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showrecentcomments({"version":"1.0","encoding":"UTF-8","feed":{"xmlns":"http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom","xmlns$openSearch":"http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/","xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.comments"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-08-22T22:11:18.393+03:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Asking the Wrong Questions"},"link":[{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/feeds\/comments\/default"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/comments\/default?alt=json-in-script"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/"},{"rel":"hub","href":"http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/"},{"rel":"next","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/comments\/default?alt=json-in-script\u0026start-index=26\u0026max-results=25"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Abigail Nussbaum"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08562462228380637583"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"generator":{"version":"7.00","uri":"http://www.blogger.com","$t":"Blogger"},"openSearch$totalResults":{"$t":"6955"},"openSearch$startIndex":{"$t":"1"},"openSearch$itemsPerPage":{"$t":"25"},"entry":[{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-8428902789717792525"},"published":{"$t":"2023-06-21T20:42:46.735+03:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-06-21T20:42:46.735+03:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Yup, confirmed by the author himself:\n\nWhich feels..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Yup, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/aptshadow\/status\/1671537182597689352\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003Econfirmed\u003C\/a\u003E by the author himself:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhich feels like exactly the right call for this fictional universe. There\u0026#39;s clearly so much more to explore (Jem\u0026#39;s city! Hellgram\u0026#39;s origins!), and it would be impossible to give Ilmar an ending that would satisfy as much as this book\u0026#39;s non-ending does."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/2021296409531415390\/comments\/default\/8428902789717792525"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/2021296409531415390\/comments\/default\/8428902789717792525"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/06\/city-of-last-chances-by-adrian.html?showComment=1687369366735#c8428902789717792525","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Abigail Nussbaum"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08562462228380637583"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/06\/city-of-last-chances-by-adrian.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-2021296409531415390","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/2021296409531415390","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-301104970"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"June 21, 2023 8:42 PM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-6678881990555223067"},"published":{"$t":"2023-06-21T19:07:42.681+03:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-06-21T19:07:42.681+03:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"My understanding based on some of the marketing co..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"My understanding based on some of the marketing copy and interviews I\u0026#39;ve seen is that Tchaikovsky is planning to do this Bas-Lag style; there\u0026#39;s gonna be one or more stories in the setting, but they won\u0026#39;t be direct sequels, in the same way that The Scar isn\u0026#39;t really a sequel to Perdido Street Station.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ETchaikovsky isn\u0026#39;t just prolific, he\u0026#39;s a hell of a chameleon, isn\u0026#39;t he? His \u0026quot;Children\u0026quot; trilogy is written in the style of classical sci-fi of its sort; it has structure and form and use of language that is very Arthur C. Clarke, very traditional sci-fi. His fantasy novels are the same way. And now he\u0026#39;s doing New Weird?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENot a lot of authors can do that. They establish a voice and a genre and for the most part that tends to really cling to them. I\u0026#39;ve read a number of genre authors who started off in fantasy or sci-fi and moved to the other (or to Cosmic Horror) and their books in their \u0026quot;new\u0026quot; genre have the \u0026quot;old\u0026quot; genre clinging all over it. (Sometimes to its advantage!) Tchaikovsky is sometimes like picking up a completely new author. It\u0026#39;s like the literary equivalent of watching Philip Seymour Hoffman or Gary Oldman."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/2021296409531415390\/comments\/default\/6678881990555223067"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/2021296409531415390\/comments\/default\/6678881990555223067"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/06\/city-of-last-chances-by-adrian.html?showComment=1687363662681#c6678881990555223067","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Murc"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/16484876999378037440"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/06\/city-of-last-chances-by-adrian.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-2021296409531415390","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/2021296409531415390","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-2129927511"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"June 21, 2023 7:07 PM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-5942603009511949342"},"published":{"$t":"2023-06-20T01:54:38.883+03:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-06-20T01:54:38.883+03:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"I really enjoyed it but I will say I didn\u0026#39;t kn..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"I really enjoyed it but I will say I didn\u0026#39;t know it was only a part 1 and didn\u0026#39;t really come to realize it until the cliffhanger ending, and that soured me on it a little. I walked out of the theater fairly frustrated and unsatisfied. I\u0026#39;m sure that all will be soothed when the sequel comes out, and knowing it will be 9 months and not 6 years helps. "},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/6426511107164895168\/comments\/default\/5942603009511949342"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/6426511107164895168\/comments\/default\/5942603009511949342"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/06\/five-things-i-loved-in-spider-man.html?showComment=1687215278883#c5942603009511949342","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Jason"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/06455148881718879961"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/06\/five-things-i-loved-in-spider-man.