Cyberpunk..

[Lauren Hynde]

Read a very erotic first-time novel in cyberpunk genre recently, called "ReMix." I've loaned the book and forgotten the author, however. Anyone else read this one?

- Judo

I think it's Jon Courtenay Grimwood's. I never read it, but found the first chapter online: Aim to please, shoot to kill...

 

[raphy]

The Difference Engine was Gibson and Sterling. I've never read it. I really should

Raph, in shame.

 

[MathGirl]

As for your plan for watching “A Shot in The Dark” while imbibing intoxicants:Be prepared to shoot alcohol from your nostrils.

Dear Quaz,
I don't think I'd like CP on the printed page. "BR" was just a great movie, and I don't see how that could be captured in words. Rutger Hauter's character was so cool.

You're the one who recommended "ASITD" so I'll blame you if I snort vodka tonic out my nostrils.
MG
Ps. Senor Alec Thompson likes vodka tonic and I always share. All he does is pass out. Not very interesting, because he sleeps most of the time anyway.
Pps. I'm sure glad I discovered the PPanther movies. They're wonderful. I love poor Herbert Lom. I try to ration them out to once a week.

 

[raphy]

*coughs*

Err, in light of the self-promotion thread, I think I should probably label this "examples of cyberpunk shorts" instead.. That said, I did promise 'em to you all, so here they are.

http://tavern.insertpunchlinehere.com/stories.html

They're all fairly short, and they're all by me. They're all very gibsonian-esque examples of cyberpunk. At least, I think so.

 

[ffreak]

MathGirl: I think you would like Phillip K Dick - dark looks at what we are and may become - with an attitude.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? became Blade Runner in the theatre.

We Can Remember It for You Wholesale became Total Recall

Second Variety became Screamers

And they actually kept the original titles in:
Minority Report
Impostor
Paycheck (later this year)

I wish they'd do The Man in the High Castle and Lies, Inc.

-FF (remembering the good old days when robots were robots and women were robots and they still gave good... oh, sorry, the recorder was still on).

 

[ffreak]

Oh, hey, raphy, read Morality, liked it. Whee.

-FF (brevity has no soul)

 

[MathGirl]

MathGirl: I think you would like Phillip K Dick - dark looks at what we are and may become - with an attitude.

Dear ff,
Besides Azimov and Heinlein, Dick is the on SF writer I've read. Oh, Pohl Anderson, too. And whoever wrote "Ender's Game."
MG

 

[gauchecritic]

Dear ff,
Besides Azimov and Heinlein, Dick is the on SF writer I've read. Oh, Pohl Anderson, too. And whoever wrote "Ender's Game."
MG

In that case you should also read "Solaris" and "Who" by Stanislav Lem and Algys Budris. Sci-fi and People too. (Forget the films, although the Russki version of Solaris is very close to the original)

Gauche

 

[ffreak]

Try The Fifth Head of Cerberus by Gene Wolfe - not what you would expect from Science Fiction - this is literature - a examiniation of Veil's hypothesis.

-FF (there's a reason we all think we came from another planet - we did.)

 

[MathGirl]

Originally posted by gauchecritic In that case you should also read "Solaris" and "Who" by Stanislav Lem and Algys Budris. Sci-fi and People too.

Dear Gauchie,
Are these "Spaceship SF?" I sort of like that stuff.
MG

 

[Lauren Hynde]

In case you don't have time to read all these books, here are some ultra-condensed versions:


-------------------------------------------------
The Man In the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

If you're EVIL, you LOSE, even if you WIN.

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick

Bob Arctor: Drugs have messed me up pretty badly.

Fred: Yeah, he's pretty messed up alright.

Hank: Fred, you are Bob Arctor.

Fred: (drools)

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov

Hari Seldon: I used Psychohistory and set up two Foundations. Now it'll only be 1000 years between Galactic Empires instead of 30,000.

First Foundation: La la la, la la la, things are going pretty well.

