Kaiju = Giant Monster

I'm recovering from a little yard work I did yesterday and this morning I  am watching a slice of cheese from the 50's titled "It came from Outer Space"!  Gives ya chills. Right?  Anyway, I tivoed it last night after I had watched a good sci fi movie from 1985.  Ron Howard's "Cocoon".  I loved the scene where all the aging stars are sneaking out of the retirement home and Don Ameche's character peeks in an empty room as they go by and the tv set is showing him in one of his b&w films from the 1930s.  Nice!  It got me to thinking that 1985 was a pretty good year for sci fi.  Besides "Cocoon", there was "Back to the Future", "Brazil", "Enemy Mine", "The Quiet Earth", and on the cheese front, "Real Genius" and "Weird Science".  Of these, "The Quiet Earth", I think, is an underappreciated classic.  Well worth the watch!
On the book front, I yesterday finished "The Mammoth Book of Kaiju: 27 Tales of Monster Mayhem".  Good Read, and available on Bookmooch.com.  I have started Stephen Baxter's NASA Trilogy.  The first of which, "Voyage" was published in 1996 and tells of mankind's conquest of Mars.  In this alternate timeline universe, Kennedy was wounded, but not killed in 1963, and due to his influence on following presidents, NASA flourished and the first flight to Mars took off in 1985 (wow-'85 again).  I'm about 80 pages in, but it is well presented and definitely holds my attention.
Long Live and Prosper!

FLASH GORDON Lives

With the world as it is with social distancing, COVID19, and all.  We are all spending a lot of time at home.  I took advantage of one of the free preview offerings on DirecTv and tivoed 1980's "Flash Gordon" with Sam Jones in the title role and Max Von Sydow as Ming the Merciless.  A bigger piece of cheese you have never sliced, but I enjoyed the heck out of it.  It never takes itself too seriously, and it shows.  Lots of fun.

By happenstance, I came across a  graphic collection titled "Justice League/Mighty Morphin Power Rangers".  Its an interesting tale made possible by a mechanical malfunction resulting in the original MMPR crossing into Earth 1's plane of existence.  Interesting tale.

Stay safe!  Live Long and Prosper!

Binge Watching Sci Fi

I know its been a couple of weeks, but this time last week I turned 65, and was concerned with other things besides writing.  (Like groceries and toilet paper!)  But I digress....  I've be reading a lot about during this pandemic and social distancing, its the perfect time to be "binge watching" old sci fi series.  Maybe for some folks, but not me.  There have been a lot of shows over the years that I have dearly loved, but after 2, or maybe, 3 episodes I'm ready to give it a rest and read, or watch something else.  I just get tired of it.   This past Sunday, SyFy Network ran a "Sharknado" marathon.  I've seen 'em all, and enjoyed them all.  But not 6 in a row.  Another network was running the first 6 Star Wars movies, and yet another all the Harry Potter movies.  But, as someone wiser than I once stated, "Moderation in all things."

I have been catching up on my sci fi watching.  Yesterday I watched "Starship Troopers 3" and today the animated/CGI "Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars".  Now I had previously seen the first two (with the first being the best) and I (last year) re-read Heinlein's book.  If you haven't read it, you should.  One of the SF masters at his finest.  Much more to the story than ANY of the movies.

I just, like 10 minutes ago, finished reading a 30+ year old ST:TNG novel titled "Survivors" by Jean Lorrah.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and it is now available to be claimed on Bookmooch.  It focuses on LT Tasha Yar (Security Chief of the Enterprise) and some of her backstory.  Its a good, quick read with much of your brain in park.

Stay safe!  Live Long and Prosper!

Sci Fi Words of Wisdom (re: COVID-19)

I'll keep this brief, as I try to keep this blog on the light side, but with all the craziness going on  - these are words of wisdom.  Do take precautions, but temper actions with thought.  DON'T PANIC!  And as far as the towel - it couldn't hurt!  Keep those you love close!  In your heart, at the very least.
Live Long and Prosper!

I WILL FEAR NO EVIL!

The title of this post is the title of the book I am currently (re-)reading.  Written by one of the giants of sci fi, Robert A. Heinlein, it is a classic.  It was originally published in 1970, and I can remember the first time I read it.  In December, 1972, I was a 17 year old Seaman on board the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Salvia.  We were enroute from the Coast Guard Yard (in Curtis Bay, MD) to our home port of Mobile, AL.  I had treated myself to a new paperback before we got underway, and recall completing at sea during the journey home.  Heinlein was a great story teller.  Sadly, he passed away in 1988.  If you are not familiar with his work,  "What the hell is wrong with you?!"  One last word of warning, if you are ultra conservative or religious, you might want to give it a skip.  Everything (politics, sex, religion, family dynamics) is fair game.  Otherwise, check your sensibilities at the door and buckle up.  This book was, is, and forever will be a hoot!