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-6426511107164895168","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/6426511107164895168","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-1030567480"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"June 20, 2023 1:54 AM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-3236938524357012834"},"published":{"$t":"2023-06-17T04:34:32.770+03:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-06-17T04:34:32.770+03:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"I feel like the main issue with everyone accepting..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"I feel like the main issue with everyone accepting the stations of canon is that they all are able to mingle and know the specific beats. It seems far easier to buy into Gwen\u0026#39;s original statement that its an elite squad with limited slots. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMiguel having a few handfuls of spider people that know the score and have bought into doing what has to be done to save uncountable billions, even if it means not saving a few of them, seems far more believable than the entire society fully buying in. Then the locals they reach out to for information and local aid won\u0026#39;t know what the dimension hopping spiders are ultimately willing to let them sacrifice but will know that they are trying to save lives and need to be contacted if something blatantly out of place shows up."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/6426511107164895168\/comments\/default\/3236938524357012834"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/6426511107164895168\/comments\/default\/3236938524357012834"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/06\/five-things-i-loved-in-spider-man.html?showComment=1686965672770#c3236938524357012834","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"mc2rpg"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/02756402342785347566"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/06\/five-things-i-loved-in-spider-man.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-6426511107164895168","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/6426511107164895168","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-1768186528"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"June 17, 2023 4:34 AM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-7521377453053860526"},"published":{"$t":"2023-06-11T21:40:30.172+03:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-06-11T21:40:30.172+03:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The fact that we literally see one of Spot\u0026#39;s s..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The fact that we literally see one of Spot\u0026#39;s spots begin to grow out of control after Captain Singh is saved, that the Spider-Squad predicted it, knew it was coming, and had a countermeasure prepared... that gives evidence that Miguel is right.  Not proof;  Miles may be right that there is another way, but the fact that the Spiders-men have genuine evidence that Miguel has a point changes things.  All Spiders-Men, even the silliest, have experienced loss and pain caused by their own failures, and usually their own moral failures.  The argument that they may be required to choose the greater good over what is easy is 100% one that they will find compelling, the fact that the loss is one that will hurt them personally is relevant.  They have internalized the idea that they have to face loss without giving up: the fact that they are actually making someone else experience loss is maybe not 100% clear.  They had to face it; they are all the same; it is what they had to do.  It doesn\u0026#39;t mean Miguel is right and Miles is wrong, but I understand why the Spiders would believe it."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/6426511107164895168\/comments\/default\/7521377453053860526"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/6426511107164895168\/comments\/default\/7521377453053860526"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/06\/five-things-i-loved-in-spider-man.html?showComment=1686508830172#c7521377453053860526","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Ian"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/09396962114570369342"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/06\/five-things-i-loved-in-spider-man.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-6426511107164895168","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/6426511107164895168","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-1283186248"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"June 11, 2023 9:40 PM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-3301426015008411598"},"published":{"$t":"2023-06-08T20:59:50.271+03:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-06-08T20:59:50.271+03:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"I was cautiously optimistic after seeing good revi..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"I was cautiously optimistic after seeing good reviews, but the movie is so much better than I was hoping. Right from Gwen\u0026#39;s intro with her drumming and narration building to a crescendo, I was just hooked. I do think there has to be more to all these Spider-Mans just accepting that there has to be a tragedy to motivate them, though, it did ring hollow that everyone (well, not quite everyone as we see at the end) would just accept it. I also felt coming out of the theatre that I\u0026#39;m going to have to see it at least once more."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/6426511107164895168\/comments\/default\/3301426015008411598"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/6426511107164895168\/comments\/default\/3301426015008411598"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/06\/five-things-i-loved-in-spider-man.html?showComment=1686247190271#c3301426015008411598","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Chuk"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/03319218431256854157"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/06\/five-things-i-loved-in-spider-man.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-6426511107164895168","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/6426511107164895168","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-1038884720"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"June 08, 2023 8:59 PM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-5929385362068524831"},"published":{"$t":"2023-06-07T19:35:45.083+03:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-06-07T19:35:45.083+03:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"No, my problem with this revelation is that not ju..