SF squids

February 4, 2008 7:02 PM

Talking Squids in Outer Space : The Pinnacle of Science Fiction
posted by dhruva (25 comments total)

Wow! This speech/presentation and footage at TED by David Gallo [YouTube] from the post above is freaking awesome!
posted by humannaire at 7:27 PM on February 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

This is, of course, all down to Margaret Atwood saying that science fiction is all "talking squids in outer space", and of course nothing like her stories of bioengineering and/or radical social change set in the future.

I think it annoyed some people.
posted by Artw at 7:43 PM on February 4, 2008 [1 favorite]

Also: That font is horrifying.
posted by Artw at 7:46 PM on February 4, 2008

Spoiler
posted by not_on_display at 8:04 PM on February 4, 2008

The site's from scifi writer Vonda McIntyre, btw. And here's more about Atwood vs. SciFi.
posted by mediareport at 8:07 PM on February 4, 2008

The squidliography omits Accelerando by Charlie Stross.
posted by ursus_comiter at 8:10 PM on February 4, 2008

Dave Langfords Ansible kind of picked up the talking squids thing and ran with it.
posted by Artw at 8:13 PM on February 4, 2008

I couldn't find references in the site to the most famous/popular space cephalopods in Pop Culture today... Kang and Kodos.
posted by wendell at 8:23 PM on February 4, 2008

The Pinnacle Tentacle of Science Fiction
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:31 PM on February 4, 2008

The site does have a link to "Space Squid Magazine", a collection of intentionally bad SciFi, which, in addition to an intentionally sexist cover, contains a feature that ties in with another recent MeFi thread: The Octopus With Enormous Breasts.

Please don't shoot the messenger.
posted by wendell at 8:32 PM on February 4, 2008

I wonder if you could trace all this back to Lovecraft?
posted by well_balanced at 8:38 PM on February 4, 2008

It's a trap
posted by slapshot57 at 9:02 PM on February 4, 2008

Funny enough, I'm right in the middle of Baxter's Manifold: Time right now.
posted by griphus at 9:04 PM on February 4, 2008

Wow! Plus the pinnacle of web design, in the same package!
posted by XMLicious at 9:06 PM on February 4, 2008

I was expecting this: A Boy and his Squid.
posted by rouftop at 9:47 PM on February 4, 2008

Cthulhu is not a squid, he's a thing beyond all comprehension who just happens to have tentacles when viewed by primitive human perceptual systems. And he doesn't talk - he shatters minds.

Honestly, this is exactly the kind of thing that made Blair Reynolds freak the hell out. Have some respect.
posted by Artw at 9:57 PM on February 4, 2008

When I saw the title i just knew this was going to reference the Baxter Manifold series.

(Ultra-depressing, all three volumes are)
posted by sourwookie at 10:08 PM on February 4, 2008

That octopus with enormous breasts is not without appeal, only I'm a bit concerned as to the location of her beak.
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:12 PM on February 4, 2008

Must remember to lock library door. Someone has scanned all my first edition covers.
posted by skippyhacker at 10:52 PM on February 4, 2008

I'm a sucker for this sort of thing (sorry)
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 3:15 AM on February 5, 2008

I'll take your talking cosmic squids and raise you one hyperdimensional superbeing nostalgic for a wee nip of history at the end of time.
posted by CheeseburgerBrown at 4:26 AM on February 5, 2008

No Zoidberg?
posted by devon at 11:12 AM on February 5, 2008

Can anyone tell me the source of that Margaret Atwood quote?
posted by hermitosis at 2:21 PM on February 5, 2008

admiral ackbar, as opposed to stephen baxter?

fwiw, on a google search, apparently it's from a 'BBC1 Breakfast News' interview...

oh and also noticed this:

London, 17 June 2005, The Guardian: "Aliens have taken the place of angels - Margaret Atwood on why we need science fiction", includes the line "I have written two works of science fiction or, if you prefer, speculative fiction." [cf.]

btw, for me (hope :) the pinnacle of science fiction; it's been six years... may '08!
posted by kliuless at 6:55 PM on February 5, 2008

I don't know if he originated the idea but Carl Sagan did a very thorough analysis of ETs having replaced angels and demons in The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark (nonfiction).
posted by XMLicious at 2:33 AM on February 6, 2008