Blade Runner and the Cyberpunk Genre

I'll admit that I'm more of a fan of the Steampunk genre but it's sibling, the Cyberpunk, has melded its way into my list of favorite literary and media genres. There's a lot go rest qualities present within the Cyberpunk genre and with the way society and technology is advancing it feels appropriate that it's become so popular. 

            Overpopulated cities filled to the brim with advanced technology, sentient robots, cyberspace, you name it Cyberpunk’s got it when it comes to science fiction tropes and elements. While most genres explore the what-was, is, and should never be, cyberpunk explores the what-could-be and the possible future, whether it be within the coming decades or the very far-off. The genre is amazing in this aspect and has brought about the creation of masterpieces like The Matrix, Ghost in the Shell, a multitude of sci-fi noir films, etc. Each brings with it a look into the future of humanity and its relationship with the technology and society it produces and how far it goes. The genre inspires one to also question this relationship and the ever popular “ what makes us human” issue.

            Now if I had to choose one thing to represent the Cyberpunk genre as a whole I’d immediately nominate Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner. Although not the first big hit when it came to the genre it certainly made the genre more noticeable and popular. The entire film is jam pack full of cyberpunk tropes and really pulls them all together to create an incredible science-fiction film. The vast expanse of 2019 Los Angeles is basically cyberpunk city with its cramped and overpopulated space, advanced technology, corporate takeover, and let’s not forget the Replicants, a race of sentient robots created for basic labor which have started to rebel against humanity and wish to find independence and be allowed to experience emotions since they see themselves as human. The whole film is just a visual and metaphorical beauty of scifi and cyberpunk. It also raises some really good questions like what makes one human or to what degree does one need to reach to be considered human? And it’s no surprise That Blade Runner succeeds at doing this since Ridley Scott was the one who brought it into creation. Ridley Scott is a basic master of cyberpunk and sci-fiction and really knows what he’s doing when dealing with these two genres. 

Terry Pratchett's The Color of Magic

Terry Pratchett’s The Color of Magic is certainly a breath of fresh air when it comes to the vast amount of fantasy stories out there laden with the typical fantasy elements one is used to seeing so much. What I love about Pratchett’s work is that it takes a new look at fantasy and gives it an incredibly humorous edge to it.

            I’m familiar with Pratchett’s Discworld series so I knew this was going to be enjoyable to watch. Before I get to anything else here I’d just like to say how brilliant Pratchett’s fantasy world is. It’s ridiculous and magical and at first I questioned what I was getting into. The Color of magic takes place in a world known as the Discworld. Literally the world is a flat disk filled with magical lands and an ocean that spills off its edges. I’m sure the flat-Earth theorist would enjoy this. The Discworld is held up by four giant elephants which stand upon the back of a gigantic, cosmic turtle known as the Great A’Tuin. If that’s not strange enough I don’t know what is but I love it.

            The Color of Magic is basically a satire of the fantasy genre and that’s just one of the many reasons why I like it so much. The many fantasy clichés are poked fun at and some are even redone in a more interesting manner. For instance, the dragons of the Discworld are believed to have never died out or were just apart of an old tale but they’re just invisible unless one steps foot into their home at the Wyrmberg. I feel like this was Pratchett’s way of showing how over time we lose belief in various things like legends and mythical beings so they disappear, but once you start believing in them again they become “real”.

            The main protagonists in The Color of Magic were amusing and endearing if anything. First we have Rincewind, the dupe of a wizard who was flunked out of the wizard academy, and Twoflower, the first tourist to visit Ankh-Morpok. Both characters are interesting and I enjoyed their banter and adventures around the Discworld. Rincewind is a cowardice and incompetent goof of a wizard but he somehow manages to become a bit of a hero, although reluctant if anything. Twoflower however is a somewhat more warm-hearted and fun than grumpy old Rincewind. I found Twoflower’s character interesting in that he feels so out of place among the inhabitants of Ankh-Morpok. He dresses like some tourist you’d see in the 90s from our world but he’s merely a very wealthy tourist from one of the other lands within the Disworld coming to visit and see what the rest of the world is like.

            The initial humor in The Color of Magic is also something I deeply enjoyed as well from watching it. One scene that stood out for me was when Rincewind and Twoflower watch from a distance as Ankh-Morpok becomes ashes due to Twoflowwer making a bet with the owner of a tavern he was staying at. The results are hilarious as the whole city ends up burning to the ground as a result and Rincewind decides to flee with Twoflower to avoid any repercussions because of the incident. The scene, although it could have been serious if the series wasn’t a humorous take on fantasy, was such a comedic goldmine. The series has a bunch of other hilarious bits but I would think it best to not spoil them.

            

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

            The first time I became aware of The Golden Compass and the His Dark Materials series was when I went to see the release of the film adaptation of the first novel The Northern Lights back in back in 2007( called The Golden Compass initially). I’m a sucker for fantasy flicks so I had to see it. I wasn’t too disappointed in the film I’ll admit. Nowhere near as good as the book but it carried over the many ideas presented by the novel and I loved the depiction of the characters and their daemons.

            On the topic of the Golden Compass novel I have to say that I quite enjoy the magical world Pullman has created. The world of His Dark Materials is parallel to our own but contains within it a fascinating blend of science, magic, and philosophies. The novel is also unique in that it introduces beings called Daemons, the basic staple of the entire series. Most fantasy series use the same basic clichés so the introduction of the animal daemons whom are the physical embodiment of a human’s soul was incredibly awesome to see. I wouldn’t mind having my own daemon too now that I think about it.

            The characters in The Golden Compass are another aspect that I really love about the book and film. Lyra, the main protagonist, is a great character and I always enjoy her interaction with her daemon Pantalaimon. Despite her age she shows great strength in both mind and heart as she journeys to stop the Gobblers and rescue the children they had kidnapped. My second favorite character from this novel has to be the sentient polar bear named Iorek. He’s a cast out from his clan and was set to be king but in the end he proves himself in battle, thanks to some major motivation from Lyra. He’s just a major badass and a character which I really came to admire thanks to his strength and bravery. Also, just the whole idea of a race of sentient fighting bears who duke it out decked in armor was enough to make the fantasy-hippy in me giddy.

            In Pullman’s novel the world he creates is one filled with magic and general wonder but he also establishes a sense of deep philosophy and logic. The characters in the novel seem to be motivated by a need to find answers to important questions. Death, life, and alternate universes are just some of these topics which play a big role in the novel. In most fantasy books you just sit back and enjoy the story, but here you have a fantasy that questions the world and various other things while still maintaining that sense of magic and splendor.