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cem\u003ENo, my problem with this revelation is that not just Gwen, but every other Spider-Person in the movie is fine with it. That Gwen, in fact, tried to stop Miles from saving Pavitr\u0026#39;s captain figure. And that is simply wrong. It\u0026#39;s one thing to say that Spider-Man can never save everyone and that coming back from the heartbreak of that is what makes him, in all his variations, a hero. But it\u0026#39;s something quite different to suggest that Spider-Man would stand back and let an innocent die because that\u0026#39;s what\u0026#39;s \u0026quot;supposed\u0026quot; to happen. That\u0026#39;s not who the character is, and the idea that Miles is the only Spider-Person who realizes this simply doesn\u0026#39;t make any sense.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI mean. I guess my response to this is \u0026quot;what are they supposed to do instead?\u0026quot;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELike, suppose Miguel tells his story to another spider-person and makes the case there are certain things they gotta let happen, and they go \u0026quot;well that\u0026#39;s awful, I\u0026#39;m going to save people anyway.\u0026quot; As you would expect.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAnd then they do that, and their universe unspools and billions of people, \u003Cem\u003Eincluding the person they were trying to save,\u003C\/em\u003E dies in what is, if Miguel\u0026#39;s experience is indicative, a truly horrifying fashion.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI feel like after the fifth or sixth time the spider-society sees something like that happen, all of the spider-people would get on board with it, if for no other reason than that most of them will have already lost someone close to them and are paranoid about losing more. After you\u0026#39;ve seen a bunch of other versions of you get obliterated in universal genocides \u003Cem\u003Ethat they caused\u003C\/em\u003E... yeah. They\u0026#39;d get on board REAL fast.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFrom the perspective of the spider-people, what they\u0026#39;re doing is saving billions of lives.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI will say that... I\u0026#39;ve talked to some people who are familiar with Miguel\u0026#39;s specific corner of the comics (Spider-Man 2099, which I\u0026#39;ve not read a single issue of) and they say \u0026quot;oh, no, what\u0026#39;s going on isn\u0026#39;t what seems to be going on if you\u0026#39;ve read that; Miguel\u0026#39;s understanding of the multiverse is flawed and what he thinks is a naturally occurring cosmological event in the form of \u0026#39;canon violation = universe implosion\u0026#39; is in fact being deliberately caused by a villain.\u0026quot; So if that\u0026#39;s the case its a very easy out.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBut if that\u0026#39;s not the case and things are as they seem... I mean, you could make the case that the writers should not construct a universe where Spider-Man has to stand by and let people die because otherwise the universe will slaughter billions, because that\u0026#39;s not a great story to tell. But if they HAVE constructed a universe like that, then there isn\u0026#39;t, you know, an actual ethical choice but to do just that, and in fact to police multiversal travel harshly and closely to prevent universes from obliterating each other due to cross-contamination."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/6426511107164895168\/comments\/default\/5929385362068524831"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/6426511107164895168\/comments\/default\/5929385362068524831"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/06\/five-things-i-loved-in-spider-man.html?showComment=1686155745083#c5929385362068524831","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Murc"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/16484876999378037440"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/06\/five-things-i-loved-in-spider-man.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-6426511107164895168","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/6426511107164895168","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-2129927511"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"June 07, 2023 7:35 PM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-3342515990038737471"},"published":{"$t":"2023-05-11T19:47:54.388+03:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-05-11T19:47:54.388+03:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"I always thoroughly appreciate your shortlists and..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"I always thoroughly appreciate your shortlists and reviews, and read nearly everything mentioned without regret. Thank you!"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/3724669399617824117\/comments\/default\/3342515990038737471"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/3724669399617824117\/comments\/default\/3342515990038737471"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/04\/the-2023-hugo-awards-my-hugo-ballot.html?showComment=1683823674388#c3342515990038737471","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Justin"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/17243805707218686980"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"33","height":"26","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiijIAROw9DV-vPSp5e_gVUg_XxwFB7UfMHVBweJ3v8y2nLgX9JjOba7uJ9u3Hhg8hOA2FyjzMLFB_CQYUXzPYGoAepszfNHVFAWHFOjqGFFoB89-mu1hMV32DZziwG0M0\/s1600-r\/4984897422_b65e72e0a2_z_d.jpg"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/04\/the-2023-hugo-awards-my-hugo-ballot.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-3724669399617824117","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/3724669399617824117","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-345438807"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"May 11, 2023 7:47 PM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-5684326888204550659"},"published":{"$t":"2023-04-23T20:00:43.615+03:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-04-23T20:00:43.615+03:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"I hope \u0026quot;Just King Things\u0026quot; wins that, bec..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"I hope \u0026quot;Just King Things\u0026quot; wins that, because it really is excellent. I can\u0026#39;t remember how I found it, but I\u0026#39;m glad I did - I was looking for a good Stephen King analysis podcast after unfollowing the rather dismal Kingcast a long while back. