(1) The Galactic Journey blog is written as the day-to-day experiences of an sf fan living 55 years ago. Last week The Traveler covered the final Nixon-Kennedy debate and the first episode of The Twilight Zone’s second season.
Today’s post is inspired by a Mack Reynolds story in the “current” November 1960 issue of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Really well done.
Science fiction is not prediction. It is extrapolation. No one can see the future, but a gifted writer can show you, dramatically, what will happen “if this goes on.”
It’s no surprise that science fiction writing has enjoyed a boom since 1950. Never has our world been on the brink of so many exciting and dangerous potentialities. On the positive side: space travel, automation by computers and robots, atomic energy. On the negative side: pollution, global warming, and atomic annihilation….
On the other side of the coin, we have Mack Reynolds’ Russkies Go Home!, which appeared in this month’s (November 1960) Fantasy and Science Fiction. Mr. Reynolds reportedly just returned from a trip behind the Iron Curtain, which explains the multitude of Russia-related stories he’s recently turned out. Clearly, the trip impressed the writer, as the stories all posit a Soviet Union that fulfills Senator Kennedy’s nightmare prophecies by surpassing the United States in prosperity by 1970.
(2) StoryBundle’s 2015 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Bundle includes Book View Café’s own Brewing Fine Fiction anthology, and two additional guides by BVC members: Writing Horses by Judith Tarr and Writing Fight Scenes by Marie Brennan.
- The 2015 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools Bundle contains 13 new books on all aspects of writing, from craft, to productivity, to business, to career advice, to specific areas of expertise, designed for novices or experts alike.
- A second-tier bonus: If you beat the total of $25, you can get 25 total books, all put together by curator and bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson.
- When you purchase a bundle you can choose to donate to NaNoWriMo itself.
(3) ‘Tis the season. “Witch wins protective order against warlock in Salem court”.
A judge granted a protective order against a warlock on Wednesday, spelling relief for the Salem witch who accused him of harassment.
The two squared off in court before a Salem District Court judge, who granted the protective order to witch priestess Lori Sforza. She had accused self-proclaimed warlock Christian Day of harassing her over the phone and on social media over the past three years.
(4) Sarah A. Hoyt’s “Swallowing A Fly — #2 How to plot” is useful for NaNoWriMo or any of the other 11 months.
To not lose the plot, I invite you to contemplate the little old lady who swallowed a fly.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly, she swallowed a bird to catch the spider, she swallowed a cat to catch the bird etc. Note that starting with the original problem (It might help to know that in regency slang at least to swallow a spider was to go deep into debt you can’t escape) she swallows each animal to catch the last — i.e. to try to solve her problem. And each time her problem gets worse.
Your character, in the same way, starting with a problem on which they act in what has to be a somewhat rational manner (unless it’s one of my refinishing mysteries) and where the result backfires horribly, must engage in attempting ever bigger solutions (to bigger problems) and having them blow up even bigger.
(5) Allen Steele has a comeback for Nancy Fulda’s “What To Expect When You Start An Internet Kerfuffle” at the SFWA Blog.
There is a solution to all this: don’t blog.
Really, you don’t need to do so, regardless of the current conventional wisdom that says a writer must relentlessly promote himself on the web. Quite a few well-established writers don’t, and their literary careers are just fine, thank you. If you visit the bookstore, you won’t find THE COLLECTED BLOGS OF MARK TWAIN or DUNE BLOGGER by Frank Herbert or ASIMOV BLOGS AGAIN, and there may be a reason for this.
And if getting yourself in trouble for your internet posts isn’t reason enough, then consider this: over the years, I’ve noticed that — with very few exceptions — an author’s literary output decreases in inverse proportion with the amount of time and energy he or she spends on the Internet. And no one is going to pay you for what you post on your blog or even care a month or so later…unless it’s something that may adversely effect your literary career.
The Internet is not your friend. So don’t blog.
(6) Today’s Birthday Boy
- Born October 28, 1951 – Joe R. Lansdale, 10-time Bram Stoker Award winner.
(7) Motherboard airs its outrage that “Someone in Alabama sold a priceless lunar rover for scrap metal”.
