On Dec 11, Rachel W. said:
Punkie: [NB: This letter was printed with her permission, and since
she wrote this, she has more friends and is a lot happier]
Thank you Rachel. Your letter was really touching.
On Dec 11, "Anonymous" said:
Punkie: [NB: Since they left an anonymous e-mail, I couldn't reply privately,
but I suspect it's someone I know who is being cheeky]
On Sep 11, Yotta B. said:
Punkie:
Thanks! Hope to see you there. Fredneck isn't TOO bad, as small towns go. But it wears thin,
like spandex on a hot day. Yick.
On July 26, Raymond P. said:
Punkie:
First let me say it was wonderful to get your letter. Second, I would
like to apologize for taking so long to respond. I have been busy, and
this e-mail has been sitting in my box for weeks. I wanted to give a good
response.
One of the vital themes in science fiction and fantasy is the pivot point
of the "what if" scenario. While a lot of basic fiction is basically
based on a "what if," in the realm of what I call speculative fiction has
a stronger and slightly different version of "what if." Regular fiction's
"what if" is based on realistic themes and characters, like what if a
Russian immigrant finds himself stuck in a foreign country or something
plausible. But speculative fiction gives a "what if" to a more abstract
sense, like "what if space travel was faster than light?"
A lot of sci-fi I have read and seen in the American media can't decide
which one it wants. Some authors rely on just the hard core scientific
facts to base a story on. Often, this is hard to convey to a "mass
public" and usually doesn't sell well unless they mix it with more
mentally tangible premises, like "what if we discovered a porthole to
another universe, and Astronaut Jim Slade and his girl Bonnie Blueyes fall
in love." This divides a lot of science fiction fans. Some books are
nothing more than Spaghetti Western or Romance novels with a rocketship
backdrop. The science is simply an accessory. In my opinion, good
science fiction makes you think "outside the envelope," and should have a
strong "what if" that is scientific in nature. Some of Asimov's robot
fiction is very good at that.
But then you have to bring in the movies. Sadly, because movies are more
dependent on appealing to the mass market, most good science fiction does
not translate well. This is usually because most marketing executives
know brainy movies are hard sells, and you can't make much money off of
what are destined to become "underground classics." This is also while so
many independent films suffer. But all is not lost, sometimes you can mix
both.
I have seen a lot of SF&F movies in my time, as I am sure you have. Most,
sadly, are terrible. The marketing execs try and push the old standby of
boy meets girl, saves dog and/or wacky sidekick, and rides off into the
sunset. Then there are some which try and boast how scientific they are,
which most of the time will make them fall flat on their face.
But then I have to ask, "what do I want in a movie?" Mostly, I want a
movie that takes me away for an hour, living the dreams and writing of
someone else that distracts me from my life for two hours, and hopefully
expands my mind to think of other things, and look at old things in new
ways. That is what I consider entertainment.
I think "The Matrix" was a rarity in modern Hollywood. It was a thinker,
yet an action flick, and had little to no romance. It was a good mix.
There are points to the film I am still thinking about. But I must admit
I loved the action and special effects. It all flowed together, and it
was only afterwards I was asking myself, "Well, hmm, what about...?" and
so on. It was convincing.
The letter I posted was trying to drive that home. When you nitpick all
the details, you lose the magic of "what if" in the science fiction.
After you do that, you stop reading H. G. Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs,
Robert E. Howard, and Lovecraft. Why bother? They didn't know about
oxygen, gravity, or anything else we accept as basic science nowadays.
Old SF? Bah, it's all full of errors. And modern SF? All kinds of
loopholes. Why bother being tricked? Why risk bridging scientific gaps?
Why dream?
Because we dream, we visualize the future. We see where we are going. We
feel more secure that we have control over our destinies, even if we don't
have control right now. Opportunity is boundless in the future. Science
fiction and fantasy transports us into dream worlds, where we can explore,
prepare, combat, and win and be warned against the unknown, whether is be
combating the Thoats and other beasts of Barsoom, or the concept of our
spiritual existence when contacting God-like beings in a technological
age. And it fills the basic question that makes us uniquely human, "why?"
All in the safety of our favorite chair or a sticky theater seat.
Well, lastly, and seemingly a non sequitur, I am glad to see there is an
SF contingent in France. Too often I am bombarded with media opinions
about our Parisian neighbors, and I am thrilled that someone proved that
despite what people usually think, we're all the same everywhere.
