Sci fi - short stories & novels

Philip K Dick in the appendices for Beyond Lies the Wub short story collection writes about the difference between short stories and novels (sci fi).

In a short story, the idea is the star/the focus/the purpose of the story. The protagonist only serves to further the story. They'e not really fleshed out as people, because in a short story, there isn't the time.

A novel is different.

A sci fi novel requires the protagonist to be a fully realised personality that you can believe. Totally different to a short story. You need to invest in their adventure/journey in order to read the novel.

That's what Philip K Dick said...

Sifu says that most sci fi authors - Dick included - aren't very good at novels because they're treating them like short stories.

He's tried to read several authors featured in Love Death Robots. Their short stories are good. Their novels not so much.

Same issue every time.

The author approaches the novel like a short story so it kind of feels like an action movie. Like Too Fast Too Furious or Transformers. Tons of action. Limited plot. Zero characterisation.

Laco Bell X-1 with Laco oliv canvas strap

 

 

 

Laco Aachen Oliv 42 (limited edition)

 

 Sitting is more dangerous than smoking, kills more people than HIV, and is more treacherous than parachuting. We are sitting ourselves to death. The chair is out to kill us.

(Professor James Levine, The Mayo Clinic)

Lug to lug

 

 

 

IDGuy & Bond watches

IDGuy's insights re Bond and Omega were quite interesting. I felt that his views re the NTTD watch were off the mark though.

In Skyfall, we were introduced to issues of redundancy, aging and relevance in the modern world. The old M wants to work but is making blunders, so is replaced. Bond is not the keen tool he's meant to be, but is put to work regardless.

Skyfall features the old 1964 Aston Martin. Spectre ends with Bond perhaps retiring, driving the same 1964 car.

In the NTTD trailers we are given the impression that Bond has now retired, but returns for one last mission - maybe a nod to Connery who did that as an actor. Not once, but twice.

In the trailers, NTTD Bond is sneered at by the younger 00 agent, who comments on his age and frailty. Bond once more drives the 1964 Aston Martin.

The IDGuy saw the NTTD watch as being a "clash" of ideas...

I see the NTTD watch as being about the themes in the last 3 movies: old/new, relevance/redundancy, and we see that Omega has made a watch that is both old and new. It looks vintage yet is high tech.

 

The Jedi