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt got me to go back and read \u0026quot;The Tommyknockers\u0026quot;, and it was good. I\u0026#39;m looking forward to them getting into 2000s-era King and beyond, because I haven\u0026#39;t read most of those and I\u0026#39;m genuinely curious as to how they receive them. "},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/3724669399617824117\/comments\/default\/5684326888204550659"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/3724669399617824117\/comments\/default\/5684326888204550659"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/04\/the-2023-hugo-awards-my-hugo-ballot.html?showComment=1682269243615#c5684326888204550659","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Brett"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/05741738070067590221"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"31","height":"21","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiq9CDfb4rLQ304bUajWDdfWNR5-HbBSXgUduK75olDw65MX9ITDYWa9j_m4GYoNq4SfczOiBYP5BWF1jMVC6fuS5sKyYJKnIDdAJt_7VQuJoBR07lTcmfWZtA8a8mUL5M\/s220\/Green+River+Utah.JPG"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/04\/the-2023-hugo-awards-my-hugo-ballot.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-3724669399617824117","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/3724669399617824117","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-301726423"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"April 23, 2023 8:00 PM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-8927948906925343015"},"published":{"$t":"2023-04-21T12:28:12.643+03:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-04-21T12:28:12.643+03:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"\u0026quot;Do you prefer science fiction that imagines ..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u0026quot;Do you prefer science fiction that imagines new solutions, even if to do so it has to simplify the problems? Or does it feel more important to have stories that acknowledge the scope of what we\u0026#39;re dealing with, without giving the reader the out of a hopeful ending? Or maybe the question is, which elision—of the ugliness of the now or the possibilities of the future—bothers you more? \u0026quot;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOh my. This is such a perfect distillation of where genre is right now.\u003Cbr \/\u003E(And maybe this isn\u0026#39;t new — I still flip back to Judith Berman\u0026#39;s \u0026quot;Science Fiction Without The Future\u0026quot;, from 2001— but I sure do feel like modern genre is leaning hard into the question of how we face our looming social problems, and landing on these same two results again and again.)"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/340480662805661702\/comments\/default\/8927948906925343015"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/340480662805661702\/comments\/default\/8927948906925343015"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/04\/a-half-built-garden-by-ruthanna-emrys.html?showComment=1682069292643#c8927948906925343015","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Standback"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/10877817311001333712"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEifTAoVoy4Cxk13S1r17j4E6JoKeduUUnHL_0Vglf1T6-Ggj2xEdcx2SfAAMMVzVA8w3CjcXsyWYNfmEqKZjqW6jV5X6w93MRbvDX30MH3kdUmFIFrTHzYBEtYBOjY3ZzA\/s220\/phdAvatar.jpg"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/04\/a-half-built-garden-by-ruthanna-emrys.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-340480662805661702","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/340480662805661702","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-491266368"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"April 21, 2023 12:28 PM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-1354872487789927594"},"published":{"$t":"2023-04-04T13:44:05.013+03:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-04-04T13:44:05.013+03:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"I\u0026#39;m afraid that Kang\u0026#39;s exceptional perform..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Ca rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EI\u0026#39;m afraid that Kang\u0026#39;s exceptional performance in this movie, where Majors skillfully portrayed the character\u0026#39;s contrasting attributes of quiet strength and fierce fury, has left me concerned that future depictions of Kang may not be as captivating since it would be challenging to differentiate them from this outstanding portrayal.\u003C\/a\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/8028983476805803479\/comments\/default\/1354872487789927594"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/8028983476805803479\/comments\/default\/1354872487789927594"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/ant-man-and-wasp-quantumania.html?showComment=1680605045013#c1354872487789927594","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Digital Silar"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/02995309836746856985"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/ant-man-and-wasp-quantumania.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-8028983476805803479","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/8028983476805803479","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-145456650"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"April 04, 2023 1:44 PM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-6760235027267244727"},"published":{"$t":"2023-03-19T03:00:11.662+02:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-03-19T03:00:11.662+02:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Really great thread. Don\u0026#39;t have much of insigh..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Really great thread. Don\u0026#39;t have much of insight to add but a couple of thoughts.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI went into this knowing that there was \u0026quot;a twist\u0026quot; so much like when I watched the Sixth Sense since I was looking for it I guessed it as soon as the more detailed flashbacks came in.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E I think this did lessen my enjoyment of the book in the sense that it made the back half drag out a little bit - but did insulate me from the feeling some (though not many in this thread!) have that they were \u0026quot;cheated\u0026quot; in some way by it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOnly other comment I have is on the interpretation of the prologue\/epilogue. I read with interest the take above that Z\/E is now in business for himself, as my interpretation was rather different! My take was rather that this served to highlight again the layers in culture society and how the Minds run the show. They keep the sordid past of their weapons secret from the likes of Sma, who like the Culture guy cleaning tables in the bar is in this gig to feel good about what she does (and have some fun). Messy moral complexities like this just get in the way, hence she is off to recruit someone new, perhaps less complicated. