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fresnelly · 06-17-2011, 06:25 PM

Good idea for a thread!

What do you think of when this genre is mentioned, do you have a positive or negative mental image?

It depends on the medium. I have a much more positive outlook towards SF books given the breadth of sub-genres and imagination on offer. Most SF Movies and TV shows limit themselves to military scenarios or horror tropes. I'm much more interested in the wonders of the universe and the future of mankind than I am about an elite team of space-vampires out there hunting Aliens. Actually that doesn't sound too bad...I'm less interested in say, a serial killer loose on a space ship far from home.

We'll likely never see a proper film adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's Rendezvous With Rama because there's no love story, no cute robots and no monsters - just thrilling exploration.

Do you gravitate to this genre, or stay clear?

Yes I gravitate. Lately I'm feeling guilty for not seeking out something more "literary". I'm a bit jaded on Canlit these days so it's hard not to find myself pulled into the SF shelves at the Library.

What is your favorite piece?

I think The Light Of Other Days by Stephen Baxter and Arthur C. Clarke. It's an easy read and perhaps overly optimistic but I loved how they explored the development of a fun new technology and its impact on society. It was also prescient given how social media is changing things. I don't want to spoil it.

Do you have any treasured childhood memories on the topic?

Falling in love with Star Wars and other movies like The Explorers.

How do you view the portrayal of women by the genre?

It's improved in that they aren't nearly as helpless and weak as in the past (see Doctor Who Companions from 1963 vs. present, Firefly etc...) but here's probably a thesis to be done exploring the Hollywood sexy-scientist cliche.

How do you respond when you meet a woman with interest in the topic?

Enthusiastically. My prejudice is that they will be dismissive.

List the first 5+ sci-fi works that come to your mind.

Super-8 - Saw it and enjoyed it last week.
Manifold Space - Mind-blowing trilogy by Stephen Baxter
Einstein's Dreams - more like Phi-Fi by Alan Lightman.
Pushing Ice - Great "Hard" sci-fi by Alastair Reynolds.
Brasyl by Ian McDonald. It's what I'm reading right now.

06-17-2011, 06:25 PM	#23 (permalink)
fresnelly Functionally Appropriate Location: Toronto	Good idea for a thread! What do you think of when this genre is mentioned, do you have a positive or negative mental image? It depends on the medium. I have a much more positive outlook towards SF books given the breadth of sub-genres and imagination on offer. Most SF Movies and TV shows limit themselves to military scenarios or horror tropes. I'm much more interested in the wonders of the universe and the future of mankind than I am about an elite team of space-vampires out there hunting Aliens. Actually that doesn't sound too bad...I'm less interested in say, a serial killer loose on a space ship far from home. We'll likely never see a proper film adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's Rendezvous With Rama because there's no love story, no cute robots and no monsters - just thrilling exploration. Do you gravitate to this genre, or stay clear? Yes I gravitate. Lately I'm feeling guilty for not seeking out something more "literary". I'm a bit jaded on Canlit these days so it's hard not to find myself pulled into the SF shelves at the Library. What is your favorite piece? I think The Light Of Other Days by Stephen Baxter and Arthur C. Clarke. It's an easy read and perhaps overly optimistic but I loved how they explored the development of a fun new technology and its impact on society. It was also prescient given how social media is changing things. I don't want to spoil it. Do you have any treasured childhood memories on the topic? Falling in love with Star Wars and other movies like The Explorers. How do you view the portrayal of women by the genre? It's improved in that they aren't nearly as helpless and weak as in the past (see Doctor Who Companions from 1963 vs. present, Firefly etc...) but here's probably a thesis to be done exploring the Hollywood sexy-scientist cliche. How do you respond when you meet a woman with interest in the topic? Enthusiastically. My prejudice is that they will be dismissive. List the first 5+ sci-fi works that come to your mind. Super-8 - Saw it and enjoyed it last week. Manifold Space - Mind-blowing trilogy by Stephen Baxter Einstein's Dreams - more like Phi-Fi by Alan Lightman. Pushing Ice - Great "Hard" sci-fi by Alastair Reynolds. Brasyl by Ian McDonald. It's what I'm reading right now. __________________ Building an artificial intelligence that appreciates Mozart is easy. Building an A.I. that appreciates a theme restaurant is the real challenge - Kit Roebuck - Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life Last edited by fresnelly; 06-17-2011 at 06:30 PM..