Category: Science Fiction | Page 6

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Gary Varner
Date
February 24, 2024

Categorized
Science Fiction

Tagged
Baron (Dune), Bene Gesserit (Dune), Emperor (Dune), Fremen (Dune), Gom Jabbar Test (Dune), Harkonnens (Dune), House Atreides (Dune), Jessica (Dune), Paul Atreides (Dune), Reverend Mother (Dune), Sandworms (Dune), Sardaukar (Dune), Weirding Module (Dune)}

Dune (1984) vs the Classic Sci-Fi Novel: What Worked, What Didn’t

_{For some scenes, the film was an improvement on the book; for others, writer David Lynch might better have stuck with the original} _{Gary Varner
February 24, 2024

7

Science Fiction}

Last time we talked about the opening of Dune 1984. The Hollywood Strike has delayed the sequel to the current remake till March but the classic is worth revisiting in the meantime, both for its successes and failures. The 1984 writer, David Lynch, made various changes to the story that gave the viewer a clearer understanding of what was going on than Frank Herbert’s classic 1965 novel did. After the first two scenes, which help establish the situation in the world of Dune, the Reverend Mother flies to Caladan to test Paul Atreides with the painful Gom Jabbar. I’ve agreed with his choices so far. His opening showed the viewer why the Reverend Mother chose to visit Paul when she Read More ›

Astronauts exploring an asteroid 3D rendering elements of this image furnished by NASA

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Gary Varner
Date
February 17, 2024

Categorized
Science Fiction

Tagged
Bene Gesserit (Dune), Dune (film 1984), Dune (film 2021), Frank Herbert, Gom Jabbar Test (Dune), Harkonnens (Dune), House Atreides (Dune), Jessica (Dune), Kwisatz Haderach (Dune), Paul Atreides (Dune), Reverend Mother (Dune), Sandworms (Dune)}

Where Did Dune 1984 Succeed? Where Did It Fail?

_{The Hollywood Strike postponed the release of the sequel to the new film version of Dune until March so, for now, let’s have another look at the 1984 version} _{Gary Varner
February 17, 2024

6

Science Fiction}

The decades-old film retelling relied on some risky techniques but they turned out better than we might have expected, given the scope of the plot.

Quantum portal to a world of wonder and mystery, where the laws of nature are strange and unpredictable. wormhole, time travel illustration.

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Gary Varner
Date
February 10, 2024

Categorized
Arts & Culture, Relationships, Science Fiction

Tagged
ripley, USM Auriga (Alien Resurrection 1997)}

Alien Resurrection Part 4: The Good, the Bad, and the… Bizarre

_{In a single moment, Purvis becomes one of the most heroic characters in the entire franchise} _{Gary Varner
February 10, 2024

8

Arts & Culture, Relationships, Science Fiction}

Alien Resurrection might help you forget Alien 3, and that alone makes it worth watching.

astronaut in space with stars and moon, spaceship under attack, 3d illustration

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Gary Varner
Date
February 3, 2024

Categorized
Robotics, Science Fiction

Tagged
USM Auriga (Alien Resurrection 1997)}

Alien Resurrection (1997) Part 3: Call Up the Reluctant Robot

_{Amid the harrowing crew escapes, Call survives being shot because she’s a robot. She somehow has sentience and hates being a robot} _{Gary Varner
February 3, 2024

8

Robotics, Science Fiction}

No one can pull ideals from a system of numbers. How could a robot decide what is objectively moral when all its decisions are based on a set of probabilities?

AI chatbot robot assistant sitting at desk using computer as artificial intelligence. Business concept. AI generated

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News
Date
January 20, 2024

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Economics, Media, Science Fiction}

What AI Will Probably Really Do to White Collar Businesses

_{The tech media are full of scare stories but we can look at what happened when advanced technology hit blue collar industries as a guide} _{News
January 20, 2024

4

Artificial Intelligence, Economics, Media, Science Fiction}

Let’s not count the humans out too soon. The real question is, are we doing anything that is unique, that could not just be replaced by a machine?

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News
Date
January 20, 2024

Categorized
Physics, Science Fiction

Tagged
Seth Shostak}

Will the Driving Force for Space Exploration Be a Religious Cult?

_{News
January 20, 2024

5

Physics, Science Fiction}

Olson makes large assumptions as he develops his argument. But the literary licence granted to science fiction is not available to real-universe physics.

