I am a dedicated Liberal. I’ve volunteered for the party for nearly 10 years, frequently supporting their efforts. However, last night’s results in Toronto-St. Paul’s were a complete disaster. Canadians have sent a clear message; this election turned out to be a referendum on Trudeau and his leadership, despite the party’s attempts to spin it otherwise.
I’ve believed for a while now that Trudeau needs to step down. I’ve expressed these thoughts privately to fellow Liberals and others in my life. However, my perspective isn’t coming from a Conservative viewpoint, as I believe much of the right-wing backlash against Trudeau is unjustified. I think the Freedom Convoy and other forms of right wing populism that have surged against Trudeau is stupid and hateful and most importantly, wrong. The far-right populism from the United States has infiltrated the Conservative Party, and Poilievre has adopted talking points reminiscent of this ideology. He reminds me of figures like Ben Shapiro or the annoying kid with the glasses from “Polar Express.” His aggressive approach, attacking the media and politicians, is something I cannot support. Any politician who undermines freedom of the press is someone I could never vote for. The day I consider voting Conservative will be the day hell freezes over. Blaming Trudeau for every problem in our country is illogical, but there is a grain of truth in some criticisms.
The crises of rising living costs and housing are complex and multi-layered. All levels of government are involved, with provincial and municipal governments often having a more direct impact than the federal government. However, under Trudeau’s leadership, the federal response to the housing crisis, which falls within its jurisdiction, has fallen short. While I’m not an expert on housing or economics, I believe the average person with a mild interest in politics can see these issues. Personally, I haven’t been overly critical of the government’s handling of these crises, understanding their complexity and the impossibility of instant solutions. I believe policies akin to those of Bernie Sanders would be beneficial for Canada—a more compassionate form of capitalism. I’ve identified myself as a Orange Liberal in recent years, although according to an Angus Reid Poll, 37% of Canadians feel the party has not made sufficient progress on these issues.
This is also not to discount the policies and hard work Trudeau has done. I think he’s brought alot of great and important change to Canada.
While the NDP has little chance of forming a national government, I generally agree with most of their policies. Liberals, for the most part, have adopted much of their platform, particularly in areas like universal healthcare. I see the Liberals as a better path to achieving these policy goals.
For me, Trudeau’s mishandling of the First Nations issue and the numerous scandals are primary reasons why I believe he should step down. His response to the issue has been particularly disappointing. While his government has achieved some milestones, such as addressing water advisories and establishing a National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, their overall approach has been inadequate. Trudeau’s decision to go surfing on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation was particularly insensitive and symbolic of his detachment from this critical issue. This act was a major insult to First Nations people, especially following Canada’s reckoning with residential schools. It was, in my opinion, one of the most disrespectful responses to First Nations people in modern times, and I cannot forgive him for it.
Additionally, Trudeau has made too many mistakes. In my view, any respectable politician would have resigned after the SNC-Lavalin scandal. The blackface scandal was outrageous to me, as someone I once considered a role model committed such a hurtful act. While this occurred over 20 years ago, the repetition of such behavior troubled me deeply. Moreover, his handling of foreign interference has been a disaster. The reluctance to hold a public inquiry into this serious threat to our democracy is deeply concerning. It gives the impression that our government is beholden to foreign interests rather than accountable to Canadians. While other parties, including the Conservatives, are also culpable, as the governing party, Liberals bear the responsibility to address and inform Canadians about threats to our democracy. Transparency is crucial for safeguarding our democratic institutions and maintaining public trust, especially in a time of global democratic challenges.
Despite these criticisms, I remain a proud Liberal and continue to support the party. However, if Liberals wish to preserve the party and prevent Poilievre from gaining a supermajority, as polls suggest, there is much work to be done. The party needs introspection and must confront its identity. Liberals have historically prided themselves on being Canada’s governing party and enacting progressive legislation that has shaped Canada’s international reputation. To ensure the survival of the Liberal Party, the Trudeau brand must go.
Even if Trudeau were to resign or be replaced as leader, it may not immediately improve our standing in the polls. However, it would allow us to salvage what remains of the party and rebuild its reputation. A fresh face could potentially rejuvenate the party’s appeal among Canadians and rebuild trust. I believe someone like Mark Carney would be an ideal candidate, as he is not closely associated with the Trudeau brand and polls positively among voters for the leadership role. While I admire Chrystia Freeland and find her intelligent and capable, her association with Trudeau may not serve the party well in the current climate.
Preventing a Conservative supermajority government is crucial to me. Many of my fellow Liberals argued before the Toronto-St. Paul by-election loss that now isn’t the right time for Trudeau to resign or that a leadership change would distract from pressing issues. However, after last night’s results, I find it difficult to support this argument. The 2025 election will likely be a “change” election, much like 2015 was for the Liberals. The fact that the Conservatives made significant gains in Toronto, traditionally a Liberal stronghold, should alarm us all. Polls indicate many ridings in the Greater Toronto Area are now toss-ups or leaning Conservative. Perhaps what we need right now is exactly what we’ve been avoiding. Canada is on the brink of change, and so must the Liberal Party.
Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada
We need new, decisive leadership and immediate action on critical issues like housing, living costs, and foreign interference. We cannot afford to hand the government to someone who courts extremists, supports the Freedom Convoy, attacks the media, opposes abortion rights within his party, denies climate change, and seeks to roll back LGBTQ rights. Continuing on our current path is akin to a train on fire hurtling toward a cliff. Trudeau must step down, and we must stop Poilievre at all costs.
Nigel Farage is one of the most infuriating political figures to ever exist, in my opinion. I don’t hold as much hatred for him as I do for Donald Trump, but in the proper British sense, he’s a wanker.
The man, the myth, the legend himself, Nigel Farage.
But this doesn’t deny the influence he’s had on British politics and EU politics as a whole. In terms of the most influential British politicians in the last 15 years, he and Boris Johnson are up there. But who is Nigel Farage? And most importantly, could his Reform UK party mean the end of the Tories?
Nigel Farage is probably the most famous politician not elected to the House of Commons in the UK. He represented Southeast England in the EU parliament from 1999 until Brexit occurred in 2020. He’s well-known for his prominent Eurosceptic views and was seen as the driving force behind Brexit, at least the face of it. Nigel’s political career started in 1978 when he joined the Conservative Party as a young man. However, he always had Eurosceptic views, voting for the Green Party at the time because he saw them as having sensible policies on that issue. He later left the party in 1992 over John Major’s signing of the Treaty of Maastricht, which basically created the modern EU as we know it. He was later elected to the European Parliament in 1999, representing the South East of England, and became known for his frequent criticism of the European Union and its policies. Where we truly wish to focus is when he was elected leader of UKIP, otherwise known as the United Kingdom Independence Party.
Logo of the party
UKIP’s Role and Farage’s Influence
UKIP is a right-wing to far-right party that was started in 1993 in response to the Treaty of Maastricht. Its political views are defined by its hard Euroscepticism, social conservatism, right-wing populism, and sense of British nationalism. While the party never truly achieved much in the way of electoral success, only electing one member to the House of Commons in 2015, it achieved greater success in the European Parliament with 24 seats in 2014. A fun fact about the party is one of their foreign policy goals is the recognition of the unrecognized state of Somaliland.
Farage was the main driving force of the party for nearly 12 years, besides a brief interlude when he was kicked out of the party in 2010. Besides the issues listed above, his main goal was to seek the United Kingdom leaving the EU. David Cameron, former Prime Minister of the UK from 2010 to 2016, announced in 2015 that he would seek to have a referendum on the UK’s continued membership in the EU. Facing pressure from Eurosceptics within his own party and the rising popularity of UKIP, Cameron called the referendum to take place on June 23, 2016.
Most people figured that the UK would continue to be part of the EU as membership in the EU was seen as widely popular in the UK and the consequences of leaving for the British economy would be severe. But in a surprise that shocked the world and its markets, the referendum came out in favor of leaving the EU at 52-48. What followed in the next four years was pure chaos unlike anything ever seen in British politics with two elections and two different prime ministers required to pass Brexit. Finally, on January 31, 2020, the UK officially left the EU and its Common Single Market.
The infamous video of Farage after a successful Leave vote declaring that it’s the UK’s inpendence day.
The reason why the Leave Campaign was such a success was because of Farage and other prominent Leave figures like Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings. It succeeded mainly on the back of rural voters in England who tended to more conservative and eurospetical than their urban peers. Farage, incorrectly and falsely campaigned on the promise that the $350 million pounds that the UK sends to the EU each year would go to the NHS. Here are the five main reasons he successful in helping support the Leave Campaign
Charismatic Leadership: Farage is known for his charismatic and outspoken leadership style. He effectively used his charisma to rally supporters and convey his message in a compelling manner.
Anti-Establishment Sentiment: Farage tapped into the widespread anti-establishment sentiment that was prevalent in the UK at the time. Many voters were disillusioned with mainstream politicians and saw Farage as a refreshing alternative.
Immigration: Immigration was a key issue for Farage and the Leave campaign. He argued that leaving the EU would allow the UK to regain control over its borders and limit immigration, which resonated with a significant portion of the electorate concerned about the impact of immigration on jobs, wages, and public services.
Sovereignty: Farage emphasized the importance of national sovereignty and argued that EU membership undermined the UK’s ability to govern itself. He portrayed the EU as an undemocratic institution that imposed unwanted regulations on the UK.
Campaigning Skills: Farage was an experienced campaigner who knew how to effectively engage with voters. He traveled extensively across the country, speaking at public events and engaging with the media to promote the Leave cause.
Because of his strong anti-establishment views and arguments on immigration and the sovereignty of the UK under the EU, he succeeded. Farage left UKIP in 2018 in order to focus more on his new party in the European Parliament, the aptly named Brexit Party. Soon, when the UK left the EU and the European Parliament, Farage was no longer an elected official.
