Finally my reading hiatus is over! Let the Solar Lottery commence! After a long reading hiatus Ive finally picked up the paper again and squeezed in a couple of pages of Solar Lottery. Although I am still eagerly attempting to comprehend the complex plot and political system in the book which I know very little about its secrecy is intriguing. During my reading hiatus I have also acquired two more PKD additions to add to my pile of reading material; 'The World Jones Made' and 'Minority Report', both kindly purchased for me by my boyfriend from his local PKD goldmine bookstall.
Another welcomed element to my PKD collection is the Blade Runner 5 disc edition collectors box set. Although I had no real reason to purchase this, already owning a perfectly good copy of the Directors Cut, PKD fever appears to have struck, unable to resist the bargain for £6 from HMV I bought the collectible tin, mostly for the artwork cards and hologram inside.
As my summer break from university commences, still jobless apart from the odd photography commission I will use my time to indulge myself in the world of SF, unless my situation changes. Let the Solar Lottery commence!
Showing posts with label Blade Runner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blade Runner. Show all posts
Sunday, 16 May 2010
Sunday, 7 February 2010
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? ...
Impatiently I waited for ‘Do Androids dream of Electric Sheep?’ and a number of days later my wait was over, the book plopped through the letter box and I tore open the packaging and began reading excitedly. Still on my Christmas holiday from university, time was in abundance, and I managed to read the book at a fair pace (largely due to the fact that I found it difficult to put down.).
Quickly I noticed a number of large differences between the book and the film, which is often the case. The book appeared to focus largely around Rick Deckard’s morals and his social standing, clearly not satisfied with his mundane life, social position and the façade of his ersatz pet he obsessively strives to achieve more. The interesting idea of relations between a human and an android is also played upon, generating questions about artificial beauty (and artificial life in general). The idea that Deckard may be an android is also played upon, which is especially interesting as the contemplation is voiced by an android. The bizarre religion of Mercism was also a key element within the novel, concluding the book in a reflective way, continuing its moral theme and Deckard’s conscience divide between ersatz and ‘real’ forms hinting at being resolved.
The film on the other hand, mostly focuses on the androids lives and how they are treated by society and Deckard’s quite ruthless (and action packed) hunting of them. Unlike the book the film focuses around humanoid androids, not predominantly animals. Like many American blockbuster movies, the ending is the exact opposite of the novel (Cujo springs to mind). The book and film are actually far more detached that I would have expected. Virtually two different stories, Dick’s characters and plot has clearly only been used as a loose basis for the film, although this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I thought both the film and the book were excellent, but do need to be appreciated separately.
Quickly I noticed a number of large differences between the book and the film, which is often the case. The book appeared to focus largely around Rick Deckard’s morals and his social standing, clearly not satisfied with his mundane life, social position and the façade of his ersatz pet he obsessively strives to achieve more. The interesting idea of relations between a human and an android is also played upon, generating questions about artificial beauty (and artificial life in general). The idea that Deckard may be an android is also played upon, which is especially interesting as the contemplation is voiced by an android. The bizarre religion of Mercism was also a key element within the novel, concluding the book in a reflective way, continuing its moral theme and Deckard’s conscience divide between ersatz and ‘real’ forms hinting at being resolved.
The film on the other hand, mostly focuses on the androids lives and how they are treated by society and Deckard’s quite ruthless (and action packed) hunting of them. Unlike the book the film focuses around humanoid androids, not predominantly animals. Like many American blockbuster movies, the ending is the exact opposite of the novel (Cujo springs to mind). The book and film are actually far more detached that I would have expected. Virtually two different stories, Dick’s characters and plot has clearly only been used as a loose basis for the film, although this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I thought both the film and the book were excellent, but do need to be appreciated separately.
'Electric Sheep!?' ...
Investigation into ‘Blade Runner’ and Philip K. Dick ensued. As someone who has always enjoyed reading and felt the need to strive to read more and more, soak up more ideas, more knowledge, learn all that I can, naturally I wanted to read the novel. I quickly learned that it was in fact titled ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?’. The title struck me as most bizarre … ‘Electric sheep!?’ I thought, ‘I don’t recall that from the film?’ But I ordered the book regardless. Eager and excited after reading a few comments about the differences between the film and the book. I’ve always found myself preferring the book to the film, in every case, I wondered if this would prove the same.
My investigation also revealed something else which made me even more eager to delve into Dick’s SF world, ‘Totall Recall’ (A SF movie much loved by myself which ive seen many times) was an adaptation of the Dick story ‘We can remember it for you Wholesale’. The more I read about Dick’s books the more of his books I wanted to read. My mental reading list was growing rapidly, I needed to hunt for more books.
My investigation also revealed something else which made me even more eager to delve into Dick’s SF world, ‘Totall Recall’ (A SF movie much loved by myself which ive seen many times) was an adaptation of the Dick story ‘We can remember it for you Wholesale’. The more I read about Dick’s books the more of his books I wanted to read. My mental reading list was growing rapidly, I needed to hunt for more books.
Saturday, 6 February 2010
A New Dawn ...
The dawn of 2010. This year marking my presence here spanning three different decades and two millennia. An odd thought for a 19 year old Textiles Design student.
Nevertheless, life is something which requires constant thought and pondering, and in the words of Buddha; ‘The mind is everything. What you think you become.’
Science-Fiction has existed as an interest of mine throughout almost my entire life. Dominantly film has been the major creative SF input in my life thus far. Television has also played a long lasting role in my interest in SF, such as; Star Trek, Stargate, Doctor Who, Farscape, The X Files, all of which I began viewing at a young, impressionable age. But importantly my interest and enthusiasm still remains today, and in fact continues to grow.
The catalyst for my interest in SF approaching the ‘next level’ occurred around Christmas 2009 after watching ‘Blade Runner’. Curiosity about this highly acclaimed SF movie had existed for some time, but the opportunity to view it had not yet arisen. But being a fan of Harrison Ford I found myself at last with the opportunity to watch the film (as presented by BBC iPlayer). Upon its conclusion I found myself baffled yet intrigued. Elements of the film were bizarre and confusing, having sat drawing as well as watching I had missed some elements vital to the understanding of the plot. Recognising the ingenuity of the concept I watched the film a second time a few days later, things were far clearer and this time I missed nothing, finding myself caught up in the story and characters. Suddenly, I needed to know more about Philip K. Dick.
Nevertheless, life is something which requires constant thought and pondering, and in the words of Buddha; ‘The mind is everything. What you think you become.’
Science-Fiction has existed as an interest of mine throughout almost my entire life. Dominantly film has been the major creative SF input in my life thus far. Television has also played a long lasting role in my interest in SF, such as; Star Trek, Stargate, Doctor Who, Farscape, The X Files, all of which I began viewing at a young, impressionable age. But importantly my interest and enthusiasm still remains today, and in fact continues to grow.
The catalyst for my interest in SF approaching the ‘next level’ occurred around Christmas 2009 after watching ‘Blade Runner’. Curiosity about this highly acclaimed SF movie had existed for some time, but the opportunity to view it had not yet arisen. But being a fan of Harrison Ford I found myself at last with the opportunity to watch the film (as presented by BBC iPlayer). Upon its conclusion I found myself baffled yet intrigued. Elements of the film were bizarre and confusing, having sat drawing as well as watching I had missed some elements vital to the understanding of the plot. Recognising the ingenuity of the concept I watched the film a second time a few days later, things were far clearer and this time I missed nothing, finding myself caught up in the story and characters. Suddenly, I needed to know more about Philip K. Dick.
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