The i.Tech Virtual Keyboard Give-Away
Posted on 11 December 2006, at 10:22 am, by Judie Lipsett
**This contest is now closed, and the winner is Civisi. Thank you for participating and please watch for more contests soon!**
How would you like to score a lightly used* i.Tech Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard?
Thanks to the generosity of Golan Technology, one lucky Gear Diary reader will do just that; here’s how…
Reply in this thread with the name of your favorite Science Fiction movie or book, and include a sentence or two telling why it’s your favorite.
Added later: TV shows are fine! Keep them coming!! 
The i.Tech VKB review is slated for posting on January 15th, so I’ll plan on announcing the winner at 5:30 pm, US Central Standard Time on January 16th.
Read the small print:
This contest is open to anyone in the world, and I will pick up shipping. Good luck!
*I’ll be putting it through its paces for the review, but the VKB should be in nearly new condition when I am done. I’ll include all original packaging.
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GottaBeMobile.com - Keyboards in the News - Your Tablet PC and Ultra-Mobile PC news source Says:
December 11th, 2006 at 7:33 pm[...] A couple of interesting keyboard news items to report here. Yesterday I linked to Gear Diary where Judie is trying out thei.Tech Bluetooth Virutal Keyboard. Today she announced a contest giving away the laser wonder. You’ll need to know some science fiction to play. Check out Gear Diary for all the details. [...]
December 11th, 2006 at 11:00 am
My favorite SF movie? Why Forbidden Planet of course!
Why? Because Robbie is the ultimate gadget!
December 11th, 2006 at 11:55 am
May I cheat a little? Though I’m not a great TV watcher, my favorite Sci-Fi series is Farscape… and it’s movie, The Peacekeeper Wars (there!). It has some of the greatest characters ever to see the screen, and a nicely complicated world to muck around. Sci Fi can occassionally be too ‘black and white’ in terms of who’s good and evil, a stereotype which Farscape absolutely trumps! The writing’s top notch and intensely amusing.
And in terms of gadgets.. who wouldn’t want a personal DRD?
December 11th, 2006 at 12:28 pm
My favourite has to be The Day The Earth Stood Still; it was the first time sci-fi had made me think about the effect our evolution was having on something outside of our own planet. The juxtaposition of a peace-loving and collaborative group of worlds that would nonetheless destroy us out of the fear that we would impact on them negatively still gives me chills. It’s also good to see a sci-fi film where there isn’t a definite “happy ending” – we’re left with choice, but the problem certainly isn’t solved and we can’t rely on the visiting alien to tell us what to do. It’s a clever film
December 11th, 2006 at 12:39 pm
My favorite SF movie is of cause one of the only movies ever to feature a cooler HID (Human Interface Device) than the i.Tech Virtual Keyboard: Minority Report. But until Apple releases a tablet with a multi-finger gesture touch screen, I could do with an i.Tech Virtual Keyboard
I agree with parelle, though: Farscape is my favorite SF TV series.
December 11th, 2006 at 1:46 pm
The original Matrix, because it was done so well, and really made you think afterwards, a great combination with the entertainment it provided.
-arebelspy
December 11th, 2006 at 2:20 pm
My favorite book has got to be “Starship Troopers” by Robert A. Heinlein. Classic adventure, good guys v. evil monsters! In fact, any book by Robert A. Heinlein will fit in for this answer.
December 11th, 2006 at 2:23 pm
TRON, Hands down my favorite. I was 11 years old and saw it in the theatre.
All I could do was say wow! To be pulled into a computer world and have the
power of a USER! Nuf said. Back then I had an old commadore vic 20 and my
first code expirence was: 10 print “Hello Michael. “, 20 GOTO 10. LOL I
still remember playing TRON on the INTELLIVISION gaming system.
December 11th, 2006 at 3:56 pm
Favorite book: Dune – because it is packed with so many great ideas and is oh so relevant in this time (35 years later).
Movie: 2001 – because of the style!
December 11th, 2006 at 4:21 pm
Well my favourite Sci-Fi movie would have to be Galaxy Quest. That was quite a funny movie, and I never tire of watching it.
Favourite Sci-Fi series hands down would have to be Star Trek, and the best Star Trek series would be Deep Space Nine
December 11th, 2006 at 4:23 pm
Well my favorite sci-fi movie must be The Day After Tomorrow. The film was eh, but the point was big. I believe this is an important movie because it could be real in the very near future. Sure it is exaggerated but the truth is that this showed a bunch of people who would have never thought about global warming what we are doing, and what it could cause. Im not one of the fanatics (no insult intended) but I do believe something must be done, and fast. So that is why I can justify having watched this movie 5 times, each time thinking and reminding my self why I throw things into the recycling bin.