Farage’s Continued Political Influence
You might think that having achieved his primary goal of the UK leaving the EU, Farage would be done with politics. But when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Farage became one of the most prominent critics of lockdowns and vaccine mandates in the UK. To quote Wikipedia:
“Farage described lockdown as ‘cruel and unnecessary’ and endorsed the Great Barrington Declaration, which advocates focused protection of those most vulnerable to COVID-19 with the majority of the population allowed to resume normal life. The approach was conceived by Sunetra Gupta, a professor of theoretical epidemiology at the University of Oxford, as well as Jay Bhattacharya of Stanford University and Martin Kulldorff of Harvard University. The scientists were concerned with lockdown’s effects on public health and mental health, especially for the underprivileged, which they described as ‘devastating’. However, the approach has been criticized by Tedros Adhanom, the director-general of the World Health Organization, and Robert Lechler, the president of the British Academy of Medical Sciences.”
Farage also became highly critical of the immigration policies under the Sunak government, arguing they didn’t go far enough.
Meanwhile, the Brexit Party was transformed into the Reform UK party. While Farage said he was retiring from British politics, he remained the Chairman of the Party with businessman Richard Tice as leader. In a surprising move prompted by the general election call by Rishi Sunak, Farage announced on June 4, 2024, that he had switched positions with Tice. Therefore, he would be reentering British politics and would run as a candidate in the riding of Clacton in Essex. So what made Farage change his mind and stage his political comeback?
Reform UK’s Electoral Prospects
One factor was the popularity of the Reform party in the polls. In the lead-up to and after the call for the election, Reform was performing well in the polls. Since announcing his return to British politics, a poll found the Reform party one point ahead of the Conservatives, basically drowning them out. While polls can change, Reform’s upward momentum has led to a Tory Civil War of sorts. Farage stated his goal was to become the official opposition to the expected Labour government led by Keir Starmer. Labour has consistently held a 20-point lead over the Tories before the election was called, and that lead has only grown more. Given the high unpopularity of the Tories due to their handling of Brexit, the cost of living crisis, Partygate, COVID lockdowns, failure to respond to inflation, a slowing economy, and much more, this has benefited Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and Reform.
So what are Reform’s policies? Most of their platform is focused on hot issues such as the economy, immigration and funding for the NHS.
Reform UK’s manifesto under Farage includes several key policies aimed at addressing issues like immigration, taxation, and government spending. Here are the main points:
Immigration: The party’s primary goal is to reduce net migration to zero. This would mean the number of people entering the UK would equal those leaving. They also propose a “one in, one out” policy for migration and want the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights to facilitate offshore processing of illegal immigrants and prevent them from claiming asylum.
Taxation and Economic Policies: Reform UK plans to:
Raise the income tax personal allowance threshold from £12,570 to £20,000, exempting six million people from income tax.
Increase the higher rate threshold to £70,000 from £50,270.
Abolish VAT on energy bills and reduce fuel duty by 20p per litre.
Eliminate inheritance tax on estates below £2 million and apply a 20% rate above this threshold unless the money is donated to charity.
Cut corporation tax from 20% to 15% by the end of the next government term.
Reduce the UK tax code from 21,000 pages to 500 pages, similar to Hong Kong’s tax code.
Government Spending: The party claims it can free up £91 billion by eliminating “government waste,” including halting interest payments on quantitative easing reserves and forcing public sector managers to find savings.
Healthcare: A proposed £15 billion plan aims to cut NHS waiting lists to zero within two years. Patients unable to access timely care would receive vouchers for private treatment. Additionally, two million frontline healthcare workers would be exempt from the basic rate of income tax for three years.
Education: Reform UK wants to scrap interest on student loans, extend repayment periods to 45 years, and enforce stricter entry standards to reduce undergraduate numbers. They also propose 20% tax relief on private school fees.
Other Policies:
Reforming the planning system to accelerate home building, especially in northern and coastal areas.
Nationalising 50% shares of key utilities like energy and water.
Clamping down on “woke ideology” in schools and universities.
These policies are aimed at attracting voters frustrated with the current political landscape, particularly those from the Conservative base.
A lot of their policies are seen as far-right in nature and very much anti-establishment. Do they have a chance to become the official opposition and maybe even one day form government? Maybe, in my opinion. Looking back across the pond to my home country of Canada, the Tories face a similar predicament as the predecessor to the modern Conservative Party, the Progressive Conservatives, faced. Bad handling of the economy, splinter factions within the party, and a resurgent Liberal Party under Jean Chrétien led to their downfall in 1993. They went from a majority government to just having two seats, basically marking their extinction. I don’t know if the collapse of the Tories in the UK will be as dramatic, but it’s looking like a distinct possibility. Given how they are neck and neck in the polls, it’s extremely likely the Conservative vote in the UK will be divided between the two parties.
Polling for the UK general election as of June 2024
Challenges for Reform UK
But the two things going against Reform are the First Past the Post system and geography. It’s extremely hard for smaller parties to break into the House of Commons in the UK as whoever gets the most votes in a riding gets the seat. Also, the Conservatives have more established backing nationally and they have the historical infrastructure to support their party. Reform is a fairly new party and doesn’t have that as much as the other older and established parties. I also don’t know how regional Reform’s support is. If it’s fairly spread out across the UK, they won’t have much luck. If it’s high in certain areas, they will have a chance to trump the Tories. Until July 4th, we don’t really know what’s going to happen.
Trump’s first criminal trial of many is starting to wrap up. This trial deals with Trump making false statements on business records regarding payments to cover up an affair with Stormy Daniels. Daniels is a famous adult film star, and it has been alleged that she and Trump had an affair in 2006. Before the 2016 election, Trump had his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, pay Daniels $130,000 to keep silent. While this act itself is not illegal, Trump used campaign money to do so and falsified business records as a result. Currently, he faces 34 criminal counts related to this matter. Trump also has four other criminal trials due to start, including the Georgia election interference case, where we got the infamous Trump mugshot, a trial related to the events of January 6th, and another regarding Trump’s refusal to hand over classified documents.
Stormy Daniels testifying at the trial
If Trump were hypothetically convicted on all these charges, he would spend several lifetimes behind bars. Obviously, this is unlikely, and Trump is already 77 years old. The longest a human being has ever lived is 122 years. Unless he’s somehow secretly immortal or a Vulcan, it’s not happening. I feel like Trump will go scot-free regarding the Stormy Daniels case. I question the strength of the case against him; it’s taking place in a highly partisan environment and is not as severe compared to the other cases. I would personally love to see Trump behind bars, as I believe he’s a horrible human being, but it won’t be for the Stormy Daniels case.
Trump mugshot
I would argue the classified documents case is the most serious since it violates the 1917 Espionage Act. I don’t know how he’s going to escape that one. So, with Donald Trump facing potential prison time, what would it look like if he were elected again, and how could he be president?
There’s nothing stopping anyone from running for president from jail and being president while in jail. As long as you meet the constitutional requirements—being 35 years of age, a natural-born citizen, and having resided in the States for 14 years—you can run for and be president. Candidates have run for president from jail before, with the most famous case being Socialist candidate Eugene V. Debs, who ran in 1920. He was charged under the Espionage Act in 1918 for denouncing U.S. entry into WWI and was sentenced to ten years in prison. Despite not being able to campaign, he still managed to receive a respectable 3.4% of the vote, nearly a million votes. The infamous Joe Exotic also tried to run for president in 2020 and 2024 from prison as a Libertarian but later withdrew his campaign. So, there’s nothing stopping someone from running, but in most states, they wouldn’t be able to vote for themselves. Depending on the crime, most convicts can’t vote, which largely affects people of color.
Photo of Eugene V. Debs in prison for a campaign poster
It baffles me how this happens, as in Canada, you don’t lose that right and can even vote in prison, but I digress. So, what would a Trump presidency look like from prison? Depending on where Trump is jailed, he wouldn’t be able to occupy the White House unless placed under house arrest there. The logistics of assembling a cabinet, greeting foreign leaders and dignitaries, traveling to respond to natural disasters, and visiting foreign countries would be a massive headache in itself. Given his high-profile status, he would have to be kept separate from the general prison population and probably would end up in a minimum-security prison to facilitate better movement and security. All of this would be done under high security. A likely option is that many of his cabinet meetings and meetings with foreign leaders would be done virtually, solving many logistical and security issues. If under house arrest at the White House, I imagine many of those meetings would take place there, as they normally would during any presidency.
Foreign leaders, journalists, and any sort of visitors would be under immense security and scrutiny to ensure they aren’t carrying any illegal contraband. There is so much else in terms of logistics and security that I could write many pieces on it. The other thing to consider is what the legal, moral, and ethical concerns of a prisoner-in-command would be like.
The most immediate impact would be on the Republican party. They would literally be supporting a criminal as their leader and the leader of the free world. What message does that send to their voters and the world? If convicted, would a second civil war start? What potential ramifications would convicting a president have?
For starters, in other Western democracies like Japan, France, and Israel, presidents and prime ministers have been convicted of crimes. The political system and country didn’t fall apart; I would say it strengthened it. It showed that nobody, not even the highest person in the land, can escape justice and should be held accountable like everyone else. The belief that the president has executive privileges and can’t be tried under the law is nonsense. You could, however, argue that Bush Jr. and Obama should be tried for war crimes under that same logic. You could argue most presidents could be. This is why it’s such a slippery slope because it questions what can be counted as a crime. But in Trump’s case, it’s crystal clear. Given the current highly polarized political nature of the United States, how would the nation react to such a thing? If convicted of a crime, 13% of Republicans said they would vote for another candidate, including Joe Biden. This would also be a boon for Democrats, as they would have the moral high ground if Trump is convicted. Any logical, sane person would not want a criminal as their president. But that wouldn’t stop people from voting for him.
