The grand unified fantasy and science fiction thread! :-D

[VaastuShastra]

No use discussing this stuff in the Star Trek movie thread.

Talk about random fantasy, sci-fi, novels, TV, films, gaming, anime, manga, etc, and other geeky stuff, here.

Anyone here read George R R Martin's 'A Song of Fire and Ice' series?



Best fantasy since Lord of the Rings? Some people say so.

Being made into a TV series by the makers of Rome, from what I hear.

Also what do you guys think of the 'Golden Compass' movie?

Kinda a pity that its atheist themes were castrated - I doubt audiences who were going to avoid it for that reason are going to be any more receptive now.

[Medo]

Those books by George R R Martin sound interesting, I might give them a go. Even the guy's name sounds like J.R.R. Tolkien.

I am looking forward to the 'Golden Compass' movie even though I'm not happy with some of the things I saw in the trailer. I don't mind that they've decided to go with the American name of the book but what makes me angry is how they refer to the Alethiometer as the golden compass.

Cool thread btw.

[VaastuShastra]

Thanks

Im kinda with the fans of the series on this one - I think by removing his rabid anti-organised-religion message, it kinda castrates the work - I hope that the 'euphemisms' they use make it clear what the intent was.

If you wanna try out 'A Song of Fire and Ice', I should warn you that its very different fantasy from LOTR, its more medieval realism, with very little magic, and more grit. And the series is massive

A few movie and TV adaptations im looking out for:

- GRRM's 'A Song of Fire and Ice' (HBO series)
- PP's 'His Dark Materials' (the films)
- LN's 'Ringworld' (Sci-Fi Channel series)
- OSC's 'Ender's Game' (film)
- ACC's 'Rendezvous with Rama' (film)
- IA's 'Foundation' (film)

Also the new Star Wars TV series (hopefully it will be good) and maybe the new Star Trek film.

[jmancuso]

that movie is proving to be somewhat controversial here in the US and they probably removed some of the atheist undertones to appease american audiences.

[VaastuShastra]

They might as well have kept them in, because I doubt those people are gonna see it anyway.

Whats the controvery like anyway - I havent been following it?

[Blunther]

I started that Song of Ice and Fire... was a good read. Got to Book three, part two, then stopped for some reason. Forgot what had happened, and I sure as hell weren't gonna read the 3000 pages again, so I've kind of left it be...

[wjfox]

By far the best sci-fi books I ever read were the Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson - an epic, awe-inspiring series which charts the colonisation and terraforming of Mars from the 2020's through to the 23rd century.

Words can't begin to describe how absorbing, fascinating and richly detailed the story is. Brilliant characterisation and plot development along with thought-provoking science, politics, social and environmental issues, all woven into a setting that makes the whole thing extremely believable.

What makes it so amazing is how you get to follow the same characters over such a vast period of time, their lives extended by genetic treatments. As well as that, you get to witness the development of each little town and city on the Red Planet, and their many different cultures, foods, beliefs etc. along with the physical changes which occur as the planet slowly heats up. There are little sub-plots which happen back on Earth too, and (in the later chapters) on the moons of Jupiter and Saturn.

It's all so detailed, absorbing, and plausible. There is a great deal of conflict between the "Reds" (who wish to preserve Mars in its natural state) and the "Greens" (mega corporations and other people who want to terraform it). Without giving too much away, this leads to a revolution and some very dramatic scenes.

Some of the technologies described in these books are incredible, especially the space elevator. Also, Robinson's descriptions of the Martian landscapes are wonderful - in particular, the climbing of Olympus Mons and the exploration of massive geographical features like the Valles Marineris.

[JackSwan]

i've asked for the trilogy for christmas. VaastuShastra's recommendation.

aren't you working on a sci-fi novel, will? how's it progressing?

[wjfox]

Originally Posted by JackSwan

aren't you working on a sci-fi novel, will? how's it progressing?

Been a few months since I last worked properly on it. But I'm attempting a new plot summary this week... should hopefully kick-start the whole thing again.

[VaastuShastra]

Good choice there with the Mars trilogy - it makes a good change from space opera and cyberpunk, to read something that is being planned by real space agencies.

Might as well quote the stuff everyone mentioned from the other thread:

Originally Posted by VaastuShastra

I would actually reccomend an anime or manga

But since you want novels......



