I'd much rather watch sci-fi on film or TV than read it in a novel or short story. Last night I viewed
Radio Free Albemuth (2010), courtesy of Netflix. It is based on a novel from the
VALIS trilogy by Phillip K. Dick, who is held in high esteem by lovers of the genre, including writers and filmmakers. The film is unlike what passes for most sci-fi these days, more cerebral and far less dependent on break neck action and fantastic effects. The story is set in an alternate America where the President is in his 15th year of office. The citizens do not enjoy the freedoms synonymous with the greatest country on earth. A man begins receiving mental messages from an alien satellite, encouraging rebellion. If it is commentary on the political and social scene, or what the author foresaw, I don't see a connection to the real America. I take it as the product of a vivid imagination. Although I'm not sure I understood all of the elements, I got the gist and enjoyed it. I did not hit the pause button once in its near two hour running time. Although I liked it, something was missing and a air of authenticity lacking. There have been twelve screen adaptations of Dick's works.
Total Recall was filmed twice (1990/2012). Others are planned. This is especially impressive given that the author passed away in 1982 at the age of 53. After suffering a series of strokes that left him brain dead, his family decided to pull the plug on his life support system. He won several awards, the most prestigious the Hugo in 1962 for
The Man in the High Castle, which imagined what the world would have been like had the Nazis won. I didn't like it, perhaps because I lack sufficient imagination for such a scenario. I have not read
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? That book became Blade Runner (1982), one of the greatest sci-fi films ever.
Radio Free Albemuth hearkens to the pre-
Star Wars era, slower moving, an emphasis on dialogue and ideas. The three leads, Jonathan Scarfe, Shea Whigham and Katheryn Winnick were vaguely familiar. Each has extensive credits on the big and small screen. Alannis Morissette has a smaller yet pivotal role. Scott Wilson, who has had a great career playing oddballs, is the President. John Alan Simon adapted the novel and directed, his only credit at the helm. On a scale of five, I rate it three. 670 users have rated it at IMDb, forging to a consensus of six of ten.
Today's session of the floating book shop manifested just how unpredictable an endeavor it is. Despite near perfect weather, there was hardly a sniff of interest from passersby, which really seemed odd, given the fact that I sold books on Monday, Thursday and Friday despite extremely unfriendly conditions. Tomorrow's another day.
Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Web Site:
http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
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