My Science Fiction Hall of Fame
Movies
- Brazil, Terry Gilliam, 1985 (clip, FAQ)
Terry Gilliam directed a classical dystopia: A trip to the grizzly British version of Orwell's 1984. The futuristic setting is dominated by over-complicated contraptions which malfunction in the most bizarre ways (ring any bells?). The plot is driven by a computer glitch, and what follows is a Kafkaesque masterpiece of modern cinema. Reality in the future Britain is creepier than the unworldly scenes conjured by any other science fiction writer. Gilliam's future is here.
Jonathan Pierce fights megalomaniacal bureaucracy, oppressive society, his overbearing rich mother (the divine Katherine Helmond), the ghost-like imagery of his father, and the enemies of true love. Robert De-Niro comes to his aid, not before making an entrance with an unlikely superhero stunt. Clever metaphors, stunning scenes, and riotous acting make the first viewing a bliss. Umpteen subtleties in dialogues and in the visual setting will keep you at the edge of your seat during second and third viewing. Genius.
- Alien, Ridley Scott, 1979
Commonly mistaken for a horror flick, Alien is second only to Brazil as the best science-fiction around. Nothing like Star Wars' hanky-panky, starships are portrayed as no more heroic than monstrous lorries, planets are very far apart—sporting conditions that are extremely hostile to humans, and aliens are—well, something from another world. If your pacemaker can handle a few jolts, Alien offers you the grittiest and a frighteningly believable depiction of space travel.
- Blade Runner, Ridley Scott, 1982. Based on: "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep", Phillip K. Dick.
- 12 Monkeys, Terry Gilliam, 1995. (script)
Blessed by the same insightful yet grim futuristic intuition demonstrated in Terry Gilliam's other masterpiece, Brazil, 12 Monkeys unravels valuable insights into the the paradoxes and ethical dilemmas of time travel. Superb acting and genius storytelling turn the experience to this philosophical roller-coaster into a delightful circus. Brad Pitt's performance as a deranged playboy is second only to Anthony Hopkins as Doctor Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs). 12 Monkeys is a time travel work of art.
- Solaris, Andre Tarkovsky, 1972. Based on a novel by Stanislaw Lem.
- Stalker. A. Tarkovsky, 1979.
- Matrix, A. & L. Wachowski, 2000
- Max the Road Warrior. G. Miller II, 1981
- A Clockwork Orange, Stanley Kubrick, 1971
- Minority Report, Steven. Spielberg, 2002
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Michel Gondry 2004
A dizzying trip in a man's memory and its culling process, depicted intelligently and convincingly. The best appearance ever of the talented Jim Carry.
- 2001: A Space Odyssey. Stanley Kubrick, 1968. Screenplay by Arthur C. Clark, after his novel
- The Andromeda Strain, Robert Wise, 1971 (novel by Michael Crichton)
- Children of Men, Alfonso Cuarón, 2006
Books and short stories
In no particular order.
- Jules Verne. Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea. 1869-1870
- Marry Shelly. Frankenstein. 1818
- Ray Bradbury. The Martian Chronicles. 1950
- Cordwainer Smith. "Scanners Live in Vain." 1950
- George Orwell. 1984
- Isaac Asimov. "Nightfall."
- Arthur C Clark. Rendezvous with RAMA.
- Arthur C. Clarke. Childhood's End
- Daniel Keyes. Flowers for Algernon.
- Isaac Asimov. I, Robot.
- Alfred Bester. Tiger, Tiger!
- Aldous Huxley. A Brave New World.
- Walter M. Miller II. A Canticle for Leibowitz. 1961
- Stanislav Lem. Solaris. 1961
- Robert A. Heinlein. Stranger in a Strange Land. 1962
- John Brunner. Stand on Zanzibar. 1969
- Larry Niven. Ringworld. 1971
- Ursula K. Le Guin. The Dispossessed. 1975
- Joe Haldeman. The Forever War. 1976
- Frederick Pohl. Gateway. 1978
- Gibson. Neuromancer. 1985
- Neal Stephenson. Snow Crash
- Philip K. Dick. Ubik
Fantasy
- Frank Herbert. Dune.
- J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit, Lord of The Rings
- Philip Jose Farmer. To Your Scattered Bodies Go. 1972
Television
- Battlestar Galactica
- Tripping The Rift
- Futurama