First off: Why am I reading and reviewing a L. Ron Hubbard Scientology book? The answer is simple: When I first got into the reading, collecting and rFirst off: Why am I reading and reviewing a L. Ron Hubbard Scientology book? The answer is simple: When I first got into the reading, collecting and research of scifi books and authors, I came across the name L. Ron Hubbard several times (this before before knowing of his association with Scientology, which I had heard of but knew very little about). While looking into his catalogue, listed there, were his so called “important works”. I picked up a few of them in used bookstores simply out of curiosity. Books like, “Have You Lived This Life Before” (1968), I suspect, could only exists in order to weed out those who are not quite quacky enough to be recruited into this outfit. It seems to me that only one who would actually believe this to be a factual authentic “scientific survey” could be considered a possible mark. I personally have gone as far as being audited a few times - holding the e-meter “cans” while being questioned. I spent most of the (free) sessions interviewing the Auditor. I learned that these folks seldom knew much about the early scfi connection to their chosen path; how a rather mediocre penny-a-word pulp writer found a creative way to really profit from his limited talents.
The claim at the beginning of the book which states that the 42 cases within are, “Incidents” collected from a group of “70 conservative, well-trained Scientologists”, meaning that it was based on reports issued by Auditor are from various test subjects, is ludicrous. This is clearly a book of fiction written by L. Ron Hubbard himself (the consistent cheesy and clunky writing style is unmistakable). To list examples to prove this theory is unnecessary, just take this reader's word for it - this is not at all like an Buddhist reincarnation type thing. The overall idea could have been made into an entertaining read. Short two or three page vignettes that read almost like outlines for short stories set at different times throughout history (even pre big-bang times! One is set 55 000 000 000 000 000 000 years in the past, while another is set 23 064 000 000 past). This could have been an interesting creative writing assignment but, unfortunately, as mentioned, the whole, I suspect, was written by one who had very limited imagination and inspiration. For instance, regardless of the time-period featured, almost all of the stories were very similar and usually ended with death by one cheesy stereotypical Hollywood-B-movie-like form of torture or another.
I was actually hoping to see a glimmer of golden age writing here in this self published book. I'll admit there was some sense of wonder moments here and there but these were eventually ruined by really bad development or conclusions. This is simply really bad L.Ron. Hubbard non-sense
Based on his previous work from the 40's and 50's and the 1980 “Battlefeild Earth” brick-of-a-book, I believed he could have done so much better with this than he did. Surprised? No. Not at all. The worst of his fiction will rate at least two stars, but not this one....more
I found this at a library book sale in Vancouver. Nice cover, and fun idea for something to do while on a four hour flight home. I enjoyed answering tI found this at a library book sale in Vancouver. Nice cover, and fun idea for something to do while on a four hour flight home. I enjoyed answering the quiz yet found most of the questions to be so heavy on T.V. and Movies. I was thinking that it, being a book, it would focus more on book versions of scifi and fantasy. Also, with the cover being as retro as it was, I assumed it would also focus more on golden age, or historical scifi and fantasy. There were a few questions there for those familiar with that sort of thing, but it was really more about Marvel, DC comics, Star Trek/Wars, Game of Thrones (which I never watched), Video Games and Dungeon and Dragons. It is broken up into "Easy", "Medium" and "Hard" questions - which I could not determine a specific distinction between them. I would have preferred something like, "Comics Books", "Video Games", "T.V.", "Pre-Golden Age, Golden Age and Post literature" and such.
**spoiler alert** A rather interesting, entertaining short novel by Simak. Shape-shifting aliens (who's natural shape is that of bowling balls) takes **spoiler alert** A rather interesting, entertaining short novel by Simak. Shape-shifting aliens (who's natural shape is that of bowling balls) takes over the world by simply buying it one building at a time - then again, they don't stop there, they want the whole solar system! And then there is a rival alien among us, who in this case, takes the shape of a dog - yes Simak loves his talking dogs. Funny, easy early sixties scifi read from the a master author of the genre....more
For a long time now, I have been disturbed by the over abundance and overuse of plastics. For a quarter of a century, I've worked in the warehouse of For a long time now, I have been disturbed by the over abundance and overuse of plastics. For a quarter of a century, I've worked in the warehouse of a large furniture retailer. I've dealt with bails made from plastic packaging that most people never see. I saw this book on a shelf at a restaurant. It was there merely as decor. The title interested me, so I asked the waitress if they would part with it, and with complete indifference, she handed it over.
First published in 1970, this book hits the mark as far as showing our over dependency on plastics. What if there was a mutant bacteria released that turned plastics into bubbling liquid? Well, even in 1970, (spoiler alert!) the city of London shuts down completely and thousands of people die (this is mentioned on the book jacket btw). It was written by two individuals: Dr. Kit Pedler, an expert in "experimental biology", and Gerry Davis, a Londoner who has primarily written for both British and Canadian television. "Mutant 59: The Plastic Eaters" the novel, is an expanded version of an episode they wrote for the British television Doomwatch series. I have never heard of it before learning of this book - seems like a rather cool series. The novel read like a TV script, fast paced and packed with a series of short dramatic scenes and events. The main lesson is clear, yet the underlying one that impressed me was the pointing out of the reluctance of large corporations for taking any responsibility for the damage caused to the environment and humanity, for the sake of monetary prophet. Had a novel like this been written today, it would still have relevance and impact, yet it is interesting to consider that the signs of trouble were apparent as far back as 50 years ago. ...more
“War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.”