During the Apollo missions, NASA only made a handful of lunar rovers. Three of them are still sitting on the surface of the moon. One of them is at the Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. And another was recently smashed into bits in an Alabama junkyard.
According to documents acquired by Motherboard as part of a Freedom of Information Act request, a priceless lunar rover prototype designed for the Apollo missions was sold to a junkyard in Alabama for scrap metal sometime last year. Specific names and details are redacted in the documents, which include internal emails and reports by NASA’s Office of the Inspector General, the agency responsible for investigating and recovering lost and stolen NASA property.
(8) “He had a right to shoot at this drone, and I’m gonna dismiss this charge”, a made-up quote, headlines Eugene Volokh’s latest installment of “The Volokh Conspiracy” for the Washington Post. Kentucky jurisprudence is notorious inside the Beltway, therefore it’s surprising Volokh reaches the end of his column without having made much legal headway against the fellow who shot down a drone flying through his property.
(9) Via Bayou Renaissance Man, another article on model masculinity —
According to Country Life magazine in the UK, a gentleman’s traits include such gems as:
- Is aware that facial hair is temporary, but a tattoo is permanent
- Possesses at least one well-made dark suit, one tweed suit and a dinner jacket
- Avoids lilac socks and polishes his shoes
- Breaks a relationship face to face
- Arrives at a meeting five minutes before the agreed time
- Knows the difference between Glenfiddich and Glenda Jackson
- Would never own a Chihuahua
- Can tie his own bow tie
- Demonstrates that making love is neither a race nor a competition
(10) James H. Burns found a YouTube video of film footage from the costume contest at Phil Seuling’s 1973 Comic Convention, at the Commodore Hotel, in New York. He identified many science fiction friends in the proceedings.
There are just audience shots for the first two minutes, and then footage of the costumed revelers gathered together. That’s the legendary Joan Winston in the midriff baring dress and the star-spangled cape–Joan was the CBS and ABC executive key to helping run the early STAR TREK conventions, who later became an author (and an agent), and also helped contribute to MANY science fiction events. Thomas Anderson, chairman of a Lunacon or two, and a World Fantasy Convention (and another original Trek Con veteran),appears with his girlfriend (were they married yet?) Dana L. Friese (soon to have more fame in fandom as Dana L.F. Anderson) as Elric. Costume con favorite Angelique Trouvere (aka “Destiny”) is there as Vampirella (with Heidi Saha as the young Vampi). Long time film actor, and science fiction fan, Teel James Glenn is there as Flash Gordon (and is that Cortland Hull as Ming?) Soon-to-be-veteran comics pro Jack Harris is Two-Face, Patrick Daniel O’Neill hams it up as Captain Marvel Jr…. (Amazngly, Dave Burd, future cast member the cult TV comedy program THE UNCLE FLOYD SHOW, is also in attendance, as THE T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS’ Dynamo.) The sound kicks in at about 4:05, and then suddenly one is back in July, 1973! I find this particularly amazing, because I would become friends with many of these folks, just two-and-a-half years later! (Heck, I’d be helping to run the programming at some of these comic cons, just a little while after that!) Although I couldn’t spot any familiar faces in the audience, some among the File 770 faithful might be able to recognize someone–and it’s still a great record of just what a comic con crowd often looked like, even during the next d=few seasons. (The Andersons, and Joanie, perform a skit, at around 10:10.) It would be interesting who else can identified here, among the costumed cohorts!
(11) I’ve heard of The 39 Steps, but this is the first time I have heard of The 75 Steps, although I’ve seen The Exorcist.
For Andrew Huff, lover of horror films, the 75 steps in Washington, D.C., where Father Karras plummets to his death in “The Exorcist” are his Lincoln Memorial. “I go to the steps all the time,” he said, “and when visitors come to Washington, I always take them there.”
All that was missing was a special tourist designation. And on Friday, largely through Mr. Huff’s efforts, that oversight will be rectified. The eerie stairway will be commemorated with an official city plaque — even signed by Mayor Muriel Bowser — declaring them “The Exorcist Steps.”
I wonder where you go in that neighborhood for a nice bowl of pea soup.
(12) Ray Bradbury manuscripts going under the hammer! And some nice artwork. You have until tomorrow to bid on these items in the latest Nate D. Sanders auction.
