Analog Sci-fi Book Reviews

We are back! Another episode of Analog Sci-Fi Book Reviews! This week we are covering Flow My Tears The Policeman Said. I have been dying to read this book! And well, I ended it feeling a little disappointed. I loved the police state detection and the world-building. But found the dialogue and scene structure to be lacking. We never stayed in an interesting place for too long. Well, check out my review of Philp K Dick's Flow My Tears The Policeman Said

In this episode of Analog Sci-Fi Book Reviews, I discuss with you my reading of Robert A. Heinlein's Tunnel In The Sky. In this 214 page novel, we follow Rob Walker, a 'competent man' in all of Heinlein's juvenile era glory.

In this story, Rob yearns to become frontiersmen on the front lines of humanity's expansion onto uncolonized planets. Rob decides to embark on an adventure by enrolling in Advanced Survival. A course where brave young people elect to enter through a Stargate, or in this world a "Ramsbotham jump" that travels Rob onto an undisclosed and in-hospital jungle planet.

This test for learned survival skills goes wrong when Rob and his feel jumpers are left behind for ages. This is a story in reverse of Lord Of The Flies, where the goal of the narrative is to show how the individual and the group as a whole can overcome obstacles while also showcasing Heinlein's blatant basis of masculinity, individualism, and leadership.

Score: Thumbs Down. Not a fun read, not a guilty read, but a short read. A slow read that's pure Heinlein. Clearly written for young boys. The Stargates and Advanced Survival are awesome! Where it doesn't... is less awesome.

Where To Find

Thriftbooks: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/tunnel-...

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tunnel-Sky-Rob...

To Watch This Episode On Youtube.com:

https://youtu.be/fcOYvBPfrb0

In this episode of Analog Sci-Fi Book Reviews, I discuss with you my reading of Orson Scott Card's first novel that kicked off the Enderverse, Ender's Game! Winner of both the Hugo and Nebula winner in 1985 for Best Science Fiction Long Form Novel. In this 324 paged Masterpiece, we follow Ender Wiggin, a genius tactician, a third born, and maybe humanity's last hope against an Alien Invasion.

In this story, Ender is a pawn in everyone's game. Even if he is only half aware of the decisions being made for him, Ender, a 'third born,' must justify his birth, as Earth has gone through dramatic societal changes. Family sizes are reduced for rationing, and 2nd and 3rd births are rare and only can be approved by the State.

When Ender decisively wins a fight at school, he is promoted to Battle School, on a space station off-world. Ender is tested in a social environment where he surpasses his equals in implementing creative military tactics. The Battle Room, where platoons play a type of 'Freeze Lazer Tag'... but in Zero Gravity. In The Battle Room, Ender proves himself to be a Great General. Back on Terra, we also follow Ender's older brother Peter, who was denied entry into Battle School due to being unempathetic. Along with his sister Valentine, who also was denied entry to Battle School for being too empathetic. Their story is one of sibling-civil war—Valentine's desire and failure to control her older brother, who seems bent on World Control.

Valentine and Peter sway public option by creating fake identities on online message boards (Social Media). With these fake identities, they can direct the 'adults in the room' to move geopolitics in their favor. And in my options, these are the most interesting chapters in the book! Ender moves quickly up the latter. He easily defeats all other Platoons in Battle School inside the Battle Room. When Ender passes all tests and wins another device physical fight with another Platoon leader, Ender is promoted to Command School.

In Command School, Ender meets Mazer Rackham, the man who won Earth the 1st Bugger Invasion. Ender is given command of all ships, with all his friends under his command. He wins battles; he loses battles. When the Earth Leadership attends Ender's last test. Ender is given a final variable. The Bugger Home World. With all ships, Ender destroys the Bugger Homeworld and every living thing on the planet. It is revealed that Ender was in command of all ships for the entire time he was in Command School.