I heard an interview with Orwell's son. He took part in a live reading of the novel for its 70“War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.”
I heard an interview with Orwell's son. He took part in a live reading of the novel for its 70th anniversary in publication. I had not yet read this iconic classical piece of literature, though had picked up an old hard cover book club edition a few years ago in a salvation Army store. This novel was part of the high school curriculum in the French school I attended in the early eighties. I was a bit jealous, as I had not taken the more advanced English class that featured it. We read "Animal Farm" which was perfectly fine, but 1984 was the one I wanted to get to as it was a cool time to cover it. I would have read it that very year: in 1984. And I believe the movie had come out 'round that time as well. There was a big 1984 frenzy going on.
Sure, I could have gotten hold of a copy easily enough, I seemed interested enough, but in those days, I needed to be forced to read fiction. Not often would I have picked up a book - any book - voluntarily.
It was as expected. Dark, dreary and political. Not the most pleasurable read - part 3 especially - mind you Orwell's writing style was, as expected, top notch. It seemed a story often told in different variations. I thought of Ayn Rand's short "Anthem" novel while reading this, for instance. Even one of my own earliest attempts at writing, a little piece I gave the title "Cogs" had a "you and me against this world of tyranny" idea... But it was definitely the best of any dystopian novels I'd read thus far.
The theme of alternate or changeable truths felt very current.
Having a personal mission, set over decade ago, to read all of A. E. van Vogt's work, I'm not entirely sure why I have been putting this one off, knowHaving a personal mission, set over decade ago, to read all of A. E. van Vogt's work, I'm not entirely sure why I have been putting this one off, knowing it was one of van Vogt's most popular fix-up novels... I suppose the title and premise didn't interest me much. His work is typically clunky, and the idea of a weapon shop as a medium for a story line of the right to bare arms, seemed to me, in his hands, a disaster waiting to happen. It seemed something more appropriate for the likes of Heinlein, and he being a superior writer, this is true, yet van Vogt managed here to pull it off in spite of his bizarre unusual writing style. It was to my surprise that it turns out to be one of his finest works. In interviews, PKD has often mentioned van Vogt as a major influence for his own work. and as far as I know, he had never mentioned this title in particular, but "Weapon Shop" is probably the most 'Dickish' work in van's catalogue. The Weapon Shops of Isher was first published in 1951. It is cobbled up from three previously published related short stories: "The Seesaw" (Analog Science Fiction and Fact, July 1941) "The Weapon Shop" (Analog Science Fiction and Fact, December 1942) "The Weapon Shops of Isher" (Wonder Stories, February 1949)
The inclusion of the "The Seesaw" story to the Weapon Shop stories makes it a compelling whole.
I admit I have a weird bias for this unusual author. And, naturally, it did suffer from the odd or even poor quality of his writing style - anyone who ever read his work would point that out - Yet, I found this one to be a notch above much of his other works.
My edition is a combo of "The Weapon Shop of Isher" and it's sequel, "The Weapon Shop". Though I am looking forward to reading the second segment, to be honest, I am not optimistic it will live up to its predecessor....more
I love multi-generational spaceship stories, from Robert Heinlein’s “Orphans of the Sky” to A.E. Van Vogt’s “Rogue Ship” or Tau Zero by Paul Anderson.I love multi-generational spaceship stories, from Robert Heinlein’s “Orphans of the Sky” to A.E. Van Vogt’s “Rogue Ship” or Tau Zero by Paul Anderson... I even loved the ‘70’s T.V. Series “Starlost” (first conceived by Harlan Ellison and Edward Bryant). For those who don’t know who Frank M. Robinson was, other than a fine author of fiction, you have but to watch the movie “Milk” starring Sean Penn. Frank, who had a cameo part in the film, was Harvey Milk’s real life speech writer. Like the writing of Walter Tevis, this is more an introspective type of story rather than the “hard” sci-fi that was dominant during the time it was published back in 1981, being more about character, self discovery and growth. How the story concludes, reminds us that F. M. Robinson’s sci-fi root stem from the peak of the golden age, as with his famed 1956 publication of “The Power” - and I have also read one of his even earlier works from a Sept 1951 copy of Astounding (of which is part of my treasured collections of such items)....more
Other than the three “oedipal” themed stories (a term and subject I knew little about, had to look it up - I never studied psychology, opted for socioOther than the three “oedipal” themed stories (a term and subject I knew little about, had to look it up - I never studied psychology, opted for sociology instead during my university years - helped with understanding the rational for publishing them in the first place) this is a decent collection of sci-fi short stories. The collection is divided into two parts: new works dating between 1980-81 written especially for this collection (according to the dust jacket) and older stories published between 1957 and 1969. They really are “short stories” averaging only a dozen or so pages each - the shortest (and title story) at 4 pages while the longest comes in at 24. They are rather typical of the Tevis themes and elements: loneliness, alcohol always being present and dark humour. They come off as single-idea situations, reminiscent of Twilight Zone-type stories for the most part. A quick read well worth a look if you enjoyed his three sci-fi novels (The Man Who Fell to Earth (1963), Mockingbird (1980) and The Steps of the Sun (1983) - the latter, which, admittedly, I still have yet to read.
Surely, “Far From Home” is but a meager sample of short stories published during his career, and I am surprised a more complete collection has yet to see the light of day. With the recent success of the Queen’s Gambit series, perhaps there will be interest a more substantial collection of Tevis’ sort works....more