CUSP, Robert A. Metzger, Ace Books, 2005
Set in the near future, one day, the Sun throws off a solar flare of record-setting proportions. The Sun actually moves a million kilometers farther away from the Earth, because the solar flare is really a giant jet engine.
Meantime, on Earth, two planet-spanning rings come out of the ground. Many kilometers high and wide, one ring circles the Earth at the Equator, while the North-South ring cuts through eastern North America. Earth's climate is drastically altered, governments fall and millions die. The rings spout huge jet engines, which occasionally test fire. Who could be behind this, and where are the Sun and Earth going?
The destination might be the Sun's nearest neighbor, Alpha Centauri. The first unmanned probe to the system shows an amazing sight: over 200 planets orbiting the star, all at approximately the same distance from the star. Is it possible for the Sun to protect the Earth from space junk during the journey? The answer might have something to do with who is living in an artificial habitat inside the Martian moon, Phobos, which returns to Earth and lands in Alabama. Perhaps the asteroid that hit Earth 65 million years ago, and led to the extinction of the dinosaurs, was not exactly a random cosmic event. Also, CUSP is the newest thing in supercomputers, which gets a chance to interface with the ultimate supercomputer - the human mind.
I hated to reach the end of this book. It has a really interesting story, and enough mind-blowing ideas for half a dozen novels. This is what great science fiction is all about.
Showing posts with label metzger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label metzger. Show all posts
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Picoverse
Picoverse, Robert A. Metzger, Ace Books, 2002
Set in present-day America, Katie McGuire and her ex-husband Horst Wittkowski are nuclear physicists working on a potential fusion generator called a sonomak. Right after their federal funding is eliminated, they are approached by Alexandra Mitchell, a mysterious woman with unlimited resources, to keep the project going.
It seems that the sonomak can be used to create new universes, copies of this universe but much smaller, called picoverses. Alexandra is actually a super-robot who wants to escape her masters, the Makers, in one of these new universes. In another of these universes, Anthony, Katie and Horst's young son and super-prodigy, has grown into an immortal and powerful being called Alpha. He enters this universe to destroy it.
In another universe, in the 1930s, America is on the verge of being conquered by a Soviet-German alliance. The east and west coasts are already in foreign hands due to some well-placed nuclear weapons. The only thing keeping the rest of America from falling into enemy hands are things like particle beam weapons to shoot down enemy aircraft, developed by Nikola Tesla and a teenaged Anthony. Albert Einstein has become an anti-science religious zealot, mostly due to his wife, Nadia, who is an exact duplicate of Alexandra Mitchell. The only stars at night are from the other planets, because the whole universe is the size of the solar system.
This novel is based on very high-level physics, so parts of it will go right over the head of the average reader. The rest of the novel is excellent. It does really well in the "mind-blowing" department. Get past the science, and the reader will have plenty to think about, while staying involved in the book. Well worth reading.
Set in present-day America, Katie McGuire and her ex-husband Horst Wittkowski are nuclear physicists working on a potential fusion generator called a sonomak. Right after their federal funding is eliminated, they are approached by Alexandra Mitchell, a mysterious woman with unlimited resources, to keep the project going.
It seems that the sonomak can be used to create new universes, copies of this universe but much smaller, called picoverses. Alexandra is actually a super-robot who wants to escape her masters, the Makers, in one of these new universes. In another of these universes, Anthony, Katie and Horst's young son and super-prodigy, has grown into an immortal and powerful being called Alpha. He enters this universe to destroy it.
In another universe, in the 1930s, America is on the verge of being conquered by a Soviet-German alliance. The east and west coasts are already in foreign hands due to some well-placed nuclear weapons. The only thing keeping the rest of America from falling into enemy hands are things like particle beam weapons to shoot down enemy aircraft, developed by Nikola Tesla and a teenaged Anthony. Albert Einstein has become an anti-science religious zealot, mostly due to his wife, Nadia, who is an exact duplicate of Alexandra Mitchell. The only stars at night are from the other planets, because the whole universe is the size of the solar system.
This novel is based on very high-level physics, so parts of it will go right over the head of the average reader. The rest of the novel is excellent. It does really well in the "mind-blowing" department. Get past the science, and the reader will have plenty to think about, while staying involved in the book. Well worth reading.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Book of Lies: The Disinformation Guide to Magick and the Occult
Book of Lies: The Disinformation Guide to Magick and the Occult, Richard Metzger (ed.), The Disinformation Company Ltd, 2003
Magick is defined as "the art and science of causing change in conformity with will" (Aleister Crowley). That's the intention behind the pieces in this book, to look at many aspects of magick and the occult, and thereby do really interesting things with the concept of reality.
Peter Levenda looks at Hitler's obsession with the occult, and a side of World War II fought with spells as much as with bullets. Daniel Pinchbeck tells the story of how he unintentionally brought poltergeists into his home by snorting a hallucinogenic compound called DPT. One of the pieces in this book is an interview with Black Pope Anton LaVey, author of the "Satanic Bible." Of course, Aleister Crowley is well represented in this book.
The crises in our present-day world are the "fault" of a powerful spiritual being called Ahriman. It is the inspirer of materialistic science and commercialism, and permeates modern culture with deadening forces. Another piece analyzes the Cthulhu Mythos stories of H.P. Lovecraft. Several pieces look at various aspects of the magickal collaboration between Brion Gysin and William S. Burroughs. Robert Anton Wilson tells of a collaboration in the field of astral projection between him and Timothy Leary, while Leary was part of the California penal system. Jack Parsons was one of the pioneers of the American space program, helping to found what would become the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He was also an avid practitioner of the occult sciences. Ida Craddock was an advocate for women's freedom, including sexual freedom, in the late 19th century. She also claimed to be the wife of an angel.
