Uncategorized

Book Review of Cixin Lui’s “Death’s End”

~ Caedar Writing & Artwork: Books by Author, Interviews, Guest Blogs, and more... ~ Leave a comment

Book Review of Cixin Lui’s “Death’s End” (translated by Ken Liu), the third book in the Three Body Problem.

* In Chinese the surname is placed first

Cixin Lui has written the next evolution in Science Fiction.  Whereas Star Trek asks how will we react to certain circumstances, Cixin Lui suggests what could happen.

How Cixin Lui was able to combine known physics with theoretical physics and display it on a universal scale, is mind boggling.  For those of us who grew up in the Western Hemisphere, he also introduces Eastern history and philosophy.  Furthermore, he combines all of this by including individuals throughout the Earth’s history, bringing us all together.

The creators of Game of Thrones are now going to turn Cixin Lui’s book into a Netflix’s series.

I will try to say this in a vague way that only those who have read the series will grasp.  If I could ask Cixin Lui directly, my questions for him would be:

Why destroy landscape if it’s limited?

What happens when two dimensions meets four dimensions?

The Three Body Problem is a fascinating and important series.

I highly recommend it.

D.W.     

Rita Walker: Australia (Blog Nine) by Dan Watt and Taylor Norris (reference links at bottom)

~ Caedar Writing & Artwork: Books by Author, Interviews, Guest Blogs, and more... ~ Leave a comment

Rita Walker: Australia (Blog Nine) by Dan Watt and Taylor Norris (reference links at bottom)

Rita finds both the Martins sitting outside on their covered porch sipping coffee.  She can hear them talking in whispers as they stare into the sunrise.  In the distance she can just see the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.  “There’s an espresso machine on the counter, and milk in the fridge if you want to make a latte,” Aurora tells her.

Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge by Peter Samuel

“That sounds divine,” Rita replies.  “Could I also use your phone or laptop to contact my friend Zsofia?”

“Certainly,” Oliver says.  He passes her his cellphone.  “I can use my laptop for messages today so why don’t you hang onto it.  It will vibrate when there’s a call or message.  Just say the name of your friend and vibrate only if she calls.” 

“It’s going to get blistering hot, so we should get you some clothes before 10 a.m.,” Aurora says.

“That would be wonderful,” Rita says as she turns on the espresso machine.  “And thank you Professor Martin for lending me your phone.”

“Just Oliver,” he tells her.

“We’ll ask Iluka to come along,” Aurora adds as she gets up.  “I better show you how to steam the milk.  You need to pour just enough to make a face.”

Once Rita has her latte she sits at the kitchen table and texts Zsofia:

Dear Zsofia.  I’ve just arrived in Sydney, Australia.  Marlo is busy doing something else so I’m here with an amazing Australian couple.  If I can get you a position at the university will you come here?  The task Albi Rose has given me here is a bit overwhelming.

Please say yes,

Lots of Love!

Rita

Rita notices Aurora staring down at her feet with a frown.

“Let’s get Iluka,” Aurora says, “then while you and her talk in the car I’ll get you a pair of sandals.  Tomorrow Oliver and I will take you to the university.”

“Thank you both so much,” Rita says.  “I don’t know what I would do without your help and such kind hospitality.”

Grimacing against the heat Rita tenderly walks with Aurora to the Martins’ blue Tesla Model 3 electric car. 

“It’s getting old now but still has one of the best ranges of cars in our price range,” Aurora tells her as she pats the hood of the car.  “The tinted glass roof is also a solar panel.  So the car is constantly being recharged.”

