Aloha’s Dad here again, filling in while she catches up on homework. I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite science fiction things.
TV Shows. In chronological order based on when I watched them.
- Star Trek the original series. I remember watching this with my Mom after grade school while she ironed. It kick-started my imagination about what exploration and adventures could exist off Earth. I remember being very embarrassed when Kirk was making out with the alien ladies. I appreciated how all the different people on the Enterprise could get along and work together to accomplish so much.
- Space: 1999. I remember running home from grade school to my friends house to watch this show on BBC. I so wanted to be commander Koeing when I grew up. I was disappointed when I rented some episodes on Netflix recently as it wasn’t nearly as cool as I remembered when I was younger. But the Eagle spaceships are still an amazing design.
I hope to find an Eagle model and someday build it with my son who is now 7. So why don’t we have a Moonbase Alpha yet? Maybe when one of you become president you can fix this problem. - Stargate Atlantis and SG1
Aloha’s family watched these on Netflix after they ran on the network. Excellent stories, characters that became like family. - Battlestar Gallactica (the new series)
Really good script writing, multi-dimensional characters and great special effects. What more could a Sci-Fi geek ask for?
Books
Here’s a few that come quickly to mind. I know there are many more I have enjoyed over the years, perhaps we’ll delve further on a future guest post.
- Gateway by Fredrick Pohl. Fredrick invented Stargate before Stargate was cool.
- Ringworld by Larry Niven. I loved discovering this world along with Larry’s crazy characters. I want a sky cycle! Maybe one of you will invent one.
- Childhood’s End and Rendevous with Ram by Arthur C. Clarke.
- Lord of the Rings. A marvelous adventure!
Well that’s probably enough for now. I would like to hear about your favorites so I can look them up on Netflix or at the used book store. Aloha mentioned that Dr. Who might be worth viewing? Let me know if you agree and what other favorites you have.
Songs:
1. Sci-Fi by Cliff Richards
2. Children of the Son by Billy Thorpe
(Aloha’s note: Don’t forget Ender’s Game and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy– classics!)
Aloha- I’m glad you appreciate Hitchhiker’s Guide now. You didn’t like it so much when I read it to you when you were 4.
Embracing Insanity 
I’m right there with you on Star Trek the original series. I would watch them when I got home from school and probably saw every episode a dozen times.
The Reboot of Dr Who that started in 2005 is definitely worth the time. Great characters, great writing and lots of geeky inside jokes.
I think you’ve probably seen the heartbreak that is Firefly, but you didn’t mention it so I will.
I’m not even going to start on books because I won’t know where to stop.
Thanks for the reply- I was wondering which Dr Who to start with, there are so many. I will give it a try!
Yes, I did watch Firefly and really enjoyed the concept. I was hoping the recent movie ‘Cowboys vs. Aliens’ would be in a similar vain but was disappointed. The movie ‘Serenity’ was a bit too zombish for me (Aloha would probably enjoy it though).
Maybe sometime you could do a top 5 (or 10?) Sci-Fi book list. I’m always looking for good Sci-Fi books to read.
Happy Sci-Fi reading and watching!
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