Asimov's Foundation- The Foundation of Science Ficiton Literature

I read somewhere that Foundation by Isaac Asimov is one those books that many have claimed to read but actually haven't read at all. Well guess what? I bought it and read it so you can't count me among those lying douchebags trying to show off their intellectual prowess by claiming to have read the book simply to impress people at parties. Believe it or not these losers do actually exist and I have seen them in the action. I take great pride in chopping down the massive fraudulent tree that is the human ego.

Anyway, the Foundation novels by Isaac Asimov are widely regarded as they greatest science fiction novels ever written. Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein and The Forever War by Joe Haldemann are right up there. I could go on for quite a long time about the first book in the Foundation series; well actually it is the third book as there are two prequels. There have been many essays written about the books and I could go on for quite a bit but I won't be doing that as quite frankly I am not in the mood.

So, basically here it is. Hari Seldon is a psychologist and mathematician. He operates out of Trantor which is the capital city of the Galactic Empire. Mr. Seldon thesis is about a new area of study he calls "Psychohistory". He is the most intelligent and fluent in "Psychohistory" and this new area of study gives him the ability to predict the future using advanced mathematical algorithms. It is very much a macro study not a micro study. If you are looking for Mr. Seldon to predict if you are going to win the lottery or if you are going to find love "Psychohistory" is not going to be able to help you all that much. 

Mr. Seldon presents his idea to the higher-ups of the Empire and pretty much scares the crap out of them because he informs them that the Empire is headed for a complete and total destruction, once that happens mankind will be stuck in a period of barbaric darkness that could last up to 30,000 years. Mr. Seldon believes that there is nothing that can be done about the collapse of the Empire but the period of darkness can be cut down to only a thousand years if all scientific knowledge and culture is kept hidden from destruction and only brought public again to trim the dark era down and plant the seed for the coming of the second Empire. The Emperor is terrified at this news but instead of ordering Mr. Seldon to be executed he instead exiles him to a remote planet called Terminus where Mr. Seldon can begin his work of creating an "Ark" of sorts of the best minds to preserve all knowledge. 

The intro to the book is very fascinating and grips the reader for what you are hoping to be a thrilling adventure. Instead the rest of the book is really just a political thriller minus the thrilling parts. Various individuals’ battle for power for the Mayor position of Terminus City and pretty much lead the "Foundation Project" that Hari Seldon has set-up. The book is low on action but high on political debates, backstabbing, trade negotiations, and stroking of various egos. Mr. Seldon makes a few appearances via a holographic representation to indicate what other knowledge he has to share regarding future steps through "Psychohistory". Keep in mind Hari Seldon is long dead and only shows up through a time vault that opens every so often a crisis is about to happen and trigger a milestone event that he predicted.

I can now say that I have read Foundation well at least part three of series. There are other parts and I hear the sequels kick the action and excitement into high gear. I hope I am not disappointed otherwise I won't have anything to impress people with parties and after all isn't that what it is all about? What is the point of success if you can't flaunt it?

Cracking The Books- My journey of going back to school

When I graduated from post-secondary education I was convinced I was done with school and wanted nothing more to do with it. I had no aspirations to ever again be a part of classes I was not interested in, professors I did not enjoy listening too, being part of group projects with people I didn't see eye to eye with and I was certainly done with every exam and thesis paper not to mention the odd scheduling of classes and the massive gap in between. Seriously, I have to wait nearly five hours in between my next class. Am I going to study, waste time, take a nap, or go to the movies? Most of the time it was take a nap or go to the movies. Rarely and I stress rarely was it ever study.

Now that I was out in the working world I figured I had no need for further education. I had done my part and had paid my tuition up front with no student loans or debts whatsoever (I know, impossible and crazy right?). I felt I was vastly ahead of the curve and free to enjoy adulthood living on my own. As it turns out adulthood was filled with more going out and socializing which became duller with each pint consumed (Isn't the exact opposite supposed to happen?) annoying bills, and just an overall sense of boredom. I needed to mix things up a bit and kick start the engines to feel energized and refreshed. As time progressed going back to school part time started to become increasingly interesting to me and this time I would be spending my hard earned money to learn about something I was actually interested in since my youth, Astronomy.

When I had originally attended post-secondary education it was for marketing. I figured it was easy, simple, and something I could grasp quite well. I did alright but I didn't really apply myself but then again when I was 18 - 19 years of age I thought I knew more than I really did. In the grand scheme of things I didn't know a damn thing. Not saying I am a Rhodes Scholar now but I like to think I have progressed since those younger years. I didn't have the grades for any more advanced courses and I figured that was fine. I could coast by and I was always good with money. No need to re-invent the wheel. Being a simple citizen was the life for me. As I mentioned earlier that life began to strain and I was aching to improve my knowledge. I had no problem reading a book or two on the subject of Astronomy or Physics. God knows I could easily watch movies about the subject and Google the night away researching but I wanted something more concrete. I wanted a formal education so when I talk about this stuff at parties (Wow, I must attend some really lame parties) I could feel I know what I am talking about, not just rambling about some stuff I read through a Google search. 