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI interpreted S-A fixing up Z at the end as doing so on the behest of the Minds (for he is still a useful tool) - but agree with comments above that he would see this as a fitting punishment for E, who he never particularly liked."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/274747553552180986\/comments\/default\/6760235027267244727"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/274747553552180986\/comments\/default\/6760235027267244727"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2006\/12\/use-of-weapons-by-iain-m-banks.html?showComment=1679187611662#c6760235027267244727","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lambchops"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/01371147097632246816"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2006\/12\/use-of-weapons-by-iain-m-banks.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-274747553552180986","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/274747553552180986","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-1638846900"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"March 19, 2023 3:00 AM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-3029500553470052332"},"published":{"$t":"2023-03-16T20:24:52.990+02:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-03-16T20:24:52.990+02:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Seriously, stop commenting here. You clearly just ..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Seriously, stop commenting here. You clearly just want your own blog to put your contrarian bullshit in, so why don\u0026#39;t you just go and do that. Unfortunately blogger doesn\u0026#39;t let me block commenters but I will delete anything you post going forward."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/135196576904332129\/comments\/default\/3029500553470052332"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/135196576904332129\/comments\/default\/3029500553470052332"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/03\/recent-reading-roundup-57.html?showComment=1678991092990#c3029500553470052332","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Abigail Nussbaum"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08562462228380637583"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/03\/recent-reading-roundup-57.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-135196576904332129","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/135196576904332129","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-301104970"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"March 16, 2023 8:24 PM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-1757075725754984882"},"published":{"$t":"2023-03-16T17:20:16.025+02:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-03-16T17:20:16.025+02:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Babel is not about a revolution but a variation on..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Babel is not about a revolution but a variation on a school shooter story which justifies the \u0026quot;shooter\u0026quot; (not literally but that\u0026#39;s a plot mechanics variation of no thematic significance,) even fantasizing away the victims. The subtitle is not intended as irony, so maybe the real issue is not obviousness or any kind of heavyhandedness but the inadequacy of the modern ideas expressed in the footnoting. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOn the other hand, given the ambiguity about Robin\u0026#39;s gender, Babel may be a stealth transgender novel. The way all the officially female heroes dress as men seems to restate that. It may be that Robin doesn\u0026#39;t have to cut \u0026quot;his\u0026quot; queue after leaving Canton because the novel has no interest in Chinese culture, though. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EApart from Robin\u0026#39;s father, the plot\u0026#39;s most terrible villains are white women who take the desirable men. This doesn\u0026#39;t really seem to fit the obtrusive modern day commentary, regardless of how wise you consider that to be. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EA key aspect, the extraordinary powers attributed personally to Robin\u0026#39;s father, doesn\u0026#39;t seem convincing to me. Robin and the novel know that somehow Robin\u0026#39;s father knew for a fact his minion was dead of plague; knew Robin was equally in peril; knew he was in no peril from plague himself; knew that he had absolute power to cure plague at will, and last and least, could have ignored his employers to save Robin at his convenience. All this being essential to convicting him of his guilt and justifying his fate, this seems a lot to swallow. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe magic in the novel functions as technology. The notion that technology is an independent factor and the engineers or whatever have the power is a misreading I think of reality. Putting it into the novel weakens it. It is very difficult to make political commentary in fantasy precisely because such loose metaphors tend to be misunderstanding rather than insights. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBut Babel is at least interesting, and tries to be about something.  \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/135196576904332129\/comments\/default\/1757075725754984882"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/135196576904332129\/comments\/default\/1757075725754984882"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/03\/recent-reading-roundup-57.html?showComment=1678980016025#c1757075725754984882","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"S Johnson"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/11610068751705809284"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/03\/recent-reading-roundup-57.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-135196576904332129","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/135196576904332129","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-368208061"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"March 16, 2023 5:20 PM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-7890411281217997048"},"published":{"$t":"2023-03-15T20:49:24.663+02:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-03-15T20:49:24.663+02:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"I had similar feelings about _The Mountain in the ..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"I had similar feelings about _The Mountain in the Sea_ -- some good research behind it and interesting ideas, but the story as a whole didn\u0026#39;t really grab me, and the setting seemed constructed to support the plot in some ways. (I liked the Tibet idea but wanted to see more about it.)