December 11th, 2006 at 4:37 pm
My favorite SF movie should be Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets, Doesn’t seem to be my favorite SF theme, but after we saw it I got the perfect reason for my two 10 year old kids to pick up the Goblet of Fire and read it (the very first book I got them to read besides the school stuff). We make HP trivia contests between Us now.
Cblue
December 11th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
I would have to say that my favorite Sci-Fi movie is 2001: A Space Odyssey. Aside from being visually beautiful, this movie is timeless, as it is open to so many interpretations regarding human-kind’s evolution and existence, and our use and struggle with our tools. I think one interpretation of the movie suggests that human-kind relies on his/her tools to conquer and advance (recall the scene of the Apes with their clubs), but human-kind should not rely so heavily on their tools, as it may lead to their destruction (recall HAL 9000); however, when used correctly, the simplest of tools can also save human-kind, as when a screwdriver was used to defeat HAL.
Come to think of it, doesn’t the i.Tech Virtual Keyboard remind you of HAL???!
December 11th, 2006 at 5:34 pm
Blade Runner,
Cyberpunk done on the big screen and never really seen again since (more’s the pity).
December 11th, 2006 at 5:48 pm
That’s easy, Star Trek IV, The Voyage Home. It had Star Trek, Whales, beautiful scenery and humor, what more could you want from a movie.
Great Quotes:
“He’s not exactly running on all thrusters” – Dr. McCoy
“Dr gave me a pill, and i grew a whole new kidney” Patient
“He did a little too much LDS” – Admiral Kirk
December 11th, 2006 at 6:00 pm
Bicentennial Man
It gets you thinking about what makes us human.
December 11th, 2006 at 6:56 pm
Starman.
It’s the embodiment of hope, romance, Sci-Fi, and Jeff Bridges all rolled into one original and captivating story.
December 11th, 2006 at 7:05 pm
Woody Allen’s Sleeper, I remember watching it as a kids and thinking it was funny. Then when I grew up I realized the social commentary to the movie.
December 11th, 2006 at 7:33 pm
War of the Worlds.
I’d love to find out that there actually is life somewhere else in the universe… hopefully not out to get us, but definitely out there.
December 11th, 2006 at 7:58 pm
My favorite sci-fi book, and actually my favorite book, period, is “Coalescent” by Stephen Baxter. It combines two of my favorite subjects, sci-fi, and the ancient Roman Empire (specifically the fall of the empire), which sounds like an odd combination — and it is — but it works. It’s actually the first of three in a series of “Destiny’s Children” novels, but it’s by far the best and stands just fine on its own. You don’t need to read the others to enjoy this one.
Baxter is a writer of “hard” science fiction, which often includes real science ideas from partical and quantom physics. Smart stuff, and a great deal of it goes over my head, but it’s fun to read.
As for sci-fi movie, I don’t think you can beat “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn” and for series, I like the new “Battlestar Galactica”.
December 11th, 2006 at 8:16 pm
Cool contest!
You said movie or book, but I’m going to bend the rules and throw in a TV show based on a movie – Stargate. The SG-1 series is finishing up its 10th and last year, while the spinoff Stargate Atlantis is still going strong. The shows has incredible special effects (movie quality!), great actors, and a humorous side. Some of that was lost when Col. Jack O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) left the show, but it’s still a great way to spend your Friday evenings.
December 11th, 2006 at 8:24 pm
Cool Contest!
You said favorite sci-fi book or movie, but I’m gong to bend the rules and tell you about a TV show based on a movie: Stargate.
Stargate SG1 is finishing up its 10th (and probably final) season, while it’s spinoff, Stargate Atlantis, is finishing its 3rd season and still going strong. Both shows offer great storylines, incredible special effects, talented actors, and occasional humor. Watching it is a great way to spend a Friday evening. And if you’re into mobile tech like me, keep an eye out on SG: Atlantis for the tablet PCs that they use.
*PS: If this ends up being a duplicate post, I apologize. I thought I submitted one, but it never appeared.
December 11th, 2006 at 8:27 pm
Bladerunner-daryl hanna gymnastic sexbot, replicant pythons, and olmos origami…
December 11th, 2006 at 8:33 pm
My favorite sci-fi book is “The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch” by Philip K. Dick because for one thing I’ve never had my mind messed with more than it was from that book. Personally I love mind-f*cks and that’s what this book was. Not to mention anything from Philip K. Dick is insane.
