www.rachelarmstrong.me | SCIFI Aucklantis
www.rachelarmstrong.me | SCIFI Biolime: Mock Rock
Dr. RACHEL
Rachel Armstrong | Aucklantis
Aucklantis is a series of futuristic social parodies composed of stories that have a distinctive New Zealand flavour which gives the futuristic setting a cultural flavour than the traditional placeless, airport-style locations used in many SF narratives. Aucklantis is also a future city in New Zealand that floats on the sea over the site of Old Auckland after it had been flooded and destroyed due to rising sea levels. Aucklantis is the setting for conflict between old and new worlds, technologies and beliefs.The inspiration for the narrative comes from my fascination of the historic and geographic uniqueness of New Zealand and its relative isolation shaping its development since the age of the dinosaurs when the Moas ancestors were able to walk across the land bridges.Fascinating too is the utopian paradise that was created for its extraordinary bird life that was decimated by the late arrival of people, the Polynesians between the ninth and thirteenth century and Europeans settlements from the nineteenth century onwards, which has rendered it a melting pot of relationships between cultures, wildlife and the rest of the world.The outcome is that New Zealand has an Other Worldly feel to it which was exploited to great effect in Peter Jacksons LOTR in the setting for Middle Earth. New Zealands volcanoes, glow worm caves and snow capped mountains offer drama of their own accord, even in the absence of people and have been personified through Maori legends. New Zealand is still a long way off from the rest of the world and although international links are being rapidly forged it is a country with a living memory of pioneers, the modern version of whom appear to be international sportsmen and indigenous people fighting to retain their identity.Part of my fascination for New Zealand are the Maori and at the core of the story of Aucklantis is an investigation of the language and culture which is still a very new and undiscovered to world beyond the Tasman and the Pacific. At an international level I believe that appropriate use of the Maori language will serve to enrich the tale of Aucklantis in the same way that Elfish did for LOTR. Maori translations will help readers understand the characters in greater depth, will enable them to immerse themselves in the culture more fully and become excited at the potential of Science Fiction writing to be more than a scientific narrative. Despite literary prejudices on the genre, science fiction is a highly creative one that can fuse fantasy with fact, technology with desire and god with human. By addressing traditional paradigms in the presence of modern invention, science fiction helps us address some of the deeper common issues of today that are at the core of our humanity. I have used this approach to examine Kiwi culture, taking the liberty of using the past and the present, to speculate on events that take place in an imaginary future. Ultimately, Aucklantis aims to entertain and although I am attempting to uphold some greater cultural and artistic goals in the process, I hope it will result in a story that can appeal to everyone.
The legend of the creation
T h e S k y F a t h e r , R a n g i n u i h e l d t h e E a r t h M o t h e r , P a p a t ka n u k u c l o s e l y t o h i m i n t h e e m p t i n e s s o f T e K o r e u n d e r t h e b l a n k e t d a r k n e s s o f c r e a t i v e t h o u g h t . I l o v e y o u , h e w h i s p e r e d . W e w i l l b e t o g e t h e r f o r e v e r . A s e t e r n i t y s w i r l e d a r o u n d t h e m , h e e m b r a c e d h e r p a s s i o n a t e l y a n d t h e i r p r o f o u n d l o v e b o r e t h e m a l a r g e f a m i l y . T h e c h i l d r e n o f R a n g i n u i a n d P a p a t ka n u k u l o v e d t h e i r p a r e n t s b u t t h e y s o o n b e c a m e c r a m p e d a n d r e s t l e s s . R a , w h o w a s d e s t i n e d t o b e t h e s u n g o d , g r e w t i r e d of living in darkness and groaned Why dont we separate our parents and give ourselves some room?Great