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Title: Exploring the Matrix: Visions of the Cyber Present by Karen Haber ISBN: 0-312-31358-6 Publisher: St. Martin's Press Pub. Date: 02 May, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 (2 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: interesting anthology
Comment: the eve of the release of the first of two sequels (the number 3 is the power number in science fiction - reviewer babble). The eighteen contributions come from a virtual "cyberpunk and science-fiction visionaries" with most of the inputs quite interesting especially when two authors are diametrically opposite in their interpretation of the film. Debates range the gamut from whether the heroes are cyberpunks opposed to the overreach of science placing a web on their personal lives or comic book superheroes on the screen. If one is looking for the next great philosophical debate or a treatise on the Second Coming, then go elsewhere. However, fans of the movie will enjoy the discussion, much of which is simple fluff, but also enough fun stuff. Though enjoyable, the bottom line of EXPLORING THE MATRIX is the psycho prattle debate seeks hidden meaning when to many of the fans it is simply an entertaining flick.
Harriet Klausner
Rating: 5
Summary: From *DarkEcho*: For Both MATRIX & Cyberpunk Fans
Comment: You never know quite what to expect from a nonfiction tie-in to a
popular film or series. (I'm sure one of these days we'll see THE RELIGIOUS IMPLICATIONS OF DOCTOR WHO,
and HANNIBAL LECTER'S FAVORITE RECIPES and they'll be just as bad as
those titles suggest.) But EXPLORING THE MATRIX, edited by Karen
Haber, exceeds whatever the expectations are -- and with considerable
brio.
EXPLORING THE MATRIX offers far more than a choice of red or blue
pill. There are predictable references to William Gibson, P.K Dick,
Charles Dodgson, Jack Williamson, and Nick Bostrum; but there are
also random flashes of the unexpected: "Punk fashion has always been
protective armor. The spikes, the leather, the razors, the zippers,
they are what you put on after flower-power has choked to death on
its own vomit. It's Kevlar for the soft marshmallow core of youthful
idealism." (Bruce Sterling)..."The result of figure _without_ ground
is _Symbolism_." (Dean Motter)... "the most successful movements are
always punished by becoming clichés" (David Brin)...Joe Haldeman
muses briefly about interpreting the movie through the obscure
mythology of sf fandom (and wisely tiptoes by that sleeping dog.)
You'll find some agreement and constant contradictions: THE MATRIX is
nothing but style / THE MATRIX has spiritual depth. It has nothing to
do with cyberpunk; it has everything to do with cyberpunk. And the
essays say a surprising (and contradictory) amount about cyberpunk
itself. Most of the essays are more entertaining than weighty. It's
all well-written, formalized "sitting around the bar with very
intelligent, witty friends at a great con" stuff rather than
dissertation material. You'll find yourself wanting to continue the
discussion -- "Well, yes, but what about..." or "Oh no! I have to
disagree..."
Paul DiFillippo's essay on literary influences solidly connects
everything and everyone from the Bible, Blake, and Baum to Michael
Moorcock and Neil Gaiman. Haber considers the black joke that the
high-tech sfx movie is profoundly anti-science. Alan Dean Foster
proves that the movie's true meaning is that nerdy geeks can triumph.
Ian Watson's essay connects THE MATRIX to French social theorist Jean
Baudrillard and convincingly argues it should be seen as a superhero
movie exploiting, rather than exemplifying, cyberpunk themes. John
Shirley seems to be the only writer to recognize "the group of films
galvanized by the same furnace of fermenting realization" along with
THE MATRIX. Rick Berry writes on the ancient past of CGI and
expresses refreshing optimism about cyberspace.
The essays are accompanied by the magnificent art of Darrel Anderson
(who also supplies an essay) and Robert Zahrab (which, sadly I could
get only an impression of since I have the galley and not the
finished product) and spiffy design. A must-read for the film's fans,
EXPLORING THE MATRIX it's highly recommended reading for science
fiction buffs as well. -- Paula Guran
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Title: Taking the Red Pill: Science, Philosophy and Religion in The Matrix by Glenn Yeffeth, David Gerrold ISBN: 1932100024 Publisher: BenBella Books Pub. Date: 01 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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Title: The Matrix and Philosophy: Welcome to the Desert of the Real (Popular Culture and Philosophy, V. 3) by William Irwin ISBN: 081269502X Publisher: Open Court Publishing Company Pub. Date: October, 2002 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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Title: The Gospel Reloaded: Exploring Spirituality and Faith in The Matrix by Chris Seay, Greg Garrett ISBN: 1576834786 Publisher: Pinon Press Pub. Date: June, 2003 List Price(USD): $13.99 |
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Title: The Reality Within The Matrix by Kristenea M. LaVelle ISBN: 0970337086 Publisher: Saxco Publishing Pub. Date: 07 February, 2002 List Price(USD): $8.99 |
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Title: Simulacra and Simulation (The Body, in Theory: Histories of Cultural Materialism) by Jean Baudrillard, Sheila Faria Glaser ISBN: 0472065211 Publisher: University of Michigan Press Pub. Date: December, 1994 List Price(USD): $14.80 |
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