v.srt%UCLA-LOCUS@sri-unix.UUCP (01/28/84)
From: Scott Turner <v.srt@UCLA-LOCUS> First of all, some (trivia) questions about the Apple commercial or someone out there with a VCR and freeze frame: (1) What is on the girl's T-shirt? (2) What is written on the back wall of the large auditorium? ******* Secondly, I just read a terrible book by Norman Spinrad called ``The Void Captain's Tale.'' The surprising thing is that the cover has a good review by Gregory Benford on it. Basically what we have here is the tale of a starship captain who becomes involved with his pilot. In this future, starships are guided through the Void in hops of ~4.3 light years by placing a woman (the Pilot) into an electronic circuit derived from some fortuitously available alien circuitry and (electronically) stimulating her to an orgasm. Pilots have mystical experiences during the Jump, and it takes a harsh physiological toll upon them. One of the things that bugged me about the book was the writing style. It is told in the first person by the Captain, and so he uses his ``future'' lingo. Problem is that Spinrad blows this one big -- the lingo is neither believable nor particularly readable. It doesn't fade in after reading -- I stumbled through the whole book. Secondly, the secondary characters' reactions to the Captain are completely unbelievable. Spinrad invents a culture that is completely free on the face of it and completely hidebound underneath. Not only is that unlikely, it is unsupported and unbelievable. I could go on, but I think you get the idea. A poorly written book. Avoid this one. ****** I saw an SF film on TV once that I thought was okay. The only scene I remember is one in where the protagonists were standing in some kind of huge underground cave with a line of bodies on slabs stretching off into the distance. One of the protagonists was some kind of guardian, and the bodies were all of the past guardians, or something like that. Strange how one evocative scene can make a movie (or score, for that matter. Would SW have won without such a damn good theme?). Anyone know the title? I thought I'd throw it into the film discussion. -- Scott R. Turner v.srt@ucla-locus
cmaz504@ut-ngp.UUCP (Steve Alexander) (01/29/84)
The movie I think you're refering to is the Questor Tapes written by none other than Gene Roddenbery as a pilot for a new show after Star Trek got the axe. It involves the efforts of an incomplete android to return to it's creator and find it's purpose in life. Helping him in all this is the engineer (Mike Farrell of MASH fame) who helped put him together. The show closes in almost typical Roddenbery style. The android finds out that his creator lies under Mount Arrarat (where Noah's ark came to rest) and he and Farrell race there followed by all sorts of nastys. Whene they find the creator it turns out that he too is an android and you see all the previous androids (who watch after humanity) stretching off into the distance. Not a bad movie and may even have made a decent series.
jel@digi-g.UUCP (John Lind) (02/02/84)
I believe that the movie in question may have been "The Questor Tapes" (sp not assured). I enjoyed that movie quite alot. I would rather not detail what I recall of the plot in the event that someone may see it, and I can't seem to formulate a non-spoiler review with any info in it. That is because the plot of the movie is largely tied up with one big secret. I enjoyed it, and it was good by TV standards, but not by any means a classic work. My favourite tv SF movie was Roddenberry's (sp?) "Genesis", and I would gladly see discussion or comments on same. ------ John Lind, DigiGraphic Systems Corp. 10273 Yellow Circle Drive, Mpls MN 55343 news, mail: ihnp4!stolaf!umn-cs!digi-g!jel USnail : 1515 Brook Ave SE, Mpls MN 55414
hutch@shark.UUCP (02/13/84)
Oddly enough, they showed "Questor Tapes" on telly here in Portland OR just last saturday, on channel 8 (I think). DREADFUL! It may just be that I have learned discrimination, but the dialogue between Questor and the lady scientist/security guard was SO BAD I couldn't keep watching. I turned to Portland Wrestling instead, for some better acting. Hutch