Ray Bradbury typed letter signed, plus two original typed manuscripts, given by Bradbury to Fracisco Porrua, who edited Bradbury’s works for the Spanish language population. Accompanying the typed manuscripts for ”The Women” and ”The Shape of Things”, Bradbury writes to Porrua on 3 March 1964 on his personal stationery: ”…I have no secretary, which means that hundreds of letters which come in during each month must be funneled through my own inadequate hands and sometimes I fall far behind with my correspondence. Forgive me. To help you in your search for stories for R IS FOR ROCKET, I enclose the following science-fantasy stories and weird-fantasy stories…” Bradbury goes on to list 10 stories, including ”The Women” and ”The Shape of Things” and then continues, ”…I believe these stories would give you much to juggle with in reshaping your various titles in the various books…” Bradbury continues, regarding the introduction for ”R Is for Rocket” and writes, ”…I am happy to hear you will soon be making an offer on MACHINERIES OF JOY and THE ANTHEM SPRINTERS…[signed] Ray Bradbury”. Both manuscripts are typed on thin tracing paper which was placed behind regular sheets of paper. ”The Women” is 16 pages and ”The Shape of Things” is 26 pages. Manuscripts and letter measure 8.5” x 11”. Lot is in very good condition.
Minimum Bid: $1,000.
Ink and Watercolor Drawing by E.H. Shepard of Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet
Beautifully rendered watercolor and ink drawing of Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet by E.H. Shepard, the illustrator chosen by A.A. Milne to bring his literary characters to life. Here, Shepard draws Pooh and Piglet upon a letter to his agent, allowing the characters to express his feelings of gratitude and joy. In the autograph letter signed, dated 29 February 1932, Shepard thanks his agent for a letter, writing that he has ”done splendidly” and that ”this view is shared by others”. To emphasize his feelings, Shepard draws Winnie-the-Pooh reaching up and Piglet excitedly jumping at his side. Shepard must have been very pleased with his agent, as he very seldom drew his most famous characters; this drawing, done early in the illustrator’s career and just a few years after the Pooh series, is a rare exception. Single page is written from Long Meadow, Guildford. Light uniform toning and mounted to card. Overall in very good to near fine condition. With provenance from Sotheby’s.
Minimum Bid: $50,000
[Thanks to Andrew Porter, David Doering, James H. Burns, and John King Tarpinian for some of these stories. Title credit belongs to File 770 contributing editor of the day Brian Z.]
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@Meredith:
What, is it wafer thin?
There must be room in the File770 pantheon next to the Suck Fairy for the Book Gnome who adds more titles to your TBR pile while you’re not looking…
Current threats to my finishing NaNoWriMo:
Xombi
Watchmaker of Filigree Street
A Darker Shade of Magic
All on library loan. I do so like making things difficult for myself.
IanP on October 29, 2015 at 4:44 pm said:
There must be room in the File770 pantheon next to the Suck Fairy for the Book Gnome who adds more titles to your TBR pile while you’re not looking…
You can’t tell he’s already here?
True enough, you never see him coming.
You’re just minding your own business, reading down the scroll, and suddenly there’s like a dozen more books in the pile.
Just happens.
It might be you can buy him off with saucers of milk.
People suggest that, but, me, I think the cats are getting it.
Saucers are all empty, and my pile just keeps getting taller.
@Current reading:
I’ve started The Library at Mount Char, but man, it’s rough. Gory and brutal and…I don’t know.
Watchmaker is up next. I might need a palate cleanser by then.
@Peace
Most books are compared to JS&MN, also flagged as discounted, so… Kinda, yes, lets go with wafer thin! 😀 Especially if it leads to more Hugo reading. Also, the cover of Watchmaker really is super pretty – if I read it next (currently on Sorceror to the Crown) and love it I might earmark it for getting a hard copy at some point just because I like looking at it.
Instead of slanting the letters for emphasis, they simply put a little more s p a c e between them.
They do that with Roman letters too – I’ve seen it.
On the other hand, I spent the entire first year dealing with fraktur. (Get it over with early; the next year we had a textbook that didn’t use it. Or not much, anyway.) Knowing what it looks like has come in handy at various times since then.
Eeeeeyup
https://file770.com/?p=25706
Watchmaker of Filigree Street! Buy it now! Read it now!
