Do Androids Dream?

I finished reading Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick a few days ago.  I read this book in preparation for my upcoming appearance on the Scifi Diner Rewind that we are recording in early February.  On the Rewind show, Scott, Miles and a guest choose a sci-fi film and analyze it.  I appeared on a Rewind once before and it is a lot of fun.  If you're interested in listening, you can go click HERE to listen to the Rewind of Total Recall, which incidentally is also based on a story by Philip K. K Dick.

Published in 1968, the story is set in a post apocalyptic future.  Dick chose the year 1992 for the year this book is set in.  There was a nuclear war that caused a global nuclear winter.  There are several references to the typically gray sky and the constant presence of radioactive dust falling and being blown around by the wind.  Much of the Earth's population had emigrated to other planets, but the only one mentioned in the story is Mars.  According to the author, just about everyone that has left has android servants that resemble humans in every way, except that they do not posses human empathy.  Many of these servants have escaped from their owners and are showing up on Earth.  They have no problems with killing people and are considered renegades.  The only people left on the earth are the "chickenheads" (people who are not of high-functioning mental capacity), police, and people who could not afford to emigrate.

The story focuses on primarily two characters, Rick Deckard, who is a bounty hunter that is charged with "retiring" renegade androids, and John Isidore, a "chickenhead" who aids the androids that Deckard is charged with retiring.

Bogie from Maltese Falcon

I enjoyed reading this book mostly because as I went through it, I could actually picture the characters and the setting.  To me, it seemed like an old black and white film noir setting.   I could completely believe Humphrey Bogart as Rick Deckard in this.

As a newcomer to reading Philip K Dick, I found this story well written and easy to follow.  It is quite fast paced because the story all takes place in a single day.  Well worth the time.

I haven't watched the movie Blade Runner for a while and am looking forward to seeing that soon to see how the book and the movie stack up against each other.  I will be saving my comments on the film though for the Scifi Diner show I will be on.

Podcast News...

Since I last posted, I have listened to three podcasts.  Colin and company of Trek News and Views continued their discussion of time travel in Star Trek as they covered the Voyager series.  They not only talked about voyager, but drifted into some interesting tangents and had a good time doing it.  Well worth the listen.

David and Darren posted a discussion mostly about the upcoming Into Darkness movie on their Trekcast podcast.  One thing they said that gave me pause to think about is why we like Star Trek.  They couldn't have been more accurate when they said that the main reasons are the characters and the stories.  For them, and for me for that matter, it isn't the sction.  When looking at the trailers, one can get the impression that the JJ movies are moving into the Action/Adventure genre.  I hope that's not the case.  I completely agree with the Trekcast hosts.  There has to be good characters and good stories.  Also, they recorded their impressions upon leaving the theater that showed the first nine minutes of Into Darkness that has been tacked onto the beginning of the new Hobbits film showing in IMax theaters.  in a word, David said it was "amaaaaaaazing!"

Finally, Scott and Miles posted their annual Geek Christmas List show on the Scifi Diner.  If you are having trouble figuring out what to get that special sci-fi fan on your list, just listen to this episode (#160) of the Diner for some excellent ideas.  The coolest part of this though is that I appear on this show with my top five gifts I would like to receive.

I don't know when I'll be posting again.  It seems that I have plans that will keep me out of touch for a while over the Christmas break.  I am hoping to at least see a good film and do a lot of reading.

Well, there it is...

I remain Kahless!

Q'aplah!

Hello Everyone...

Welcome to my Sci-Fi Blog. My name is Jim and I have been thinking about doing this for some time. Professionally, I am a music teacher at Kenesaw Public School in central Nebraska. I enjoy most things that are science fiction, but mostly those things that are related to space. I also enjoy learning about science fact as well, again mostly things that are related to space. I frequently watch the NASA Channel. As you might guess, my love for sci-fi stems from a love for Star Trek. I am a Trekkie, through and through, and am very proud of it, even though it is often a source of ridicule for many people I know and work with. With this in mind, I really want to connect with others that share my love for Star Trek, Star Wars, or Star-anything. Thanks to the Internet and the advent of podcasting, I have been able to do just that.

