Science Fiction...

[joshman]

so we're all into astronomy...we like space and space related things. thus bringing to mind the various movies and shows that have graced out screens over the years that deal with this object of affection.

so my questions is...which of the shows above tickle your fancy? and why?

Firefly/Serenity mostly because of Joss Wheadon's skill with writing witting dialogue and captivating storylines. Starwars becuse well....come on..who hasn't wanted a lightsabre? oh and oyu can keep your episodes I, II and III...give me the original trilogy any day. and farscape, partly because it's australian, mostly because it's different and has a decnt charm about it.

and i love the others too...

[wavelandscott]

I voted for 3 but my one of my favorites was not available...Babylon 5 was a wonderful show...

Also the names/choices for several classics are missing...Forbidden Planet, Alien etc...

Too many good things to name!

[Greg Bryant]

Babylon 5 was indeed a superb 5-year series. Sat down and watched the seasons again earlier this year.

[wasyoungonce]

Wot no Dr Who!..pffft;)

[Greg Bryant]

Indeed! The new series is great. Last night's "Human Nature" was a well-produced episode (no Houghy, I'm not downloading the episodes like you, though Youtube has its moments...).

It's based on a plot co-written by Australian writer Kate Orman, who I had the pleasure of meeting many, many years ago at a friend's house just as she got started in the sci-fi writing genre.

There's a lot of sci-fi out there. I've dabbled in Andromeda, enjoyed Space 1999 as a kid and bought the 2 box sets a few years back (yes, some bad science but great Eagles).

With space tourism about to lift off (pardon the pun), and a return to the Moon before the end of next decade, the sci-fi landscape may well become even more mainstream.

[Karls48]

I really liked Blake’s seven. It run in early eighties. I would like to see it again, but who knows I may not like it now.

[Greg Bryant]

UK TV on Foxtel ran some episodes (not all?) a while back. The DVDs are available, but they're not cheap - $100+ for a season, and there are 4 of them. JB Hi-Fi and others stock them. Avon was a great character.

[seeker372011]

for me the best science fiction is to be found within the covers of a book...for example

Dune...Ringworld...the Foundation trilogy..Childhood's end...the Left Hand of Darkness...Stranger in a Strange Land...amongst a long list of Hugo and Nebula awards from the past (do these awards even exist anymore I wonder.)
showing my age I guess

[Greg Bryant]

Hugo and Nebula awards are still going strong. The Nebula awards were announced earlier this year, and the Hugo awards are announced next month.

Foundation was a great trilogy. Someone once told me that if it was ever made into a TV series, it could entirely be set indoors (except for obligatory spacecraft shots), though I suppose I'd need to re-read the books to confirm it.

[joshman]

damn, all these great shows and books i missed, curse my stupid brain!

[myparadigm]

Farscape was a great show! pity they don't show it on free to air anymore.

[joshman]

i know i foudn that a few years ago they would show it after the cricket on weekends. it was aweosme. now i own the box sets on dvd. so good.

[ballaratdragons]

I could only tick 2 of them: 'Star Trek' and 'Stargate'

You didn't have my 3rd choice: 'LOST IN SPACE'

"Danger Will Robinson, Danger" :lol:

[sheeny]

:lol: Yes, a classic! One of my favs when I was growing up! But it's interesting how tastes change and develop. I only voted for Star Wars from the list above. I'm afraid I'm not into the others on the list, but another one that I am into is, of course, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy!:thumbsup:I just love it in all it's forms...

If I think back to my childhood, though, there were shows like "The Time Tunnel", "It's About Time"(:shrug: not sure if that's the correct title now... it was a science fiction comedy), and there was a movie called "Mission Mars": I loved it as a kid so I got it on DVD last year... it's seriously sad by today's standards!:lol:

Al.

[Karls48]

Yes, I agree no movie or TV serial can match SF book. I would rate “Dune” and “Foundation “as best but the Analog has some great short stories.