Kim Stanley Robinson's 90s Mars Trilogy is a work of hard science fiction about the colinization of Mars - if you are interested in the red planet, and the near future of space exploration, as opposed to starships and Klingons, it might be your cup of tea.



Alastair Reynolds is part of the current new wave of British science fiction, and his Revelation Space series is cutting edge space opera, with some cyberpunk type themes.



Richard Morgan is another of the new wave, even more recent than Reynolds, his works are pure cyberpunk/noir. Altered Carbon was critically accalimed like the other series ive mentioned, and was bought for a million quid by some studio, so we will probably get a film version sooner or later.



Going back a bit now, Larry Niven wrote the famous Ringworld space opera series in the 70s, about an expedition in the future who discover a massive dyson ring constructed around a star.



Frank Herbert's 60s space opera classic, Dune, is considered as high in the sci-fi heirachy as Star Trek and Star Wars by some people, although ive never read it myself, and didnt think much of the TV and film adaptations.



Less famous than his 2001: A Space Odyssey, Rendezvous with Rama by Arhtur C Clarke is another classic series (Clarke being considered one of the big three with Asimov and Heinlein). Ive never read it, but Morgan Freeman has made it his lifes mission to see this film is made, so its gotta be good

Of course, dystopian science fiction, like that of George Orwell, Aldeous Huxley, Anthony Burgess and JG Ballard is more well known outside the sci-fi genre - and is a British speciality, but im sure you are familiar with the reputation of novels like 1984 (which I havent read myself).

Originally Posted by VaastuShastra

Sounds great - I saw it in book shops but never really thought about getting it.

Originally Posted by VaastuShastra

Any of you watched the following sci-fi anime?

- Ghost in the Shell (a serious cyberpunk work)
- Cowboy Bebop (space opera, or space western)
- Planetes (hard science fiction, existential themes)

Anime is the next natural place for sci-fi and fantasy geeks to go

Im not lying when I say I enjoy it more than most western TV shows - its a very innovative medium. I guess people in the west still for the most part assotiate 'cartoons' with kids, and low standards, but anime contains some of the best drama ive seen anywhere, and can be very mature and intellectual. Manga is even more diverse.

BTW, I just completed Mass Effect for Xbox 360, by the famously perfectionist games developer BioWare, and god... it was awesome. Stands toe to toe with Star Wars, Star Trek, Babylon 5, etc - a masterpiece. I hope it sells millions - I might create another thread

[PresidentBjork]

I'm still trying to get my hands on a copy of 'Ringworld'

but the local charity shops have let me down this time

[VaastuShastra]

Bets to get stuff like this online off Amazon - always cheaper.

As for stuff coming bent or whatever - ive seen really bad condition books on shelf in Waterstones in the sci-fi section...

[PresidentBjork]

Oh I know, many a book on my shelf came from amazon marketplace, in fact many on your list I've got that way.

It's just in the charity shops, which tend to have a surprisingly good selection a wrinkled up old sci-fi, usually cost the same as Amazon when you take into account the cost for delivery.

[JackSwan]

the last three books i've read:

'foundation'
'the war of the worlds'
'2001: a space odyssey'

not bad considering i'd only read about 3 sci-fi books prior to these...ever.

[Medo]

Some books I recommend:

A Fire Upon the Deep, by Verner Vinge


The Forever War by Joe Haldeman


Ubik, VALIS, Martian Time Slip by Philip K. Dick


Star Maker, Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon

[hellolazyness]

I read The Stars My Destination (Alfred Bester) recently. That was cool



I've been pretty frustrated recently because I can't find many sci fi movies from the last decade or so I haven't seen. Anyone any recommendations?

[wjfox]

@VaastuShastra

Altered Carbon is awesome! So are its sequels, Broken Angels and Woken Furies.

[VaastuShastra]

@Medo - ive been meaning to read the forever war for ages - something about a hopeless Vietnam in space sounds appealing.

@Newcastle Guy - dunno if the new AvP movie will be all that good - although he last was okay considering its a spin off movie. Im looking forward to the new Stargate TV movies and the third series too

@wjfox - ive only got the first so far

[Newcastle Guy]

Fantasy and Sci Fi movies I personally can't wait for...

I Am Legend



Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem




And Stargate: The Ark of Truth obviously, being the fan that I am.

And Star Trek 11, but it's a bit early to be getting 'cited for that yet.

[Blunther]

The Rama Quadrilogy by the legendary Arthur C Clarke is fucking ace.