As Rita watches Aurora knock on Iluka’s door out the Tesla Model 3 passenger window, she contemplates going to the harbour that night to check on Marlo.

https://www.caradvice.com.au/893403/tesla-model-3-price-australia/

Blue Mountain Jenolan Caves background pic by Peter Samuel with Rita Walker body makeup by @amasonart Alannah Mason, model Taylor Norris, picture of model by Dan Watt

Caedar-writing-artwork.com

Mythruin.simplesite.com

Rita Walker: Australia (Blog Five) by Dan Watt and Taylor Norris (reference links at bottom)

~ Caedar Writing & Artwork: Books by Author, Interviews, Guest Blogs, and more... ~ Leave a comment

Rita Walker: Australia (Blog Five) by Dan Watt and Taylor Norris (reference links at bottom)

“Our spirituality is a oneness and an interconnectedness with all that lives and breathes, even with all that does not live or breathe.”
– Mudrooroo

 

As she heads into the South Pacific Ocean from the Hawkesbury River, Rita changes from many trout into a single three meter long bottlenose dolphin.  Dilga’s milk will protect her from any pollutants caused by sewage being dumped into the ocean near the coast of Sydney.  Everywhere on Earth there is a pollution problem it seems.  Bottlenose dolphins that have died are often given an autopsy to see what contaminants they have accumulated.

Albi Rose taught her that life constantly flows but so can death.  Both are important for the balance of existence.  Moving with the seasons to areas that are bountiful in flora and fauna without changing the landscape are important to all the Australian Indigenous groups.  But the permanent living in one area throughout the year seems to have burdened the environment.  Fixed locations cause too much waste dumped into waterways and the movement of plastic and other waste to designated areas to accumulate until it overflows into the pristine areas.

Exhausted from thinking of all the Earth’s problems caused by humanity she longs to explore the kilometers of ocean water below her.  But that will have to wait.  She’s decides to invite her friend Zsofia to Sydney.  Perhaps she can get Zsofia a guest lecturer position as a Biomedical Science expert.

 

https://theconversation.com/australias-pristine-beaches-have-a-poo-problem-116175

https://www.britannica.com/place/Pacific-Ocean/The-trade-winds

https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-animals/native-animal-facts/bottlenose-dolphin

http://www.nrm.gov.au/national/local/whale-dolphin-protection

 

Blue Mountain Jenolan Caves background pic by Peter Samuel with Rita Walker body makeup by @amasonart Alannah Mason, model Taylor Norris, picture of model by Dan Watt

 

Caedar-writing-artwork.com

Mythruin.simplesite.com

Rita Walker: Australia (Blog Four) by Dan Watt and Taylor Norris (reference links at bottom)

~ Caedar Writing & Artwork: Books by Author, Interviews, Guest Blogs, and more... ~ Leave a comment

Rita Walker: Australia (Blog Four) by Dan Watt and Taylor Norris (reference links at bottom)

A totem is an object or thing in nature that is adopted as a family or clan emblem. Different clans are assigned different totems and, in some cases, individuals are given personal totems at birth. In the Torres Strait, people wear personal pendants, which are mostly carved out of wood, turtle shell or shells and often represent the person’s totem. There are well-established rules about when they can wear the pendants, often only during ceremonies or rituals.

 

As a school of trout Rita has to let the trout do what they naturally would so she asks Dilga if she can enter the dreamtime.

Rita floats bodiless in space.  She looks down and sees a group of women known as the Djunkgao sisters shrouded in mist.  They are naming the Australian animals and clans.  One is making sacred wells with a yam stick.  The image disappears.

Again mist swirls around, and this time Rita sees the youngest sister observing the ocean’s current.  A male figure related to the sisters accosts her.  Angry words are exchanged.  The man forces the youngest sister to the ground.  Unable to stop what happens next Rita goes elsewhere to avoid the sight of the father, uncle, or brother raping the youngest sister.

In the next image all the sisters are standing on land looking up into the sky.  To spite the man, they all know, for what he did to their youngest sister, they have become dormant.  Now the land grows dry and overheated from lack of rain.

“Think of water as the sisters, and pollution as the man who raped the youngest sister,” Dilga’s voice echoes in her thoughts.  “There are parallels between the past, the present, and the future.  Follow the trail of coal as energy and encourage alternatives and less destructive uses.  It’s time for the Djunkgao sisters to come home.  Thank your…friend…for what he is already doing.”