Fortunately my local college where I attended previously (George Brown College) had a course in Astronomy. I figured why not and signed-up right away. It turned out to be one the best decisions of my life. I was actually getting firsthand knowledge on a subject I was truly passionate about. I was participating in class and learning about the formation of the universe, interstellar nebula, formation of the galaxy and solar systems, astronomical units, light speed, asteroids, comets, terrestrial worlds, gas giants, and that was only the tip of the ice berg. I could go on forever about the stellar life cycle of stars, black holes, and the mysterious dark matter which occupies the vast majority of the known visible universe. It was an incredible feeling. I felt like I was finally becoming the student I should have been when I was 19 years old but like I said I knew nothing back then. All I cared about was finishing my assignments just to get them out of the way and which girls to talk too. This time all I cared about was learning more and more. The discussions in class really got my brain going and the text book for the class was a true treasure chest of knowledge. I actually read the entire text book. I have never done that before ever. 

When class wrapped up I was quite confident that I was not just having a good time and learning a lot of interesting stuff I was confident that I would get a good grade. I felt really good about my research paper but I didn't expect to get a perfect 30 out of 30 but I did. I nailed my exam and completed the course with an A+. I even went as far to build a to-scale model of the solar system and hang it in my apartment. Arts and crafts were never my thing but I busted my butt for a month to make sure it looked good. It looks great and I am really proud of it. 

I am not stopping at Astronomy. This new found thirst for knowledge has me currently signed up for an Intro to Biology course and I would love to improve my math skills as well so I got that in mind along with a robotics course. Going back to school has been a great decision and if you are reading this thinking you might want to do the same thing I say go for it! Check out your local community college for night school courses or whatever course schedule works best for you. I am certain you will not regret it. These days, naps and movies can take a back seat. Studying is my thing now. Well, maybe I can squeeze in a nap or two.

"Come on you Apes! You wanna Live Forever!" Duty, Honor, Sacrifice- Heinlein's Masterpiece Starship Troopers

When it comes to Starship Troopers make no mistake, there is a massive difference between Paul Verhoeven’s ultra-violent action epic and Robert A. Heinlein’s masterpiece that is considered the standard of greatness and cornerstone of science fiction literature. For starters Verhoeven fully admits that he never even completed reading the book before making the movie. He says he found the book to be too boring and depressing and basically only took broad strokes and spun the movie into a sort of satirical pro military video in a fascist society. He is basically poking fun at the military in general and doing it in the style that he does better than anyone else in cinematic history. Now violence in a movie is one thing. Blood and gore in a horror movie is another but violence in a Paul Verhoeven movie is something else all-together. The great directors each have their own style but nobody except maybe Tarantino comes close to what Paul Verhoeven delivers. The violence in his movies packs such a punch that you often feel you are right there in the thick of it. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself feeling slightly uncomfortable with what you are watching. The battle of Klendathu in the film is one of the most action packed, terrifying, vicious, and in your face scenes in movie history rivaled perhaps only by the opening fifteen minutes of Saving Private Ryan. Verhoeven loves to use puppets and robotics for is up close special effects. The arachnid in the opening battle of Starship Troopers doesn’t just look real, it is. A few full scale robotic models were built to give the real life look and it certainly delivered. If you don’t believe me about Paul Verhoeven movies just check out his filmography, Robocop, Total Recall, Basic Instinct, Showgirls, Starship Troopers, Hollow Man, and a little known Dutch world war II film called Black Book. All super violent, all tongue and cheek poking fun at society in general, and all featuring breasts, yeah breasts. A Paul Verhoeven movie is not complete until a woman takes her top off. 

