Comments on: The Last Policeman: solving a murder before an asteroid wipes out life on Earth http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 19:54:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: cdh1971 http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1580052 cdh1971 Mon, 12 Nov 2012 06:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1580052 Yes, thank-you.I knew of course it was not a nova, but I had a brain cramp, couldn't remember. I was going to look it up too -have the book somewhere in some form. From what I can guess about you based on your posts - I am not surprised you knew this immediately ;) Yes, thank-you.I knew of course it was not a nova, but I had a brain cramp, couldn’t remember. I was going to look it up too -have the book somewhere in some form. From what I can guess about you based on your posts – I am not surprised you knew this immediately ;)

]]> By: Culturedropout http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579962 Culturedropout Mon, 12 Nov 2012 03:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579962 "Towing Jehovah", "Blameless in Abaddon", and "City of Truth" among others by James Morrow are along similar lines, with loads of dark humor.  Might want to throw those on the reading list as well. “Towing Jehovah”, “Blameless in Abaddon”, and “City of Truth” among others by James Morrow are along similar lines, with loads of dark humor.  Might want to throw those on the reading list as well.

]]> By: RayCornwall http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579805 RayCornwall Sun, 11 Nov 2012 21:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579805 Both this book and The Postmortal are fantastic. Both this book and The Postmortal are fantastic.

]]> By: E T http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579640 E T Sun, 11 Nov 2012 16:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579640 Sounds like a companion to Melancholia by Lars von Trier (Wikipedia:The narrative revolves around two sisters during and shortly after one's wedding, while Earth is about to collide with an approaching rouge planet.) Sounds like a companion to Melancholia by Lars von Trier (Wikipedia:The narrative revolves around two sisters during and shortly after one’s wedding, while Earth is about to collide with an approaching rouge planet.)

]]> By: Randy Walters http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579629 Randy Walters Sun, 11 Nov 2012 15:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579629 I went through this last night in one sitting; it was an excellent read. Can't wait for the next installments in the trilogy to arrive. I was reminded of how much Raymond Chandler seemed to enjoy bashing around poor Philip Marlowe; Winters was rather cruel to our unfortunate, battered protagonist. I went through this last night in one sitting; it was an excellent read. Can’t wait for the next installments in the trilogy to arrive.

I was reminded of how much Raymond Chandler seemed to enjoy bashing around poor Philip Marlowe; Winters was rather cruel to our unfortunate, battered protagonist.

]]> By: Ping Kee http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579607 Ping Kee Sun, 11 Nov 2012 13:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579607 Well, this thread is just adding to my reading list.  Well, this thread is just adding to my reading list. 

]]> By: Stuart Steedman http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579582 Stuart Steedman Sun, 11 Nov 2012 11:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579582 Reminds me somewhat of Ben Elton's most fantastic book, "The First Casualty", in which a London policeman is sent to the trenches in France during World War I to investigate a murder - all whilst there is wholesale slaughter of those around him happening all the time without anyone batting an eyelid. Reminds me somewhat of Ben Elton’s most fantastic book, “The First Casualty”, in which a London policeman is sent to the trenches in France during World War I to investigate a murder – all whilst there is wholesale slaughter of those around him happening all the time without anyone batting an eyelid.

]]> By: JonS http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579568 JonS Sun, 11 Nov 2012 10:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579568  Thanks for that - I've just finished re-reading it.  Thanks for that – I’ve just finished re-reading it.

]]> By: Lemoutan http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579550 Lemoutan Sun, 11 Nov 2012 08:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579550 Aww, c'<em>mon</em>. It's universally acknowledged that a want of ninjas is not good. Aww, c’mon. It’s universally acknowledged that a want of ninjas is not good.

]]> By: Martin http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579543 Martin Sun, 11 Nov 2012 07:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579543 Martin Amis's short story 'The Janitor on Mars' is an interesting take on this premise. An alien computer that's been placed on Mars suddenly starts transmitting signals, so a delegation of earths VIPs goes out to greet our 'first contact'. But it turns out that the computer is merely a janitorial presence, placed there to oversee the earth's upcoming destruction by approaching asteroid, and he has only been activated after that destruction has become inevitable. He tells the delegation of the ascending ranks of intelligences far greater than ours that, he explains, engage in unimaginably destructive wars across the universe, one of which now features the earth as collateral damage. Amis uses the premise to a) illustrate how truly tiny and insignificant the earth is in cosmic terms, and b) to suggest that knowing – really knowing – this, and that we're all going to die, would remove all of the constraints that keep our basest instincts in check. It's grim but, as you'd expect, bleakly funny. Martin Amis’s short story ‘The Janitor on Mars’ is an interesting take on this premise. An alien computer that’s been placed on Mars suddenly starts transmitting signals, so a delegation of earths VIPs goes out to greet our ‘first contact’. But it turns out that the computer is merely a janitorial presence, placed there to oversee the earth’s upcoming destruction by approaching asteroid, and he has only been activated after that destruction has become inevitable. He tells the delegation of the ascending ranks of intelligences far greater than ours that, he explains, engage in unimaginably destructive wars across the universe, one of which now features the earth as collateral damage. Amis uses the premise to a) illustrate how truly tiny and insignificant the earth is in cosmic terms, and b) to suggest that knowing – really knowing – this, and that we’re all going to die, would remove all of the constraints that keep our basest instincts in check. It’s grim but, as you’d expect, bleakly funny.

