A science fiction community and weblog
Top 100 scifi books, or is that top 50? Take your pick.
Submitted by Capt. Xerox on November 7, 2006 - 10:18am.
Top lists are a popular web staple. A lot of them seem to have popped up lately, so I'll offer these links for your consideration. The Bloomsbury Good Reading Guide has published a book that lists the top 100 must-read science fiction novels. The author of the book discusses how he came up with the list on his own website, but, needless to say, the actual list is not there. It's a bit older, but I'd also recommend their Good Reading Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy.
If that's too much of a tease, then there's this list of the 50 most significant science fiction and fantasy novels in the last 50 years. One blogger who's recently stumbled across the list makes his comments on its contents. I've read a good number of the books on the list, which seems pretty conventional. The only book that doesn't even ring a bell for me is Children of the Atom by Wilmar Shiras, whoever that is.
Of course, top lists aren't confined to books. Movie lists are also popular. Cinematical has its list of seven science fiction movies you must see and Wired has it's top 20 science fiction movies. There is some overlap, but I'm happy to see Gattaca's prominence on both lists. I think that it's a movie that is usually underated.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
Gattaca Schmattaca
Hmmmmm. Unlike you, I was confused by Gattaca's presence on those lists. I've only watched it once, but when I did it seemed that the movie's message was obvious from the very start and was repeated ad nauseum for film's duration. *yawn*
Your mileage may vary
I'm sorry you felt that way about it. Perhaps I was in the right mood when I saw the movie. I know that I've occasionally watched supposedly classic films and was bored to tears by them. Sometimes I'll give them another chance and watch them a second time in the hopes I was too sleepy or distracted the first time. Usually my first instincts were correct, but other times I've enjoyed the movie on the second screening. The same thing goes for books. Unfortunately, there are so many unwatched movies and unread books waiting for me that it's rare for me to give any of these things a second chance.
Then there are those movies that are universally reviled that I have enjoyed immensely. Two examples are Johnny Mnemonic and the remake of Solaris. I also liked Tank Girl. I guess there's no accounting for taste.
Are there any movies you'd like to see added to those lists?
C.X.
TAG's Top #1 Most Underrated & #1 Most Overlooked SF Films
I am surprised Gattaca made the list of SF greats (Blade Runner ought be #1 and Clockwork Orange #2 -perenially on all top SF lists imo - though I will accept them alternating in the top 2 spots
(how gracious of you - Ed)
'aven't you got pictures of Ronald Reagan to auto-fellate to Ed?
(Go Away TAG - Ed)
anyway, in light of the largely dismissed Gattaca making the recents SF lists (I don't think it deserves to be in the top 5 but primarily because the SF competition is steep, but I do think it deserves better than its previous status as widely ignored)
Anyway, with Gattaca's status somewhat corrected..
We present:
TAG's Number One Most Underrated (savaged even - Ed) Film:
But First!
(oh bloody hell - Ed)
Piss off Ed. Consider it a challenge to see if you can guess which film I'm talking about before I do.
(OK, I'll guess your answer will be either "Blade Runner is the #1 SF film of all time" or "Anything involving plaid"- Ed)
While both answers might come from me in other circumstances Ed, we're talking about the most under-rated SF film of all time.
(alright, get on with it already TAG! - Ed)
Hunh-Hunh-Hem.
*tug down on shirt*
Mainstream (read: dunderheaded -Ed) critics savaged it with power-word kill-film terms (review power-words like "derivative" "unoriginal" that are virii and spread like Lindsay Lohan uh, wildfire, oft then repeated by the weakminded and people who haven't even seen the bloody film.
Such is the power of some of these kill-words.
..and as Stan Lee said, with great power ought come great responsibility.
("derivative" / "unoriginal" these are film-kill-words like "child molester" and/or akin to "sellout" in music reviews, it doesn't matter whether it's true or not, the minute these power-kill-terms are invoked in a review, people want nothing to do with the item "just in case" - Ed)
Hmmmmmmmmmm(n) hey not bad, good examples Ed!
(thanks, I know, but it would be nice if you didn't act all surprised that I can form a cogent sentence - Ed)
Actually that's not what I'm surprised about, I'm surprised you _agree_ with me.
(it had to happen sometime. Don't let it go to your head - Ed)
Go Away Ed.
In my view, virtually ALL films can be charged with being derivative, id est. influenced by other sources. It's simply not a valid reason, in and of itself, to savagely attack a film.
Primarily because in my observation if you were to look at ANY film closely enough, and were to analyse its sources with the same level of contempt on learning these influences abound (that was given to this film) then virtually ALL films would wind up savaged, on that basis.
in my view, the derivative-charge was horridly overplayed and overemphasized by mainstream media critics resulting ultimately in the film either being avoided or going ignorned and/or scorned.
A fate it did not deserve.
Particularly given I find it to be one of the great SF films of our time, replete with _both_ classic literary AND contemporary SF themes; in short it is precisely what we oft sorely lack in Hollywood SF: it's _both_ an visual _and_ an intellectual treat.
An SF that makes you think about the human condition. Where we've been, and where we're going.
and that is in my view what the very best SF is always about at its core (..Blade Runner, Clockwork Orange, Planet of the Apes, et cetera) the greats are all about the human condition.
Ergo, my vote for,
The #1 single most under-rated SF film of our time goes to: E Q U I L I B R I U M.
Criminally attacked, ignored and under-rated.
Hitting an SF trifecta not seen since Blade Runner's original theatrical release, imo.
addendum:
would also stipulate,
The #1 single most over-looked SF still-sleeping sleeper of our time: Until The End of the World.
(c)Officially the world's (by which he means "TAG's" - Ed) greatest Lazy-Sunday-Afternoon film.
And That's My View.
(about time - Ed)
[Pathud]
The Avante Guardian. ---- Einstein's Hair^2 //Approved.
Gattaca - Thumbs up
Well if it's just a matter of being in the right mood to appreciate Gattaca, then it seems that I'm always in that mood when I see it (at least 3 times now).
I agree wholeheartedyl with the Capt on this one. think it's highly underrated. So underrated that I nearly passed up on it because the reviews were bland. But I was shocked to find out that it was as great as I found it to be. It's not just the story itself, but how the whole thing unfolds. It's even creepy when we consider the circumstances of the existing science. We're not that far off from this being an entirely factual story. (OK, IF there really was a true manned space program somewhere, then its viable.
).
Better than Blade Runner... hmmmm. Now that I think about it, there are so many similarities, it's hard to pin down.
~ Lazarus ~
Post new comment