idea! Ill try! Boasted the young Tangaroa who would rule the oceans. I wont let anything stand in my way.Go on then! Show us what youre worth. Goaded Tanemahtua, whose destiny was to create humankind and generate the forests of the earth but Tangaroa, despite relentless thrusting with his heavily tattooed legs, was not able to break his parents grip on each another.Weakling! laughed rumbled Tanemahtua. Ill show you how its done! Stepping between his parents he shoved the exhausted Tangaroa out of the way and used the power of his great torso decorated with tattoos resembling those creatures that would become the forest animals to push his parents apart.Stop! howled Tawhirimatea, who would control the winds one day. Leave them alone! It will break their hearts to separate them! But Tanemahtua was not listening as he had already created gaps in his parents powerful embrace.Dont push them apart! Youre hurting them! protested Tawhirimatea again. Outraged by Tanemhatuas indifference Tawhirimatea turned to his brothers and implored them to intervene. Why dont you all do something to stop this brutality? he cried but his brothers were unmoved. Ra in particular, was not at all persuaded by Tawhirimateas plea for compassion. No! Shut up and leave Tanemahtua to do his work. We will lose our freedom and compromise our destiny if we dont separate our parents now. Warned Ra as the others nodded in agreement. None of us will be able to fulfil our destiny!Maybe we should kill them? wondered Tu-matauenga, who was enjoying the spectacle. He would become the god of war if he was granted independence from his parents. You look like youre starting to struggle Bro! he called out to Tanemahtua impatiently passing a greenstone blade from hand to hand. Need any help? Ive got it figured Bro! Asserted Tangaroa authoritatively. Im not about to back down now. Not when I am winning! Larger gaps were now clearly visible between the Sky Father and Earth Mother.Suit yourself! retorted Tu-matauenga. Im always up for a battle though, if you need me. And resheathed his blade.Sweet! grunted Tanemahtua with no intention of sharing his victory with anyone. Just watch and learn how a real gods work is done!So his brothers waited to see what would happen whilst Tawhirimatea howled bitterly at his siblings impudence.The devoted couple were phenomenally hard to divide but the persistent Tanemahtua did not give in, despite Tangaroas taunting and Tu-matauengas impatience. He finally tore them apart with a loud yell and danced a spontaneous victory haka. Ka mate! Ka mate! he cried beating his chest and slapping his heavily mokoed chest as Ras light flooded into the new space that had been created between Ranginui and P a p a t ka n u k u . I h a v e d o n e i t ! I a m t h e s t r o n g e s t g o d o f a l l ! T a n g a r o a d i d n o t l i k e t o h e a r t h i s a n d s n i p e d s u l k i l y , Y o u t o o k y o u r t i m e a b o u t i t , e h B r o ? T h e g r u d g e h e b o r e a g a i n s t h i s b r o t h e r o n t h a t f i r s t d a y o f t h e c r e a t i o n w o u l d r e m a i n w i t h h i m f o r all eternity.The others ignored Tangaroas bitterness as they were excited with their new powers and freedom. Tanemahtua grew as tall as he dared and breathed in the fresh air of the new world below him. Ruaumoko, who would cause earthquakes flexed his muscles and felt his mothers body tremble with fear, whilst Tu-matauenga looked around for some new weapons which he intended to use in a triumphant haka of his own but was stopped by Rongo, whose calling was in agriculture and peace.Look! whispered Rongo, putting his hand reassuringly on Te-matauengas shoulder who was examining a large jaw bone for its potential to cause damage to an opponent. Our parents are crying.Irritated at being interrupted, Tu-matauenga firmly removed his brothers hand and snapped I dont care! but then he caught sight of his parents sadness and was instantly moved by their sorrow. Tanemahtua! he roared, What have you done?Tanemahtua stopped growing for a minute and looked down as his parents sobbed uncontrollably. N o n e o f t h e n e w g o d s h a d e v e