Specialization is for insects!

[Chimera]

Specialization is for insects!

 

September 18, 2010 - by Somali Psycho

 

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

 

-Robert A. Heinlein

 

When I read this quote, I felt a bolt of lightning going through my spine, because it hit what I have been pondering about for so long right on the head. We need to break out of the myopic boxes the older generation has set for us, and explore our talent to the fullest. Ten years ago a person googling with the keywords 'Somali scientist-bodybuilder-tennis player-premier league player -kickboxer etc' would probably have no results, but today they are all there because these brothers and sisters decided to go left when everybody else went right.

 

They broke through the box, and went their own way, like that Jamaican bobsled team of 88' that defied the odds and who were immortalized in the hilarious movie Cool Runnings. I look for the day when I see Somali ballerinas, rallydrivers, sumo-wrestlers(lol) etc.

 

On a similar note, why is it that when I look for literary inspiration in the form of fantasy or science fiction stories based in Somalia or involving Somali characters, by modern writers, there are none? We have so many brilliant world renowned writers, but they write about similar stuff, they are locked in a box. Instead of diversifying their literary reach into multiple genres they prefer the typical route.

 

It can't be a lack of imagination. I mean if I can build entire worlds filled with collosal Somali Castles, warriors and beauty-queens with my three year old niece, then a grown up Somali writer should have no problems doing the same. Are they afraid there is no appeal? That is such poppycock, our ancestors created dozens of fantasy stories that entertained the younglings for centuries, it's pretty disgusting that modern Somali writers keep recycling these stories in their books without enriching us with new original stories they have created themselves.

 

It's herd mentality that turns a potential great chess-player into an accountant, it's herd mentality that turns a potential wonderful comic-book artist into a midwife. Mahad becomes an engineer, Liban, Yusuf, Guled and Hanad study engineering whoopty-doo. Asha becomes a nurse, Hamdi, Ayaan, Fadumo study childcare at the Queendom of Nurseristan.

 

It's fear that prevents a great writer to propell his characters to the Whirlpool Galaxy instead of the usual Hargeisa or Mogadishu backdrops. It is the mental captivity of the notorious box of specialisation that prevents a great writer from landing a gigantic spaceship, with an evil creature inside, into Jasira beach who decides to go APE on the inhabitants, only to be defeated and killed by a resourceful Farah or Xalimo.

 

Say no to the box!

 

I shall publish part II next month, insha-allah.

[Valenteenah.]

I think that's a great attitude. Universe is the limit.

[Ibtisam]

^^^Could not agree more. I believe in trying wax kasta.

 

Go on brother!!!

 

But I should've been a doctor really, I mean life would be so much more simiple nooh.

 

On a serious note it would be great to read something crazy and out of this world but with a Somali influence. Maybe the new generation eh.

[Valenteenah.]

^ Wouldn't it? Wonder if Adam has read Contest by Matthew Reilly? Fantastic concept.

 

I think we definitely need Somali sci fi writers.

[nuune]

Originally posted by Valenteenah.:

 

I think we definitely need Somali sci fi writers.

What would they write, or possibly say, just wondering

 

 

I have actually read about Somali sci fi, long time ago, but can only remember few character names like "Coormaaj, Seeqdiil, Xeynkuur, Saxgur" the last one is a female name who owned Seeqdiil, Seeqdiil had Cagaarshoow, I had to find the book though, it was interesting to read the book in mid 80s.

 

 

But I should've been a doctor really, I mean life would be so much more simiple nooh.

Wadnaha iyo beerka ayaad rabtaa inaad dadka kala baxdo miyaa, now you are our SOL sci fi character

[Ibtisam]

^^^Mayah anigu Kelyah iyo ureters ka ayan la bixi laha, + all the other urological concerned organs- disable growth, standard of living and life expectancy. I am sure Deegdheer was a urologist. She was just missing the technology.

 

Nuune you was reading Somali Sci fi in the mid 80s??? Can you share the book?

