Flying saucers
by CarolineFlying saucers have invaded my life lately, through the silly Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Stephen King’s slightly less silly Tommyknockers. Both involve the smooth, radiant, streamlined image of alien invaders we’ve grown used to in the modern world.
King builds an interesting twist into his depiction of the Tommyknockers: the beautiful, massive ship is peopled* by brusque and brutal aliens who somehow found the ship already constructed. Usually we receive one of two bipolar depictions: cerebral, physically weak beings living in technological harmony (Vulcans?), or mediocre-minded, crude and brutal beings whose ships are practically held together with duct tape (Klingons; Reavers). King combines them, evoking the terror of each. It’s funny how rarely this happens, considering how much scarier it is when the invading culture is both strong AND brilliant. That’s terrifying!
* funny since they aren’t people. Oh well!
no responses