We have a good variety of Sci Fi news for you today. Enjoy!
from Daniel Supanick at The Retriever Weekly: Mostow’s Surrogates explores dystopian Sci-Fi future
Science fiction has always had a fairly bleak look at robotic technology and its applications. According to most every film made about robots and computers, the technology will eventually become self-aware and destroy or enslave the human race. Movies about robots don’t usually stray from this concept, and over the years it has become very one-noted.
Surrogates, the new film from Terminator 3 director Jonathan Mostow, bases itself on this concept. However, he doesn’t have the technology to enslave us against our will. Instead, we willingly let the technology enslave us, even if the technology is unaware of this fact.
Surrogates presents a very compelling idea. Is it better to be beautiful or is it better to be human? This is a concept that begs questions about humanity, its desires, its imperfections, and how self-image drives us.
Read More here
Via Wil McCarthy at Sci Fi Wire: Is mysticism overtaking science in sci-fi?
With the fall movie season upon us, I’m suddenly presented with an embarrassment of riches. I could take the easy way out, and say something nice about the science of Surrogates. Unfortunately, that would overlap heavily with my recent comments on Sleep Dealer and Moon.
What really excites me right now—and not in a good way!—is the recent spate of superficially sci-fi movies that are not merely scientifically illiterate, not merely unscientific or antiscientific in their outlook, but that actually promote mysticism as a superior alternative to science.
You think I’m kidding, or maybe exaggerating for dramatic effect? Well, take a look at the nine mystical conceits at the heart of 9 (and yes, some of these may be spoilers):
1. That the human soul exists, and is separable from both the body and the intellect…
Read More here
From GoodReads: Mythopoeic Fantasy Books
Mythopoeic books are fantasy books where a fictional mythology is created and traditional mythological themes and archetypes are integrated into the storyline. Here are the top 15 (so far):
1. Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
2. Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
3. The Changling Sea by Patricia A. McKillip
See More here
Thanks to David Allen at the Chronicles Network: Sci Fi & Fantasy: The Top Five Sci-Fi Vehicles
When it comes the science fiction one thing that separates the film or TV show is the mode of transport that have been specifically designed for the a scene, episode or in some cases has become a major feature in their own right.
The TARDIS 
First appearance: 1963
In: Doctor Who
Pilot: The Doctor
Millennium Falcon
First appearance: 1977
In: Star Wars
Pilots: Han Solo, Chewbacca
Planet Express Ship
First appearance: 1999
In: Futurama
Pilots: Turanga Leela, Philip J Fry
Check out the others here
I’m really glad that there are so many Sci-Fi movies coming out this year, because I love the genre. But if they aren’t good, it really defeats the purpose. I want Sci-Fi movies to become more popular (so they’ll make more), but they need to stay true to what got them their audience in the first place: quality and well, good science. Thinking that the things in Sci-Fi movies could happen one day is part of the magic, or in the case of dystopian stories like Surrogates, a warning. And I like movies that make you think, but a combination of a soul and a machine has to be well done to work. I haven’t seen 9 yet, but based on the reviews, it doesn’t fit the bill. On a lighter note, I hadn’t heard the term “mythopoeic” before, but I can definitely get into to it. And I am SO happy Planet Express Ship made it onto the list of top Sci-Fi vehicles, because Futurama is my all time favorite show!
What do you think of the new themes in Sc-fi? Do you prefer sci-fi movies with just action or do you like them to make you think? Are there any vehicles you think should have made the list?
