Visitations

Jumpnauts: A Novel (Folding Universe)
S&S/Saga Press  2024
Fiction 367 pages
Hao Jingfang
Ken Liu (Translator)

In the not too distant future two factions engage in unending combat over which will control the world. One protagonist is the son of a wealthy business family. Another has devoted his career to the military. Like today, factions struggle to increase their wealth and power.

An archeologist’s daughter holds the key to meeting the aliens who’ve visited our planet every 700 years for the past several thousand. Others become interested, including the two enemy protagonists, and a ship is launched to rendezvous with the aliens.

This setup could begin an average science fiction story, but Jumpnauts is more than an average story. First, the character development is excellent. The characters have rich histories and conflicts to confront and resolve.

Second, the story references classic Chinese philosophy and ancient mythology comes alive as the story unfolds.

Third, it takes a new approach. Telepathy has long figured in science fiction, but in this case, it pays homage, if only in passing, to information theory.

The Paranormal Ranger: A chilling memoir of investigations into the paranormal in Navajoland
William Morrow 2024
Fiction 282 pages
Stanley Milford, Jr.

Telepathy is not addressed in The Paranormal Ranger, but other strange phenomena are. These include, UFOs, hauntings, sasquatch, witchcraft and skinwalkers. Navajoland covers more than 27 thousand square miles and overlaps three states. It’s a harsh, sparely populated land – the sort of land where one might find paranormal happenings, if one were to find them at all. Stanley Milford, Jr. worked decades as a ranger on this land. During this time he and his partner became leading investigators of odd and troubling phenomena. Sometimes their investigations uncovered mundane explanations, but other investigations led only to the inexplicable. This is an easily consumed memoir from a man dedicated to resolving conflicts and unburdening worried citizens.

Like Jumpnauts this book also discusses the possibility that Earth may have been visited by interstellar travelers in its past. While the science fiction novel is lite on details, the memoir provides details of alien visitations through Navajo origin stories and ancient rock depictions of star people. It also provide a glimpse into Navajo culture and its traditional tales.

Stolen lyrics

The Beatles 1968 hit, "Revolution," peaked at 12 on the Billboard Top 100. Until recently, few knew that they actually plagiarized the tune and changed the lyrics of a song originally performed by a Mersey dockside band aboard a German submarine converted into a coffee house by the drummer's mother.

When the song was finally released in 1969, the Beatles sued the band into oblivion and all known copies of the 45 were destroyed.

This is that song:

Reservation

by John Lemon and Paul McCaroni

You say you have a reservation
Well, you know
We all like a pricey meal

You tell me that it's discrimination
Well, you know
You should have worn a power tie

But when you talk about instruction
Don't imply that I don't know my job
Don't you know you're gonna wait so long

So long
So long

You say I'm stiffer than old Mr. Brann
Well, you know
Chef might strike you with a frying pan

You threaten me with retribution
Well, you know
You should tip me with more money, man

But if you offer money so you don't have to wait
All I can tell you is dinner is going to be late
Don't you know you're gonna wait so long

So long
So long

You say waiting gives you constipation
Well, you know
We all want to get you fed
You tell me that the bar's way too loud
Well, you know

It's better
drinking in a crowd
But if go asking for carry out menus now
You deserve to eat fast food anyhow
Don't you know you're gonna wait so long

So long
So long
So long, so long
So long, so long
So long, so long
  

Weird

I have rarely, if ever, been more moved by a movie then I was by "Weird, the Al Yankovic Story." Daniel Radcliffe, an actor formerly featured in a string of low budget movies about a boarding school for deviants called Pigpimples, or something, stars in his greatest, and career defining, role as American rock superstar, Weird Al Yankovic. The story traces Yankovic's strange and troubled youth to his rise as America's most celebrated musician.

In one early scene, Yankovic is invited to a party hosted by world famous disc jockey, Dr. Demento. The party is crashed by wannabe famous DJ, Wolfman Jack. Bassist, John Deacon, begs Yankovic to write a parody of one of Queen's songs, "Another One Rides the Bus." Andy Warhol, however remarks to fellow artist, Salvador Dali, that Yankovic's fame will last about fifteen minutes. Also in attendance at Demento's party are offbeat musicians, Frank Zappa and Alice Cooper.

Perhaps you wonder why I waited until two years after its release before reviewing this dramatic gem. As a member of the downtrodden proletarian class. I eschew movie theaters. Instead, I waited until the movie was available through Kanopy, a streaming service provided through a socialist institution called a public library.

Be advised however, that this is a serious drama rather than a mere parody of a rise-to-fame rock movie, or a decline-to-obscurity rock movie such as, "This is Spinal Tap." I give "Weird" a rarely awarded eleven.