I thought I'd start a thread for this - rather than let it get lost in the films thread.
I like SciFi (holdover from geeky-boy-childhood no doubt) and there seems to be a dearth of good stuff.
Anyway, last night I watched "Life"
I expected it to be naff, but wanted to watch it anyway. It was actually really enjoyable and far more tense than I was expecting. imo definitely worth a rental.
Book-wise I'm ready for anything new from Alistair Reynolds or Peter F Hamilton. To tide me over I read the first 2 Culture novels which are good but his writing doesn't grab me the way those guys' does.
Who else are folk reading?
Red ones are better.
Comments
If you have Netflix and can do VPN shenanigans if you set it to Italy or Portugal all seasons are on there.
When do we get the second part of The Expanse on Netflix does anyone know?
Currently saving all excitement for Blade Runner.
I am reading 'Random Acts of Senseless Violence' by Jack Womack at the moment.
Have you checked out S.F. Masterworks on the Kindle. The is a huge catelogue of classic and some more modern sci-fi.
Definitely one of the benefits of new technology is that it is much easier for publishers to make out of print books available again.
Westworld was wonderful, and we're halfway through the wait for season 2 now
I've never seen the BSG but always heard good things. At some point I'll chuck it on the ipad and watch it on some flights.
Books - Going off the Alaistair Reynolds lead:
Axiomatic by Greg Egan - A collection of short stories so you can see just what a wide ranging thinker he is. Please get this.
We are Legion by Dennis Taylor - 2000 years in the future, snooker is THE game in galaxy and lowly Earth must win the galaxy-wide tournament to avoid annihilation. Step forward our chubby, myopic hero.
Hyperion by Dan Simmons - A sc-fi Canterbury Tales - MUCH better than that sounds.
The Many Colored Land by Julian May - A classic that a lot of people don't seem to know about nowadays.
'To your Scattered Bodies Go' by Jose Farmer is another great read
I see channel 4 have a series of Philip K Dick shorts coming out soon. Looking forward to that.
Nights Dawn trilogy by Peter Hamilton.
I don't mind a bit of fantasy-in-space, but Egan's stuff is a world apart. Proper speculative.
Having said that, one sci-fi book I really enjoyed is It Looks Like You're Writing A Letter by Alexander King. I might be a bit biased as he's a close acquaintance but it is incredibly well written, fast paced, and to some point quite believable. Highly recommend.
In terms of films, I watched Gattica for the first time not so long ago. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
TV-wise I'm currently watching The Leftovers, which is a sort of a supernatural tale. I'm not sure where it's going but I'm enjoying it so far.
Currently working through 'Dark Matter' by Blake Crouch which is a fast paced, smart novel concerning parallel universes.
Wrt TV, well worth checking out channel 4s Utopia. Season 1 was astounding.
Wrt books, I've ern toy enjoyed the wind up girl, and the water knife by paul bacioloup (or something like that).
Also read day of the triffids for the first time recently, and it's slotted right into by top 10 reads.
I loved Day of the Triffids, too. Classic stuff.
Also, 'Millenium' by John Varley. The book, not the film. Excellent reading.
Feedback
Taking a look at smoe of those books now :-)
started watching it a week ago.. mid way through season 2 now...
love it...