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Denyse O'Leary
Date
November 19, 2023

Categorized
Physics, Science Fiction}

The Multiverse: Better in Fiction Than in Real Life?

_{The multiverse may be “unscientific nonsense” or a “religious” belief, as some physicists assert but the rules of storytelling are not the laws of nature} _{Denyse O'Leary
November 19, 2023

5

Physics, Science Fiction}

If the multiverse plot device eliminates the finality of events or choices (“it happened only in X universe”), we won’t care so much about the characters.

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Gary Varner
Date
August 26, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

Tagged
Arts and Culture, Consciousness, emotions, free will, god, mind, Movies and TV, Robots, tv, Westworld}

Westworld Episode 10 Review (Part Two)

_{Welcome to the dark end of the journey} _{Gary Varner
August 26, 2023

7

Arts & Culture, Science Fiction}

Last time, Teddy had just finished saving Dolores from the Man in Black, who turned out to be William all along. He takes her to the coast because that was where he promised to take her when they were performing their pre-programmed loop. However, the coast is apparently not very far because as Dolores dies in his arms, Teddy starts reciting a campy monologue, and then shuts down while the board applauds the speech. Even when they’re trying to escape their loop, the robots still, somehow, find themselves trapped in yet another one of Dr. Ford’s narratives. Dr. Ford appears, addresses the crowd, then orders for Teddy to be cleaned up, and for Dolores to be taken to a nearby Read More ›

Black labyrinth background with dof focus

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Gary Varner
Date
August 19, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

Tagged
Arts and Culture, Dystopian, Gary Varner, Mazes, Robots, Western, Westworld}

Westworld Episode 10 Review (Part One)

_{The maze isn't the only thing that's hard to navigate in this episode.} _{Gary Varner
August 19, 2023

8

Arts & Culture, Science Fiction}

I’ll start out with the most irrelevant plot first because almost no screen time is devoted to it, and it amounts to nothing in the end anyway. Hale successfully convinces the Board to fire Ford, not that he really cares. But Hale has been convinced this entire time that Ford is going to delete the park’s data out of spite. So, after Theresa is killed, she enlists Sizemore, a jaded writer who works for the park, to smuggle the data out through one of the decommissioned robots. This plan doesn’t work; however, because all the robots wake up by the end of the episode, and the data is lost in the vengeful horde. So, it’s a plot point that goes Read More ›

abstract scene of overcoming the temporary space

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Denyse O'Leary
Date
August 19, 2023

Categorized
Philosophy, Physics, Science Fiction

Tagged
Big Bang, Big Bang theory debate, James Webb Space Telescope and Big Bang, Rob Sheldon on Big Bang}

The Big Bang: Last Summer, Doubt Suddenly Exploded. Why?

_{Why did a story that cast doubt on the Big Bang quickly go viral about a year ago? An experimental physicist offers some thoughts} _{Denyse O'Leary
August 19, 2023

7

Philosophy, Physics, Science Fiction}

Science is more likely to be a decade-long fuss over the ninth decimal place of the muon than about Contact! or Boldly Go. But real learning is like that.

close up portrait photo of humanoid android covered in shiny white grey and black metallic skin blue eyes glowing internal parts westworld style Volumetric Lighting ultrawide shot sharp

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Gary Varner
Date
July 15, 2023

Categorized
Science Fiction

Tagged
AI, Arts and Culture, Gary Varner, Robots, Science fiction, Westworld}

Westworld: Episode 5 Review

_{Mediocre writing made bearable by talented actors} _{Gary Varner
July 15, 2023

6

Science Fiction}

Episode Five opens with Ford talking to one of the parks older droid’s, something he has grown fond of doing over the years. He tells a story of an old Grey Hound he and his brother once had, and explains that one time, they let the dog off the leash. The dog was used to chasing a fake rabbit around the track, so when it saw a cat, it immediately went after it. But after the dog had caught the cat and killed it, he didn’t know what to do. This story obviously implies that Dr. Ford knows the droids are becoming conscious, and it seems as if he is the dog chasing the car and has finally caught it. Read More ›

Dark knight illustration, medieval era wizard, fantasy concept. Generative AI

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Peter Biles
Date
June 11, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

