tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post4490252526869352294..comments2024-03-29T15:45:04.867+05:30Comments on Jabberwock: Dissecting the universeJabberwockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-12518985031968490582012-08-24T17:01:50.101+05:302012-08-24T17:01:50.101+05:30There was once an experiment to simulate an out-of...There was once an experiment to simulate an out-of-body experience by feeding images from a camera placed behind your back, directly to your eyes. I'll share the name of the book as soon as I can recall it.Deepti Sharmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09462873637851411701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-15222730657419289602012-08-23T22:23:12.915+05:302012-08-23T22:23:12.915+05:30I am not too familiar with the work of either Dawk...I am not too familiar with the work of either Dawkins or Gould.<br /><br />But their debate has fascinated me from whatever little I've read from other sources.<br /><br />Dawkins holds the orthodox view - that evolution is a gradual, never-ceasing process that happens at the level of a single gene. <br /><br />Gould, with his alternative punctuated equilibrium theory, suggests that evolution is not really something that occurs continually. The process is actually dormant for long periods of history with changes occuring abruptly triggered by environmental shocks.<br /><br />Scientifically speaking, Dawkins has more backers.<br /><br />But for an outsider, going by the nature of the two arguments, it's quite fascinating because these are two totally different ways of looking at the world. Theories which presumably tell us a lot about the temperaments of the two people concerned.<br /><br />Dawkins, the progressive, believes in gradual, continuous march of evolutionary progress.<br /><br />Gould's view is more akin to that of a conservative - sceptical of human progress. Reminding one of the discontinuous nature of progress in human history. As Edmund Burke once said - "The march of the human mind is slow"shrikanthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03898755392584822638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-60737576326535289382012-08-23T09:18:01.459+05:302012-08-23T09:18:01.459+05:30If you're referring to what I think you are, y...If you're referring to what I think you are, yes, it does make perfect sense. I really do hope it gets easier with time.Radhika Oltikarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-72763388598395475082012-08-23T02:49:32.082+05:302012-08-23T02:49:32.082+05:30Had an early day at the lab today, so didn't c...Had an early day at the lab today, so didn't catch the comment. <br />I'm sure the idea was that the Visions be Dangerous but most of them ended up convoluted or exeedingly tame. <br />Exceptions include "The Jigsaw Man","If all men were brothers...","Land of the Great horses" and "The doll-house."All of these score because of their irreverance and good story-telling.Not exactly thought provoking, but more "hmmm...interesting" sort of material. And the last story is more accurately described as fantasy, not sci-fi.<br />Asimov has nothing to fear here. <br />I was involved in a discussion recently, where my neighbour (the same) told me that many members of the current crop of sci-fi writers are profoundly religious (Mormons, Catholics etc), and that they use the medium to explore their spirituality."Dangerous Visions" overflows with such "explorations". I wonder if it may have benefited from a healthy dose of Asimov's atheism to even things out. We will never know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-76662760325731944862012-08-22T21:16:17.173+05:302012-08-22T21:16:17.173+05:30Radhika: thanks. And with the state of mind I'...Radhika: thanks. And with the state of mind I'm in most of the day these days, I wouldn't have a problem understanding any mood-determined needs (if that makes any sense).Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-76891238940864972102012-08-22T11:18:06.672+05:302012-08-22T11:18:06.672+05:30Enjoyed your post. Give me popular science book an...Enjoyed your post. Give me popular science book any day.Krishnanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06642369297736205420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-90219580484329578052012-08-22T10:59:12.633+05:302012-08-22T10:59:12.633+05:30Sonia: I wrote about Capote (the film) here and ha...Sonia: I wrote about <i>Capote</i> (the film) <a href="http://jaiarjun.blogspot.in/2006/03/capote-review.html" rel="nofollow">here</a> and have self-cannibalised some of it for the true-crime piece. <br /><br />Interesting point you make about the <i>Dangerous Visions</i> stories playing it safe, since that is exactly what they weren't supposed to be doing - and in fact Ellison's grand vision for the anthology was so clearly spelled out that older-generation writers like Asimov (whom he approached) shied away from contributing, fearing that their ideas and writing style might be too stuffy for the book's readership. I've only read around 12 pieces in the anthology so far though, should get back to it sometime. Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-64505599509156642572012-08-22T10:40:01.818+05:302012-08-22T10:40:01.818+05:30My neighbor is an up and coming Sci-fi writer and ...My neighbor is an up and coming Sci-fi writer and she recommended it. I couldn't get over the feeling that themes and motifs were repeating themselves endlessly. Also, that nothing really risky was being tried. Time travel, serial killers, spirituality ( in a biblical sense) are staples here. Being in Science myself, Verne, Asimov, Wells etc were always able to surprise me by the close to predictive capabilities of their work, their vision. These stories on the other hand were playing it very safe and it felt strange, it being Sci-fi and everything. It is entirely possible that I didn't "get it" the first time around. Should try revisiting it one of these days.