Isaac Asimov 1920-1992 "If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years how would men believe and adore, and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God?' Emerson So reads the quote from which Isaac Asimov wrote perhaps his best known story Niglitfall.
Asimov is best know for his science fiction writing but in fact wrote on over fifteen different subjects ranging from Biology to History and including annotations of famous works, text books Born near Smolensk in RusSes movene with his family to America when he was three vears old His writing career began at the ripe old age of nineteen, when his first story Marconed off Vesta was sold to Amazing Stores mandelin His output was prolific, having in his lifetime produced over 400 books as and short stories. He is justly April 17, 1992 No. 20 famous however. for twa remarkable accomplishments in the field of science fiction; his Foundation series and the Laws of Robotics.
Asimov once said that he did not plan anything. His writing success was as much of a surprise to him as to To ne cons tinued that impulsiveness into the beliefs he had in today's world as well as tomorrow's.
He was vehemently op posed to nuclear weaponry and wrote many stories and articles suggesting the drastic conseguences or usino such weapons. He was also firmly convinced that one of the most pressing problems facing modern America was that of racism and intolerance towards those who did not fit the perceived norms of behaviour.
He was however hopelessly naive in his thinking on the answer to these ques tons and had, in common with much or nis generation, fille understanding of sexism and the place of women in society He was a truly great writer and brought immense pleasure to his readers. As one of the visionaries of cence neton whiting he wil Se sorely missed.
Cafe
Starring Jessica Tandy, Kathy Bates, Mary-Louise Parker and Mary Stuart Masterson Reviewed by Kate Ahrens I knew very little about this film before I went to see it. I hadn't read any reviews, nor had I read the book upon which the screenplay was based. I thought it was going to be just another film expressing women's friendships in a mushy, sentimental, Hollywood fashion.
I was wrong, for although it does express the friendship and love be tween the lesa characters in a very mushy, sentimental way, it also has a very exciting and strong storyline and there are suficient humorous scenes to give light redef This fim has everything: humour, panos, nostaxas, tooo tonis, mul der, not to mention the fried green Set in the American South, the film traces the lives of two young women, logy (Mary Louise Parker) and Ruth (Mary Stuart Masterson). and their relationship through the tales that Ninny Threadgoode (Jes sica Tandy) tels to Evelyn Couch (Kathy Bates).
The stories begin as a way of passing the time, but soon become a atalyst for friendship between the tao women ano also provide a role for Evelyn to begin to take control of her own lite Idgy and Ruth, brought together through the death of idgy's brother slowiy grow from friends into lovers story progresses. The stories are told to us in flashback, stopping at the most exciting bts and returnEvelyn and film-goers on the edge of their seats.
I enjoyed this fim immenseiy. it followed to glorious eflect in the footsteps of Theima and Louise in having strong women as the central characters with men as the supportling cast. This trend in films is a wotcome change from the norm and one which I hope will be continued for a very long time, especialy i they are al as well written, directed and acted as Fried Green Tomatoes.
The setting of the story in the deep South of the Unted States in. evitably led to raciom being an impor tant part of the plot. However, the iberal tolerance rather than actively supporting the fight of black people against their oppression. The black characters were totally dependant upon the kindness of good white foik and the film did nothing to address the question of why this was the case Good as this film was, & fell down in another very important aspect; for whilst it wil be clear to almost everyone living in the real world that the story is about two women in a les. bian retoristo, unis fact ts never ex is way to avor the issue.
When hims come out of Hotlywood with a positive open image of lesbians and gay men we will realy ety has changed drastishame of the film makers (even if it is ory to De expectes hat they Dowed under the threat of the censors and hid this aspect of the story in order to get a lower age certiicate.
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