Cress; Hacker dari Antariksa

Cress, a novel by Marissa Meyer

Sang Programmer

Di serial ketiga The Lunar Chronicle kita akan bertemu dengan Crescent Moon. Hacker yang selama ini membajak bumi. Segala informasi di persemakmuran dapat dia ketahui. Apalagi the earth drama.

Kadang ia cekikan sendiri hingga pipinya bersemu merah melihat perilaku-perilaku manusia di bumi. Drama yang baginya real life tentu saja. Hingga pada saat tertentu Cress seringkali mengamati seseorang diam-diam. Ah, itu berkat keahlian hackingnya dia.

Cress, gadis ini ahli dan sangat familiar dengan coding and programming. Tapi sayangnya dia adalah peliharaan Ratu Levana. Ini nih alasan kenapa Levana tahu banget; real time sama keadaan bumi. Meski pada akhirnya dia berbalik berteman dan bersekutu dengan sang rival. Nah!

Intertextuality

Semua seri rekaan Meyer terinspirasi dari dongeng-dongeng melegenda. Dan Cress hasil interpretasi cerita Rapunzel. Tahu apa persamaannya?

Rapunzel tinggal di kastil. Menara tinggi yang dibangun sang ibu tiri. Atau sang penyihir? Cress tinggal di pesawat antariksa yang jauh dari peradaban. Meski ia tetap mengetahui berbagai pengetahuan melalui kelihaian membajaknya.

Rapunzel memiliki rambut panjang pun Cress. Well, Cress sudah bertahun-tahun tinggal di spaceship. Ia asyik  bermain dengan komputernya hingga tak dinyana rambutnya sudah panjang sampai bermeter-meter. Nggak usah jauh-jauh, kalo anak teknik lagi khusyu masygul di depan lepi lihat saja tampangnya yang tampak kusut masai beberapa hari tak mandi. Ngapain? Main dota! :p

*kabuuur ><

Seorang pencuri yang datang ke kastil sang puteri adalah Thorne. Pilot pesawat bernama Rampion. Ssstt, aslinya itu pesawat yang dia curi dari Republik Amerika. Semua kru yang ingin tetap tinggal di pesawatnya harus patuh memanggilnya Kapten Thorne kalau nggak mau diusir. Dan, tahu nggak? Dia ketemu Cress setelah dia melarikan diri dari penjara kerajaan. What? Cress, diakah pangeran impianmu?

Adegan Kesukaan

Adegan yang paling aku suka di Cress saat Cinder membuat pengakuan di depan Pangeran Kai. Ups, Kaisar Kai, maksudku. Soalnya kan sudah diangkat menjadi Raja setelah Kaisar Rikan meninggal. Katanya begini,

"It's me. Prince Selene."

Aww, that's so sweet. Akhirnya Cinder membuat pengakuannya di seri ketiga. Ya ampun itu kan membutuhkan keberanian banget. Ikut deg-degan deh waktu Cinder ngomong itu. Apalagi Cinder sudah tahu sejak di serial pertama. Cuma ya itu. She has many things to think about.

Secara, Kai memang sedanh mencari-cari sang tuan puteri supaya dia bisa berkilah untuk Levana. Ya, agar kaisar tak jadi menikahi si ratu bulan itu. Tau kan kejahatannya sudah melampui batas. Mulai dari wabah Letumosis yang dia ciptakan hingga prajurit monster yang ia kirim ke bumi untuk melancarkan serangan. Huh!

Adegan lainnya menyangkut action scene. Seru deh waktu kru Rampion menyerang istana. Ngapain? Ya, mereka mau menculik sang kaisar. Oh tidak!

Lainnya

Mau nggak mau aku harus membaca Cress versi ebook-nya. Pun kalo harus beli kudu nunggu tiga hari sama estimasi perjalanannya. Di toko buku sekitar pada nggak ada. Atau aku harus menempuh empat jam ke Surabaya untuk mendapatkannya.

Sedangkan aku sudah ngebet; pengen tahu banget sama jalan cerita Cress. In case, Winter serial ketiganya yang tebelnya 900 halaman sudah di tangan.

Maunya sih loncat aja, langsung baca Winter. Tapi pas baca bab pertamanya  bikin penasaran tingkat langit ketujuh. Ditambah sebuah penemuan yang menyatakan Kai diculik. What?

