Traveling Into Humanity's Demise in H.G. Wells' Magnificent Cautionary Tale, "The Time Machine"

What a masterpiece! The aspect that struck me the most about this tale was the darkness and sorrow of the traveler's trek through the future and downfall of mankind. It bore very little resemblance to the two movie adaptations, although I love them as entertainment in their own right. A major difference between the original story and the epic films was that the Hollywood adaptations WERE so 'Hollywood'--constructed much more as action/adventure/fantasy romps. Popcorn flicks but still excellent ones! The time traveler of the Hollywood imagination becomes a futuristic swashbuckler whose main motivation to make change in Eloi society was his love for an Eloi woman. 

That wasn't at all the message that Wells wanted to impart to his readers. 

The time traveler of the book is a much more cerebral observer of *not* only the degeneration of man. Man's end is where the deep and abiding sorrow enters, beyond even the state of the Morlocks and Eloi, but rocketing even FURTHER into the future, showing *spoilers* the continuing physical and mental degeneration of both branches of the human race. It is one of the most despairing pieces of literature I have ever read in a science fiction tale, particularly from the classic or Victorian era. They are slithering and hopping creatures of the earth who've lost functions that even the Eloi and Morlocks had such as *semi* structured societies, speech and/or remaining emotional cognizance, and the ability to express human emotion itself such as tears, malice, laughter and affection. This is something the films have never represented probably because it would've been far too traumatizing to see onscreen for audiences of 1960 when the George Pal version was released, and maybe even too much for the 2002 version that reworked the main plot altogether. 

What the two film adaptations also didn't tackle was the erosion of the planet and all remnants of civilization as well as the expansion of the sun which ruled the land with its massiveness. The original story deserves a faithful adaptation and not a 1 shot 2 hour movie. I could see it as a limited series, 10 episodes at least, because the breadth of the story needs to be authentically represented from beginning to end.

Les Edwards, The Time Machine at the End of the World

I'm still a HUGE fan of the movies because while not totally accurate, it showcased some of the finest creativity in storytelling and performance (particularly the 1960 Pal version) within the scifi genre. Wells' exploration of multiple factors that would (or at least could) drag humanity down to their lowest level and result in civilization's demise makes it obvious that he was a writer of formidable intelligence and insight. The entire text is charged with the power of his critical thinking skills and observation of the class, social and political aspects of what makes humanity both survive AND excel, which is why when they're removed, the entire collective disintegrates like one of the crumbling books the time traveler discovers in the 1960 Pal version. That scene *did* manage to tap into the recurring theme of the true sadness present in Wells' tale--sadness at the loss of what makes humanity and life on earth special, running throughout the depiction of everyone and everything in this book. 

And interestingly enough, George in the forsaken Eloi library, staring in shock and horror at the crumbled books and shouting about the abandoned dreams and goals of humankind, was my very favorite scene out of the entire film. There was a poignancy to his speech, which is even more intense in the book.

H.G. Wells was one of the literary giants of history. I can only imagine how shook up the Victorians must've been when this book was published! It spans throughout the eras, affecting the minds and hearts of readers now. If you want to go straight to the source of this magnificent tale, I'd definitely recommend picking up H.G.'s novel and going from there in the enjoyment or appreciation of it. The movies are wonderful, they're fun and exciting fantasy, but the book is a sharp socio-political statement on how human society runs and how people relate to each other...until they allow themselves the loss of ability to RELATE at all. Intelligence and compassion is the glue holding us together. We must never lose it.

You can also read this review over at Goodreads and connect with me there!

Women Writers & SciFi

As a reader and a writer who loves to explore the world of speculative fiction, the bizarre and the unbelievable, I think that stories within the genre are often specifically shaped and influenced by the gender of the author.

What I mean by that is, that female scifi writers frequently bring a unique 'vision' to the science fiction universe. As women who live in a society which contain many historical and social imbalances, we are often forced to navigate through life observing the important areas OF life (work, politics, relationships, so on...) through the eyes of people who are not automatically deemed 'insiders'. This perspective on life becomes even deeper and more complex, when it comes to the experiences of women from different cultures, racial communities, nationalities and lifestyles.

Science fiction is a genre with NO limits. Anything you can imagine can have a form of legitimacy within the pages. The sheer freedom of this storytelling can bring out the best in writers, unlock their hopes, their fears, their anxieties, and their utmost creativity. All of the constraints, categorizations and limitations which are found in contemporary society, can be thrown off like the shackles they are when it comes to envisioning the future. I think this is why there is such a unique narrative female scifi authors bring to their storytelling.

