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| A Universe in Bloom by Kevron2001 |
I enjoy reading books set in alternative worlds which leads to our next 52 Books Bingo quest - Alternate Reality. For argument sake, we could debate that any book of fiction is considered not true and based in an alternate reality. A reality not our own. However, alternate realities could be viewed as an alternate universe, worlds that may or may not co-exist with our own, perhaps parallel, where the laws of nature or totally different, or encompass the past or the present or the future, in which stories bend or fold around our reality and create or recreate or toss history on its ear with what if's.
What do you think the differences are between alternate reality, alternative history, parallel universes, or multiverses? How are they the same?
Physicist Brian Green Explains Why Parallel Universes May Exist and how quantum mechanics and general relativity play a part.
SyFy Wire in the Science behind the fiction talks about What's the reality behind multiverses and alternate realities.
I was surprised to find that the very first science fiction book to delve into alternate realities was written by the Duchess of Newcastle in 1661 - The Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish. Which Sam Leith recommends as one of his top 10 outstanding alternate reality stories.
Joanna Kavenna on Five Books, the Best Books on Parallel Worlds, recommends five books she doesn't consider well known. Athough, I think we all are quite familiar with Philip Dick, Lovecraft, and Borges.
Philip Dick's Man in the High Castle, which I have on my shelves and have been meaning to read for quite some time, but never quite gotten around to it, has appeared multiple times during my internet wanderings today, which probably means the universe is telling me to read it now. *grin*
An eclectic mix of books to check out:
Have fun following rabbit trails!
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Count of Monte Cristo: Realalong
IV The Plot
V The Betrothal
VI The Deputy Crown Prosecutor
Did you finish chapters one through three? My, my. We have an interesting group of characters. What do you think of Dantes? Danglars is quite manipulative, isn't he? Why do you think Danglars dislikes Dantes? What's up with Caderousse taking advantage of the Dante's father while his son was at sea? Does it speak to the type of person he is and what can we expect from him in the coming days? Does Mercedes think she has Fernand, who she considers to be "her friend, her cousin and her brother" wrapped around her finger and can control him? Dantes immediately sees to the heart of the man and sees an enemy. Something else to take into account. Do you think their ages affect how they react? Share your thoughts and comments about the story so far.
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Oh, Robin! The Count is a difficult book to set aside. Although I’m toggling several books (as usual 😉), I’ve had time to barrel along and have arrived at Chapter 49. Fabulously entertaining.
ReplyDelete“Why do you think Danglars dislikes Dantes?” This made me think of the Pliny the Ekeer quote: “Envy always implies conscious inferiority wherever it resides.” He hates Dantes because the young, confident, uneducated boy-man is, in every way that’s important, Danglars superior. Related aside that I will likely write about on my site... I picture Rufus Sewell in his A Knight’s Tale persona as Danglars. Imperious and petty. And there’s a bit of serendipity / synchronicity / synthesis for you: Sewell stars in the Amazon adaptation of The Man in the High Castle.
ReplyDeletePliny the Elder
ReplyDeleteYay for synchronicity. My son has been wanting to watch the adaptation and he prefers to see the movie/tv show before reading the book and I'm the opposite. Oh well. And now I need to watch A Knight's Tale since I haven't seen it yet. Love the Pliny the Elder quote and it really fits. I got totally bogged down in chapter 7 with all the history and will have to reread with my ipad standing by to look up information. Envy fits as well as jealousy which really reared its ugly head with Danglars, the supercargo, disliking Dante taking over the ship and his super secret mission for the late captain. Caderousse is jealous of his money or maybe just too greedy, but Dante's father felt the need to pay back a loan even though it left him destitute and hungry until Dantes returned from his trip. Fernand hates Dantes even before he meets him because he is Mercedes love. Danglers is quite manipulative, feeding both Caderousse’s and Fernand’s dislike. Is Dantes blind, too young and arrogant or is he really just that nice in that he is kind, even to those who treat him badly. It could have read like a soap opera but didn't and I'm enjoying it so far.
ReplyDelete