December 11th, 2006 at 8:34 pm
Favorite SF book, Alan Lightman’s, Einstein’s Dreams. Oh wait you did say fiction didn’t you. Well perhaps it’s just my own reality. Frick
December 11th, 2006 at 8:58 pm
My favorite sci-fi novel is A Scanner Darkly. It deals with a lot of issues that are at the heart of the human experience. Also, I really enjoy it when a story can integrate hypothetical technology into the plot without making it seem gimmicky. Last, but not least, the characters remind me of people I have known in the past.
December 11th, 2006 at 9:05 pm
One of my favorite Sci-Fi movies right now has to be “The Chronicles of Riddick”.
Vin Diesel is fantastic as Riddick. And I like Riddick – he makes for a very interesting character. This is what I see in him: He’s a very dark character, a hardened bad-ass, very guarded – closed off, difficult to get to know, very complex – much more than people may notice at first, very strong in will, and set aside to achieve a greater destiny than he ever imagined – which means he’s evolving greatly and doesn’t yet know himself completely. He’s discovering there is more inside himself than just a cold-hearted criminal with an empty future who never had a chance.
I like that. I like seeing people who weren’t able to make much of their lives, fight through the personal challenges life throws at them, and rise up to become someone great, to be part of something much greater than themselves.
Also, there are other characters in the story-line that help draw out some of the emotional aspects of Riddick to show the pain he carries from loss and his desire to give and receive love. So although he is very guarded and has lived life with anger and violence partially in selfish pursuit and partially to survive, these other characters provide opportunities that reveal Riddick’s ambivalent nature and that buried very deep below is a desire to do good, and often times, an uncertainty of how to do so; they reveal his character is multi-dimensional and bring out that complexity I mentioned before.
And of course, how could I possibly avoid mentioning the amazing cinematography, action scenes, and the remarkable technology mixed with aspects of ancient civilization?
For all of these reasons, this movie/storyline is hands-down my favorite Sci-Fi. Since this movie is part of a trilogy (with “Pitch Black” serving as the prequel (which I also really enjoyed)), the story has developed and will continue to do so along with Riddick, and I’m very eager to see the next two segments.
My favorite so far.
December 11th, 2006 at 9:15 pm
My favorite SciFi book is Hunters of the Red Moon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Read it when I was quite young and it was/is a fantastic story and would make a great movie!
December 11th, 2006 at 9:24 pm
i love “brave new world” by Aldous Huxley (for those who didn’t know). It was required reading in high school and i swear i re-read it at least once a year. Just a really really good read / story.
December 11th, 2006 at 9:57 pm
My favorite Sci-fi movie would have to be the first Star Wars. I was relatively young then and more impressionable. It all seemed very real to me. I would save up my lunch money and go see it every weekend. 14 times if I remember correctly!
December 11th, 2006 at 10:04 pm
Ender’s Game, and all its sequels.
These have to be the best Sci-Fi books of all time! (Written by Orson Scott Card) The idea that a children make the most intense warriors, but only if they do not know what is at stake. There are many religious undertones to all of Card’s writings, and the entire series plays out the lives of the children from the Battle School and how their experiences shape the adults they become, and the fact that the fate of the worlds still reside in their hands once they do now what is at stake.
The many parallels to our lives and the internal struggles we all face make the books a pleasure to read, and the underlying moral tales make them great for kids.
Just an amazing, awesome series!
December 11th, 2006 at 10:28 pm
For me it would have to be the movie Aliens.
Unbridled visceral action, the depiction of a strong, capable heroine, an engrossing underlying mythos, and the origin of the oft-parodied catchphrase, “Game over man, game over!”
December 11th, 2006 at 10:43 pm
Total Recall is an amazing movie not just because it has Sharon Stone but I believe it has the best plot line that derived The Matrix. The powerful message is that Reality is only a state of mind or what the mind perceives.
Since we cant go back in time and prove this or that happened, maybe memories or certain experiences we thought we had, we never really had. Then the most important question, if life, what we experience is even ‘real’ or not. Best sci-fi because it is way better off fiction
December 11th, 2006 at 11:03 pm
My favorate book would have to be “Dealing with Dragons, the enchanted forest chronicles”.
I’ve always hated reading books and lost interest quickly. During a classroom lecture my teacher forced us all to grab a book and read it for an essay. I grabbed the book because it looked short and simple. While reading it I saw how simple yet complex the story was. I found myself wanting to read on and felt like I could see the world as the author portrayed. Kinda like how atreyu found himself in the never ending story.
Definately an amazing experience for someone who hates books.