[Ric]

Of the choices, I picked my favourite three, but I love all Sci Fi, books, movies, TV series the lot.

The 50's "B" grade classics are superb. My all time favourite would have to be "The Blob" with Steve McQueen

Cheers

[wavelandscott]

All great! I'd like to add in the "Ender" series by Orsen Scott Card and also the "Berserker" SciFi series (can't thin kof the author at the moment) to go along with a whole bunch of other writers who would take too long to name...

While I enjoy watching SciFi...you can not beat reading it :thumbsup:...

[radu5er]

I too liked "Babylon 5" as a series. Also "Space, Above and Beyond" and "Earth 2". The original "Lost in Space was good but as it progressed(?) in later years I found it a bit hard to swallow.

And of course "Dune" as a movie, as well as "The Fifth Element" for a bit of a light hearted romp...and of course the classic "Bladerunner".

I remember setting with my older (she was 15 and I was 14) girlfriend and watching the original Star Trek on Thursday nights in Louisville Kentucky while my 10 year old sister sat across the room waiting for me to show some interest in my girlfriend...who could not possibly compete with James T. Kirk and crew.

<sigh> What a geeky kid I was! :lol:

[Jupiter]

I'm watching Firefly atm, I have had Sci fi channel about 2 months now and it is awesome.

[Glenhuon]

Could only vote for my favourite 3 but lets see whats in the collection.
Star Trek, all the episodes of the original series and animated version, through to Next Gen, Voyager and DS9 (except Enterprise, didn't do anything for me, excepting a certain female vulcan second officer ;)), all the movies.
Star Wars, Andromeda, Farscape, Battlestar Galactica (original with Lorne Green), Back to the Future, Taken, Babylon 5, Dune and the series. And a host of others too numerous to mention. Yep, I'm a SF fan, but there's still nothing beats seeing the stars through the eyepiece. :)
Just a little yarn. While at a public veiwing night we had a kid look through the 90mm at Jupiter and exclaiming to his mum "It's got moons". Mum replied "You should know that, you watch enough Star Trek"

[seeker372011]

maybe we need to get Mike to create a sub forum for Science Fiction

(i wont even get into the "sci-fi" vs "s-f" debate-Kingsley Amis had a bit to say about that a long time ago :)

[joshman]

that'd be sweet
all manner of awesome discussion could go on in there!

[jjjnettie]

My favourite Sci-Fi on the screen, small and large, would have to be Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, Star Wars, Star Ship Troopers, Red Dwarf, STar Trek and Dr Who. There's more but this is what came to mind first off.
But most of all I am an avid reader of Sci-Fi books.
Robert A Heinlein is my absolute favorite author.
But these guys are pretty good too, Poul Anderson, Issac Asimov, Arthur C Clarke, Douglas Adams, A E Van Vogt, Frederik Pohl, Ray Bradbury, Robert Silverberg and E M Forster. The list goes on and on.

[seeker372011]

agree with all but EM Foster (???)

On a slightly different but related topic, here's what Wikipedia has to say about the Lagoon nebula
quote
Object M8: In the science fiction TV show Battlestar Galactica, the Lagoon Nebula is seen in the episode "Home, Part II", in the Tomb of Athena on Kobol and along with the presence of the twelve zodiac symbols, it serves as a rough reference point to the location of Earth. Since the nebula looks the same from Earth, Kobol and the Twelve Colonies, all three lie in a relatively straight line. The nebula was erroneously stated to be in the constellation Scorpio in the episode; a mistake acknowledged by the producers. William Adama refers to the Nebula as "M8", its Messier catalog number.

unquote

[Glenhuon]

Not familiar with EM Forster, but read books by all the rest and thoroughly enjoyed them. One of the first I ever read, at about 12 years old, in the genre was by Isaac Asimov and that got me hooked. :)
On the subject of real stars in Science Fiction the one that always sticks in my mind is Wolf 359, 3rd closest star to our sun at 7.3 Ly and the fictional site of Starfleets battle with the Borg.

