I just finished up this summer’s science fiction class and as usual polled the class on what should stay and what should go. Star Wars, though it held nostalgic memories for some, proved to be pretty thin broth seeing it now. The most popular film was Children of Men, trouncing all competition.
William Gibson, whose Neuromancer always fares poorly these days, did no better with Count Zero. Oh well, I enjoyed rereading it. Joe Haldeman’s incredible The Fovever War was the most popular book, and I’ll definitely teach it again. Perhaps not surprisingly, the second most unpopular novel was also the second most popular—The Man in the High Castle.
Did I ask you if you teach Snowcrash? I read The Forever War and I’d love to talk with you about it sometime. It was hard for me not to compare it with Starship Troopers, though.
Didn’t do Snowcrash. Maybe next year. I think you’re supposed to compare The Forever War to Starship Troopers. Haldeman was very aware of Heinlein. The politics are a tad different.
I don’t know what’s wrong with kids these days hating on The Gibson. I mean, his past few novels have tried my patience a bit.
Children of Men wins with me just based on some of the photography.
The Matrix movies inevitably confuse them, as does the whole cyberspace-but-not-like-the-one-you-know thing, despite warnings, etc. Maybe we should just forget the 80s. Children of Men knows what it’s about from the very first frame to the last. I get more impressed with it every time I watch it.
Oh the Matrix. I don’t trust any movie where Hugo Weaving isn’t in drag for part of it. Kids these days. *sigh*
I’m going to cling to my Cold War-era science fiction til I die thankyouverymuch.
I don’t want to think about a world where science fiction authors can’t have Soviet-designed mycotoxins. Haha.
Yes. Children of Men really is fantastic. I wonder why I don’t actually own it.