r s e e n t e a r s b e f o r e n o r w o u l d t h e y e v e r e n c o u n t e r t h e m a g a i n t o s u c h a n e x t e n t . R a n g i n u i s t e a r s w e r e s o v o l u m i n o u s t h a t t h e y f o r m e d t h e r i v e r s , l a k e s a n d o c e a n s w h i l s t P a p a t ka n u k u s g r i e f t o o k t h e f o r m o f m o r n i n g m i s t s . W h i lst Tanemahtua reflected ambiguously on his actions, Tawhirimatea was devastated.I hate you! I hate you all! he howled and swirled upwards into the sky with an angry roar to be close to his father and try to comfort him. After a while Tanemahtua too was remorseful and wanted to make amends. With his new found powers he offered his parents fantastic gifts to try to appease them. Tanemahtua adorned his mother with a huge range of Aotearoa flora and fauna and dressed his father in a cloak of celestial splendour that formed the night sky.The new gods soon stopped blaming each other for their parents sorrow and stepped back for a while to look at Tanemahtuas amazing tribute and felt better about the whole situation as the world was much more beautiful than before. Well done Bro congratulated Tu-mataengua slapping Tanemahtua on the back. Youve done our parents proud!Yeah! Bro! added Rongo with more than a hint of sarcasm and resignation, which his brothers completely missed. A little bling should cheer them up! Theyll soon forget their sorrow. Tangaroa said nothing. He was not going to admit it publicly but Tanemahtuas creative powers were impressive.Tawhirimatea however, was not impressed in the slightest. You lot are just so cruel! Im never going to speak to you again! Come down here! Called Rongo persuasively trying to make peace, in keeping with his nature. Look how splendid everything is! Our parents will be so proud of us! Never! screamed Tawhirimatea and sulked above his brothers disapprovingly but secretly and with the passage of much time, he too was impressed by the new splendour of the earth and missed the company of his brothers.More time passed and their children grew up and ruled the earth and despite the insurmountable distance that had been imposed between them Ranginui and P a p a t ka n u k u n e v e r l o s t t h e i r p a s s i o n f o r o n e a n o t h e r . T h e y r e s i g n e d t h e m s e l v e s t o e x i l e i n a d i g n i f i e d m a n n e r a n d d e c i d e d t h a t t h e b e s t p u n i s h m e n t f o r t h e i r o f f s p r i n g w o u l d b e t o l e t t h e m l e a r n f r o m t h e i r o w n m i s t a k e s . W h i l s t t h e i r c h i l d r e n s e t o f f o n t h e i r o w n j o u r n e y s o f d i s c o v e r y , r e l e a s e d f r o m t h e s a f e t y o f t h e i r p a r e n t s s m o t h e r i n g e m b r a c e , R a n g i n u i a n d P a p a t ka n u k u w a i t e d p a t i e n t l y , s u s p e n d e d i n e t e r n i t y f o r t h e r i g h t m o m e n t w h e n t h e y c o u l d b e r e u n i t e d .
Birth...
Short Study in Neuroscience...
Ramona and the Rat women...
Rachel Armstrong | Biolime: Mock Rock
This is a Science Faction story. In other words, it is a narrative based in scientific research that is currently taking place but which has not yet been made publicly available. The technology is based on experiments that are being conducted at the Bartlett School of Architecture in collaboration with the Center for Fundamental Living Technology at the Southern University of Denmark in Odense.
The essay serves to speculate on the effects of an emerging Living Technology, one that possesses some of the properties of living systems but is not actually alive (ISSP, Online), when it is introduced as a way of making the buildings of Mossville more sustainable, a suburb of the imaginary city of Hardwich, by coating their houses with Biolime, a synthetic rock that is capable of producing limestone by fixing carbon dioxide from the air. Although Biolime goes against the conscientious communitys notion of what is natural they come to accept that all other methods of generating a more sustainable environment have not sufficient to reverse the carbon trend and new unnatural measures are justified.