Ya sudah deh baca apa adanya. Kuy diklik link-nya kalo kamu penasaran juga. Tapi jangan salahkan daku kalo yang ini in English version.

*terus ketawa jahat.

http://www.8novels.net/fiction/u3758.html

Gapapa lah ya, sekalian nambahin kosakata English. Kan katanya mau dapet skor 8 IELTSnya ♡

Pencarian Scarlet dan Tudung Merahnya

Pencarian Scarlet dan Tudung Merahnya

Seri The Lunar Chronicle karya Marissa Meyer tak berhenti di Cinder saja karena selanjutnya ada Scarlet. Jika Cinder adalah pengembangan cerita Cinderella maka Scarlet metamorfosa dongeng si Gadis Bertudung Merah.

Scarlet Benoit kerap kali menggunakan jaket merah jika sedang merasa tak aman dan nyaman. Seperti ketika ia bertemu dengan Wolf, pemuda petarung jalanan dengan gigi taring menyeramkan. Aslinya memang manusia tapi indra penciumannya sangat tajam.

Awal kisah ini dimulai ketika Scarlet kehilangan neneknya. Chip identitasnya bahkan ditemukan di kamar sang nenek. Para detektif angkat tangan dengan mengatakan sang nenek kabur dari rumah atas kehendaknya sendiri. Jadi tak perlu dicari.

Tentu saja hal ini membuat Scarlet geram. Apalagi ialah satu-satunya keluarga yang dimilikinya. Kekesalannya terpaksa membuat Scarlet melayani pelanggan bar. Padahal di sana ia hanya mengantar tomat-tomat hasil pertaniannya. Namun justru di situlah Scarlet bertemu Wolf.

Hasil pertanian Scarlet bukan bebungaan melainkan tomat dan brokoli.

Selanjutnya kisah mereka berdua berlanjut karena Wolf sepakat membantu Scarlet menemukan neneknya. Yang ternyata diculik sekawanan serigala.

Sejujurnya bab-bab pertama dalam novel ini membuatku bosan dan ingin menghentikan bacaan. Rasa-rasanya kurang seru. Oh come on, apa menariknya kisah serigala? Yet, it's changed since Cinder appeared on the next scene.

Yosh! Gue ketemu Cinder lagi!

*jejingkrak kegirangan :D

Yah, kalo dibandingin sama Scarlet, aku lebih suka Cinder. She looks smarter than Scarlet. Pas Cinder muncul itu aroma sci-fiction-nya lebih kerasa. Dan lebih berbumbu tentunya.

Seneng deh ternyata Cinder nggak menghilang kisahnya. Kukira bakalan fokus pada Scarlet dan cerita serigalanya.

Umm, apa karena serigala buas ya dan nyeremin ya makanya nakutin? :D

Kaburnya Cinder dari kurungan Kai itu membuat cerita makin seru. Apalagi proses pelariannya melibatkan seorang Kapten pesawat antariksa. Kadet sebenarnya tapi dia kekeuh minta dipanggil 'Kapten.' Duh iya deh. Jadinya Cinder nurut ajah. Namanya Kapten Thorne.

Scarlet, a novel by Marissa Meyer

Makin ke belakang makin seru. In the fact, Wolf yang nama aslinya Alfa Keasley itu ada hubungannya sama scene konferensi persemakmuran di cerita Cinder sebelumnya. Terus akhirnya perpsepsiku tentang Scarlet berubah. Dia ternyata pinter banget mengemudikan pesawat. Paham betul mekanisme dan fungsi satu-persatunya. Salut deh!

Tuh kan makanya jangan keburu ngejudge :p

Menurutku, pantas saja. Wong neneknya dulu anggota militer. Pastilah sedikit atau banyak, beliau pernah mengajarkan Scarlet akan hal itu. Jadi tidak hanya tentang pertanian dan ladang saja. Tapi sayang sekarang sang nenek menghilang. Dan tak ada satupun yang peduli. That's why dia kudu usaha sendiri.

Yaaa, meski ada Wolf yang sepakat membantunya. Namun didekatnya ia harus merapatkan resleting jaket dan memakai tudungnya. Gigi taring dan keahlian membaui itu lho yang patut dicurigakan. Dia beneran mau bantu nggak sih?