\u003Cbr \/\u003ENot about _Babel_ though, I really enjoyed it. I can see the points about the heavy-handedness of it and maybe I was a bit biased...I was comparing it to _Harry Potter_ and it came out ahead every time. "},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/135196576904332129\/comments\/default\/7890411281217997048"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/135196576904332129\/comments\/default\/7890411281217997048"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/03\/recent-reading-roundup-57.html?showComment=1678906164663#c7890411281217997048","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Chuk"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/03319218431256854157"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/03\/recent-reading-roundup-57.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-135196576904332129","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/135196576904332129","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-1038884720"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"March 15, 2023 8:49 PM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-6486944350020936127"},"published":{"$t":"2023-03-12T22:02:30.602+02:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-03-12T22:02:30.602+02:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Super interesting,  as always.\nOne point of view o..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Super interesting,  as always.\u003Cbr \/\u003EOne point of view on Rings of Power, (put forward most strongly by Prof Bret Devereaux on acoup.blog) is that the show lacks the grounding in a quasi-reality which Tolkien (as a historian, philologist and ex-soldier with years to work in) was able to create. This leads to continuous oddities which unconsciously grind away at suspension of disbelief. Stuff like the world\u0026#39;s best metalsmith not having to be reminded about alloying, like conquering a continent with 100 riders in 3 boats and the orc army in episode 6 appearing and disappearing as per the requirements of the plot. It also makes it harder to understand the stakes - how much risk is Galadriel taking jumping off the boat, or Queen Miriel taking in making her nobles do something they don\u0026#39;t want to? "},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/5144650014436451247\/comments\/default\/6486944350020936127"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/5144650014436451247\/comments\/default\/6486944350020936127"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2022\/12\/the-lord-of-rings-rings-of-power.html?showComment=1678651350602#c6486944350020936127","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"John"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/01095600503605085567"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2022\/12\/the-lord-of-rings-rings-of-power.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-5144650014436451247","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/5144650014436451247","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-1737399126"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"March 12, 2023 10:02 PM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-2983733026250522558"},"published":{"$t":"2023-03-05T00:54:09.901+02:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-03-05T00:54:09.901+02:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"My worry at this point is that Kang was so good in..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"My worry at this point is that Kang was so good in this movie -- Majors was able to perfectly balance the character\u0026#39;s alternating quiet power and fearsome rage -- that attempts to differentiate the Kangs we encounter moving forward will inevitably be less interesting."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/8028983476805803479\/comments\/default\/2983733026250522558"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/8028983476805803479\/comments\/default\/2983733026250522558"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/ant-man-and-wasp-quantumania.html?showComment=1677970449901#c2983733026250522558","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Temmere"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/06027801487521915249"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/ant-man-and-wasp-quantumania.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-8028983476805803479","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/8028983476805803479","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-1381793198"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"March 05, 2023 12:54 AM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-6998887245450071793"},"published":{"$t":"2023-02-27T20:47:28.396+02:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-02-27T20:47:28.396+02:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"S Johnson:\n\nCabin in the Woods in particular is ab..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"S Johnson:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ECabin in the Woods in particular is about the outrage at a system that sacrifices the strong, that is the young and beautiful, so the weak, that is the old, can keep going\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EEven by your standards of idiotic contrarianism, this is something else."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/8801123335495905298\/comments\/default\/6998887245450071793"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/8801123335495905298\/comments\/default\/6998887245450071793"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/recent-movie-knock-at-cabin.html?showComment=1677523648396#c6998887245450071793","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Abigail Nussbaum"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08562462228380637583"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/recent-movie-knock-at-cabin.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-8801123335495905298","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/8801123335495905298","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-301104970"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"February 27, 2023 8:47 PM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-1307809736058861230"},"published":{"$t":"2023-02-27T20:46:53.504+02:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-02-27T20:46:53.504+02:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Richard:\n\nYes, there\u0026#39;s been a bit of discussio..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Richard:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EYes, there\u0026#39;s been a bit of discussion of the differences between the book and film\u0026#39;s endings. I have to say, from what I\u0026#39;ve read about the former, it doesn\u0026#39;t sound significantly better than the film - it still posits a cruel god, but now he\u0026#39;s also a rules lawyer."