For those that had never been to the city of Hardwich, it was impossible to tell whether the houses in the Mossville region, had actually come alive or not, for whenever sunlight stroked the mineral-clad buildings their facades seemed to quiver with an energized, metabolic glow. Early morning joggers took advantage of the freshening air caused by the solar activation of the limestone, whilst dirt stains faded and curious cellular plant life toyed at the edges of the slowly creeping rock as if they were deciding whether they had encountered a friend or foe.
The Biolime surface coating on the outside of the Mossville houses had been deemed a friend but the new technology had not been accepted without controversy. Indeed, if it wasnt for the irrefutable fact that climate change was happening even faster than all forecasts had predicted, resulting in increasingly turbulent weather patterns and caused everyone to complain, then the Biolime would have remained a curiosity of chemical behaviour that was of only of interest to an elite group of scientists working in the new field of the Origins of Life sciences. Unusually, these researchers had collaborated with a group of architects who were interested in the carbon fixing qualities of living systems as a way of generating sustainable architectural practices. The collaborators had produced a simple oil-in-water droplet emulsion that used carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to drive a chemical process that formed a rock-like salt called carbonate, commonly known as limestone. The resultant work was generally regarded as a fringe research activity though some years later the renewed interest in finding ways of dealing with the runaway carbon count prompted journalistic investigation into the technology and led to a prime time news feature entitled Mock Rock. In the wake of endless speculation in spin off magazine articles such as Mock Rock around the Block and Mock Rock da House this sudden and rather unexpected global coverage of the research prompted the researchers to patent their technology as Biolime. Yet, despite the growing interest in the system and the increased recognition that this technology could actually make a real contribution to the health of urban communities, Biolime continued to be regarded with suspicion. A number of outspoken critics conjectured that, even under the current circumstances, the Biolime technology really belonged only in a laboratory setting and that it had no place in the natural world.
Part of the problem was that the technology had been implemented at the national level in the wake of a series of fractious G20 summit meetings. After a series of high profile public protests leading to widespread outbursts of civil unrest and political humiliation regarding the ineffectiveness of every member of the G20 to take action on the issue of climate change, the major economic powers were simply forced by media-led popular opinion that draconian measures needed to be taken on a scale that had not been attempted previously. Programmes that relied on the good will and environmental responsibility of individuals were simply not making sufficient impact on the issue of soaring greenhouse gases that were responsible for climate change and there was unanimous agreement amongst the nation representatives that it was time to generate an orchestrated and creative response to the solution. Of course, they suspected that a patriarchal approach to planetary welfare would be resisted but it was time that the public faced the facts. The old methods and various forms of public bribery were just not good enough and a completely new approach was necessary. Political attention quickly turned to the Mock Rock technology since it had recently become a popular chat show subject. After a number of rather cursory national polls conducted to investigate public attitudes towards the technology, the First World countries endorsed Biolime as the most immediate and effective way to combat climate change.
The government decided to pilot Biolime based solutions in urban areas to demonstrate the benefits of the new technology in the form of community based public schemes. The Mossville area of the city of Hardwich seemed a prime location for further government-initiated improvement as it had already responded to national sustainability initiative through exemplary practice. Mossville boasted of a permaculture project that had opened up garden spaces for the public cultivation of fruit trees that allowed people to exchange fruit as seasonal currency and had adopted a stance against packaging. Shopkeepers either refused goods with wrappers from suppliers, or removed and recycled at the point of purchase. Mr Grant Soames, who ran a hypermarket chain in several places around Hardwich, further capitalized on this practice when he discovered that there was a thriving market in recycled packaging materials. His stores not only became a focal point for community de-packaging activities, but also served as meeting points for the youth who used the worthy excuse of recycling duties to escape their homework responsibilities.
Less than a month before the project was to commence the local councillors received official notification of the Biolime initiative by traditional post, which was a little unusual but the Mossville councillors prided themselves as being progressive individuals and staunch government supporters with careers to protect. So, they organized a public meeting to salvage some semblance that a democratic process was taking place and head-off any misconceptions about the centrally driven imperatives. The response to the public notices was overwhelming and a swell of banners that read Block Mock Rock or Rock Mocking Us, soared above the Mossville crowd that had turned out for the meeting.
