As per my previous posting, the following is the first half of a response to a WIRED article entitled The 23 Best Sci-Fi Books and Movies to Give to a Noob.
I found the creation of this list to be unexpectedly challenging. It would have been easy to just recommend my 25 favourites, but "favourite" doesn't equate to "best introduction" or "most representative". Even so, I can't claim to be familiar with the entire body of science fiction literature, or the complete catalogue of SF movies and TV shows, and as such, my list is going to have its foundations* in personal experience, just as the originating list did. However, my goal was more to present a balanced overview of the genre than to suggest possible gifts, resulting in a list which is more of a package than a selection of one-off recommendations.
Having so disclaimed myself, let's get started.
1. Dune
More than happy to keep this one from the WIRED lineup. Dune is an amazing combination of elements whose reputation has been damaged by cinema and television adaptations that failed to capture its strengths. Frank Herbert brilliantly blends drama, action, religion, politics, science and ecology in a complex and multilayered story set in a futuristic universe which he creates and supports with a wealth of detail and explanation.
2. Alien
Also a keeper. But JUST Alien. I've always been fascinated by the degree to which each of the Alien movies is completely different from its companions,** but really, the first one does it all, and the script, acting and art direction work together seamlessly to build the archetypal alien monster movie.
The art direction is particularly impressive - not surprisingly, since the look of the movie was created by a supergroup of fantasy and science fiction conceptual artists originally brought together for Alejandro Jodorowsky's abortive Dune movie project - most notably Hans Rudi Giger, whose biomechanical art was the starting point for the unique look of the alien itself.
3. Star Wars: A New Hope
I honestly can't recommend the entire trilogy - in my mind, the Ewoks from Return of the Jedi are the first step on the slippery slope that leads us to Jar Jar Binks. I acknowledge that The Empire Strikes Back is an excellent film, but really, if you've never run into the franchise at all, let's just keep it simple - A New Hope stands on its own as a game-changer for science fiction cinema. (And, in stark disagreement with the WIRED listing, try to get the original cut if possible, Lucas' changes add nothing to the 1977 version.)
4. Star Trek (s)
Hmmm...I'm a bit ambivalent here. The original series is such a landmark event, but with only three seasons to choose from, you have to be a bit careful with recommendations. The Next Generation is certainly a better example of genre writing, and has a wider selection of noteworthy episodes, but I feel that the original series deserves recognition for blazing the trail for so many people. So, the list within a list - here are the three episodes from each that our noob should watch. N.B. This could easily be five or ten episodes, but I decided to keep it down to the bare minimum - which was a HUGE struggle with the TNG list, just for the record.
Original Series
• Balance of Terror
• Amok Time
• The Conscience of The King
The Next Generation
• Darmok
• The Measure of a Man
• Booby Trap
5. Neuromancer, by William Gibson
Okay, busted - Neuromancer is one of my favourite books. However, that doesn't invalidate it from appearing on this list. Neuromancer is the breakout novel for the SF subgenre of cyberpunk, presenting an intricate underworld plotline set in an enigmatic and detailed future, written in a distinctively laconic noir style. As with so many of the other suggestions on this list, Neuromancer is the first of a series. Unlike some of that other material, the sequels are just as good.
6. Terminator
If we're going to have a Schwarzenegger movie in here, it has to be Terminator. (Seriously, Total Recall?) All of the elements of Terminator work together perfectly - story, effects, casting, and direction - resulting in a fast-paced SF action film with a good time travel/causality theme, and a nod to fears about rogue AI which is actually more topical now than in 1984 when the movie was released. It’s also, to the best of my knowledge, the first time that Arnie says, “I’ll be back.”
7. Akira
I wavered over Akira. I feel strongly that our new fan should get something from the Japanese animation catalogue, but by the standards of the anime community, I'm pretty much a noob myself, and as such I feel unqualified. Regardless, Akira is a visually stunning stand-alone film with an unusual storyline (and soundtrack), even if it doesn't have any giant robots.
8. The Night's Dawn Trilogy, by Peter Hamilton
In lieu of Harry Potter, if we're going to add a massive example of science fiction worldbuilding to the list, let's go with Peter Hamilton. A lot of writers rely heavily upon the standard SF building blocks to create their futures, whereas Hamilton reworks all of the conventional memes and invents his own, making this series an epic example of innovation and creativity. By the way, be warned: each section of the "trilogy" is made up of three novels, so it's actually a set of three trilogies - the full set in paperback takes up close to a foot of shelf space.
9. The Matrix
JUST THE FIRST ONE.
Ahem. Having said that...as much as I appreciate the Matrix series as a trilogy, I recognize that there are some problems with the overall execution of the story. However, the first movie stands on its own (perhaps a good thing), and its hyperkinetic action scenes work well to represent a virtual world where anything is possible once its structure is understood and mastered.
10. Forbidden Planet
A classic entry from 1956 which borrows some of its theme from Shakespeare's The Tempest, Forbidden Planet originates the DNA that results in Star Trek. It's not a perfect movie, but it's one of the first SF movies that's set in the future and does its best to create a believable vision of that future, and it presents an intriguing look at alien technology combined with the weaknesses of the human mind. Considering the advances in special effects since its original release, Forbidden Planet stands the test of time surprisingly well.
11. Ringworld, by Larry Niven
This is the book that I recommended to Karli at our first introduction and then brooded about. Regardless, I'm more than happy to add it to this list, even if I'm not comfortable nominating it as the stand-alone introduction to science fiction literature. Larry Niven excels at taking an idea past its logical conclusion - he's a creative, smart writer who expects his readers to keep up, and Ringworld offers a steady stream of clever concepts and interesting ideas.
12. The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham
The Day of the Triffids isn't the first post-apocalytic novel, but it paints a very clear picture of what that world would be like. In Wyndham's case, the apocalypse is a combination of universal blindness and predatory hordes of fifteen-foot-tall mobile carnivorous plants. Both 28 Days Later and The Walking Dead borrow from this well-written and easily read 1951 novel.
And that's the first 12. Next posting, 13-25.
- Sid
* No pun intended. (This comment will make more sense if you've carefully read the original WIRED list or if you're already a fan.)
** To the point that they qualify as different genres - the first one is a nine-little-Indians stalker countdown whodunit, the second one is a military action flick, the third one is a brooding psychological drama, and the fourth movie is...the fourth movie is...good question, what is Alien: Resurrection? I'm going to say, "scripted by Joss Whedon" and leave it at that.
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