Paul Levinson
Bio
Novels The Silk Code, The Plot To Save Socrates, It's Real Life: An Alternate History of The Beatles; LPs Twice Upon A Rhyme & Welcome Up; nonfiction The Soft Edge & Digital McLuhan, translated into 15 languages. Prof, Fordham Univ.
Stories (742)
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Hitler, Trump, Putin
In the past few years, leaders ranging from Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin have been compared to Adolf Hitler. I think the comparisons are valid. But Hitler had more than a decade-long career as the authoritarian leader of Germany, and it might be useful to sharpen the comparisons by specifying where and when in Hitler's career the comparisons most accurately apply.
By Paul Levinson4 years ago in The Swamp
Review of 'Star Trek: Picard' 2.2
Star Trek: Picard 2.2 was dominated by two very different villains: Q and the Borg Queen. Q, as ever, is a combination of witty, philosophically savvy talk, and seemingly effortless fundamental reality-shifting alterations of the universe. He irritates, frustrates, enrages Picard, who starts out, in these encounters, being Q's pawn or victim, thrust into an alternate reality not of Picard's making or liking, yet figuring out a way to get back to where he belongs, sooner or later. At this point in the second season, we're just at the first phase of that two-part process.
By Paul Levinson4 years ago in Futurism
Review of 'Severance' 1.5
So, I said in my review of Severance 1.4 last week that, in the metaphysics of life and death in television series, if you don't see a character's head literally severed or blown to bits, that character might survive whatever the grievous injury. And--
By Paul Levinson4 years ago in Futurism
Review of 'Severance' 1.4
A more disturbing episode of Severance -- 1.4 -- than usual, because [Spoilers ahead ... ] Well, if you saw the episode, up since Friday on Apple TV+, you'll know why: Helly takes her life, or tries to take her life, at the end of the hour. I make that distinction because, you know how it is on television, if a character's head isn't literally severed (for want of a better word), than she or he might well have survived. In Helly's case, someone in that hell on Earth might have come by and rescued her.
By Paul Levinson4 years ago in Futurism
Review of 'Star Trek: Picard' 2.1
The debut episode of the second season of Star Trek: Picard on Paramount+ was enjoyable, notwithstanding the annoying commercial breaks which lacerated the narrative on the paying service. (Yes, I'm too cheap to pay more for Paramount+ with no commercials.)
By Paul Levinson4 years ago in Futurism