To quote from the Introduction, "And if it is your first dip into occult literature, I do hope this book is like having a nuclear bomb go off behind your eyeballs or a razorblade slashed across your brain." In that respect, this book succeeds really well. It is another book from The Disinformation Company Ltd that is not for the faint of heart, or those who don't want their perceptions challenged. Parts of this book were way over my head, but I enjoyed the rest of it. Those with any interest in magick or the occult need this book. It's very much worth it.
Magick is defined as "the art and science of causing change in conformity with will" (Aleister Crowley). That's the intention behind the pieces in this book, to look at many aspects of magick and the occult, and thereby do really interesting things with the concept of reality.
Peter Levenda looks at Hitler's obsession with the occult, and a side of World War II fought with spells as much as with bullets. Daniel Pinchbeck tells the story of how he unintentionally brought poltergeists into his home by snorting a hallucinogenic compound called DPT. One of the pieces in this book is an interview with Black Pope Anton LaVey, author of the "Satanic Bible." Of course, Aleister Crowley is well represented in this book.
The crises in our present-day world are the "fault" of a powerful spiritual being called Ahriman. It is the inspirer of materialistic science and commercialism, and permeates modern culture with deadening forces. Another piece analyzes the Cthulhu Mythos stories of H.P. Lovecraft. Several pieces look at various aspects of the magickal collaboration between Brion Gysin and William S. Burroughs. Robert Anton Wilson tells of a collaboration in the field of astral projection between him and Timothy Leary, while Leary was part of the California penal system. Jack Parsons was one of the pioneers of the American space program, helping to found what would become the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He was also an avid practitioner of the occult sciences. Ida Craddock was an advocate for women's freedom, including sexual freedom, in the late 19th century. She also claimed to be the wife of an angel.
To quote from the Introduction, "And if it is your first dip into occult literature, I do hope this book is like having a nuclear bomb go off behind your eyeballs or a razorblade slashed across your brain." In that respect, this book succeeds really well. It is another book from The Disinformation Company Ltd that is not for the faint of heart, or those who don't want their perceptions challenged. Parts of this book were way over my head, but I enjoyed the rest of it. Those with any interest in magick or the occult need this book. It's very much worth it.
Disinformation: The Interviews
Disinformation: The Interviews, Richard Metzger, The Disinformation Company Ltd, 2002
For a couple of years, the Disinformation TV series was shown in Britain. It dealt with all sorts of strange topics. Through a quirk of fate, it was scheduled right after Ally McBeal, an unintended bit of surrealism. In America, the show was bought by the Sci-Fi Channel, but never shown, because they suddenly realized just what they had. The interviews reprinted here represent the tame "intellectual" part of the show. The companion DVD contains the more bizarre bits.
Duncan Laurie discusses the science of radionics. Douglas Rushkoff looks at media viruses. Howard Bloom (The Lucifer Principle) talks about the coming biological apocalypse. Grant Morrison talks about Hollywood's interest in underground culture and relates a very cool alien abduction story. Artist Joe Coleman discusses his thinking on serial killers. Peter Russell looks at spiritual renewal and ecological doomsday.
Robert Anton Wilson talks about Aleister Crowley and the Illuminati. Artist Paul Laffoley has a solution to the housing shortage; grow houses from plants. A separate interview with Laffoley looks at a painting of his which is supposedly alive. Metzger, the interviewer, visits Kembra Pfahler, New York's most outrageous performance artist. Last, but not least, Genesis P-Orridge (of the band Throbbing Gristle) tells what it's like to be the leader of your own cult.
Those who understand the previous two paragraphs need read no further; buy this book. For everyone else, the people profiled here take their own paths through life. They visit places that the rest of us don't even know exist. The fringes of modern culture are where they hang out.
Lest anyone think that this is just an interview book, there are plenty of pictures included. Some of them are quite disturbing, so this book is very much not for everyone. For those who are ready to have their minds forced open, this book will do a very good job. It's highly recommended.
For a couple of years, the Disinformation TV series was shown in Britain. It dealt with all sorts of strange topics. Through a quirk of fate, it was scheduled right after Ally McBeal, an unintended bit of surrealism. In America, the show was bought by the Sci-Fi Channel, but never shown, because they suddenly realized just what they had. The interviews reprinted here represent the tame "intellectual" part of the show. The companion DVD contains the more bizarre bits.
Duncan Laurie discusses the science of radionics. Douglas Rushkoff looks at media viruses. Howard Bloom (The Lucifer Principle) talks about the coming biological apocalypse. Grant Morrison talks about Hollywood's interest in underground culture and relates a very cool alien abduction story. Artist Joe Coleman discusses his thinking on serial killers. Peter Russell looks at spiritual renewal and ecological doomsday.
Robert Anton Wilson talks about Aleister Crowley and the Illuminati. Artist Paul Laffoley has a solution to the housing shortage; grow houses from plants. A separate interview with Laffoley looks at a painting of his which is supposedly alive. Metzger, the interviewer, visits Kembra Pfahler, New York's most outrageous performance artist. Last, but not least, Genesis P-Orridge (of the band Throbbing Gristle) tells what it's like to be the leader of your own cult.
Those who understand the previous two paragraphs need read no further; buy this book. For everyone else, the people profiled here take their own paths through life. They visit places that the rest of us don't even know exist. The fringes of modern culture are where they hang out.
Lest anyone think that this is just an interview book, there are plenty of pictures included. Some of them are quite disturbing, so this book is very much not for everyone. For those who are ready to have their minds forced open, this book will do a very good job. It's highly recommended.
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