Isaac's Adventures in Literary Land, Vol. Whatever

Science Fiction has always been a personal favorite genre of mine. Part of the allure is the fancy new technology that the main characters always get to use/enjoy/abuse. Another interesting result of reading Asmiov or other greats is realizing how right they often were about their future (our present).

Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel Oryx and Crake is a particularly chilling and relevant example of an author seeing a possible future. I won't bother too much with plot, it's about as complex as Ken Ham's opening statements in his debate vs. Bill Nye the Science Guy. 

But the actual premise of the book is pretty simple: genetic engineering and biochemical manipulation have become so advanced and useful that they pervade everyday life. Buildings have plant matter incorporated to become more efficient, physical appearance can be changed as quickly as in Scott Westerfield's Uglies, and man's dream of the 24-wing chicken has finally become a reality.

With all this awesome technology lying around, the world was only waiting for some genius to come along and start the apocalypse. Which is precisely what happens.

Now beware, further explanation of plot follows the jump, accompanied with spoilers. Those who cherish the idea of reading a book as an adventure into unknown territories should stop reading this and go read a book, preferably the one I'm writing about, so that you can come back and finish reading it.

The Poor You Will Always Have With You. (Just not at your doorstep . . .)

Well, that's one way to respond to the Lazarus at your gates (doors).

When we lived in Paris, there were three or four homeless hangouts in our area (the second-chic-est area in the city). During the summer, the police would come around to all of them every day and shoo away anybody that was sitting panhandling.

But during the winter, one person took up residence in each of the areas, complete with sleeping bag and a few small possessions, and the police came around every day and said hi, and sometimes brought coffee.

One of them was right in front of a music school, even.

I hope the fact that the Brits thought of it first will keep Paris from ever doing anything like this. I hold out no hope for the US.