Science Fiction Microstory Contest discussion
OCTOBER 2019 - MICROSTORY CONTEST (COMMENTS ONLY)
We're to memorize those and compare to the terms to the tech we may think of--? ;)
Mine is up! I managed to beat both Tom and Jot to the starting line this time.-C
C. wrote: "Mine is up! I managed to beat both Tom and Jot to the starting line this time.-C"
Technically impressive, C.
'Just saw "Ad Astra". In response to Jot's review of the film last month, here's my 2 cents:THOUGHTS ON AD ASTRA
The new science fiction movie “Ad Astra” has drawn mixed reviews. I had mixed feelings about it, myself. Not a great, stirring adventure yarn like “Star Wars” or a captivating vision of cosmic wonder like Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey.” But, nevertheless a film with a unique vision that I think deserves a respected position in science fiction cinema.
Not a bold leap into the unknown so much as a dark, dream-like journey through inner space, set against the back-drop of outer space.
Brad Pitt plays a tortured astronaut. Abandoned as a child by his astronaut father (played by Tommy Lee Jones) who callously leaves him and his mother and all Earthly concerns to pursue his compelling dream to lead a space mission to Neptune, to prove the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence. The absentee dad never returned. The son grows up to be like the father, losing himself in the cosmic void, neglecting his Earth-bound wife for distant dreams and horizons. Though, a Freudian death-wish may well drive him more than a desire to explore.
When Space Command informs our grim protagonist that the anti-matter-powered spaceship his father commanded is bombarding the Earth with deadly radiations that may extinguish all life, he is ordered to a Mars colony to transmit a message to his father, who it appears still lives, and for reasons unknown has chosen not to return to Earth. The hero’s mission takes him from the colonies of the moon (a wild frontier of warring Lunar states and deadly pirates) to a horrific encounter with a doomed ship adrift in space, to the russet deserts of Mars where intrigue, conspiracy and dark secrets of the past await him in the shadowed halls. He learns that his father, a revered hero of the space program was in reality a fanatic who killed his own crew and now appears to threaten all humanity. Space Command is apparently planning to preserve the space program’s image while secretly blowing the renegade space captain out of the universe with nukes. Trusting the son as little as they do the father, Space Command orders the hero back to Earth. But, he refuses to go. This is his fight; his personal devil to destroy. Stowing away aboard the Neptune-bound spacecraft, he travels alone to the outermost planet of the Solar System, to a final show-down with his long-lost father which he has dreaded his entire life.
Turns out, dear old dad killed his crew after their mission proved the absence of alien life in the universe. The dream of finding it defined the old man’s entire life. Not wife or family or humanity itself. But, only the call of the unknown. When that dream proved false, he couldn’t let it go, and killed his crewmen rather than let them give up on the dream and return to Earth. The confrontation between father and son, for me at least, represented the eternal schism of the human soul. The call of the horizon at odds with home and life. The son tries to save the father, still a part of himself. The tragic reunion ends with the father committing suicide, but the son, while tempted to follow in dad’s dark wake, finds the will to live and the ingenuity to escape and save the world.
The themes reflected in this film are timeless. The sins of the father visited upon the son. And, above all: To be, or not to be.
The visuals, while very familiar, were haunting and ethereal. The film opens with a striking action scene with spectacular views of Earth from an orbiting space station, astronauts falling to their doom when disaster strikes. A shuttle trip to the moon and weightless scenes aboard ship brought back memories of the Kubrick masterpiece “2001.” Dark, shadowed chambers conjured memories of Ridley Scott’s “Alien.” Holographic nature images of Earth displayed on the walls of the Mars habitats, framing silhouetted figures during disturbing conversations were reminiscent of “Solaris.” Striking images of Jupiter and Saturn during a long and arduous interplanetary voyage effectively illustrated the loneliness and immensity of space. The shots of Neptune and its ice rings were dark and spectacular.
There’s enough Hollywood sci-fi action to move the story along. Gun battles from racing moon buggies. Gorey horror aboard ghoulish death ships in space. Suspenseful EVA scenes and nuclear explosions.
The underlying message is sorrowful and bittersweet. We are alone in the universe, it seems. “We’re all we’ve got” the hero declares. This motivates him at the end to return to Earth and reconcile with his estranged wife. Life is within. The universe is a false and empty temptress. Not exactly conducive to the human spirit of exploration and discovery that gave us Gene Roddenberry’s optimistic visions in “Star Trek.” A melancholy vision, but in its way a touching one.
This film, unlike so many Hollywood sci-fi films, effectively suspends disbelief and merges mystery, psycho drama and dark, foreboding images of space travel.
Some very pro-quality film critiquing going on in this group.
Mod
It is just a suggestion, given the size of the list. What you can do, after coming up with your sci-fi tech, is to run a search of related words to see if your tech was done before.
Mod
Tom wrote: "C. wrote: "Mine is up! I managed to beat both Tom and Jot to the starting line this time.-C"
Technically impressive, C."
Thanks, Tom!
Jot wrote: "Paula> We're to memorize those and compare to the terms to the tech we may think of--?It is just a suggestion, given the size of the list. What you can do, after coming up with your sci-fi tech, ..."