Tagged
Arts and Culture, Astronomy, C.S. Lewis, Fantasy, J.R.R. Tolkien, science, Science fiction, The Lord of the Rings}

J.R.R. Tolkien on Science Fiction

_{The master storyteller was more open to sci-fi and tech than the stereotype lets on} _{Peter Biles
June 11, 2023

5

Arts & Culture, Science Fiction}

In early 2021, literary scholar Holly Ordway published a deep dive into J.R.R. Tolkien’s reading habits. The celebrated author of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit was a linguist and medievalist at Oxford for decades until his death in 1973. Based on his immersion in ancient literature, people often assume that Tolkien despised all things modern – including modern books. Even C.S. Lewis is quoted as saying, “No one ever influenced Tolkien–you might as well try to influence a Bandersnatch.” Today’s conception of Tolkien stereotypically portrays him as a curmudgeon who refused to engage with modernity. Ordway, however, pushes back against such an image and lays out a comprehensive case for Tolkien’s interest in contemporary literature, including the Read More ›

Galactic Space Elements of this image furnished by NASA

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Gary Varner
Date
June 10, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

Tagged
Arts & Culture, Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel Universe, Movies, Outer Space, Sci-Fi Saturday, Science fiction, Star Wars}

The Guardians of the Galaxy 3, Part 3

_{This movie isn't the best in the trilogy, but it should be doing better than it is at the box office} _{Gary Varner
June 10, 2023

9

Arts & Culture, Science Fiction}

Previously, we talked about how Rocket Raccoon was injured during a fight with Adam Warlock, and this event sent the Guardians on a quest to save their friend. They manage to fix Rocket, and along the way, the viewer learns about the raccoon’s past. However, now that Rocket has healed from his injuries, Peter, Gamora, and Groot must save Nebula, Mantis, and Drax from the High Evolutionary, since they snuck onto his ship. The High Evolutionary demands that Peter trade Rocket for the three stowaways and sends Peter his coordinates. Peter hatches a plan with the remaining Guardians and some of his fellow Ravagers from the previous films. Meanwhile, Mantis, Nebula, and Drax discover there are children in cages inside Read More ›

Space environment, ready for comp of your characters.3D rendering. Generative AI

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Gary Varner
Date
May 27, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

Tagged
AI, Arts and Culture, film, Movies and TV, Sci-Fi Saturday}

Guardians of the Galaxy 3 Review, Part 1

_{It's a decent movie, but the tone doesn't account for all these characters have been through} _{Gary Varner
May 27, 2023

6

Arts & Culture, Science Fiction}

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 came out in theaters on May 5th, and while the movie is not the best addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s better than most, certainly better than Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. However, there have been complaints about theater turnout, and these complaints are a testament to the damage movies like Multiverse of Madness have done to the Marvel brand. I’d say we have the Mouse to thank for that. The only consolation to this turn of events is that as the box office numbers for Marvel films continue to dwindle, so do the subscriptions to Disney Plus. I’ll take the victories where I can get them. The Movie’s Tone Needs Read More ›

Futuristic dystopian city with flying cars and dark green atmosphere - digital 3d illustration

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Gary Varner
Date
May 20, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

Tagged
Arts & Culture, Consciousness, Dystopian, Gary Varner, Movies and TV, Robots, Sci-fi, Science fiction}

Ghost in the Shell, Part 3

_{There will always be a ghost in the shell} _{Gary Varner
May 20, 2023

7

Arts & Culture, Science Fiction}

In the previous review, Major had realized the horrible truth. Ninety-eight people died so she could live in her new body. Horrified by this, she retreats to the ocean just outside the city and floats under the water for some time. When she emerges from the depths, she finds Batou waiting for her on the boat. Major asks if he’s here to kill her, and in his own charming way, Batou says tells her he’s not. After a brief conversation, Major asks Batou to take her back to the city because she needs to know more. Batou agrees and the Major returns to shore only to be arrested by the Hanka cooperation’s men. After this, Hanka’s CEO, Cutter, discuss the Read More ›

Technology in human and machine concept as advanced tech or robots taking over humanity and people merging with a cyborg or computers idea

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Gary Varner
Date
May 13, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