The Mule: Ya-hah! I've ruined your plans!

First Foundation: Gasp!
(The Second Foundation fixes everything.)

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov

Humans: The electron pump provides free energy but is destroying our universe.

Aliens: The positron pump provides free energy but is destroying our universe.
(Some SCIENCE stuff happens, and it is CONFUSING.)

Denison: I'm glad that's over. Is it time for the gratuitous sex scene yet?

Selene: Yes.

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov: Here's a logic puzzle thinly disguised as a story.

Reader: Hurray!

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
The Collected Work of Isaac Asimov

Stock Asimov Character #1: I'm a suave, witty, brilliant, good-looking scientist. I am everything Asimov thought he was.

Stock Asimov Character #2: I am the same, except the opposite sex.

Stock Asimov Character #1: Great! Let's do some science stuff, save the world, and make out.
(They do.)

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein

Robert A. Heinlein: I have a plan for the perfect revolution.

Reader: Interesting, tell me more.

Robert A. Heinlein: Step One: Live on the moon.

Reader: Uh....

Robert A. Heinlein: Step Two: Discover an omnipresent sentient computer.

Reader: *sigh*

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein

Johnnie Rico: I've joined the army. Watch my career.

Robert A. Heinlein: Blah blah blah POLITICS blah blah blah ORDER blah blah blah PHILOSOPHY blah blah blah MILITARY ORGANIZATION blah blah blah I HATE THE MILITARY OF MY DAY blah blah blah WAR blah blah blah CITIZENSHIP blah blah blah VOTING blah blah blah MORAL PHILOSOPHY blah blah blah MATH RULES blah blah blah -- Story? We don't need no steenking story!

Reader #1: I am overawed. You are a god, Robert A. Heinlein.

Reader #2: I am overawed. You are a doofus, Robert A. Heinlein.

Reader #3: I'm hungry. What's on TV?

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
Stranger In a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein

Valentine Michael Smith: You people would cure all society's ills if you'd just "grow closer" to your friends.

People: You sick dog. (stone him)

Valentine Michael Smith: I don't get it. Truly, I am a STRANGER in a STRANGE LAND. (dies)

THE END

 

[gauchecritic]

Lauren on the Heinlein you missed out the mysogony and "I'm not gay but if you really want to. I mean really really"

Maths, No. They're very peopley things. Go for Anne McCaffrey instead.

Gauche

 

[raphy]

But not her Dragonriders of Pern stuff - I believe Gauche is talking about her Ship Who Sang series.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

The Collected Work of Anne McCaffrey

Female Lead: I secretly love Male Lead. He must never know.
Male Lead: I secretly love Female Lead. She must never know.
(They find out.)

THE END




PS: Hmmm... A bit like Jane Austen, really...

 

[MathGirl]

In case you don't have time to read all these books, here are some ultra-condensed versions:

Dear Lauren,
That is the best SF I've ever read. Summarizes the Foundation Trilogy nicely. Most boring books I've ever read. Thank you.
MG
Ps. Do you suppose you could do that with some of the classics for Perdita? Those Reader's Digest Condensed Books are really more than she cares to wade through.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

Some Classics for perdita:


-------------------------------------------------
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Anna Karenina: I am having an affair with Count Vronsky.

Alexey Karenin: I can only forgive you if you die afterward.

Anna Karenina and Count Vronsky: Then the cruel double standard of upper class Russian society shall have to tear us apart.
(It does.)

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy: History controls everything we do, so there is no point in observing individual actions. Let's examine the individual actions of over 500 characters at great length.

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Walton: Dear Margaret: My ship picked up this guy. He RULES.

Frankenstein: I discovered the secret of life, and everyone died. (dies)

Frankenstein's Monster: Inexplicably, I have become suicidal. (jumps out a window)

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare

Katharina: Spit. Hiss.

Petruchio: Shut your mouth before I hit you.

