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A Niche Year in the Late 80s

Ts

(Romanian)

From the point of view of “Science Fiction” genre cinema, the year 1989 “beats its pace”, but it is “saved” (being a year with films “associated” with the genre) by the new “achievement” of James Cameron with the movie “The Abyss”, became a kind of classic of the genre.

The action takes place in the depths of the ocean, on an oil rig, where the crew of the rig discovers an intelligent alien life form, raising a series of philosophical questions about the nature of life and intelligence, the relationships between the members are radically transformed under the influence of pushing the limits human beings, the action exploring universal themes such as friendship, love, sacrifice and human nature, the “overall” message being a pacifist one, emphasizing the importance of communication and understanding between different forms of life.

The story is not “excellent”, but at the time of its release, the film’s special effects were considered revolutionary, especially those recreating the underwater world and the interactions with the alien life form.

Cinema still has attempted through the film “The Fly II” (continuation of the first “transformation”), “Cyborg” (which takes dystopian advantage of a Van Damme in affirmation), “Communion”, “Deep Star Six” or “Leviathan”, but they become mere “presences” in the world of “Science Fiction” without registering remarkable elements.

Perhaps, among these “attempts”, however, the film “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” should also be remembered, a cult sci-fi comedy that won the hearts of the public by presenting the adventures of two teenagers, Bill and Ted, who, with the help of a cabin telephone (somewhat after the “model” of “Doctor Who”) from the future travel back in time to bring important historical figures to a school project.

As they embark on their adventure, Bill and Ted learn important lessons about history and themselves funnily and memorably, with the film conveying a positive message about the power of friendship, the importance of following your dreams, and that anything is possible.

And, why not, there would be the movie “Ghostbusters II” …

“Science Fiction” television series are represented by:

„Quantum Leap” (1989–1993, with a total of 97 one-hour episodes), has become a “classic” of the genre (including the series’ theme music), has an “anthologically” structured story (each episode being a mini-drama, which will make you laugh, cry, blah, blah), which follows the adventures of Dr. Sam Beckett, a physicist who, during an experiment with a particle accelerator, is transported into the past, taking the place of other people at key moments in history.

Here, unlike other series about time travel, the protagonist cannot choose when and where to travel, being “thrown” into a random moment in the past, with the mission to “correct” a mistake or change the course of events.

Despite the science fiction elements, the series emphasizes the human side of the story, with each episode being an opportunity for Sam to connect with people from the past, learn life lessons, and discover himself, the series raises interesting questions about destiny, free will, and the consequences of our actions.

Another popular series is “Alien Nation” (1989–1990, with 22 one-hour episodes), exploring complex themes such as social integration, racism, and prejudice in a future where aliens, called “Newcomers”, live alongside humans (we also mentioned him in the previous episode).

Unlike other sci-fi series, the aliens are not presented as invaders or enemies, but as refugees trying to adapt to a new society, exploring the differences between the two species and their commonalities.

Each episode features a different police case, and the sci-fi element brings a unique perspective on crime investigation, featuring a multi-cultural and multi-species society where both humans and aliens have their own cultures and traditions.

And “Hard Time on Planet Earth” (with 13 one-hour episodes), a series that, although not a resounding success at the time of its release, has over time gained a certain notoriety among fans of the genre.

The series follows the adventures of Jesse, an alien exiled to Earth and forced to complete a series of good tasks to return home, his only companion being Control, a spherical robot who watches over him.

It’s an example of a cult (niche) series with a unique combination of elements that make it interesting for those who appreciate absurd humor and science fiction, and worth discovering.

Even in terms of the “niche” of video games, this year is a year of “presence”, preparing for future successes.

The only “field” that stands out this year is written literature, which in 1989 brings us:

• Hyperion by Dan Simmons which adopts a structure similar to the Canterbury Tales, with each of the seven pilgrims telling their own story during the journey to Hyperion, a technique that allows for the exploration of various themes and depth of characters in an original way (each story has a unique perspective , giving the reader a complex and multidimensional picture of the universe created by Simmons); the action takes place in the very distant future, in a galaxy colonized by humans and other intelligent species, featuring advanced technologies such as teleportation, interstellar spaceships and artificial intelligence, interaction with various extraterrestrial civilizations adding complexity and richness to this universe; the novel explores the tension between technological progress and human nature, asking questions about identity, faith and the meaning of life, the concept of good and evil is relativized and questioned, and the characters are often faced with difficult moral decisions, and the notion of time is explored in — a complex mode, the characters facing the consequences of their actions over time; in terms of “assets”, the mysterious creature Shrike is a constant and frightening presence, adding an atmosphere of suspense and horror to the novel, or “Crypts of Time”, the place where the pilgrims go is shrouded in mystery and presents an unknown danger ; in conclusion, the novel combines the elements of horror with those of science fiction, creating a unique and captivating atmosphere, and the feeling of insignificance in the face of a vast and hostile universe is a recurring theme.
• A Fire in the Sun by George Alec Effinger is the second novel in George Alec Effinger’s trilogy about the “character” Audran (if you enjoyed the cyberpunk feel of the first novel, When Gravity Fails, then you’ll definitely be excited about its sequel, which will re-immerse you in a fascinating world and make you reflect on human nature and technology), which takes us back to Effinger’s dystopian future, where Audran, the ex-con, struggles to survive in a chaotic urban environment and full of danger; exploring in depth the characteristic cyberpunk themes of advanced technology, social inequality and bodily modification; the narrative keeps you engaged from beginning to end, with political intrigue, unexpected twists and turns; the cities, besides Audran (a complex and fascinating protagonist), are represented by equally well-rounded and interesting supporting characters, and the Arab quarter of New Orleans, Budayeen, is a vibrant and lively, but also dangerous setting , which serves as a backdrop for the protagonist’s adventures; cybernetic implants, virtual reality and other advanced technologies play a central role in the story (characters can alter themselves physically and mentally through the technology, which raises interesting questions about nature and identity), influencing both society and the lives of the characters, the society of this future being deeply divided, with a great “polarization” between the rich and the poor (power struggles and political intrigues being important elements of the story).
• Prentice Alvin by Orson Scott Card is the third novel in the series “The Tales of Alvin Maker”, representing a crucial stage in the development of the main character; unlike the first two volumes, which focused on Alvin’s training as a shaman, this novel follows him as he begins to take a more active role in his world and deals with the consequences of his powers, maturing into a young adult, facing important responsibilities and decisions that will shape his future and the future of his community; the novel explores the tension between the traditional values ​​of Alvin’s community and the need for change and progress, with Alvin, with his unique powers, becoming a catalyst for these changes, but also a controversial figure (the reader witnesses a significant development of Alvin’s abilities, which become increasingly powerful and complex, attracting new challenges and questions about the limits of its power); the novel introduces a series of new characters who bring a different perspective on events and who will play an important role in the further development of the story, the theme of responsibility appears, where Alvin begins to understand the weight of responsibility that comes with power, he is forced to decide how to use his abilities to help his community, but also to protect his family and friends; as in the other novels in the series, the world Card creates is rich in detail, with an animated nature and a strong presence of supernatural forces, marking a turning point in Alvin Maker’s saga, setting him up for the more dramatic events to come , deepening the central theme of the series, which explores the relationship between man and nature, as well as the consequences of the use of power, introducing new elements of the mythology and history of the world created by Card, which will be explored in future volumes.

• The Boat of a Million Years by Poul Anderson explores the fascinating theme of immortality (which will make you think about the human condition, the meaning of life and the nature of time) by following the lives of eleven individuals who, for mysterious reasons, are immune to aging and death, offering a unique perspective on human evolution, presenting it through the eyes of eyewitnesses who lived for thousands of years, an approach that allows us to see both the great historical events (the novel “covering” a period of over 2,000 years, which traverse various eras and cultures), as well as the intimate details of ordinary people’s lives, the novel exploring in depth the consequences of immortality, the characters confronting loneliness, alienation, the loss of loved ones and fundamental questions about the meaning of life; each of the eleven immortals has a unique story and a personal quest as they are forced to find a balance between the desire to connect with other people and the need to protect their secret; despite its dark themes, the novel offers an optimistic view of humanity’s future, suggesting that humans can overcome conflict and build a better society; in terms of “assets”, the central theme of the novel is of course the concept of immortality and its implications on the human psyche, the novel explores the concept of time in a profound way, showing how the perception of time changes with immortality.
• Grass by Sheri S. Tepper is a novel considered to be one of the most important novels of this author, being the first volume of the Arbai trilogy, exploring complex themes such as ecology, society, gender and identity, in a fascinating alien setting; the action takes place on the planet Grass, a seemingly idyllic place, covered by vast green plains, but under this appearance of paradise hide dark secrets and a complex society, with its own rules and a disturbing history, the novel explores the theme of space colonization and the impact on that humans have on the environment, the planet Grass, with its unique ecosystem, becoming a battleground between the desire to exploit resources and the need to protect nature; The “assets” are the complex and stratified society that exists on Grass, with a rigid social hierarchy and a caste system based on skills and attributes, with Tepper exploring how this society works and how it copes with change, and the main characters , Rigo and Marjorie Westriding, grapple with their own identities and the pressure to conform to the norms of the society in which they live (as Rigo and Marjorie investigate the secrets of the planet Grass, they discover shocking truths about the planet’s past and their own identity); the novel is a subtle critique of patriarchy and traditional gender roles, with Tepper exploring how these roles influence social and individual relationships.

Note: At the time of this episode, Google, through its Gemini AI, has just released its version of the image “creator” Imagen 3, some of the images in this episode are being made through it (From my side, welcome to the world of the image!). As a detail, Bing generates 1024 x 1024 format images via DALL-E, while Imagen 3 generates 2048 x 2028 format images via Midjourney…

Merticaru Dorin Nicolae

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