The Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Spy, and Superhero Genre

[Cripplecreek]

Watching Serenity on SyFy.

[kevindavis007]

Check out the following items:


https://www.stareable.com/categories/sci-fi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmm1d7MZz5s

[kevindavis007]

http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-scifi-television-series-of-all-time

[bigheadfred]

Good to see Fringe at number 12.

[kevindavis007]

Check this out:
http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/tv/philip-k-dick-s-electric-dreams/50380/philip-k-dicks-electric-dreams-7-reasons-to-get-excited

[Cripplecreek]

Check this out:
http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/tv/philip-k-dick-s-electric-dreams/50380/philip-k-dicks-electric-dreams-7-reasons-to-get-excited

I'd like to see Dick's "The Variable man" made into a film.

[Ghost Bear]

Happy Heinlein Day everyone!    

[Joe Wooten]

Happy Heinlein Day everyone!    

TANSTAAFL

[kevindavis007]

As I'm watching SGU again... It had the potential of being one of the best shows of the Stargate Franchise.

[Cripplecreek]

Finally watched "Moon" yesterday.

Interesting flick. I'm not real sure I understand what caused GERTY to help Sam.

[kevindavis007]

[LateForLunch]

Speaking of Heinlein, as I recall he wrote a great novel/short story called the Gun Shop and I have never been able to find it in many years of searching. Anyone have any idea where that story can be found?

[Ghost Bear]

Speaking of Heinlein, as I recall he wrote a great novel/short story called the Gun Shop and I have never been able to find it in many years of searching. Anyone have any idea where that story can be found?

Doesn't sound familiar as a Heinlein story, but maybe it's The Weapon Shops of Isher by A.E. van Vogt?

[Cripplecreek]

Possibly most intense Star Wars v. Star Trek argument ever ends in arrest

"He was saying Spock was the shit and I was saying Yoda was the shit."

An Oklahoma City man was arrested last Saturday after police responded to a domestic disturbance in the force (or perhaps a rip in space-time): two roommates were arguing over whether Star Wars or Star Trek was the better movie, and things got too intense.

A police report provided to Ars does not specify precisely which of the myriad movies and/or shows the men were griping about. However, it does say that during the argument, the victim, Bradley Warren Burk, went back to his room in the same building. (The two men, who Burk said were not friends, but merely acquaintances, live at a " transitional living program and emergency shelter for homeless young men.")

As he did so, Burk told his neighbor, 23-year-old Jerome Dewayne Whyte, that Whyte was "just a trick."

This angered Whyte, who next shouted back at him, "you wanna replay that?!?!" as he shoved Burk to the ground. Whyte began choking Burk, which resulted in Burk falling in and out of consciousness. In the scuffle, Burk reached for a nearby pocket knife to "defend himself." Whyte seemingly tried to grab it away and managed to cut himself, at which point he retreated.

Whyte was charged with assault and battery and possession of marijuana. He was taken to county jail.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/07/possibly-most-intense-star-wars-v-star-trek-argument-ever-ends-in-arrest/

[LateForLunch]

Doesn't sound familiar as a Heinlein story, but maybe it's The Weapon Shops of Isher by A.E. van Vogt?

EUREAKA!!! THAT'S IT!!! Van Vogt's The Weapon Shop is IT!!! Ghost Bear is on my Christmas List now!!! Thank you, my brother. You have brought me joy in abundance!!! That story is right up there with Heinlein's best IMO, which is why I no doubt got confused.

BTW anyone who likes great conservative fiction who hasn't read that story is in for a real treat. 'Can't easily thank you enough GB!! MASSIVE kodos on your depth of knowledge of SF!!

[Ghost Bear]

EUREAKA!!! THAT'S IT!!! Van Vogt's The Weapon Shop is IT!!! Ghost Bear is on my Christmas List now!!! Thank you, my brother. You have brought me joy in abundance!!! That story is right up there with Heinlein's best IMO, which is why I no doubt got confused.

BTW anyone who likes great conservative fiction who hasn't read that story is in for a real treat. 'Can't easily thank you enough GB!! MASSIVE kodos on your depth of knowledge of SF!!

You're welcome, glad to have helped!  "The Weapon Shops" is one of the classics of SF for sure.

"The right to own weapons is the right to be free!" 

