Posts tagged ‘science fiction’
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
INTRODUCTION TO THE NOVEL BY H. G. WELLS
I have read the novel, The War of the Worlds, written by H. G. Wells in 1898 three times now.
The first time because of my interest in science fiction and my addiction to flying saucers. The second time was for a science fiction book club to which I belonged. The third time was after seeing the 1953 and 2005 movie based on the novel, I noticed stark differences between details of the Martians and their invasion between the novel and the movies.
What follows are discussions of the novel and then how the two movies handle what is found in the novel.
Before I begin, I want to mention that The War of the Worlds is usually referred to as a novel, but on occasion, referred to as a novella. Not knowing the word count, I do not know which classification is more correct. Also, the word count for a novel and novella at times overlap, and at times change.
WAR OF THE WORLDS: AN INTRODUCTION
WAR OF THE WORLDS
A REVIEW OF THE NOVEL AND RELATED MOVIES
This is an introduction to my next series of posts.
During my teenage years I was fascinated by Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). I accumulated a small paperback library on the subject. Was a subscriber to Saucer News (that topic will be covered in a future post).
With my interest in UFOs, I was drawn to the novel by H.G. Wells, War of the Worlds, published in 1898. And have been entertained, many times by the 1953 movie starring Gene Barry and the 2005 movie starring Tom Cruise.
In subsequent posts I will explore invasion ‘fact’ of the Martian invasion outlined in the book and how closely the two movies follow those ‘facts’.
I hope you find these posts interesting.
At the conclusion of my War of the Worlds discussions I will explore the current quest to discover alien life. And how it may exist closer than expected.
HAWAIIAN DISASTERS IN PRINT
HAWAIIAN DISASTERS IN PRINT
There is a new novel recently published by Michael Crichton, posthumously entitled, Eruption, involving the threat of a volcanic eruption on The Big Island of the Hawaiian islands. The novel also involves the revelation of a secret of the military. Currently this novel is on the New York Times bestseller list for hardcover fiction.
I mention this for there is another novel, published in the recent past, which also involves the eruption of volcanos along the entire chain of the Hawaiian islands. What follows is a disaster of unbelievable proportions which will change the world forever.
For those interested, contact me and I will give further information about this novel.
THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT: A SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PARTXIII
Restarting The Ultimate Experiment
An unpublished short story
THE UNLIMATE EXPERIMENT
Ball looked up from his work as his normally reserved graduate student came running into his office. This usually calm student was in an extreme state of agitation.
“Professor, you’ve got to come quick! We’ve just recorded a unique event. Nothing like this … you’ve got to come!”
“Calm down John. Now tell me what has happened.”
“We’ve detected a new form of neutrino! It is not any of the three known types – electron, muon or tau!”
Now Ball was getting excited. “Tell me about its chirality – its orientation.”
“That’s the strangest part, Dr. Ball. It has none. It is not left-handed as all neutrinos are. I’ve got to get back. Are you coming? There might be more events.”
“I’ll be right there, son.”
After the graduate student left Donald Ball sat for a moment alone. He was simultaneously excited and numb. He cried, and then he laughed. He also felt a calmness he had never experienced before. He knew this was a unique event. Because it seemed inexplicable, the event would probably be deemed the result of faulty sensors. But Ball knew better. The new neutrino was the type of particle Stewart had agreed to generate from beyond the grave.
THE END
THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT: A SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PART XII
Restarting The Ultimate Experiment
An unpublished short story
THE UNLIMATE EXPERIMENT
Donald Ball was at work when his phone rang.
“Hello, Dr. Ball?”
“Yes, this is Dr. Ball.” He did not recognize the voice.
“This is Virginia Madison. I’m a visiting nurse. I have been taking care of George Stewart.”
Ball knew immediately the purpose of the call.
“George Stewart passed away today. He told me it was very important that you know when he died.”
“Thank you for calling. He was a good man and friend. He will be missed.”
“He was a good man. Good-bye.”
Donald Ball hung up the phone. He sat alone in his office a long time thinking of what might occur. He felt a chill of anticipation.
* * *
Two days later John Coolidge, a graduate student working for Dr. Ball, sat at the computer console connected to the Super-Kamiokande detector. He had seen what the computer images of past neutrino events looked like and detected a few events himself. He was reading a physics textbook when the alarms began to sound. As he looked at the monitor, he said out loud, “Holy shit, I’m going to be famous.”
THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT: A SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PART XI
Restarting The Ultimate Experiment
An unpublished short story
THE UNLIMATE EXPERIMENT
A few days after Donald Ball’s visit, Virginia noticed a steady decline in George Stewart’s condition. Every time she saw him she thought it would be the last. Each time she approached his bed, Stewart appeared as a corpse, his complexion gray. Only the occasional rise and fall of his chest signaled that his body still harbored life.
“How are you today, Professor Stewart?” Virginia did not expect an answer but he opened his eyes.
“I don’t think I have long for this world, my dear,” he said with great effort. “But I am at peace. I have one request of you before you leave.”
Two hours later, while making another visit, Virginia was paged by the nurse’s aide caring for Stewart.
“The professor passed away.”
Virginia went to pronounce him dead. She had lost a patient and a friend. Then she fulfilled Stewart’s last request.
THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT: A SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PART X
Restarting The Ultimate Experiment
An unpublished short story
THE UNLIMATE EXPERIMENT
Stewart looked at Ball and said, “I must admit your theory interests me. I now see why you require a man who, some would say, led an honorable life and why you require the help of someone about to die. But what is your need for a scientist?”
“History is overflowing,” Ball said, “with people who have vowed to communicate with the living after their death. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the popular Sherlock Holmes stories, considered those works a minor representation of his entire output. He was primarily concerned with the afterlife and communication from the beyond. What happened after he passed? Nothing.
“Harry Houdini spent a good part of his life trying to contact his departed mother, and in the process debunked quite a few mediums. He vowed that he would communicate to his wife from the next world – nothing.
“But these people weren’t scientists. Even if they had been, the level of technology did not exist to allow them to communicate from that singular dimension. I’m asking you, Professor Stewart, after you pass, to send me a sign. Something that we will now plan. Something that will prove my theory.”
Stewart’s eyes twinkled as he said, “I think I know just the event.”
THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT: A SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PART IX
Restarting The Ultimate Experiment
An unpublished short story
THE UNLIMATE EXPERIMENT
“That is correct, Professor Stewart. We are left with one dimension, one universe that is infinite, a universe of energy, and a universe where physical reality does not exist. The one remaining universe is heaven.”
Both men fell silent. Ball continued, “I have thought about the next aspect of my theory a great deal. As I said, I am not a religious man. But I appreciate the good and the evil in the world. If the one remaining dimension is heaven, then what comprises hell? Could it be a continuum of the heavenly dimension, or does it not exist?”
Ball paused for emphasis, and then continued, “I propose that hell does not exist. The reward for an errant life is oblivion. Your life force is dissipated for some other purpose and your consciousness, your existence is lost.”
THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT: A SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PART VIII
Restarting The Ultimate Experiment
An unpublished short story
THE UNLIMATE EXPERIMENT
“One of the estimations of string theory, as you well know, is the existence of not four but eleven dimensions. Presumably, some of these dimensions are too miniscule to be observable. I began thinking about the existence of alternate universes. I thought of our own universe with its three physical dimensions and the fourth, time. I envisioned two alternate universes, each with three dimensions. I assumed time to be a constant for all three dimensions, ours and the two unknowns.”
Stewart interrupted. “That theory,” he hesitated, “would explain the presence of ten dimensions. You are left with one unexplained ….” The startled expression on Stewart’s face told Ball he now comprehended the connection between string theory and heaven.
THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT: A SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PART VII
Restarting The Ultimate Experiment
An unpublished short story
THE UNLIMATE EXPERIMENT
Ball nodded, “I will try my best Professor. “As you know, I am working at the Super-Kamiokande detector used for detection of neutrinos. I am also conducting a graduate-level course in string theory. While teaching this course, I formed a theory on a subject that I never put much credence in: the existence of heaven.”
“Now I am truly lost,” replied Stewart.
“You see Professor; I have never been a religious man. I was not raised in any faith. But as a scientist, the more I think about life the more I find it difficult to picture our life force, that energy that each of us possesses, coming to a complete end with our death.”
“I can appreciate your observation on life. But I cannot fathom the connection between string theory and heaven.”
Ball began to explain his theory
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