[ballaratdragons]

The book that got me interested in Sci-Fi in the first place is called 'Tales of Time and Space'. My parents bought it for me back in 1969 when I was 12yo. and it hooked me instantly.

The book isn't a single novel, it is a book of short SF stories.

I still have it!!!!!

[OneOfOne]

I voted the the three most popular, although I would have removed Star Wars from the list as it was never a "series". I would have put B5 on the list to replace it and would have voted for that but it would have been a tighter selection if Lost In Space was on the list, afraid I never got into B's 7, Hitchhiker or Who!

[jjjnettie]

I include EM Forster because he wrote a short story back in the 1920's or 30's, called "The Machine Stops".
It is one of the most prophetic stories I've ever read.
Imagine if you can, people of the future, living in their selfcontained rooms, their lifeline is their Machine. Through the machine they communicate with each other, study, organise travel arrangements, give lectures, watch movies, listen to music etc etc.
Sound familiar?

[Glenhuon]

I have read that one too, just didn't connect with the authors name. Yes very prophetic.

[MikeyB]

Written way back in 1909 apparently, so out of copyright now and available for online perusal at:

http://emforster.de/hypertext/template.php3?t=tms

and,
http://www.plexus.org/forster/index.html

[Glenhuon]

Thanks for the link Michael. :thumbsup: Just re-read it and think I enjoyed it more than I did all those years ago. Probably because I have another 40 odd years of experience under my belt and can see the reliance we have on our machines. Scarey!

[beren]

My favourite without a doubt is Star trek. TNG/Voyager and DS9 I can't pick between them, the original series and enterprise to a lesser extent . Have no qualms grabbing a handful of DVd copies at the local vid store {much to my wifes horror} and reliving each series from time to time. Here's hoping the new movie destined for a 08 release is a success, if it is it may spur a new series into production :).

[cahullian]

I picked Battlestar Galatica as it's one of my fav shows. My son tells me that The Rama series of books by Arthur.C.Clarke are being turned into movies. They are a great read and I hope the movies will do them justice.

Gazz

[jjjnettie]

Yes! When IceInSpace goes offline for a couple of hours, the panic that ensues is frightful. LOL
But gee, I didn't realize that it was written in 1909. Foretelling the internet that long ago......

[KenGee]

We have a couple of the best Sifi writers going around at the moment. Shane Dix and Sean Williams. Peter Hamilton is very good as well though not Aussie.

[Nevyn]

Any chance to plug Gene Wolfe and I'll take it. Wolfe has written some of the best Science/Fantasy books you're ever likely to read!!! His intellect, prose and story telling are a cut above anything else I've read, simply brilliant! If you haven't read any Wolfe before, "The Book of The New Sun" is regarded by many to be his best.
http://www.sfsite.com/01b/ns96.htm

On topic, I reckon Babylon5 would have to be my favourite.

[White Rabbit]

Agreed, no movie can compare to your own and that of well oiled writers imagination, you should check out some of Ian Banks's sci fi, epics of gargantuan proportion. Saying that though i do love a good Sci Fi/fantasy movie.

One of favs not mentioned was the Red Dwarf series, cheap low budget scifi humour, loved it. Next generations and Voyager were awesome.

[Alderney]

I enjoy anything Sci Fi in TV series & movies. Try and get Space Odyssey Voyage to the Planets, a BBC dvd. Having said that, books are way out the best. Here are a few author's not yet named.
Ben Bova Grand Tour of the Universe 6 books
Asteroid Wars 4 books
Moonrise 2 books
Orion 5 books

Kevin J Anderson
Saga of the Seven Suns 6 books
Dune (With Frank & Brian Herbert) 8 books (more due)

Kim Stanley Robinson
Mars 3 books

All mind blowing reading.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

I voted Star Trek, Stargate and Star Wars - but this was a very very limited range of Sci-Fi to sample! (All are currently screening on Foxtel/Austar - 5 of the 6 on the SciFi channel)

