Ender's Game

Ender’s Game is a fascinating science fiction tale written by Orson Scott Card which received many awards for best book of the year when it came out. The novel follows the life of Ender Wiggin, the youngest of three genius children (breaking a strict two children law). This story is one of those books you cannot put down as you want to keep finding out what happens next.

Ender is quickly discovered to be a strategical genius and is chosen to be sent to Battle School at a young age where he is quickly discovered to be the best in the school. Being labeled as the best isolates him from everyone and is kept all alone throughout school. It is very interesting reading all his battle strategies and how he continues to be the best student there, where he is quickly promoted at a very young age to Command school. At Command school he becomes the youngest student there and again is kept isolated for this reason. The story continues until he reaches the end of his class where he is put into an impossible simulated battle. After succeeding at the simulation, he learns it isn’t a simulation at all, and he had just won the war with an alien race called the buggers he was being trained for all his life. The news of wiping out an entire alien race, and learning about two humans he killed that was hidden from him puts him into a depression.

The novel brings up the issue of genocide, and destroying a whole group of an Alien race because both sides did not know what the other side was doing. I believe a huge message of the book is about the negative affects of drone military warfare and blind violence. Ender’s Game is a novel that really makes you think, all the while telling a very creative and unique story. It engrosses you from beginning to end, while you learn about all the battle strategies and formations that are used throughout. This is definitely one of the best science fiction novels written, and it is no wonder it received as many awards as it did.

Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy

The Ultimate Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy contains the five wonderful novel “trilogy” written by Douglas Adams. Douglas Adams writes a sci-fi series that I decided to listen to through the semester. These books have reached high levels of popularity due to the humor and it is easy to see why. While the first book of the series is the best and funniest of them all, the following four do not disappoint.

The series follows Arthur Dent, a human from the planet Earth who unknowingly befriends and alien named Ford Prefect who has been trapped on Earth for years. The Earth gets destroyed while the pair makes an escape and Arthur learns of a life outside of Earth and follows Ford Prefect, one of the many editors of the Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The two of them continue space exploration while meeting the galaxy president, a two headed, three armed alien who steals the galaxy’s most expensive space ship and travel through time and space. The five books follows Arthur Dent through all his adventures from finding the answer to the universe, finding the reason for the existence of Earth, going to the Restaurant at the end of the universe, finding his planet Earth restored and falling in love, and then again losing his home planet.

Much happens in the universe created by Douglas Adams. He created and explored lots of different areas of science fiction. His ideas were genius, incredibly creative and original all the while making you laugh throughout the whole series. The idea of creating a guide to hitchhiking the galaxy and having to constantly edit this massive book of encyclopedic knowledge is so unique and fun to read. Not only does Douglas Adams create some of the best atmospheres and ideas, but his characters were all very interesting as well as the many alien races he had come up with. Many of the ideas of his novels have made a huge impact on the science fiction community all the while he made you laugh.

Harry Potter

I will start off by saying that I really have never read these books until this year. I’ve always seen the movies when they came out in theaters, but I was just never motivated enough to read them before now. When I saw that we would be discussing the books, I really wanted to see how the books differ from the movies. I was able to get through the first 3 books so far. I must say, I can’t believe how much more detailed and magical (pun intended) these books are.

I love to see the detailed characteristics and personalities of the characters. Harry is pretty unsure of himself and obviously has low self-esteem because of his abusive childhood. Though Hogwarts is welcoming to him and he gains confidence with his “fame”, it’s also painful to watch as his peers turn on him once things start to go wrong. His classmates blame and hate him for an involvement with the Dark Lord that he doesn’t even mean to have. But at least he has his close friends that stick by him, even though Hermione is always quick to tell Harry that he’s imagining/hearing things.

For a children’s book, it’s nice to see that this series can really be read by any age and still be enjoyed. The fantasy of the world is immense and it’s obvious to see why its culture is so popular.