December 11th, 2006 at 11:05 pm
Dealing with Dragons, The enchanted forest chronicles.
Definately my most favorate book. Made me feel like I was living in the world as the author protrayed it. Kinda like Atreyu in the never ending story.
December 11th, 2006 at 11:37 pm
Isaac Asimov’s “Foundation”. Based on a brilliant idea, Asimov makes real (in fiction) my greatest dream, using mathematics to predict the behaviour of societies. It is without doubt, a masterpiece, and I’m sure millions of readers will agree with me(I’ve heard it’s the best-selling science fiction book of all times)
December 11th, 2006 at 11:48 pm
Contact byb Carl Sagan
It provides a glimpse that we’re not alone in this universe.
December 12th, 2006 at 12:27 am
Another vote for Asimov’s “Foundation” series as favourite SF book. I loved the sweeping view of history and the depiction of a progression of a civilisation, as well as the multitiude of ideas presented in the latter novels.
December 12th, 2006 at 2:20 am
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
As a huge sci-fi fan I thought I knew the best books in scifi, until someone pointed this one out to me a year or two ago, I read this and could not put it down I lost countless nights of sleep to it and then when I finished I just read it again and then scoured the bookshelves for the other Ender Series books. It may not be written as cleanly as some works like heinlein or asimov but the overall feel & complexity wowed me and seemed to hit me on a emotional level but I can’t really explain the feeling.
Actually I wonder where my copy is I think I just might read it again…………
December 12th, 2006 at 2:27 am
I got the link and the hint from jkOTR
I say “BACK TO THE FUTURE”
Why? We simply experience these fictions in the movie right now. And for the sake of the quotation “RUN FOR IT, MARTY”
Thanks
Akif GORUR
December 12th, 2006 at 4:10 am
Concerning the books, I pick up Asimov’s “Foudation and Earth”, the epilogue of the foundation saga. The way Asimov links together all the stories he has written since the first Robots’ books is simply amazing, and besides, the idea of a journey back to Earth, to the origins, in order to find the future of humanity in the universe is really fascinating. For who knows and loves Asimov’s books I think this is THE one.
You know what? I think I’m gonna read it once again after this post…
December 12th, 2006 at 5:54 am
Wow! What a cool contest!
I hope I don’t disqualify myself by having a film AND a book. Heeehheeehee. I’ll take my chances.
FILM:
Without a shadow of a doubt, BLADERUNNER, the director’s cut. The world Ridley Scott created is just so plausible, so possible. Those little android toys that that mutant toymaker created. Yeowww!!!!! Eeeeerie! Awesome!
(TOTAL RECALL comes a distant second, simply cos it was realllllly amazingly tongue-in-cheek. Arnie taking the piss out of himself in the best way possible.)
BOOK:
Ooooooooooooo! I think William Gibson’s NEUROMANCER trilogy just just just beats Neal Stephenson’s KRYPTONOMICON and BAROCK CYCLE to the post. Simply cos Gibson was the first science fiction writer in my experience who crossed over into literature. His ideas don’t lay waste to his characterisation or storytelling. That trilogy made me WANT a little slot in the back of my neck where I plug in!!!! Sheesh. I can’t wait!!! Stephenson is equally worthy, cos his world is AS plausible and literary. And KRYPTONOMICON is about as good as they get!
Thanks for a mighty contest! And I hope you have terrific fun revieing that li’l keyboard. I’m jealous.
Blue skies
love
Roy
December 12th, 2006 at 6:14 am
Blade Runner, without doubt. BR set a standard for gritty, cyberpunk cinema that’s rarely been attempted since, and never bested. But see the Director’s Cut. The original theatrical release (with the faux-Marlowe voice-over) is watered down for a less discerning audience.
December 12th, 2006 at 8:22 am
I have to go with Larry Niven’s Ringworld. I’ve never had a book make me feel so small in space as the descriptions of the ring did. Though as a runner up I have to include Schlock Mercenary by Howard Taylor. I’ve been reading it going on five years now and have never failed to be amazed at the blend of hard core Sci-fi and humor that he has maintained on a consistent basis for so long.
December 12th, 2006 at 8:48 am
Favourite film: Blade Runner (Director’s cut)
Why? – quite simply a classic. Ridley Scott’s direction was completely inspired. And even if the original decisions to add the “Sam Spade” over-dub was mis-directed, it did at least make the film understandable for those who had not read the original (Philip K Dick’ s “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep”). The long wait for the Director’s Cut was so worth it – and also by the way introduced the concept of different cuts of movies long before DVDs were born.
