What has Science Fiction done for you?

Television, Movies Games and Books Other Science Fiction
#1

So i’m rereading the first Red Dwarf book for like the millionth time and it kinda came over me that Sci-Fi has done more for me than i have previously talked about. I normaly dont haven’t had a super outlet like this.

I know that if it weren’t for Sci-Fi i wouldn’t be a reader but that is a direct like to Sci-Fi. Im wondering is there anything that Sci-Fi has done for you that may surprise people?

Two of my examples that come to mind.

Because of Red Dwarf i found two of my greatest loves

Indian Food and It’s a Wonderful Life

Seriously. Listers favorite food is a nice Vindaloo and now i love me a Lamb Vindaloo as spicy as i can take it.

Before i read the Red Dwarf books i though It’s a Wonderful Life was just a boring stupid black and white movie. Lister liked it so i gave it a try again and low and behold its one of my all time favorite movies.

So i ask you out there fellow Watercoolerites is there anything that Science Fiction has brought you that would come as a surprise to others?

#2

Well Fantasy in general has always been a great comfort to me when things are rough. Plus I became a reader due to Sci-Fi/Fantasy which helped me in school.

#3

Seriously. Listers favorite food is a nice Vindaloo and now i love me a Lamb Vindaloo as spicy as i can take it.

Lister, you are a man after my own heart. I loves me a nice lamb vindaloo so spicy that I can see through time. If Red Dwarf introduced you to that, I have got to get into that show.

It’s funny, cause other than Star Wars I never considered myself much of a sci-fi guy until I started posting on these here parts. Now I realize that I’m much more of a sci-fi geek than I thought. But, speaking of Star Wars, what sci-fi has done for me is lead me to discover great music and pursue a life as a musician. If it hadn’t been for John Williams’ work on Star Wars I would have likely never heard an orchestra, or at least never been fascinated by the sounds it can produce. While my own work has moved in a very different direction, I have to give that movie (and by extension the genre) props.

#4

Mmmmmmmmmm… vindalooooooo

I have never had one so spicy that I could see through time, so I’m going to have to get some restaurant recs, Armando. On the other hand, I have had it so spicy that I literally cried through my meal. That’s the best. You do know, right, that we like spicy because it provides a chemical reaction similar to a mild high?

#5

The first time i had a Vindaloo was in Australia. I ordered it as hot as they could make it. Let me tell you BIG BIG mistake. I some how managed to finish it i used lots of Raita. Also had some Somosas and I think some Chicken Korma also really spicy. My mouth burned i cried i sweated but oh man it was good. Ive since learned not to order it that hot. I just order it spicy now.

#6

Indian food bit:
I usually get chicken Tikka Masala, or Chicken Briani, but there is one resturant here that does an amazing Murg Mali Kabab that makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
(It’s 11PM and you all are making me really hungry, YOU BASTARDS!)

Sci. Fi. bit:
Sci Fi. has brought me back to my love of science and Chemistry and Astronomy. I studied all of that when I was an undergraduate, but I got my degree in computer science instead and now it’s brought me back to studying these subjects as a hobby.

#7

Hmmm tikka masala, yum!

I love making it at home, and making the naan… :smiley:

#8

Well, the spiciest vindaloo I ever had was in New York last summer, and, sadly, I can’t remember the name of the restaurant. But it was goooood. And yes, I cried and sniffled my way through the entire dish. And it was worth it.

So I think it’s safe to say that, at the very least, sci-fi is responsible for a shared love of Indian food. Is that right? :wink:

#9

It appears so. If ya’ll have any Indian Foods Recipes post them in the Cook book thread over in Hobbies

#10

I really want to add being able to make my own Indian food to my list of skills. You make naan? I am impressed.

Apparently so. I also love Ethiopian. Anyone else love that one?

#11

Re: Indian food, what I make isn’t “authentic” by any means of the imagination, just adaptations of techniques and flavor combinations that utilize ingredients that I can get fairly easily. But that doesn’t mean it’s not delicious… I’ll post the recipes over in the cookbook thread when I get around to it.

I have to admit I was underwhelmed when I tried Ethiopian food… but I only had it once, and I’m not a fan of spicy food, so that might have done something with it.

I love making my own Chinese food, too… hot and sour soup! (again, adapted to use ingredients I can get easily) potstickers! sesame noodles!

Basically I just love food. I don’t know how much sf/f had to do with it, though… considering that I just finished watching Red Dwarf. Though I did try making my own klah when I was younger, and I do love having my house smell of balsam in the winter…

#12

What I find hysterical about this thread is that is started drifting in the first post.

…well, maybe not, but the first post set the stage for serious drift. Oh, and I love Indian food too.

#13

I was wondering where i drifted…there for a sec. I just think the overwhelming love of Indian food is currently beating out the topic of conversation.

#14

On a side note i think im gonna run out and get a Vindaloo for lunch

#15

“On topic,” so to speak…

sf/f got me back into reading fiction after a period where I was a bit non-fiction obsessed, not to mention it got me reading fiction that wasn’t part of my work. So it’s pretty awesome. But we all know that. :wink:

#16

You know, I didn’t think I had anything to share…but I realized there is one significant thing sci-fi did for me: it create a bond between myself and my step-father.

My step-father was a nice enough man, but he wasn’t very “fatherly.” I always referred to him by his first name (at his and his kids request) and, for the most part although he was a presence in my life it was like he existed on the edge.

Science fiction was the thing that brought us together, that led to our best discussions and made us feel close. For Christmas I could get him gifts no one else would ever think of (Star Wars Encyclopedia, Star Trek DVD collection, etc).

Science fiction was our special bond that he had with me, and for that I will always be grateful.

#17

I am not very adventures in the food department. I however was in my choice in reading and other media. I have always remember enjoying fantasy and scifi. It took me to some other place and out of the real world. Ok the real world was not bad but hay I was a kid. The more descriptive a story the better. I liked having a picture in my mind as I read. So The Lord of The Rings to anything Asimov was enjoyable to me.

I think the the main thing that i learned was that being different was not a bad thing and could be very nice. It also taught me to except differences. Wow, it sounds sappy. :o