]]> By: noah django http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579538 noah django Sun, 11 Nov 2012 07:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579538 the idea of a pre-apocalyptic society that knows it's doomed puts me in the mind of Ron Currie Jr.'s "God Is Dead," a novel I greatly enjoyed.  The crisis in this case is spiritual, and happens *after* god is actually found in physical form deceased here on earth, but it does entail a societal collapse, and then life goes on to an uncertain fate.  The ways we change and the ways that we stay the same in the face of certain nihilism would seem to be a shared theme in these books.  The scenario of pirate McDonalds and police indifferent about a murder could easily be a chapter from Currie Jr.'s book.  I never hear anything about GID, which is annoying because it felt like a watershed type of book to me.  meh, my two cents. the idea of a pre-apocalyptic society that knows it’s doomed puts me in the mind of Ron Currie Jr.’s “God Is Dead,” a novel I greatly enjoyed.  The crisis in this case is spiritual, and happens *after* god is actually found in physical form deceased here on earth, but it does entail a societal collapse, and then life goes on to an uncertain fate.  The ways we change and the ways that we stay the same in the face of certain nihilism would seem to be a shared theme in these books.  The scenario of pirate McDonalds and police indifferent about a murder could easily be a chapter from Currie Jr.’s book.  I never hear anything about GID, which is annoying because it felt like a watershed type of book to me.  meh, my two cents.

]]> By: retepslluerb http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579534 retepslluerb Sun, 11 Nov 2012 06:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579534 Actually not nova, as that doesn't happen here and would wipe out Earth completely, I think, but a large solar flare, which may or may not dwindle befor the sun rises. Actually not nova, as that doesn’t happen here and would wipe out Earth completely, I think, but a large solar flare, which may or may not dwindle befor the sun rises.

]]> By: Lexicat http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579524 Lexicat Sun, 11 Nov 2012 06:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579524  And then Rusty saw something that <i>really</i> caught his attention.  And then Rusty saw something that really caught his attention.

]]> By: Geoduck http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579525 Geoduck Sun, 11 Nov 2012 06:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579525  It was also adapted as one of the better episodes of the Outer Limits revival.  It was also adapted as one of the better episodes of the Outer Limits revival.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579522 Antinous / Moderator Sun, 11 Nov 2012 06:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579522 But he was great in waydowntown. But he was great in waydowntown.

]]> By: Lexicat http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579523 Lexicat Sun, 11 Nov 2012 06:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579523  Pride and Prejudice and Zombies had more ninjas than I was expecting.  Pride and Prejudice and Zombies had more ninjas than I was expecting.

]]> By: blearghhh http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579516 blearghhh Sun, 11 Nov 2012 05:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579516 Was goingto mention this. My favourite Don McKellar film, and I think his first. Also stars Dvid Cronenburg, Callum Keith Rennie, Sarah Polley Was goingto mention this. My favourite Don McKellar film, and I think his first. Also stars Dvid Cronenburg, Callum Keith Rennie, Sarah Polley

]]> By: Ericka Abraham http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579514 Ericka Abraham Sun, 11 Nov 2012 05:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579514 Philosophers think about this kind of scenario, and also about the living indefinitely scenario, from time to time. Time is the key concept---as it stands now time plays such an integral role in many of our values. It's not clear with this kind of radical change that we would even recognize the value systems that would develop. In the "humanity ending" instance, we lose all sense of participating in traditions larger than ourselves. And in the "living indefinitely" scenario, we might not even recognize those beings as fully human anymore; without loss and fear of death and death as a motivator to behavior and all the rest...what would we eventually even care about? I don't really think we'd stop all desiring, but some thinkers do. Philosophers think about this kind of scenario, and also about the living indefinitely scenario, from time to time. Time is the key concept—as it stands now time plays such an integral role in many of our values. It’s not clear with this kind of radical change that we would even recognize the value systems that would develop. In the “humanity ending” instance, we lose all sense of participating in traditions larger than ourselves. And in the “living indefinitely” scenario, we might not even recognize those beings as fully human anymore; without loss and fear of death and death as a motivator to behavior and all the rest…what would we eventually even care about? I don’t really think we’d stop all desiring, but some thinkers do.

]]> By: Tom Tjarks http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579509 Tom Tjarks Sun, 11 Nov 2012 05:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579509  Larry Niven's Inconstant Moon.  Larry Niven’s Inconstant Moon.

