Author Archives: zenmushroom

The Scorpion

Of all the texts we’ve read so far, this book reminds me most of Lilith’s Brood. The trials that Matt Alacron goes through are much like the ordeal that Akin has to go through. Both boys get kidnapped at a young age and are treated with much contempt. At first their captors don’t treat them […] Continue reading

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Hindsight

Chelsea must’ve rehearsed 100 times how she was going to break up with him. The butterfly on her shoulder began to crumple and turn gray. How stupid she had been! How naïve! She could rewire the human brain in the time it would take to make a sandwich…and yet…how could she expect reciprocity – emotional […] Continue reading

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What Have the Oankali Ever Done for Us?

Up until Adulthood Rites, Lilith’s Brood has been a story of the human race gradually being deprived of its “humanness.” While the Oankali may be friendly imperialists who want to have hot sexy times with the humans – they are still imperialists nonetheless. Imperialism is a force that deprives another being of its agency and […] Continue reading

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Pet Lilith

The best way to describe Lilith’s assimilation into her new Oankali family is as a pet. Nikanj often insists that she is a part of the family, but then again, so is a dog or a cat. Nikanj’s efforts to teach her about Oankali language are simply part of a training regimine similar to training […] Continue reading

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IS COAT NOT WE.

The most fascinating part of the WE3 plot for me was when the dog discovers that the machine is not a part of him. This moment of self discovery is profound, but it is also expressed in simple language. The moment is revealed in only four words, “is coat not we (105 Morrison and Quitely).” […] Continue reading

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A Disoriented Narrative for a Disoriented Mind

The disoriented, helter skelter style of Neuromancer bring “cognitive estrangement” to a whole new level. Case is the ultimate case of cognitive estrangement. In the beginning of the story he steals from his employer, and as punishment his nervous system is poisoned with the Russian wartime chemical Mycotoxin. After falling from the “bodiless exultation of […] Continue reading

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The Comet, A Caution Against Hope

At first the comet may seem progressive. For a story written in the 1920′s, it allows the reader the rare fantasy to imagine a world without race, class and gender. As Jim stared up into the heavens on top of the tower, “the shackles seemed to rattle and fall from his soul (270).” When he […] Continue reading

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Frankenstein’s Monster and the Three Laws of Robotics

Initially, Frankenstein’s monster adheres to principals similar to Asimov’s three laws of robotics: ““Be calm! I entreat you to hear me before you give vent to your hatred on my devoted head. Have I not suffered enough, that you                   seek to increase my misery? Life, although […] Continue reading

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Science or a Parley With Dark Forces?

I think it is worthy of note that Victor’s first and favorite philosopher is Cornelius Agrippa. While it was suggested that he was obsessed with other philosophers as well, the name Cornelius Agrippa has been repeated throughout the story several times. Therefore, I began to wonder if this person had any significance to the story […] Continue reading

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Hello world!

Hello. I come in peace. Well not really, but don’t tell anyone.
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