Just Finished Reading: Pale Rider – The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How It Changed the World by Laura Spinney (FP: 2017) [295pp] 

At first, they thought it was just the Flu, something ordinary, something familiar no matter how annoying. Anyway, there was a war on so a few sniffles, a few sick men was neither here nor there. There was no way in hell that they could quarantine a port or stop the troop ships sailing to France. The fate of the West was at stake. Even when the sick began to overwhelm the medics and soldiers, young, fit, men began to die in ever greater numbers the trains still picked up the apparently heathy from the training camps and crammed them into transports. As the outbreak spread across war-torn Europe it hit the Germans HARD. After 4 years of war and the effects of the British naval blockade both the soldiers and civilians were using up their last reserves of just about everything.  

When the war finally ended and soldiers began returning home – including millions of prisoners of war long held in unhealthy camps – the ‘Spanish’ flu (so-called because of its early reports in uncensored Spanish newspapers) spread across the world. The mortality rate varied widely but was generally agreed upon as roughly 2% overall. This doesn’t seem very much, but 2% was around 50-100 million dead across the globe. The rather large range estimate reflects the lack of records, the fact that the number of dead in Russia (which was going through the start of its Civil War at the time) might never be known, the number of Indian dead (likewise) may never be known because of lax record keeping in that British ‘protectorate’ and China was in a state of political and civil upheaval and this, probably, is where the majority of the deaths occurred. The flu killed more than the Great War and possibly killed more than the Second World War that followed it. At the top of the estimate figures it is even conceivable that the Spanish flu killed more people than BOTH World Wars combined. The death toll was far from being evenly distributed. Whilst New York suffered 0.5% deaths Rio suffered three times as many at 1.6%. Zamora in Spain doubled that at 3% whilst Gujarat in India doubled that again at 6%. Worst was to come in isolated communities such as Bristol Bay in Alaska that suffered 40% mortality. 

Interestingly, the Spanish flu had numerous similarities to the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Governments played down its impact (in this case so as not to ‘undermine the war effort’), argued about the cause and exactly where it came from. This was especially problematic at the time because viruses were essentially theoretical in 1918. Some cities in the US or countries elsewhere instituted basic public health measures like social distancing, masks, the closing of schools and stopping of public gatherings. Other places did not, or only did so half-heartedly. Once the war was over several US cities allowed parades and paid the price in the increased backlog at mortuaries. I did find it especially interesting that there were many reports of long-term impacts of the disease even after people had recovered. Examples of heart damage, fatigue and psychological problems possibly cause by brain damage exploded in the medical records of the time. Loss of smell, temporary loss of colour vision and much else was experienced. So-called ‘Long Covid’ no longer seems in the least as ‘exaggerated’ as some have suggested. 

No longer ‘forgotten’ after our recent experience of global pandemic, the Spanish flu had a significant global impact that is all too often overlooked in the shadow of the Great War. It must have been quite terrifying at the time (again compared to Covid) and I think we can learn quite a bit from the virus itself and how the world coped (and didn’t) with the disease. This was definitely one of the Science/History highlights of the year for me. Not only is it very well written but the author explores far more that the outbreak itself looking at its short-term and long-term impacts of humanity and human history. Fascinating and highly recommended – if you can handle the flashbacks to 2020!   

Just Finished re-Reading: Deathworld 1 by Harry Harrison (FP: 1960) [157pp] 

Interstellar gambler Jason dinAlt knew it was an offer he couldn’t refuse. The stranger was willing to hand over millions in seed money confident that Jason could turn those millions into the billion he needed. What the stranger needed such a huge amount for didn’t concern him. The challenge was everything. What Jason didn’t realise was just how much the casino would resent him walking away with such a huge sum and what they would do to stop that happening. Luckily the stranger had a ship waiting, a ship stuffed full of the most advanced weaponry humans could devise. Knowing that his life would be short and painful if he stayed, Jason told the stranger that he would be leaving with him. Their destination was the planet Pyrrus, a place that Jason had never heard of. The weapons in the hold were necessary to continue a war that had been raging with increasing intensity for generations, a war against the planet itself, a war that the colonists were losing. Jason was going to the most dangerous planet in the galaxy, a world where few lived into adulthood and where even fewer died in their beds. But how can a planet wage war, Jason asked? The answer to that question, if he survived long enough to get an answer, might just save everyone... 

I wasn’t intending to read this until next year as part of my plan to re-read the significant Sci-Fi works of my ‘youth’. However, my review pile was looking a little sparse so I decided to drop this one in early. As I first read this almost 50 years ago, I wasn’t greatly surprised that I had forgotten most of the plot. What did surprise me was that I did actually remember several aspects quite well – specifically the impressive guns they used and an incident during Jason’s survival training which made me laugh.  

Overall, I thought this was quite well written despite its age. There was an interesting mystery at the heart of the book and I was impressed at the way the author, through Jason, went about solving it. One of the most useful things I took from my early (teenage) reading of SF was the scientific mindset that often threaded its way through most narratives. Solutions, when needed, were not simply pulled out of a hat or handed down from above or ancient texts, but were worked out – sometimes through trial and error – using logic, reason and facts. Theories were tested, results noted and objectives changed. The characters discovered things through enquiry, with the acquisition of data. It, as far as I can tell looking back, changed the way I thought and saw the world. 

About the only questionable aspect of the book was the female lead character/love interest who, I thought, was rather poorly drawn and actually pretty irrelevant to the plot. Most of the rest of the characters – all men – were generally more rounded and at least had reasonable backstories and motivations even if they were a bit ‘over the top’ at times! I thought that this had dated pretty well and found myself enjoying the re-read quite a bit. Recommended to all Sci-Fi fans and more re-reads from this author to come. 