Councillor Arthur James, the youngest and most ambitious of the local politicians brushed down the front of his suit in preparation for conflict with those that had elected him and asked the staff to open the doors. Hed agreed to lead the public meeting partly because the senior committee members admitted they didnt know what a metabolism was and partly because he actually believed in the value of the project. Although Arthur had initially been as sceptical as anyone about the hype surrounding the Biolime technology, he had become increasingly charmed by its simplicity and effectiveness. Councillor James reminded the assembly of stony-faced people that limestone occurred naturally in underground caves and as a result of every day processes like around a kettle element and urged the congregation to consider buildings differently. What it might mean to the community if the Biolime technology enabled their homes to do something more important than provide warmth and shelter. How would they feel if their homes were able to contribute to the health and healing of the planet? After a few moment of stunned contemplation, some audience members raised objection to the technology by drawing analogy with the disastrous effects of genetic modification but Councillor James was also quick to point out that the cell-like agents used in the Biolime process did not have any genes. Biolime itself was not alive and although it shared some of the characteristics of living systems Biolime would die without the continued nurturing of the community. Mrs Angel Darling who was already considering spending more time outside for health reasons, wondered what the councillor meant by this and was told that the Biolime needed to be continually replenished to keep the carbon fixing process going as it did not last forever. The fragility of Biolime and its dependence on the active participation of the community was sobering news and appeared to endear the technology to the congregation, which seemed less anxious and began to ask questions about the necessary cultivation methods.
On account of his youth, Councillor James found harder to deal with the more philosophical issues that were raised in objection to the new technology. Hearing Arthurs voice strain at Mr Henry Nortons recurrent interjections that Biolime was an act against God, Councillor Andrew Talbot felt the need to step in and assist his colleague.
Mr Norton was not easy to console as hed just lost his wife and was angry with everyone about everything. Councillor Talbot though managed to affirm and dismiss Mr Norton using a rather meaningless but effective platitude before moving the conversation swiftly onwards. In fact, Councillor Talbot had most difficulty with the permaculturists who were the most vigorous objectors to the unnatural nature of Biolime and could not accept that artificial processes could coexist with natural ones. The permaculturists blamed all forms of technology as being responsible for the sorry condition of the planet and Councillor Talbot responded to these objections with a theatrical and ponderous demeanour. He cast the congregations attention back to the days of planting orchards and using grafting technology to enhance plants as being inherently unnatural pursuits that had ultimately benefited humankind. Councillor Talbot conjectured that those groups who worried about the implications for natural systems were resisting the need for change, rather than making a sound case against the technology itself and raised the stakes of the meeting by grandiosely urging Mossville to take a lead in making amends to the planet on behalf of the human race by embracing Biolime.
An overwhelmed and exhausted audience found themselves applauding the veteran councillor and were invited to cast their votes on the Biolime project. Despite the handful of vigorous objections that had been voiced during the meeting, Mock Rock was accepted with an overwhelming majority. Even Mr Norton was overheard muttering to himself on his way out of the town hall that if the abomination meant that he didnt have to spend every Sunday morning sorting rubbish, then he was all for it. Life was too short to sort rubbish.
A public holiday was held in Mossville the day that the Biolime was delivered and became a community event. Large containers of locally prepared Biolime solution were assembled on a cordoned off section of the road where people helped each other in filling up portable spray containers and coating the outside of their homes fully clad in overalls, goggles and masks.
