The Future Is Fright

I Don't Know If That's Being Too Clever
"The future is bright -" if you remember that one, which was the strapline for a company selling something suitably sunny.  It can't have been very effective, I can't remember what they were selling.

Probably not this

     Anyway, here we are today, and indeed the day has been treacherously sunny and rainy both, one of the banes of living in the Pond of Eden.  I can show you a shot of the scenery from the 18th floor - Art?

     This is from my bright shiny new employer's - did I tell you I was working again? -  Manchester premises in Arndale House.
     You cannot take it for granted that the weather will stay like this, as it had been raining on the way into work, so a coat is necessary, which means broiling like a chicken on the way home, all the more so as the bus had it's heating on.  First Bus?  Thirst Bus!
     Anyway, as per usual none of this has anything to do with what follows, because don't forget, BOOJUM! is pretty much the touchstone for non sequiteur.

"The Expanse" Versus "Leviathan Wakes" By James Corey
Television versus book, in case you were wondering.  Normally it's the inverse, as your humble scribe reads a work before seeing it on television.  Sadly for Conrad, when "V" turned up, it was an alien invasion saga, not the Thomas Pynchon novel.  
     Oh well.

Sigh.  A man can but dream.

     Anyway, here we have the television program; first of all, what kind of beast is it?  A pretty good definition of what "hard" science fiction is about; nothing present is impossible, even if it might be impractical.  No blasters, force-fields or anti-gravity here, thank you very much.  All real-world physics, with the exception of a fusion engine (the Epstein drive) that you hairless apes are likely to arrive at fairly soon, one fears*.  How does it compare to the novel "Leviathan Wakes"?  
     I thought you'd never ask!
     The program adds in a whole new character and perspective, an Earther politician entirely absent the novel.  Presumably this is to balance the otherwise rather masculine narrative of LW, and to fill in a background that the novel only adds to sparsely and economically.

Some of the ships involved

     The reason I said the future is fright is because both book and television have humanity taking all your vices into space with them - poverty, racism, violence, drugs, cheese, war, amorality and then some.  All the things that made "Babylon 5" more interesting than that Star Trek equivalent, whatever it was.  Credibility, I think it's called.
     Anyway, I have a lot more notes on this, too much to blow on a single post, so we will be revisiting this.  Rest assured!

That's Mine And I Will Have It Back
One of the things that you have to love about cats is their unerring instinct for being where they ought not to.  Take Jenny, as an example.  I had gone downstairs to make another refreshing pot of tea, only to be superceded - at least in her mind.  Art?

The cat sat on the WHERE SHE SHOULDN'T BE!

     She seemed unable to interpret the clearing of throat and polite "Excuse me" that I led with, so - she got dumped.  Much to her obvious disgust.

So You Want To Be A Supervillain?
Yes, let us continue to provide the Dummies Guide To World Conquest.  Of course you can't take all of it as gospel - Conrad doesn't want too much in the way of competition out there.

Minions And How To Acquire Them
Contradicting myself straight away, if you do have a gang, it's best not to call them  minions because, frankly, it's insulting.  "Members", "Crew" or <wince> "Homies", if you like, just not "mininos".  Nor "Henchmen" since that's discriminatory.  Now, it's a well--known fact that all criminal hirelings (value neutral phrase!) register with Reed Recruitment, so enquire within.
     If you place an advert for help, watch how you phrase it!  Avoid using the word "danger" and use "challenge" instead.  It also helps recruitment if you have special snazzy uniforms, but once again caution - never ever call these "costumes".

These guys, to be honest, are a bit drab

     I think that's enough random wibble for today as I feel the pangs of hunger gripping and griping.  Later!      



*  One reason I never accurately identify my homeworld.