This article in The Economist points out that Hugo Gernsback’s Ralph 124C41+ (one to foresee for one) was published 100 years ago. The article calls it “arguably the first major work of American science fiction.” Well, no. There were a lots of examples of American SF before that, as both the late Everett Bleiler and the very much alive Jess Nevins could point to no end of antecedent examples. But Ralph 124C41+ is probably the first novel overwhelmingly concerned with the idea that technology will change almost every aspect of the quotidian lives of ordinary people. In weird way it’s sort of a cyberpunk precursor. That’s why, for all the clumsy prose, the “As you know Bob” infodumps, the hackneyed romance-and-rescue plot, and the paper thin characters, the work remains a cornerstone of American science fiction.
That said, it’s not for everyone. It isn’t quite unreadable (I like it a bit better than Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto), but it’s close. Today its importance is entirely historical, and only real students of the field should give it a try. (I was quite surprised when Charlie Brown admitted he hadn’t read it on a panel we were on at the 2006 Worldcon in Anaheim.)
Since the band themselves were kind enough to comment when I posted their previous song, I’m happy to give them more exposure for “Things That Fall From The Sky” (another one off their debut album When Sound Generates Light), especially since it’s rather good.
And there are few Shoegazer songs that don’t benefit from a pretty, whispy-voiced female lead singer, which Kerry Ramsay (if I have the name right) provides here. She sounds a bit like Slowdive’s Rachel Goswell (always a good thing), with maybe a touch of Alison Shaw from Cranes.
It’s that time of year. If you haven’t been to the Austin’s 37th Street display of lights, this video from illustrator Doug Potter gives you an idea of what it’s like.
1. Have flat wheelbarrow wheel.
2. Buy solid, never-go-flat replacement wheel.
3. Unscrew bolts holding on flat wheel.
4. Wrench flat wheel off axle with difficulty.
5. Be unable to remove rotatory cuff for old wheel that has fused to axle, and thus be unable to replace old wheel with new wheel, which has its own rotatory cuff.
6. Just when the trees finally decide to shed their leaves.
7. Be unable to find a suitable replacement axle anywhere online.
Today’s dollop of Shoegaze goodness comes from Laboratory Noise. Love the band name. The YouTube description says they hail from Manchester, the birthplace of classic Shoegaze, but their bio says they hail from nearby Bradford instead.
