Subject:
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Re: Dune, Foundation, and other critics of Empire
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Thu, 27 Mar 2003 17:10:38 GMT
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Viewed:
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220 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Wayne McCaul writes:
> I read "Childhood's End" a few years ago and, I know it was written
> something like the 50's[1], but the end struck me as completely counter to
> what I think I was supposed to feel. "Childhoods End"
>
> :::SPOILERS WARNING:::
>
> It could be a that steady diet of Star Trek that blows it out for me. The
> Borg make a singular consciousness and the loss of identity into a monstrous
> idea. How horrific to lose your entire self to a single consciousness.
Yeah, how Star Trek basically trashed anything 'non-human'--the Q
Continuum-supreme beings acting like spoiled children and needing our
humanity to temper them--and as you mentioned, the Borg. Even though there
are many post-modern references in ST:TNG, basically it comes down to
humanity being better than all other races--better at exploring, adapting,
comprehending, and evolving.
I read an article that showed how ST:TOS was very modern--logic (in the form
of Spock) was somewhat more esteemed to "human emotion" (Dr. McCoy) for
solving their problems, yet in TNG, logic (Data), emotion (Troi), Human guts
and guile (Worf and Riker) were all on 'the same level' for decision making.
TOS=Modernity, TNG=Post Modernity.
> Yet, the Overlords are pitied because they're an evolutionary dead end.
> Unable to experience the Overmind (wait? is that it, or is that from
> Starcraft?!?). I just kept asking why? You realize that you're not the
> height of evolution so you just stop trying? (I know they were studying
> other races for the why). It seemed a little obsessive to me. Like you're
> whole race is completely deject over the idea of not changing up into that
> great singular consciousness, so you pretty much give up on every other
> possible endeavor? And why would anyone one want that in the first place?
> The more I thought about it, the more horrified I think I am with the concept.
The idea, iirc, that they went to all these different races at the cusp of
this 'evolution and witness it over and over again--is like trying to get to
the destination but always missing the mark--I would get frustrated, and
just become "Wowbanger the Infinitly Prolonged". But that's just me ;)
Yeah, I had really no sympathy for the watchers. The neat twist in the
story is the 'devil' motif--that we have in our collective 'shared' ideas of
what 'the devil' is--and it turns out, according to ACC in this little
story, something completely different. That's some good sci-fi for you.
> I know that ACC is referring to far east philosophy (sorry, can't remember
> which one. Buddhist?), so there's back to that theme of keeping ideas alive.
> It just that I felt so very opposite to what was intended. I don't really
> think that's ever happened to me before or since.
I think he's buddhist, and living in Sri Lanka still. iirc, that's where
the story--'Fountains of Paradise' takes place as well. Now my faulty
recollection--Fountains of Paradise was the elevator--if so, I can't
remember the story about the spaceship needing the giant icebergs on the
front for travelling thru space.
> -Evil Wayne
>
>
> [1] And it had it's share of anachronisms. The biggest one that stands out
> in my head is the death of conventional marriage. One of the things it was
> based on was the invention of a blood test that confirmed/denied paternity.
> That somehow a foolproof system would create or deter proper relationships.
> (mmm.. I'm sure I've just explained that poorly %P)
There have been so many stories and I can't recall which one(s) said that
marriage 'evolves' into contracts for a set amount of years (5, 10, whatever
years) and when the contract comes up, the two parties can either renew, or
if one or both want out, they just don't renew the contract--marriage over.
Could be a good idea, but goes against my personal moral makeup.
Dave K
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