[NGONGE]

Enjoy a bit of Orwell

 

A happy vicar I might have been

Two hundred years ago

To preach upon eternal doom

And watch my walnuts grow;

 

But born, alas, in an evil time,

I missed that pleasant haven,

For the hair has grown on my upper lip

And the clergy are all clean-shaven.

 

And later still the times were good,

We were so easy to please,

We rocked our troubled thoughts to sleep

On the bosoms of the trees.

 

All ignorant we dared to own

The joys we now dissemble;

The greenfinch on the apple bough

Could make my enemies tremble.

 

But girl's bellies and apricots,

Roach in a shaded stream,

Horses, ducks in flight at dawn,

All these are a dream.

 

It is forbidden to dream again;

We maim our joys or hide them:

Horses are made of chromium steel

And little fat men shall ride them.

 

I am the worm who never turned,

The eunuch without a harem;

Between the priest and the commissar

I walk like Eugene Aram;

 

And the commissar is telling my fortune

While the radio plays,

But the priest has promised an Austin Seven,

For Duggie always pays.

 

I dreamt I dwelt in marble halls,

And woke to find it true;

I wasn't born for an age like this;

Was Smith? Was Jones? Were you?

[nuune]

^^ Yes Ibti, will try to locate the book, if not, anaa qorayo mid kale oo kaan akhriyey ka daran, it is good to start a business in this field of Somali Sci-Fi books, I will need editors, only Somali ayaan ku qori, translation will be done by the experts

 

buugaasi dad badan oon aqaano ayaa akhriyey, non of them finished, they couldn't, it was too much!

 

lool@disable growth, adaaba dhagdheer ah.

[Chimera]

Originally posted by Valenteenah.:

^ Wouldn't it? Wonder if Adam has read

Contest

by Matthew Reilly? Fantastic concept.

 

I think we definitely need Somali sci fi writers.

Holy sh1t, i'm glad you have shown me this, i have an old story i work on whenever i have writers block on the others, and it has a similar concept, only it involves a 16th century Somali general during the aftermath of the Conquest of Abyssinia. Earlier he had entered ancient Axum and found the Arc of Convenant and was determined to permanently conquer that empire, only to be recalled back to Zeila.

 

Out of frustration he throws his spear into the sky but freakishly the spear seems stuck midair and gives off weird electric lights, a few seconds later a large ship appears hovering above him. The ship had been observing him since the start of the war. He is then sucked into a room with five different soldiers from across the Universe. The intention of the galactic Queen is to grant these warriors and their respective planets a way out of colonization, if they manage to defeat her champion(outrageously disgusting creature and brutal fighter).

 

Now after reading the reviews about a Gladiator of Rome being forced in a similar situation, i have to purchase that book of yours to prevent potential accusations of plagiarism despite it being coincidence.

[Chimera]

Pre-war Somalia is such an enigma, from producing films with the biggest budgets in African cinematic history, which are nowhere to be found today, to producing Sci-fi books only Nuune knows about.

 

That country is such a pain in the head.

 

Originally posted by *Ibtisam:

On a serious note it would be great to read something crazy and out of this world but with a Somali influence. Maybe the new generation eh.

[Cara.]

I read a short story once, about coastal Somalis who form a symbiotic relationship with a photosynthetic algae. Their skin turns green and all the nutrition they need they get from standing out in the sun naked (I can practically hear Ducaysane's ears perking up).

 

Closest I got to science fiction + Somalia. So the market is all yours SP.

 

“Science fiction films from the West are failures here. Even Star Wars!” he said. “The themes aren’t taken seriously. Science fiction will come here when it is relevant to the people of Africa. Right now, Africans are bothered about issues of bad leadership, the food crisis in East Africa, refugees in the Congo, militants here in Nigeria. Africans are bothered about food, roads, electricity, water wars, famine, etc, not spacecrafts and spaceships. Only stories that explore these everyday realities are considered relevant to us for now.”