I remember reading something Isaac Asimov wrote once about Science Fiction as opposed to Scientific Fiction (in his opinion a better genre description than Science Fiction) and his cmment came to mind reading the options in this poll. As much as I think Firefly is a great show and I enjoy watching it, it's not true Sci-Fi, and definitly not Scientific Fiction, rather it's a western (and a good one!) that happens to be set aboard a spaceship and/or on other planets. The Serenity movie was different, and was much more Sci-Fi in my opinion.

I also would have liked to have seen Doctor Who, Blakes Seven, Red Dwarf, Lost in Space, etc included. You could throw Thunderbirds, Fireball XL5, etc in that mix too.

What about some even lesser known SciFi TV series: does anyone remember the Tomorrow People, or Andra? I'd be interested to hear if anyone remembers any other fairly obscure tru Sci-Fi series.

[joshman]

hahah, i realise the error of my way with the limitations of my poll, and for that, sorry, however, i would have edited the poll, but that doesn't seem to be an option, and i would have created another thread, but for fear of the powers-that-be swooping upon me and taking me away.

[casstony]

Just finished the third re-run of Battlestar and it's almost been long enough to watch Star Trek again. After playing Star Wars KOTOR for the fifth time I think it needs a break too. Fortunately my wife is a sci-fi addict too.

Battlestar has it all - interesting story, complex characters played by good actors (Gaius especially), good graphics and relevance to our real lives. Comparing the insurgency on New Caprica to events in Iraq was particularly interesting. Now we need the Vulcans to enter the fray and negotiate a peace deal between Cylons and Humans :)

[Jupiter]

Anyone been watching afterworld on the sci fi channel?

[firstlight]

Bab 5 absolutely, but what about Blake 7, Red Dwarf, and Space 1999? Only had one to really vote foe here, and it has already been pointed out it is really a western set in space.

[wasyoungonce]

Ahhh Red Dwarf..a classic.

And what was that SF movie about the astronauts that had to go around the stars blowing up planets with the intelligent bombs....the bomb wouldn't release and they had to convince the bomb not to explode...

It escapes me for now.

[casstony]

Dark Star - with the killer beach ball.

[wasyoungonce]

You sir are a Champ!

[DSO]

Farscape and Trek, I love 'em both!

[Starbuck]

Yes the Tomorrow People, wow :eyepop: I remember that!

I voted Star Wars/Star Trek/BSG(old and new to some extent).

I loved Logan's Run the movie, though I missed the series. Also Space 1999 which has been mentioned, but no-one around here remembers. :rolleyes:

[thorsdad]

Interesting poll. I agree with some of the other replies that there are quite a few more shows that could have been included.
Babylon 5 was a great show, although I missed much of it due to its timeslot on tv.
Red Dwarf is pretty crazy, I saw just about every episode on fta tv, and have them on dvd. Sci fi english comedy for the guys that haven't seen it:rofl:.
Re Dune, the missus loves this film, but i swear every time she puts on the vid, I fall asleep:rolleyes:. She also remembers a show called "The Champions", this one was a bit before my time.:whistle:
X-files, twilight zone,Space 1999, Thunderbirds, etc...
Check out this link http://home.austarnet.com.au/petersykes/topscifi/lists_tv.html

[jjjnettie]

Dune the movie, I only bought it because Sting had a part in it, I have only watched it twice I think. Ho hum.

[DJDD]

I loved Babylon 5- a tight series designed for five seasons and no more.
Battlestar Galactica, whilst sometime too metaphysical was awesome.

It is interesting to rewatch Babylon 5 after Battlestar Galactica, which was much more gritty and the special effects more "realistic". It makes B5's look and feel seem very soap opera-ish. I love them both!

Red Dwarf- good until Season 6 then from Season 7 the creators split up, Kochanski appears and we lose Rimmer. Season 8 was an embarrassment.