On July 20, Sapna K. said:
Punkie: Sorry for the delay, I have been really busy as of late.
My web page is down for right now due to a fire (seriously!) where the
server was, so to get your book, send $8.00 (check or money order for $5
book and $3 postage made payable to "FanTek") to:
"I Want a Punk Walrus Book"
If you don't get a book within 1-2 weeks, let me know.
Thank you for asking, and feel free to e-mail me any time (and hopefully I
will be more responsive quicker!).
On April 26, Andrea said:
Punkie:
Thank you! I hope this weekend goes easy for you, I fully understand the
"generic = happiness" problem. I mean, people tell you you are going to
miss out, what if you do? Etc... I think you have solid reasons for not
going. I can't speak for your boyfriend, and I hope you didn't force him
into the decision, but if you don't have any friends there, and want to
spend the money wisely, I think you made a good choice.
Life is what you make it. Living out other's expectations of happiness
can only lead to an empty sucking at your own needs and self-worth. My
company holds a massive Christmas party every year. I went twice, it's a
really big show, like for 3000 employees. They rent out a large space,
and I see people wearing more on their back than I make in a year. The
food was good, the entertainment was good, but... it just wasn't fun. It
wasn't worth the free food and music. Last year, I didn't go. I worked
the overnight shift in my department so someone else who got more out of
it than I did could go, and we had a replacement party with lots of fun.
The party was themed around "we have to work while they party, so we'll
make up for it on our own!" and it worked. I don't regret missing the big
party, and I was glad I could let someone else go.
Maybe you could do something you have always wanted to do. When I missed
my prom, I went to a sci-fi convention. I had far more fun there than the
prom, and it cost me a lot less, even with all the junk I bought. Maybe
you and your boyfriend could go somewhere for the weekend, spend time
together, or just go to the local amusement park, free and spirited.
Maybe go camping, if that's your bag.
And just to warn you, after the prom, you will hear tales of what
happened. In my case, it was a lot of "Oh, it was sooo dull..." even from
the people who really wanted to go. I felt bad for them. Some of the
girls spent thousands on the whole thing, only to be ignored by their
dates, or get a run in their hose, or sprained their ankles with
uncomfortable shoes... just a whole sense of, "Was that it? I am going to
get drunk now..." But even if they came back to me and said they had the
best time and everyone got free cash prizes or 5000 orgasms or something,
I knew I made the choice, and had a good time on my own. I knew *fully*
well I had made the decision.
And have never regretted it.
Here's to your new life, CHEERS!
On March 3, Becky said:
Punkie:
You have full permission, as long as you print my name "Grig Larson"
and the web address as the resource. Hey, thanks for reading it! :)
On February 27, Eric J. said:
Punkie:
Swedish accordion players? I think that is the coolest thing yet!
On Febrary 12, Tabitha said:
Punkie:
I don't know of any "good sites" off the top of my head, but I did
some searching on the web using Yahoo and Altavista, and here are two
URLs to get you started:
http://www.sweden.gvg.org/en/kollage/kollage3.asp
In Swedish, it's spelled "Midsommar" so you can try under that as well.
Hope this helps!
I am not sure how to begin here but I want to say that I loved your site and you have
some really cool stuff. I tried to explain to my parents about me being punk, and they
said that "Adults are not punk" and to act like an adult. I showed them your site, and
I don't think they read it very much. I really felt good knowing that someone has gone
through a lot of what I have gone through. I have been lonely and miserable in college
and if it wasn't for the internet I don't know what I would have done.
When I was in high school, I was misreable. I mean, more misreable than in college.
I lived in a part of Jersey where there aren't a lot of Koreans, and a lot of black people
who didn't care for me or my race. My parents told me that a winning smile would get me
out of any trouble, but it had braces until last year, and in my senior year I didn't go
to my prom either. I am glad you didn't go and you are still happy with it. I did want
to go, but I had no date, and the only other asian guy was this really weird Japanese guy
who had a foot fetish or something and creeped me out.
I get to college, and a lot of the asians here want to be in little groups, but I never
clicked with them. I mean, most of them were snobs, and the guys were all gross and stuff.
I met this girl named Mandy who had a link to your page on her site. Mandy sold me on your
prom story and I didn't read the rest until after Thanksgiving. Mandy also got me into the
rave scene, where I dyed my hair and got the metal thing done. With a lot of the punks, ravers,
and goths, I really felt at home. Sadly, Mandy had to quit college this year due to family
reasons. I really felt alone. But my roommate is letting me use her computer and she likes
your site, too.