Trump is highly likely to be convicted of crimes related to his four ongoing federal and state-level trials. What do you think a Trump presidency from behind bars would look like? Please let me know.
For nearly 80 years, Argentinian politics has been dominated by the ideology and economic policies of one man: Juan Perón.
When Perón came to power in 1947, he nationalized key industries, advocated for women’s suffrage, paid off the country’s external debt, and developed a system of social assistance for the most needy. Peronism is described by three core principles:
Economic Independence: An economy that does not depend on other countries, achieved by promoting national industries.
Social Justice: The fight against socioeconomic inequalities.
Political Independence: The non-interference of foreign powers in the country’s domestic affairs.
Perón ruled from 1946 to 1955, was forced into exile, but returned briefly in 1973 amidst intense political strife, dying of a heart attack in 1974. His second wife, Isabel, ruled for the next two years until she was deposed by a military coup.
Since the return of democracy in 1983, Peronist candidates have often dominated elections. Presidents have shifted the party’s policies from center-right, advocating free-market policies and good relations with the United States, to more left-wing social democratic policies in the 2010s.
Argentina once had the potential to be an economic superpower. Over 100 years ago, it was one of the richest countries in the world, exporting a lot of oil. However, economic mismanagement and crippling inflation throughout the 20th century led to the largest government bankruptcy in 2001 after the IMF withdrew support when President Carlos Menem linked the peso to the US dollar. The 9/11 attacks and the subsequent economic slowdown crippled Argentina’s economy, setting the stage for economic challenges in the 21st century.
I don’t have time to cover all the details of Argentina’s economy and its mismanagement, but I highly encourage you to research it. It’s an incredibly interesting read on what can go wrong.
This brings us to 2023 and the election of Javier Milei. Milei identifies as a right-wing libertarian but is widely viewed as far-right by most political commentators. He is known for his abrasive and controversial views, following the Austrian School of Economics, and his flamboyant personal style. He often insulted or cursed at other commentators or reporters during his time as a television commentator in Argentina.
Milei supports laissez-faire economics, aligning with minarchist and anarcho-capitalist ideologies. Minarchy, or a night-watchman state, advocates for a limited government focused on enforcing the non-aggression principle by providing military, police, and courts to protect citizens from aggression, theft, fraud, and breach of contract. Anarcho-capitalism seeks to abolish centralized states in favor of stateless societies where private agencies enforce systems of private property.
The term for minarchism was coined by Ferdinand Lassalle and derived from the watchman system used by various European cities starting in the medieval period. The voluntary militia functioned as a city guard for internal policing and against external aggression.
Milei’s key policies include:
Free Market Economics: Deregulating markets to allow competition to drive efficiency and innovation. He opposes government subsidies and favors privatization of state-controlled industries.
Fiscal Conservatism: Advocating for a balanced budget and reducing government debt, believing excessive spending crowds out private investment and leads to inefficiency.
Monetary Reform: Criticizing central banks for inflationary policies and advocating for a stable currency, possibly tying it to a commodity like gold or implementing strict money supply growth rules.
Individual Liberty: Emphasizing personal freedoms and limited government intervention, opposing regulations that restrict individual choices and supporting private property rights.
Privatization: Promoting the privatization of state-owned enterprises to foster competition, reduce government inefficiency, and improve service quality.
Milei seeks to radically overhaul the Argentine economy and government policies. He supports freedom of choice on drug policy, firearms, sex work, and same-sex marriage while opposing abortion and euthanasia. In foreign policy, he advocates closer relations with the United States and Israel, supports Ukraine in response to the Russian invasion, and aims to distance Argentina from China.
One of his major economic policies is the dollarization of the peso. In his first few months in office, he pushed for austerity and deregulation measures. According to Wikipedia:
“Argentina’s inflation slowed in February for a second consecutive month as Milei continued to push austerity and deregulation measures to revive the struggling economy. Monthly inflation slowed to 13.2% in February, compared to 20.6% in January and 25.5% in December. Argentina’s dollar-denominated international bonds reached new highs in March, with the 2029 and 2030 issues close to or at record high prices. The bonds have rallied from lows that took the 2030 issue to 18.125 cents in July 2022, fueled by investor bets that Milei’s cabinet will successfully transform the economy.”
One of his major decrees, signed on December 23, 2023, called Decree 70/2023, aimed to:
Convert state-owned enterprises to Sociedades Anónimas, exposing them to risks like bankruptcy if poorly managed and allowing state shares to be transferred to employees.
Reduce compensations owed to terminated or laid-off employees and allow workers to choose their own healthcare providers.
Make permanent traffic obstructions against organizations illegal.
Abolish registries and authorizations for importers and exporters, aiming to reduce paperwork and digitalize processes.
Remove rent control regulations and allow rents to be set in dollars instead of pesos.
Milei and his cabinet after signing the degree
To discuss Milei’s policies, I interviewed Andre Malebran, a reporter from Santiago, Chile.
Interviewer: Please state your name for the record. What do you do?
Andre: My name is Andre. I’m a Chilean journalist.
Interviewer: What are your thoughts on Milei in general?
Andre: Milei has two important sides. Economically, he offers something radical, especially for Argentina, which has been largely defined by socialism under Peronism. His view of liberalism is a significant departure. He is also a charismatic right-wing politician with strong support for Israel and an interest in Judaism, possibly linked to his economic policies and foreign investment opportunities. However, his confrontational politics could create diplomatic tensions, which may destabilize the government. Despite managing inflation well recently, making enemies could be detrimental.
Interviewer: Do you think his radical economic policies will fix Argentina’s economy?
Andre: So far, inflation has decreased to 90% in five months, which is historically significant. Similar shock policies have worked in other countries, like Chile during Pinochet’s regime. Despite facing major strikes, Milei’s approach of reducing spending and not printing more money is causing deflation. If the measures hold, we might see positive results by year-end. However, the current reduction in inflation might mask underlying issues like deflation and reduced production.
Interviewer: Is he doing the right thing in addressing inflation in Argentina?
Andre: He hasn’t passed any laws in Congress, which has been rejecting his agenda. Recently, he stated he won’t approve new budget changes involving payments. This tension aims to stop economic bleeding by cutting payments, including pensions, and managing the peso’s devaluation. Transitioning Argentina’s economy to a dollar-based system by year-end would be a significant achievement.
Interviewer: How do you think his social policies will affect his economic policies?
Andre: Diplomatic tensions are rising, with incidents involving Spain, Israel, Russia, and China. Argentina, dependent on financial swaps from China, is now seeing those payments stop due to Milei’s stance. His lack of diplomatic caution might open new issues for Argentina.
Interviewer: Is he a true libertarian, or more like Jair Bolsonaro as a far-right populist figure?
Andre: Milei’s rhetoric borrows heavily from libertarian ideas, unlike Bolsonaro, who was more conservative. Despite being on the right, Milei’s recent political entry contrasts with Bolsonaro’s long-term involvement. Milei’s refusal of his congressional salary and direct public engagement show his dedication to his principles. Fundamentally, they are different, and Milei seems poised for a more significant impact than Bolsonaro.
Interviewer: Could the libertarian wave replace the pink tide of socialist governments in South America from the late ’90s and early 2000s?
Andre: Milei represents a new phase mixing totalitarian elements with basic democratic protections. In South America, security is deteriorating, and public sentiment is shifting towards harsher measures. While we might not see a return to full totalitarianism, democracy could face crises, especially regarding security. Over the next two decades, we might see increased fragility in democratic institutions and significant human rights issues, with governments focusing more on security than on upholding rights.
Interviewer: Thank you for your insights.
Andre: You’re welcome.
It’s too early to say if Milei’s policies will solve Argentina’s economic problems, but they represent a major shift in the political landscape. This shift is not just in Argentina but also in South America and globally. Similarly, in El Salvador, Nayib Bukele has undertaken drastic economic and political reforms, including accepting Bitcoin as legal tender and implementing a tough-on-crime policy. While this has brought wealth and reduced crime rates, it has also led to overcrowded prisons and concerns about innocent people being jailed.
Libertarianism has never taken off globally, despite being the third largest party in the United States. However, Milei’s election could signal a shift in global politics toward radical change or be a brief hiccup. It’s too early to tell.
With the anticipation for the upcoming presidential election mounting, one question looms large: who will be Donald Trump’s vice-presidential running mate? While the former president has yet to unveil his pick, speculation abounds as rival parties have already made their selections.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wasted no time in announcing Nicole Shanahan as his VP, echoing Joe Biden’s early commitment to Kamala Harris. With these decisions in mind, attention now turns to Trump’s camp. Who will fill the coveted VP slot alongside the former president?
Amidst the pool of potential candidates, three figures stand out:
Marco Rubio
Rubio has been considered as Trump’s VP candidate for quite some time. Despite their intense back and forth in 2016, they have grown very close. Rubio functioned as a de facto Secretary of State for the Southern Hemisphere because of his Cuban background and his ability to speak Spanish. During Trump’s presidency, he sent Rubio to most Latin American countries to represent his interests. Rubio also had a significant influence on Trump’s Cuba policy, advocating for a return to a pre-Cuban Thaw relationship with stricter sanctions. Notably, Rubio has remained loyal to Trump, defending his false claims that Biden stole the election in 2020. Additionally, he is a person of color and seen as more moderate compared to other potential picks like Governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem, or Vivek Ramaswamy.
However, the major issue preventing Rubio from being Trump’s VP pick is the fact that they would both be running from the same state of Florida. Since Rubio is a senator from Florida, he would either have to move, or due to a hiccup in US law, the electoral votes for him and Trump would not count. While Florida is barely a swing state anymore (some classify it as a red state due to Miami-Dade County becoming increasingly Republican each election since 2016), losing those electoral votes would be a blow to their campaign. In most elections, this wouldn’t be an issue, but given Florida’s status as a bellwether state for some, a very close result in Florida in favor of Biden would not bode well.
