Another searingly brilliant essay, Christopher. I'm really looking forward to your book. I, too, have been seeing lots of green herons. In fact, the last one I saw, down on my usual walks near Lakeshore Dr., was gobbling a small fish, with just about the same proportion hanging out. I need to go check on the nursery down at Auditorium Shores. Your photos are certainly to the point. A fine blend of artistic and political metaphors.
Just finished rereading WHERE LATE THE SWEET BIRDS SANG by Kate Wilhelm from 1976. "Pastoral" SF in the vein of Clifford D. Simak or George Stewart and a book that has haunting echoes for the time that we are in.
I need to check that out, Fred—sounds amazing. I love the notion of “pastoral SF” and am trying to think of other examples. The final scene of Sterling’s HOLY FIRE comes to mind. I am working on a Readercon talk about depictions of nature in dystopia and this kind of perspective is helpful.
Clifford D. Simak is probably the "gentlest". City is a fixup (short stories linked into a novel) where people move out of the cities and disperse into the countryside. Next to that, maybe his A Choice of Gods, where most of the population of Earth vanishes and the survivors spend the next thousands of years wondering why.
George Stewart: Earth Abides, the Earth is depopulated and a survivor tries to preserve civilization only to have it inherited by children who do not care and use these round "corns" as stock for arrowheads.
Kate Wilhelm, as mentioned.
Andre Norton: A lot of her SF involved planets that had "burnoffs" (areas devasted by atomic weapons), for example Sargasso of Space. Norton did bring it "home" with Starman's Son, where much of the Earth has returned to wilderness. Star Rangers deals with a exploration ship crashing on a burnoff planet and making a interesting discovery about it.
Possibly: A Canticle for Leibowitz. Walter Miller. Another one that has haunted me since my first read, especially the final sequence.
I’ve just finished listening to the Necessary Futures and I’m blown away. This is one of the most immersive pieces of audio storytelling I’ve ever heard. The sound production is epic, and the story arrangement is so brilliant (not to mention the content).
The spaces are being bargained away, again and again. The "wild" is here, but we are certainly doing our best to pave it over and marginalize. Sorry to hear about the hard work on the dairy development being subject to dirty tricks, but this city council seems intent on growing Austin with little thought about sustainability. See ya soon, I hope. Great writing on difficult topics...
Very interesting!🌿🌿
and cool photos, did you took them?
Thank you for reading! All the photos are by me (when I use someone else’s, which is rare, I will credit it).
ok cool!
Another searingly brilliant essay, Christopher. I'm really looking forward to your book. I, too, have been seeing lots of green herons. In fact, the last one I saw, down on my usual walks near Lakeshore Dr., was gobbling a small fish, with just about the same proportion hanging out. I need to go check on the nursery down at Auditorium Shores. Your photos are certainly to the point. A fine blend of artistic and political metaphors.
Thanks, Jesse!
I just wrote city council about the acreage behind Borden's to voice my disagreement with its development.
Thank you!
Green herons hunting in pairs? Blue herons are the new orcas! Soon they'll be tipping over canoes.
Just finished rereading WHERE LATE THE SWEET BIRDS SANG by Kate Wilhelm from 1976. "Pastoral" SF in the vein of Clifford D. Simak or George Stewart and a book that has haunting echoes for the time that we are in.
I need to check that out, Fred—sounds amazing. I love the notion of “pastoral SF” and am trying to think of other examples. The final scene of Sterling’s HOLY FIRE comes to mind. I am working on a Readercon talk about depictions of nature in dystopia and this kind of perspective is helpful.
Thinking about this:
Clifford D. Simak is probably the "gentlest". City is a fixup (short stories linked into a novel) where people move out of the cities and disperse into the countryside. Next to that, maybe his A Choice of Gods, where most of the population of Earth vanishes and the survivors spend the next thousands of years wondering why.
George Stewart: Earth Abides, the Earth is depopulated and a survivor tries to preserve civilization only to have it inherited by children who do not care and use these round "corns" as stock for arrowheads.
Kate Wilhelm, as mentioned.
Andre Norton: A lot of her SF involved planets that had "burnoffs" (areas devasted by atomic weapons), for example Sargasso of Space. Norton did bring it "home" with Starman's Son, where much of the Earth has returned to wilderness. Star Rangers deals with a exploration ship crashing on a burnoff planet and making a interesting discovery about it.
Possibly: A Canticle for Leibowitz. Walter Miller. Another one that has haunted me since my first read, especially the final sequence.
More if I think of them.
This is awesome. Thank you, Fred!
I’ve just finished listening to the Necessary Futures and I’m blown away. This is one of the most immersive pieces of audio storytelling I’ve ever heard. The sound production is epic, and the story arrangement is so brilliant (not to mention the content).
As always, you’re an inspiration. Thank you
Thank you so much for listening, and I’m delighted you enjoyed it so much!
The spaces are being bargained away, again and again. The "wild" is here, but we are certainly doing our best to pave it over and marginalize. Sorry to hear about the hard work on the dairy development being subject to dirty tricks, but this city council seems intent on growing Austin with little thought about sustainability. See ya soon, I hope. Great writing on difficult topics...
Thanks, James!
I especially appreciate the fake turf on gravel photo, and the sliver of sky on asphalt.
Thank you!