Stuff for Noobs: 13-25.

This is the second half of a list created as an alternative response to a WIRED article entitled The 23 Best Sci-Fi Books and Movies to Give to a Noob - here are numbers 13-25 on my version of the starter list. (Numbers 1-12 here.)

13. Farscape
The WIRED list suggested Firefly, but I'm going to go with Farscape.  Farscape has great aliens (courtesy of Henson Associates - these are not your father's Muppets, as the Oldsmobile commercials used to say) the scripts are just as clever and good (okay, all you Joss Whedon fans, just SIT DOWN) and the main characters are interesting and intriguing. Four seasons - and a pretty good follow-up movie, The Peacekeeper Wars* - to choose from.

14. Downbelow Station, by C.J. Cherryh
This 1982 Hugo Award-winning novel** is a taut dramatic political story of conflict and resolution. Orbital stations, giant warships, alien primitives, dueling empires, betrayal, tragedy, redemption, love. Questions?

15. Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card
This award-winning novel*** describes the training of Andrew Wiggin, known as Ender, to be a strategist and a commanding officer in an almost hopeless war against an alien menace which has only been defeated once in battle. The training is psychologically brutal and designed to break Ender if he show any sign of weakness or inadequacy - he may well be humanity's last chance to avoid extinction.

Ender is six. 

16. The Lathe of Heaven, by Ursula K. LeGuin
I really wanted to have a LeGuin novel in here.  The WIRED list suggests The Left Hand of Darkness, but I thought I'd go with a less challenging read. The Lathe of Heaven is the tale of one George Orr, who has a very simple problem:  his dreams can change reality.

17. The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman
The Forever War describes the realities of fighting across interstellar distances.  Published in 1974, just as America's intervention in Southeast Asia was coming to an end, this book is an intense condemnation of the ultimate futility of waging war.   Haldeman served as a combat engineer in Vietnam and received a Purple Heart, which gives his work a strong basis in experience and reality.  Students looking for a bonus mark can compare this novel with Robert A. Heinlein's Starship Troopers, written in 1959, which glorifies exactly the same sort of situations that Haldeman disdains in The Forever War.

18. The Expanse series, by James S. A. Corey
The original three books: Leviathan Wakes, Caliban's War, Abaddon's Gate.  Good solid writing, strong characters, well thought out plot.  Also a Syfy series, but don't let that score against the books. The Syfy promo describes it as Game of Thrones in outer space - which it isn't. If anything on this list was going to have that title, it's number 14, Downbelow Station.

19. 2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C. Clarke
Another tough call  - book or movie?

The novel was written in conjunction with the production of the movie version, and there's a certain chicken-and-egg aspect to the development of both, but the story as told in the book is certainly more approachable.  Clarke is one of the pillars of classic science fiction, and there were a lot of representative choices - but let's face it, 2001 has to be the best known.  Although, I don't know if the same can be said about the plot: enigmatic alien powers mold the development of humanity at its origin - and then they wait.****

20. Daybreak: 2250 AD, by Andre Norton
Andre Norton was one of the mainstays of my early introduction to science fiction.  My mother was a large fan of Norton's work, and both my sister and I have followed in her footsteps. (My sister more than me, to be honest.)  Norton's writing is quietly brilliant, her style understated but eloquent, and there's never an ill-chosen word.  I could recommend a dozen of her books without having to think, but let's go with Daybreak 2250 AD, written in 1952 - a good standalone example of her work.

21. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, by Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein was one of the Big Three of science fiction when I was growing up - the other two being Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov. Written in 1966, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is not Heinlein's best known novel - that prize would have to go to his 1961 novel Stranger in a Strange Land.  However, Stranger in a Strange Land is, well...a bit strange, and it's not the novel that I'd suggest to a noob as their first Heinlein read.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress tells the story of Luna's fight for independence.  Established as a penal colony, the Moon has become a major supplier of grain to Earth, but the convicts and their descendants labour under an increasingly onerous yoke. I've always considered this book to be Heinlein's best, and a good introduction to his writing that would allow a curious reader to proceed in either chronological direction for his other work.

22. Blade Runner
Another keeper from the original WIRED listing, but a bit of an unusual one. Blade Runner is the story of Rick Deckard, played by Harrison Ford, who is tasked with hunting down a group of rogue androids. It's an oddly beautiful movie  - you'd expect anything directed by Ridley Scott to look good, but Blade Runner is full of almost surreal images and sequences.  Rutger Hauer, who plays android Roy Batty, delivers what may well be the best adlibbed speech in cinema history.

Blade Runner is based on a science fiction novel titled Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick, but the movie is only loose connected to Dick's slightly paranoid 1968 novel.  Regardless, the film went on to develop a life of its own, and the relative quality of the various cuts has been a hotly debated topic over the years since the 1982 commercial release of the original version.  The different cuts result in widely varying conclusions to the movie, so the curious viewer can actual pick and choose the ending they prefer. I have the feeling that there are seven or eight extant versions of this film.

