Good Morning

Book 36 - Daniel Keyes "Flowers For Algernon"

Daniel Keyes "Flowers For Algernon" (Gollancz SF Masterworks)




Flowers for Algernon is an exploration of intelligence. In this book, scientists have developed a way to make mice super-intelligent. As their first human experiment, they take Charlie, an earnest but dim-witted man. Over the course of the book, written from the point of view of his diary, you see him become aware, begin to understand the intricacies of human behaviour, and then slowly surpass all those around him including the scientists who made him thus. It is only when the mice who were initially treated start to decline that the inevitable tragedy becomes apparent and he spends his last days in a race against time. This is in some ways a fictional Awakening where a promising treatment proves unsustainable.

The best element of the book is that it explores the social consequences of intelligence. Charlie is confused at first by the jealousies and offences he inadvertently creates. But he also has all of the arrogance and frustration that you see. Charlie shows Algernon that it doesn't take someone with high intelligence to treat anyone with love and respect. It is Charlie who sees that they are on display for everyone to see. It is after Algernon dies that Charlie takes upon his self to bury Algernon in a grave instead of being place in the lab's inferno. Even after Charlie loses his intelligence, he still remembers the one who helped him become like everyone else, even for a short while This book elegantly covers it all.

In certain ways, the author can't help but fail. How do you describe someone smarter than all the other beings you've ever known? Well, Charlie learns faster and has little patience for ignorance but he doesn't learn or interact in any particularly different ways. Having everything told in the first person becomes a problem when he's reached super-intelligence. Inevitably this is an inadequate description, but there's no better way to do it. I understand that this was initially a short story and I almost wish that I had read that instead of the novel. As a concept, it just fits a short story or novella but as a novel, Keyes gets trapped in trying to explain too much.

However , apart from the caveats, this is still a fascinating read.

Some Jazzy Michaels

Double birthday celebrations this May. My bro coming42 is first and then me, So here are some jazzy Michaels.

Mike Westbrook Concert band with Norma Winstone - Autumn King

from LOVE SONGS (1970)

Mike Westbrook: piano
Norma Winstone: vocals
Mike Osborne: alto sax
George Khan: tenor sax
John Warren: baritone sax
Dave Holdsworth: trumpet / flugelhorn
Malcolm Griffiths: trombones
Paul Rutherford: trombones
Chris Spedding: guitars
Harry Miller: bass
Alan Jackson: drums

Mike Osbourne Quintet - Molten Lead

Michael Garrick - Lime Blossom

Enjoy.

Ewart's Talented Nephew

This is my drinking buddy's nephew Pablo FitzGerald on the baroque guitar.


Fandango by Santiago de Murcia (Pablo FitzGerald, baroque guitar)

Barbarella

Classic soundtrack time - groovy baby.


Bob Crewe Generation - Barbarella

Bob Crewe Generation - Pygar's Persecution/The Black Queen's Beads

Bob Crewe & Charles Fox - The Chamber of Dreams

Enjoy.

Would You ...

Would you rather receive a lifetime supply of meals from your favourite restaurant or a lifetime supply of gasoline?

Would you rather babysit 3-month-old triplets for 4 hours or go without food and water for the next 24 hours?

Would you rather spend one year sailing around the world or one year living in the heart of London?

Good Night