This issue arises from the 12th amendment, which mandates a separate ballot be cast for President and Vice President. This rule was instituted due to chaotic elections in 1800 and 1804, preventing an elector from voting for two people from their home state. One can only imagine the plight of the poor voter in Florida.
The closest instance resembling this issue was with Dick Cheney in 2000. Both Bush Jr. and Cheney were from Texas, raising concerns that their electoral votes wouldn’t count because of this rule. Cheney, unfortunately, put his house on the market in Texas and obtained a Wyoming driver’s license, changing his voting record to Wyoming in time for the election. Given the events of the 2000 election, one might wish he hadn’t taken this route. The world might have been a better place.
2. J.D Vance
J.D. Vance is a famous Republican senator from Ohio, best known for his book “Hillbilly Elegy.” It’s a memoir detailing his upbringing in the Appalachians and how his family values strongly influenced him. The book gained significant press during the 2016 election, and Vance was able to launch a successful Senate bid in 2021. Starting off as a critic of Trump, much like Rubio, he has since become a strong Trump loyalist. He also served in the Iraq War from 2003-2007. In terms of major policy, his response to the East Palestine train derailment was viewed as a major failure. He supports Trump’s claims of a stolen election, backed Trump’s border wall, anti-climate change stance, and many of Trump’s other major policies. While he is a Trump loyalist, he is also viewed as a moderate due to his pro-NATO stance but vocal criticism of US support for the War in Ukraine.
The major factor preventing Vance from being Trump’s VP pick is the issue of having two white men on the ticket. Given how Trump lost in diverse states like Georgia and Arizona, he may opt for someone of color like Tim Scott. South Carolina is also expected to be a major state in the upcoming election, making someone like Tim Scott an appealing choice. Trump also aims to regain the votes of independents and moderates, many of whom voted for Joe Biden in 2020. Having someone like Scott on the ticket could provide a significant boost to the Trump campaign. However, insiders suggest that Vance remains Trump’s second or third pick, indicating that he is still in contention.
3. Tim Scott
Tim Scott is being viewed as the favorite for Trump’s VP pick at the moment, as he’s mentioned the most along with Rubio, Vance, and others. Scott is a senator from South Carolina, a state Trump won by 11.8% in 2020, but down three percent from 2016. Given shifting demographics, there is a small but significant chance that South Carolina could flip; however, the last time this occurred was in 1976 under Jimmy Carter. There is a chance Biden and co. could win the state. Therefore, Trump wants to accomplish two things: assure minority, moderate, and independent votes and ensure South Carolina doesn’t flip.
Scott supports Trump’s border policies, stricter immigration, opposes same-sex marriage, urged Trump to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, takes a tougher stance on China, voted against creating a 9/11-style commission for January 6th, and is generally pro-Trump on a lot of policies. The only split between them is the issue of racism, with Scott declaring it “alive and well.” Scott was highly critical of Trump’s response to the Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally and his “both sides” comments. But like former critics, he’s fallen in line and is supportive of Trump. Because of these factors, I highly believe that Scott or Ted Cruz will be Trump’s VP pick. Scott would simply be the safest choice and could bring back voters Trump lost and would allow Trump to appear diverse.
Here are some bonus picks:
Doug Burgum
Rep. Elise Stefanik
Ron DeSantis
Tom Cotton
Please let me know who you think Trump’s VP pick will be.
I left Alex Garland’s new film, “Civil War,” about an hour and a half ago. I felt overwhelmed by it. Saddened. But most of all, confused as to what the point of the movie was.
I think Garland made a wise choice not to focus on what caused the civil war, how the opposing sides came to be, and why they are fighting to begin with. It focuses the movie on the characters instead. We’re in an election year, and it’s shaping up to a Biden/Trump match again. A lot of people were disappointed that the movie wasn’t Democrats vs. Republicans or red vs. blue states. With the constant fear-mongering state of the media, it always seems like we’re on the verge of another American civil war. For example, Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, defying a Supreme Court ruling in regards to policing of the border and being at odds with Joe Biden, was a dicey moment recently. People online were calling it the start of the Second American Civil War. But it fizzled out as people moved onto the next thing to worry about. The idea of Texas and California teaming up may seem ridiculous, but not entirely out of the realm of possibility.
Map of how the various states are divided up. Green represents the Western Forces. Red is the Florida Alliance. Yellow is the New People’s Army and Blue is the loyalist states.
This quote from Garland really hammers home the point for me, and I’m paraphrasing it here:
“States that are being oppressed by a fascist president are probably willing to set aside their own issues. If they do, what does that say about political polarization?
If two state governments, with a large economy, large populations, strong industry, and good agriculture, are dealing with the same tyrannical government, it’s extremely possible that they would team up, regardless of them being a blue or red state. Americans are not as divided as they seem, despite what the news media tells you. The main focus of this movie is about the journalists’ journey through a war-torn America, not about the politics of such an event. But this movie is still inherently political in my view. More on that later.
When I was watching the film, I was very reminded of Joseph Conrad’s novel, “Heart of Darkness,” and the infamous 1979 adaptation of the film, “Apocalypse Now.” I personally have a very strong dislike for Conrad’s novel, but its being a strong critique of Western imperialism was revolutionary for its time.
The journalists in the film, Lee, Smith, Joel, Jessie, and Sammy, very much mirror that of the journey of Captain Benjamin L. Willard in “Apocalypse Now.” The president in “Civil War” is very much like Kurtz in a sense, although far more cowardly, and he doesn’t have much screen time in the movie. The characters are seeking him out in a similar way. Not to kill him like Kurtz in HOD and AN, but he’s the main McGuffin the characters are after. They seek to interview him before he’s captured and killed by the Western Forces or to be there when they get him. The Vietnam War itself is not the main focus of the film, and this applies to “Civil War.” The ongoing civil conflict is a backdrop, and the various events, places, and people they see and interact with are part of the background, although it does play an important part in the film. This film is about journalists and the horrors they see and witness when covering foreign conflicts and the journey they go through to tell the truth. With the scene of the group arriving in a town acting like nothing has happened, very much reminded me of the scene in “AN” at the French Plantation. It’s denial and nostalgia and wanting to go back to the way things were before, despite how broken and horrible it was.
In a key scene in the film, in the beginning, we see Smith taking a photo of a man being lit on fire. This reminded me very much of the very infamous photo of the starving child (The Vulture and the Little Girl) in Sudan in 1993 that was taken by Kevin Carter. He later committed suicide over the backlash to the photo and for not doing anything to help the child. Smith faced a very similar crisis as she did not do anything to help the man and, as a result, suffers from PTSD. In various parts of the film, the frame takes on a certain colored tint, and various times throughout the movie, and the POV zooms out a bit. This indicates Smith is suffering from a PTSD episode in the moment. In the climax of the film where the WF are storming the White House, she suffers from a severe episode of it.
This, for me, is an example of the extreme stresses and horrors journalists routinely subject themselves to in war zones. In the case of the Vulture and the Little Girl and various moments throughout the film, the idea of journalists is that they are meant to be objective and not get involved in any way. The characters themselves are subjected to and in some cases, killed for trying to report the truth. In the face of so much human suffering and death, is it possible to be truly objective? When Jessie sees several bodies hanging in a car wash, she freezes up not sure what to do or to take a photo. When two of their colleagues are killed by Jessie Plemons’s character, they express extreme distress and emotion at the sight and are on the verge of being shot.
the infamous ” What kind of American are you?” scene
When I went to university to be a journalist, I was taught that the most important thing was to be objective. But I dismissed that out of hand, as logically, you can’t stand by and let someone suffer. I feel as if I have a moral obligation to help someone in distress. A scene that follows after the car wash scene, Jessie is extremely distraught at what she witnessed and for not doing something to help. Smith rightfully says she couldn’t have done anything and to not be stuck on what-ifs, as it would drive her crazy. This is hypocritical on Smith’s part because of the PTSD she suffers from and how she feels covering conflict in general. Any rational, sane human being would be extremely traumatized by covering war and violence in general. I go back to Kevin Carter with the Vulture and the Little Girl. Humans are naturally social creatures with morals, and it’s a built-in ability for us to want to help other people who are suffering. To deny that is human nature.
When Sammy, Smith, and Joel’s mentor is killed saving them from a militia, they become direct victims of suffering and violence themselves. In the face of losing a father figure like that, they finally allow themselves to experience human nature.
The true message of this movie, in my view, is about objectivity as a journalist in the horrors of facing war. How does one stay neutral and impassive to horrifying events? What is the cost for the human soul and mind? And when should one intervene to alleviate suffering? And most importantly, for fellow Americans wanting to go to war with their own countrymen, what is the reality behind that? What is the true human, social, spiritual, economic, political cost of such a thing? Be careful what you wish for.
And this is what I mean by the movie being inherently political. A Second American Civil War is not going to be like Jericho or some MAGA wet dream where Trump is proudly standing over the body of Joe Biden with an American flag and a bald eagle on his shoulder. It’s going to be a horrifying, scarring, and destructive conflict that touches everyone. It’s a romanticized idea, much as war
was viewed before World War I that it will be filled with glory and romance with a desire for exacting revenge on people for simply having a different point of view. War is not glamorous or romantic. It’s a horrifying, awful thing and one of the worst things a human could ever do to another human being. The thought of doing that to a fellow countryman is even more terrifying because you come from under the same flag.
The far right in the United States clamoring to restore the honor of the Confederate States of America or Democrats wishing for Republicans to disappear off the face of the Earth truly have no idea what the consequences of such an action would be. There’s no thought for what the aftermath and consequences of such an action would be. Jessie Plemons’s character best represents this for me. Humans would use it as an excuse to unleash their darkest impulses.
