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Escapism in Coraline

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This week I read Neil Gaiman's children's novel, Coraline.  I had previously seen and loved the movie but never sat down to read the book. The thing that struck me about this novel is the same thing that struck me in the film; not the fact that it's pretty scary for a children's book, something Gaiman is now known for, but the sadness of how ignored by her parents Coraline feels. It's incredibly relevant to many people and it just hits you in such a way that you can't shake it. The entire novel then turns into a form of escapism. Coraline uses this alternate world or dimension as a form of escapism from her seemingly uncaring parents. Why else would she just blindly accept another mother and father with buttons for eyes if not for the fact that they are everything she wishes her parents and world to be like? I certainly can't chalk it up to her being a child as Coraline seems to be pretty smart. Despite all of the adventure and horror in this novel, it's...
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Why Bloodchild Made Me Feel Uncomfortable

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For this weeks' reading I read Octavia Butler's short story, Bloodchild . It was a very interesting read, though, it made me quite uncomfortable by the end. As I progressed further and further into this story it became increasingly apparent that while Gan and his family had what they viewed to be a positive and healthy relationship with T'Gatoi, the relationship between the Terran and the Tlic was anything but. While most of the Terran in this world had come to terms with and rationalized the relationship it was clear to me that this was because of the normalized oppression of them. The Tlic claim that the Terran are as free as they are and manipulate them into believing this by making as simple a change as not referring to them as "host animals" even though they still are, even if it is to a lesser extent of abuse as in the past. They even try to guilt the Terran by claiming that they are their saviors and are being so kind as to let them live in the Preserve. Th...
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Science Fiction in The Star

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For this sections' reading I chose to read The Star by Arthur C. Clarke. What fascinated me the most about this story is that it was in fact science fiction. Sure, there is the very fancy technical science jargon that comes with a lot of science fiction, but in this story it takes a back seat to a very common theme in many stories; personal theological and moral musing. At first it really seems as if there is no need for this story to take place in outer-space. It makes you wonder why the author choose to set this story in the genre of science fiction. It isn't until the end, where you understand what it is that this narrator has seen that you understand why that is. The narrator and their team have come across a planet similar to their own, with very human-like buildings and history, and it has essentially undergone a mass extinction. Whatever organisms were there before are gone. They've been wiped out by a star, their sun, exploding. Given this, I think it is very smart ...
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