Satu hal yang bikin aku terharu, Kaito akhirnya ngerti juga kenapa Cinder bela-belain datang ke pesta dan membahayakan dirinya. Greget sebenarnya, kenapa dia baru nyadar coba. After everything happen? Oh!

Endingnya sukaaa! Nggak terlalu gantung kaya Cinder. Akhirnya dia punya keputusan yang pas untuk menghadapi Levana. Aku dukung tuan putri!

Cinder, Cinderella in Postmodern Age

Introduction

Cinderella syndrome happened to the poor girl who dreams a wealthy husband in good looking. This syndrome based on the story of Cinderella which story tells about the girl named Cinderella who falling in love with prince. Finally, the girl from poor family married with the boy and lived in the kingdom with great wealth. This story almost made the girls in the world dreams the same. They came to the party helped by fairy-god-mother, married the handsome boy and lived happily in the kingdom. That circumstance known as Cinderella syndrome.

Kai and Cinder by Adam Masterman on Devianart

In contrary, Marissa Meyer wrote Glitches (2013) in great condition. The main character is the princess of the lunar who trapped in accident and lived on earth. On earth, there is Prince Kai from The Eastern (Meyer, 2013: 15). Just like known well in Cinderella role. After the prince, there is also new family she gathered with after accident (Meyer, 2013: 1).

The new family who adopted Cinder. Adri, her stepmother and two stepsisters; Peony and Pearl (Meyer, 2013: 5-6). Still, they going to the ball even there is no fairy-god-mother through the story. Peony invited Cinder and selected the gown for her (Meyer, 2013: 15). Perhaps, she is the fairy. Merely, they cannot go because Adri ignored them. Only her stepsisters permitted to go.

Cinder by Chrysalisgrey on Devianart

The setting used on Glitches was year 121 T.E. It was the year after World War IV. That is why technology drew in the story was sophisticated. Virtually, all people have robot with android system. There was no car but hover. Cinder empowers her characterization with robotic body. She is a cyborg (Meyer, 2013: 11). Almost her body is mechanical. Her brain 24 hours connected to the internet. She can detected person’s behavior with the she system has.

Further, this paper will describe the technology found through the story and how that things influence the character. Especially, Cinder. This is qualitative because the paper is library research. As Miles and Huberman (1994) stated that qualitative is, analyze the words not numbers. The theory applied is postmodern theory of Lyotard. The source of data pick up from Meyer’s Glitches. A short story published in 2013. Then, the data of this analysis focus on character utterances that related to the problems declared above.

Lyotard’s Postmodern

Postmodern is a new concept or called as transavantgardist (Lyotard, 1984:74). It is a concept after modernity. Age for existence of science and technology as the control of knowledge and information. Now on, knowledge becomes the principle and the leader is technology and science. Both of them help human being to understand (Lyotard, 1984:26). Lyotard (1984) mentioned that any problems will solved by technology and science.

In postmodern age, technology would have an impact on the status of knowledge (Lyotard, 1984:38). Now on, almost people got the information from internet rapidly. They just need connecting their personal engine or hand phone to the internet to know about anything. Then typing the keyword on search engine. They can found what they need easily. Present, technology became important to contemporary knowledge (Lyotard, 1984:45).

Cinder's System from nenuno.co.uk

Accompanying postmodern, the technology inside makes every works, even every things, done quicker. Just as Lyotard (1984) said that speed is the prominent issue in postmodern, moreover in developed technology. Speed is one of its attributes (Lyotard, 1984:52). In other word, speed is a power factor or element of the system (Lyotard, 1984:61).

Lyotard (1984) also stated that science fiction is the most familiar material for the American reader. This interesting topic makes great authors pop out such as Stephen Hawking and Marissa Meyer, the authors from America. Stories in science fiction also appear like Hunger Games, The Mist and Glitches. Both Hawking and Meyer emphasize science on fiction but Meyer adding some fairy tale seasoning in her work. That is Glithes, dystopian Cinderella in postmodern age to be analyzed.

Technology on Glitches

A squat android is the object seen by Cinder when she arrived in New Beijing, her new home (Meyer, 2013: 1). In Glitches, android is robot that helped human activities. It known as med-droid too. Android of medis that secure people from letumosis victim. There is Iko, android of Linh family.  He will be Cinder best friend.

