Book Reviews and More: Hamlet - William Shakespeare and Ted Neill - Post Apocalyptic Space Shakespeare Book 1

Hamlet

Post Apocalyptic Space Shakespeare Book 1

William Shakespeare

Ted Neill

Tenebray Press

ISBN 9798282260809

eISBN 1230009473416

ASIN B0F79PP3BP

Hamlet - William Shakespeare and Ted Neill - Post Apocalyptic Space Shakespeare Book 1

I picked up this volume for a few reasons. First it was a promo email for Kindle deals and looked interesting. Second I have had a love for Shakespeare for many years and my two youngest kids and I love attending plays at Stratford. Third the premise was very intriguing.

The description of the book states:

“A billion years in the future, humanity is extinct.

But Shakespeare remains.

A machine civilization, so far advanced that it has the power to recreate lost civilizations, stumbles upon the works of the playwright, William Shakespeare.

With only those plays to represent humanity, the machines must decide whether humanity is worth resurrecting or not.

The only way to know the plays is to stage them.

Enter J-9, although she prefers to be called Janine. She is a human-like construct, created by the machines, to enter and experience the plays of Shakespeare, as they run in simulation, indistinguishable from reality.

Based on Janine’s impressions of humanity, drawn from her experiences of living within the unfolding plays, the machines will render their judgment: is humanity worth saving or shall humanity be consigned to oblivious?

The stakes are higher than the bard could have ever imagined.”

The description of the series states:

“Created by Ted Neill, the Post Apocalyptic Space Shakespeare remains true to the plots of William Shakespeare’s plays while introducing stage directions that make the text more accessible to modern readers. The addition of Janine as an outsider looking in—and caught up in her own story framing the action of the plays—provides commentary and insight usually buried in academic papers but delivered here with heart and humor. It’s an original take on classic plays that will remind readers why the plays endure five hundred, and maybe five billion, years after they were written.

Traditionally, Shakespeare’s plays, do not need to be read in a particular order. These “simulations,” do have an order, especially as Janine’s story evolves with them.

Simulation Order:

Hamlet

Othello

Twelfth Night

As You Like It

A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream

Much Ado About Nothing

Taming of the Shrew

Romeo & Juliet

Cymbeline

The Tempest

MacBeth

Richard III

Troilus & Cressida

Pericles

King Lear

Julius Cesar

Anthony & Cleopatra”

I will note towards the end of the volume Janie and Otto are sort of debriefing and we are informed there are 37 plays still left. But the list above has just 17. I am uncertain if Neill has plans to do all the plays or just the 17 listed above. Only time will tell.

The chapters and sections in the work are:

Post-Apocalyptic Space Shakepeare Presents

The Tragedy Of Hamlet, Prince Of Denmark

Intro: Awakening

Dramatis Personæ

Setting. Elsinore.

ACT I

Scene I. Elsinore, a platform along the battlements.

Scene II. Elsinore, throne room in Elsinore Castle.

Scene III. Polonius’ home.

Scene IV. The platform along the castle battlements.

INTERMEZZO

Scene I. Gallery & gray rooms.

Scene II. A wooded hillside in the shadow of Elsinore Castle.

ACT II

Scene I. Polonius’ study within his home.

Scene II. A room of state in the castle.

Scene III. Outer courtyard of Castle Elsinore.

ACT III

Scene I. The castle throne room.

Scene II. A hall in the castle.

ACT IV

Scene I. The royal library.

Scene II. In the servants’ dining hall in the castle.

Scene III. A room of state in the castle.

Scene IV. City docks at the shore of the North Sea.

Scene V. The Silver Bow, on the North Sea.

Scene VI. The Silver Bow, on the North Sea.

Scene VII. In the gallery, in the gray rooms.

Scene VIII. The vulture, below decks.

Scene IX. Elsinore, the castle throne room.

Scene X. Another room in the castle.

Scene XI. A forested hillside on the headland.

Scene XII. The gallery and gray rooms.

Scene XIII. The King’s private study adjacent to the library.

ACT V

Scene I. A cemetery on the wooded headland.

Scene II. In a tower room.

Scene III. The throne room.

Scene IV. The gray rooms.

Wow! That was my first reaction while reading and at various points using adaptive technology and listening to this book. It hits on all the right marks. My son and I absolutely loved Goblin MacBeth, but this concept. A billion years in the future, humanity has disappeared, but Shakespeare has survived. A vast intellect has created a construct to work through the plays of Shakespeare to determine if Humans are worth brining back into existence.

This volume does an excellent job of presenting the source material, and having it be very well done. Second, the interaction of the construction and her assistant or guide journey through the scenes and acts and interacting with the characters is masterfully written. This is one of my favourite of the Bards plays, and to be honest this might be my new favourite version of it. Both my son and I would love to see this done as a production on stage or on film.

I believe these books could open up Shakespeare to a whole new audience. And for those who are already fans it is a great addition. This was an amazing first book in a series and I look forward to giving others a read. I am very glad I took a chance on it, it more than paid off. An excellent story I can easily recommend!

Other Posts Related to Shakespeare:

A Weekend of Three’s A Trip to Stratford

Romeo & Juliet - Oxford School Shakespeare

MacBeth - Oxford School Shakespeare

King Lear - Oxford School Shakespeare

Cymbeline - The Pelican Shakespeare

Twelfth Night - The Pelican Shakespeare

Macbeth - Pelican Shakespeare

As You Like It - Pelican Shakespeare

The Winter's Tale - Pelican Shakespeare

…

Reviews of Stratford Shakespeare Productions: