Scan barcode
wasted's reviews
33 reviews
The Naked Sun by Isaac Asimov
3.0
Asimov is my favorite Science Fiction author and this story has been on my shelf for a few years - in the day and age of COVID-19, it was finally time to read about an advanced human civilization that purposefully isolates themselves from all human contact within a sea of robotic servants.
This quote from a secluded Solarian captures the mindset well:
"You conjured up the most striking picture of us breathing - breathing one another's breath." The Solarian shuddered. "Don't you find that repulsive? I realized that after all we were in the same room and even though I was not facing you, puffs of air that had been in your lungs must be reaching me and entering mine."
Humans are indeed repulsive and this novel makes avoiding physical interaction relatable and, in certain satisfying ways, socially acceptable.
Unfortunately, I believe Asimov missed a few opportunities to expand on how the Solarian psychology evolved after centuries steeped in this culture. Aside from the unique isolationist environment, two concepts left me wondering:
1.) What happened to the Solarian's human libido? Sex is of course abhorred in this hermit culture but why is that? The Solarians don't consider their peers ugly or unattractive when viewed by video so something in their human brain must have been "turned off."
2.) Why do Solarians hold the arts in such high regard? Art quality is relative and Asimov doesn't expand on this individualistic pursuit. Solarians pridefully video-sharing each other's art is a contradiction that is never explained.
Overall, this cynically unique story is fun to relate to but leaves the reader hungry. A worthwhile read for Asmiov fans despite its near monolithic representation of the modern COVID-19 culture.
This quote from a secluded Solarian captures the mindset well:
"You conjured up the most striking picture of us breathing - breathing one another's breath." The Solarian shuddered. "Don't you find that repulsive? I realized that after all we were in the same room and even though I was not facing you, puffs of air that had been in your lungs must be reaching me and entering mine."
Humans are indeed repulsive and this novel makes avoiding physical interaction relatable and, in certain satisfying ways, socially acceptable.
Unfortunately, I believe Asimov missed a few opportunities to expand on how the Solarian psychology evolved after centuries steeped in this culture. Aside from the unique isolationist environment, two concepts left me wondering:
1.) What happened to the Solarian's human libido? Sex is of course abhorred in this hermit culture but why is that? The Solarians don't consider their peers ugly or unattractive when viewed by video so something in their human brain must have been "turned off."
2.) Why do Solarians hold the arts in such high regard? Art quality is relative and Asimov doesn't expand on this individualistic pursuit. Solarians pridefully video-sharing each other's art is a contradiction that is never explained.
Overall, this cynically unique story is fun to relate to but leaves the reader hungry. A worthwhile read for Asmiov fans despite its near monolithic representation of the modern COVID-19 culture.
Pompeii by Robert Harris
2.0
Discipline. Leadership. These are common traits associated with the empire that led the Mediterranean world for 1,000 years.
However, these are not the traits of this novel's Roman protagonist, Attilius. An engineer in command of an important portion of the Aqua Augusta (the most complex aqueduct in Rome), he is a leader that continually fails to exercise his command. For example, consider this interaction with the should-have-been-executed antagonist, Corax:
"And if, by any remote chance, we can't make the repairs in twelve hours," said Corax sarcastically "what then?"
. . .
It occurred to Atillius that the overseer, in his bitterness, might even try to sabotage the entire mission. . . He [Atillius] smiled. "So don't try to screw me around."
Is this annoyance supposed to be comic relief? When a leader becomes concerned about a disobedient subordinate, action is necessary; especially if the mission's success is in jeopardy! Alas, the exquisite descriptions of the aqueduct engineering is indeed overshadowed by such egregiousness.
However, these are not the traits of this novel's Roman protagonist, Attilius. An engineer in command of an important portion of the Aqua Augusta (the most complex aqueduct in Rome), he is a leader that continually fails to exercise his command. For example, consider this interaction with the should-have-been-executed antagonist, Corax:
"And if, by any remote chance, we can't make the repairs in twelve hours," said Corax sarcastically "what then?"
. . .
It occurred to Atillius that the overseer, in his bitterness, might even try to sabotage the entire mission. . . He [Atillius] smiled. "So don't try to screw me around."
Is this annoyance supposed to be comic relief? When a leader becomes concerned about a disobedient subordinate, action is necessary; especially if the mission's success is in jeopardy! Alas, the exquisite descriptions of the aqueduct engineering is indeed overshadowed by such egregiousness.