Favourite Book is more difficult – I have a top-10 but cannot decide on the order. Top 3 have to include the aforementioned “Androids”, but must also inclulde Heinlein’s novella “The Man Who Sold the Moon” – anyone who hasn’t dreamt of sitting on another planet gawping up at the sky has no place in an SF contest in my view – but also just about anything from Asimov.
December 12th, 2006 at 9:07 am
Loved anything by Piers Anthony in high school. I’m a writer and always have been, so I thought his sense of wordplay was smart and snarky, and it gave me license to be funny myself. What a nice way to introduce myself to science fiction: coupled with my love of language, the Piers Anthony texts weren’t something that I put down very easily!
December 12th, 2006 at 9:24 am
I love VR Man. It’s a made in singapore tv serial. I love watching every episode crash and burn hahaha. It was truely horrible =)
December 12th, 2006 at 9:36 am
First of all, James Kendrick told me to tell you that jkOTR sent me! Or something like that…
My favorite Sci Fi movie of all time is the Matrix. It opened up so many infinite story lines based on purely imagination no longer restricting writers/directors to the limits imposed by special effects techniques.
Thanks for the contest!
December 12th, 2006 at 10:02 am
I too would have to go with Dune, at least the first three books and the SciFi channel miniseries version. You can see Dune’s influence in many of the stories people have already talked about, including Star Wars….something kind of missing from this list! The combination of sci fi, unique universerse, politics, and religion/messiah complex is unbeatable.
Oh, I have a complaint. It is NOT fair to host not only a contest (something maybe free!) with a gear /gadget site that I now must add to my daily routine with a ton of great resources for my future reading/watching lists. It is too much all at once…there should have been a disclaimer on the link!!!
December 12th, 2006 at 10:20 am
Great Scott!! The Back to the Future triology is my fave! This is sci-fi at its finest – accessble and fun but still thought-provoking. The continuity is incredible – I love the way Part II looped back in (nearly) flawlessly on the first movie.
December 12th, 2006 at 10:34 am
The original Star Wars (Episode IV) is my favorite. I had a huge crush on that cutie Mark Hamill and I loved the idea of cruising around in his cool floating landspeeder. And this movie set the bar for every other science fiction movie made since.
December 12th, 2006 at 10:55 am
Favorite SciFi: The Iron Giant
And of course it has guns and robots, too.
I know it’s a cartoon, and I don’t know if that counts, but it’s a movie I can watch with my son and it has such a powerful message of friendship, love and war, sacrifice and rebirth. (Maybe I’m reading too much into it.
Honorable mention goes to Galaxy Quest, one of the best pieces of satire out there and always a fun watch.
December 12th, 2006 at 12:08 pm
Favorite SciFi movie: “Alien”
no doubt about it, this was a ride – like a classic haunted house in space. “Aliens” was a roller coaster. The chest burst scene will always be a classic. I still remember all the popcorn flying in the theater the first time I saw it.
Favorite SciFi TV show: currently a tie between the new “Battlestar Galactica” and “Heroes”
Both are extremely character driven, which I think makes them more accessable to non SciFi fans.
Favorite SciFi book: “World War Z” by Max Brooks
Don’t know if it would really be considered SciFi by most, but I loved the tone of it, the desperation, etc.
December 12th, 2006 at 12:28 pm
TV Show for me would have to be Star Trek TNG..although the new Battlestar Galactica & Stargate: SG1 are a close second places.
Movie would have to be the “original” Star Wars (ep IV). I was only 11 when it was released and saw it well over 20 times. It’s still my favorite of all 6 just because it was a good time in my life and I can always look back to those times and grin. (My kids would argue that ep 3 is the best..but they’re young)
Book: Only one favorite? That’s near impossible. As others have said, Heinlein and Asimov kept me dreaming all through my younger years and all their books and series.
December 12th, 2006 at 12:59 pm
The best movie ever is “The Lawnmower Man” (1992). Based on a Stephen King story, despite the erase that from the title because of a lawsuit.
I like this movie because use a concept and special FX ahead of its time, probably one of the finest movies created with the help of technology from Silicon Graphics (I mean in 1992), and you know that those computers were amazing.
And of course, I like it because: “God made him simple. Science made him a god. ”
Cheers to everybody in this Blog and a special thanks to Judie for forced me to remember that great movie
Carlos
December 12th, 2006 at 1:08 pm
The book “Voyage from Yesteryear” completely redefined what I look for in Sci-Fi books. Nothing like a little anarchy with your spaceships.
