the Great British Future

[metadigital]

Imagining Albion: The Great British Future

 

Francis Spufford charts the history of Britain - through its Science Fiction. Francis won't quite be arguing that every starship in British SF is a milkfloat in disguise but the diversity of ideas in British SF means that these novels do give startling alternative snapshots of Britain down the years. Science Fiction has always been a genre of ideas, and so, contrary to its escapist image, can provide a hugely evocative record of the time in which it was written.

 

In the work of HG Wells, therefore, we find Fabian dreams of a future without poverty; nightmares about overpopulation and dark eugenic designs. In Huxley, a fascination with intelligence, and how it can be achieved. In Iain M Banks, curious echoes of the benign Wilson-era Britain in which the author grew up. This series features some of the biggest names in British Science Fiction, past and present, including Arthur C Clarke and Iain M Banks.

 

Francis explores the sometimes sinister history of utopian dreams, from Thomas More to HG Wells to Iain M Banks.

 

Linkie

 

 

[Walsingham]

Cool.

[Musopticon?]

Banks and Wells are both marvelous writers. Colour me interested.

 

I have not read Clarke beyond one short story.

[Walsingham]

I don't mean to flame, but I watched '2001 a space oddysey' last night and I haven't been so bored since 'Hero'. I mean how long do I need to see someone walking around or spaceships docking? It was like Das Boot but without any action whatsoever.

[Oerwinde]

I don't mean to flame, but I watched '2001 a space oddysey' last night and I haven't been so bored since 'Hero'. I mean how long do I need to see someone walking around or spaceships docking? It was like Das Boot but without any action whatsoever.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

THANK YOU. I can't stand all these people who call it a masterpiece or "Kubrick made that movie, how can it be bad?!" I have a friend who is annoying in that if its something high class or considered a classic, then he has to love it no matter how much he hates it. Like he refuses to read novels that aren't considered classic literature, no matter how good they are, he'll only drink the best booze, and when we rented this he actually fell asleep like an hour into it and when it was over declared what a great film it was.

 

The Shining wasn't a very good movie either.

 

I liked Hero though... if you're talking about the Jet Li movie.

Edited June 23, 2006 by Oerwinde

[Musopticon?]

I wholeheartedly agree. Space Odyssey was the epitome of boring. Propably the only movie I fell asleep watching.

 

I mean...after Notting Hill. :D

Edited June 23, 2006 by Musopticon?

[Walsingham]

I wholeheartedly agree. Space Odyssey was the epitome of boring. Propably the only movie I fell asleep watching.

 

I mean...after Notting Hill. :D

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I would have thought some kind of eveolved reflex would stop you falling asleep when in the presence of naked welshmen.

 

I completely agree on how some people insist on the 'classics'. The funniest thing I find is that they fail to realise that to be a true connoiseur you have to be ready to help establish an unknown as a classic. I'm always secretly (and pompously) pleased that I spotted GA Effinger's Budayeen trilogy when it was pulp sci-fi. It's slowly being recognised as a classic.

[Pidesco]

I don't mean to flame, but I watched '2001 a space oddysey' last night and I haven't been so bored since 'Hero'. I mean how long do I need to see someone walking around or spaceships docking? It was like Das Boot but without any action whatsoever.

 

THANK YOU. I can't stand all these people who call it a masterpiece or "Kubrick made that movie, how can it be bad?!" I have a friend who is annoying in that if its something high class or considered a classic, then he has to love it no matter how much he hates it. Like he refuses to read novels that aren't considered classic literature, no matter how good they are, he'll only drink the best booze, and when we rented this he actually fell asleep like an hour into it and when it was over declared what a great film it was.

 

The Shining wasn't a very good movie either.

 

I liked Hero though... if you're talking about the Jet Li movie.

 

 

I think it could be argued that 2001 suffers from pace problems towards the end, but other than that, I do think it's a brilliant film.

 

As for The Shining, I think it's incredibly directed and impossibly creepy right from the start. Even the scene where Nicholson's character is interviewed manages to be amazingly scary.

 

 

Edit: Oh, and your friend is an idiot.

Edited June 23, 2006 by Soulseeker

[Tigranes]

I don't know, the Shining was decent but never actually held me by the ropes. Perhaps it's because it's dated enough that most of its tricks are common knowledge (but then, that was probably true back then, too) or I simply don't care for horror films. It did have a few moments to remember near the end.