RED LIGHTNING Scheduled on the HMTP for May 2006

I have revised the HMTP to include the latest Varley book RED LIGHTNING, and have updated the Varley Bibliography on the Varley Vade mecum with the same.

Deep Space Rumble. V FOR VENDETTA

This film evokes feelings akin to those I had watching Kubrik's A Clockwork Orange. The contrast between the leering grin of the Guy Fawkes mask worn by the character V and the emotion of Hugo Weaving's voice, is quite unsettling, especially in times of tenderness or anger. Like Evey (Natalie Portman's character) I wanted to peel the mask off V so I could see the human beneath. Hugo plays V in a fashion where his sanity is never assured, and not being able to read his facial expressions heightens the uncertainty. This sets the tone for the entire movie. One cannot be sure of anything. Case in point: When Evey is captured and tortured, and her world shifts gears from the unreal to the surreal, reality becomes even more unraveled. Through this experience she develops a sympathy for the cause and her captor. Could this be a manifestation of Stockholm syndrome or true empathy? The screenplay is credited to "The Wachowski Brothers" and this is another piece to add to their mystique. They manage to take several jabs at the current world terrorist situation without making it seem forced.
I watched this in the digital IMAX format, and can say that the transfer was at least as crisp as any normal sized movie I have seen. The visual impact of a four story tall picture is impressive, and probably affected my perception of the film. But I would have liked it even on home video. V is literally a revolutionary film. Thematically it is close to the movie Equilibrium in that it involves a revolution against a totalitarian state. The protagonist in both defies the state and works to bring it down, because it is the right thing to do. (No thought is given to what form of government should replace the present one after it falls, that is a problem for the rebuilders.) The protagonists in both of these films reflect the sentiment of the masses, and as such they become faceless representatives of the mob, again literally in the case of V. V for Vendetta ends with unrequited love and the hero content to see someone else put his plan into action. I found this satisfying in some ways and disquieting in others. I find this sort of ending always causes the story to linger in my mind after the experience has ended. The print equivalent would a Gene Wolfe tale. This movie is recommended for those who like two or more of Stanley Kubrik's films, or for those needing a primmer on revolutionary instigation. But see it in IMAX if you get the chance.

Non-Fiction Essential Reading List

One of the topics at the last meeting was this list. It will soon appear onthe Fictionados home page. (Their server was down when I tried to post this). This will give us more time to add to the list.

Michael T. Savage - THE MILLENNIAL PROJECT

G. Edward Griffin - THE CREATURE FROM JEKYLL ISLAND

Paul J. Nahin - TIME MACHINES

Walt Brown - IN THE BEGINNING

Michael Denton - NATURE'S DESTINY

William Manchester - THE LAST LION: ALONE

Jared Diamond - GUNS, GERMS AND STEEL