review Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

Review of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? By Philip K. Dick

This is the book that inspired the movie Bladerunner.  It is far more philosophical as good science fiction is supposed to be and goes to explain why it is considered to be a modern classic of the genre.

The question is brought of what a life is worth and whether it is diminished if it is, in fact, manufactured.  The ability of empathy is what is used to judge between a human and an android and yet, there are humans who are incapable of empathy.  There are androids with more of a sense of empathy, at least towards their own kind.  They are simply a separate race who is considered to be less than the kind in power.

This brings into question whether the book was supposed to be a look at humanity in general.  Was it about bigotry? Was it about racism?  What was trying to be said?  

the time machine book review

Book review of The Time Machine by H. G. Wells

The reading of this book brings more questions than answers to the thinking reader.  The idea of evolution going to the degree that it does not only with the Eloi and Morlocks, but with the later creatures is astounding.  It is so astounding because it is grotesque to the mind, but, in fact, plausible. 

The Eloi are a beautiful and small creature.  They are fragile and carefree by nature much as females were seen at the time.  The time traveler might have been so taken in by the Eloi Weena because she was the perfect female for him.  Someone to entertain and fascinate by their mere appearance, but not one to be taken too seriously.  Not one to challenge his very thoughts.

The Morlocks are a distorted and grotesque creature.  They are strong and questioning by nature. They are hunters that fear what they do not understand.  They are the males of the time of the time traveler.  They were brute force and greed represented in a distorted form.

The time traveler to escape and then immediately continue on traveling even further indicates that he is evolving himself into being far more of the Morlock nature.  Seeking out what is not understood to the point of putting himself in danger.  Instead of learning from the carefree Eloi, he embraces the dangerous aspect his personality.  In this situation, it is the curiosity.  The need to know running rampant in the mind.

lion, witch, and wardrobe book review

Book review of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

Narnia is one of the lands that is ingrained into the popular culture of today.  The first book especially is what sticks into the mind of the viewer/reader.  When read as child, the spots clung onto are that of Mr. Tumnus and all of his sweetness and Aslan with his kindness.  Santa even makes an appearance.  As a child, many things are not picked up on.

 The fact that the Witch is not just a bad person, but a tyrant who would have everyone die for her amusement is overlooked by a child.  It is the first thing about the Witch that an adult looking at her character would understand.  A child can understand on a base level that she is bad, but not see why or how.  An adult would only focus on what it is that makes her a bad person and then ponder how this came to be in the first place.  Her origins are explained to a degree, but it has to be inferred what happened from there (her birth).

Mr. Tumnus is supposed to kidnap any human child that stumbles into Narnia and he is forgiven by Lucy.  The other children seem to simply overlook this discrepancy because they trust their little sister’s judgment so highly.  It is interesting that they hold her in such high regard that they would look past someone wanting to hurt her.  They feel bad for Mr. Tumnus, her would be kidnapper, and instead focus that hatred onto the Witch.  She was the one that was making him kidnap children, but he was going to do it.  He confessed to Lucy that he was, so why do children see him as a victim when he had made the decision to do the deed?  Is it the fact that he did not go through with it or is it simply love and trust for Lucy that distracts the reader?  It seems that her judgment and Aslan’s are what is law within the story when no one questions them.

This complicated story made simple for a child’s consumption is the perfect way to appeal to the subconscious.  A child would read this and then read it again as an adult to come away with the aspect of way being necessary, but bad in the forefront of their mind.  It is almost a propaganda on the importance of war and its effects if the “right” side were to win.