RHF: Library at Mount Char doesn’t get any less grim. You WILL need a palate cleanser.
read some of ursula vernons work, they will restore your mojo.
I do not nano. I kilo.
With regard to the footage from the 1973 Comic Convention, it’s kind of wild to see those people in the film and realize that they are all 42 years older now.
I could never afford the Pooh note, but I’d sure like to see it IRL. Adorable.
Ended up buying Watchmaker. Really need to spend more time reading the TBR pile instead of on here now…
So obvious that other Filers had been buying it as well from the People Who Bought this also Bought list.
It is a very handsome book in person, which I can say having bought to copy to press on people after having red it in electronic format.
I am not going to nano this year because I have a novel in progress, the same that I declared finished like six months ago. Well it ain’t finished. Still, I did manage to write about 80,000 words last year – in the wrong month, but whatever. It can be done. I wrote 1,762 words on wednesday AND I did a full day of work. Witness me!
@Anna Feuglio Dal Dan: Great work, 80K words!
I am telling myself I will do it, but I’m totally cheating. My “new work” will actually be the last 30K words the Bigass Literary Novel still needs after the last two Nanos I completed, plus maybe 20K of rewrites on the previous parts.
If I get all that done, I have to get around to cutting the resulting 140,000-word mess to 110K or so.
@Cally:
I DP’d just a little long ago, and I should get back to it. Thanks for the reminder.
@Anna:
Mediocre! I witness you, and pass you some encouragement cookies (nutmeg or ginger). Is it sff?
lurkertype on October 29, 2015 at 11:37 pm said:
I could never afford the Pooh note, but I’d sure like to see it IRL. Adorable.
Leaping Piglet!
Squeeeeee!!
These days, every month is novel-writing month for me. There was a period of several years where November was “re-dedicate myself to writing something every day” month. Hmm. If I did manage the target NaNo wordcount in November, it might actually get me back on track to have a first draft by the end of the year. If I also got close to the NaNo wordcount in December, too.
I swear, my next two books will NOT be doorstops. I had no intention of Mother of Souls being this long. “Feels a bit thin,” I said. “Throw in another sub-plot,” I said. “Everyone likes subplots,” I said. “Lay down the background for the next three books while you’re at it,” I said. grrrr
Eve
Thank you for the heads up on The Watchmaker of Filigree St, which so many have chimed in on; the kindle edition is reduced in price somewhat at Amazon UK, so I’ve grabbed it.
FILE 770 LIVE-ACTION TV TOURNAMENT AND BRACKETS
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5 (1)
Misfits [UK] (9)
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (4)
Robin of Sherwood (12)
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
Battlestar Galactica [Reboot] (3)
The Outer Limits (6)
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
Torchwood (10)
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
The Prisoner (1)
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (9)
2. DOUBLE X
Star Trek: The Next Generation (4)
X-Files (5)
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic] (3)
Eureka (6)
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Firefly (2)
Stargate SG-1 (10)
Oh my, now we’re getting down to brass tacks.
(Jim, I just noticed–these can’t both be Coreward Regions, can they?)
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
Battlestar Galactica (Reboot)
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone
1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (I know this will probably be the only vote for MST3K. Gotta keep Joel, Mike and the robots company.)
2. DOUBLE X
(Argh! Argh! Argh! Break out the forehead cloths. No, the FULL-FACE cloths.)
(whimper)
Sir Patrick Stewart drags TNG across the finish line.
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Abstain
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Firefly (If this had been the original Stargate movie…I loved that. But in the end, I still have to misbehave.)
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5
I will vote in favor of Babylon 5 over literally anything else.
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Robin of Sherwood
Sorry Sisko, you’re not Robin Hood or the other Robin Hood. Or Judi Trott.
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
The Outer Limits
I will vote for literally anything over the Battlestar Galactica reboot.
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone
I’m sorry Captain Jack, but science fiction history is just too much to overcome here.
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
The Prisoner
I hate to vote against MST3k, but it just isn’t in the same league as The Prisoner.
2. DOUBLE X
Star Trek: The Next Generation
I didn’t vote for Mulder and Scully in the last round, and I’m not voting for them now.