Mrs Kathleen Gately who looked oddly alien in goggles that were too large for her sunken features, had problems using the hand-pump with her rheumatoid hands. James Chesney, who had just come from next door to complain about the persistent yapping of her toy dog that was upset by Mrs Gatelys appearance in protective clothing, decided to helped out whilst Kathleen repeatedly asked him why they were spraying a liquid on to the buildings in Mossville when theyd been promised some rocks? Jimmy mumbled from behind his mask that the rock was grown from the solution and nipped over the fence to finish off his own place. Kathleen took off her overalls, which settled the little dog and sat on her front wall looking back at her house in disbelief. How it could be true that water could turn into rock? She shook her head. In her view, this was something that would beggar Jesus to figure out, so help her God.
Since everyone was fully occupied with diligently applying Biolime to their homes the usual neighbourly vigilance had slackened as people were concentrating on the job in hand rather than wondering what their neighbours were up to. The community was later astonished to find that an unpopular modern statute had been drenched in so much Biolime solution that it now resembled a spacecraft. Nor were they able to explain how the local skate boarders had managed to acquire a Biolime ramp that gave them enough air to be clearly visible from Mr Nortons back yard.
Otherwise the day came and went uneventfully and after the initial flurry of activity and excitement, Mossville settled down again to its frugal routines.
A few weeks later those areas that had been sprayed with the Biolime solution began to transform and produce a moist, heavily patterned, whitish rock. Delicate crustings of this material appeared in gutterways and grew into stalactite fingers where water had accumulated. Small children picked at oddly shaped protrusions that were sometimes used by wildlife and the Biolime could also be found in places where it had not been deliberately applied. Playground drains became unnaturally frosted and Biolime trails squeezed like toothpaste through gaps in the pavements. Where the Biolime had died it became laced with white ribbons that were prone to fracturing. On a dry day, these brittle splinters of rock could be heard cracking and falling like old plaster from the walls. Rain tasted clearer, fires burned brighter and even algal blooms in the waterways were more vigorous than before Mossville embraced Biolime and whilst many subtle differences were noted in the environment, the people continued with their usual, well-meaning and though peculiar ways.
Gradually, Biolime became part of the everyday community tensions. Jimmy grew tired of Mrs Gatelys moaning that he hadnt done the front of her house properly and refused to stop by any more. As a result Kathleens façade looked scarred and provoked snide comment when she queued at Mr Soames checkout. Kathleen expressed her defiance against her neighbours by allowing her little dog to urinate on the corner of Mr Nortons house. This act of wilful vandalism was quite a spectacle as the acidic urine caused the Biolime to fizz like freshly shaken lemonade. A vigilant Mrs Darling who had finally found her excuse to spend more time outside by taking up smoking, witnessed the sabotage and swore at Kathleen through her nicotine stained lips. It was people like her that were responsible for global warming in the first place! Without so much as casting a backwards glance Kathleen flipped two rheumatoid fingers at her critic and patted the little dog on the head. Affronted but in need greater need of a cigarette fix than altercation, Mrs Darling resumed her smoking and cursed through her breath right to the end of the butt.
In his government report about the Biolime pilot scheme Councillor James commended the community for intensifying their permaculture and recycling efforts and commented that the only real difference to Mossville was the remarkable snow-like coating of the buildings. Councillor Talbot on the other hand was more perceptive, remarking that the presence of Biolime helped the community feel that their individual efforts in combating Global Warming were significant. In his opinion Mossville had realised that if something as small as the chemical fragments of technology that constituted Biolime, could make such a difference to the health of the community, then the efforts of each individual, no matter how trivial, would make an ever greater difference in their collective quest to tackle the weighty issue of climate change.
Reference:
The Initiative for Science, Society and Policy, Living Technology (online). Available at: http://link.sam.sdu.dk/ISSPworkshops/living-technology.html [Accessed 12 April 2009]
ARMSTRONG
MA [Cantab] BMBCh [Oxon]
Crystals of Barium Carbonate forming around a protocell. Interestingly, the protocell was able to extract the carbon dioxide from the solution as the formula was programmed to create crystals of Barium Oxalate ...
Photograph courtesy Martin Hanczyc. Oil droplets spontaneously assemble into formation.
