A spiritual prequel to Starship Troopers, featuring one great idea (the waldo), one laughable piece of social commentary (“nerds are petty because theA spiritual prequel to Starship Troopers, featuring one great idea (the waldo), one laughable piece of social commentary (“nerds are petty because they’re weak!”), and one deus ex machina — Heinlein’s awkward attempt to venture into the irrational territory of Van Vogt and Kuttner/Moore, which ends up more cringy than intriguing. Otherwise, it’s typical early Heinlein: too long for its thin plot, overloaded with explanations, light on characterization — yet packed with technical details of the future, masterfully woven into the story and enriching the world-building....more
A proof of concept for Asimov’s The End of Eternity. Kudos to Van Vogt for getting there first, but the writing is clunky and often dull — though to bA proof of concept for Asimov’s The End of Eternity. Kudos to Van Vogt for getting there first, but the writing is clunky and often dull — though to be fair, Asimov’s version isn’t exactly a masterpiece in that regard either....more
Made me realize that, as a society, we’ve traded drinking and smoking for TikTok and Instagram. Body rot became brain rot — and I’m not convinced it’sMade me realize that, as a society, we’ve traded drinking and smoking for TikTok and Instagram. Body rot became brain rot — and I’m not convinced it’s an improvement. At least the old-fashioned vices were genuinely social....more
Про кинотеатры будущего любопытно написано, но "вот-это-поворот" довольно дешевый и изобретатель Гэллегер — это просто доведенный до абсурда Шерлок ХоПро кинотеатры будущего любопытно написано, но "вот-это-поворот" довольно дешевый и изобретатель Гэллегер — это просто доведенный до абсурда Шерлок Холмс, да еще и в запое....more
A short, crisp and engaging short story. It’s a satisfying puzzle box reminiscent of other classics from the same period: Uncommon Sense by Clement anA short, crisp and engaging short story. It’s a satisfying puzzle box reminiscent of other classics from the same period: Uncommon Sense by Clement and First Contact by Leinster, but better written....more
Van Vogt materializes plot twists out of thin air, almost as effortlessly as the eponymous weapon shop did in front of Fara Clark. Luckily for us, in Van Vogt materializes plot twists out of thin air, almost as effortlessly as the eponymous weapon shop did in front of Fara Clark. Luckily for us, in a short form like this, the story doesn’t fray at the edges as much as Slan did. I’d even say Van Vogt’s writing is likable here — though I’m less sure about his ideology:
Прочитал книгу и понял, что она настолько же несвязная, бестолковая и шумная, как и экранизация Бондарчука. Получается, экранизация у Бондарчука вышлаПрочитал книгу и понял, что она настолько же несвязная, бестолковая и шумная, как и экранизация Бондарчука. Получается, экранизация у Бондарчука вышла каноническая. ...more