Focus on Science Fiction: Watermind

Hello world! It's been a long time since I've blogged due to home repairs, new assignments and life in general. But I'm hoping to be able to blog more regularly now!

In any case, I have read a lot of amazing books, both fiction and nonfiction.

One of most recent was a newish Science Fiction novel by M.M. Buckner called Watermind. This offers a statement on the consequences of our throw away society.

M.M. Buckner offers us this shades of the X Files novel that deals with the possible ramifications of our throw away society. As we acquire new technology, we throw away our old cell phones, MP3 players, and computers. It stands to reason that a lot of our electronic garbage, along with pharmaceuticals and even genetically modified seeds will eventually end up in our water supply. And from such a potent chemical stew; what might emerge? Such is the premise of this book.

Two young people, contract laborers of Quimicron, are working on cleaning up a pollution spill in Devil’s Swamp in hot, humid Louisiana. CJ Reilly is a brilliant but self-destructive MIT student running from the suicide of her emotionally distant father. Max Pottevents is her new lover and is a gifted Zydeco musician. At the far end of the swamp, they come across an area covered in ice.
Intrigued, CJ is interested in studying this anomaly. Sneaking back to Devil’s Pond, she secretly takes a sample under cover of night, and discovers that it’s pure water. She immediately thinks this discovery could be used to supply pure drinking water to third world countries.
But then a man is killed by the anomaly; sucked down into its depths and drowned. Alarmed, the CEO of Quimicron, Roman Sacony, arrives from Argentina, hoping to contain or destroy the anomaly. Assisted by CJ and a cantankerous science team, they take samples to understand what they’re dealing with, but this eludes them.

The anomaly, dubbed the Watermind, thwarts all efforts to contain it. As it moves downstream towards the Mississippi and New Orleans, it grows and becomes more destructive, digesting the iron in barges, freighters and boats, causing them to sink. Roman becomes increasingly desperate, as he dreads the prospect of lawsuits that could bankrupt his company.

Meanwhile, CJ and Max believe they can communicate with the Watermind and think they can do this through music. This proves successful as it is able to transmute the music lessons in 4/4 time to a 3/4 waltz. As they come to realize the Watermind is an evolving sentient being; CJ resists all attempts to destroy it through EM pulses (electric magnetic pulses).

Although injured, they don’t annihilate the Watermind. However it is forced to defend itself, leading to additional deaths. The Watermind becomes an increasingly mutable and wily opponent, transforming from liquid to solid to gaseous almost instantly.

It appears nothing can stop this man made monster, not the Coast Guard, the methods tried by Roman Sacony, nor the Government Their attempts are further impeded by government protestors, uncooperative civilians and one over the top wacky underground journalist.

Will this emerging intelligence be destroyed or will it escape and continue to evolve? The ending, depending on whose side you take, can be seen as either terrifying or hopeful. Part horror story, part tech thriller, Watermind by M.M. Buckner presents a chilling picture of technology gone awry

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

This is a most excellent book! Although it's been promoted as a young adult novel, this has a lot of cross generational appeal, so adults should enjoy it as well. I liked this book so much I read it in one sitting, it was that good. I can hardly wait for the release of the sequel, Chasing Fire, on September lst. Happily, I'm the first on the list for it at my library!

In a takeoff of the Greek legend of Theseus and the Minotaur, Collins imagines a future in which the world has been ravaged by natural and human made disasters. Panem, what remains of the United States, is ruled by the Capital, and divided into 13 districts. But the districts revolted and now only 12 remain, because District 13 was obliterated by the Capital for rebelling. As further.punishment, from each of the districts is taken (reaped) 2 individuals a year, drawn by lottery, to fight to the death in the Games until only one remains alive. In a grotesque version of reality TV run amuck, the Games are televised and are required viewing for all citizens of Panem. From District 12, the mining district, a boy, Peeta and a girl, Prim, are chosen. But Prim is just 12 years old, and her sister, Katniss, 16, takes her place. Brave, calculating Katniss is a skilled hunter, savvy to the ways of the woods and game. Peeta is a boy from the merchant class, the son of the local baker, and has few survival skills. Taken to the capital, they are groomed and prepared for the games by a fussy woman with pink hair and Haimich, the only previous winner of the games from District 12. The strategy that Hamich advises is that Peeta and Katniss pretend to be in love. For Peeta this is no hardship, because he has always loved Katniss “…from the moment I saw her.” But Katniss, who remembers that Peeta saved her family from starvation years ago, has grown attached to her hunting companion of many years, Gale, and has conflicted feelings. Because, she’s supposed to fight him to the death, isn’t she? When the Games begin, and the unevenly matched opponents begin to die, Katniss knows it will take all of her resources to stay alive. Their loyalties are tested, and when Peeta is badly wounded, it is up to Katniss to care for him. As the number of opponents dwindle to 5, 4 and then to 3, they find they must truly bond in order to survive. This first in a trilogy is top shelf entertainment that will make you stay up all night reading. You won’t want to put it down! The second in the series is Catching Fire, due out in September 2009.