Daily Archives: June 11, 2018

Musician Protagonists in SF, pt.10

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TITLE: John the Balladeer, et al

AUTHOR: Manly Wade Wellman

YEAR: 1963-1984

IS THIS SF?
No, not technically, as stories are mainly mythological or allegorical in nature.

PJE SYNOPSIS
There are about twenty-five or so stories and five novels featuring John the Balladeer, so a specific synopsis is not possible, but John wanders from town to town with his guitar on his back, passing through, telling stories, singing songs, having adventures, saving the day, moving on, etc.

REALLY A MUSICIAN?
YES, plays and sings, for sure BUT never talks about playing or about music, just picks-and-grins, so NO!

WHY A MUSICIAN?
Came about in the mid-60s, when folk-singer musicians were all the rage: Pete Seeger, PP&M, Kingston Trio, Bob Dylan, etc.—probably an extrapolation on that theme; guitarist-singers are the new gun-slingers and if you just listen maybe they will save the world, or the world will be saved just by listening…

RECOMMENDED?
SO-SO—stories are good, though more ephemeral than substantial, they are good in that sense.  Not much speculative here, though the stories are quick reads.  There are beautiful girls and charged adventures.  We do learn that his guitar has silver strings, and as such when you swing it, it kills vampires!

© 2018 Peter J. Evans, theorist

Protagonist Musicians in SF, pt.9

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TITLE: Limitless (TV version)

AUTHOR: The Good People at CBS?  Craig Sweeny?

YEAR: 2015-2016

IS THIS SF?
YES?—action takes place in the now, but there is advanced pharmaceutical technology in the form of NZT-48.  The invention and use of this drug makes the narrative quite speculative.

PJE SYNOPSIS
Brian Finch is a failed musician, failed in life—takes a pill, becomes incredibly smart, with super-quick and detailed recall, and also the ability to make connections become concrete, no matter how far-fetched they may seem.  The pill kills, however, overwhelming the brain unless a immunization-booster shot is administered.  The booster in this case is administered by a shady-seeming politician.  Given this, crime-solving with the FBI becomes Finch’s main goal/day-job, though he runs into politically-oriented conspiracies that threaten his family and co-workers.

REALLY A MUSICIAN?
YES, though “failed” without commercial or aesthetic success.  Sings, plays guitar—after first taking the drug one part of Finch’s “mastery montage” is the playing the guitar an an incredible rate of speed.  Also has many LPs of unknown bands in non-popular genres…

WHY A MUSICIAN?
I think, mostly, for the sake of irony—from fumbler to fed!  Writers/creators needed someone to start off as low as possible to present contrast to the tight-lipped straight-arrows.  They also needed someone who seemed to have no prospects who would’ve been no stranger to drug culture.  Perhaps, and this is where I hang some of my hopes, they wanted someone who didn’t think like cop, but rather someone who sought connections, and is used to lateral thinking on their feet—so why NOT a musician!?!

RECOMMENDED?
SO-SO, at times light-hearted and speculative—-a bit weak as the conspiracy deepens… Would have been better off as a “monster of the week” type show.

© 2018 Peter J. Evans, theorist