April 2021 Recommended Reading/Viewing

[Coír Draoi Ceítien]

April is here, and it appears that the last vestiges of winter are disappearing (though we're not quite there yet). Despite the pandemic going around, I welcome the change in weather emotionally at the very least – it's nice to step outside the house at last for extended periods of time. At this point in time, I have two great classics of science fiction for us to dive into, and I can only hope it's to everyone's tastes. So here we go!

Reading: Rendezvous with Rama (1973) by Arthur C. Clarke

Winner of some of sci-fi's most prestigious awards upon publication, this late novel in the career of one of the genre's most revered practitioners became a new cornerstone, gathering praise (and some criticism) across the board. Set in the year 2131, it tells the story of a mysterious giant cylindrical object from deep space – labeled as "Rama" by astronomers – which is on a trajectory to pass by Earth; the spaceship Endeavour is sent to investigate, taking its crew to a fantastic encounter with the remnants of an alien world. While short on characterization and somewhat dated, the novel manages to stir a passionate sense of wonder and discovery that keeps the narrative moving forward, serving as a wonderful introduction to Clarke if one has not already done so.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Rendezvous-Rama-Arthur-C-Clarke/dp/0358380227/ref=sr_1_1?crid=34DP4C4QOE8G0&dchild=1&keywords=rendezvous+with+rama&qid=1617243880&sprefix=rendezvous%2Caps%2C201&sr=8-1
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Rendezvous-Rama-Arthur-C-Clarke-ebook/dp/B07XD75HGV/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1617243880&sr=8-1



Viewing: 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968)

Another of Clarke's contributions, made in conjunction with the meticulous and mercurial director Kubrick, this slow-moving film is widely considered one of the greatest science fiction films ever made and rewards the patient viewer who surrenders to the narrative on its own terms. The evolution of humanity is traced throughout, marked by the appearance of strange black monoliths placed by unknown forces; what they are and the nature of their creators drives the human characters, leading to an expedition sent towards a signal directed at Jupiter, aboard a ship where the computer in charge becomes a deadly threat. It may be short on characterization again (a common drawback of Clarke), but as a visual and auditory experience, anchored by its special effects and particular soundtrack, it's a landmark of cinema worth watching at least once in your lifetime to say that you did so.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/2001-Space-Odyssey-Stanley-Kubrick/dp/B004L9GMBC/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3DPHSA79R8ADW&keywords=2001+a+space+odyssey&qid=1617243919&sprefix=2001%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-3
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/2001-Space-Odyssey-Re-Mastered-Blu-ray/dp/B07KHKWNPW/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3DPHSA79R8ADW&keywords=2001+a+space+odyssey&qid=1617243919&sprefix=2001%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-3
4K: https://www.amazon.com/2001-SPACE-ODYSSEY-UHDBD-Blu-ray/dp/B07KH8W76F/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3DPHSA79R8ADW&dchild=1&keywords=2001+a+space+odyssey&qid=1617243919&sprefix=2001%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-3
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/2001-Space-Odyssey-Douglas-Rain/dp/B002WS54G8/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3DPHSA79R8ADW&dchild=1&keywords=2001+a+space+odyssey&qid=1617243919&sprefix=2001%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-1


So go out there now and enjoy the spring! (But remember to keep socially distanced for safety.)