The science fiction novel which was one of the books that convinced me to embark on my own writing journey was the penultimate scifi work from a female perspective, The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

I traveled to this nightmare world of misogyny, oppression, and injustice, The Republic of Gilead. I followed the suffering and ultimate victory of the protagonist, Offred, used as a 'breeder' and denied as a human being with rights. Before I read Atwood's work, it didn't necessarily occur to me that science fiction can be used as an expression of protest. But the themes in The Handmaid's Tale such as violence against women, hypocrisy and sexual exploitation could all be found, in different contexts, in our own world. Her novel made a statement on present injustices and transformed them into a parallel universe, the worst qualities of humanity that could be taken to the final level if freedom was allowed to be eradicated and fear allowed to dominate a population.

To me, science fiction can be political and significant literature--and the visions of those writers who have been historically marginalized have the capability of bringing a level to the writing that is multi-layered and profoundly complex. A quality of creativity that pierces through the surface.

This is definitely NOT me saying that I don't love, admire, and enjoy the science fiction of male authors in the genre. Far from it! Rod Serling and Richard Matheson, just two examples out of many, are creators I've viewed as two of the greatest writers of fantasy and scifi of the 20th century. Their exploration of the human spirit and the darkness and catastrophe which often follows behind, was writing on the highest level.

What I'm saying is that our experiences shape our creativity. The way the world reacts to who we are influences the way we see the world in return...and our destinies.

Women in science fiction can have a powerful voice because of our place in a society that has traditionally assigned varying levels of 'worth' to a woman, a society that has been both greatly unjust and greatly transformed. How we use this voice is of the highest importance not just for modern readers and writers but for the continuing transformation of our society and for the benefit of the women who will come after us.

Have women writers been discriminated against? Such things are hard to quantify or prove, although most women in the field can cite occasional instances of sexism (the editor who declares that sf by women doesn't sell; the disgruntled author who scents a feminist conspiracy when his novel fails to win awards; the claim from an old-time fan that the values of Hard SF are being destroyed by female editors with an innately feminine preference for fantasy). More recently, a number of women writers of Hard SF have talked online about the difficulties of being accepted as a woman writing in this area, and the perceived benefits (to publishers at least) of using a gender-neutral name in this subgenre.

On the whole the "Old Boy Network" of sf has been largely receptive to any women who care to join, even if various generations of male writers and editors have expressed surprise at sf's attraction to women writers and readers. Even after 40 years, there are still significant segments of the sf community that remain oblivious or indifferent to the work of women writers. Whether this stems from ignorance or implicit bias against women's writing, the result is the same: a view of the history and contemporary state of sf that fails to acknowledge the contributions of women in the field.

- See more at: http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/women_sf_writers

My Thoughts as a Writer

I often feel that my mind overflows with ideas. There are always new worlds to explore in the literary field. Unique perspectives. Fantastic themes. Exciting opportunities to share pieces of your mind, heart...and soul.

I've read a lot of novels of a mix of genres; science fiction, thriller and suspense, mystery, historical fiction, etc. All of these works have made an impression on me, inspired me, and some have even gone far in changing my outlook on life itself.A few of the books that have moved me as both a reader AND a writer are "I Am Legend" by Richard Matheson, "Toyer" by Gardner McKay, and the cornerstone of my reading experience and my own personal awakening as a writer who wants to make a difference in my work..."The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood.

                                                       

                                                      

                                                       

Books that take my mind and heart to places I was not expecting, have been a special part of my existence since I was seven years old. Studying the worlds crafted, the protagonists, their hearts, minds, and motivations, was a constant passion and joy as I went from one book to the other.

What makes a story good? What makes a story gripping? What makes a character a person that you identify with and genuinely care about? What moves the plot further, taking it from one gradual step to another, building it into something powerful, grand and...unforgettable?



This is what I try to explore and analyze in my reading and my writing. Two of the biggest inspirations in the literary world who have helped to shape my perception of the construct of 'fiction' itself are Rod Serling, creator of the Twilight Zone, and Stephen King, who of course is a juggernaut amongst not only writers, but creators as a whole.


Writing for me, is a personal journey...it takes you out of the often dull realities of life, the mundane every-day details, and is something that gives you unlimited power.

Why do I use the word 'power'? Because ever since I started writing seriously, and realized this was a path I wanted to follow, I've felt more personally empowered than ever before. There is something inherently freeing about creating landscapes, new realities, and characters, (in a way, entirely new human beings--those who may not exist in real life, but are very much alive in your and the reader's imaginations).



The power and the freedom to create exciting and intricate new realities is particularly true for two of my favorite genres: science fiction and horror.

As Stephen King once said, "Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win."

The light and the shadows that are within us all, the writer has this magnificent opportunity to throw into a jumble of words that are somehow gonna come together at some point, and fit into this one 'whole same'. Thoughts stewing in your head are gradually pieced together letter by letter, in a way that actually can affect other human beings.

To scare them, to thrill them, to excite them, maybe even to move them.

That is ENORMOUS to me!