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic]
Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladon, John Pertwee, Peter Davidson, Sarah Sutton, Louise Jameson, and on and on.
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Stargate SG-1
I love Firefly, but there’s just not enough of it to compete at this level.
@redheadedfemme: Argh! I’m firing my editorial team. First is Coreward region, second is Spinward.
And Zeigler wrote Traveller material. I’ll never live this down.
FILE 770 LIVE-ACTION TV TOURNAMENT AND BRACKETS
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Misfits [UK] (9)
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
CorewardSpinward Region – Round Two1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
The Prisoner (1)
2. DOUBLE X
Star Trek: The Next Generation (4)
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic] (3)
@Meredith: Yep.
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5 (1)
“The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote.”
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Robin of Sherwood (12)
Robin, the Hooded Man
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
The Outer Limits (6)
BSG Nouveau was great, and then it wasn’t. And that ending… It was particularly galling that the intro about how the Cylons had a plan turned out to be such a damned lie (and cost Cally her good name). The Outer Limits is full of classic episodes like Demon with a Glass Hand and Zanti Misfits that hold up.
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
I like oversexed Who, but the Twilight Zone is SFTV royalty.
Spinward Region – Round Two
1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (9)
“What are the specs on this thing?”
“Oh those are just bugs.”
2. DOUBLE X
X-Files (5)
TNG is probably more legit SFTV, but I simply dug the X-Files more, back in the day.
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic] (3)
Easy choice.
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Stargate SG-1 (10)
Hard choice. In the end, the weight of 10 seasons tips the scales over 1.
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
Torchwood (10)
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
The Prisoner (1)
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic] (3)
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Firefly (2)
I don’t know if this round will provoke many forehead-cloth purchases, but there are a number of matches I find it hard to handicap.
Coreward Region – Round Two
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
Spinward Region – Round Two
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic] (3)
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5 (1)
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Robin of Sherwood (12)
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
The Outer Limits (6)
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
Spinward Region – Round Two
1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
The Prisoner (1)
2. DOUBLE X
Star Trek: The Next Generation (4)
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Dr. Who [Classic] (3)
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Stargate SG-1 (10)
Still no forehead cloths needed here. Soon.
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5 (1)
Misfits [UK] (9)To quote myself: Yeah, no.
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (4)
Robin of Sherwood (12)“Android man”? I don’t remember an android on DS9. Even given that lack, I’m voting for it.
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
Battlestar Galactica [Reboot] (3)The Outer Limits (6)
They never did have a plan. And even though I have them winning this matchup, I’m voting against them.
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
Torchwood (10)Twilight Zone at its best was miles better than Torchwood at its best. Twilight Zone at its worst was miles better than Torchwood at its worst.
CorewardSpinward Region – Round Two1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
The Prisoner (1)
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (9)Be seeing you, Joel.
2. DOUBLE X
Star Trek: The Next Generation (4)
X-Files (5)3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic] (3)
Eureka (6)Never seen Eureka so I’m not sure which is which here. In any event, I’m voting for my Doctor.
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Firefly (2)
Stargate SG-1 (10)FILE 770 LIVE-ACTION TV TOURNAMENT AND BRACKETS
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5 (1)
Misfits [UK] (9)
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (4)
Robin of Sherwood (12)
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
Battlestar Galactica [Reboot] (3)
The Outer Limits (6)
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
Torchwood (10)
GAH
I could come back in ten minutes and change my mind
ouch ouch ouch ouch
Spinward Region – Round Two
1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
The Prisoner (1)
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (9)
NOOOOO
This one is a vote from the heart.
(And it is too scifi, always up there orbiting on the Satellite of Love, or driving around in an outer space van no matter what the movie was.)
But ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch
Cally, where are those cloths!
2. DOUBLE X
Star Trek: The Next Generation (4)
X-Files (5)
It isn’t getting better either
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic] (3)
Eureka (6)
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Firefly (2)
Stargate SG-1 (10)
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5 (1)
Misfits [UK] (9)
I actually think I might go Misfits with this one. Misfits it is!
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (4)
Robin of Sherwood (12)
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
Battlestar Galactica [Reboot] (3)
The Outer Limits (6)
My childhood prevails. It was more easily frightened (and probably impressed) than the older, more cynical me.