 

http://www.aboriginalart.com.au/culture/dreamtime2.html

https://australianstogether.org.au/discover/indigenous-culture/aboriginal-spirituality/

http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/our-partners/traditional-owners/traditional-owners-of-the-great-barrier-reef/language-totems-and-stories

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/nov/01/six-biggest-coalminers-in-australia-produce-more-emissions-than-entire-economy

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-50869565

 

Blue Mountain Jenolan Caves background pic by Peter Samuel with Rita Walker body makeup by @amasonart Alannah Mason, model Taylor Norris, picture of model by Dan Watt

 

Caedar-writing-artwork.com

Mythruin.simplesite.com

Rita Walker: Australia (Blog Three) by Dan Watt and Taylor Norris (reference links at bottom)

~ Caedar Writing & Artwork: Books by Author, Interviews, Guest Blogs, and more... ~ Leave a comment

Rita Walker: Australia (Blog Three) by Dan Watt and Taylor Norris (reference links at bottom)

The Australasia Recycling Label

  • We administer the Australian Packaging Covenant to reduce the environmental impacts of consumer packaging and optimise resource recovery.
  • We develop plans and guidelines to prevent plastic waste from entering the oceans.
  • We work with state, territory and local governments, as well as industry, to support and encourage the reduction of plastic waste and litter.

https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste-resource-recovery/plastics-and-packaging

It’s so hot as she walks to the Jenolan River that she grimaces with every step.  But she wants to wait until she reaches Sidney before using any of Dilga’s herbs.  Once she reaches the river she kneels down and diligently pours some of Dilga’s milk into the water.  Before climbing in she presses her hands in.  Feeling the ebb of the current she asks Dilga to send protection to Marlo.  Keeping her hand under the warm water she waits until she is connected to Marlo.

The vibrations she feels from Marlo tell her, “I’m near the Cocos Keeling Islands.  The plastic and other debris is bad and some of it is breaking down into smaller pieces that wildlife ingests.”

She sends back a vibration asking, “What’s causing it?” and waits.

“Most of it seems to be coming from Asia.  We both know the steps now.  Let the World know and then offer solutions.”  She can sense Marlos’ frustration.

“How do we solve it?” she asks with more vibrations.

After a time she receives his reply.  “In water form I can estimate the amount of miniscule pieces and larger pieces but it will take time.  The movement of water and wind will make it hard to clean up without hurting the environment.  I need time to find a solution.  Can you contact me in a few days?”

“I will,” she promises.

The heat is almost unbearable as she slides into the Jenolan River.  A lot of the 18.6 million hectares of the land burnt in the 2019 to 2020 fires has now regrown.  But the summers in New South Wales can be as high as 50°C.  The dilly bag and her clothes become a part of her body as she turns into a school of trout cod.  She will feed as trout cod do on her long journey to Cox River into Lake Burragorang then north into the Nepean River.  From there she will travel along the Hawkesbury River in Broken Bay and finally to the South Pacific Ocean.  There she’ll travel south to Sydney as a bottlenose dolphin.

 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-43375-4

https://www.marinelitterthefacts.com/sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019%E2%80%9320_Australian_bushfire_season

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trout_cod

https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-animals/native-animal-facts/bottlenose-dolphin#:~:text=The%20bottlenose%20dolphin%20can%20be,the%20lower%20reaches%20of%20rivers.

Blue Mountain Jenolan Caves background pic by Peter Samuel with Rita Walker body makeup by @amasonart Alannah Mason, model Taylor Norris, picture of model by Dan Watt

Caedar-writing-artwork.com

Mythruin.simplesite.com

 

 

Rita Walker: Australia (Blog Two) by Dan Watt and Taylor Norris (reference links at bottom

~ Caedar Writing & Artwork: Books by Author, Interviews, Guest Blogs, and more... ~ Leave a comment

Rita Walker: Australia (Blog Two) by Dan Watt and Taylor Norris (reference links at bottom)

“We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love… and then we return home.” – Australian Aboriginal saying

  • Note: Uluru is a rock formation in the Northern Territory of Australia not the original name for Australia.

