietnam War isn’t only a commentary on the war itself, but the dissolution of the self, and the soul of humanity to be replaced by an animal nature that restrains us a species and diminishes who we are. From the introduction to the Marine Corps on Parris Island, South Carolina,…
Tag: humanity
Parable of the Sower (1993) – Octavia E. Butler
Octavia E. Butler’s science fiction tale, that follows a young woman of colour on her quest to understand herself, the ideas of god, and the destiny of humanity. Within pages of this novel, I was completely swept up in Butler’s storytelling style, her characters, and the world she created. And here’s the thing, the world…
The X-Files (1998) – The Beginning, and Drive
The X-Files have been re-opened following the events of the movie, Fight The Future, and with the production moving from Vancouver to Los Angeles, there’s a change in the look of the show. The season six opener was written by series creator, Chris Carter, and launched on 8 November, 1998. Sure, the files have been…
Project: Hail Mary (2021) – Andy Weir
I loved Andy Weir’s The Martian, and happily dug into Project: Hail Mary (I still need to read Artemis), and was completely wowed by it. I haven’t had this sense of wonder and sense of discovery and exploration since I read Clarke’s Odyssey and Rama series. Ryland Grace, former biologist turned teacher wakes up and…
M*A*S*H (1975) – Bulletin Board, The Consultant, and House Arrest
Alan Alda steps behind the camera to direct Bulletin Board, a bit of a vignette episode written by Simon Muntner and series developer Larry Gelbart. It debuted on 14 January, 1975. Trapper (Wayne Rogers) is writing a letter home to his kids (and occasionally smooching a nurse or two), Frank (Larry Linville) and Margaret (Loretta…
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark (2018) – Michelle McNamara
Halfway through the HBO docu-series, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, I knew I had to read the source material, and learn more. Written by Michelle McNamara, a brilliant true crime writer, who passed before the book could be published, or the book’s subject caught, sentenced and jailed. As captivating as the series was, the…
The Devil You Know (2006) – Mike Carey
UK author Mike Carey launched a new series with The Devil You Know, which sees him visiting territory that is very familiar to him considering his past writing credits, including The Girl With The Gifts as well as the comic series Lucifer, and Constantine. He treads the realm of the supernatural noir easily in a…
Peninsula (2020) – Sang-ho Yeon
I remember seeing Train to Busan back in 2016, at my fave film fest, Toronto After Dark, and was excited to see it just from the buzz around it at the festival. I was completely wowed,and have since recommended it constantly. I loved what Yeon did with the film, the way the story played out,…
Star Trek: Enterprise (2003/2004) – Carpenter Street, and Chosen Realm
Captain’s log: date unknown Rick Berman and Brannon Braga pen this time travel tale that first aired on 26 November, 2003. The episode sees Archer (Scott Bakula) and T’Pol (Jolene Blalock) in 21st century Detroit attempting to stop the reptilian Xindi. Leland Orser and an unrecognisable Jeffrey Dean Morgan guest in this episode. When Crewman…
Absolution Gap (2003) – Alastair Reynolds
I return to Alastair Reynold’s Revelation Space universe this week, with this, the third novel in the ongoing storyline involving the Inhibitors and the struggle of humanity, in all its forms, to escape extinction. We are introduced to a slew of new characters in this titanic space opera, while reacquainting ourselves with old friends. The…
Redemption Ark (2002) -Alastair Reynolds
I return to the universe of Alastair Reynold’s space opera this week, with a story that ties directly into Revelation Space, though it also ties into the expanded universe as glimpsed in Chasm City. The Inhibitors are back, they are an ancient mechanical race that prunes back intelligent life, stopping them when they venture too…
Star Trek: Doctor’s Orders (1990) – Diane Duane
Doctor McCoy has to take over the center seat in the next Pocket Books Star Trek novel I dug into, Doctor’s Orders. Set during the original five year mission, the Enterprise has come to a remote planet known by the nickname, Flyspeck. There the crew learn of three different sentient species sharing the beautiful and…