With horror and science fiction, what I especially love about these genres, is that in the realm of fantasy, honest aspects of who we are, what make us human, with all of its messiness and complications, can be sharpened and enhanced into something, with the right writer, that worms its way into the recesses of your brain and stays there for some time.

Look at the characters in the film, "The Shining", based on King's seminal novel. It featured a struggling former alcoholic father, a strained but cautiously hopeful mother, and a confused, frightened little boy.

And just before I go on, I'm a fan of the 1997 Stephen Weber adaptation. I personally think it's the best version.

What made us give a damn about the Torrance family? What made them into three-dimensional, flesh and blood characters who we invested our time and emotional energy into watching? They weren't just a random family plunked down into the middle of a haunted house. They weren't 'stock characters' who could be interchanged with any number of middle-America stock characters to be used as the hapless victims of creepy ghouls.


You could just watch "13 Ghosts" if you wanted that.


The demons and haunts of "The Shining" didn't come from a shallow place of scare tactics. they weren't evil ghosties for the sake of shock and gore.

What made "The Shining" into the lasting horror masterpiece it was, was because it took from the classics of horror (the haunted house, the beleagured family, the creepy isolation) then proceeded to go past these tropes and shape them into something new. Every time I watch the film, either version actually (although this seems a LOT more readily apparent in the '97 remake), it is obvious that the internal torments (alcoholism, spectre of abuse), that were already haunting NOT only Jack Torrance but every single member of the family, were strengthening, fueling, the evil energy of the Overlook. Stephen King took these characters' real human battles and emotional trauma and intertwined that with the activity and atmosphere of a place. It makes me wonder if another family besides the Torrances, a happy family with no history of dysfunction, had become the caretakers of the hotel, what the outcome would've been?

Another example of humanity, first and foremost, being the cornerstone of truly GREAT horror, was Richard Matheson's 1954 classic of a man struggling to survive in an infected nightmare of a world...I Am Legend.


Robert Neville was a regular man plunged into an extraordinary set of circumstances. The memory of humanity, that's since disappeared because of a worldwide vampiric plague, was something that he's held onto for dear life even as the character evaded his former neighbors and scavenged for supplies in the desolate suburban neighborhood he lives in. One that became a special kind of "graveyard".

The core of this book is the struggle to maintain and preserve humanity---through the every-day little details of Robert Neville's life like sitting down and eating dinner, to showering and grooming himself even when many readers would probably be thinking to themselves that they'd be wallowing in their own filth or jumping off of the closest bridge.

Maintaining humanity, even in a small way, even in his desperate corner of the world, was treasured by Neville, and showed up not just in the details of his day-to-day existence but his attitude towards the disease that's created the hungry mutants stalking his doorstep each night.

In his spare time, the character read and researched, trying to understand the root of the disease that caused his old world to go extinct. Neville's manifestation of humanity was in his lingering, persistent unwillingness to accept total personal defeat.

I think Matheson does something very important with the plot and characters in I Am Legend; going back to what I mentioned about how an imaginative writer particularly has the opportunity to invent NEW realities in scifi and horror. It's on no better display than this book.




 Everyone's familiar with the tired vampire cliche of a dark, scary mansion, shape-shifting bats and Bela Lugosi hamming it up in a cape, but Matheson's spin on what makes a vampire function, takes on a whole new approach to the concept of death and immortality.

This is old-school writing at its finest. Fans of sparkling vamps need not apply--this was dark, haunting, powerful writing which mixed up the old tropes and finally threw them out the window.

"According to legend, they were invisible in mirrors, but he knew that was untrue. As untrue as the belief that they transformed themselves into bats. That was a superstition that logic plus observation had easily disposed of. It was equally foolish to believe that they could transform themselves into wolves. Without a doubt, there were vampire dogs; he had seen and heard them outside his house at night. But they were only dogs."

 By doing this, you look upon the vampires in a whole new light; you recognize their danger to Neville's existence, but you realize they were not evil. They were a desperate and pathetic lot who, in the end, (spoiler alert!), turned out to not even be Neville's ultimate threat.

"As he was pulling on his shirt, he heard Ben Cortman cry out, 'Come out, Neville!' "

"And that was all. After that, they all went away weaker, he knew, than when they had come. Unless he had attacked one of their own. They did that often. There was no union among them. Their need was their only motivation."

What ties these two stories together, one film version, one literary, and what makes them tales I am constantly amazed at, two authors managed to take two very extensively plumbed genres, 'the haunted house' and the 'vampire', flip it around, turn it inside out, and made us feel alllll of these emotions through it.

They are a couple of examples of the BEST kind of horror and scifi. It's the kind of storytelling I aspire to, my personal inspiration, and some of the best representation of art to me.

Through my writings on "Between The Shadows", I hope to share some of my own passion and art through storytelling. I hope you'll come along with me for the journey, and maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to make you feel a little something along the way too.