Score: (BIG) Thumbs Up! This book reads likes Masterpiece. The voice of Ender is so fully realized, you understand who Ender is and what he's experiencing. The Battle School chapters are fun. But, it is what's happening back on Terra that I personally find most interesting! I am more motivated to read Shadows of the Hegemon than, say, Speaker of the Dead, on this fact alone.

The use of social media and fake identities, being the book was written in 1985, is jaw-dropping. Along with open discussions about the value of lies, the justification for a preemptive strike, and towering of the individual over society. All these points make the story richer and leave the reader with a sense of loss and the knowledge that the choices you make will follow you into tomorrow.

Listen To The Audio Verison On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/08CKABaMK63BE04AGEb3no?si=lJmUaXgMTmO2qXUGNx7nvg

Where To Find Thriftbooks: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/enders-game-by-orson-scott-card---/249686/#edition=1859735&idiq=2413359

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Enders-Ender-Quintet-Orson-Scott/dp/0812550706/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=enders+game&qid=1611404681&sr=8-4

Analog Sci-Fi Book Reviews is back with another episode! With all the snow that we have been getting here in in Maryland in the month of February. I decided to change up new video with a story set on a Winter Planet. So the World of Gethen and the Gethenians is where we are set as I breakdown Ursula K. Le Guin's, The Left Hand Of Darkness.

I love this book and all of the gender politics, Le Guin' creates a world where gender is taken out of the equation. She askes us to look at ourselves and wonder "How Would A World Operate When The Inhabitants Have No Fixed Gender?"

In this episode of Analog Sci-Fi Book Reviews, I break down the classic of 80's CyberPunk, the film that started it all. The one the only! Ridley Scott's 1982, BLADE RUNNER!!!! I get a chance to share the microphone with my good buddy Alex, The 'J' Jannick. Jannick has never seen Blade Runner, so I decided to pull off my copy of Blade Runner The Directors Cut, and together we break it all down, baby.

Score: CLASSIC (BIG)-Thumbs Up! Blade Runner is a movie about astricts, mood, and cool. You don't watch Blade Runner drill down on typical characteristics of prestige cerebral Science Fiction Cinema.

The Plot: "A Group of Advanced Andoirds (Nexus Six Models) kill their human overloads off-world. Travel down to an experimental devastated Earth to blend in with the emotionally deaded population. We Follow Rick Decard, an off the beat, brought back in street cop or (Blade Runner) to hunt down and 'Retire' these rogue Android 'Replicants"

...That's the whole movie. And the irony of this somewhat sleepy film is a short run time. But hidden in this film are nuggets of fascinating theories, often sidelined, but help paint a grander world, outside of the view of Deckard and the characters we follow in the film.

The Off World Planets. The Super Toys. The Economy. All of these ideas are visually represented and when never addressed in the film directly. The viewer paints their own narrative of 'What This Future World Is.'

You don't need to be told that the planet is damage due to population. You Just Know! You don't need to be told either Rick Deckard is a Replicant; just feel it.

In rewatches, I wonder, "What Has Deckard Been Doing, Prior His Return To The Blade Runner Life?"- Maybe Rick has been Rebooted? Or, He's a model that just can't die?

All of these thoughts come to my mind once you understand the angle the Director's Cut makes, in deliberately seeding doubt in the organic memories of Deckard. Deep viewers will have to find the reason why Deckard hasn't died. If he is truly a Replicant..'

Watch The Video Verison On Youtube:

https://youtu.be/rs38YyWrCLk

Listen To The Audio Verison On Spotify:

(HERE)

Where To Stream:

HULU https://www.hulu.com/movie/blade-runner-the-final-cut-dca35f8e-bd6e-4f1e-be93-278b70bcd3ed?entity_id=dca35f8e-bd6e-4f1e-be93-278b70bcd3ed

Where To Buy:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Blade-Runner-Directors-Harrison-Ford/dp/0790729628/ref=tmm_dvd_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Thriftbooks: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/do-androids-dream-of-electric-sheep-by-philip-k-dick-jri-kallas/247991/all-editions/?resultid=95759688-3f10-4a79-b6a2-a20aad185250