This is absolutely my favorite story that we've read so far. There is so much beauty and emotion in it, unlike much of the others. Do you think it should qualify as science fiction though? To me the only thing science fiction about it is the fact that it is in the future in India when the Earth has acid rain that blisters the skin, and that they originally come from stations (in space, I'm assuming).
Other than that, there isn't much science fiction. The process in the story is a form of scarification. The characters are a mafia assassin and an exiled doctor. It's a story of lost love (not that common, at least not looking at the emotion of it) and surviving.
If you were in Jada's place, would you choose your pseudo-family or the traitorous lover? In my opinion it would be a hard choice to make. Either way Jada looses something important to her, and even if she would have chosen her life with Eten the syndicate would have come after both of them.
Do you think that Jada was giving implied messages to Molly about killing her, or was it just an interpretation that would allow Molly to gain what she wanted without feeling much regret?
I loved the story. How it ended seems poetic in a way, with a tribute to Jada.
Opinions? Did everyone else enjoy it as much as me, or did you find it less appealing?
This is one of my favorite stories too, I found the story to be very interesting and almost haunting. The choice Jada made was something no one should ever have to make and I feel really sorry for her. I do believe that Jada chose to go to Molly so that Jada could get her new marks and also have a way out (of life).
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing, Is this story science fiction? This story does have some elements of science fiction: being in another time, earth is in tragic state, having different planets(?) being inhabited and the advanced suits. Also last class we discussed science fiction typically having homosexual characters, and in this story Molly was attracted and fascinated with Jada, so that would kinda sorta be another science fiction element
This story left me speechless and has absolutely been my favorite of the entire semester thus far. After finishing it I had to put my book down and was afraid of reading something else that might 'contaminate' or 'dilute' my memory of it. The story was simple, honest, and unpretentious. It touched on deep themes like the psychology of professional killers and the morality of 'questionable' actions (Jada killing Eten, and Molly trading Jada's life for money) without getting preachy. I was most won over by its deeply personal and elegiac nature. As badly as I wanted a traditional happy ending, I'm strangely at peace with how it ended.
ReplyDeleteAs for the issue of classifying it as science fiction, ultimately the 'genre' this story is grouped into is irrelevant. One could change the outer 'trappings' of the story (setting, station/earth relationship) and still deliver this powerful narrative. As I said above, this is a deeply personal story and the things that determine genre seem circumstantial. That being said, I still consider this science fiction if only because of the setting.
I also really enjoyed this story. In regards to the debate on whether it is science fiction, it seems to fit into the category as much as any other story we have read this semester. It may not be obvious with aliens and outer-space, but it is futuristic in the same sense that Little Brother is, in other words, the earth could be like this in the future. Therefore, I think it definitely qualifies as science fiction.
ReplyDeleteI also really enjoyed the story because there was not any "fluff," or any unnecessary information to further the story along. The author focused on one aspect, the story, and how it had an effect on the two characters. It was concise and definitely one of my favorites.
I agree with Ellie as to it being sci-fi, but I would argue that it is actually more science fiction than Little Brother is because Doctorow's books are hard to distinguish from present-day capabilities. On the other hand, Finite Canvas is more futuristic in the since that the technology is much further ahead of where we are now (like using gene therapy to cure cancer).
ReplyDeleteI think Jada was trying to tell Molly to get the reward for turning her in, because various hints throughout the story show she has a fatalistic approach to life now. She wants to get the "tattoo" to honor her lover, but she also doesn't seem to care to live beyond that point.
On a more personal note, I enjoyed the story, but it was not my favorite. Mostly because I'm a sucker for a good mystery or thriller.
I thought this story was so hauntingly beautiful. After I finished reading it I just sort of sat there and kept going over and over the story. I loved all the underlying themes of love, redemption, greed, selfishness, selflessness, hope, and failure. The relationship that developed between Jada and Molly was thrilling and it drew out so many different emotions from me while I was reading. I do think in her own poetic was Jada was giving Molly hints to kill her as it was her way to end her life and story the way she wanted.
ReplyDeleteI do see where you are coming from, not really considering it science fiction, but I think it has certain scientific elements, but it was more of a near future more relatable science fiction than the ones we have seen so far.