December 12th, 2006 at 1:52 pm
My favorite Sci-Fi book is “War of the Worlds”. It was my first taste of Sci-Fi as a kid and it scared the dickens out of me. I couldn’t sleep for days. It sent chills down my spin. Just thinking back on it and the realization of how powerful the written word can be… It’s astonishing.
December 12th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
The originals had such an effect on me as a child, I actually attended the launch of one of the Star Wars prequels wearing full Stormtrooper armor– but Judie didn’t ask for my favorite pulp influence.
I actually cried during a scene of Serenity– but Judie didn’t ask for the movie I connected with on an emotional level.
I read and re-read 1984 because I like to read cautionary tales that challenge my predispositions, not ones that reinforce them– but Judie didn’t ask what book is my favorite for keeping me centrist.
I love the new Battlestar Galactica because the DVDs keep me on the treadmill– but Judie didn’t ask what my favorite current TV show is.
I loved The Prestige because it took a chance when few others movies seem to do these days– but Judie didn’t ask for my favorite recent movie.
The directive was “Reply in this thread with the name of your favorite Science Fiction movie or book, and include a sentence or two telling why it’s your favorite. Added later: TV shows are fine!”
That is really tough. I will have to say that the original Star Trek is my favorite.
Why?
Seeing Nichelle Nichols on screen in a prominent role was insirational to me.
I was young, so the acting was fine for me.
I was impressionable, so the objectification of women was horrible for me. But becaue of the vision of unity, hope, and a future where poverty had been eradicated– it was neverless, transformative for me.
Maintaining to this day a vision of people from all over the world working together in peace, is still redemptive for me.
December 12th, 2006 at 4:03 pm
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams of course.
It was one of the first Sci-Fi books I read and I remember almost all of it.
Besides, I’ll always know where my towel is
December 12th, 2006 at 4:05 pm
My favorite sci-fi show is “Stargate SG-1″ the tv series. I just loved the dialogue between the main characters. It was the development of these characters that made me want to keep watching even during those “lean” years. “Jack O’Neill” is my favorite character on the show.
December 12th, 2006 at 4:47 pm
My favorite series of novels is the Dragons of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey because of the use of a traditionally fantasy theme in a pure SF novel (or 20)…
If I have to pick a single novel it would be Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land – where we learned the concept of “Grok”
December 12th, 2006 at 6:46 pm
Possibly embarrassing or not, a search for “Lexx” didn’t turn up anywhere in this thread. Alas, it’s my favorite of SciFi’s, though I could not live without others mentioned here. Why? It’s fantastically ironic, budget, and has an engrossing epic plot if you can suffer all the cheeky stuff. As for books, I just finished “Ender’s Game” so that is at the top of my list for SciFi in print. -cheers-
December 12th, 2006 at 9:31 pm
My favorite scifi show was and is Farscape. It has some of the most exciting and action packed stories of any tv series, the nastiest villains this side of James Bond, and the highest production values that I’ve ever seen on a tv scifi show. Best of all, like any true scifi show, most episodes leave you pondering about the “what ifs” of what’s out there beyond our world. Although I could go on and on about the writing and the wit of this show, one thing that always struck me is how it took future tech for granted. There was no time wasted in the episodes on techno-babble explaining the gadgets that the characters used. The characters just used them all matter-of-factly, the way we use toasters, microwaves, and radios. As an engineer, I could always look at the gadgets used on Farscape and think that they looked just about the way they ought to look for whatever it is that they’re being used for; they never looked silly or outlandish. And those DRDs (Diagnostic Repair Drones) absolutely rocked! Think R2D2, but smaller, sleeker, cuter, and more matter-of-fact.
December 12th, 2006 at 10:41 pm
My favorite scifi book is Norman Spinrad’s “Songs from the Stars”. It’s a post apocalyptic novel which takes technology in very different directions, and which has a sort of hippie ethic for what technology is good and what is bad. Good story, too. Would make a great movie, wonder why nobody has picked it up?
December 12th, 2006 at 11:38 pm
My favourite sci-fi movie has to “Back to the Future”. The series is a definite classic, and there is a huge fanbase at http://www.bttf.com. I must have watched this movie over a hundred times, and can pretty much quote the entire script. It’s fun to look at some of the original drafts, i.e. how they planned on using a fridge for the time machine, rather than the futuristic Delorean. There are plenty of other time travel movies that I really like, but I definitely know that it was “Back to the Future” which set me off on the sci-fi path (never to return)…
December 13th, 2006 at 4:55 am
My vote goes for Minority Report, I see it as a very probable future, especially refferring the iris identificationDecember 13th, 2006 at 8:11 am
Hi Judie!
