ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

We all have our favorite science fiction movies, novels, and short stories. And of course, people have widely varied tastes.

Some folks prefer stories about an optimistic future, with noble characters who represent the best in mankind,

At the other end of the spectrum are the dark, dystopian, apocalyptic tales about a world in which civilization has gone to hell and life really sucks!

Many folks enjoy a wide range of science fiction. They like the optimistic type of stories (like Forbidden Planet and The Martian), as well as the less optimistic ones (like Blade Runner and Metropolis).

The poll at the top of this thread includes choices which allow you to express your personal preference.

After voting, tell us a bit about your choice, along with examples of your favorite sci-fi stories which fall into the category you chose. Site a few examples of stories you like in the category you chose, and tell us why they appeal to you.

Bear in mind that your examples can be movies, TV series, novels, or short stories. You can also name some of the stories you like which are different from the choice you made above.

The "exceptions to the rule" are well worth discussing!

Please Note: Feel free to make a brief post or a elaborate one. Either kind will be greatly appreciate by member of All Sci-Fi.

Here's my initial contribution this discussion.
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Like most folks, a great story can impress me despite the fact that my preference is stories that depict a bright future, and stories about noble characters who face a challenge.

The Classic movies from the 1950s that best represent my main preference are Forbidden Planet, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Space Children, This Island Earth, The Time Machine, and The Thing from Another World.





In the field of literature, I enjoy Larry Niven's work because he describes a future in which mankind has developed advanced technology.


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However, I also enjoy some of the darker movies, like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Colossus of New York, Rocketship X-M, and War of the Worlds,



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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Bud Brewster]

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I'd like to thank the two members who voted in the poll. I hope they'll post something as well.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[mach7]

Thanks for the post Bud.

It's a interesting question, and one that's very hard to answer.

For me, I'm a TOS Star Trek lover. That's an optimistic future.

TNG is SUPER optimistic, but sometimes it just gets way too sappy. It has some great episodes, but overall it falls far short of TOS.

DS9 is superior in almost every level to TNG, and it is a darker trek than any other.

I do love Pal's War of the Worlds, despite its religious overtones. Forbidden Planet is 50's Sci fi perfection.

More modern, The Martian is close to cinematic perfection, Even though the book is better.

But . . . Blade Runner is cinematic perfection and better than the book.

And what about 2001 ASO? Is it dystopian? Optimistic? Neither?

For books, I'm a solid Larry Niven lover. Arthur C Clarke, Asimov, Herbert, and Campbell are up there as well.

New authors I also love are Wier and Scalzi. That's a mixed bag.

I guess its more about the quality in the end.

That's why I voted E

[Bud Brewster]

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Mark, your reply is better than anything we expected!

You've expanded the question in exactly the way I refrained from doing so, simply because I didn't want to make too complex for a friendly discussion on All Sci-Fi.

However, I hope All Sci-Fi's members will rise to the challenge and build on what you've said.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[a_demifish]

Hi! I'm a little late to the party here, but I voted E because I think different stories lend themselves to different tones. I'm critically uneducated in classic sci-fi media, but I like a lot of indie stuff, and the reason the genre appeals to me at all is the combinations of these options and how they're displayed. I'm especially fond of stories that take place in dystopian worlds but do so specifically to highlight the hope for the future.

[WadeVC]

[Gord Green]

'My absolute favorite Science fiction has to be what is usually called "Space Opera".

It recalls the pulps of the 40's and the EC Weird fantasy / science comics of the 50's. Drawn to the radio stories of Ray Bradbury and Edmond Hamilton" on X- Minus One... The 50's movies, ...Forbidden Planet, This Island Earth, and so many more!

This established my "Sence of Wonder!" that has endured many decades!

I went with Ray Bradbury to live out "The Martian Chronicles".

I was there with Arthur C Clarke to see into 2001 and go on to "Rendezvous with Rama", and to see it lived out with Onamantapura !

I sat, enthralled in front of the TV in the 50's with Space Patrol, Tom Corbett, and later to The Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, and" Men in Space".

Movies seemed to go along with my desires. What many called "B" movies or less, I found the definition of "FUN"!
So many of them were my Saturday addiction!

TV only added to my total immersion in the science - fiction
culture!

Robinson Crusoe on Mars, Angry Red Planet. . . and . . . oh, so many more!

If you doubt me, just scroll down and see . . . oh,
how so many more there are that are my brothers who long to sit in the dark to visit with "Metropolis", "Things to Come"
"Frankenstien" and "Dracula" and so many more!

We"re still here! And thank what ever the Gods of Sci-Fi and Horror may be!

Thank you Bud for keeping the Dream alive!
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There comes a time, thief, when gold loses its lustre, and the gems cease to sparkle, and the throne room becomes a prison; and all that is left is a father's love for his child.

[Bud Brewster]

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Gord, I sincerely believe that Ray Bradbury himself would approve of the elegant and inspiring post you wrote above.

Thank YOU, sir, for keeping All Sci-Fi alive.

And that goes for WadeVC and his wonderful contribution as well.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)