Aisha Urooj's Blog - Posts Tagged "aliens"
Arrival
With aluminum monoliths showing up in different places around the world and with more people talking about extraterrestrial beings, I thought this movie might be a good pick for this edition of Things You Might Not Have Seen. In this blog post, I will highlight the 2016 alien movie Arrival.
In recent years, I have seen the trend of aliens being shown as gentle creatures and humans as being the aggressors. I don’t know if it is because we know ourselves too well at this point and it is a reflection of increased cynicism of our own world, but I like considering aliens as friends rather than enemies.
What makes the movie Arrival unique?
I was surprised when a linguist was the first person send to talk with the aliens. I was not surprised when the message was misinterpreted, lol.
The concept of time. It is not linear in this movie. It raises a poignant question: Would you live your life the same knowing how it will happen?
What will be your reaction to things/beings you don’t understand? Would you spend time to understand them or will you see them as a threat right away? The movie spends time exploring those questions and the answer is surprising.
Arrival is a fresh take on an alien movie. It is emotional and raw because it is a deep reflection of ourselves. The movie shows us that humans are vulnerable to aggression and violence, but they are capable of great understanding and great feats, if only they choose to rise above their fears.
Thank you for reading today’s blog post! I hope that you discovered something new today 😊
In recent years, I have seen the trend of aliens being shown as gentle creatures and humans as being the aggressors. I don’t know if it is because we know ourselves too well at this point and it is a reflection of increased cynicism of our own world, but I like considering aliens as friends rather than enemies.
What makes the movie Arrival unique?
I was surprised when a linguist was the first person send to talk with the aliens. I was not surprised when the message was misinterpreted, lol.
The concept of time. It is not linear in this movie. It raises a poignant question: Would you live your life the same knowing how it will happen?
What will be your reaction to things/beings you don’t understand? Would you spend time to understand them or will you see them as a threat right away? The movie spends time exploring those questions and the answer is surprising.
Arrival is a fresh take on an alien movie. It is emotional and raw because it is a deep reflection of ourselves. The movie shows us that humans are vulnerable to aggression and violence, but they are capable of great understanding and great feats, if only they choose to rise above their fears.
Thank you for reading today’s blog post! I hope that you discovered something new today 😊
Indie Book Review: Black Ships by A.G. Claymore
Hi everyone,
For today’s blog post (and the last book featured for Indie April) is the alien invasion Sci Fi thriller, The Black Ships by A.G. Claymore.
I chose a genre that I don’t normally read (but definitely watch), so this was a new thing for me.
What was the story about?
First in the Black Ships Series. Our planet was just one small island in the midst of a vast, empty sea. For millennia, we thought we were alone – until we took our first tentative steps out of the cradle. As the nations of Earth struggle to establish a fragile colony on the surface of Mars, we suddenly lose all contact with our settlers. In the days that follow, it becomes abundantly clear that humans are not the only ones intent on exploiting the resources of the solar archipelago. In a desperate bid for freedom, Humanity must undergo social and economic changes on a scale previously unheard of. In the midst of growing turmoil, the struggle to build an effective defense leads the species to a turning point. The smallest of chances may determine the difference between freedom or eternal subjugation.
The book delivers on its promise and starts with an nail-biting alien invasion. The year is 2026 (not too far away), and aliens have attacked a human team sent to Mars. The US government (and others) on Earth must decide whether or not this is a threat, a mistake, or something else, while being limited to the fact that they are a planet away.
There is a rush to expedite a space-based combat fleet, despite not knowing the aliens’ intentions, because as Admiral Kelly states, “I would rather meet them with force and be wrong than meet them in peace and be wrong.” The enormity of the task dawns on everyone as does the financial implications of having such a fleet (The expected cost is a eye-watering $34 Trillion USD).
The book had smart exchanges between the characters. There are multiple players in the book, as there should be, but the author makes each of their personalities and voices distinct. There were a lot of technical terms (The researcher in me was itching to read up on them more), but it doesn’t feel gratuitous.
Black Ships is an engaging story and feels realistic. The story is unique as it is set only a few years from now and not a futuristic take on it.
I hope that you choose this book as your next read. Black Ships certainly gives us a lot to think about.
Thank you for reading today’s blog post. I was happy to review so many good Indie books for Indie April, and I hope to do it again next year. I will go back to my regular posts, including writing updates.
I wish you a great day, and hope that you discover something new today.
This blog post can also be found as a podcast at anchor.fm/aisha-urooj
For today’s blog post (and the last book featured for Indie April) is the alien invasion Sci Fi thriller, The Black Ships by A.G. Claymore.
I chose a genre that I don’t normally read (but definitely watch), so this was a new thing for me.
What was the story about?
First in the Black Ships Series. Our planet was just one small island in the midst of a vast, empty sea. For millennia, we thought we were alone – until we took our first tentative steps out of the cradle. As the nations of Earth struggle to establish a fragile colony on the surface of Mars, we suddenly lose all contact with our settlers. In the days that follow, it becomes abundantly clear that humans are not the only ones intent on exploiting the resources of the solar archipelago. In a desperate bid for freedom, Humanity must undergo social and economic changes on a scale previously unheard of. In the midst of growing turmoil, the struggle to build an effective defense leads the species to a turning point. The smallest of chances may determine the difference between freedom or eternal subjugation.
The book delivers on its promise and starts with an nail-biting alien invasion. The year is 2026 (not too far away), and aliens have attacked a human team sent to Mars. The US government (and others) on Earth must decide whether or not this is a threat, a mistake, or something else, while being limited to the fact that they are a planet away.
There is a rush to expedite a space-based combat fleet, despite not knowing the aliens’ intentions, because as Admiral Kelly states, “I would rather meet them with force and be wrong than meet them in peace and be wrong.” The enormity of the task dawns on everyone as does the financial implications of having such a fleet (The expected cost is a eye-watering $34 Trillion USD).
The book had smart exchanges between the characters. There are multiple players in the book, as there should be, but the author makes each of their personalities and voices distinct. There were a lot of technical terms (The researcher in me was itching to read up on them more), but it doesn’t feel gratuitous.
Black Ships is an engaging story and feels realistic. The story is unique as it is set only a few years from now and not a futuristic take on it.
I hope that you choose this book as your next read. Black Ships certainly gives us a lot to think about.
Thank you for reading today’s blog post. I was happy to review so many good Indie books for Indie April, and I hope to do it again next year. I will go back to my regular posts, including writing updates.
I wish you a great day, and hope that you discover something new today.
This blog post can also be found as a podcast at anchor.fm/aisha-urooj