With the big "kerfluffle" going on because of the corona virus, most sci-fi shows and movies being made are on a hiatus at the moment.   Fortunately, I have a big library of DVD's I can draw from.  I recently rewatched the classic episode of Doctor Who, entitled "Hand of Fear".  From 1976, it stars Tom Baker as the Doctor, and this is the episode where the late Elisabeth Sladen, playing the iconic companion, Sarah Jane Smith, departed the show in a scene that was both funny and touching. 

Enjoy the classics, whether print, TV, or Film!  New stuff will start arriving before you know it.

Live Long and Prosper!

Sci Fi and Politics

Hola!  Its a beautiful day here.  Hope your Saturday is the same.  Today is a great day to chill.  On Comet TV (CometTV.com & 289 on Dish Network) is the "Alien Invasion Marathon".  So grab your favorite beverage and a box of crackers, and get ready for a hefty serving of cheese.  Of the half dozen or more during this all day offering, a few of the titles are, "Zontar, The Thing from Venus"; "Teenages From Outer Space", and "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians."

Now, and I hope to keep it brief, but I need to touch on my title to this post.  I know someone that once was a fan and is now unhappy with, and doesn't watch "Doctor Who".  They think it has become too political.  Since I refuse to get into arguments with anyone (whether I know them or not on Facebook) I said I would go into it here.  Its my blog, and I can say what I want.  I will read and publish all comments anyone may wish to make, as long as they are well thought out, intelligent, and written in complete sentences.  (No short phrases.)  It would be VERY difficult to address the history of science fiction without the inclusion of politics.  Without trying hard I can think of the names of a half dozen authors that used politics in the SciFi genre (H.G. Wells, George Orwell, Isaac Asimov, and Robert Heinlein are just a few.)  If  you want to get into film, well what about going back to 1927 and "Metropolis".  TV again has constantly used Sci Fi for political messages.  Perhaps you might have heard of a short lived series called "Star Trek"?  That is just one example.  Whether overt or covert, politics are here to stay.  If the "Who Haters" don't want to watch, that is their right, but I don't have to agree.  I served this country 21 years to help protect their right, but just allow me mine.    As I was typing this, I got to thinking this would be a great topic for someone's college thesis.  As it turns out (and I did check), there have been dozens, if not hundreds, of theses addressing just this.  Great minds think alike.

Finally, the book I am reading now (2005's "Cradle of Saturn" by James P. Hogan) has some major political moments, and it is a great read.  Check it out if you can.  I'm off my soapbox now, and hope to not be there again.  When it comes to science fiction, there is enough variety for anyone without arguing over it.

Live Long and Prosper!

Circa 1965, A Typical Saturday

In 1965, I was ten years old.  On Saturdays,  I was up,out of the by 9:00 AM and out in the surrounding neighborhood with my push mower cutting grass.  Most yards, I charged $1.50 (gas being 35 cents a gallon), but occasionally more for the larger yards.  I would cut grass continually until around 3:00 PM (with a short lunch break - PBJ & water usually).  After cleaning and stowing the mower I would head up to the Giant Grocery on Main Street with anywhere from $6.00 To $12.00 dollars in my pocket.  Saturdays at around noon, was when the cigarette guy delivered to Giant.  I didn't smoke, but he also stocked the 5 foot tall, circular comic book rack with the new releases.  Now, I was known in this store, because my grandparents shopped there, and when I was with them, my Big Daddy always indulged me with at least one comic.  I would start at the top with Superman and go around the rack, working my way down.  I stacked the ones I was going to buy and kept a running cost account in my head.  The cover prices were 12 cents, except for the 80 page Giants, which were a quarter.  Once I had my purchases in a basket, I would read some of the more interesting looking ones that I wasn't going to buy for a half hour or so.  The manager would let me know when my time was up and I would purchase my stack, along with some candy, put my bag in the basket of my bike and head home.  I was in heaven.

I still read comics, just not to the extent I did in my youth.  The cover price of one comic now is more than I paid for a dozen in those days, but, I guess I'm just showing my age.