So I will start this first post with a few facts about myself. I own every episode of all of the Star Trek series (including the animated series) as well as all of the movies. I love them all, including Voyager and Enterprise. And yes I do like the opening song for the Enterprise series. I also collect other series as I find deals on them. So I also have Firefly, Space Above and Beyond, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, and Starhunter. I also have some that are not really sci-fi like the Highlander series and Alien Nation. I cycle through all of these in no particular order over and over again and never really get tired of them. Much of what I plan to blog will deal with these series. I also have a number of movies on DVD and Blue Ray, way too many to go into right now. After all, this is a blog, not a dissertation.

I also enjoy reading books on my Kindles and listening to audio books too. Not all of what I read and listen to is sci-fi related. For instance, I am currently listening to Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. But I have also just started reading another Star Trek novel by Peter David. It is one of his New Frontier series of novels entitled Missing in Action. If you're looking for something fun to read that is set in the Trek universe, but with fresh new characters, the New Frontier series is a good place to start.

I have to give credit where credit is due, and that is the inspiration for doing this blog. Thanks to the people who produce the podcasts that I listen to on a regular basis including...

The Sci-Fi Diner Podcast: Scott and Miles host this podcast that appears on a mostly weekly basis. They talk about all things sci-fi, have some fantastic interviews with some major figures from the sci-fi world, and review a number of movies and television shows. They have a main show that is up to episodes numbering in the 150's at this point. But that's not all! They also host a separate show called the Sci-Fi Diner Conversations where they welcome comments from listeners and offer feedback to the feedback from those of us who listen. I have been privileged to appear on the Conversations show a number of times as my alter ego - Kahless. But wait, there's more. There is also the Sci-Fi Rewind show where Scott, Miles and a guest host take a single movie and pick it apart. These are some very interesting shows and have the potential of giving one a new way to look at films. Some of the more memorable Rewinds include Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn, Logan's Run, Starship Troopers, and the one that I was honored to be included in as a guest host for the Rewind of Total Recall. They also put out the Sci-Fi Diner Classic in which they replay interviews they have had in the past. Where Scott and Miles find the time to do this is beyond my comprehension, but thanks to the love they have for the genre, they continue to find the time and put out a very high quality and professional sounding show.

Colin from England produces the Trek News and Views podcast. This podcast, devoted to Star Trek has a variety of fascinating things happening. Recently, Colin turned over his show to the girls and they scored an interview with none other than Robert Duncan McNeill, aka Tom Paris of Voyager. He also produced an outstanding show from his Star Trek London experience and played clips from talks given by several stars of Trekdom. Colin and his guests, which are many, do show reviews and discuss numerous aspects of trek such as time travel. Trek News and Views is an intelligent and well thought out show that I look forward to hearing every week.

David, Daren and Alicia produce Trekcast: The Star Trek Podcast Which I can only describe as the Star Trek Rock & Roll Podcast. These guys and girl are a scream to listen to and you never know what you will get next. They have recently returned to podcasting from a one year hiatus from podcasting as real life got in the way. This is a high energy show full of passion for Star Trek. You just have to listen to understand what this one is about. It is more fun than should be legal!

Captain Pyke and Crewman Becky host their blog Subspace Communique which touts to be a source for "Trek Culture Served Daily."  There is always interesting news on this blog and it is also a way to find their podcast called "Life After Trek."  It is a collection of some of the best interviews with former Trek cast members you'll ever hear.  This one is just what the title says it is, what is happening with the stars of Trek since the shows have stopped airing.  You get some interesting insight on the personalities they interview.

Last, but most certainly not least, is the crew of Starbase 66.  Rick, Karen, Kennedy, and most recently UNKK take a look at many things from the sci-fi and fantasy world.  This was the first podcast I started listening to and has been one of the best.  If you are looking for a unique perspective on movies, comic books, and many, many other subjects, I urge you to check this one out.  By the way, that UNKK guy is a NASA employee and occasionally he will give descriptions of what is going on at the Kennedy Space Center that are so vivid, you could almost picture them.

So, there it is, my first sci-fi blog ever.  I hope it isn't my last.  As always, please feel free to leave comments.

Q'aplah!