Katharina: I can be civilized now that a man has bossed me around. I love you madly, Petruchio.

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Hamlet: Whine whine whine...To be or not to be...I'm dead.

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

Caius Cassius: Brutus, we're plotting to kill your best friend Caesar. Wanna help?

Marcus Brutus: Because I love Rome more, I will.
(They all stab Caesar.)

Julius Caesar: Et tu, Brute? In that case, I'd better die. (dies)
(The nation mourns, and everybody commits suicide.)

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius, and Helena:
We're all in love with each other the wrong way around.
(Everyone goes into the woods. They have WACKY experiences, pair off correctly, and live happily ever after.)

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
Othello by William Shakespeare

Iago: Your wife's cheating on you.

Othello: She is? (kills wife)
Damn, she wasn't really.

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
Richard III by William Shakespeare

Edward Four: I'm dying.

Richard Three: Hurray!
(Richard Three KILLS and MARRIES. And he keeps KILLING and MARRYING until it makes him KING.)

Ghosts: Behold how foreboding we art.

Richard Three: (dies)

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
The Tempest by William Shakespeare

Prospero: Ariel, help me strand my enemies on my magic island.
(Prospero and Ariel use their magic to trap his enemies and exact revenge.)

Prospero: That's enough. Enemies, I forgive you all, and one of you can marry my daughter. I'm going home.

THE END

 

[Guest]

Thank you, Lauren.

I appreciated Anna K. especially; Hamlet could have been terser. Too bad MG won't get them.

Perdita

 

[ffreak]

Wow, Lauren - will you write my end covers?


-FF (thinking hollyweird could learn from this)


ps. You would'nt consider writing the candidates' campaign speeches for 2004, would you. Save us all a lot of time - and they'd be far more truthful.

 

[raphy]

She could write 'em - It'd be kinda doubtful if they'd use 'em, Eff..

Hope springs eternal, however.

 

[ffreak]

Yeah, but she'd knock em dead.

-FF (notice any smoke coming out of that gun?)

 

[Quasimodem]

Lauren,

I was wondering.

If you do requests, could you include a UC Frank Herbert's "DUNE."

I am still stuck, trying to forget the movie.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

That movie will always remain as the sole blemish in the otherwise impeccable David Lynch filmography.


Dune by Frank Herbert

Frank Herbert: I'm lots smarter than you are. I challenge you to understand even one of my paragraphs!
Reader: Gee, Frank Herbert is smart. I can't even find the plot.

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert

Everyone: We're absurdly over-intelligent with identical personalities.
(The Conspirators do some mysterious conspiracy stuff.)

Muad'Dib: Now that I have two children which need my support and care, I'll wander off into the desert and die for no particular reason.

Everyone: Awww.

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
Children of Dune by Frank Herbert

(People do stuff that is OUT OF CHARACTER. People do stuff that makes NO SENSE. Cool arabic-type words and names are said, making Frank Herbert look SMART and COOL.)

THE END

-------------------------------------------------
God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert

Leto II: Infinity.

Reader: Ouch, my head just exploded.

THE END


The curious thing about Frank Herbert's Dune series is that if you don't particularly like one of these condensations, you can just choose another... All the books are pretty much the same...

 

[Guest]

Ell, you're on a roll today. I remember the boys I knew in the 70s who were reading Dune, even wanting to read bits to me to get me to read it (or to 'get' me). Yeah, I remember them and after reading your post I'm glad I never wasted my time (on them or the book).

just a bit snobby, Perdita

 

[MathGirl]

Knudeaux

LH has written some of the best stuff ever to appear on this site. I think only the impenetrable works of OG would be resistant to her condensation.
MG
Ps. I wish Wagnerian opera was amenable to her treatment. It would save so much time. Sorry, Perdita.
Pps. I hope she didn't actually wade through all the Dune books in order to make sense of them. Urgggglll

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Ooooh!!! Cool! Now do my stories!!! *jumping up and down*