Just wanted to add another post about Farscape. Farscape is my favorite sci fi of all time. I have yet to purchase it on DVD however, as it is so expensive and hard to find. I think the best places to find it online is either ebay or itunes–or at least that’s all I’ve found. Or you could always borrow my collection of VHS tapes I made as the series aired 
When did being geek become cool? The moment it happened to the Harley Davidson.
I had a very thought filled post written out but I will leave it to this.
Face it. Geeks got what we wanted and also got everything else that comes with it. I see spiderman T-shirts and superman stickers all over when I was the one beaten in the back corners of school for it. I hear RPGs being discussed in office when I was hiding in the parking lot to meet with the DM on some “off session” strategies. Now its all cool.
Stare long enough into the darkness, eventully it stares back at you.
First off, Audra is correct: Alexander and Andy Keaton are played by the same actor.
Second, all this talk of Piers Anthony took me back to my teenage years. He was my favorite author for quite awhile with the Xanth, Apprentice Adept, Incarnations of Immortality and Bio of a Space Tyrant series. I think the last book of his that I read of his was actually Firefly.
I do have to say that I disagree with Chuck about HHGTTG being best appreciated in the teen/young adult years. I think there is a level of satire there that becomes better appreciated with age. In contrast, despite containing many ‘adult themes’ I felt many of Piers Anthony’s books seemed geared to the young adult/teen. Then again I haven’t read all of PA books and I know for the titles (i.e., ‘Pornucopia’) some are certainly intended for the adult.
However, I do agree that Chuck’s characterization of Trillian is spot on.
i played star frontiers too, it was cool.
…and Larry says vvt-vvt anon
It was mentioned that DS9 was the only trek series that the first couple of seasons weren’t weak. I’d say DS9 follows the same pattern as TNG, only getting good in series 3. The first two seasons of both TNG and DS9 are both pretty horrible. Thankfully both pick up.
Farscape is great, insanely expensive DVD sets though. They are looking for £80 a season here, around $160. It’s good, but not that good. I rewatched it a while a go. What a great show. There weren’t too many muppets. Rygel and Pilot were both done really well. Season 1 can be a bit slow, it doesn’t really pickup until the arc kicks in though. A common trait in sci-fi shows, much like DS9 and Babylon 5.
“Guns of the South” is the only Turtledove I’ve read, but it’s pretty good. It’s an interesting alternate history of the Civil War.
Sean has convinced me to give Farscape another look. Based on his description, I think I saw eps from the first season.
Thenewguy, I hear you, except for the “RPGs being discussed in the office” part. Where do you work and are they hiring? (Seriously.)
Everyone else who’s interested in “geekdom” should probably be checking out geekstudies.org, a blog by a guy who’s getting a PhD in just that.
Let me start by saying that I bought all of the “In The Balance” books in hardcover (usually the day they came out), as well as Guns of the South.
Harry Turtledove’s alternate histories are awesome reads. Not only is the “In The Balance” series wonderful, it weaves historical and fictional characters into intricate, yet easily followed, storylines that cover about 50 years of history. I would highly recommend them.
Guns of the South is also excellent, although it’s been a long time since I read it.
If you really want to get immersed in his alternate history, “The Southern Victory Series” of 11 books is an incredibly detailed story of the history of the United States and Confederate States of America (CSA) through roughly 1945. It’s composed of a sort of prequel book, How Few Remain, and three series of books that parallel WWI, the interwar years and the Great Depression, and WWII, with the CSA taking the role of our Germany. I highly recommend these books.
Also www.uchronia.net is a website devoted to alternate history and a great place to get an very comprehensive list of short stories and novels of alternate history.
The debate continues…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_science_fiction
I’ve always thought of ancient mythology as early fantasy / sci-fi. How could you read Plato’s description of Atlantis and not think so? Scifi is about speculation of discoveries (technology/ideology/psychology) and how they effect society/humanity. Myths were created to help understand how the natural world worked and help teach people about themselves. Is that so different?