 

[kevindavis007]

[thackney]

EUREAKA!!! THAT'S IT!!! Van Vogt's The Weapon Shop is IT!!! Ghost Bear is on my Christmas List now!!! Thank you, my brother. You have brought me joy in abundance!!! That story is right up there with Heinlein's best IMO, which is why I no doubt got confused.

BTW anyone who likes great conservative fiction who hasn't read that story is in for a real treat. 'Can't easily thank you enough GB!! MASSIVE kodos on your depth of knowledge of SF!!

Hardcover edition is rather dear:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0006ASRSG/ref=tmm_hrd_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=&sr=

Also there is a Book 2, The Weapon Makers.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016DENSXM?ref=series_rw_dp_labf

[Ghost Bear]

Hardcover edition is rather dear:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0006ASRSG/ref=tmm_hrd_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=&sr=

Also there is a Book 2, The Weapon Makers.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016DENSXM?ref=series_rw_dp_labf

I have a copy of this edition, which I think I got through the SF Book Club (I was still a member back then.)

[Smokin Joe]

Hardcover edition is rather dear:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0006ASRSG/ref=tmm_hrd_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=&sr=

Also there is a Book 2, The Weapon Makers.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016DENSXM?ref=series_rw_dp_labf

That's for one in new condition. You can get a very good used with DJ for about $80. (same site)

[thackney]

That's for one in new condition. You can get a very good used with DJ for about $80. (same site)

Kindle is $3.99.  I bought book 1&2.  Maybe by next year I'll get to them.

[Ghost Bear]

Since we're talking about van Vogt, I can also recommend his novel Slan as another classic.  I haven't read The World of Null-A (yet) so I can't personally recommend it, but most folks count it as a classic as well.

[Smokin Joe]

Kindle is $3.99.  I bought book 1&2.  Maybe by next year I'll get to them.

I like Kindle, and use mine a lot, but it just doesn't smell the same...

[thackney]

I like Kindle, and use mine a lot, but it just doesn't smell the same...

Agreed.  I miss the actual book, but I have learned to appreciate as I age, the ability to increase the font size.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

Possibly most intense Star Wars v. Star Trek argument ever ends in arrest

"He was saying Spock was the shit and I was saying Yoda was the shit."

An Oklahoma City man was arrested last Saturday after police responded to a domestic disturbance in the force (or perhaps a rip in space-time): two roommates were arguing over whether Star Wars or Star Trek was the better movie, and things got too intense.

A police report provided to Ars does not specify precisely which of the myriad movies and/or shows the men were griping about. However, it does say that during the argument, the victim, Bradley Warren Burk, went back to his room in the same building. (The two men, who Burk said were not friends, but merely acquaintances, live at a " transitional living program and emergency shelter for homeless young men.")

As he did so, Burk told his neighbor, 23-year-old Jerome Dewayne Whyte, that Whyte was "just a trick."

This angered Whyte, who next shouted back at him, "you wanna replay that?!?!" as he shoved Burk to the ground. Whyte began choking Burk, which resulted in Burk falling in and out of consciousness. In the scuffle, Burk reached for a nearby pocket knife to "defend himself." Whyte seemingly tried to grab it away and managed to cut himself, at which point he retreated.

Whyte was charged with assault and battery and possession of marijuana. He was taken to county jail.

This is such an awesome story.  Here's a picture of Whyte (who isn't)



Two black homeless guys fighting -- not over drugs, or women, or "respect", but whether Star Trek is better than Star Wars.  Just destroying all those stereotypes in one moment of glorious fisticuffs.

@Cripplecreek

[Suppressed]

This is such an awesome story.  Here's a picture of Whyte (who isn't)



Two black homeless guys fighting -- not over drugs, or women, or "respect", but whether Star Trek is better than Star Wars.  Just destroying all those stereotypes in one moment of glorious fisticuffs.

Plus, the Batman videogame angle!

[Gefn]

Plus, the Batman videogame angle!

Cue up that Vulcan music from that pon far episode with Spock.
@Suppressed
@Hopalong Ginsberg

Full disclosure- I'm a Trekkie

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Ghost Bear]

Cue up that Vulcan music from that pon far episode with Spock.

It's on YouTube of course...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml4wAnvfM4M

[Gefn]

It's on YouTube of course...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml4wAnvfM4M

Of course. Thanks @Ghost Bear

[Smokin Joe]

Agreed.  I miss the actual book, but I have learned to appreciate as I age, the ability to increase the font size.

