Science Fiction Tear Jerkers

From IO9 is a list of science fiction themed movies or tv shows, designed to get the waterworks going. Is the list definitive or can you add or would you remove a listing?

WALL*E
THE IRON GIANT
STARMAN
LOST: "The Constant"
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: "The Gift"
E.T.: THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL
CHARLY (Keys - Flowers for Algernon)
KING KONG
STAR TREK: "City on the Edge of Forever"
SERENITY
EDWARD SCISSORHANDS
DOCTOR WHO: "Father's Day"
WINGS OF DESIRE (inspiration for the remake City of Angels)
STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN
DOCTOR WHO: "Doomsday"

Ok, where is Testament? the William Devaine, Jane Alexander movie about a post nuclear war that will rip you a new one? The movie Moon has its' moments, One the Beach? Damn I would put these up there before I would BUFFY! WTF

Suggestions?

Why we still love Star Trek

Shaun Saunders sends in an interesting op/ed piece written by Laurence Krauss writing in New Scientist. Mr. Krauss posits that the reason that the series, now some 40+ years old still captures the imagination for the most part might be:

• [That] of all science-fiction drama in the past half-century, Star Trek was based on a hopeful view of the future.....
• "infinite possibilities of existence"......[that] could be exploited for the benefit of humankind and aliens alike.
• A future where science and reason would prevail over superstition, religious fundamentalism and petty myopic rivalries, and where technology could be developed to address almost any challenge.

As unrealistic as these ideals might be, the core principals are still extremely popular. Mostly it would seem that no matter how bad things get there is always the hope that like Star Trek, we will find a way to work through these problems and enjoy an idyllic future.

Read the complete piece and see if you agree. Why is Star Trek still so popular.

Mankind's secrets kept in lunar ark

Now here is a perfect example of something conceived in science that could make a great science fiction story.

Plans are being drawn up for a “Doomsday ark” on the moon containing the essentials of life and civilization. A basic version of the ark would contain hard discs holding information such as DNA sequences and instructions for metal smelting or planting crops. It would be buried in a vault just under the lunar surface.

I can see the drama of the build, the horror of the collapse, and something akin to Anne McCaffrey's Dragon Riders when they found the ancient AI that helped rebuild civilization. As great as it sounds....could it work? Look at how fast knowledge can fade away. Often the same thing is invented several times, there is ample evidence in history to support this claim. I suspect that if a life ending event happens on Earth, the ability to run the machinery or maintain the machinery that would retrieve this information would quickly pass. The knowledge that is saved would still be lost. If not retrieved and implemented almost immediately, I suspect that within a century there would be no one left who would understand how it all functioned. Look at how much was almost lost when the Egyptian empire collapsed. They left the records, but the ability to decode the writings was lost. Great fiction, not practical.

click here for the complete article from the Times Online

The Difference Between SciFi and Fantasy

From Unabashed via SFSignals, Matt Mitchell takes on a subject that has fueled many an argument. What exactly is the difference between Fantasy and Science Fiction? Matt posits that science fiction differentiates itself from fantasy by being believable. He writes:

We believe it because we want to believe fantastic things are possible, and this is especially the case with readers of SciFi. One advantage SciFi has over fantasy, however, is that SciFi generally resounds with possibility. Even though its ideas may be impossible now, one who has the foresight to dream of tomorrow can see the inherent potential in virtually any work of SciFic.

There are two basic ways to write fantasy, and neither of them have to be believable in the least:

1. Real world, whether it be historical or modern-day.
2. Other world, in which another universe is created specifically for the story.

The rest of his short article is equally interesting and thought provoking. click here to read more

The 3 Laws of Robotics according to Warren Ellis

Warren Ellis's gives us a profane and angry take on the Three Laws of Robotics. For those of you scratching your heads now saying...ummm laws? what laws? Let me enlighten you. Science Fiction author Isaac Asimov is credited with being the first to pen rules for robot behavior. His three laws were basic and simple, they are for the most part 1) a robot must obey a human 2) a robot must never harm a human or through inaction allow a human to come to harm 3) a robot must preserve itself at all cost unless it violates either first or second law. I have simplified them a bit.

Now, as high minded as this all is. Many love to have a go at these "laws" Warren, on his blog, gives us a very funny rant which is so profane, that I really can not quote here. But for a good laugh I suggest that you take a trip over and have a read.

Never fear either, Isaac would get just as bit a laugh as you will.

3 laws rant

Sign up for the new converter box coupon...or maybe not...

Oh I love this! lol By now, unless you live in a cave, you know that the FCC is closing the analog band of frequencies now being used by broadcasters and making it mandatory for all broadcasters to begin broadcasting their signal in the new digital format. This change over has to be complete by February of 2009. Consumers that receive their signals over the air can petition the US government for a small converter that will allow them to continue to use their existing television equipment. The government will provide you with a coupon worth $40 to be used toward the purchase of said converter box. All well and good. Follow so far? Goooooood. Well I though, hey I will check out the site to see what's up. I logged to this site https://www.dtv2009.gov./Default.aspx a government site mind you and the first thing I found is that the security certificate for the site is invalid...ok, its the second of the year....so I click to apply for the certificate for the converter.... what happens? it fails.....times out..... sends you back to the start... sigh... I just shook my head and walked away....