]]> By: The Turtle  http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579501 The Turtle  Sun, 11 Nov 2012 04:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579501 It's a really potent concept: the degree to which humans waste their (and other humans') time on things that only humans care about in a very short timespan, while there are much bigger things going on in a much bigger universe. Anyone else remember that Gary Larson cartoon, when the world is ending, and there are two dogs totally fixated on each other? It’s a really potent concept: the degree to which humans waste their (and other humans’) time on things that only humans care about in a very short timespan, while there are much bigger things going on in a much bigger universe.

Anyone else remember that Gary Larson cartoon, when the world is ending, and there are two dogs totally fixated on each other?

]]> By: Justin Sabe http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579500 Justin Sabe Sun, 11 Nov 2012 04:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579500 I was just watching Deep Impact as I read this. Kindle time! I was just watching Deep Impact as I read this. Kindle time!

]]> By: jackbird http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579487 jackbird Sun, 11 Nov 2012 03:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579487 See also <i>Last Night</i>, starring Sandra Oh. See also Last Night, starring Sandra Oh.

]]> By: JonS http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579485 JonS Sun, 11 Nov 2012 03:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579485 This reminds me of a short story, that I read years ago, about a guy (in LA?) who one night notices that the moon has suddenly become MUCH brighter. While everyone else is standing around going "derp, look at the moon!" he eventually deduces that the sun has gone nova, and that in about 12 hours, when the earth spins and the supersonic shockwave of superheated boiled seawater arrives, the world is going to get really awful. He keeps this secret to himself and spends the night rushing about getting canned food, finding a place to hunker down that's high enough to survive the coming tsunami and strong enough to survive the coming shockwave, and fetching his girlfriend(?) and dog(?) One detail I particularly remember from the story is the narrator feeling like a fraud as he pays for his shopping via eftpos(?). He knows he has ample credit to cover the purchase, but he also knows that the shopkeeper is never ever going to receive the money. Of course, I can't remember either the author or the name of the story :( I do remember it was good. Does anybody recall it? This reminds me of a short story, that I read years ago, about a guy (in LA?) who one night notices that the moon has suddenly become MUCH brighter. While everyone else is standing around going “derp, look at the moon!” he eventually deduces that the sun has gone nova, and that in about 12 hours, when the earth spins and the supersonic shockwave of superheated boiled seawater arrives, the world is going to get really awful. He keeps this secret to himself and spends the night rushing about getting canned food, finding a place to hunker down that’s high enough to survive the coming tsunami and strong enough to survive the coming shockwave, and fetching his girlfriend(?) and dog(?)

One detail I particularly remember from the story is the narrator feeling like a fraud as he pays for his shopping via eftpos(?). He knows he has ample credit to cover the purchase, but he also knows that the shopkeeper is never ever going to receive the money.

Of course, I can’t remember either the author or the name of the story :( I do remember it was good. Does anybody recall it?

]]> By: Andre Danylevich http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579484 Andre Danylevich Sun, 11 Nov 2012 03:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579484 So cool!  I heard about this book a few months ago when some friends of mine made the trailer for the book.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaB3Si97v4w So cool!  I heard about this book a few months ago when some friends of mine made the trailer for the book.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaB3Si97v4w

]]> By: Xploder http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579483 Xploder Sun, 11 Nov 2012 02:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579483 I have to agree with you, The Postmortal is a fantastic book! Now I have to go find this one and read it too. Thanks for the lead! I have to agree with you, The Postmortal is a fantastic book! Now I have to go find this one and read it too. Thanks for the lead!

]]> By: Ari B. http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579482 Ari B. Sun, 11 Nov 2012 02:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579482 I'm in. I’m in.

]]> By: Ping Kee http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579467 Ping Kee Sun, 11 Nov 2012 01:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579467 He had me at "There are no more real McDonald's."  He had me at “There are no more real McDonald’s.” 

]]> By: sockdoll http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579466 sockdoll Sun, 11 Nov 2012 01:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579466 I have read Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, and I enjoyed it for what it was. Some who have read both say that it compares favorably to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, with more original content, but I'm pretty much zombied out and have not yet read P&P&Z. I felt that S&S&SM had the right touch of parody and and a nice dose of Verne and/or Wells. I look forward to reading The Last Policeman. I have read Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, and I enjoyed it for what it was. Some who have read both say that it compares favorably to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, with more original content, but I’m pretty much zombied out and have not yet read P&P&Z. I felt that S&S&SM had the right touch of parody and and a nice dose of Verne and/or Wells.

I look forward to reading The Last Policeman.

]]> By: GordonM http://boingboing.net/2012/11/10/the-last-policeman-a-whodunit.html#comment-1579460 GordonM Sun, 11 Nov 2012 00:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=193349#comment-1579460 Robert Charles Wilson does pre-apocalyptic but doomed society quite well in Spin. And that's just part of the story. Robert Charles Wilson does pre-apocalyptic but doomed society quite well in Spin. And that’s just part of the story.

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