Firefly- it was getting really interesting when it was pulled. oh well, the fickle nature of the US TV industry.

Afterworld- saw the first 10 episodes on Youtube. It looked good but not bothering to pay for more.

Robert Heinlein- it is good to see other people that think his books are great. Although, as an adult in the late 20th/21st century it is hard to read some of the earlier stuff without cringing at the steroeypes. "Boys own" stories. Different times, I guess. My first book heinlein book was "Time for the Stars".

DJDD

[GeoffW1]

Great abs too, those bass guitars are heavy

[seeker372011]

LOL

[JimmyH155]

One of the most vivid childhood memories I have, was listening to the radio show put on by the BBC - it must have been in the 1950's Called "JOURNEY INTO SPACE" spoken as if the voice was coming out of a pipe. Real scary. Wow, the adventures they had - I cannot remember one now - were gripping. The show was on at about 6pm I think every week for years. Anybody remember it??:D

[Glenhuon]

I remember that one. Used to listen to it in the other room 'cause the old man spoiled the show by sitting there muttering "Bl#@* Rubbish" if I listened in the lounge :lol:

[Starless]

Blakes 7 was great!
It was realistic in that the good guys were somewhat flawed
and it did not end happly ever after.

I have all of it on DVD. Avaialbe at ABC shops.

Pity the BBC SciFi budget was not as big as Star Trek's, I
would love to see what the creative British could have
done with some industrial strength money.

[omnivorr]

UFO was another I didn't see mentioned

[Starless]

Agreed, B5 was very good.

The character development through the series was excellent,
especially G'Kar'.

All 5 seasons of this are in my DVD collection.

[GeoffW1]

Hi,

It is hard to sustain interest with a TV series, I think they all wind up being Home and Away in a Spaceship.

In terms of genres I'd vote for the 'Pitch Black - Alien' type of thing, with '2001 - 2010' and 'Red Planet - Mission to Mars' in there too.

One of the most interesting aspects of all that for me is the thought that no matter what scary creature they can think up, there is possibly something somewhere in the Galaxy to match it for real.

Cheers

[Dog Star]

Any SF poll that doesn't include Dr Who is seriously remiss in my opinion. Also a bit surprised that no one mentioned the original Twilight Zone and the original Outer Limits. Also, The Prisoner. Now that was a seriously warped show. I can also vaguely remember a British anthology series from the early 60's called Out of the Unknown (I think) that featured teleplays of some of Asimov and Wyndham as well as a couple of other "name" authors. Hmm, I'm showing my age a bit here, so I'd best add that I think that the new series of Battlestar Galactica is absolutely OUTSTANDING! If only televised SF could reach these heights more often.

[Glenhuon]

Not seen the new one as I no longer watch TV (not for several years), but have all the original series DVD's.

Does anyone remember a series called "Earth 2" , was on for a while and must have got canned as it suddenly disappeared. Quite enjoyed that one as I like the ones with a bit of metaphysical mixed in with the SF.

Bill

[Dog Star]

Vaguely remember Earth 2. Wasn't that one of Gene Roddenberry's projects or am I mixing it up with something else?

[Glenhuon]

Just Googled it and it only lasted for one season of 22 episodes. Didn't see Gene Rodenberry in the credits, so probably not one of his.

Bill

[Dog Star]

Just Googled it myself and yes, I've confused it with something else. Somehow managed to miss that one completely but it sounds ok and might even be worth getting on dvd. Ahhh, dvd's. How did we ever survive without 'em?

[Glenhuon]

Yep, don't ya just love 'em :)
While my lady and the young lass were away for a couple of days, sorted out the collection. Top shelf is labeled "Science Fiction". Next one down is labelled "Everything Else" :lol:

Bill

[MrB]

Voted for Firefly(I loved the Buffy and Angel humor, so Firefly was a must see) and StarTrek(all versions)
Didn't read the replies but probably already mentioned:
Babylon 5, Red Dwarf, H2G2

[Xeelee]

Don't forget Wing Commander and books by Greg Bear, Stephen Baxter and Peter F. Hamilton!