There’s so much more to unpack about this movie. I think the movie could represent the five stages of grief because of the various experiences the characters have. I highly recommend going in to watch this film without reading reviews and allowing yourself to form your own opinion on it as I did. A popular saying around this film is that there are a lot of bad takes around it and that people are completely misunderstanding it. But the film is open-ended in what it means, and it’s up to the viewer themselves to decide. I hope my writing here helps you understand.
The idea of artificial intelligence in Western popular culture is mainly negative, thanks to such works as The Terminator and the character of HAL 2000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey. There are a few positive examples, such as Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation, Vision from Marvel comics and the MCU, and many more. But the perception, at least from my point of view, is negative.
Besides the fear that when we reach the zero singularity, the moment A.I. becomes self-aware, it could decide humanity is inferior and decide to wipe us out, there are more realistic things to consider. For one, we are already seeing A.I. become omnipresent in our lives with the rise of ChatGPT, rising automation, and computers being created to be smarter and smarter. I believe we will achieve the zero singularity in the next 15–20 years. The chance of A.I. becoming self-aware is more or less guaranteed to happen. Many experts in the field or in science have warned us about it, such as Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and many more.
But what if the experts are wrong and A.I. actually benefits humanity and makes the world a better place? What if we aren’t immediately wiped out in a nuclear holocaust and have to fight the machines, John Connor style?
For starters, A.I. has already been a massive help for humanity. We see this with Alexa, Google, computing programmes, ChatGPT, and many other things. A.I. does a lot of the heavy lifting for us in terms of work, and it’s already made our lives far more convenient. ChatGPT, for example, can write a whole essay on any given topic in less than a minute, giving university professors everywhere a heart attack.
A.I. is already proving to be a boon for humanity. But how can A.I. truly become friendly with us?
There are several ways to go about this. For example, programming it with ethical and moral guidelines is one. The most famous example of this is Isaac Asimov’s Three Rules of Robotics:
“The first law is that a robot shall not harm a human or, by inaction, allow a human to come to harm.” “The second law is that a robot shall obey any instruction given to it by a human, and the third law is that a robot shall avoid actions or situations that could cause it to harm itself.”
In popular culture, there have been many interpretations of this, such as in the movie I, Robot, which is based on Asmiov’s Three Rules and the book of the same name. Some criticism of this is that the laws are ambiguous, even for us as humans. What does it mean not to “harm”?
To quote Mindmatters on this:
“The “laws” are ambiguous, even for a human. For example, what does it mean to not “harm”? Actually, it is quite sticky to work out. The flaw with the laws is this: They assume that morality and moral decisions can be made by means of an algorithm, that discrete yes/no answers suffice to “solve” moral quandaries.
They are also completely made up and used as a plot device in many of Asmiov’s works. His work regularly deals with robots or other forms of intelligence going against their programming and causing issues. Programming a robot with such loose regulations is flimsy at best, but they start off as a good jumping-off point.
Programming a robot to follow human ethics and respect human mortality is complicated, as the robot could decide whether or not to do so. Also, if it’s too narrow, it can cause issues there. So, in order to achieve the ideal machine that follows human ethics and morality, you need to strike a balance that allows for some flexibility.
Human ethics and morality are regularly tested every day, and humans can’t even comprehend all of them themselves. So imagine if you were a machine, as ethics and mortality can change from situation to situation. This is where the flexibility I mentioned comes in, as it would allow A.I. or a robot to decide how to best handle the situation based on the pre-existing ethics and morality programmed into it.
Even if an A.I. or a robot is programmed to have good intentions, this could change. Programming a fail-safe to prevent the A.I. from exceeding its ethics and morality programming or more general programming could be a way to counter this. In its design, A.I. will be programmed to always be self-improving and surpassing itself, unless otherwise told not to. For example, in the Star Wars universe, A.I. and self-aware robots exist, but rarely do they cause harm to humans or others unless they were created specifically for killing, like I-G-11 or other bounty hunter robots. This could be one future we face. They don’t come to dominate us but just part of our lives and useful tools.
This also brings in the idea of nature vs. nurture. While an A.I. or robot would not have a genetic code like humans, if it were raised like a human child with good ethics and morals, theoretically it would turn out to be a good person. But anyone is capable of becoming a horrible person, despite a good upbringing. This could be the same with A.I. and robots.
These types of debates about human ethics and morality, their relationship to machines, their implementation in machines, and finally what the reality of that would be, has been going on for decades.
But, would there be some realistic applications where AI could benefit us? Well, the possibilities are limitless. The first one that comes to mind for me is in the world of health and science. There are an infinite number of ways A.I. could help us in the medical field, such as through nanotechnology, performing surgeries, and more. Also, in terms of computing power, it could help solve problems that have long puzzled humanity. It could help us solve global warming, hunger, famine, war, and so much more. The potential of it is limitless, but how much of it will remain in the realm of science fiction versus reality has yet to be seen. It could solve the problem of everything, to quote Reed Richards from Marvel comics.
I personally am willing to give A.I. a try, but it’s honestly one of humanity’s greatest existential crises. Who knows what potential impact, A.I. and the achievement of hitting the zero singularity could cause and the following philosophical debate that would happen. Many experts, politicians, celebrities, and ordinary people have varying ideals about how to respond to the creation of AI and its becoming self-aware. I 100% believe it will happen within my lifetime, and it scares me. ChatGPT is a prime example of this, and I believe it will be seen as the grandfather of whatever A.I. is created.
I would hope that A.I. would have a positive application for humanity in the future, but only time will tell. I hope they end up like Data from Star Trek or the Vision. Remember, be nice to your Alexa or Siri. They could be seriously planning to kill you.
Hello again, everyone! As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve read over 100 Star Trek books and there were some I really wanted to add onto the list, but they did not make a cut. This is done to achieve this.
10. The Original Series #47: the Kobayashi Maru by Julia Ecklar
Kobayashi Maru is the most infamous test in Star Trek, the ultimate no-win scenario. It is meant to test young Starfleet cadets that not all situations are winnable and that they should be prepared to lose. Kobayashi Maru is a ship trapped in the Klingon Neutral Zone, but it is a trap to draw starships into an unwinnable fight with Klingon ships. However, in the case of Kirk, he does not believe in a no-win situation, and he makes it a career to defy the odds. This is the story of revealing how Kirk, Scotty, Chekov and Sulu’s Kobayashi Maru tests went. Trapped on a shuttle that is powerless and lacks the ability to communicate with the outside world, to pass the time, the crew tells how their various Kobayashi Maru tests went. This is a great book that offers insights into the crew’s younger years and how they became the Starfleet officers they are, particularly in the case of Chekov, Kirk, Scotty and Sulu. This is a great book because we finally learn how Kirk beat the test by cheating, and it is the first true prequel we obtained in terms of exploring the crew’s backstory. I particularly enjoyed Chekov’s and Sulu’s stories, with the latter having some emotional weight. Scotty, of course, comes up with the most maddening solution for beating the test. The book is well-written and emotional and provides excellent insight into how the crew became the people they are in the Original Series and films.
8.5/10
9. Deep Space Nine: The Lives of Dax by various
I usually roll my eyes at anthology stories, but this buckles the trend. Jadzia Dax is easily one of the best characters on DS9, but for one particular reason. She bonded to a symbiote that had lived for over 300 years and had six hosts before her. She is a Trill, whose species bonds to a symbiote, which are not anything like Venom from Marvel Comics, but they look more like a gray slug/xylitol-looking creature, and the symbiotes are functionally immortal. Also, they are more nice and don’t crave human flesh. Through this, the hosts gain knowledge of the previous symbiote hosts, making them some of the smartest and wisest people in Trek. Throughout DS9, we learn about Dax’s previous hosts from Curzon to the murderous Joran, and we gain glimpses of her various hosts, but we never learn the full story of all of them. This book has corrected this.
Written by multiple Trek authors such as Judith and Garfield Reeves- Steven, Jeffery Lang, Greg Cox and more, this is a great anthology series as it answers many questions about the past of the Dax symbiote and also about the Trill as a people. It is also probably one of the best DS9 books, by default.
10/10
8. Star Trek: Voyager: The Homecoming Dulogy by Christine Golden
Finally, I will discuss some Voyager books. In the finale of Voyager, after the future Admiral Janeway brings the crew home and helps them destroy the Borg transwarp hub, effectively crippling the Borg, we never get to see the crew reunite with their loved ones. How do they adjust to life in the Alpha Quadrant? How did they deal with the aftermath of the Dominion War? How do they feel reunited with their loved ones? In particular, how do Seven of Nine, a former Borg drone, and the Doctor, a holographic medical officer, deal with a world that is hostile to them? The duology of books answers this question.
To be fair to you, I find that these books go off the rails, particularly in the case of the second book where the Borg subplot takes center stage. However, these books are great because they give us what was missing in the Voyager finale, the crew reunited with their loved ones, and how they react to being back in the Alpha Quadrant.
7/10
7. Star Trek: Voyager #19-21: the Dark Matters Trilogy by Christine Golden
By the same author as the previous entry, this is truly one of my favourite trilogies in Star Trek. This is also very underrated in my opinion. Dark Matters deals with the Voyager crew suddenly falling ill with dark matter, the substance that makes up the known universe. At the start of their journey back home to the Alpha Quadrant, the Voyager crew made contact with a Romulan scientist 20 years ago named Telek, via a wormhole. Despite the fact that this could have gotten the Voyager crew home, due to the fact that Telek existed for 20 years in the past, this could have disrupted the timeline and risk of the Voyager crew being captured by the Romulans, along with their advanced technology. In the Eye of the Needle is personally one of my favourite Voyager episodes, thanks in part to Vaughan Armstrong’s performance as Telek and the sympathy he feels for Janeway and the crew. At the end of the episode, he promises to pass on information to Starfleet and their families that they are still alive and well, but he dies before he gets the chance to do so.