          Now, as for the novel Robert A. Heinlein is considered one of the greatest if not the greatest science fiction author of all-time. The holy trinity considered by many to be Heinlein, Asimov, and a battle between “Doc” Smith, Larry Niven, Frank Herbert, and Joe Haldeman. Heinlein wrote Starship Troopers in 1959 right in the thick of the Cold War. The novel takes place in the distant future and it appears the Earth is under a unified world government referred to as the Terran Federation. Much of the book surrounds the concept that if you want anything in life you have to earn it. Nothing is given and all is earned and too earn it, serving in the Terran Federation military is one of the best routes. Once you complete your term of service you go from being a civilian to a citizen and your freedoms and rights are increased. It is no easy jaunt though especially if you sign up for the Mobile Infantry where survival rate after a tour of duty is quite low. That is the case for Johnnie Rico the protagonist of the story. Rico recounts leaving school and his admiration for his professor Mr. Dubois a retired Lieutenant Colonel, how his father doesn’t want him to join Mobile Infantry, and how his friends Carl and Carmen sign-up but get much higher ranking positions than Johnnie. Carl qualifies for military intelligence while Carmen although quite skilled at math and a decent pilot in simulations simply uses her killer smile to earn her a spot in the flight academy. As for Johnnie he is sent to Camp Currie to learn the ropes as a grunt and become a mobile infantry soldier. Life is tough, rough, and unpleasant but through Johnnie’s hard work and true belief in himself he earns the respect of his peers and superior officers including the often harsh Sargent Zim who deep down hold a fondness for Johnnie.

          As Johnnie completes his boot camp training at Camp Currie he is thrown into the fray of the war. He travels via starships to distant planets within the Milky Way galaxy to fight an arachnid species that operates under a hive mind and caste system. He encounters Ace who he butts heads with at first as they jockey for position in the company but after a good spirited fist fight the two of them earn each other’s respect. Kitten and Sugar Watkins become his pals and when they are on temporarily leave in Vancouver, Canada Johnnie gives the best description of the female species I have ever heard. You have to remember unlike the movie this military is split between men and women (No co-ed showers in the book). The interaction between the two is rare. When Johnnie sees a woman walk by on a downtown street in Vancouver it is essentially the first woman he has seen or been around in nearly two years. He describes how women walk as the biggest difference between the two species. Men walk straight, rigid, and robotic. When women walk their entire body has subtle movements like a hypnotizing dance, very attractive and alluring. Unfortunately for Johnnie that is the closest he gets to a woman in the entire book. In the movie Johnnie dates Carmen who dumps him. Johnnie then hooks up with Dizzy Flores who dies on the battlefield. In the book keep in mind Dizzy Flores is a man and there is no mention of a romantic relationship. I must say it was quite refreshing to have a story without a love interest. Sometimes they are vital and other times I find they are just tossed in for the sake of it with no real purpose to move the story. 

          One major thing to note is the armour and military uniforms that are worn. Heinlein goes to great and I stress great detail to describe the military uniforms, weapons, armour, strategy, and tactics. He goes into extensive detail about how militaries operate with regards to hierarchy and command structure. Johnnie starts out as a grunt, maggot, or simply recruit. He is not even a private yet. When leaves Camp Currie he is a Private and by the end of the book he has the rank of a Captain. It is a long hard walk to reach the heights of a captain and Heinlein does a great job of making the reader understand just how difficult it is to survive and progress through military ranks. It is no picnic and the weak are easily and quickly rooted out.

In the movie the military uniforms and equipment really attracted me. It all looked so organized and cool but one thing always struck me as odd. Taking on such a vicious enemy like the arachnid would certainly require more than your standard assault rifle. Surely you would need some heavy artillery to deliver a more powerful punch especially when those giant flame throwing beetles came powering through the ground. Now yes, they had tactical nukes (which is not possible, splitting the atom is not a tactical affair) but I found it strange how there were no armoured vehicles or tanks. It was also strange when during the battle at Whiskey Outpost they did not utilize those tactical nukes. They relied exclusively on machine gun fire and tower guns with what appeared to M-60 machine guns. Surely those nukes would have wiped out the arachnid with ease. They already hit those giant bug batteries at the battle of Klendathu to prevent them from shooting their energy beams into space to attack the fleet. In the book, mobile infantry is equipped with armoured battle suits like exoskeletons that allow the advanced jumping and strength. In the movie they reach their destination via drop ships but in the book they are shot out individually in pods that fire out of from the star cruisers.

          Overall, Starship Troopers is heavy on philosophy, political theory, and society. Heinlein was clearly trying to stamp his viewpoint on how the world should work. He was pro military and naval academy graduate himself. He believed a term of service or even better a tour of duty should be more encouraged if not mandatory. Duty, Honour, and Sacrifice, these were the virtues that man should be pursuing. He takes all these ideas and concepts and uses the character of Mr. Dubois to hammer them through to the reader. I found myself agreeing with a lot of what he was trying to say. Is it really too much ask a human being to roll-up their sleeves up every once in a while to help and defend their way of life and society? Are we not on this planet together? Should we not try to work together for a common goal? These are themes that I believe Heinlein was trying to get through to the audience. I do believe that Starship Troopers would make excellent reading for a high school or college graduate. Aside from the action adventure part it really asks great questions for the reader to ponder and help shape the type of person they want to be and what type of society and world they want to live in.

