What was Sean thinking? You can kind of see the logic. In retrospect Sean Connery was the first of a new kind of masculine icon. Bodybuilders turned actors (Connery placed 3rd in Mr Universe) who expressed an ever more exaggerated masculinity. So Sean Connery starring in Zardoz isn’t all that different from Jason Momoa starringContinue reading “What was Sean Connery thinking?”
Category Archives: Writing Journal
In defence of Tolkien
There’s a long history of calling Lord of the Rings fascist. Michael Moorcock in Epic Pooh of course. But Tolkien’s book is on the list of things that leftists tend to kneejerk reject as fascist. No doubt somebody will post Tolkien’s letter rejecting a German publisher in the comments. Which is fair, Tolkien was noContinue reading “In defence of Tolkien”
An Addictive Grinder
Now, I’m not about to say I would never accept a sponsorship that made me a hypocrite. But so far the answer is no. One of the ironies of the fast growth of the Science Fiction channel, podcast and community is that I am now being sent sponsorship offers… …by the producers of the culturalContinue reading “An Addictive Grinder”
Extruded Fantasy Product
“Extruded Fantasy Product” Did Diana Wynne Jones invent this term? Wherever it began it captures the predicament we’re in. The idea of a fantasy “genre” is as ridiculous as an “imagination” genre. Fantasy is the capacity of the human imagination to dream stories that satisfy our desires. The world is big and brutal and weContinue reading “Extruded Fantasy Product”
Philip K Dick’s book of resistance in an empire of lies
“How does one fashion a book of resistance, a book of truth in an empire of falsehood, or a book of rectitude in an empire of vicious lies? How does one do that right in front of the enemy? How does one do that in a truly future technological state? Is it possible for freedomContinue reading “Philip K Dick’s book of resistance in an empire of lies”
50k Q & A
To make this interesting, I will prioritise the toughest questions. The “50k Q&A” is almost a youtube tradition now. As the Science Fiction channel is just a smidgeon away from 50,000 subscribers, this is your invite to ask questions. Questions can relate to any of the video essays or podcast commentaries, to any of ourContinue reading “50k Q & A”
The 1970s science fiction classic that actually deserves a reboot
Why was the 1970s a classic era for science fiction cinema? I’m guessing many 1970s scifi movies are forgotten, by anyone who wasn’t there to see them. Dark Star. Silent Running. Rollerball! The 70s produced so much great scifi cinema it’s hard to list it all. And even when it wasn’t great, it was stillContinue reading “The 1970s science fiction classic that actually deserves a reboot”
Rings of Power : the corporate forgery of JRR Tolkien
It’s symbolically appropriate that Fake Tolkien returns in 3 days with its lead actor stuffed into a fake hairpiece. It’s difficult to have a discussion about the moral travesty of Fake Tolkien because we live in a time and place where the crime has been normalised. Imagine pointing out a theft in a society whereContinue reading “Rings of Power : the corporate forgery of JRR Tolkien”
Buenos Aires was a false flag
You only need to know one fact to get Paul Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers BUENOS AIRES WAS A FALSE FLAG Yes. The “bug attack” that incited the whole war? THAT WAS NO BUG ATTACK. The Arachnids were waaaaaaaay over on the other side of the galaxy and weren’t doing anything to anyone. The FASCIST government ofContinue reading “Buenos Aires was a false flag”
Total Recall feels like…
For my money Total Recall is the best Philip K Dick adaptation. No doubt Blade Runner is a much better movie. But Total Recall FEELS like reading a PKD novel. Everything is artificial. Hyperreal. Claustrophobic. Paranoid. At least when it’s not busy adding to the body count. On my recent rewatch for The Verhoeven ParadoxContinue reading “Total Recall feels like…”
Literalism
One of the odd things about science fiction, given how far from real it is, is how literally some people take it This is new. Elizabethan audiences watching Shakespeare’s King Lear, or Greek audiences watching Oedipus Rex would all have understood these were not literally stories about specific historical kings but symbolic stories about themesContinue reading “Literalism”
Damien Walter 