A reader writes:
I find your website a joy in the
midst of boring stupidity. However, I have a complaint: As a lover of
sci-fi, you haven’t posted anything in-depth about sci-fi lately. As a
fellow "nerd" (I imply no disrespect), I enjoy the compatibility you
bring towards both Catholicism and Science Fiction. The only problem
(which is two-fold) is that you have neither posted anything lately on
Science Fiction nor about Battlestar Galactica. Why is this?
It’s
because I blog at night after work and frequently grab whatever is
handy to blog about. Lately, I’ve been trying to deal with some of the
questions (particularly pastoral ones) that have come in. Without many
sci-fi questions, the topic mix altered for a bit, which is normal. The
topic mix tends to go through cycles.
I did run a reply to a query on what happend to Jonah Quinn on
Stargate, though, and I’ve been planning to comment on something from
last week’s Battlestar Galactica, so that post will go up next.
If folks want more sci-fi on JimmyAkin.Org, they’re welcome to send in sci-fi related questions–particularly if they involve the theological and moral dimensions of science fiction. The same thing goes for fantasy, horror, weird fiction, and whatever else.
Jimmy, your periodic B5 references are singularly responsible for a recent nighttime ritual in which my wife and I have engaged: After praying with the children and tucking them in, we sit back with a glass of red wine, pop in a Babylon 5 DVD from Netflix, and enjoy an episode or two.
One observation I’ve made that I don’t recall noticing the first time I watched this series: the dialog the writers provided to many characters is generally HORRIBLE. We alternately laugh and groan at some of the inane stuff they say.
On the other hand, Londo and G’Kar are some of the most fascinating characters I’ve ever encountered on TV. We’re up to season 4 now, and we’ll keep watching just to see more of those two.
Jimmy, what are your thoughts on Stargate: Atlantis and the emphasis on “enlightenment” by the Ancients? It’s a bit gnostic in my opinion, but I wanted to hear your thoughts on the theology of the Ancients.
My question concerns my comment regarding Firefly/Serenity in a post on the passing of Andreas Katsulus on Mark Shea’s blog.
Some suggested that Firefly/Serenity is the best Sci-fi franchise ever. Rhetoric to be sure, but my point was that as good as it was/they are, the nature of the crew’s and Inara’s professions and the treatment of them preclude it from being considered the best of Sci-Fi.
What say you?
The Analog magazine currently on the newsstands features a Wil McCarthy story featuring Pope…in…Space! Also, it attempts a quantum explanation for miracles. I started out really liking it, and I thought the plot and ending was good, but… I had serious problems with the character of Pope David I, and how his theology was represented in a world with this kind of quantum theology. But a serious attempt was made.
Anyway, the Swiss Guards in Space were cool. If Analog now were Astounding back then, they would have commissioned at least an illustration of ’em….
Forgot to say the title of the story is “Boundary Condition”.
One of my favorite SciFi/Fantasy authors is C.J. Cherryh. I am particularly partial to her Cyteen trilogy. However… if you are acquainted with this, could you possibly address the moral/theological implications of the cloned-human caste known as the Azi? (I find them interesting as characters, but extremely problematic as human beings.)
One of the problems about each of the sci/fi series is usually they have a problematic moral issue to each of them. Firefly’s is more out front about it since Inara’s profession is front and center. However, both Book and Mal objected to Inara’s profession. Mal and Book were the moral centers of the show who had rigid moral boundries.
Part of the conflict of the show was the morality of the Alliance versus the Border Worlds. It is obvious that the Allianced has both high regard for Inara’s profession while a low regard for Book’s (that of a preacher). It is obvious what the show was about was the slow recovery of Mal’s morality which took a big hit from experiences of the war. Once a devout Christian he has lost his faith and his slow but constant acceptance of Book which represents part of what he has lost is clear. But he never accepts Inara’s profession constantly referring to her profession in the worst possible language. Mal obviously loves Inara but dislikes her debasement by her clients and her unwillingness to view it as that.
One of the great dialogs about this was contained in the episode “Shindig”. Inara is being employed by a local snob Atherton. Mal obtains a dance by appealing to Atherton’s “generocity” during the party. Here is some of the dialog while they are dancing.
Mal: Well, maybe I just want to see a professional at work. Is this the hardest part, or does that come later?
Inara: You have no call trying to make me ashamed of my job. What I do is legal. And how’s that smuggling coming?
Mal: My work’s illegal, but at least it’s honest.
Inara: What?
Mal: Well, this–the lie of it. That man parading you around on his arm as if he actually won you, as if he loves you, and everyone here going along with it.
Inara: These people like me, and I like them. I like Atherton too, by the way.
Mal: Well, sure. What’s not to like? I’m liable to sleep with him myself.
Later after Mal is waiting to fight a duel with Atherton about comments Atherton made about ownership of Inara.
Mal: This [Chinese] duel is the result of the rules of your society, not mine.
Inara: You are always breaking the rules, no matter what society you’re in. You don’t get along with ordinary criminals either which is why you are constantly getting in trouble.
Mal: You think following the rules will buy you a nice life even if the rules make you a slave.