Remember "Classic Comics".  They were a little larger than regular comics and cost a quarter.  The took classic novels - like "Lord Jim" or "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" - and put them in a "kid friendly" comic.  I admit to doing (more than once - see titles above) book reports based on these, and getting good grades.

When I was in the 4th grade, my English teacher, Miss Rush, avidly encouraged reading, but looked up comics with contempt.  Her favorite phrase was "Read a book and learn, not comics and rot your brain."  If she caught you reading a comic in class, it was ripped in half and thrown in the trash.

One day though, we were reading something in class and the word "sphere" came up.  She asked, "Does anyone know what a sphere is?  I don't mean a long, sharp pointed stick.  Anyone?" 

No one was raising their hand, but me.  She hesitantly said, "Alright Jerry, What is it?"

I answered it was something circular like a ball or the earth.

She seemed amazed and said, "That's absolutely right.  How do you know that?"

I grinned and said, "I read it in the latest "Legion of Superheroes" comic.  Their time machine is a clear sphere."

She just shook her head as my friends laughed. 

Live Long and Prosper!

The Future Was Then

In 1967 I happened upon this book by Mac Kinlay Kantor and I was hooked into the world(s) of alternative history.  The fact that changing one small event could institute massive changes in history.  In fact, I would say that this is probably my favorite sub-genre of science fiction.

I am now reading "Roma Eterna" by Robert Silverberg.  The starting point is the Israelites failing to escape Egypt, and the resulting world where Christianity never evolved.  This book will also be available to mooch when I finish it.

Now, I love good Sci fi theater, but my (not so) guilty  pleasure is really cheesey Sci Fi.
I call these "Sharon Specials" because when my late mother-in-law (named Sharon, natch!) would visit and I was watching one, she would shake her head, take a breath, and say, "You watch weird shit!"

I would smile, nod my head and say, "Yeah, its great!"

Now I know that there is a lot of sci fi out there now, but most of it seems to be on the internet/web (whatever the term is) but unless its on TV (I have DirecTv) or DVD, I don't watch it.  Part of the reason is that I grew up in the era when cable was just getting started.  In my early years we received two (2) stations, the local CBS & NBC affiliates.   When we got cable, I was 13 and the number of channels jumped to 12.  I was overwhelmed.  Now I have over 200 channels, and most of the time I prefer to read.  But I digress, the other reason is that because I live in a rural area, wifi is sometimes sketchy and most viewing has multiple breaks and freezing.  I can do without the frustration. 

One of my pet peeves is a show I like that plays on TV and then disappears onto the web.  The most recent example of this is "The Orville".  For two seasons I have enjoyed Seth MacFarlane's Sci Fi comedy/drama, but it was announced that the third season will move to hulu.  pffffftttt! 

I think that in my next entry I'll focus on  comics primarily, but my attention span is like a cat in a room full of lazer pointers. 

Live Long and Prosper!

Days of Future Past

I'm starting this blog for myself, but anyone - and everyone - is invited along for the ride.  I am a life long Science Fiction Nerd. (And in case you are wondering, I will be 65 in April.)  This blog is for me to share any Sci Fi book titles I am currently reading, movies I have watched - recently or otherwise, and incidents from my wayward youth.

Speaking of "wayward Youth", some of my fondest memories are of being stretched out on my bed, reading a stack of new comics, which cost a staggering 12 cents each!  Many a neighborhood yard mowed contributed to my collection.  Oh, how I wish I still had them, but life goes on.  Family (wife & kids) and a Coast Guard career (21 years) contributed to my selling them, but never ended my love for them.

I read a lot (250 to 300 books a year) and most of those are science fiction.  I am currently reading Isaac Asimov's "The Complete Robot" (Doubleday Book Club Edition-1982).  I love vintage sci fi, with those past visions of the future.  For example, in this book, the story "Robbie" was written in 1940 and is set 58 years in the future. (Do the math.)  I also mention "Robbie" because it was IA's first robot story.    And don't skip over the introduction, written by IA himself.

Now, a little housekeeping.  A BIG thank you to my wife, Debra, for doing most of the "grunt-work" setting up & formatting this blog.  Also, the book I mentioned in the previous paragraph, will be available on BookMooch once I finish reading reading it (almost half-way thru).

I'm going to wrap up this initial entry, but I hope to publish at least once a week, if not more.   Next time - my take on some cheesey Sci Fi movies that I love and favorite authors!

Long Live and Prosper!