Although Wing Commander was a computer game it had enough movie sequences to be a movie and Stephen Baxter's books have a extraordinary sense of scale (eg. A neutron star thrown through space at another star. Of course though, it was slower than light speed.)


Edit:

PS: I forgot Wing Commander was made into a movie.

[Dog Star]

Couldn't agree with you more re Peter Hamilton, Xeelee. I've collected and read everything I can find by him. By crikey though, judging by the number of books he's written and their LENGTH, this bloke mustn't even knock off for the odd beer or two. Makes for a very involving read though and I always dread coming to the end of the story. Great stuff!

[Xeelee]

I dread it too, but only because of the emptiness. That is I there is nothing else left to read...... until they release another book of course.

[goober]

Really enjoying the new version of Battlestar Galactica. Number 6 and the glowing red spine was enough for me....

[Alchemy]

had to refer to original question just in case it had wandered.

currently in my collection is the following

star wars all episodes
star trek next gen all episodes
star trek deep space 9 all episodes
star trek voyager all episodes
star trek enterprise all episodes
all 10 star trek movies
all alien movies inc alien v predator
all star gate episodes
all atlantis episodes
Stargate the movie
MIB 2
chronicles of riddick
Final Fantasy spirits within
Gattaca
Serenity
War of the worlds
Armageddon
Independence day
Babylon 5 all seasons
x files the movie
far scape all episodes
Far scape independence war
Andromeda 1-4 seasons

thats about it for space based sci fi .... have non space based sci fi too:D

[gman]

I really enjoy just about all Sci-Fi.
Most have their own feel or vibe that makes them different.
A non Sci-Fi person believes that they are all the same
Personally I like some of the old TV shows
Flash Gordon
Captain Scarlett & the Mysterons
Doctor Who
Lost in Space
Not sure if these fit the thread but I also liked My Favourite Martian, Sliders and Millenium

Does anyone remeber that TVmini series called "V" and the huge build up to the world wide premiere

[Glenn Dawes]

Here's to the man who gave us:
2001 series
Childhoods End
The Songs of Distant Earth
The City and the Stars
The Rama series
and lots more!

May he now be at one and peace with the stars.

I heard at NACAA that on the day he died there was a brilliant gamma ray burster found! Even the Universe acknowledged the passing of greatness.

Glenn

[GeoffW1]

Hi,

Have you tried Iain M Banks, especially "The Algebraist"? Very very good.

Cheers

[Dog Star]

G'day Geoff. Have heard of Iain Banks but haven't gotten round to reading any of his books yet. Based on the tip though, I'll be sure to check it out. Thanks for that.:thumbsup:

[MrB]

Haha! I had forgotten about that show!
I wasn't allowed to watch it when I was a kid, was on after bed time, and I guess the folks were worried about nightmares.
I used to sneak a look at it when the folks thought I was sleeping.
Main thing I remember was the sight of rats sliding down their throats. :eyepop:

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Sorry to jump back up there ^ a bit but I hadn't read this thread again in the last few days.

The Gene Roddenberry show you may have been thinking of is Earth : Final Conflict
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0123816/

"Trivia:
On the desk of Dr. Julianne Belman, played by Majel Barrett (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000854/), is a picture of Gene Roddenberry (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0734472/), Barrett's husband and creator of the concept for the series."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

On a side note, Earth 2 has been seen sporadically on the Sci Fi channel on Australian pay tv over a year ago.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108758/

Mildly entertaining show, it's best attribute was the ongoing appearances of Tim Curry in a supporting/cameo role. The rest of them couldn't act for ... mud.
:P

[skwinty]

Yes I watched that program avidly.
Always thought they came from the jewel box.;)