This trilogy of books expands upon Telek’s backstory and how he was really able to get in touch with Janeway and the crew. It also reveals a plan by the Romulan Star Empire to steal Voyager’s advanced technology and use its advantages against the Federation. However, not all is as it seems that the Romulans and the Voyager crew are being pushed by an outside force determined to bring about the end of the universe, as we know it with dark matter! This trilogy of books is great because it is a solid Voyager story, offers answers about Telek, and is a wonderful sequel to the Eye of the Needle. Easily some of the best Voyager books out there
8/10
6. Voyager Relaunch: Full Circle- the Eternal Tide by Christine Golden
I count this book as one because it contains the first massive arc of the second Voyager relaunch. Christine Golden after Homecoming would go on to write another duology called Spirit Walk which focused on Chakotay as captain of Voyager and Janeway becoming an Admiral. However, it was not well received by fans; therefore, a second relaunch occurred. Janeway was also killed after being assimilated by the Borg in the Next Generation novel, Before Dishonor by Peter David, which was also not received very well by fans.
Thus, taking things back to the basics, Kirsten Beyer started the second relaunch of Voyager. Starting with a Full Circle, it primarily wraps up loose ends from the series and the previous relaunch in an excellent fashion. It primarily deals with the Warriors of Gre’thor ( if I am spelling that right) and the prophecy of Tom Paris and B’elanna Torre’s child, Miral, supposedly being the Klingon messiah. The second half of Full Circle deals with the aftermath of Janeway’s death before Dishonor and its effects on Voyager’s former crew, particularly Chakotay and Starfleet’s attempt to send back another expedition into the Delta Quadrant. Full Circle is an excellent book, and I highly enjoyed it, as it sets up the relaunch of Voyager in excellent fashion and gives all the characters excellent arcs. It also sends them back to the Delta Quadrant, which the next two books primarily address. But Eternal Tide also sees the return of Janeway from the dead, with help from Q Junior to deal with the Omega Continuum. It’s my second favourite after Full Circle, which I would say is the best Voyager novel I have read so far. These first four books as a whole are excellent as they bring Voyager back to basics, focus on what made it great in the first place, and make it far more compelling and interesting than the show. Voyager always suffered from weak writing compared to TNG and DS9, but this is fixed here. This makes these books great.
8/10
5. The Original Series: Spock’s World by Diane Duane
The Federation in crisis! On Vulcan, a vote to leave the Federation will occur, and Kirk, Spock, and McCoy must go to Vulcan to testify to the merits of staying in the Federation. Throughout the book, chapters of Vulcan history reveal how the Vulcan language was created, the origin of Vulcan philosophy, medieval culture, Vulcan’s first steps into outer space, Surak, and his creation of following logic over emotion. This is another excellent book written by Diane Duane, who I featured in the first part. This book is also an excellent deep dive into Vulcan culture and history and makes it feel like a lived and ancient world, more then as it was portrayed in the Original Series and movies. The writing is also excellent and flows incredibly well, and the debate on whether Vulcan should leave or stay in the Federation actually carries weight. I highly recommend this book if you like Vulcans or are interested in the character of Spock.
8.5/10
4. The Original Series #50: Doctor’s Orders by Diane Duane
McCoy is easily one of my favourite characters in Trek, along with Garak, Kirk, Picard and Data. I love the old, crotchety country doctor, who does not belong in space. I relate to him so much, and he serves as Kirk’s emotional anchor, in contrast to Spock’s logical and scientific mind. He also serves as a voice of reason and passion among the various science-fiction mishaps that occur throughout the series. This book deals with the Enterprise being told to go to a non-aligned world with three unique species that live on the same planet and to get them all to petition to join the Federation. However, Kirk is accidentally sent foward in time a week. Before he left, he jokingly put McCoy in charge of the bridge, expecting to be gone for only two hours, but McCoy now finds himself in a deadly crisis. Now McCoy, as acting captain, must deal with Klingons and Orion pirates that seek to claim the world as their own, all without Kirk!
This book puts an excellent focus on McCoy and his character and shows how lucky Kirk is to have the people he has around him. It is also very funny to see McCoy have to deal with such a deadly crisis and be unable to give control of the ship to Spock because of regulations. McCoy proved to be a competent leader. It also provides great dialogue between him and Spock, which is always a joy to read and watch in the T.V show. Overall, this is a fun rip-roaring adventure that gives McCoy great character development and we get to see him in a situation we never thought we would see him as; captain of the Enterprise! Diane Duane’s writing is top form here and this is my favourite book by her. She captures the spirit, feels, and heart of the TOS in her writing here and which makes it such a great book.
9/10
4. Deep Space Nine: the Millennium Trilogy by Judith and Garfield Reeves Steven
This trilogy takes place between seasons 6 and 7 of DS9 and includes all the great makings of a Star Trek book: time travel, overpowered characters, alternate realities, and more. Mysterious events occur on DS9, such as the murder of an Andorian criminal, two dead Cardassians being found, and the discovery of a mysterious holodeck that no one has ever seen at the station. Quark is framed for the murder of the Andorian, and soon an infamous Cardassian scientist arrives. However, how are all of these events connected?
Sisko and crew are now forced into a tight race to prevent the long-lost orbs of the Second Celestial Temple from falling into the wrong hands! They must also prevent a second wormhole, the long-lost Second Celestial Temple of the Bajorian faith, from opening and potentially destroying the universe. This great book truly embodies the spirit of DS9 and involves two of Star Trek’s greatest plot devices: time travel and alternate universes. In the case of the alternate universe, we get to see one where the Federation and the Borg team up, a Bajor that is the most powerful planet in the galaxy, Jean Luc Picard building the largest starship to stop them, and Weyoun as the Emissary of the Prophets, oh my! Timey, wimey, and wibbly wobbly temporal antics also occur. However, this trilogy of books feels like a true encore for DS9 after the series ended and celebrates what makes it truly great, its character, its heart, and capturing some of Star Trek’s greatest plot devices and its embrace of darker themes.
8/10
3. The Next Generation #47-49: The Q Continuum Trilogy by Greg Cox
Q is one of my favourite characters in all of Trek, thanks mainly to the performance of John De Lancie. As mentioned in my previous post about my favourite Star Trek books, Q-Squared is easily one of my favourites. I would argue that this trilogy of books makes up the second-best book about Q. After the events of Generations and First Contact, Picard and Crew are sent to the Galatic Barrier to penetrate it and get to the other side. They are going to test a device designed by a Betazoid scientist, but his intentions were less than glamorous. Q soon appears to Picard to stop this from happening and to prevent the galaxy from being overrun by an evil entity! Q himself is responsible for this entity entering our universe.
We do not really learn anything about the backstory of Q in TNG or other related shows. We do get to see the Continuum in Voyager and the resulting civil war, but nothing else. This trilogy of books is the closest thing we are going to get to a backstory for Q and how he becomes the individual that he is that we see in the TNG. This trilogy of books is mostly great for bringing together and explaining the various god-like entities that exist in Star Trek, such as Sha Ka Ree from the Final Frontier and more from the Original Series, and Q is indirectly responsible for bringing them into our universe. It also has excellent tie-ins to other parts of the Trek canon, such as the fall of the T’Kon Empire, which is featured in the book, Gorgan, how the galactic barrier was created, and why and even how Q is responsible for the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs! This was my first dive into the world of trek literature, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. Cox has always done a great job of weaving together disparate parts of the Trek canon together into a concise and great story, and this continues that trend.
8/10
2. The Next Generation: The Immortal Coil by Jeffery Lang
One of the best Star Trek novels in my opinion and the best story about data out there. After the events of Generations and First Contact, Data struggled to deal with his emotion chip. This was granted to him by his creator, Noonien Singh, for him to become more human. When a prototype for an advanced android is stolen from the Daystrom Institute, Data and crew are sent across the galaxy to determine why and Data must come to terms while dealing with his newfound emotion. Soon, a galaxy-wide conspiracy was discovered that links various AI, androids, and robots from throughout Trek history, and only Data can stop it!
This book is incredibly incredible: Not only does it give data the true solo treatment he always deserved, the way it ties the various AI, androids, and robots into the story we have seen throughout Star Trek is incredible. From the androids from “What are Little Girls Made of?” to the M5 computer from ” the Ultimate Computer, ” even the freaking Exo-comps from TNG are tied in masterfully well. It also contains some of the best actions I have read in a Star Trek book, and the finale of the book is just absolutely perfect. It gives everything you want in a Star Trek book: great character development, excellent world-building, crossover with other series, action, and, overall, a wonderful and powerful beating heart. I love this book so much; I am going to give it a perfect rating.
10/10
The Original Series: Cast No Shadow by James Swallow
1. This book is fantastic and highly underrated. After the events of the Undiscovered Country and the supposed death of Kirk in the hands of the Nexus, the galaxy is in an interesting place. With the newly signed Khitomer Accords, there was fragile peace between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. The Federation is helping to rebuild the Klingon homeworld after the destruction of its moon Praxis. But when a series of attacks occur in both the Federation and the Klingon Empire that tie back to Admiral Cartwright’s conspiracy, it’s up to the least likely person to stop them; Valeris, Spock’s former protege and betrayer of the Federation.
This is an excellent novel as we get a deep dive experience of the character of Valeris and a great exploration of the Lost Era of Trek. We see the early formation of the Klingon Federation alliance and the world in the TNG. We also see characters like Spock, Sulu, and Matthew Vaughan, and how they got to be where they were in the TNG era. However, most importantly, this is an excellent spy thriller and serves as a redemption for the character of Valeris. This book perfectly embodies the darker vibe of the Lost Era and plugs you into the world of trek politics, with it a murky and morally grey world. It is also mainly a great rip-roaring adventure and is highly underrated in my view.
9/10
That was the second part of my favourite Trek books, and I can always do a third if there is demand for it. I hope you all like my list and look forward to hearing from your favourites.