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/8801123335495905298\/comments\/default\/1307809736058861230"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/8801123335495905298\/comments\/default\/1307809736058861230"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/recent-movie-knock-at-cabin.html?showComment=1677523613504#c1307809736058861230","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Abigail Nussbaum"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08562462228380637583"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/recent-movie-knock-at-cabin.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-8801123335495905298","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/8801123335495905298","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-301104970"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"February 27, 2023 8:46 PM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-2108922211085265375"},"published":{"$t":"2023-02-27T18:17:20.067+02:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-02-27T18:17:20.067+02:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The sacrifices in Cabin in the Wood prevented the ..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The sacrifices in Cabin in the Wood prevented the evil gods from destroying the world. The people who enabled them were not Sigourney Weaver but the movie\u0026#39;s heroes. This is confusion indeed but I don\u0026#39;t think Cabin in the Woods was successful, regardless of how well its metahumor has aged. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESimilarly the heroine of Ready or Not is the deluded one, as all her opponents really are victims of a play or die bargain made before they were born (killing games are the exception.) It is not an accident I think that the primary victims of the heroine are the servants. Ready or Not is even more confused than Cabin. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt\u0026#39;s not clear how Us is relevant to any themes in Cabin in the Woods. The \u0026quot;home invasion\u0026quot; in Us is more in the nature of the eviction of squatters by the rightful owners. At first glance, comparing the  family in Knock at the Cabin to the imposters dispossessed by the oppressed in Us equates a gay couple to, well oppressors and imposters. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EKilling of a Sacred Dear was too slow for me to watch to the end, but the Farrell obsession with the boy in the opening segments seems to imply a guilt\/shame\/complicity in the fate of the family, implying a kind of justice being worked out. But this seems to be what the objection is, at least formally?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026quot;Whatever its flaws, The Cabin in the Woods recognized that the only rational, emotionally interesting response to its premise was rage.\u0026quot; Outrage is much the better term. Nothing about Cabin in the Woods is rational. If Knock at the Cabin realizes that saving the world means saving your family it\u0026#39;s far less sentimental than Cabin in the Woods, which imagines the purity of friendship justifies killing your friends by letting monster gods destroy the world they live in. It is far less sentimental to realize you and your friends and family are an integral part of humanity, not some isolated, self-created entity or at any rate a unique marvel the universe owes tribute to. That notion is just vanity. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026quot;...stories about realizing that the system you move in is diseased, designed to sacrifice the weak so that the strong can keep going.\u0026quot; Cabin in the Woods in particular is about the outrage at a system that sacrifices the strong, that is the young and beautiful, so the weak, that is the old, can keep going. One problem with all these movies is they imagine a premise where there is a supernatural premise that reduces life to this imaginary choice. In the real world, no system is \u0026quot;designed\u0026quot; to sacrifice the weak for the sake of the strong. In large part this is because, unlike a fictional universe, the real world is not designed. The timeless metaphysical premises exclude the real social and historical world. But another thing is, sacrificing people doesn\u0026#39;t actually make money. It\u0026#39;s like those idiots who thought Westworld wanted robots to torture for the fun of it, instead of wanting robots to work cheap(er.) But in a way the greatest folly of this premise is the view of who is the \u0026quot;strong,\u0026quot; which accepts the excuses of the winners at face value. Strong or lucky? \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/8801123335495905298\/comments\/default\/2108922211085265375"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/8801123335495905298\/comments\/default\/2108922211085265375"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/recent-movie-knock-at-cabin.html?showComment=1677514640067#c2108922211085265375","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"S Johnson"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/11610068751705809284"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/recent-movie-knock-at-cabin.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-8801123335495905298","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/8801123335495905298","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-368208061"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"February 27, 2023 6:17 PM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-5239278746562882660"},"published":{"$t":"2023-02-27T02:15:07.905+02:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-02-27T02:15:07.905+02:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"OK huge spoilers, but your phrasing about knowing ..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"OK huge spoilers, but your phrasing about knowing which one of them will die suggests the film diverges significantly from the book. (Which follows that single emotionally interesting route you propose)"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/8801123335495905298\/comments\/default\/5239278746562882660"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/8801123335495905298\/comments\/default\/5239278746562882660"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/recent-movie-knock-at-cabin.html?showComment=1677456907905#c5239278746562882660","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Richard"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/05080228104653656499"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/recent-movie-knock-at-cabin.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-8801123335495905298","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/8801123335495905298","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-1234195015"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"February 27, 2023 2:15 AM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-583667970367714905"},"published":{"$t":"2023-02-26T19:52:20.539+02:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-02-26T19:52:20.539+02:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Almost certainly, yes. And even then, the film\u0026#39..