Best of Sci Fi

[WayOutThere]

Lets face it, reality is boring. Its filled with constraints. Why not have a little fun and free yourself creatively? Hence we have sci fi.

The problem, however, is that if you take that to far and throw out plausiblity you just break peoples suspension of belief and lose the ability to provide intellectually satisfying shows.

Eureka is a prime example of that. It is perhaps the worst sci fi show in history. A "fantasy free-for-all" is what I once heard it described as and that is spot on.

The best of sci fi is in the middle. It gives us the technology and the audience becomes accustom to it (even if its so crazy as sucking the life out of people such as in Star Gate Atlantis). New technology that will freshly break people suspension of belief in included seldomely.

Given this the best sci fi shows I know of are:

- Battlestar Galactica (remake)
- Firefly
- Threshold

Star Gate SG-1 is my favorite show ever having many episodes that fit this bill (though also many that don't).

agree/disagree? Describe what you would call good sci fi.

 

[QuirkyTambourine]

Good sci-fi always has a really good sociopolitical backbone. The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress is one great example, The Martian Chronicles too. I love having depth to stories outside "ZOMG ALIUMMS KILL EM KILL EM" But awesome high tech weaponry is always a plus.

Like a certain movie that just came out that I'm now nuts for.

 

[Cliff_m85]

I like Star Trek. Particularly Star Trek: The wrath of........KAHNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Vivaldi]

I like Star Trek. Particularly Star Trek: The wrath of........KAHNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That


And


Firefly...

yeah

 

[Flying-Emu]

What are we supposed to discuss? The definition of Sci Fi?

Or the best Sci Fi? In which case, you already named it.

 

[TheLastCylon]

Battlestar Galactica (hence the avatar)

Star Trek: The Next Generation (I grew up on that stuff!)

Ender's Game (best sci-fi book/series out there)

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

I would describe anything by this man as good Brilliant Sci-Fi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_A._Heinlein
'Heinlein coined words that have become part of the English language, including "grok" and "waldo", and popularized the terms "TANSTAAFL" and "Share Water".'

Anyone seen Futurama: The Wild Green Yonder? "Grok".
I rest my case.

Good sci-fi always has a really good sociopolitical backbone. The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress is one great example, The Martian Chronicles too. I love having depth to stories outside "ZOMG ALIUMMS KILL EM KILL EM" But awesome high tech weaponry is always a plus.

Like a certain movie that just came out that I'm now nuts for.

Another brilliant book by Heinlein

 

[KampfVerein]

Like a certain movie that just came out that I'm now nuts for.

Does it involve prawns, thick accents and a gravity gun / pig launcher? Of course it does. I quite enjoyed it as well.

All science-fiction, it seems, is not about the future at all. Instead, it is about the peculiarities and failures of the present, seen through the filter of aliens or time-travel or "geez whiz" technology or what-have-you.

 

[Wasurenagusa]

Shows rarely do it for me anymore. I was a huge star trek fan, same with stargate, but I've moved on to reading books instead. It tends to feel a lot more gratifying than watching loads of eye candy (and I love special effect eye candy =D). And on that note, I'd recommend everything and anything by Alastair Reynolds (if you want a good sci fir read).

 

[WayOutThere]

Good sci-fi always has a really good sociopolitical backbone.

I can dig it.

 

[Calobi]

I love how most people here like Firefly. Makes me feel like I finally belong. Also, Dollhouse is a good show. I'm glad it didn't get canned after one season.

I like Star Trek. Particularly Star Trek: The wrath of........KAHNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Psst, it's spelled Khan, not Kahn.

 

[TaborMallory]

I haven't watched or read very much of the "traditional" Star Trek-esque Sci-Fi, but Michael Crichton's down-to-Earth approach has always memorized me to no end.

 

[oliveira8]

Dune > Rest

The Spice must flow.

Okay I'll explain.

Why Dune? Cause Dune is problably the one Sci-Fi book that bothered to make a planet a real planet, not just a thing the heroes go to. It had ecology, religion, prophecies, economy,real people, real wild life etc etc.

The same way that Middle-Earth(Arda for Tolkienettes) is still the only "real" fantasy world.

So Dune reigns supreme for being Sci-Fi that takes itself serious, cutting the weird aliens and the bullshit "Black Holes don't work that way!!" out of the way, making room for the world, plot and characters.

Dune proving since 1965 that it's still THE Science Fiction tale and that we should forget everything that involves the name Dune besides Frank Herbet's original, and that his son should die and stop writng crap.

Edit: And Ender's Game for a close second. And I would put Battlestar galactica higher if it weren't for the "God did it" crap.

 

[WayOutThere]

What are we supposed to discuss? The definition of Sci Fi?

Or the best Sci Fi? In which case, you already named it.

I'm asking about what you consider good sci fi, not about your defintion of it.

All science-fiction, it seems, is not about the future at all. Instead, it is about the peculiarities and failures of the present, seen through the filter of aliens or time-travel or "geez whiz" technology or what-have-you.

I can dig that too.

 

[Singularly Datarific]

I would describe anything by this man as good Brilliant Sci-Fi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_A._Heinlein

Seconded/thirded if someone already quoted.

 

[KampfVerein]

I can dig that too.

You dig a lot of things, daddio. You're a hep cat.

I, too, enjoy Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis. Thoughts on Universe?

 

[WayOutThere]

And I would put Battlestar galactica higher if it weren't for the "God did it" crap.

I hated that myself.

Thoughts on Universe?

I'm keeping Universe as much of a suprise as I can. Can't wait until Oct 2nd.

 

[Malithar]

If you are talking about shows that were on sci fi but aren't any more or whatever I like the ones that you listed but I also liked

Jake 2.0 Some computer programmer gets nanobots in his blood and becomes the secret agent he always wanted to be, sounds familiar right? Go look in the mirror imagine yourself with nanobots in your blood, then in a bond suit, great show, funny moments, bring it back.

Dresden Files, I've read the book series by Jim Butcher, the show was still good, sure it didn't copy everything like everyone wanted to, but in the latest Harry Potter movie, Dumbledor didn't die, so you can't have your Dresden Files cake and eat it as well.

Sanctuary, This show was shaky at first, as it filmed a lot of things using a green screen, but as the season got on, they stopped doing that for everything and the show really picked up at the end, looking forward to the new season.

 

[Flying-Emu]

What are we supposed to discuss? The definition of Sci Fi?

Or the best Sci Fi? In which case, you already named it.

I'm asking about what you consider good sci fi, not about your defintion of it.

Then my Firefly statement stands.

 

[I am Jack's profile]

Wash: I don't know subliminal messeges, that all seems a little sci fi to me.
Zoe: we live on a spaceship.

Greatest telivision show ever.(period)