So I was checking Twitter yesterday, and saw a Duncan Jones retweet for this contest:
Less than one day left to win MOON on Blu-Ray! Fans of @ManMadeMoon - Enter now, it's easy! http://t.co/HxBeq7L
— thewarrenreport (@thewarrenreport) September 1, 2011Here's what the contest entailed:
When Duncan bellied up to The High Bar he provided clues to unraveling SOURCE CODE and shared his picks for under-appreciated genre classics. Now, let’s find out yours.
** Submit a list of your five favorite under-sung sci-fi books and/or movies below, in the comments, by Noon (PST), Friday, September 2nd, 2011 and be eligible to win a copy of MOON on blu-ray or a complete collection of The Warren Report tv series on dvd.**
I knew I'd love to win a copy of Moon, Blu-Ray or not. Fortunately, living on the East Coast, I had a bit of time to type up a comment prior to noon PST. Here are my thoughts on underrated science fiction, with links, pictures, and a bit more commentary added. Remember, it's not so much what are the best science fiction works out there, but good stories that have been overlooked or overshadowed.
On Basilisk Station by David Weber: I recently read the first two Honor Harrington books and can't believe I haven't heard of them before. The first one, Basilisk Station, has an incredibly awesome space battle, and the way Weber's thought out a post earth diaspora almost gives Foundation a run for its money. You can read my full review to get an idea of how much I like this book. Honestly, I'm shocked this series hasn't been greenlit for a film/television project (considering almost everything else has). Maybe web series creators can give it a shot.
Star Surgeon by Alan E. Nourse: I listen to the audio recording from Librivox all the time, and am continually impressed with a fun story that manages to be chalk full of science. I only wished Nourse had written more about his universe (a la Asimov); maybe then more people would have heard of this early scifi story. The author himself is a subject for lack of appreciation, since many don't realize that the title Bladerunner didn't originate with Ridley Scott but is actually the name of a Nourse novel. To quote Amazon.com's description: In 2014 seventeen-year-old Billy Gimp risks great danger as a procurer of illegal medical supplies for a skilled surgeon determined to provide health care for people considered unqualified for legal medical aid.
Timely, much?
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley: everyone's always talking about Big Brother and 1984, but for my money BNW is a far more nuanced and believable distopia, not to mention a better written novel. Huxley's description of the way people choose to live always struck me as more credulous than an all-powerful oppressive government. Hero John Savage's status as an outsider looking in on the present makes the story that much more interesting and horrific.
Gattaca: some have named it already, but I'm still surprised this film isn't more wildly watched and discussed, considering how timely the subject matter is. We're already grappling with issues of how to deal with the aftermath of artificial insemination, and the potential privacy conflict which the mapping of the human genome. How much do our genes determine our reality and destiny? Beyond that, the story is great, the acting good, and the music soars.
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country: I'm going out on a limb here by naming a Star Trek property, but how many people even know about this one? It has one of the better plots of the ST movies (politics, murder, better thought-out and less obvious villains) and wonderful focus on the the arcs of the big 3 (with Kirk and Spock on seeming opposite sides of the conflict), not to mention an early Michael Dorn appearance. Seriously underrated.
Babylon 5: it's amazing to me how little press this series gets from the scifi crowd. Whether it's top ten lists, fan fights, or cosplay, I rarely see references to this little gem. Sure, there are some episodes that aren't as good, sure the last season wasn't it's best, and yes, it's more mystical than some scifi fans like. But I'd put seasons 2-4 against anything the more known franchises have out there. Babylon 5 was revolutionary for the genre on the small screen in both visual effects and character/plot arcs that ran for years. Not to mention the great humor and pathos it delivered, along with an incredible sense of the alien cultures represented. B5 totally deserves more respect than the fandom community gives it.
After posting my entry I got this reply from the blog author:
I do love your well-reasoned advocacy, Michelle, and I join you in your support of Brave New World over 1984.
To be honest, I never gave Babylon 5 a fair shot, maybe I will now have to do so.
Well, I can take heart that no matter what the contest's results, I may have gotten Babylon 5 a bit more respect. Mission accomplished.
What about you? What works do you feel need a little more love?
Edited 9/27/14: replaced the Blackbird Pie tweet pic with a native embedded tweet, corrected formatting and grammar.