Nowadays, android is a developing trademark from U-buntu; an operating system (kind of software) that only used in smartphone. This system makes handphone getting quicker in usage. Whether to browse anything or just operating any applications like games or many others. Therefore, information comes faster. That’s why it known by smartphone. Future, based on setting of Glitches, android also use in every engine of human need like robot as helper or even doctor. Hence, human works done speedily.  

Hover from woderfulegineering.com

After World War IV there is no car but hover. Especially in year 121 T.E. The vehicle they drive is hover. This is kind of helicopter. Cinder and her step father ride this vehicle when they a make a trip to New Beijing (Meyer, 2013: 1). In order to going anywhere, human being needs vehicle to help them. Motorcycle and car are common. Sometimes, people use plane to arrive quicker in the destiny place but not all of men can ride it. Only the rich people ride the plane. In Glitches, the bourgeoisie and proletariat are same. They ride hover which its speedy like a plane.

Nowadays, this is known as television. It similar with net-screen or called as screen in Glicthes. All screen in the story connected to internet. It can be anywhere; home, public transportation or even in the kingdom (Meyer, 2013: 1). Net-screen also multifunction as PC. People needs this stuff to stay updated with information. The information that always runs rapidly.

Cinder is a cyborg (Meyer, 2013: 11). Her part of body made from robotic system. She had an accident in Europe when she runaway from Lunar. Her system  changed after she has surgery from Garan, her stepfather. That’s why Cinder has bionic leg and optobionic that can interact with the light (Meyer, 2013: 9). One of her hand also made from metal (Meyer, 2013:12). Her leg had been claimed because of hover crash in Europe (Meyer, 2013: 3).

Optobionic from pinterest.com

That bionic leg and optobionic system are very useful and helpful for Cinder. In 121 T.E. that appropriate with the year after World War IV there are many people infected by Letumosis. A death victim that was not found it medicine yet. Hence, the population of people was insignificant. Optobionic system helped Cinder to detect whether people lying or not. Therefore, she was not able to respond a liar. Actually, that was good information.

As a cyborg, she has connecting brain to the internet 24 hours (Meyer, 2013: 7). Thus, she could know the information rapidly. She just need think about the problems in her brain. Further, her brain will download the information (Meyer, 2013: 19). The rules same as search engine on internet browser.

She has also different hearing system with common human (Meyer, 2013: 22). Cinder could adjust her hearing in order to seem louder. It can mute too if Cinder wanted to do. In addition, her system was so awesome and sophisticated. Even her programs she had some glitches (Meyer, 2013: 28). The technologies are easy to use and helpfully. Those engineering helped Cinder in any problems. Faster and running rapidly.

The Impact of Technology through Cinder

The surgery made Cinder as cyborg. Garan rearrange her system. It made Cinder has blank memory (Meyer, 2013: 2). Her identity profiles were sterile. All of things she had about her old family were gone (Meyer, 2013: 3). She knew nothing about them.

System of Cinder’s brain was almost perfect. On optobionic system that has orange light it could detect whether someone lying or not. Just like when Adri anger for her because Cinder was try the great gown and planned to go to the ball (Meyer, 2013: 9). She could’nt played the role well because of that light. Cinder also wont to react into Adri since her stepmother way lying.

Step Sister by Suzi The Butcher

The hover crash made Cinder lost her hand. It makes Cinder shy to show it up to the prince. The reason is that she had metal hand since the surgery. Peony, her stepsister advice her to wear glove. (Meyer, 2013: 14). Absolutely, that stuff makes Cinder looks great. So, when the gown was wore it’s like water over her hand (Meyer, 2013:13).

Being a cyborg is not easy. Cinder could take care of her part of body. Particularly, her metal foot. It needs replacements each two years (Meyer, 2013: 12). Furthermore, her new leg was awkward and heavy (Meyer, 2013: 18). In contrary, her legs and fingers can be adjustment as she grows. When Adri knew this information she really mad and angry. It could take much money.

Cinder Store from pinterest.com

Contrariwise, with Cinder skill, she can fix Iko, the android or her stepfamily (Meyer, 2013:18). She began with using her brain to download information. She was downloading android’s information (Meyer, 2013:19). She search about the part lists; the repair manual and its maintenance.Garan, her stepfather also helped her. He borrowed the tools to Cinder for fixing Iko (Meyer, 2013:21). It makes Cinder easier to do and bring the release day come closer, but when it was done, Cinder cannot show it to Garan. He died because of letumosis victim and taken by med-droid to the hospital early (Meyer, 2013:24).

