Akira, sci-fi anime is here!

Hello Cam-fictionists!

Today, I would like to talk to you about science-fiction anime... especially the film Akira.

Anime: probably the best thing you've ever heard of. This Japanese film genre is usually based on fantasy, however there are a handful of works which are science-fiction masterpieces. The most remarkable of them is probably Akira. This amazing project was started by the illustrator Katsuhiro Ōtomo in 1982.

After of 10 years of drawings and 14 manga volumes, 2 520 pages and 125 minutes of anime film your sci-fi thirst will be fulfilled!

Akira portrays Tokyo after a world catastrophe and the breakthrough of the Third World War. In 2019, now called Neo-Tokyo, the city hosts an unstable and traumatised civilisation. It is dominated by biker gangs and haunted by prophesies of a great ruler: Akira. Through military oppression, fear and drugs we will see a group of delinquent young Japanese fight for their freedom. When one of their members: Tetsuo Shima mysteriously disappears the group will seek out the truth at their own risk.

Katsuhiro Ōtomo's great vision of Tokyo's future gives us shivers down the spine. He not only provides us with a riveting plot but also brings it to life in drawing.

Adapted to anime in 1988, the film Akira will transport you to a whole new world. I highly recommend you see it!

If the world of manga is known to you, you can draw a parallel between Akira and shonen nekketsu manga, aimed at young men. This type of manga portrays a lot of violence and a light touch of romance. If you feel confused, works of that same genre are the famous: Dragon Ball, Naruto and Bleach.

As a finishing note, I would add to sci-fi anime the work of Hayao Miyazaki: Future Boy Conan (1978). This series is a breathtaking and funny adaptation of The Incredible Tide (1970) by Alexander Key. Like most of Hayao's work: this series is just as enjoyable for children as for adults, and there is a highly addictive soundtrack.

Careful: his series is not to confuse with the detective manga fiction: Case Closed or Detective Conan, by Gosho Aoyama. That said, I would also suggest you read the latter if you are new to manga.

Fandom guaranteed!

Enjoy!

Cam

Think Global: The Celestial Plot

Hello Cam-fictionists,

There has been something on my mind for a while. I have noticed that our vision of science-fiction is mostly associated to English or US authors or productions. It is true that there are a lot of sci-fi works which come from the two countries, but the genre is by no means limited to them.

So this post is about relating our favourite genre to other areas in the world. I happen to specialize in Hispanic Literature, and today, I would like to present you an excellent work of science-fiction by a Latin American author: Adolfo Bioy Casares.

But, before we start, let's talk a bit about the author. Casares is an Argentine writer who wrote science-fiction and more. He also wrote fantastic and crime novels, which owed him the Premio Miguel de Cervantes in 1990. Maybe you have heard of him already, does the work The Invention of Morel sound familiar to you? It is his most famous work, and is also science-fiction, for which he won a prize in 1941. It is a true masterpiece which inspired episodes in series such as Lost.

However, I want to present you another work of Casares: The Celestial Plot - or Trama Celeste (1948). Being shorter, it makes it easier for you to try out Casares' style and if you like it, launch directly into the reading of The Invention of Morel (1940). But if some of you are feeling lazy, there are also two movie adaptations, one French and one Italian, of The Invention.

The Celestial Plot is a wonderfully complex narration. It plays with various parallel universes, building an Inception-like atmosphere. The main character is Capitan Ireneo Morris, a pilot in the army. During a piloting exercise finds himself trapped into a parallel universe where he was never born. He never worked for the army, and none of his friends recognise him. Judged to be a spy, he finds himself in great danger. Will he figure out how to move from one universe to the other? Will he ever find his way back home? I will say no more, so as to avoid spoilers.

Do not hesitate to read it!  As soon as you start its triple narrator, disturbing historical facts and fancy touch of romance will keep you hooked until the end. It is all an exceptional literary riddle. Like a good science-fiction work, it asks you to question reality, especially your conception of time and space, and to see the impossible become possible.

Have a good read,

Cam

Lightsabers, false alarm!

This week, as you enter the colourful webpage of The Guardian, your sci-fi instinct will immediately draw your attention to the article titling: "Star Wars lightsabers finally invented" by Ben Child. Your curiosity is awakened. Typical catch-phrase, you might say, but you can't help clicking on the link...

Harvard and MIT scientists have found a "molecule which behaves almost exactly like George Lucas's deadly devices". Is this finally the end of the age of pretending: with your plastic, telescopic and overpriced lightsaber? Is this too good to be true?

It is.

First, it hasn't been made just yet, and second, is far away from being commercialized. Also, were it to exist, you still won't be able to play Fruit Ninja with it. The subtlety lies in the "behaves almost exactly like", which tells you it may look pretty, but it doesn't exactly fulfil its role. The new lightsaber will just be made of photons, or light, which corresponds to its title, but as far as I know will only be able to give your adversary a few minor burns. Even though pretending will just be a little easier, it is just another toy. So there is no need to get carried away, dear Ben Child. Call it a weapon you must not.

This brings us to the famous debate: is Star Wars sci-fi?

Considering that sci-fi logically includes both science and fiction, we can note the obvious lack of science in the Star Wars saga. Elements such as 'the Force' belong to outright fantasy, while the scientific challenge of the Death Star, for example, is not in the least explained. This has earned Star Wars the qualification of 'space opera', instead of our beloved 'science-fiction'. However, now that Harvard and MIT physicists are focusing all their neuron-power on the mysteries of the famous films, shouldn't it deserve an upgrade? Methinks it does. George Lucas may not have included a significant amount of science in his creation, but he definitely made us think about it and provoked a scientific research around his inventions. So, let us be fair, and welcome Star Wars as a rightful and wonderful example of sci-fi!

Here is the link to the article. http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/sep/30/star-wars-lightsabers-invented Enjoy!

Yours faithfully,

Cam