Night of the Living Dead

I find this movie nostalgic and slightly hilarious. I can’t help but think of zombies in more of a cult classic/corny viewpoint, rather that actual horror.

The movie itself starts out in a graveyard where two characters encounter the first zombie, which nicely sets up the creepy feeling of the film. However, this is where it starts to get funny for me. The woman, Barbara, is pretty much constantly in hysterics and is utterly useless at all times. She finds herself in the house of a half eaten man and watches in paralyzed fear as more zombies approach her. The next character, Ben, is the one who has to step up and drag this waste of air of a woman back into the house.

It amuses me to watch this man take charge and board up the house while Barbara stares off into space as if she is just far too mentally weak to handle the situation. This movie was made in the 60’s and it’s pretty clear to see how women were portrayed in this time. I just can’t help but laugh and enjoy the carnage of zombie death.

Also a fun fact: I’ve actually been to the Evans City graveyard that they filmed this movie in. I was disappointed in the lack of flesh eaters.

Dracula

Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a horror classic which brought life to the mythological vampire. Much of what Bram Stoker writes about vampires have become the common attributes of a vampire known today, though there have been many changes and evolutions of what a vampire is. The novel itself is unique that it follows the story through the use of several journal entries of the characters. You see the novel through each characters eye’s separately as you read through their individual journal entries in chronological order.

It is interesting that the novel starts off with Jonathan Harker actually going to Dracula’s Castle by himself. Of course, Jonathan knows nothing of the horrors of Count Dracula. The journey to the Castle really sets up the mood of the whole novel with creepy settings and constant fear of the supernatural. The first part of the novel takes place in Dracula’s castle as Jonathan Harker becomes a prisoner inside the castle while giving Dracula a house in England. This part of the book does a very good job of building suspense and slowly making Jonathan realize he is a prisoner and not just doing a job. The next part of the novel travels to England where the count brings his horrors to Jonathan’s hometown. This is when the book really becomes interesting, and all the characters come together to solve the mystery of the horrors happening in their town. This is when Doctor Van Helsing is called in and begins the life of a character that is later portrayed in many forms of media. Van Helsing brings his knowledge of vampires to the group and convinces them that a vampire is amongst them. When they are all convinced Helsing finally reveals everything he knows about vampires, which is the most interesting part of the novel. He gives a detailed explanation of all the abilities vampires have and what can harm them. Many of these attributes are still used in vampire lore today, though some have also been added. One notable attribute of a vampire that was not from this novel is walking in direct sunlight never killed Count Dracula but only weakened him so he lost all his powers, this starting the legend of vampires being nocturnal and eventually lead to them being killed by sunlight.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula has made huge influences on the world of vampires, and a lot of what vampires are known as today comes from this novel. The way the book was written through journal entries made it very different but one of the more interesting books I have read. Bram Stoker uses many elements of fear of the supernatural and unknown throughout his novel and made it constantly exciting. This is a great novel and keeps you reading and excited from beginning to end!

Frankenstein

Reading the original Frankenstein was definitely interesting. We’ve all seen the adaptations of the story, which has been thrown into a more iconic Halloween scenario. However, this book takes you away from those stereotypes and dives into the idea of “playing God” and the consequences of your actions.

I really loved how Mary Shelley’s character has a thirst for knowledge in subjects that most educated people find silly. He becomes incredibly engrossed in his studies regardless.

Creating his monster becomes a thrilling but horrifying realization all at once. A lot of people don’t think entirely about what could happen if you meddle too deeply in certain elements of nature. In this case, his monster becomes enraged at what he is and acts out violently. You have to wonder, did __ ever think that if he were successful, what his creation think about it? Would it be dangerous? Would the public react negatively?

I really find it interesting how classic of a horror this has become. The ideas of creating life really seem to fascinate and scare people. I could even relate it to current day fears of stem cell research and cloning. Though I personally love science advancements more than I’m afraid of raising the dead, I must admit I can relate to the fear of human control of the natural.