 

"The alternative to American pre-eminence was not a globe full of mini-Americas but a world dominated by tyrants. Freedom was at stake, as it always is, but America had tied itself into a political knot. The cyclonic forces of fascism and nihilism gained in power as the centre weakened. The only thing that kept democracy from winding up in a suicidal brawl of self interest was a sense of common purpose, but the pandemic exposed that the United States no longer had one."

Lawrence Wright - The Plague Year: America in the Time of Covid. 

The Last 10 Movies – October 2024 Edition 

I wonder if I’ve gotten out of the habit of watching movies. I used to drop a DVD into the player and happily watch a film most weekends, even one that lasted 2 hours or more. These days I struggle to give a movie 30 minutes of my attention unless I’m ‘trapped’ in a movie theatre with friends. I find it even harder, so it seems at least, to watch new movies. Is that a me problem or a Hollywood problem? It’s a good question. Personally, I’d say 25% me and 75% Hollywood. Back in the day it wasn’t unusual for me and the guys, and sometimes me on my own (when ‘allowed’) to see several new movies a month. Sometimes we even saw several movies a week – with occasional re-watching's thrown in. No more. I doubt if I’ve seen 3-4 movies this *year* at the local multiplex. I even struggle with seeing new (or at least new to me) movies on Prime. I’ve tried a few and either abandon them pretty quickly or at least before the half way mark. It seems that even ‘free’ movies these days simply aren’t worth the time invested. But I have at least managed 10 movies since my last report in August. A whole TWO are new to me – one viewed on the big screen with friends and one viewed on Prime. They are: 

Alien: Romulus (2024) 

A reasonable addition to the franchise. It had a generally good look & feel and I liked the young cast, especially the female lead. It was, however, too long and had too many false endings. Within the hour a friend had I had improved the script 200%. 

The Batman (2022) 

Surprisingly good and surprisingly dark (in every sense) variation on the Batman theme. I was honestly impressed by Robert Pattinson’s interpretation of the iconic troubled hero. As much as I enjoyed it though – it was still at least 30 minutes too long. 

Pacific Rim (2013) 

Giant robots fighting giant monsters. As an idea it really shouldn’t have worked, but it did. Even after multiple re-watching's this is still chocked fun of fun. Totally silly, totally awesome. 

Groundhog Day (1993) 

Quite possibly Bill Murray’s best (at least funniest) film. Re-living the same day over & over, just imagine the possibilities. Plus, it has the lovely Andie MacDowell in it. Bonus. 

Jurassic Park (1993) 

The original dino film and still up there with the best of them. Borderline silly at times but still great fun. Loved the cast especially Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum and Laura Dern. 

Get Carter (1971) 

Hard-boiled hard-case British crime thriller with Michael Caine in Newcastle looking for who killed his brother. Gritty, nasty and brutal at times. Not for the easily offended. 

Terminator: Genisys (2017) 

A very nice addition to the Terminator franchise with some lovely homage set pieces throughout. One of my favourites in the sequence. 

Sicario (2015) 

Loved this movie – originally seen on the big screen – almost from the first few minutes. Totally brutal in places and dealing with some heavy subjects I found it completely captivation. Emily Blunt was outstanding and I just LOVED Josh Brolin’s character. He was obviously having far too much fun. 

Beetlejuice (1988) 

Comedy horror based around the idea of a recently deceased couple who want to scare away the new tenants of their home. Nowhere near as funny as I remembered it to be. Even Genna Davis and Winona Ryder couldn’t save it this time. 

Hard Boiled (1992) 

Totally over the top Hong Kong cop thriller where gun-running Chinese Triads are confronted by several overlapping police squads. Totally ridiculous shoot-outs (one in a hospital with automatic weapons and rocket launchers) and a very thin plot. Starred Chow Yun-Fat and directed by John Woo. 

Happy Birthday: Magnus Magnusson, KBE (born Magnús Sigursteinsson; 12 October 1929 – 7 January 2007) was an Icelandic-born British-based journalist, translator, writer and television presenter. Born in Reykjavík, he lived in Scotland for almost all his life, although he never took British citizenship. He came to prominence as a BBC television journalist and was the presenter of the BBC television quiz programme Mastermind for 25 years.

Magnusson presented the long-running quiz show Mastermind from 1972 to 1997 on BBC1. His catchphrase "I've started, so I'll finish", which his successors continued to use, was said whenever the time for questioning a contestant ran out while he was reading a question on the show. Magnusson made cameo appearances as himself, hosting Mastermind in Morecambe and Wise as well as the children's series Dizzy Heights and as Magnus Magnesium in The Goodies episode "Frankenfido". He also used his Mastermind catchphrase in a television advertisement for cheese.

Magnusson translated or co-translated a variety of books from modern Icelandic and Old Norse into English. Among these are several works by Halldór Laxness, the Nobel prize-winning novelist from Iceland, as well as a number of Norse sagas, which he co-translated (with Hermann Pálsson) for Penguin Classics: Njal's Saga (1960), The Vinland Sagas (1965), King Harald's Saga (1966) and Laxdæla Saga (1969).

[I LOVED Mastermind growing up and it was a significant part of my teenage years. I'm a big fan of 'up market' quiz shows - my other big favourite of the era was University Challenge - and I enjoyed getting answers right before the contestants (or the rest of the family).] 

We do seem to be *living* through History right now, but I wonder if that's just because of 24hr News & Social Media making it *feel* like everything is happening all at once....