The Good Place

    Stories about genuine human connection seem to be my bread and butter of late. There's something about seeing the way that others perceive friendship, morality, and loyalty that's been making me particularly introspective. Making me question my own actions, behaviors, and even unwitting reactions. There's an unadulterated truth in the split second reaction to people and events that, when further considered, reveals a lot of truths about me. It can be tough to face my own shortcomings. Lord knows I have plenty. But I've spent the last couple years making a conscious effort to improve myself, both in thought and in action, where it comes to my metaphorical contact patch with society.

    It is against this backdrop that I watched The Good Place (available on Netflix at the time of writing). The premise is simple: our main character, Eleanor Shellstrop is dead. She awakes in the afterlife with no recollection of her own death (which can be done to spare the recently deceased from unpleasant memories) and meets another main protagonist, Michael, the architect of the neighborhood. He's the one who designed that small corner of the afterlife, making him responsible for the well-being and enjoyment of the residents. We also get to meet the other main characters - Janet, an omnipotent butler-like figure who is able to provide anything to the residents, and others, such as Chidi, who, in life, was a professor of moral philosophy and Tahani, a rich British heiress. Right off the bat, this is a rather... diverse... backstory to group. 

    Essentially, the primary focus lies in their interactions and what they perceive as morality, or "doing the right thing". Of course, the varied personal histories lead to rather differing opinions on the notion. Personal biases have a habit of influencing our actions, and this show does a great job of building this up. They even manage to tie in actual great philosophers from Nietzsche and Kant to Aristotle and Plato. And somehow it doesn't go down like a tedious lecture on morality. Now, this is far from an action-packed thriller. Rather, it focuses on building the parasocial relationship between viewers and the main cast, encouraging a projection of oneself into the situations. Best part? They do so with humor and levity without losing the gravity of serious topics. And it comes in bite-sized chunks lasting 20-30 ish minutes each, making for easy bedtime viewing. I'm usually pretty good at finding some downside to mention. But I don't think I can come up with anything off the top of my head. In other words, give it a shot, you'll probably enjoy it.

   

Red Rising

    What happens when you cross Lord of the Flies, Game of Thrones, and Star Wars? Well, you get Red Rising by Pierce Brown. The real question is, why did it take so long for me to read it? I only came across it earlier this year, even though it was published back in 2014. And while there are plenty of books that get published without my noticing them, this one won the "Winner for Best Debut Goodreads Author" for that year. So it was critically acclaimed at the time. And it checks every possible category that I could like. Sword play among knights? Check. Advanced societies colonizing the Solar System on giant space faring frigates? Also check. Social commentary about power dynamics within an unequal society and the struggle for power and relevance? Massive check. Historical references to the Roman Empire and their pantheon of gods? Yet another check mark.

    This is a captivating tale of a struggle for justice in the face of oppression, one love, terror, and perseverance, and the bonds that we make. Family, loyalty and friendship make up the base for a story of survival. It is a thriller that's nearly impossible to put down. 

    There is a simple elegance to the language - very accessible, yet detailed to an incredible degree. Both the world and characters came to life for me. From Sevro to Mustang to the main character, Darrow, there is a real human hidden in the words, one that springs from the author's pen and into my mind. Without a doubt, this is some of the strongest world-building that I have seen recently. I'd rank it up there with the greats. Perhaps the greatest world-building in science fiction that I've ever seen. 

    And most impressively, Brown manages to create such vivid worlds and people without smashing the reader over the head with blocks of exposition text. It is organically woven into the narrative, masterfully implementing the show, don't tell, approach to writing. 

    Yes, there are flaws to it. It's written for a slightly younger teen audience, so I'm sure that it would have been possible to add more complexity to it. But don't let the YA designation stop you. It is definitely a worthwhile book for an exciting, yet moralistic, look at society through the lens of space faring feudal lords and their subjects.

Influx

The morality of new technology is a very timely question right now. AI and robotics have long been at the center of these considerations and now, more than ever, this is a pressing topic of discussion. However, this morality hasn't always been considered due to a generally optimistic world view that always sees the best possible outcome. But every leap in technology comes with a slate of negative externalities, many of which result form inventions being utilized in manners far from the scientists' intention. And the less immediately obvious the application, the less scrutiny it faces.

Influx, by Daniel Suarez, is a science fiction work about this very idea. In it, the debate about the potentially harmful consequences of advanced technology seamlessly blends with a strong science fiction story. Sacrifice meets greed, loyalty is tested, and friendships are formed. All the ingredients are there. And Suarez nails the execution as well. 

Character development is a very strong suit here - they feel almost like flesh and blood. World building is another strength. In his development of the fictional technologies, Suarez pulls in just enough actual science to make it believable. I had no trouble with my suspension of disbelief. Actually, I had to go so far as to search some of the things he mentions, such as glial cells. Finally, this has incredible pacing. It kept me engaged, unable to stop reading. Yet at just enough points the action slowed down, enough to keep it from being overwhelming. 

Influx was a Nominee for best Science Fiction on Goodreads in 2014. It's a well deserved honor and I give it a confident recommendation.

 

Food Americana: The Remarkable People and Incredible Stories behind America’s Favorite Dishes

    There's a lot that goes into defining a location. Environment, the types of buildings, even the smells in the air. But most importantly, there's the people. Understanding the people making up a place is a key prerequisite for grasping the true essence of a time and space. Even the true wilderness is defined by its relationship with people or, rather, the absence of one. But then we're posed with a question: what makes man? According to the Kingsman movies, "Manners maketh man". I, however, don't think that it is so simple. It isn't just one's behavior that defines them. Humans are a spiderweb of contradictions and emotions, tightly strung within the confines of these fleshy bodies. And one of those emotions is food. Unless you survive off gray tasteless mush, there is emotion associated with the food you eat - an example of this is memories. Certain foods evoke nostalgia, remind you of family, of holidays good times...

     I'm sure I'm far from the only one who is so fascinated with what food means to people (and to me). In Food Americana by David Page, he expresses a very similar mentality. To him, the fabric from which these United States are woven can be expressed by the foods we love - burgers, buffalo wings, fried chicken. Each chapter of the book follows a certain food. And he tells of it in a creative manner. Both the history and modern approaches are covered, with each chapter followed up by a recipe for the food item that chapter was about. In a way, it's like those online recipes that try to game Google's search criteria, and so have a few pages of story telling before they get to the instructions. But here, it's frankly better written and more interesting. No offense to the online cooks, just being honest.

    Overall, it's a mildly entertaining and fairly informative book. No must read, but as a light distraction, it does well.

Calm

A calm enveloping my soul
And I feel... oddly whole.
Nothing can bother me
Right now, I am in control.

Intrusive thoughts are kept at bay
Distractions kept away...
I am the world. The world is me.
Listen when I say:

Join me and search for peace
Deep inside your heart.
We'll build a new world for ourselves
Where we can do our part.

We'll learn the hardest task of all-
To forgive mistakes.
Both our own and others'
For that is what it takes. 

October 7, 2023