She stares far up at the Carlotta Arch’s stalactite ceiling where Ailbe Rose appeared to her and sees a female figure shrouded in mist.

Carlotta's Arch, Blue Mountain Jenolan Caves Australia by Peter Samuel (7)

Rita takes a step back.  Dilga is not just of the Earth but the Universe itself.  As the swirls of mist pass Dilga’s skin appears dark blue but as the mist covers her skin it becomes more light brown.  Her only clothing are two intertwining serpents painted along her body in the colours of the rainbow.  The colours change as the mist flows around her.  But Rita only vaguely notices Dilga’s appearance.  The goddess’s curly raven hair is like an archway that accentuates the dark brown of her ubiquitous-omnipresent eyes.

“This region of Australia will scorch your northern skin so you will need Kakadu plum,” Dilga suddenly says in a surprisingly young female voice.  “You will find a satchel with enhanced Kakadu plum.  It will help you be accepted by the First People while still appearing to be of European decent.  And if you should meet a child who is the combination of the First People and Europeans you will be welcomed as kin.  You will also find in this satchel many other herbs.  Some will save you if you are bitten by a poisonous snake, spider, or jellyfish.”

“Thank you,” Rita says with a gasp.  Her body is trembling.  In Dilga’s presence she feels time is endless.

“What I tell you,” Dilga continues, “is so you understand.  Captain Cook and those who came after him brought scientific understanding to Australia but it can be so miniscule in understanding and long in explanation.  Life goes on and often an explanation needs to be simple and seen vastly.

“The Jenolan Caves came about when Mirragan–a feline fisherman, caught sight of Gurangatch–an eel shaped Burringilling resting deep in the water of the junction between the Wollondilly and Wingeecaribbee rivers.  Mirragan tried to poison the water with hickory bark so Gurangatch would have to surface.  When Gurangatch discovered what Mirragan was doing they started to fight.  That fight created the Jenolan Caves.  The fight that occurs now is between nature and technology with neither winning.  You have been chosen to mediate symbolically between Gurangatch and Mirragan.

“Where should I start?” Rita asks with unavoidable respect in her voice.

“In the city of Sydney live a couple who are of European decent but were born in Australia.  This land flows through them and they understand the importance of the merging of nature with technology.  They are teachers like you.  Search for professors Aurora and Oliver Martin.”

“How will I get there?”

“My mother’s milk brought my sons back to life after the cat-man Ngariman killed them.  Look for a bull kelp vessel in the dilly bag.  The contents contain my milk and will lead you safely to the professors.  After that look up into the clouds and when you see two in the shape of slithering snakes, know my Bagadjimbiri sons watch over you.”

“Thank you Dilga,” Rita says bowing her head in gratitude.  When she looks up only the Carlotta Archway faces her.  She starts to step forward when the toes of her right foot bump into something soft.  At her feet is a dilly bag.  She looks inside and sees numerous herbs.  At the very top is a Kakadu plum.

 

Pictures:

Background picture by Peter Samuel of Blue Mountain, Jenolan Caves, Australia; Body Paint by @amasonart Alannah Mason; Picture of Rita Walker by Dan Watt.

 

Carlotta’s Arch, Jenolan Caves, Blue Mountain, Australia by Peter Samuel.

 

http://goddesses-and-gods.blogspot.com/2008/08/goddess-dilga.html

https://www.jenolancaves.org.au/about/aboriginal-culture/dreamtime-story-of-gurrangatch-mirrigan/

https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/causes-and-prevention/sun-safety/10-myths-about-sun-protection

 

 

 

Caedar-writing-artwork.com

Mythruin.simplesite.com

 

 

Rita Walker: Australia (Blog One) by Dan Watt and Taylor Norris (reference links at bottom)  

~ Caedar Writing & Artwork: Books by Author, Interviews, Guest Blogs, and more... ~ Leave a comment

Blue Mountain Jenolan Caves background pic by Peter Samuel with Rita Walker final choice low res

Blue Mountain Jenolan Caves background pic by Peter Samuel with Rita Walker body makeup by @amasonart Alannah Mason, model Taylor Norris, picture of model by Dan Watt

Rita Walker: Australia (Blog One) by Dan Watt and Taylor Norris (reference links at bottom)

“We don’t own the land, the land owns us. The land is my mother, my mother is the land. Land is the starting point to where it all began. It’s like picking up a piece of dirt and saying this is where I started and this is where I’ll go. The land is our food, our culture, our spirit and identity.”— S. Knight

Rita detaches herself from Marlo and they both swim to the surface of Camp Creek near the Jenolan Caves.

