Paul Long's Ramblings

Yesterday I read a couple of new graphic novels I borrowed from the library.  Both were given top notch reviews. For example, about "Superior" USA Today wrote, "The best mini-series of the year" and for "A god somewhere" it wrote "One of the most compelling page-turners to come out this year".  In my mind I think that while the quote may come from the same magazine, (USA Today), it surely cannot represent the same reviewer / person! I enjoyed SUPERIOR very much but hated "A GOD SOMEWHERE. WARNING - SOME MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD! What I enjoyed about SUPERIOR is that the plot is simple yet the story very compelling. And best of all while I seldom agree with the theology in the stories of most graphic novels (no exception here either :-)) I like the moral dilemmas presented in the story and how the hero wrestles with them. I particularly like how the story is seen from the perspective of a 12 year old boy who understands that with g...

One of many reasons why I enjoy Star Trek ... thought provoking creative and well written stories that explore via fiction important themes from real life Thought his was a good piece ... Taken from http://www.startrek.com/article/there-are-four-lights-free-will-on-tng By  Lindsay Thomas April 23, 2012 There Are Four Lights: Free Will in the Context of Star Trek: The Next Generation Hidden beneath the malevolence of the Borg Collective I always felt, what I can only describe to be, a disjointed sense of innocence. There was no fundamental free will, there was no morality or ethical reasoning; The Collective was merely doing what it was programmed to do – one might even say, it was simply succumbing to its intrinsic nature in the purist sense. The Borg was terrifying in its relentless pursuit – exhibiting no sympathy, no second thoughts, no potential for reasoning or negotiating, just cold industrialized space aged metal grating upon what was once warm, pulsing fles...