IMHO, scifi is a human need. To quote Admiral James T. Kirk: ‘I think we gave it the ability to create its own sense of purpose… out of our own human weaknesses… and the drive that compels us to overcome them.’
For some alternate history, I don’t have a book recommendation, but a movie: C.S.A. Confederate States of America http://imdb.com/title/tt0389828/
Also, if you want ANOTHER show to get on DVD to get hooked on, get Dexter, season 1 is on DVD. It’s a show about a man who works for Miama, PD who is also a serial killer… his targets are other serial killers. It’s a Showtime show that has had 2 seasons so far. I don’t know when season 2 will be put to DVD, but check it out. http://imdb.com/title/tt0773262/
BTW, I’m still listening to podcast 88 as I’m writing this, I’ve got about 78min left to listen.
bass riff Freddie Mercury Another idea bites the dust
I was gonna call at some point and ask about your opinion of Doctor Who but someone beat me to it…and then you never answered the question. I am imagining something or are you actively ignoring the subject? At work (a major Postal Operations center) we actually have about 8 of us that will talk Who-averse whenever there’s news (with the latest being Torchwood on BBC America)
And remember that some of the old Doctor Who (1977-1980, if I remember right) had Douglas Adams as script editor and sometimes writer right before he penned Hitchhiker’s Guide.
(and EmilyfromOhio watches it. Question not the fandoms of EmilyfromOhio-it must be good)
Does anybody else think its going to be weird to watch BSG with commercials again? And to wait a week wondering what’s going to be in the next episode? And to actually see a new episode?
No soul is complete until ye accept TiVo (or a similar DVR device – Dish Network’s is cheap and very good) into your life.
And, yeah, it’ll be a lot like the final scenes of Groundhog Day: “Why is Tigh saying new words I’ve never heard before? Different is good.”
Oh, but the mid-“season” break…
Dexter is awesome! They did a great job in the first season of translating the first book by Jeff Lindsay to television. I’m waiting for the second season on dvd.
Currently, there are 3 books, the first two are great, the third got a bit weird. I think he was going for a little extra flavor. I hope it gets back on track with the 4th.
Extremely wierd - espcially with Sci Fi - they do love themselves some commercials…
The week long wait however—much better than the year long one…
You know those SImpsons episodes where Homer is so excited about soomthing he’s like jogging in place and waving his hands like he has to pee and keeps saying things like “omigodomigodomigod” or “come oooonnnn, we’re gonna missssss iiiittttt”
Yeah–that’s pretty much me right now
BTW - Ka"lar was the hottest Klingon…that little smirk…
The moon is almost always female in anything mythology, from Celtic to Green to Native American.
Though, in ancient Egyptian mythology the earth in male and the sky female.
I want to agree that Dexter is a pretty good show.
But more importantly I gotta say what about Dr Who! I am a new fan of Dr Who, starting with the recent revival of it, but I really do love it (and Torchwood) and was hoping it would be commented on the podcast one way or the other.
“All this hasn’t happened before, but will certainly be rewatched again… and again… and again”
Does it mark me out as ‘lowbrow’, that when I saw mention of Dexter I immediately started reminiscing ‘Dexter’s Laboratory’
ahh for a state of arrested childhood
Oh yes - and I’ve reached the whole geek thing, and whilst I don’t experience much by way of anti-geek hate… (heck my current pro-career is pretty much reliant on it), I’m absolutely of the opinion that anyone who looks down on geekdom is the loser, not me or my fellow geeks.
I certainly get the last laugh - seeing plenty job applicants who could well have been the ones to poo-poo geek-friendly education options having to claw back the time and the employability - the geek is valuable in the current job market.
Sean’s quote re D&D and it being ‘the first thing to get shat upon’ is my quote of the 'cast - loving it - I have no problem at all with whatever words should find their way into the 'cast, excepting maybe ‘Enterprise’.