In honour of starting my Star Trek journey that started 3 years ago around this time, I’m going to be sharing with you my ten favourite Star Trek books. During the pandemic, Star Trek was one of the few things that helped me through it and kept me sane.
I’ve watched everything, including TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT, TOS, PIC, SNW, and DIS. I haven’t watched Lower Decks or Prodigy yet, but I will get around to them eventually. Like Star Wars, I got into the book side of Trek, and I have greatly enjoyed it. Unlike the Expanded Universe in Star Wars, I’ve dug deep into the Trek Litverse. I’m not quite sure how many of them I’ve read, but I’ve probably read at least over 100 of them. Most of them have been pretty good; some of them are okay, and some of them stink.
But it has wider appeal for me than the Star Wars universe just due to the vast number of TV shows and characters. If I get bored with one series, I can just switch over to another. Star Wars seems to mainly follow the Skywalker family, and despite how much I enjoy that, it can get a little stale just reading about the same characters over and over again. Anyway, here are my top ten Star Trek books!
10. Star Trek: The Lost Era: The Sundered by Michael A. Martin and Andy Mangels
I just finished this book about a month ago, and I still love it. Between the time when James T. Kirk supposedly perished on the Enterprise-B and the events of Star Trek: Generations, there is not much canonical in the timeline. Sure, you have Picard as Captain of the U.S.S. Stargazer, but you don’t see much in the way of stuff in the live-action of that period. So a group of authors took it upon themselves to write what happened between the first death of Kirk and the events of Star Trek: Generations, setting up events and characters as they were later seen in the TV shows like Tuvok, Riker, and more. And this is the first book in that series.
The Sundered focuses on Sulu in 2298, five years after the supposed death of Kirk, and deals with him being the captain of the U.S.S. Excelsior, as seen in the Undiscovered Country. Also along for the ride are Chekov, Janice Rand, Christine Chapel, and Tuvok from Voyager. The book primarily deals with the Tholians reaching out to the Federation to offer a peace deal, but not everything is as it seems. A mysterious race has been attacking the Tholians, and their origin going back to the early days of humanity before they developed warp drive is shocking! It is now up to Sulu and crew to stop a wider galactic war from breaking out.
Why this book is so great is because it gives Sulu a great stand-alone story, we get to see more of him as a captain, and we get to explore more and learn about the Tholians and the Neyel, the mysterious race attacking them. The writing is excellent, the Neyel are incredibly interesting bad guys with their origin tied back to Earth after the Third World War and the invention of warp drive, and it serves as a great sequel to the Tholian Web. The excellent insights in the rarely-seen Tholians are great, and the book keeps you on the edge of your seat. It mainly works because it’s a great Sulu story and finally allows him to step out of the shadow of Kirk and sets up the world we would later see in TNG.
Rating: 10/10
9. Star Trek: The Eugenics Wars, Volumes 1 and 2 by Greg Cox
Khan Noonien Singh is easily one of the best villains in all of Trek, if not one of the best in all of sci-fi. He served as the perfect foil for Kirk and his crew in Space Seed and comes back with a roaring fury in The Wrath of Khan. Ricardo Montalban plays such a great villain, charming and yet utterly terrifying, with Benedict Cumberbatch also giving an excellent turn as the villain. But who is Khan truly, and what were the Eugenics Wars? Modern history and Trek canon conflict with each other greatly, as genetic supermen didn’t kill millions of people in the 1990s. This book is the answer to solving this conflict, as it presents what the Eugenics Wars truly were, and Cox does an excellent job of fitting late 20th-century history within Trek canon.
This book also goes into the true origin of Khan and how Gary Seven tried to stop him from becoming the tyrant he would later become in history, but unsuccessfully. This book excellently weaves in real-world history, like the fall of the Soviet Union, and various important political events in India and around the world. It also reveals that the Eugenics War was a shadow conflict between Khan and his superhuman siblings, and they are vying for control of the world. The book also excellently weaves in various bits of Star Trek lore from the 20th century with DS9’s Little Green Men, Assignment: Earth, the immortal Flint, Guinan, and Star Trek: The Voyage Home and how that indirectly leads to Kirk meeting Khan in the future.
Overall, an excellent pair of books answers many questions about Khan and the Eugenics War and ties in 20th-century Star Trek lore excellently. It’s also a great, paranoid spy thriller.
Rating: 9/10
7. Star Trek: The Next Generation: Q-Squared by Peter David
Q is one of my favourite fictional characters, owing largely to John De Lancie’s performance.Imagine God, but he was an asshole and had a man crush on Patrick Stewart. This is probably the best book about Q out there. Q was the first villain that Piard and the crew of the Entreprise-D faced in Encounter at Farpoint and appeared throughout the series afterwards, especially with Q-Who (which introduced the Borg), Tapestry, and the finale, All Good Things… He also appeared in DS9, Voyager, and the second season of Picard. He mainly served as a foil to Picard, judging humanity and always teaching him some form of lesson.
This book serves as an excellent sequel to these episodes and ties back to the Original Series. In the TOS episode, “The Squire of Gothos, a being called Trelane menaces Kirk by being obsessed with early 19th-century warfare and challenges Kirk to a duel. Many people, ever since that episode came out, speculated that he was a Q as he displayed similar powers of being able to warp reality like Q. This book officially confirms that Trelane is a Q, and maybe also the son of Q! My gosh!
The thing I truly love about this book is how off the rails it goes, with diverging timelines merging into one, the main timeline, one where Jack Crusher is the captain of the Enterprise-D, and a timeline similar to events seen in Yesterday’s Enterprise. This book is truly bonkers, and I enjoy seeing overpowered characters. But this book mainly works for me because of Peter David’s writing and humour and his ability to catch what makes TNG great. It feels straight up like a classic episode of TNG, and for the better.
8.5/10
6. The Return by William Shatner
This is a guilty pleasure book of mine, but it was one of my first forays into the world of Star Trek literature. Generations was an okay movie, but it left a lot to be desired. Sure, we got Kirk and Picard finally teaming up, but it was short and brief, leaving me with a bad taste in my mouth and wanting more. Also, Kirk’s death in the movie was incredibly stupid. People said he was always going to die on the bridge of a starship, but instead, he died on a stupid, rickety bridge. Shatner himself was not pleased about the death of Kirk in the film, and during the filming of Generations, he conceived a way to bring Kirk back. Teaming up with famed Trek lit authors Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, the Return was born.
He wrote a prequel novel called The Ashes of Eden, which acted as Kirk’s last big adventure before the events of Generations, which I enjoyed quite a bit, despite a little too much Kirk worship and fan wank.
The Return is just such a fun book, and it satisfies the primal urge to see the Original Series crew team up with the Next Generation cast and have a proper bloody crossover between the two. After Kirk’s death on Verdian III, he is brought back to life by a team-up of two of Starfleet’s deadliest enemies: the Borg and the Romulans! Despite how silly the notion of the Borg teaming up with the Romulans is, it works well in the story. Kirk’s new mission? To kill the Borg and the Romulans’ greatest enemy, Captain Jean-Luc Picard! What ensues next is a truly engaging and fun crossover between TOS and TNG and even DS9, and we finally get to see Kirk fight Picard and get the answer to the raging fan debate: who would win, Kirk or Picard? Despite the plot holes and leaps of logic, it’s a great romp and gives the proper crossover between TOS and TNG fans have always wanted. Only if the next eight books he wrote were any good…
P.S. There is a great reveal that ties the origins of V’ger and the Borg together, and they also literally wheel McCoy out to save the day. What a book
Rating: 8/10
5. The Eugenics War: Volume III: To Reign in Hell by Greg Cox
Now, I could have included this in the same place as the first two books in the trilogy, but this is such a great standalone work that I wanted to include it here because it’s so good.
To Reign in Hell is about Khan Noonien Singh’s exile after the events of Space Seed on Alpha Ceti V and the leadup to the Wrath of Khan. We don’t get much of an answer in the movie about what Khan did in his time in exile, except for the massive disaster that destroyed the world he settled on. This book answers that. It also deals with him and his followers taming a new world with deadly turns and twists everywhere.
What follows next is a harrowing tale of survival, betrayal, intrigue, and a look into the psyche of Khan and how he became the man he was in The Wrath of Khan. Also, there’s a great framing story where Kirk and the crew travel to Alpha Ceti V to gain closure on the events of the Wrath of Khan after the Voyage Home. This book is fantastic because it answers a lot of questions fans had about Khan and what happened to him after Space Seed and is a harrowing tale of survival—not only of man against nature but of man vs. man itself. It also shows us how truly deadly and great of a leader Khan is and is the best character study of him.
Rating: 9/10
4. DS9: A Stitch in Time by Andrew Robinson
Tie-in media by actors kind of makes me roll my eyes usually, like in the case of The Return by William Shatner, but this is an exception. Elim Garak is easily my favourite character in all of Trek, mainly due to the performance by Andrew Robinson. Elim Garak is a member of the Cardassian race, a very secretive and paranoid race made of lizard-like humanoids. They serve as the main antagonists of DS9 along with the Dominion because they once occupied the world of Bajor and teamed up with the Dominion to destroy the Federation.
They were famously seen in the classic TNG episode where Picard is tortured at the hands of one of them (they are four lights!). Garak serves as a window into this culture and serves as a moral foil to Benmajin Sisko and the crew in DS9. He is morally on the right side in DS9, but the methods with which he goes about it are less than ideal and moral.
This includes torture, murder, bribery, and more. A great example of this is seen in the episode of DS9, “In the Pale Moonlight,” where Sisko is forced to stage the murder of a Romulan senator to convince them to join the Dominion War on the side of the Federation and the Klingon Empire. He does this with the help of Garak by creating fake plans of an invasion of the Romulan Empire by the Dominion and then making it look like the Dominion killed the Romulan senator.
