First Contact Novelette

As a self-proclaimed sci-fi nerd, I dream of the day that mankind meets another traveler upon the ocean of stars. Having grown up with Star Trek, Star Wars, and various other optimistic films that showcase the everyday interactions (usually peaceful) between different species, I like to think that our first contact with an alien species will go relatively smooth. And then I think about mankind and my sense of optimism dwindles. We are largely a species defined by hate, violence, and fear; as much as we'd like to deny it.

It is with this in mind that Murray Leinster wrote First Contact in 1945 at the end of WWII. He imagines a situation where mankind has created the technology that enables him to reach the furthest reaches of space and, while cruising around the Crab Nebula, encounters a race whose technology matches its own. Rather than rush out to meet these new creatures, the captain and crew - on both ships - view this encounter with fear and mistrust. For all the hope and enlightenment that a discovery of this magnitude should represent, both crews worry over the intentions of the other. Their fear makes them consider destroying each other to protect their home worlds. Eventually they do come to an amicable agreement that allows both ships to leave in peace, but it is only through guile that this arrangement is reached.

It's telling that this story resonates so well with me in that I expect mankind to act this way. Our history is full of examples that show that we fear what we don't understand. Our species is often irrational and naive, choosing to see the world the way we want it to be rather than the way it is. Facts and objectivity are replaced with superstition and bias. Mankind is not ready yet for the responsibilities of meeting another species of people, especially if those people behave like us.

The Stone and the Flute and Magical Realism

This week I revisited one of the novels that shaped my early introduction to works of fantasy. It might have even been the first fantasy novel I ever read. It is certainly the first I can recall. It's message left a lasting impression on the young boy I was and I never forgot the story. After reading it again, I find that it's like the words of a song you barely remember, or haven't heard in ages, coming back to you when you hear it again.

One of the things that made this novel stand out to me as a youth was the sense that the world the character, Listener, lived in - was real. There are certainly fantastic elements throughout the book but Hans Bemmann writes it in a way that makes it believable and almost mundane; as though things like this happen all the time. It's a great way to escape the reality of this world and substitute it for another. 

As the main character and protagonist, Listener is flawed. He makes poor choices that, at the time, seem like they are being made for the right reasons. At times, he makes selfish decisions which of course turn out poorly for him. His journey is often about trying to atone for the mistakes he's made as he does usually learn his lesson. The book is full of adventure and at each turn of the page you can't wait to see what happens next. The story covers his entire life and even his eventual death. To me, it encapsulates what magical realism is about by not sugar coating or glossing over the realities of life and by showing us that life is a journey; one that sees us change by running its course - hopefully for the better.

Mr. Potter

For those that have read Harry Potter, it's hard to read Mr. Potter in anything other than Professor Snape's cutting tongue. His tone is instrumental in giving us an alternate observation of our young hero that informs us about the complicated world in which they all live. Nothing is ever purely good or purely evil. It's this revelation, among others, that is one of the many reasons that Harry Potter is beloved by many. However, I feel that for all its fantastic elements, the tale of Harry Potter is a coming of age story.

We first meet Harry Potter as a young boy who is being mistreated and neglected by none other than his aunt and uncle; people who we would otherwise expect to be supportive and loving. It's this relationship that helps us first sympathize with him and wish him a better future. His beginnings are the beginnings of every orphan who dreams that his parents will return and his life will somehow be more. When Hagrid arrives to whisk him away, revealing that Harry is a wizard, his (and our) dreams come true.

If that were where the tale ended, it would simply be in the realm of fantasy - perhaps even something akin to a Grimm's fairytale. But the story continues and the innocence of the beginning gives way to something darker. It shows that life isn't a fairytale and that there are real-life consequences for living it. Granted, we aren't all tormented by the specter of an evil wizard overlord-wannabe, but we all have our demons to face. Ours just don't happen to be literal...most of the time.

This shedding of the light and introduction to darkness, with the message that you have to fight against that which isn't right, is a large part of growing up that most children aren't exposed to. For the most part, we try to protect our children from the nasty things in life until we believe they're old enough to understand it. J.K. Rowling introduced us to a new way of teaching our children about the realities of growing up by introducing us to Harry Potter.

Consider the transformation of Harry throughout the series. When first we meet him, he is a fresh, innocent-looking lad whose excitement outweighs any hesitation. His attitude is naively optimistic and negative thoughts are far from his mind. Yes, there is the weight of being "the boy who lived" on his shoulders, but he's only just learned of this so its impact isn't as great. His interactions with people are generally positive and he is quick to trust.

Contrast this with the Harry we come to know by the end of Deathly Hallows. He is a battle-hardened soldier who has been forced to watch his friends and loved-ones die at the hands of Voldemort. The consequences of being "the boy who lived" have been fully realized and his attitude and optimism have changed. Even the tone of the novel changes at this point with Harry facing hard choices and adult responsibilities. He is no longer the boy we knew at the beginning, his innocence long since shattered. By the end, through his experiences, we all grow up a little. So while the setting is deeply set in the fantastic, it is - overall - a story of innocence lost.

The Hobbit and All Things Heroic

The Hobbit reflects the classic outline of the hero’s journey, albeit in an elaborate and rich environment. Tolkien built his tale on the framework of the classic hero’s journey but it became so much more. The depth he was able to reach was only possible because of the richness of his characters. We truly believed that each was their own person, with their own past and their own personalities. Of course, the main character is the one for whom the book is named for, a hobbit.

Bilbo is content with his life in the Shire and sees little reason to leave. The adventurous nature he had as a youth has all but died. It isn’t until Gandalf arrives with the promise of adventure that the status quo is interrupted. Staying true to the outline of the hero’s journey, Bilbo refuses his quest and prefers to stay at home. It isn’t until the next morning, after the troupe has left, that he realizes he has to go. The rest of the book follows the classic points of the hero’s journey, with each trial and tribulation escalating until the final climactic event. Bilbo learns something about himself and the world around him. When he returns home he realizes, as Gandalf promised him at the onset of their adventure, that he is not the same as he was before.

Of course, Tolkien sets up the proceeding tale of Lord of the Rings by introducing us to the One Ring and the multitude of characters that will be of importance later. It is a tale that had such an impact on the genre of fantasy that it is still relevant today. He introduced us to an immersive world that many find more appealing than the everyday monotony of real life.