<br />"Mefisto in Onyx" is thematically similar to his story in "Dangerous Visions" but edgier, better-realized and better written. My two cents.<br />True-crime. Again incidentally, once my exams are done I had decided to delve into "In Cold Blood" (watched Capote and read an essay about the research behind it) So when you put it up, will be just in time. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-46712517360088440342012-08-22T10:28:21.227+05:302012-08-22T10:28:21.227+05:30I thoroughly enjoyed this post, Jai. It's also...I thoroughly enjoyed this post, Jai. It's also the sort of thing I needed to read today (not sure that makes sense, for to understand that you'd have to be me :D). Thank you :)Radhika Oltikarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-91531713843006407482012-08-22T10:08:38.117+05:302012-08-22T10:08:38.117+05:30...much more satisfying than the Harlan Ellison Sc...<i>...much more satisfying than the Harlan Ellison Sci-fi anthology</i><br /><br />Sonia: interesting coincidence: just yesterday I reread Ellison's "Mefisto in Onyx" in the noir anthology. And a few weeks ago I got <i>Dangerous Visions</i> but have been somewhat underwhelmed by it so far.<br /><br />P.S. not crime fiction - true crime. (Though I have mentioned a couple of novels - works of historical fiction.)Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-4342098587199065962012-08-22T09:58:59.195+05:302012-08-22T09:58:59.195+05:30On second thought, it could be a product of the wa...On second thought, it could be a product of the way I organize things in my mind. It is not absolute in any way. I sort of put a number of your essays, multiple versions of the Mahabharata( which was fascinating and useful all at once), Ringu+Japanese fiction, action sequences in film, book to film adaptations and a couple of others, into a sort of loose category: Recaps and genre evaluation. I think it is mainly because of the meta (sort of) narrative. However, missed the fact that it was for a magazine. I dived right into the piece. <br />Crime fiction: sounds awesome! I just finished reading "The best American noir of the century" and it was mind-blowing. A lot of experimentation mixed with traditional narratives. Great reco from this blog and much more satisfying than the Harlan Ellison Sci-fi anthology. I expected things to be the other way around considering the range of possibilities in Sci-fi but save a few, very repetitive fare. <br />And about "Duelity", I have mentioned the link in my first comment. I'm sorry if I was not clear. It's barely a minute but a "hmmm...interesting" sort of thing. Courtesy: my friend Hathi (Nikhil)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-27671941233960755542012-08-22T09:25:01.962+05:302012-08-22T09:25:01.962+05:30No, haven't seen "Duelity" - sounds ...No, haven't seen "Duelity" - sounds fascinating...Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-38281846854004522542012-08-22T08:46:47.640+05:302012-08-22T08:46:47.640+05:30this piece feels disjointed compared to your other...<i>this piece feels disjointed compared to your other genre evaluation style essays</i><br /><br />Sonia: yes, to some extent that is built into this format: writing about 10 books in a 2000-word-space. I'm a little happier with my second column on true-crime books (which I'll only be able to put up here after a couple of months).<br /><br />Btw, which other genre-evaluation-style essays did you mean? This one is the first piece of its sort that I've posted here.Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-11608686723678914612012-08-22T08:15:19.416+05:302012-08-22T08:15:19.416+05:30Very minor critique: this piece feels disjointed c...Very minor critique: this piece feels disjointed compared to your other genre evaluation style essays. There is some abruptness in the transitions.<br />However, I like the way you ended it. That is as good a reason as any not to feel the need for a grey-haired, punitive and judgmental old man for your life to have meaning. <br />I wish someone wrote as eloquently about macromolecular biology though. I guess we can't have it all.<br />Have you seen the short "Duelity" yet? I liked the flipping of interpretation with respect to the origin myths. A tad over-simplified but neat nevertheless.<br />http://laughingsquid.com/duelity-an-animation-showing-two-takes-on-the-origin-of-life/<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-45356599866543175662012-08-21T20:13:34.283+05:302012-08-21T20:13:34.283+05:30It has been a while, I have been following your bl...It has been a while, I have been following your blog-posts (- a silent voyeur?). Surely this is not your best Canto, and it is not that I have been suddenly inspired to be communicative. But after a day that had been deemed begone, almost, you brought a wonderful childish smile along, and you gave heart to not close down my writing for the day; the universe is perennial and surprising, my regards to you for reminding the clairvoyance...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-70523732726776135642012-08-21T12:41:20.473+05:302012-08-21T12:41:20.473+05:30Abhishek: yes, I only had space in the piece for a...Abhishek: yes, I only had space in the piece for around 10 titles - had to leave out Bryson and a few other favourites. Also, wanted to focus on books that covered specific subjects.Jabberwockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-1801731333314447352012-08-21T12:32:52.842+05:302012-08-21T12:32:52.842+05:301. Recommended reading: A Short History of Nearly ...1. Recommended reading: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.<br />2. Douglas Adams is God.Abhishek Mukherjeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04492031639536656851noreply@blogger.com