2407 – Earth Abides (1949 novel)

timespace coordinates: The novel tells the story of the fall of civilization from deadly disease and the emergence of a new culture with simpler tools. Set in the 1940s in Berkeley, California, the story is told by Isherwood Williams, who emerges from isolation in the mountains to find almost everyone dead.

Earth Abides is a 1949 American post-apocalyptic science fiction novel by George R. Stewart.

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In November 1950, the book was adapted for the CBS radio program Escape as a two-part drama starring John Dehner. In early 2024 it was announced that a television adaptation was underway at Amazon MGM Studios.

Major themes   //   wiki   //   goodreads

Apparently the processes behind the production of electricity must be almost completely automatic. In the hydro-electric plants the flow of water was still keeping the generators in motion. Moreover, when things had started to go to pieces, someone must have ordered that the street-lights be left turned on.

Now he saw beneath him all the intricate pattern of the lights in the East Bay cities, and beyond that the yellow chains of lights on the Bay Bridge, and still farther through the faint evening mist, the glow of the San Francisco lights and the fainter chains on the Golden Gate Bridge.

Even the traffic-lights were still working, changing from green to red. High upon the bridge-towers the flashes silently sent their warnings to airplanes which would no longer ever be flying.

Even the advertising signs, some of them at least, had been left burning. Pathetically, they flashed out their call to buy, though no longer were there any customers left or any salesmen. One great sign in particular, its lower part hidden behind a near-by building, still sent out its message Drink although he could not see what he was thus commanded to drink.

she watched it, half-fascinated. Drink—blackness. Drink—blackness. Drink. “Well, why not?”

2229 – Mee’s Forest (Chinese animation Flash miniseries 2009)

The disappearance of flash makes a lot of recent animation sadly unavailable.

It is hard to dig for these very interesting and surprising animations that have acquired cult status. Some of them are in original – so I am very grateful to various translators and animation fans that have subbed and uploaded this small treasure created by the Chinese studio Wawayu Animation and directed by Busifan and released in 2009. Not many are aware that Chinese animation (donghua) is having a renaissance and year by year is producing new masterpieces. Yet I like and enjoy this small cult series that has shown the capacity and talent early on. It is also living proof that Chinese animation is making a name for itself, along more developed and well-known examples coming from Japan and Korea.

Please go for an in-depth dive into the work of Busifan and the Wawayu studio with lots of artwork and behind the scenes and check out this wonderful post on https://animationobsessive.substack.com/p/the-wild-imagination-of-mees-forest (this is how I discovered it). I love everything about it, the creepiness, the pace and the character design that find inspiration from Chinese legends. It has a high dose of animism and is also full of strange and unexpected moments. I remember watching this while I was completely sick and weak, having a really bad case of flu and it really have me an incredible boost.

Whole YT playist

courtesy of animationobsessive “Some of Busifan’s sketchbook drawings that led to Mee’s Forest (top row), and early work-in-progress shots from the first episode (bottom row). Courtesy of Mars Era Education and Busifan’s blog.”

2211 – Foundation (TV Series 2021– )

spacetime coordinates: 12,067 E.I. (Era Imperial) – 12,102 E.I. Trantor, capital of the Galactic Empire / Periphery world of Terminus / 12,240 E.I. Synnax

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Foundation is an American science fiction streaming television series created by David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman for Apple TV+, loosely based on the Foundation series of stories by Isaac Asimov. It features an ensemble cast led by Jared HarrisLee PaceLou Llobell, Leah Harvey and Laura Birn.

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 Foundation premiered on September 24, 2021. In October 2021, the series was renewed for a second season, which is set to premiere in mid-2023.

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update (…)  The second season received more positive reviews from critics, with many agreeing that it was an improvement over its first season, emphasizing the more accessible pacing, better plot, improved interpersonal characterizations and overall satisfaction with the season’s payoff. (wiki)

imdb


2156 – Under the Shadow (2016)

spacetime coordinates: 1980s Tehran, during the War of the Cities.

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Under the Shadow (Persian: زیر سایه‎romanized: Zeer-e sāye) is a 2016 Persian-language psychological horror film written and directed by Iranian-born Babak Anvari as his directorial debut. A mother and daughter are haunted by a mysterious evil in 1980s Tehran, during the War of the Cities. The film stars Narges Rashidi, Avin Manshadi, Bobby Naderi, Ray Haratian, and Arash Marandi.

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Produced by British film company Wigwam Films, the film is an international co-production between Qatar, Jordan, and the United Kingdom. (wiki)

imdb   //   rottentomatoes