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Prophets of Science Fiction
Topic Started: Nov 9 2011, 10:06 PM (1,475 Views)
Kamidio
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For an Englishman who's proud to be English, he seems to forget one of the common things we do in our language. HYPERBOLE.
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lamna
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British. I have no special English pride.
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Yorick
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That cosmonaut story in "Dark Matters" would make for a great movie as would the one about the Philadelphia Experiment. Anyway, I finally caught "Prophets of Science of Fiction."

I disagree with them about Mary Shelley being the creator of science fiction. Jules Verne and H.G. Wells are the grandfather and father of science fiction, respectively. Verne was all about the mechanics and practical applications while Wells was all about the theories and the social criticism.

Shelley's story is just a cautionary tale with science elements rather than a story about cutting edge science with a word about being cautious. Nothing about the mechanics or any original theories.
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Ànraich
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What do you mean nothing about the mechanics? Are you telling me you can't really stitch together a bunch of parts from different people and animals and turn it into a living, sapient being by hitting it with lightning?
We should all aspire to die surrounded by our dearest friends. Just like Julius Caesar.

"The Lord Universe said: 'The same fate I have given to all things from stones to stars, that one day they shall become naught but memories aloft upon the winds of time. From dust all was born, and to dust all shall return.' He then looked upon His greatest creation, life, and pitied them, for unlike stars and stones they would soon learn of this fate and despair in the futility of their own existence. And so the Lord Universe decided to give life two gifts to save them from this despair. The first of these gifts was the soul, that life might more readily accept their fate, and the second was fear, that they might in time learn to avoid it altogether." - Excerpt from a Chanagwan creation myth, Legends and Folklore of the Planet Ghar, collected and published by Yieju Bai'an, explorer from the Celestial Commonwealth of Qonming

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colddigger
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Joke's over! Love, Parasky
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What have I been doing with myself all these years then??
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Kamidio
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Parasky
Nov 22 2011, 02:59 AM
What do you mean nothing about the mechanics? Are you telling me you can't really stitch together a bunch of parts from different people and animals and turn it into a living, sapient being by hitting it with lightning?
Puhlease. She wrote that during the Industrial Revolution, back when people thought planes could smash into the sound barrier.
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dialforthedevil
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Hmm I would say Verne is pretty big on Social Critism as well. Look at the character of Captain Nemo again ;)

One of the biggest modern Science Fiction writers and one who probably got us all on Spec has to be Michael Crichton
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Canis Lupis
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Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.

I agree. "Jurassic Park" was my book and movie trilogy when I was younger. I practically worshipped it.

I've read a lot of Crichton's books, my favorites being "Jurassic Park," "Timeline" (which presents interesting theories on time travel, though I may not agree with some points), "Prey," "Congo," and "The Andromeda Strain" (not for the story (which is severely lacking; the 2008 miniseries has a MUCH better story) but for the biological ideas present).

Wasn't really a fan of "Frankenstein" when I read it. Yes, it had some interesting ideas, especially about "playing God," but that pretty much seemed to be it. The book, despite being tauted as scary, was nothing of the sort.

My favorite science fiction author though, by far, is H.G. Wells. Can't beat "War of the Worlds" or "The Time Machine" for sheer awesomeness (yes, I need to read more of his books. Like "The Shape of Things to Come").

The only Jules Verne book I have read is "Journey to the Center of the Earth," and I really wouldn't consider that as a science fiction book (it seems more like an adventure story to me, with some sci fi thrown in for fun).

However, I think my favorite style of science fiction books are dystopian novels, specifically "Brave New World," my absolute favorite book I have ever read. The last couple lines talking about John's suicide get me every time.
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Kamidio
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Canis Lupis
Nov 22 2011, 03:16 PM
I agree. "Jurassic Park" was my book and movie trilogy when I was younger. I practically worshipped it.

I've read a lot of Crichton's books, my favorites being "Jurassic Park," "Timeline" (which presents interesting theories on time travel, though I may not agree with some points), "Prey," "Congo," and "The Andromeda Strain" (not for the story (which is severely lacking; the 2008 miniseries has a MUCH better story) but for the biological ideas present).
Good news for you leetle man. They've re-started work on Jurassic Park 4, now that the whole writer's strike thing is fully settled and out of everyone's minds.
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Russwallac
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I'm just gonna break my rules to shout WOO-HOOO! Links, por favor?
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dialforthedevil
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Also they dropped that storyline about dino mercs!!! :D !!!

Oh one of my favourite HG Wells stories has to be the Island of Doctor Moreau, certainly one of his best.

For the best dystopian world just watch Children of Men, it is awesome...

One could say Ridley Scott is pretty sodding influential when it comes to Sci Fi, Blade Runner and Alien anyone? Two of the best films ever!
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Kamidio
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Russwallac
Nov 22 2011, 03:37 PM
I'm just gonna break my rules to shout WOO-HOOO! Links, por favor?
http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=6038

It's rather old news. Like months ago.
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Yorick
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Speaking of Crichton, Richard Preston completed the posthumous release, "Micro," released only today. Crichton tackles miniaturization in this one.

Crichton wrote the first third of the book and left a detail outline and notes so we all know his intended beginning, middle and end.

Here is a book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIOzMa8kcuo

"Jurassic Park 4" isn't getting out of development hell anytime soon/
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Kamidio
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Yorick
Nov 22 2011, 09:30 PM
"Jurassic Park 4" isn't getting out of development hell anytime soon/
Says the guy who isn't watching a JP fanatic on DA that posts a journal anytime there's news. Which has been plenty. So shut 'cho mouth.
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Holben
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Some of Gernsback's work was prophetic in some ways. Some of Heinlein's also struck a chord with modern society for me.

But yeah, it's older than those two. Wells and Verne, for me, are the reason we have the sci-fi we have now... of which 90% is rubbish, like in every other genre :P
Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea.

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