Conclusion

Lyotard’s postmodern was able to apply on Glitches. There was found many evidences about technology such as hover, android and cyborg system. Those technologies helped Cinder in her daily activity. Especially her brain system that made much information came easily to her.

References

Lyotard, Jean François. 1984. UK: Manchester University Press

Meyer, Marissa. 2013. Glitches. US: Square Fish

Miles, Matthew B & Huberman, A. Michael. 1994. Qualitative Data Analysis. 2^nd Ed. USA: SAGE Publications.

Cinder, Cinderella Masa Depan

Cinder, sebuah novel karya Marissa Meyer. Kita tentu saja sudah mendengar berbagai macam versi Cinderella. Mulai dari animasi Disney, versi manusia yang diperankan oleh Selena Gomes dan banyak lainnya.

Cinder, Trees and Sky

Bedanya Cinder yang ini kisah dari masa depan. Ketika perang dunia keempat telah tercetus. Setting-nya sangat modern. Sang tokoh utama masih saja seorang upik abu. Memiliki ibu tiri dan dua saudara bernama Peony dan Pearl. Masih, mereka masih jahat dalam novel ini. Tapi tidak dengan Peony.

Lihn Cinder

Lihn Cinder, begitu nama lengkapnya dalam novel ini. Seorang cyborg, bertubuh setengah manusia dan setengah mesin. Dalam tubuhnya terdapat banyak kabel-kabel. Ia mudah terhubung dengan internet. Melihat kabar-kabar dunia dalam sekejap saja. Sistem kabelnya pun sempurna. Saat ia merasa cemas sistem akan menyuruh tarik nafas dalam-dalam. Dan lagi, Cinder tidak bisa tersipu dan menangis.

Cinder's Stories

Seorang mekanik yang ahli. Ia bekerja setiap hari di pasar. Di situlah pertama kali ia dengan Pangeran Kai. Ya, Pangeran menyamar dengan tudungnya agar bisa pergi ke sana. Apa pasal? Android Kai rusak. Nah, disitulah bagaimana cerita dimulai.

Bukan Amerika, Inggris yang menjadi latar cerita. This novel took place in New Beijing China. Tapi Pangeran Kai bukan perwakilan dari sana. Ia adalah pangeran yang akan segera menjadi Raja Bumi. Yang akan menjaga bumi dari kejahatan Ratu Levana, penguasa Bulan yang kejam dan Licik.

Levana?

Ratu Levana yang merasa paling cantik sedunia. Saking cantiknya ia tak mau siapapun menyainginya. Tak mau menatap kaca. Cukup lebay ya. Tapi begitulah ia. Si penyihir yang mampu mengendalikan pikiran-pikiran orang yang menentangnya. Ia pun tak segan membunuhnya. Uh, cantik-cantik jahat.

Pick Cinder!

Ya, jadi selain di bumi ada persetereuan manusia dengan orang-orang bulan. Khususnya Ratu Levana yang menurut Cinder cantiknya menjijikkan. Karena kecantikannya didapat dari membunuh orang-orang. Euh!

Kai and Cinder

Jadi apa hubungannya Ratu Levana dalam cerita ini? Ia ingin memperluas kekuasaannya hingga ke bumi. Tak hanya bulan saja. That’s why, orang-orang ingin agar Putri Selena ditemukan. Biar hubungan bumi-bulan berlangsung damai. Sayangnya menurut rumor, sang putri meninggal dalam kecelakaan.

Cinder or Levana?

Ini semakin mumet karena berbagai konflik membuat Kai harus menikah dengan penguasa bulan, Ratu Levana. Seru deh ceritanya. Apalagi, Cinder meski sudah berpuluh-puluh kali diundang ke pesta dansa ia tak mau datang. Tambah menegangkan karena wabah Letumosis kian menyebar dan menewaskan ratusan rakyat bumi. Pun Raja, ayahanda Kai mati karenanya. Kai tambah linglung dong antara Letumosis-Levana dan Cinder.

Walking with Cinder