They closed down the local club where my raver friends hung out, and I haven't seen anyone
in weeks. I subscribed to your newsletter, and I really, really liked it a lot. Now I don't
feel so lonely.
I hope you don't think this letter is dorky, I never know what to say in fan mail. I guess
just thanks. Merry Christmas or your favorite religion.
> I think you make up some of these letters. I dare you to print this.
Which ones? :)
First, let me say you completely rule. I saw you at eve con a few years back,
and loved your dj act. I am glad that the con is leaving Fredneck as well. I
spent half my life there and I am never going back!
NVER!!!!! I am gald eve con is leaving too. See you in mclean, buds!
I've just come across a letter you wrote to Scifiweekly some time back
about The Matrix. Well I saw the film last week (it's only just
been released here in France) and thoroughly enjoyed it. I agree
with you that looking for scientific inconsistencies is the
wrong way to approach this kind of film - though the film does have
its own internal logic though. After all the world it depicts -
what we think of as reality - is shown to be but a mere illusion
to keep human beings satisfied. So anything goes and we must forget
the rules of reality that we know. In this virtual reality, men can defy
gravity, alter the flow of time etc.
But your point is well taken. Scientific acuracy is not - or should not
be - SF's "raison d'être". Sure, inconsistencies can be annoying.
remember being really annoyed at the end of Totall Recall when
the characters find themselves on the surface of Mars without
being affected by the Martian air pressure as they should be, or
when the ancient race's machines generate a new atmosphere in a
matter of seconds. But well the rest of the film was enjoyable,
and raises interesting questions about memory and the nature of
human identiy, so that we can, and should forgive such inconsistencies.
Besides, the genre has evolved a lot since H. Gersnback's days,
which is a good thing, as it has become much richer (though there
is also a lot more drivel). So I agree let's not forget that the
basic essence of SF is the sense of wonder, its power to make us
dream. Let's not be too serious !
Anyway, I'd also like to ask a favour : I'm doing a study of SF films
and their audiences and am looking for fans/viewers willing to answer a
questionnaire on a website I've launched for this purpose
(www.chez.com/offworld). So if you can spare the time and if you don't
mind perhaps you could take a look at it and, hopefully, answer the
questions.
If not, well it's OK, thanks all the same. In the meantime,
Au-revoir
Raymond P.
Toulouse, France
I am interested in buying a copy of your first Punk Walrus book (The Punk
Walrus Saga?). How do I order? How many Punk Walrus books have you
written? Sorry if all of this information is on your website; I have
been unable to connect to silverdragon.com. Being a fan of both walruses and
scifi, I am anxious to read about Punk Walrus' adventures.
c/o FanTek
1607 Thomas Road
Friendly, MD 20744
Hi! I just surfed onto your page, and I really like it alot. I
especialy appriciated your writing about not attending your senior prom.
My senior prom is this weekend, and I am not going. My reasons seem to
be about the same as yours were. It is all a big show, people do it
because it's expected and it costs a fortune!!! Besides, I don't realy
have any close friends, so who would I even hang out with if I went? I
have gotten a lot of "you're not going?!?!?!" "you're going to regret
it" etc.
Well, I'm feeling a little down about not going, not because I WANT
to go, but because, well, everyone is doing it, and it's painfully easy
to get sucked into the myth of "generic = happiness".
My boyfriend and I still aren't sure what we will be doing instead of
the prom on saturday. (The added factor that makes this rather
difficult is that he is now lamenting the fact that we are NOT going to
the prom.) But I'm sure everything will work out.
Anyway, I feel better knowing I'm not alone in not selling out to
the prom, and I'm glad you don't regret not going.
I read most of your essays on your page, and I've bookmarked it to
come back again later! I like your perspective and insite.
You brightened my day,
Andrea
I am a 15 year old Girl Scout and would like your permission to print
your essay on cookies for my science project. I am doing a science
experiment analyzing whether people will pick older varieties ofcookies
like Thin Mints over newer varieties. Your essay would be in my Log
Book as an example of preference.
Yes, Sweden rules.
We're a bunch of Swedish accordion players from the New York City area.
Fun to read your page. Loved the Swedish cursing.
I am really enjoying all the info you have available. What a great site!
I need some information on the midsummer festival in Sweden. If you know any
good sites, please let me know
http://www.rev.net/~ferguson/midsom.html