Space, Time, and Love.... A review of The Forever War

Imagine it is the not too distant future and mankind has expanded beyond planet Earth to colonize other planets. Imagine mankind has come into contact with a hostile alien species and we find ourselves embroiled in our first alien war. Imagine you are a recently graduated physics student with hopes of continuing your research after graduation but before that can happen the military now under the name of United Nations Earth Forces (UNEF) has decided to pluck the best and brightest the world has to offer to fight in this alien war. Your plans of studying dark matter are about to take a turn for actual hands on field work but not exactly in the way you had in mind. 

Now this alien war is not taking place in our fair solar system. It will be taking place light years away on planets with conditions that will require you to learn how to fight in a military grade space suit. The enemy is bizarre not only in its features and tactics it is also somewhat easy to kill at first but the second time around it always comes back stronger and vastly superior in terms of strategy and weapons. The probability of survival for the average space soldier is quite low but deaths warm embrace might be a comforting thought compared to the other more major problem you will have on your hands if you manage to venture back home to planet Earth.

A wormhole for instantaneous travel to distant stars is a technology that does not exist. You will be traveling at very high speeds but not at the speed of light. This means it may take you a few months to reach your next battle destination. You will age a few months on that star cruiser that ferries you to a far off dangerous land but back home on planet earth decades will have passed by. The further you travel in space the more time has passed on Earth. This is called time dilation effect and it can create massive psychological shock for a returning soldier. You entered the service at say 21 years of age. You completed two years of service in your time frame and leave the service after your tour of duty at age 23 but when you return to Earth 20 or so years has gone by. Family and friends have aged or perhaps have passed on. Society has changed from what you once knew and this new world you live in is just as foreign as the strange lands in outer space you have just returned from. You are home but you are not home at all. You find it nearly impossible to adapt to this new society so what do you do? You return to the only “home” you have become familiar with, the service. You reenlist to defend planet Earth, a place that time will continue to pass in bunches while you age as you normally would. 

This is the bizarre and sad predicament for Private William Mandella who eventually by no desire of his own reaches the rank of Major. Mandela’s own intelligence was in the eyes of the government and military nothing more than fertile resources to be exploited along with others all in the name of a space war that most people had no details on. All they knew was the propaganda that Taurans were terrifying beasts that wished nothing more than to destroy the human species and enslave Earth. Mandella along with his comrades were pumped with hypnotic drugs to hammer this concept through. One mention of the “magic word” and they would become ruthless killers against this sadistic enemy. They were put through a difficult boot camp on the icy moon of Charon that orbits Pluto. They trained, they learned, they prepared, and in the case of Private William Mandella and Private Marygay Potter, they fell in love. 

Mandella and Potter went through boot camp together, they fought together, and they survived together and returned to Earth together. Separated for the first time in two years they got a look at a planet Earth where class wars and famine had taken hold. A place where the population had grown so much homosexuality was encouraged to keep the numbers down. A place where Mandela’s father was now dead, his mother had become a lesbian who was dying of a disease and because she was not educated enough did not warrant any “worth” to the medical system and refused care, his younger brother now a soldier himself and stationed on the Moon. As for Marygay she found near harmony as her parents were part of a farming commune. Life was happy but still under the threat of starving raiders who had no food of their own. Mandella goes to be with Marygay but their happiness is shattered when raiders attack their home and murder Marygay’s parents. Mandella and Potter have nothing left for them on planet Earth. They are together again and returning to the service to defend Earth is the only home they know now. 

They reenlist; they both get injured on the battle field. Mandella loses his leg, Potter her arm. Medical technology gives them cybernetic attachments that eventually grow skin. They are stationed on the idyllic planet “Heaven”. A veteran’s hospital that is a tropical paradise but is really nothing more than an “auto body shop”, once you are repaired you are sent back into the battlefield. Mandella and Potter fall deeper in love but they will be separated. The effects of time dilation could mean that the next time they see each other, one might have aged drastically or one might simply be visiting the others gravestone. 

The Forever War is one of the best books I have ever read. I could go on but I have said enough. It has one of the best endings I have ever read, hell maybe the best. I have known about the book for quite some time and getting it for Christmas was brilliant. It is written so smoothly and easy to read. I often like to place myself as the main character when reading a book so that way I feel more attached. I certainly did that with Private William Mandella and it worked perfectly because I truly related to him and what he was going through. I felt like I was pulled into the story and it had a real effect on me. The moment when Mandella and Potter are in their battle suits, touch each other’s space helmets because they can’t kiss, that might have been the single most romantic moment I have ever come across ever. Now, who did I picture in my mind as Marygay Potter? Well, that is for me to know and for you not to concern yourself with. I will say this though, I have never been in love but if that time ever comes I hope it’s as strong as Mandella and Potter.