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"Almost certainly, yes. And even then, the film\u0026#39;s ending leaves the door open to a time jump that skips over her tenure as Black Panther entirely and rejoins the story with the new T\u0026#39;Challa in the role."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/8028983476805803479\/comments\/default\/583667970367714905"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/8028983476805803479\/comments\/default\/583667970367714905"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/ant-man-and-wasp-quantumania.html?showComment=1677433940539#c583667970367714905","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Abigail Nussbaum"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08562462228380637583"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/ant-man-and-wasp-quantumania.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-8028983476805803479","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/8028983476805803479","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-301104970"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"February 26, 2023 7:52 PM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-6506454232969438907"},"published":{"$t":"2023-02-26T15:14:52.605+02:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-02-26T15:14:52.605+02:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The page where Charley finally explodes at Claire ..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The page where Charley finally explodes at Claire is one of the biggest gut-punches I\u0026#39;ve ever experienced in a comic book.  The recent trend of making protagonists in comedy terrible people often seems to avoid showing the real consequences of their behavior on other people (because then it wouldn\u0026#39;t be funny anymore).  I have to respect that this book didn\u0026#39;t do that."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/3757939085140160058\/comments\/default\/6506454232969438907"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/3757939085140160058\/comments\/default\/6506454232969438907"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/recent-comics-why-dont-you-love-me-by.html?showComment=1677417292605#c6506454232969438907","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Temmere"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/06027801487521915249"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/recent-comics-why-dont-you-love-me-by.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-3757939085140160058","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/3757939085140160058","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-1381793198"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"February 26, 2023 3:14 PM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-5296124375187157719"},"published":{"$t":"2023-02-26T01:50:39.676+02:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-02-26T01:50:39.676+02:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"I doubt we\u0026#39;ll ever learn the full story, but i..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"I doubt we\u0026#39;ll ever learn the full story, but if Evangeline Lilly is indeed being hustled out of the MCU due to her anti-vaxx statements, I have to ask if Letitia Wright was exempted from similar shunning because they needed her to fill the late Chadwick Boseman\u0026#39;s shoes."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/8028983476805803479\/comments\/default\/5296124375187157719"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/8028983476805803479\/comments\/default\/5296124375187157719"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/ant-man-and-wasp-quantumania.html?showComment=1677369039676#c5296124375187157719","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Eric Scharf"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/11186475663221871845"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhZqyxFnR1NuAJYjavYWc_YR3w-JTw3z5VJXQDpbyfa8HmJ3SJQTRhbq6UGkYWvSAO9kaiOEp1ecGbYFqJnKg9sXliTfgGgVfY-pxOiDIFnj0UIAS0iWEycu0EJ9LLKQ28\/s220\/Wind2.GIF"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/ant-man-and-wasp-quantumania.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-8028983476805803479","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/8028983476805803479","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-324764831"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"February 26, 2023 1:50 AM"}]},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-292622112824917755"},"published":{"$t":"2023-02-23T19:28:29.011+02:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2023-02-23T19:28:29.011+02:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"That\u0026#39;s a good point, actually, and I\u0026#39;d say..."},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"That\u0026#39;s a good point, actually, and I\u0026#39;d say an even stronger example is \u003Ci\u003EWandaVision\u003C\/i\u003E and the new \u003Ci\u003EDoctor Strange\u003C\/i\u003E. If you hadn\u0026#39;t watched the show, the last you would have seen of Wanda was her triumphant girl-power moment against Thanos in \u003Ci\u003EEndgame\u003C\/i\u003E. And then suddenly she\u0026#39;s a villain with two kids you\u0026#39;ve never seen before? (This gets even weirder when you remember that Raimi et. al hadn\u0026#39;t seen the show and were going only on vague plot outlines when they wrote the movie.) I can definitely imagine feeling a greater disconnect from the franchise after that sort of disorientation."},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/8028983476805803479\/comments\/default\/292622112824917755"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/14241539\/8028983476805803479\/comments\/default\/292622112824917755"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/ant-man-and-wasp-quantumania.html?showComment=1677173309011#c292622112824917755","title":""}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Abigail Nussbaum"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/08562462228380637583"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"thr$in-reply-to":{"xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","href":"http:\/\/wrongquestions.blogspot.com\/2023\/02\/ant-man-and-wasp-quantumania.html","ref":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14241539.post-8028983476805803479","source":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/14241539/posts/default/8028983476805803479","type":"text/html"},"gd$extendedProperty":[{"name":"blogger.itemClass","value":"pid-301104970"},{"name":"blogger.displayTime","value":"February 23, 2023 7:28 PM"}]}]}});