Somewhat relevant

[Chimera]

Cara that sounds very interesting, do you recall the title of that short story? Your quote btw is a classic 'cop-out' and excuse of why Sci-fi about Africans and in Africa is non-existant(excluding District 9). Did you know that most of the software giants in Sillicone Valley have Ceo's, designers, inventors who are Trekkies, or Star Wars fans? Life always imitates good art. This why in all of my stories there are strong female leaders, this has a double effect of telling female younglings that they have every right to step forward and claim what's rightfully theirs if one of them happens to be the most competent candidate, at the same time it implants in the male younglings a sense of feeling that it is ok to be led by a female, let's just forget about what our grandfathers think.

 

Sci-fi similarly can have that effect on people, because it's very forward looking.

[Valenteenah.]

Adam, your story sounds really good. I would love to read the finished product (is it liable to take years more?). There are no copyrights on ideas and I love yours. You'll see Contest is conceptually similar but entirely different in every other way to what you're writing.

 

But read it! You'll adore it.

 

 

Originally posted by Cara.:

I read a short story once, about coastal Somalis who form a symbiotic relationship with a photosynthetic algae. Their skin turns green and all the nutrition they need they get from standing out in the sun naked (I can practically hear Ducaysane's ears perking up).

 

Closest I got to science fiction + Somalia. So the market is all yours SP.

Cara, what a story! Wherever did you find it?

[Chimera]

I'm not sure since it's not a short story, also i'm still trying to wrap up a fantasy epic, but i'm struggling with a kick-azz ending, not sure wether to:

 

A) kill the two brothers in a battle with the demon army in front of their fortress

 

B) have their female love interest kill them both, since she can't choose

 

(above scenarios the brothers would be revived in the next book)

 

C) Let the brothers live but have a brutal twist involving the demon army

 

I'm juggling around these scenarios in my head, one of these days or weeks i will feel that tingle that tells me yep that's the one.

 

In the near future however, i might hit you with a nice short story about a 1980s Somali female officer doing a Search&Rescue mission for a Japanese ship lost at sea because of a heavy storm. During the search in the middle of the Indian Ocean her ship is forced into a powerful current, and as a result she and her crew find themselves being carried to a devilish looking Island close to Sri-Lanka that is not to be found on any map. They pass ancient Greek and Persian shipwrecks and eventually crash on the beach of the Island. As she and her marines try to free the ship they are attacked by a group of Velicoraptors and begin fighting back until they are forced to flee into the jungle. The newcomers have entered a land where all of the creatures that once dominated the Earth in the past have gathered and flourished. Now she must try to survive and return her soldiers safely back to their wives and families. There is much more exciting stuff but i won't reveal that yet.

 

btw the following is a good example of why the 'Old Somalis' were far more creative than the so-called 'award winning' ones of today:

 

Muun: = Zombie Ostrich: this is an evil ostrich in Somali folklore condemned to wandering restlessness and hardship owing to its refusal to cooperate with other tribal, fellow ostriches.

Lmao, how messed up is that ?, a wandering Zombie Ostrich. Imagine being a Nomad walking with your camels on the dunes of Shalambood and you see a weird creature like that coming your way, WOAH!!

[nuune]

^^ Adam, I will make some efforts to look those books, and ask some people back home if they had any, these books were not available in schools, or even in the markets, the closest people who used to read Somali Sci-fi were Somali government workers, the one I read was given to me by one government worker(from Machadka QARANKA) when he visited our house back then, I don't remember how he came to the conclusion that I loved anything to do with sci-fi, but maybe he heard my short narrations of Jinni encounters, and this is where the Somali Sci-fi starts, it begins with Jinni, and ends with Jinni, whatever character you will have in the midDle of the story, it can be human consuming another human, or animal turned humans, it is chaotic scene, one I had witnessed while I was transported to a Jinni fort where I have seen live animals turning into humans, this is not an evolution stunt or the likes, but a reality check from the Jinni dwarfs at the time to exircise their domination over humans and their animal species!