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
Torchwood (10)
I love you, Rod Serling. Always and forever.
Spinward Region – Round Two (in fixing this, I almost made it Starboard just for fun.)
1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
The Prisoner (1)
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (9)
2. DOUBLE X
Star Trek: The Next Generation (4)
X-Files (5)
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic] (3)
Eureka (6)
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Firefly (2)
Stargate SG-1 (10)
I broke a lot of seeds in the top bracket but went by the numbers in the bottom.
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5 (1)
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (4)
My favorite Trek series. Only you’ve got the wrong Trek for “Android Man.” (Assuming Robin of Sherwood didn’t have any androids, I suppose. If it did, I’ve gotten entirely the wrong idea about it.)
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
Completely outclasses Torchwood.
Spinward Region – Round Two
2. DOUBLE X
X-Files (5)
Let’s just forget the last two seasons ever happened though, OK?
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic] (3)
I enjoyed Eureka for a couple of seasons and then drifted away. Classic Who has its flaws (as does New Who, to be sure) but it’s an institution.
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Stargate SG-1 (10)
Firefly had its charms, but I’d rather rewatch SG-1.
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5 (1)
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (4)
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
The Outer Limits (6)
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
Torchwood (10)
Spinward Region – Round Two
1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
The Prisoner (1)
2. DOUBLE X
X-Files (5)
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic] (3)
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Stargate SG-1 (10)
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5 (1)
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (4)
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
Battlestar Galactica [Reboot] (3)
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
Spinward Region – Round Two
1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
The Prisoner (1)
2. DOUBLE X
Star Trek: The Next Generation (4)
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic] (3)
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Firefly (2)
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5 (1)
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (4)
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
The Outer Limits (6)
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
The Prisoner (1)
2. DOUBLE X
Star Trek: The Next Generation (4)
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic] (3)
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Stargate SG-1 (10)
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5 (1)
Misfits [UK] (9)
Abstain
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (4)
Robin of Sherwood (12)
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
Battlestar Galactica [Reboot] (3)
The Outer Limits (6)
Although this is strongly because I only watched the first two seasons. I never saw it jump the shark. That helps a lot.
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
Torchwood (10)
My ritual anti-Who vote.
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
The Prisoner (1)
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (9)
Man, I hate both of these. Slings and Arrows
2. DOUBLE X
Star Trek: The Next Generation (4)
X-Files (5)
abstain
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic] (3)
Eureka (6)
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Firefly (2)
Stargate SG-1 (10)
2. DOUBLE X
Star Trek: The Next Generation
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Firefly
Haha yes I got this wrong! Wrong Trek. Please mentally correct it to read
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, LIGHT-SABER MAN, THIEF
The non-transitive like-relationships are fascinating. I have this suspicion that I would have a few rock-paper-scissors sets with different match-ups.
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5 (1)
Misfits [UK] (9)
A totally unfair choice, given that I’m unfamiliar with Misfits, but Babylon 5 was good enough that I’ll cope.
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (4)
Robin of Sherwood (12)
This one is tough. DS9 was, for me, the best of the post-TOS franchise. It would have won against a lot of other opponents. But in my heart of hearts, I’m more of a fantasy gal than a sci-fi one.
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
Battlestar Galactica [Reboot] (3)
The Outer Limits (6)
Nostalgia time. The “short fiction” SFF series of my youth have a strong claim.
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
Torchwood (10)
Nostalgia time. The…wait, I just said that, didn’t I? Also a lot of the squee over Torchwood was for things not quite on my wavelength.
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
The Prisoner (1)
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (9)
I’ve only brushed the surface of both, but The Prisoner was bold and original.
2. DOUBLE X
Star Trek: The Next Generation (4)
X-Files (5)
Hmm. Erm. Huh. I’m going to call this one a tie, but it’s more a tie on the “meh” side than on the “yay” side.
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic] (3)
Eureka (6)
By just a goofy hair or two.
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Firefly (2)
Stargate SG-1 (10)
I liked some of the deep-concept stuff in Stargate. And at least in its beginnings it was respectful of some of my favorite social sciences.
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5 (1)
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (4)
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
The Outer Limits (6)
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (9)
2. DOUBLE X
X-Files (5)
It got really really bad toward the end, but: Scully.