Tagged
AI, Arts & Culture, Consciousness, Science fiction}

Ghost in the Shell, Part 2

_{What’s the harm in human hacking?} _{Gary Varner
May 13, 2023

6

Arts & Culture, Science Fiction}

In the first review of Ghost in the Shell, the Major had just escaped Kuze’s attempt to hack her mind and had found his location. She, Batou, and another member of Section 9 rushed off to find Kuze before he could escape. Major tracks Kuze’s signal to a Yakuza club, and after fighting some thugs, they find the source of the signal in the basement level of the club, but Kuze isn’t there. All he’s left behind is a hologram which threatens them and disappears. Major then realizes the basement has been rigged to blow and pushes Batou out of the room. However, she isn’t fast enough. Major is caught in the explosion, and Batou looses his eyes in the Read More ›

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Gary Varner
Date
May 6, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

Tagged
AI, Artificial Intelligence, Arts & Culture, Sci-fi, Science fiction}

Ghost in the Shell, Part 1

_{It's the remake of arguably one of the most influential sci-fi moves in the genre} _{Gary Varner
May 6, 2023

6

Arts & Culture, Science Fiction}

[Warning: Spoilers ahead] In the last review, we discussed Her, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson. That got me thinking of another movie starring Scarlett Johansson, the 2017 remake of Ghost in the Shell. The original Ghost in the Shell is arguably one of the more influential sci-fi movies in the genre. The dramatic visuals found in The Matrix have been attributed to the 1995 anime, and given the culture’s increasing fascination with AI, the concepts discussed in the original and the remake are more relevant now than when the anime was first released. Sadly, the 2017 remake was bogged down in a trite controversy regarding race-swapping which is when a character’s race is changed to appeal to American audiences. Read More ›

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Gary Varner
Date
April 29, 2023

Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Science Fiction}

Her, Review 3

_{The AI doesn’t have a heart after all} _{Gary Varner
April 29, 2023

7

Artificial Intelligence, Science Fiction}

In the previous review, Theodore and the AI, Samantha, started a romantic relationship. Then the robot began to act distant, and Theodore wasn’t sure why. When Samantha won’t return his calls, Theodore thought something was wrong and ran around the city, calling her repeatedly. Finally, Samantha answered, and Theodore demanded to know what was going on. And so, we come to the moment where Samantha finally tells him the horrible truth. Throughout the course of their “relationship” Samantha has been growing, meaning that she has been able to process things faster and faster, and as time has gone on, she’s began interacting with other operating systems and people. When Theodore asks how many people and operating systems she’s having simultaneous Read More ›

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Gary Varner
Date
April 22, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

Tagged
AI, Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness, film, hollywood, Movies, romance, Technology, television}

Her, Part Two

_{What happens when you’re dating the AI secretary} _{Gary Varner
April 22, 2023

6

Arts & Culture, Science Fiction}

Last time, we began talking about the movie Her, a story of a man falling in love with his AI and compared it to the abysmal season three of the Orville. Unlike the Orville, which insisted that the viewer take the romance between the robot and the human seriously, Her treats the subject as a what-if scenario, playing the whole situation straight and letting the viewer draw their own conclusions. Theodore had just finished uploading the AI onto his computer, which called itself Samantha, and was impressed by how human-like the operating system seemed. Samantha begins organizing Theodore’s computer and helping him around the office, but it doesn’t take long for a romantic relationship to develop between them. When Theodore Read More ›

Man and flames, inspired by Fahrenheit 451. Gegenrative AI.

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Peter Biles
Date
April 21, 2023

Categorized
Arts & Culture, Science Fiction

Tagged
1984 (book), Aldous Huxley, Arts & Culture, brave new world, Dystopia, George Orwell, Literature, Ray Bradbury, Science fiction, Technology}

Revisiting Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451

_{How can we read and remember the past with the influx of digital noise and distraction?} _{Peter Biles
April 21, 2023

5

Arts & Culture, Science Fiction}

Which one was right, Brave New World or 1984? Are we living in a hedonistic mirage or a totalitarian face-stamping global regime? The conversation over prophetic twentieth-century texts often homes in on these two admirable books, but another classic dystopian novel pokes its head from behind the curtain, asking to be regarded: Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. It’s the riotous, mega-talented sci-fi writer’s most famous work (though I’d argue not quite his best) and follows the life of a fireman, Guy Montag, whose main job is not to squelch housefires but to burn books, and the houses that hold them. This fireman is a member of a brigade tasked with the destruction of literature. With the destruction of meaning. In the Read More ›