Just about any Baen book is my favorite Sci-Fi novel but I’m currently reading the Vorkosigan series. “Cordelia’s Honor”, “Young Miles”, and “Miles Errant”. These omnibus editions cover an amazing amount of the human condition while giving any military Sci-Fi reader the fix he/she needs.
I like your new site.
December 13th, 2006 at 8:41 am
What a great contest.
I think the greatest sci-fi story ever told is Herbert’s Dune series of novels. The scope of imagination and creation in these stories is unlike anything else I’ve seen, and the underlying lessons about human nature and our potential of a species are inspiring.
December 13th, 2006 at 8:59 am
What a great contest.
My favorite sci-fi work is definitely Herbert’s Dune novel series. These books are incredibly imaginative and yet are so relevant with their themes of ecology and dependence on limited natural resources.
December 13th, 2006 at 9:55 am
The Kraken Wakes by John Wyndham
Written in the 50s, but still relevant today with it’s descriptions of sea levels rising and London under water. Everyone compares this book to Day of the Triffids by the same author, but I think Kraken is underrated and compares well with Wyndham’s other books.
December 13th, 2006 at 11:25 am
The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury. It’s a story about a man covered in moving tattoos that tell different stories. As these moving tattoos come alive, the reader is plunged into different worlds, characters, and subjects dealing with technology, space travel, time travel, religion, racism, death & dying, end of the world, and the importance of family. I read this book when I was a sophomore in high school for my English class (back in 1982). Not only did it create lively classroom discussions, but it also gave birth for my love of reading books.
December 13th, 2006 at 2:55 pm
Not TRUE sci fi would be “The Time Travelers Wife.” It is really about true love, but in disguise. Don’t read the Amazon synopsis, because they give away too much info you aren’t supposed to know.
If you want more sci fi then that, i’d have to say Hitchiker’s
December 13th, 2006 at 5:05 pm
My fav book is definitely Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson . The book is absolutely great and talks all about the future and life in the metaverse! The main character is a sword fighting hacker/pizza delivery guy. What’s not to love!!! I do have to admit though that the ending seemed a bit rushed.
December 13th, 2006 at 9:41 pm
My favorite science fiction movie is Back to the Future. The entire series was great, but the first one just sparked so many questions in my young mind when I first saw it.
December 14th, 2006 at 7:45 am
“Planet of the Geek” is my favorite Sci-Fi book. The movie adapted from the book was also fantastic! All those geeks and those hi-tech toys and such a story plot. If you wonder why “Planet of the Geek” is not on Amazon.com, this is simply because I still have to write it
December 14th, 2006 at 2:53 pm
Ender’s Game is my favorite SF book; the premise and the whole direction of the story blew me away. Bladerunner would be my vote for movie because of the incredible sets and its vision of a not so distant future.
December 14th, 2006 at 10:32 pm
My vote goes out to “I, Robot”. The book, not the movie though. Although I enjoyed the movie, it was more action and typical Hollywoodesque drama+romance+sf. The book however drives home the point that no matter how perfectly you form your “set of rules”, whether the 3 laws or whatever, there will always be some grey areas where things can go unexpectedly bad. I love the way Isaac Asimov presented the 3 laws, and then in each story showed a way where the 3 laws, while seemingly perfect, produced unwanted results.
Oh ya, I live in Karachi, Pakistan, and am the biggest G(adget fr)EAK I ever saw! A big heads-up to all GEAKs (not geeks). So I’d love to have the Virtual Keyboard. Would I be too cheeky if asked you to send it to me?
December 15th, 2006 at 3:02 pm
The Mote in God’s Eye – great book, classic sci-fi.
Otherwise, check out David Weber’s Honor Harrington series… not only great books, nearly all available electronically from Baen (www.baen.com), and with NO DRM!
December 15th, 2006 at 3:07 pm
The Mote in God’s Eye – classic sci-fi… recently re-released by Baen.
Otherwise, the David Weber “Honor Harrington” series… great sci-fi, with real characters. I love a series that I can get into and enjoy for a long period of time. And even better they are available electronically from Baen (www.baen.com) with no DRM!
December 15th, 2006 at 9:38 pm
Favorite Sci-Fi book? You won’t know it, most likely, but I still have to say this one, because it is AMAZING. Sigrid et les Mondes Perdus, a french series by Serge Brussolo, is about a young orphan living…well, on Earth, at the beginning of the first book. She finds her way to a planet that is all ocean, turns into a fish, and then a bird; escapes gigantic floating “viruses” that make you sneeze so strongly that your insides are pushed out of your skin; she enters the mouth of a dragon and finds a world where the ground is constantly renewing flesh, and inhabited by evil monkeys. And it manages, surprisingly enough, to sound absolutely believable. It’s like those strange dreams that feel so real and normal, and you wake up and are entirely weirded out.