The Cardassians are known for hiding their true intentions and emotions behind a mask with a smile and for spying, which makes them my favourite race in all of Star Trek.
This book focuses on the origin of Garak, his upbringing on Cardassia Prime, and how he became exiled to Deep Space Nine before the events of the series. Garak in DS9 lies many times about his true origins, giving many different versions of them and insisting he is nothing but a simple tailor and not a spy. This book also serves as an excellent study of Cardassian culture and how it got to be as paranoid and secretive as it is. But this book is also written with such love and respect for the characters that it truly shows. Robinson had written notes through DS9’s run on the backstory of Garak, and they show here. This is truly one of the best Star Trek books out there, if not one of the best sci-fi books I’ve ever read.
Plain, simple Garak.
3. Star Trek: Destiny by David Mack
The crossover to end all crossovers! The Borg, after being thoroughly destroyed in the events of Star Trek: First Contact and the finale of Star Trek: Voyager, Endgame, are back with a vengeance. Instead of wanting to assimilate the whole galaxy, they seek to destroy everything! The trail of absolute carnage they leave, killing 63 billion souls across all of the galaxy, requires everyone to team up, from the Federation to the Klingons to the Ferengi, and even the Gorn and Breen, to stop them! This book brings in elements from all the series, from TNG, DS9, VOY, and even Enterprise and Riker on the Titan, and if you want a true universe-spanning crossover, this is the book for you. The scale of it is unlike anything I’ve ever read in reading books my whole life just because of the sheer number of characters in it, but it works masterfully well. It also gives us the true origin of the Borg, which has never been truly revealed on screen. This trilogy is the true definitive Borg story, and it is unlikely that it will ever be surpassed.This is the ultimate crossover for Star Trek fans.
Rating: 10/10
2. Federation by Judith and Garfield Reeves Steven
This book was my favourite Trek book until recently. You’ll see why it’s changed when I tell you about Book No.1. Anyway, this is another crossover between TOS and TNG and what Generations should have been. The story spans three centuries involves Zefram Cochrane, the inventor of the human wrap drive, the Original Series with Kirk dealing with the aftermath of “Metamorphosis” (which also deals with Cochrane and his introduction to Star Trek), and finally the cast of TNG finding a mysterious Borg piece of technology. All of these things are tied together, and the story that unfolds is truly epic. A rip-roaring adventure across time and space occurs, and finally, the worlds of TOS and TNG are tied together. The book also shows the darker side of humanity, but also shows how, in the world of Star Trek, we rose above it to create a utopian society and propel ourselves into the future. It gives hope that we can still do this in real life. Despite the events that take place in this being nullified by First Contact, it is still truly a beautiful book that serves as an excellent crossover. The casts of the two shows don’t meet face-to-face, but Cochrane serves as the bridge between the two. Overall, it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read.
Rating: 10/10
Prime Directive By Judith and Garfield Reeves Steven
This is truly the best Star Trek book I’ve ever read in my life. Prime Directive is about Kirk and his crew monitoring a planet that hasn’t achieved warp flight yet and is on the verge of a massive nuclear war, but things go wrong. The population of the planet is destroyed in a nuclear war, and the Enterprise is nearly destroyed. Kirk and his crew are framed for the destruction of the world, and it’s up to him and Spock to bring about justice and figure out what went truly wrong. The Prime Directive in Star Trek is the key cornerstone of philosophy in all of Trek. The Prime Directive is basically about the idea that Starfleet cannot interfere in the affairs of other societies or those that haven’t achieved a certain level of technological development yet (such as the invention of warp drive). Kirk and Picard and many other captains have bent this rule many times, but it’s usually for the greater good.
This book truly serves as a reminder of what makes Star Trek great and its leading philosophy. But it also looks at it in a critical light and asks if it is morally right to stand by when horrible events like nuclear war are happening. It also contains lots of fan-pleasing moments and truly embodies the spirit of Star Trek. Also in the book, Star Trek’s version of Galactus from Marvel Comics is introduced.
So, there you have it my top ten favourite Star Trek novels. I plan on sharing more of my favourite Trek novels as there were some I wanted to include but didn’t decide to. That will be coming out soon.
Liminal space. What does the term mean? Well for starters, according to Wikipedia, it’s the following:
“Liminal spaces are the subject of an internet aesthetic portraying empty or abandoned places that appear eerie, forlorn, and often surreal. Liminal spaces are often places of transition (about the concept of liminality) or nostalgic appeal.
Research from the Journal of Environmental Psychology has indicated that liminal spaces may appear eerie or strange because they fall into an uncanny valley of architecture and physical places. An article from Pulse: the Journal of Science and Culture has attributed this eeriness to familiar places lacking their usually observed context.”
Think about dead malls in small towns you’ve been to, that are empty and don’t have any stores left. Think about your house after you’ve moved out and there’s no furniture left. Think about how empty it feels and how it feels like it’s a stage of transition. This is a liminal space.
Liminal space as a concept has existed for a long time, but only really came to the attention of the Internet in 2019. This is thanks to a creepypasta known as the Backrooms.
The Backrooms as a concept I find interesting, because of what it represents. For those who don’t know what the Backrooms are, they are the following.
If you’ve ever played a video game where you glitched into a wall and went into an area where you weren’t meant to go, this is called no-clipping. You either fall into an endless void or die or discover a secret area that the developers left behind.
The Poolrooms, another level of the Backrooms
This is the basic premise of the Backrooms. Instead of falling into an endless void, you fall into a liminal space, devoid of any life or furniture. It’s an endless repeating and infinite space composed of yellow wallpaper, moist carpets, and fluorescent lights that always buzz. It’s also meant to look like an office space from the 1980s. There is nothing around for infinity and you spend the rest of eternity, wandering the endless halls until you go insane or die of hunger. It’s a terrifying concept and it’s different from your average creepypasta where a physical threat is present. This one is psychological.
The orignal photo that insriped the creation of the Backrooms. Date and location of photo unknown and it may be Ai generated.
The original 4chan post that lead to the creation of the Backrooms
There is an extensive Backrooms lore, with many deviations in what is canon and what is not. There are various other levels, showing the concept of liminal space. The most well-known depiction of the Backrooms is done in the form of YouTube videos by the creator Kane Pixels where he depicts the company, A-Sync exploring the realm of the Backrooms and documenting it. I highly suggest you watch it as it’s an excellent horror presentation and the special effects are incredible for being so low-budget. He was also 16 when he made his first video about it, which is another impressive accomplishment. Also, it’s great for found footage, which I roll my eyes at usually.
Kane Pixel’s first video
It’s been highly lauded and has even landed him a movie deal, to make a movie based on the Backrooms. It will be made by A24 and produced by James Wan, of the Conjuring and M3gan fame, and Shawn Levy, director of Free Guy. Kane Pixels, real name Kane Parsons, will be directing the film at the young age of 17, which is even more incredible. The release date and cast have not been revealed, but it will shoot later in Summer 2023 when Kane is on summer vacation from school.
This is the Backrooms as a concept more or less in a nutshell. But back to the concept of liminal spaces. Why are liminal spaces so unnerving to us?
Well, it represents a transition that is either physical or psychological, such as the transition to adolescence. These are great periods of disruption and change in people’s lives and everyone goes through them. Liminal spaces capture the “in-between” of a place, capturing where you are usually moving such as stairs, roads, hotels, and corridors. It can also be anywhere, that’s just devoid of people and their usual activities and furniture associated with it. But it’s devoid of people, and it creates this sense of unease and conjures the uncanny valley. This is an unsettling feeling for most people. Think also how most of the major cities in the world looked during the various COVID lockdowns. Never in our modern world have we seen something like that. Bustling cities, full of people going out their day today, and it’s suddenly gone.
Liminal spaces can also apply to nostalgic places from our childhood such as playgrounds, museums, our houses, and more. For a lot of people that are interested in this aesthetic, designs ranging from the 1980s to the early 2000s that are in any of these spaces seem to be the most popular. After Generation Z is the one that helped spread the idea of the Backrooms and liminal space as we know it, so it makes sense. Imagine what an empty house designed in the 1980s look like or a playground or play place from the early 2000s looks like empty.
Early 2000s aesthic I mentioned
Places that are bustling, and full of people are empty. This creates feelings of anxiety, unease, eerieness, surrealism, sadness, comfort, and nostalgia. This taps into a concept known as the uncanny valley.
The definition of the uncanny valley according to Wikipedia is the following:
“In aesthetics, the uncanny valley is a hypothesized relationship between an object’s degree of resemblance to a human being and the emotional response to the object. The concept suggests that humanoid objects that imperfectly resemble actual human beings provoke uncanny or strangely familiar feelings of uneasiness and revulsion in observers. “Valley” denotes a dip in the human observer’s affinity for the replica, a relation that otherwise increases with the replica’s human likeness.”
Think of bad CGI in a movie, you’ve seen and how it feels… off.
Examples of the uncanny valley in film
If something doesn’t have humanoid characteristics or represents it in an off way, this is the uncanny valley. This applies to the liminal space with physical spaces that appear familiar, but deviate from known reality to create the feeling of liminal space.
Liminal space is an interesting aesthetical trend and I don’t know how long it will last, but it’s personally one of my favourites. I think the idea of what it represents, along with the early 2000s look it strives for appeals to me. It’s nostalgic, as I grew up in that time, but it also preys upon my childhood fears of mine. I was scared of the dark when I was younger, and the thought of being in a dark place with nothing around me, no furniture or people is scary to me.
A great example of this in film, is the recent Canadian horror indie film smash, Skinamarink. Skinamarink is about two children that wake up in their house in the middle of the night, but their father has disappeared along with all the doors and windows in their house. It effectively shows the concept of how truly terrifying liminal space can be. Another great example is Apple TV’s show, Severance, which is also inspired by the aesthetics of the Backrooms.
Rants and Stuff 