LOL! True, that!

[Smokin Joe]

This is such an awesome story.  Here's a picture of Whyte (who isn't)



Two black homeless guys fighting -- not over drugs, or women, or "respect", but whether Star Trek is better than Star Wars.  Just destroying all those stereotypes in one moment of glorious fisticuffs.

@Cripplecreek

Progress. It coulda been over a crack ho'.

[Ghost Bear]

Anyone else feel like having a discussion of their favorite SF/Fantasy author and/or written work, published prior to 1970?  Let's go old school!   

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

Anyone else feel like having a discussion of their favorite SF/Fantasy author and/or written work, published prior to 1970?  Let's go old school!   

If you'll let me get by with one published in 1970, but based on a 1967 short story, Tau Zero hands down.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

And of course Fahrenheit 451 (1953).

[Smokin Joe]

And of course Fahrenheit 451 (1953).

I cut my sci-fi teeth on Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and HG Wells' War of the Worlds and The Time Machine. After that, Asimov's short stories (I Robot, Nightfall) then The Foundation Trilogy, Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles, Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoom books, Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, and almost anything by Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft.
Tolkein landed in there somewhere, but I never considered the Lord of the Rings to be Sci-fi, nor CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, for some reason. Crighton's The Andromeda Strain and Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey followed.
From there it was off to the races with Herbert's The Eyes of Heisenberg, Dune (The trilogy, but the first book is best) and then discovered Bean Books, with John Ringo, David Weber, and others...I'm still catching up.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

I'll finish up a Lovecraft binge tonight.  Never read him before.  I'm not impressed.  Every story is like, "that's it?"

[Ghost Bear]

If you'll let me get by with one published in 1970, but based on a 1967 short story, Tau Zero hands down.

Yes, Tau Zero by Poul Anderson is one of the classics, no doubt! Hard SF, and a great example of a "Big Idea" story. Although I found the "Flying Dutchman" aspect to be kind of horrifying... 

[Ghost Bear]

Tolkein landed in there somewhere, but I never considered the Lord of the Rings to be Sci-fi, nor CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, for some reason.

Well no, both are fantasy, not SF, but I still love LotR, parts of The Silmarillion, and The Hobbit. I've never read any of the Narnia books though.

[Sanguine]

Well no, both are fantasy, not SF, but I still love LotR, parts of The Silmarillion, and The Hobbit. I've never read any of the Narnia books though.

The Narnia books were very good.

[Ghost Bear]

The Narnia books were very good.

I have no doubt, but for some reason I've never had an interest in reading them.   

I asked everyone else for their favorite but didn't share my own... an author who is largely forgotten now, except for his "Amber" books, Roger Zelazny. His early short stories especially just blow me away. My favorite novel is his "Lord of Light", published in 1967.  I have the 6-volume collection of his short stories published by NESFA Press, in hardcover... I just wish that I had them in e-book form so that I could read them over and over without ruining the physical books.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

I'll finish up a Lovecraft binge tonight.  Never read him before.  I'm not impressed.  Every story is like, "that's it?"

Spoke too soon, I liked the last story, "The Thing on the Doorstep".

[Smokin Joe]

I have no doubt, but for some reason I've never had an interest in reading them.   

I asked everyone else for their favorite but didn't share my own... an author who is largely forgotten now, except for his "Amber" books, Roger Zelazny. His early short stories especially just blow me away. My favorite novel is his "Lord of Light", published in 1967.  I have the 6-volume collection of his short stories published by NESFA Press, in hardcover... I just wish that I had them in e-book form so that I could read them over and over without ruining the physical books.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_7?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=roger+zelazny+kindle+books&sprefix=Roger+z%2Cdigital-text%2C420&crid=129JRTG88DAOS
Six pages of his stuff on Kindle....okay, not so much, but a couple before it goes off the rails on the search.

[Ghost Bear]

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_7?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=roger+zelazny+kindle+books&sprefix=Roger+z%2Cdigital-text%2C420&crid=129JRTG88DAOS
Six pages of his stuff on Kindle....okay, not so much, but a couple before it goes off the rails on the search.

Yes... I do that search every Monday, as I'm waiting for the fifth book of the Amber series (The Courts of Chaos) to be released in e-book form. But I actually meant The Collected Stories of Roger Zelazny, which is a 6-volume series collecting every short story he ever published, and a few that weren't published. It has a lot of material that hasn't (yet) made it into e-book form.