I think we'd all be hard pressed to come up with a concept that hasn't been done to death. (We all follow in the wake of Wells and Verne and Asimov, etc). But, that's the challenge. We'll see.
Jot wrote: "Glad you enjoyed the movie, Tom. For me, it was a big disappointment."I really had few preconceptions going in, Jot, so I couldn't easily be disappointed. Were you expecting something more scientifically accurate? More outward-looking?
Mod
Nice one, Kalifer!I tweaked my story ending. So much better.
-C
Kalifer,I noticed you abbreviated Quantum Mechanics to QM for your story. This is interesting because you can reduce word count significantly in this fashion. In fact, if you use an abbreviation for a string of other abbreviations, you could theoretically reduce an entire book down to a single word through this approach.
Brilliant! Think of the reduced printing costs: An entire book becomes a tee-shirt slogan, and a ten-terabyte disk drive becomes a single IBM/Hollerith punch-card. : )
-C
Mine's up. Mine was based on an experiment conducted by the Noetics Institute founded by astronaut Edgar Mitchell. Dean Radin's quantum experiment showed that even remote people could change an isolated double-slit photon experiment. The answer was yes. The real surprise to me came after I wrote the story. I just read that there is speculation that planet nine might be a black hole since we can't see it.
Physicists in quantum mechanics generally call it QM as do other physicists unless they are talking to laypeople.
Hey thanks, Jot!Encouraged by Kalifer, I attempted to adjust my age to 29 through mental concentration, but alas, my experiment is a big fail. Will try again later with the liberal addition of spirits (not to be confused with spiritual or ghostly influences.)
Feeling young is the next best thing to being young, so I expect this experiment to fare much better, at least for a while. ; )
-C
C, you need all of us to concentrate on that. If enough believe we can change reality
OK, Jack, but I'm not buying all the drinks am I?-C
Hah! I am now concentrating on summoning a free drink for Jack.
*concentrate*
*concentrate*
*concentrate*
*concentrate*
*concentrate*
Behold! Wait. . . it just materialized on my desk. Sorry, Jack.
-C
That's called quantum tanglement. The scientists got it wrong. So, have one on me.
Wouldn't tanglement call for two drinks, one at each location? And as I drink mine, doesn't your glass empty slowly?
This makes my head hurt. Usually, that comes later in the process. Hah! Oh, what tanglement is weaved, when alcohol consumption is perceived.
-C
C. you want to be 29? Maybe your wish has been granted and you will start out at 29 in your next reincarnated life. Be careful what you wish for. Anyway, Happy birthday!
Happy birthday and many happy returns, C.And, Kalifer - Fascinating concept. Physics and metaphysics nicely merged.
Thanks Guys!Definitely a nice story, Kalifer. I liked your use of dialog.
-C
Justin wrote: "Great story Tom! Very moving!"Thank you, Justin. 'Glad you liked it.
Mine is up. Not sure I met with the theme and requirement, but I did have fun writing it :) And the Kai-Lingual is a real thing, fyihttp://inventorspot.com/articles/japa...
Mod
Fascinating concept, Justin. (Ending a bit unclear) But, very intriguing.
Thank you Tom! What did you find unclear, specifically?
Justin wrote: "Thank you Tom! What did you find unclear, specifically?"At first, it seemed he'd awakened and was alive again. The following line suggested he was dead.
Tom wrote: "Justin wrote: "Thank you Tom! What did you find unclear, specifically?"At first, it seemed he'd awakened and was alive again. The following line suggested he was dead."
Hi Tom,
I reworked the ending - and like it better. Tell me if you think it is more clear now. Thanks for the push to be better!
Best,
Justin
Justin wrote: "Tom wrote: "Justin wrote: "Thank you Tom! What did you find unclear, specifically?"At first, it seemed he'd awakened and was alive again. The following line suggested he was dead."
Hi Tom,
I re..."
Yes, much better. Crystal clear now, Justin. A perfect end to an excellent story, I'd say.
Fantastic! Thanks again for your feedback!JSS
Mod
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...
That was a great idea, Jot. I especially liked your description of the smoke and flames coming out of the venting hole. Reminded me of my first wife. LolIs a 1-mile square smother blanket big enough to be effective in a large fire scenario? If you dropped a bunch of them instead of water around the perimeter of a big fire, would it would be faster, cheaper, and more effective than fire retardant or water?
-C
Mod
Likewise, fire retardant water just isn't enough to stop these fires unless you were able to drop a small lake's worth of water. Not an easy problem to solve given the fuel, wind and lack of moisture.
My ex-wife could incinerate an entire tree with nothing more than an annoyed glare.-C
Jot or anyone else here who may know, did you notice that, during the big fire in (Malibu?) the LA area last year (October? November?), large planes were used dropping the red retardant, but in the Camp Fire in Paradise, at about the same time, small planes were used, dropping water. Given the comparative "body count," this difference in tactics seems crucial. Do you know why different materiel was used in each of these?
Mod
Mod
Jot, that would probably destroy the universe. Lol
I saw a commercial last night by one of these ambulance chaser law firms where they were trying to recruit clients who were firefighters who became sick after working with firefighting foams. Interesting wonder if there might be a story along the lines of that John Travolta movie.
Mod
Mod
Element: A mission that depends upon this technology
Suggestion: Have it be something not listed in this glossary:
http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/ctnlist...