23. In the Courts of the Crimson Kings, by S. M. Stirling
One of the most fun periods in science fiction is what I think of as the Planet Stories days, taken from the magazine of the same name that was published between 1939 and 1955. In the Planet Stories era, all the inner planets are habitable (for a given value of habitable) - Mercury is a searing rocky wasteland, Venus a primordial Jurassic jungle, and Mars is a dying planet, inhabited by the equally moribund remnants of an advanced society.

In the Courts of the Crimson Kings, written in 2008, is a cheerful homage to those innocent days. It's actually the second book set in an alternate reality where there is life on those other worlds, but it stands perfectly well all on its own, and it's a superb balancing act that combines an original view of a dying Mars with a wonderful evocation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter of Mars books, the Mars of Ray Bradbury, and the swashbuckling Martian stories of Leigh Brackett.

24. Captain America: The First Avenger
I'd like our noob to see a comic book movie.  Something like Guardians of the Galaxy is far more obviously science fiction than Steve Roger's transformation from 98 pound weakling to supersoldier, but the first Captain America movie is a more accessible entrée into the genre - and probably a better film. I'll admit that Iron Man was a very close alternative choice, but all that sort of second-guessing will appear in the Runners Up posting.

25. The War of the Worlds, by H. G. Wells
To conclude the list, let's go with the man who originates the genre of science fiction as we know it today: Herbert George Wells.  I wavered a bit on this one, The Time Traveller was a near second, but time has given The War of the Worlds a sort of charming Victorian steampunk aura. It's also a telling reversal of the manner in which British Imperialism dealt with less technologically advanced societies, and, usefully, a quick read - at this point my noob is going to be a bit worn out. 

And that's my 25 items. I've spread it out over almost the entire history of the genre,and tried to mix in film, television and the written word.  If any noobs do end up reading this posting and its predecessor, good luck!  I hope you enjoy at least some of the suggestions I've made.

And now, on to my next list, Teen Stars from the 80s: How Do They Look Today?

- Sid

* A GREAT title, in my opinion.

**  To be completely accurate, published in 1981, won the award in 1982.

*** Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1985, Hugo for Best Novel in 1986.  Why are the Hugos a year out of sync?

**** This may be a little too mysterious, but I'm going to let the existing reputation of the story carry the weight of this one.

Stuff for Noobs: 1-12

 

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.

Stuff for Noobs: Let the Games Begin.

 

The best science fiction is about more than just cool new worlds, wild new technologies, and aliens (though it’s very much about those things too). It’s about politics, economies, the very human condition itself. Just, you know, in a super-exciting way. Science fiction isn’t for a specific kind of person. It’s not “just for nerds.” Science fiction is awesome, and it’s for everyone.

David Pierce, WIRED 12.05.15

I recently read a WIRED article that listed 23* introductory gifts for sci-fi noobs - as the author of the article admits, not a list of the best, but a list of the best places to start.  The item on the list were:

1. Star Wars: The Original Trilogy
2. Star Trek:  The Next Generation
3. Blade Runner
4. Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson (audiobook format)
5. Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson
6. Dune, by Frank Herbert
7. The Windup Girl, by Paolo Bacigalupi
8. The Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowlings
9. The Magicians Trilogy, by Lev Grossman
10. Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline
11. Ancillary Justice, by Ann Leckie
12. The X-Files
13. Terminator:  The Sarah Connor Chronicles
14. The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula K. LeGuin
15. Dark City
16. Beasts of the Southern Wild
17. Firefly
18. The Wool Trilogy, by Hugh Howey
19. The Foundation Trilogy, by Isaac Asimov
20. The Golem and the Jinni, by Helene Wecker
21. Alien and Aliens
22. The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury
23. Total Recall

Reading it over, I found this to be an awfully idiosyncratic list. Neal Stephenson, great author, yes, but does he deserve TWO spots in the introductory package?  And even his fans admit that his work isn't always the most accessible writing on the planet. The Harry Potter books?  Sorry, I'm a purist - that's fantasy, not science fiction.  And, as much as I consider the Foundation trilogy to be a classic of the genre, I don't think I'd recommend it as an entree to science fiction at large.  Similarly, The Left Hand of Darkness is a brilliant novel, but I wouldn't start someone with it unless I had an awful lot of faith in their interest.  And - Total Recall?  Seriously?

Overall, this list looks like more of a reflection of the author's interests than anything else - which in no way renders it invalid, I think that's how most people would approach this - but it's not what I would think of as a scholarly approach to the topic.
 
So, although I don't generally approve of lists as a mechanism to generate content**, I've done up a 25-item Science Fiction Starter Pack, which I've tried to base on the accessibility of the material for the neophyte, and a broad representation from the genre. In the interests of keeping it to a more readable length, I'm going to split it between two posts following this one.

- Sid

* Lord knows why 23, maybe they wanted a prime number.

** Which must make me a member of an awfully select club, at least on the Internet.