[Joe Wooten]

If you'll let me get by with one published in 1970, but based on a 1967 short story, Tau Zero hands down.

 

Tau Zero is my favorite Anderson story, closely followed by Queen of Air and Darkness

[Gefn]

During the summer between 4th and 5th grade, my librarian gave me a book called "R is for Rocket" by Ray Bradbury. I read it in one day, then got "S is for Space". Then I read the whole Bradbury canon that summer. So he was my favorite SF writer.

Then she had me read "Flowers for Algernon" and then we started at the beginning of the alphabet with Asimov until 8th grade when I ended up with Zelazny. Then I just pretty much tried to stay on top of everything new until I went to college.

Not a fan of Lovecraft, though I appreciate him as a writer. I like the stuff from the 40s and 50s best, but of the modern ones I like John Scalzi. I loved his book "Agent to the Stars"

[Cripplecreek]

During the summer between 4th and 5th grade, my librarian gave me a book called "R is for Rocket" by Ray Bradbury. I read it in one day, then got "S is for Space". Then I read the whole Bradbury canon that summer. So he was my favorite SF writer.

Then she had me read "Flowers for Algernon" and then we started at the beginning of the alphabet with Asimov until 8th grade when I ended up with Zelazny. Then I just pretty much tried to stay on top of everything new until I went to college.

Not a fan of Lovecraft, though I appreciate him as a writer. I like the stuff from the 40s and 50s best, but of the modern ones I like John Scalzi. I loved his book "Agent to the Stars"

Phillip K Dick is a personal favorite of mine. He probably had more books and short stories made into movies than any other Sci Fi writer.

His 1952 short "Beyond lies the Wub" is fun.

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/28554/28554-h/28554-h.htm

[EC]

If you'll let me get by with one published in 1970, but based on a 1967 short story, Tau Zero hands down.

It's sitting next to my chair right now. Getting a bit tattered - I've read this copy maybe two dozen times, all the kids read it, most of the grandkids have now read it.

[Ghost Bear]

During the summer between 4th and 5th grade, my librarian gave me a book called "R is for Rocket" by Ray Bradbury. I read it in one day, then got "S is for Space". Then I read the whole Bradbury canon that summer. So he was my favorite SF writer.

Then she had me read "Flowers for Algernon" and then we started at the beginning of the alphabet with Asimov until 8th grade when I ended up with Zelazny. Then I just pretty much tried to stay on top of everything new until I went to college.

Not a fan of Lovecraft, though I appreciate him as a writer. I like the stuff from the 40s and 50s best, but of the modern ones I like John Scalzi. I loved his book "Agent to the Stars"

I think I read Bradbury's "The Martian Chronicles" and "The Illustrated Man" short story collections when I got to high school. Someone had donated their paperback book collection to the high school library, and it included a lot of science fiction and fantasy books. I loved those two Bradbury collections, but I couldn't get into his other works... I think at the time I was much more into "hard" SF and his stories always had a softer feel to them. That's also when I found and read Asimov, Heinlein, McCaffrey, and a lot of other SF authors. And eventually I even broke down and started reading fantasy works, and found I could enjoy them too.  ^-^

[Joe Wooten]

but of the modern ones I like John Scalzi. I loved his book "Agent to the Stars"

 

@ Freya, there are much, much better writers working today than Scalzi. I have not been impressed by his stuff and refuse to waste my money on any more of his dreck. He is also a nasty, smarmy little passive-aggressive POS.

Peter Grant, Sarah Hoyt, Brad Torgenson, Larry Corriea, John Ringo, and Michael Z. Williamson are head and shoulders above Scalzi.

[Ghost Bear]

@ Freya, there are much, much better writers working today than Scalzi. I have not been impressed by his stuff and refuse to waste my money on any more of his dreck. He is also a nasty, smarmy little passive-aggressive POS.

Peter Grant, Sarah Hoyt, Brad Torgenson, Larry Corriea, John Ringo, and Michael Z. Williamson are head and shoulders above Scalzi.

I loved Larry Corriea's "Hard Magic" trilogy. I've recently read the first two books of Sarah Hoyt's "Darkship" series, and I'm going to be buying the third as soon as my pocketbook allows me to.