More authors share favorite sci-fi TV and movies
I'm giving more science-fiction and fantasy authors the opportunity to talk about their favorite SF TV shows and movies. I shared a couple of my favorites last week in the first post so today I'll add Independence Day — I totally believe Jeff Goldblum's character could take down the enemy by infecting their computers with a virus, don't you? We're talking Jeff Goldblum, people! And of course there was Will Smith's fighter pilot with all his amazing skills … I'm also incredibly fond of Fifth Element, which we call Die Hard in Space at my house. So much to love there (including a touch of ancient Egypt). Speaking of which, there's Stargate to consider (a twofer — movie and television series). But let's see which shows and movies my guests selected!
Rachel Aaron/Rachel Bach, author of Heaven's Queen (The Paradox Series)
I'm going to have to be really stereotypical here and go with James Cameron's Aliens. It has everything I love about action science-fiction — gritty settings, rough-and-tumble space marines, terrifying aliens, big guns, a power loader suit, and, of course, the Queen Badass of them all: Ellen Ripley. Plus, it's just a great movie with fantastic tension, good writing, decent acting, really inventive scenarios, and special effects that still hold up almost three decades later. There are a lot of SFF movies and shows I love to death, but if I had to pick only one, it's hard to get better than Ellen Ripley fighting an alien queen in a power loader. GAME OVER, MAN! GAME OVER!
Jaye Wells, author of Dirty Magic (Prospero's War)
My favorite SFF movie is actually three movies: Star Wars: Episodes 4,5,6. This choice is partly motivated by nostalgia because they came out when I was a child. In fact, I was sent to my room at my 5th birthday party because I threw a tantrum after I didn't get the Princess Leia action figure I wanted so badly. But as an adult I appreciate the story as a writer because it's such a fine example of secular mythology because it speaks to the universal hero's journey. Plus, the story is just plain entertaining because it's got action, intrigue, and romance along with complex characters with interesting arcs. Star Wars is perhaps an easy answer to this question, but it's a classic for a reason.
Joshua Roots, author of Undead Chaos
In the 1990s, television was packed with sci-fi shows. And while Star Trek (all variations) will always be near and dear to my heart, one series that stood out from the rest was Babylon 5. J. Michael Straczynski built a complex universe with various alien races constantly struggling against one another and themselves with the Babylon station serving as their space UN. Revolutionary computer graphics and outstanding writing had me glued to the set every week. It was one of those shows that came out of nowhere, but left a lasting impact on me. To this day, I'll still watch the series. Yes, some of the graphics look a bit dated, but there's no way a person can watch Ivanova deliver her "Ivanova is God" speech and not stand up and cheer.
As for sci-fi movies, I still think one of the most underappreciated films of all time is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. As a fan of the books, radio broadcasts, and BBC miniseries, I thought the movie did an outstanding job of capturing the true nuttiness of (author Douglas) Adams' vision. It's something that deserves multiple viewings, if for no other reason than to relish in a world where a towel is the only item you need when you travel and the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything is 42.
Angela Campbell, author of the Psychic Detectives series
I can pick only one? D'oh! OK, for the TV show I'll choose Doctor Who, because I binge-watched the new series on Netflix this past Christmas and have been mildly obsessed with it ever since. I love the character of the Doctor most of all, with his childlike quirks and incredible genius and crazy outfits. I love the show's epic scope in the realm of fantasy. The Doctor and his companions can travel anywhere and anytime, so nothing is off limits. It can be ridiculous at times and it feels profound at times. Few other shows can rival that, in my opinion.
Lisa Kessler, author of Night Child
Oh I'm a HUGE fan of the TV series Angel. I really loved the dynamic between Angel and the law firm of Wolfram & Hart. It was always changing until Angel was even working inside their offices. I was sad to see it end. And choosing a movie is crazy difficult because I have so many favorites. But I think I'm going to go with the final Lord of the Rings movie, Return of the King. It always reminds me of the best part of humanity when they stand even though it's pretty obvious they can't win. They're hopelessly outnumbered and Aragorn calls out: "There may come a day when the courage of men fails, but it is not this day." Love it! :)
Cheryl Brooks, author of The Cat Star Chronicles
My favorite sci-fi TV show is a tossup between Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Farscape. I loved John Crichton's irreverent humor, Aeryn Sun's tough-as-nails attitude, and the cool insanity of the villains in Farscape. Benjamin Sisko was already my all-time favorite Star Trek captain, and then they brought Worf onto DS9 and made it even better! The characters seemed so much more real than those in the other incarnations of the series; even the aliens had more personality. I loved all of the original Star Wars movies, especially the first one. I saw it for the first time in a huge theater with a curved screen, sitting front-row center. The moment that star destroyer flew in over my head, I was hooked!
Greta van der Rol, author of Starheart
The life-changing SF movie for me was The Empire Strikes Back. I thoroughly enjoyed A New Hope, but TESB got me in its clutches and wouldn't let go. I saw the movie four times in the first week it was out. I loved the space sequences, that scene where the massive star destroyer from the first movie is dwarfed by Executor. I also liked Yoda, proving you didn't have to be big and bold to be powerful. The climax in Bespin — the fight between Vader and Luke, and when Han is put in the carbon freeze, set the scene for Return of the Jedi, which I found a bit disappointing. The three prequels? They were pretty.
Janni Nell, author of Allegra Fairweather: Paranormal Investigator
Gattaca (1997 written and directed by Andrew Niccol). This movie is a feast for the senses. As well as being visually stunning, it has an amazing score by Michael Nyman. I love the drive and ambition of the hero, Vincent, played by Ethan Hawke. Although not genetically destined for greatness, Vincent isn't afraid to dream big. He fights oh-so-hard for what he wants and in the end ... Well, just in case you haven't seen this movie, I'm not going to spoil the ending. Suffice to say it satisfies and then some.
All kinds of good recommendations — let us know if we missed your favorite!
Amazon best-seller Veronica Scott is a two-time recipient of the SFR Galaxy Award and a National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award finalist. She's written a number of science-fiction and paranormal romances, including Magic of the Nile, her most recent. You can find out more about her and her books at veronicascott.wordpress.com.