It’s a slightly click-baity title, but as we’re still generating more content for our magazines, this one included, why not?

My Sci-fi unpopular opinion is that 2001: A Space Odyssey is nothing but pretentious, LSD fueled nonsense. I’ve tried watching it multiple times and each time I have absolutely no patience for the pointless little scenes which contain little to no depth or meaningful plot, all coalescing towards that 15 minute “journey” through space and series of hallucinations or whatever that are supposed to be deep, shake you to your foundations, and make you re-think the whole human condition.

But it doesn’t. Because it’s just pretentious, LSD fueled nonsense. Planet of the Apes was released in the same year and is, on every level, a better Sci-fi movie. It offers mystery, a consistent and engaging plot, relatable characters you actually care about, and asks a lot more questions about the world and our place in it.

It insists upon itself, Lois.

  • Chetzemoka@kbin.social
    2·
    2 years ago

    I think there are some forms of world building that just aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. It requires a certain willingness to be completely confused, lost, and aimlessly wandering with no discernable plot goal to get through something like 3BP, the first few episodes of The Expanse, or Chris Nolan’s Tenet.

    But can I tell you that holy shit, the reveal in 3BP is probably the single best set up and truly unexpected, shocking payoff for any fiction I’ve ever read. It’s just one of those “you can only experience it for the first time once” moments that will stick with me that I wish I could help other people experience.

    But I get it, the price you pay to get there is steep. That book is dense.

    • funnyletter@kbin.social
      2·
      2 years ago

      Yeah the weird thing is I love the Expanse and also Tenet and my favorite book is Gnomon by Nick Harkaway, a book in which you literally have no idea wtf is going on until basically the last 10%. AND I studied a bunch of stuff about modern Chinese history and the cultural revolution in college so I have some background on the politics! Like, I SHOULD enjoy it, on paper. It’s literally just the prose that’s ruining it for me.

      I actually really hope the TV show is good because I think I’d actually really enjoy it presented in a different format. Maybe I should try an audiobook.