StefanClaypool.com

"That is what we are supposed to do when we are at our best — make it all up — but make it up so truly that later it will happen that way." -Ernest Hemingway

On Nolan, Kubrick, and Expectation

I’ve seen a number of critics compare Christopher Nolan to the works of Stanley Kubrick. When one surveys the current state of big name directors, Nolan is perhaps on the surface the most appropriate modern analogue to Kubrick…

On “Stranger in a Strange Land”

The biggest problem I had with Robert Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land was that it felt very much like two novels slammed together in a desperate attempt to form a singular work. There is a very definite shift in the last quarter of the novel, where the consequences of characters’ actions begin to vary [...]

On Hulu Plus

I had a long post a few months back ranting against the idea of Hulu going to a pay model. Now I’ve got a little bit of hat-eating to do. The reason is that the new service called Hulu Plus, which costs $9.99 a month and was announced today, does not replace the old service. [...]

On Twitter, Facebook, and Communication Habits

I’ve virtually abandoned Facebook in favor of Twitter. I’ve been thinking about it a little bit lately, and I think there are two things that have caused that, one of which is technological and one of which is philosophical. Neither has anything to do with privacy. I’ve more or less accepted that I live in [...]

I Have Not Forgotten

So please, do not make me subject to your wrath, mighty readers. I know that I said that I’d be blogging about both Frank Zappa and Doctor Who, and I still intend to do so. I’ll get my review of “Absolutely Free” up as soon as possible and continue from there. Who will have to [...]

On Plot Twists

I’ve hit upon a plot twist in my story that, while essential to the telling, will require me to take some extra time to complete this second draft. The challenge I was faced with was creating not only a compelling antagonist, but also strengthening the internal conflict faced by my protagonist. This new twist solves [...]

On Apple and the Intersection of Quality, Usability, and Aesthetic

Although Windows continues to dominate desktop market share and Android is rapidly growing, Apple is still the company that hits the spot where quality, usability, and aesthetic intersect.

On Doctor Who: “The End of the World”

The question at the heart of “The End of the World” is, appropriately enough, “What happens next?” This not only permeates the episode and colors the actions of its characters, but also inevitably rests in the mind of the viewer who, having been reasonably pleased with “Rose,” now wants to know whether this series will continue to captivate. To answer that question, writer Russell T. Davies weaves a tale that emphasizes death, loss, and the challenges of moving on, all centered around the planned demolition of planet Earth five billion years from now.

On “Freak Out!”

“Freak Out!” is ultimately a radical celebration of individualism and a rejection of “the way of doing things.” Above all else, “Freak Out!” is the album of the conceptual “I.”

On Doctor Who: “Rose”

“Rose” is about introductions. It is less a compelling story in and of itself than a proposition: will you come with me? It presents both Rose Tyler and the viewers with a new and exciting world, and hopes that they will follow.