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what 3 books would you take?

I finally saw the original Time Machine from the 60s and liked it very much (what true geek COULDN'T appreciate such a significant sci-fi movie from our history?). Kind of ashamed to say I hadn't seen it yet... I loved that even though it was made in 1960, it still kept true to the timeline of being set in the year 1900.

Needless to say after major references from The Big Bang Theory I figured it was time to give it a viewing.

Considering the time period it was made, the time-lapse photographic effects and costuming, props, etc were all so terrific that it didn't have that campy-old-movie feel.

But what I loved most were all the thought provoking questions... too many Sci-Fi movies made currently just go straight for the effects and really miss the mark on screenplay, dialogue and message (*cough* star wars eps I-III *cough*). This is why I love Joss Whedon so much because in addition to great effects and action, you get humor, you get characters wrestling with complex issues, etc.

Hopefully I'm not spoilering anyone by talking about the ending of The Time Machine... if you haven't seen it and don't want to know the end, perhaps you should stop reading now.

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back? ok...

When George returns to the future to rebuild civilization, his friend Filby realizes George hasn't taken anything with him except for THREE books. He is unsure of which books he has taken and the movie ends with him asking the housekeeper, which three books would YOU take?

Mind you, this is like a blank slate society and you can literally educate them however you want. If you're a person of conscience you would want to educate them in a non-biased, well-rounded way... But you would also want to express the joy of fiction and literature as well. But isn't it tempting to think of building your own society based on just the things you love? "Uhh, yes, Firefly is a historical document. Now worship the Whedon!" hahaha

What do you think George would have taken?

I would have to bring one significant work of literature in fiction, one of non-fiction and I would reckon perhaps an encyclopedia? But the works would have to be stories I could read over & over... I loved 1984... Shakespeare, Whitman, Twain, Emerson, so many to choose from...

Which 3 would YOU pick? Comment please! :)
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Comments

  1. Geek ShuiMay 14, 2010 at 2:04 PM

    Surprisingly, mine are entirely lacking in geekiness or science fiction goodness. My list:

    1) The Electric Kool-aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe
    2) The Rum Diary by Hunter Thompson
    3) A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

    Yes, try and wrap your brain around those after seeing an alternate universe persona on Twitter!

    ReplyDelete
  2. NielleMay 14, 2010 at 2:07 PM

    I love it! Honestly my favorite author is Tom Robbins but I started to think maybe that wasn't "high brow" enough for rebuilding civilization... but maybe it would be a better kind of world built on the ideals of the crazy zen hedonist :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Phineas DelgadoMay 14, 2010 at 2:37 PM

    If I were taking books for the Eloi, which is what Goerge was presumably doing, I would take:

    Of the Best State of a Republic, and of the New Island Utopia
    Five Acres and Independence: A Handbook for Small Farm Management
    and
    The Art of War.


    Now if I were just taking books to take books, I would take the three books of the Dragonlance Chronicles: Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter NIght and Dragons of Spring Dawning. Why? Because I can't imagine a world without Tasslehoff Burrfoot, that's why.

    ReplyDelete
  4. NielleMay 14, 2010 at 2:41 PM

    my best friend in AZ is a professional at toting as many books around as possible... her response was "I've seen that machine I could fit a crap ton of books in there." I see the need for both educational and entertainment reading material... for the reason you stated.
    Thanks for your comments - this is a good way to get new ideas for things to read too :) aren't I sneaky?

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownMay 18, 2010 at 10:23 AM

    Hitchhikers Guide
    Betty Crocker Cookbook
    LOTR bound in one big book

    ReplyDelete

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