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic] (3)
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Firefly (2)
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5 (1)
Enh. Misfits was good, but B5 it is…
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (4)
…even though DS9 was more consistent and had a stronger finish IMO.
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
Battlestar Galactica [Reboot] (3)
No matter how bad the ending was, the journey was SO. WORTH. IT.
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
Later Torchwood was just endless despair.
Spinward Region – Round Two
2. DOUBLE X
Star Trek: The Next Generation (4)
Gave up on X-files at roundabout Season 3/4.
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Stargate SG-1 (10)
Firefly was good, but way over rated. SG-1 was also good, and vastly under-rated.
FILE 770 LIVE-ACTION TV TOURNAMENT AND BRACKETS
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5 (1)
Misfits [UK] (9)
Abstain
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (4)
Robin of Sherwood (12)
Abstain
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
Battlestar Galactica [Reboot] (3)
The Outer Limits (6)
OUCH! One of my favs is probably going down in flames, but I’m sticking with the one I love… [sniff, sniff]
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
Torchwood (10)
Painful, but not that much. Torchwood had some good moments, Twilight Zone had few bad moments and is a classic and set a high standard for later programs to shoot for.
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
The Prisoner (1)
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (9)
Abstain
2. DOUBLE X
Star Trek: The Next Generation (4)
X-Files (5)
Feeling some pain with this one. Still gotta go with Picard.
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic] (3)
Eureka (6)
I wasn’t entranced with original Who. Maybe loving it is partly growing up with it. I first watched some episodes a few years ago and they didn’t impress. Eureka was just weirdly funny and different. It gets my vote, though I’m pretty sure it’s a lost cause.
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Firefly (2)
Stargate SG-1 (10)
1. COPING STRATEGIES
abstain . I can just barely conceive there might be a show I haven’t watched that’s better than Babylon 5. Barely.
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN,
ANDROIDLight saber? MAN, THIEFRobin of Sherwood (12)
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
Abstain. It’s a lot easier to imagine a show without the flaws of BSG-nu.
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
Spinward Region – Round Two
1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (9)
2. DOUBLE X
Star Trek: The Next Generation (4)
no contest.
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic] (3)
Hartnell and C. Baker wouldn’t win this, but the combined powers of Pertwee, T. Baker, Davison and McCoy and many many companions win the day. (And the few extant eps from Troughton I’ve seen i liked)
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Firefly
Augh.
FILE 770 LIVE-ACTION TV TOURNAMENT AND BRACKETS
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5 (1)
Misfits [UK] (9)
Difficult, since both were groundbreaking in their way. But in the end, Misifts holds up better.
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (4)
Robin of Sherwood (12)
No contest at all.
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
Battlestar Galactica [Reboot] (3)
The Outer Limits (6)
The original Battlestar Galactica, please.
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
Torchwood (10)
Only season 1 of Torchwood.
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
The Prisoner (1)
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (9)
No contest at all.
2. DOUBLE X
Star Trek: The Next Generation (4)
X-Files (5)
Argh, difficult.
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic] (3)
Eureka (6)
Not even remotely a contest. In fact, I’m surprised Eureka is still here at all.
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Firefly (2)
Stargate SG-1 (10)
Again, no contest.
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5 (1)
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (4)
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
The Outer Limits (6)
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
The Prisoner (1)
2. DOUBLE X
Abstain
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Eureka (6)
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Stargate SG-1 (10)
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. COPING STRATEGIES
Babylon 5 (1)
2. BALD MAN, HOODED MAN, ANDROID MAN, THIEF
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (4)
3. WE ARE CONTROLLING THE TRANSMISSION. AND WE HAVE A PLAN.
Battlestar Galactica [Reboot] (3)
4. ARE YOU GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, OR JUST WATCH?
The Twilight Zone (2)
Coreward Region – Round Two
1. TONIGHT THERE’S GONNA BE A JAILBREAK
The Prisoner (1)
2. DOUBLE X
Star Trek: The Next Generation (4)
3. GENIUS VS. INTUITION
Doctor Who [Classic] (3)
4. WHICH CAME FIRST, THE MOVIE OR THE SERIES?
Firefly (2)