This is Sci-Fi is a sampling of science fiction news across the mediums. From movies to books, to real life, and any bits in between that I can think of to list. This is by no means a comprehensive list of what’s happening, but it should whet your appetite!
This is Sci-Fi’s Quote to Consider:
“The ability to speak does not make you intelligent.”
― George Lucas
Science Fiction Movies:
Sci-Fi Movie Suggestion for the Week:
The Star Trek movies are good (some better than others). I’m a big fan of the reboot movies, but you gotta love Star Trek: First Contact.
Star Trek: First Contact Synopsis: The Borg travel back in time intended on preventing Earth’s first contact with an alien species. Captain Picard and his crew pursue them to ensure that Zefram Cochrane makes his maiden flight reaching warp speed.
Starring: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner
Opening this Week (June 9th, 2017)
In Theatres Now:
Trailer to Watch:
War for the Planet of the Apes releases in mid-July. Watch the official trailer on Youtube.
Science Fiction Books
June New Sci-Fi Book Releases (up to June 9th):
A Peace Divided – Tanya Huff – Release Date: June 6th, 2017
The second book in the action-packed Peacekeeper series, a continuation of Tanya Huff’s military sci-fi Confederation series following Torin Kerr.
Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr had been the very model of a Confederation Marine. No one who’d ever served with her could imagine any circumstance that would see her walking away from the Corps. But that was before Torin learned the truth about the war the Confederation was fighting…before she’d been declared dead and had spent time in a prison that shouldn’t exist…before she’d learned about the “plastic” beings who were really behind the war between the Confederation and the Others. That was when Torin left the military for good.
Yet she couldn’t walk away from preserving and protecting everything the Confederation represented. Instead, ex-Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr drew together an elite corps of friends and allies–some ex-Marines, some civilians with unique skills–and together they prepared to take on covert missions that the Justice Department and the Corps could not–or would not–officially touch. But after their first major mission, it became obvious that covert operations were not going to be enough.
Although the war is over, the fight goes on and the Justice Department finds its regular Wardens unable to deal with violence and the people trained to use it. Ex-Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr has a solution: Strike Teams made up of ex-military personnel, small enough to maneuver quickly, able to work together if necessary. Justice has no choice but to implement her idea and Torin puts her team of independent contractors back into uniform. It isn’t war, it is policing, but it often looks much the same.
When the scientists doing a preliminary archaeological dig on a Class Two planet are taken hostage, Torin’s team is sent to free them. The problem of innocents in the line of fire is further complicated by the fact that the mercenaries holding them are a mix of Confederation and Primacy forces, and are looking for a weapon able to destroy the plastic aliens who’d started and maintained the war.
If Torin weren’t already torn by wanting that weapon in play, she also has to contend with the politics of peace that have added members of the Primacy–former enemies–to her team. Before they confront the mercenaries, Torin will have to sift through shifting loyalties as she discovers that the line between”us” and “them” is anything but straight.
The Rogue World – Matthew J. Kirby – Release Date: June 6th, 2017
Perfect for fans of the Percy Jackson and Seven Wonders series, The Rogue World is the third book in an epic, fast-paced middle grade adventure trilogy by acclaimed author Matthew J. Kirby.
After the shattering new discoveries they made in Egypt, Eleanor and her mother, Samantha, have been separated: Samantha working with the sinister Dr. Watkins to ensure the survival of only a small number of humans, and Eleanor and her friends uniting in the desperate hope of saving the entire planet. They are preparing for a trek to the icy Himalayas, where they believe they’ll find the Master Concentrator and a chance to end the threat of the rogue planet—one way or the other.
But that’s when something happens that none of them expected: an alien spacecraft crash lands on earth, throwing the globe into crisis and changing everything for Eleanor. She has just begun to understand the mysterious power that sets her apart from everyone else on the planet; now, everything rests on her ability to control the same alien intelligence that has pushed us to the brink of extinction.
The Rebellion’s Last Traitor – Nik Korpon – Release Date: June 6th, 2017
In a dystopian world ravaged by war and environmental collapse, one man fights history to discover the truth about his wife and child.
After decades of war, the brutal Tathadann Party restored order toshattered Eitan City by outlawing the past and rewriting history. Memory is a commodity bought and sold, and experienced like a drug. Henraek works as a Tathadann memory thief, draining citizens memories.
Everything changes when Henraek harvests a memory of his own wife s death, in the hidden rebellion that once tore apart their city. Now he will do whatever it takes to learn the truth even ifit means burning Eitan City to the ground.
A Feminist Focus:
The Sci-Fi Zone
Holy Cthulhu, this was a hard season to just choose ten awesome Twilight Zone episodes. Not because there aren’t enough but far too many. Between seasons 1-3 this has got to be it’s best season yet. There are a few missteps in it but on the whole the excellent episodes outweigh the iffy ones. This is in no particular order as I rate them all a ten. It boggles the mind that this was one of the seasons they tried to cancel. In a way it’s not a surprise, considering the topics brought up but still…this is by far the strongest season yet.
1. Death’s Head Revisited – an excellent, powerful and disturbing episode in which justice, not revenge, is meted out by the ghosts of the past.
2. The Changing of the Guard – A sad, yet ultimately uplifting story of a teacher of poetry being forced into retirement.
3. A Quality of Mercy – Another heavy-hitter with an unexpected ending and a daring story for the time it came out in.
4. Nothing in the Dark – Starring Robert Redford in one of his first roles. Two actors in a room along with a powerful story makes this an unforgettable episode.
5. One More Pallbearer – A rich man tries to exact revenge on those he believes has wronged him in his youth.
6. Showdown with Rance McGrew – An utterly hilarious episode to help balance out the darker ones. This is one you’ll definitely have to watch because I can’t do justice to it.
7. To Serve Man – A pretty well known episode with one heck of a twist at the end. It was one of the stories that got me hooked on The Twilight Zone.
8. The Trade-Ins – A bittersweet story about enduring love and the price people are willing to pay for it.
9. The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank – An amusing story about a man risen from the dead and the consequences that ensue.
10. The Passersby – A Civil War story. No judgement passed and none given. Just a soldier’s conversation with a war widow and men marching their dusty march to who knows where.
As I said, so many good ones in this season so if I’ve forgotten a particular favorite please do let me know in the comments down below.
Notable Events in Sci-Fi History
5 Science Fiction Actors Birth / Death (May 27th-June 9th)
- Harlan Ellison b. May 27th (Troublemakers)
- Louise Cooper b. May 29th (Time Master series)
- Hal Clement b. May 30th (Mission of Gravity)
- Marion Zimmer Bradley b. June 3rd (Avalon Series)
- Joe Haldeman b. June 9th (The Forever War Series)
5 Science Fiction Movies Released (May 27th-June 9th)
- This Island Earth (1955)
- Tron (1982)
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
- Total Recall (1990)
- The Thirteenth Floor (1999)
Science Fiction on the Web
- The Power, by Naomi Alderman, is the first science fiction novel to be awarded the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction – From Live Mint
- Culturess says these are the 20 Best Sci-Fi Films Featuring Women
- The Sci-Fi Book that Elon Musk said “Changed his life” is not what you might expect – From CNBC
- This is How Much Science Fiction Has Influenced Design from Fastco Designs.
- A “Thank you for Wonder Woman” open letter to Patty Jenkins – SciFi.com
- Gizmodo lets us know that Older sci-fi fans may recognize the name “Omni” – Amazon now has all 200 issues of this sci-fi classic magazine for purchase.