“You’ve changed,” Marlo says looking at her as she steps out of the water.

Rita stairs down at herself and sees she has acquired some of his water elemental aspects.

“Will you be gone long?” she asks biting her lower lip.

“The Cocos Keeling Islands have beaches covered by plastic waste,” he says in a sombre tone.  “I wish I could stay and learn why Ailbe Rose called you here but I can’t.”

“Be safe,” she calls out as Marlo transforms into water.  She pulls her hair back into a bun so the water will run down her back.  With a sigh she watches the ripples of water that represent Marlo flow out of sight.  The one thing that gives her relief is that the water aspect she now has will allow her to communicate with him through any waterways that connect to the surrounding seas.

Blue Mountain Jenolan Caves Australia by Peter Samuel Rita Walker bodypaint by Alannah Morrison 3 (8)

Blue Mountain Jenolan Caves background pic by Peter Samuel with Rita Walker body makeup by @amasonart Alannah Mason, model Taylor Norris, picture of model by Dan Watt

 

She is only wearing a black sports bra and cameo shorts; ideal clothes for the temperature in the New South Wales region of Australia.  As she walks towards the Jenolan Caves beads of soil halt her steps by rolling over her feet.  The blues and greens that her skin had changed into during their travel to Australia return to their normal whitish pink.

She closes her eyes and reopens them to see Ailbe Rose before her.

Blue Mountain Jenolan Caves Australia by Peter Samuel (9) Leah Weir as Ailbe Rose picture by Kimberley Photography

Blue Mountain  Jenolan Caves  Australia by Peter Samuel model Leah Weir as Ailbe Rose, picture by Kimberley Photography https://www.facebook.com/KimberleyleeNI/

“Though there are other names for this place call it Uluru when talking to Dilga,” Ailbe Rose tells her.  “The arrival of Captain Cook has brought the deities of what Europeans call Australia into conflict.  Bamapana now travels in dreamtime throughout Australia causing discord with the likes of Julana.  Now the land is becoming more dessert as the Djunkgao sisters hide in fear.  As long as they do no rain will fall.”

Rita stares back towards Camp Creek and notices the edges of the bank are deep and the water low.  “What the people of Austra—Uluru do will affect the Dreamline?” she asks.

“Dilga will teach you the Dreamline.  You’re here as an outsider, to counter the negative effects Bamapana, Julana and others are having on the land by encouraging technology that works with the environment.  Remember, the Earth curves in all directions and we all belong to the core.  So anything that happens in one place affects what happens elsewhere.”

“Will there be help?   Rán has sent Marlo to the Cocos Keeling Islands.” Rita asks.

“There will be but most are new and naïve,” Ailbe Rose warns her.  “They came after Captain Cook and walk the land but most have not yet fully merged with the land.  As it is on any other continent there are many different groups of people on Uluru.  The original people will be singing and traveling the Dreamline.  That is where the most important work will be done.  You will walk the Dreamline too but focus on encouraging the technology that works with the land.”

Rita blinks and Ailbe Rose is gone.  Now she sees a woman who she senses exists in the present and the past simultaneously.

https://int.sydney.com/destinations/blue-mountains/oberon-area/jenolan-caves/attractions/jenolan-caves

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-43375-4#:~:text=Plastic%20has%20been%20documented%20at,the%20northwest%20coast%20of%20Australia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_Aboriginal_mythological_figures

https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/on-this-day/2013/11/on-this-day-captain-james-cook-sets-sail/

https://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/spirituality/what-is-aboriginal-spirituality