tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331135384154117296.post7254682764987759630..comments2024-01-30T20:01:01.316+00:00Comments on Science Fiction & Fantasy: Ultrameta by Douglas ThompsonAnthony G Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798830903236765181noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331135384154117296.post-72305096710737196032010-09-23T12:52:31.491+01:002010-09-23T12:52:31.491+01:00Hi Tony. I thought you'd like to know that Dou...Hi Tony. I thought you'd like to know that Douglas Thompson has a second novel out now from Eibonvale Press, not a sequel to Ultrameta, but certainly a book on themes you may find interesting, i.e. global warming and environmental disaster.Alexander Starkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03458073762704734809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331135384154117296.post-81904512761487142402010-03-13T03:53:16.179+00:002010-03-13T03:53:16.179+00:00When The popular comment layout is common, so it i...When The popular comment layout is common, so it is easily recognized scanning to post a comment. If the comment section is in a different format, then I am going to spend more time trying to decipher what everything means.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.onlineuniversalwork.com" rel="nofollow">study from home</a>Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03549636117159802228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331135384154117296.post-15517477625059825202009-12-23T10:26:26.838+00:002009-12-23T10:26:26.838+00:00I've had a recording of 'The Truman Show&#...I've had a recording of 'The Truman Show' around for ages and keep meaning to watch it, but I don't know about the others.<br /><br />I touch on the question of transferable identity in my post 'On Immortality' - see 4 Sept this year.Anthony G Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00798830903236765181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331135384154117296.post-84386932727338277992009-12-22T20:56:58.011+00:002009-12-22T20:56:58.011+00:00Interesting reaction that, Anthony, to Insomnia. S...Interesting reaction that, Anthony, to Insomnia. Sometimes one is not in the mood for a forced metaphor! It's very symbolic, a kind of mirroring of the two main characters, exactly as The Prestige is. About you're referring to quantum entanglement ("spooky action at a distance", as Einstein called it), as a means of potential teleportation: They actually mastered that this year, I believe, but only at that sub-atomic level, (for use in computers one day)even so it brings closer the dilemma you hint at. Perhaps teleporting(copying)a human being will shed a light on what the mind/memories/soul/spirit are: if any of those are not physically there, then would they teleport?<br />If anyone is interested, by the way, I've thought of 3 other films that influenced Ultrameta: The Truman Show, Fearless(both by Peter Weir) and "Seconds" (black and white, 1966, starring Rock Hudson). The latter is a really chilling little underground gem, a bit like "The Man Who Haunted Himself" starring Roger Moore, who shows he really could act after all.Alexander Starkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03458073762704734809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331135384154117296.post-36225387136473346672009-12-21T07:51:38.728+00:002009-12-21T07:51:38.728+00:00I started 'Insomnia' but found the initial...I started 'Insomnia' but found the initial premise too depressing - I hate it when a story's main character takes a course of action which you just know is going to be disastrous. <br /><br />However, I was impressed by 'The Prestige', a film which certainly sticks in the mind. Tesla's central invention of a matter duplicator and transporter seems basically the same as the 'Star Trek' transporter except that the original body isn't destroyed in the process. Which would certainly put me off using such a transporter as it would mean that "I" would be killed, with only a perfect copy of myself being instantly created elsewhere. That could create some interesting philosophical and legal issues...Anthony G Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00798830903236765181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331135384154117296.post-57677819286813393452009-12-21T07:43:26.646+00:002009-12-21T07:43:26.646+00:00'The Prestige' was fantastic! One of my al...'The Prestige' was fantastic! One of my all time favourites!NineMirrorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14441350812602675052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331135384154117296.post-72722792512639247402009-12-20T16:57:28.188+00:002009-12-20T16:57:28.188+00:00I have _Momento_ now in my queue. It reminds me s...I have _Momento_ now in my queue. It reminds me somewhat of Gene Wolfe's great trilogy-- _Soldier of the Mist_, _Soldier of Arete_, and _Soldier of Sidon_.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10233846613173866140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331135384154117296.post-14095519154914565742009-12-20T16:34:33.063+00:002009-12-20T16:34:33.063+00:00Yes, I seem to be alive and well, although my curr...Yes, I seem to be alive and well, although my current body leaves a little to be desired:) Memento: it's a Chris Nolan film, so you may also (if you haven't already) want to check out his excellent "Insomnia" and "The Prestige", the latter of which is from a Christopher Priest novel, the High-Priest one might say, of "Slipstream".Alexander Starkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03458073762704734809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331135384154117296.post-71274367617170273852009-12-20T15:19:15.450+00:002009-12-20T15:19:15.450+00:00Nice to hear from you Alexander, I'm glad that...Nice to hear from you Alexander, I'm glad that reports of your death have been exaggerated!<br /><br />I've recently seen Memento, and it is indeed a terrific film. A review will follow in a week or two.Anthony G Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00798830903236765181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331135384154117296.post-7637363932011808952009-12-20T11:12:54.592+00:002009-12-20T11:12:54.592+00:00Thanks, Anthony, for this very generous review, an...Thanks, Anthony, for this very generous review, and thanks to Fred and Erik also for their kind interest. Memento is a great film, and like Groundhog Day and The Matrix, I felt that in each of theses films (and a few others)that there were metaphysical/philosophical ideas being only touched upon that someone ought to explore more deeply. I wanted to throw all of these into a pot with reincarnation and every world religion at once. The "meaning of life" can only be felt, not understood, but it's fun trying.Alexander Starkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03458073762704734809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331135384154117296.post-89583207912754343652009-10-07T03:58:28.937+01:002009-10-07T03:58:28.937+01:00Thanks for that - the description does ring a bell...Thanks for that - the description does ring a bell although I've never seen it. I'll put it on my list...Anthony G Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00798830903236765181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331135384154117296.post-33631395973193782512009-10-06T19:38:49.265+01:002009-10-06T19:38:49.265+01:00From Wiki (sorry about the non-personal touch :-))...From Wiki (sorry about the non-personal touch :-))<br /><br />NOTE: Spoiler alert! I've tried cleaning it up as to remove all or most spoilers. I might have succeeded.<br /><br />Leonard Shelby, a former insurance fraud investigator is searching for the man he believes raped and killed his wife during a burglary. Leonard has anterograde amnesia, which he developed as a result of the severe head trauma during the attack on his wife. This renders his brain unable to store new memories. To cope with his condition, he maintains a system of notes, photographs, and tattoos to record information about himself and others, including his wife's killer.<br /> As each scene begins, Leonard has just lost his recent memories, leaving him unaware of where he is or what he was doing. The scene ends just after its events fade from his memory.<br /><br />It's well worth seeing!NineMirrorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14441350812602675052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331135384154117296.post-25385145664541970392009-10-06T15:42:21.839+01:002009-10-06T15:42:21.839+01:00I don't recall seeing that one, Erik. Does it ...I don't recall seeing that one, Erik. Does it have the same kind of plot?Anthony G Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00798830903236765181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331135384154117296.post-37338985729626015332009-10-06T12:54:32.511+01:002009-10-06T12:54:32.511+01:00Sounds a bit like the movie 'Memento'.Sounds a bit like the movie 'Memento'.NineMirrorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14441350812602675052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331135384154117296.post-43240331918587266432009-10-02T16:16:14.351+01:002009-10-02T16:16:14.351+01:00It sounds fascinating. Thanks for the review. I&#...It sounds fascinating. Thanks for the review. I'm going to have to look for this one.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10233846613173866140noreply@blogger.com