Guest Post by David Goodberg (And Giveaway!)

South Park: The Best Non-Science-Fiction, Science-Fiction Show  

South Park in actuality, is a science fiction show.  While I recognize the magnitude of this article being posted on a book review website, I feel I have a duty to make this connection as I attempt to plug my science fiction book, Selected Shorts and Other Methods of Time Travel. There is a dangerous absence of science fiction in mainstream media, from movies and TV to even books (let alone humorous science fiction).  While books are the best resource for current science fiction, it is hardly the genre big publishers are investing their marketing dollars in. And before you try and counter-attack, let's remember that the massive influx of fantasy is hardly science fiction. Fantasy is a genre that features impossible environments while science fiction holds promise and possibility (or probability) of exiting. At least, that's the basics (that I believe to be true).  

To another level, I don’t consider drama in a futuristic environment science fiction unless there is a relationship between the story and us (the viewers).  For example, Star Wars is clearly a science-fiction series, but I would classify it more so as a dramatic adventure that takes place in the future because of the lack of science fiction themes versus the dramatic, human element that dominates. While having not read the books, I am existed to hear the buzz surrounding the Hunger Games film(s) since the books have become a huge success.  While I wouldn't consider this to be a full-blown science fiction franchise (based on minimal plot points I’ve read along with reviews). I enjoy the science-fiction elements involved and consider it a significant improvement compared to the pure fantasy content out there.  With that said, we rarely see full-blown science-fiction films. Source Code and Moon brought back the classic style of science-fiction.  Fringe and LOST (depending which season we are talking about) rebounded science-fiction on television as well. And let’s not forget about the continuing popularity of Dr. Who. But what is at fault in these examples is the expanded story.  

Selected Shorts and Other Methods of Time Travel by David Goodberg

In 2051, commercial time travel became a global reality. Opportunities abounded for curious history buffs, futurists, and corrupt entrepreneurs. Selected Shorts and Other Methods of Time Travel is a spellbinding collection of 37 illustrated tales that explore time travel tourism and its repercussions.

In various settings ranging from Earth to deep space, Selected Shorts presents tales of those brave (or foolish) enough to adventure through the space-time continuum. Explore an era devastated by the Worlds War of 2267, cluttered with time traveling tourists and swindlers, terrorized by the allpowerful Icelandic Mafia, endangered by ruthless corporations, and threatened by vigilante space aliens.

The future as we know it will never be the same.

Review:

Selected Shorts and Other Methods of Time Travel was, at times, very confusing. By the end of each story, I was thoroughly boggled. But I also have realized, after finishing it, that the boggling nature of virtually the entire collection of stories is what makes it so effective. Most of the stories are pretty pointless, but usually only at first glance; when I first started reading it, I have to admit that I honestly didn't get the point. I also didn't understand how it was, exactly, "thought provoking". But then it hit me: the fact that I was thinking about it at all made it very thought provoking, and made it an honest-to-God success.

The stories were all very quirky and random and unrealistic, but in an insanely smart way; their purpose was to make you do a double take, and make you actually think: What the hell did I just read? They all feel very whimsical, and some didn't seem to have much to do with time travel at all, which I suppose contributed to the mood of the book as a whole. They also definitely hinted towards (and plainly discussed) serious ethical issues and racial discrimination, but when you pair serious social issues like that with David Goodberg's tone of storytelling and people from other planets, it all just became very entertaining to read.The entire collection is told in a very wry, humorous tone, which, even when puzzling over a particularly confusing story, made me smile.

I especially loved the odd quips between each story; they were entirely and completely and utterly pointless, which I'm assuming was the point. Some were just really weird and others were funny, while quite a few were insanely smart in an almost reluctant way. I swear, this book will put you in so many different places at once.

Goodberg's writing was great, continuously holding that same removed, wry tone throughout the entire book which, to be honest, really made the whole thing. None of the stories really seemed to be connected in any huge way (other than the idea of time travel), but they somehow still fit together seamlessly, in a very peculiar, subtle way.

And even though it was, ultimately, epic, I have to admit that there were some stories I didn't really get at all, while there were a few that stood out a lot to me personally (for example, the one where the professor traveled back to Main Street USA). When looking at it as a whole, I have to describe the book as being, well, my seven year old sister hyped up on Halloween candy, two sodas, and more pop tarts than are healthy for her, or maybe a crowd of very vocal people with ADD and very, very conflicting opinions.

Basically, it's kind of genius.

Grade: A

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