December 20th, 2006 at 10:33 am
My Favorite movie is Terminator. Why cos it has the most advanced and usefull gadget of all the Terminator Series 800 (shiny metal endoskeleton) model 101.
Serioulsy with a toy like that I can have loads of fun(assuming that he is just a robot and not terminator)
December 21st, 2006 at 6:22 pm
I am surprised not to see “FireFly” mentioned, or possibly I missed it. This was a great series and the full length “Serenity” was just as good. It seems a huge blunder on FOX networks part to not have exploited it more. (they even failed to air two episodes).
December 23rd, 2006 at 3:11 pm
My favorite is Battlestar Galactica, the concept is nice and the special effects are amazing. I tried the laser keyboard, it’s really cool and it works!
December 24th, 2006 at 10:49 am
My favorites are all the Star Wars Movies. It told a great story that is not limited to the Sci-fi genre and introduced many people to the prequel and sequel technique. Plus lots of gadgets of course!
December 30th, 2006 at 1:49 am
Favorite is Robert Heinlein’s “Number of the Beast”. I love the way Heinlein often makes females the center hero(ine) of his stories. He is a utopian and I love that about him.
[Edited by Judie to remove personal address & phone number; you'll be contacted via email if you are the winner.]
December 31st, 2006 at 9:29 am
My favorite Sc-Fi movie is the original Star Wars Trilogy. And if you need to ask why, then you are not a true Sci-Fi fan. Of course, Superman is a close second. BUt no Sci-Fi movie can touch the books of Isaac Asimov.
I have been dying to try one of these i-tech keyboards for a long time. I hope I win.
Doug
January 1st, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Judie, very much looking forward to your review. As a heavy traveler, the concept of a VKB could be very useful (if it is well implemented).
As to SciFI books: ICE by Shane Johnson (WaterBrook Press) combined with Space Trilogy by CS Lewis. In combination, the four books will take you to Mars, Venus, the Moon and Earth. Space Trilogy is more esoteric, so a good one to start with for those not previously exposed to SciFi with a philosophical message would be ICE. These are great books for those who are open to challenging their root assumptions about the universe, life and our role. That said, they are incredibly captivating and entertaining.
Movies, after reading your offer, my first thought was The Forbidden Planet as it was a pioneer and still stands up to all the later CG dependent productions (it was a pleasant surprise to see that it was the choice of the first responder). However, my vote goes to the yet-to-be-produced ICE which could be an exceptional movie experience capable of rivaling Kubrick’s 2001.
January 1st, 2007 at 2:41 pm
My favorite? Wow . . . that’s a tough one. For a Sci-Fi movie — I’d have to go with Star Trek First Contact. Ya gotta love a Picard’s instructions at the end for how to get back to their normal time. Something to the effect of: “Recreate the output of the sphere & follow the path in the other direction.” How’s that for a technical glossover for a technicality of time travel? LOL!
C.
January 14th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Hyperion, by Dan Simmons.
As a father, the story of the daughter that begins to grow younger as she travel back in subjective time resonates. The father, a rationalist, attempts to find faith in a miracle, since that is the only act that will work.
January 14th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
2001 A Space Odessy. Reminds me that the bugs in my Company’s software are not really that bad!
Ron
January 14th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Fav SciFi Book: “The Number of the Beast” by Robert A. Heilein
It is the tops on my lists as it is so filled with humor and so over the top with allusions and hyperbole and cliches. And the completely disjointed ending is so out there that I can’t help but re-read the entire book many times.
January 14th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Surface – Very underrated TV show. Much better than Lost which I never got into.
January 14th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
To live Again by Robert Silverberg. To quote from Amazon’s summary, “True immortality for humans is just a dream, but with the Scheffing process, the extremely wealthy can purchase the next best thing. For an exorbitant fee, the Scheffing Institute will make a copy of your mind’s ‘persona’, hold it in storage until your death, and then transplant it into sub-layers of the brain of a willing (and paying) host. The result for the host is immediate access to the persona’s memories, knowledge, experiences, and judgment … for the persona, it means full consciousness and thought-communication with the host, but without physical control of the host’s body.” The intrigue that follows in the book is a good read. I read this book in hardback over 35 years ago when it was brand new and have never forgotten it. Thanks for the reminder with this contest. Keep up the good work on your blog. (from the Netherlands)
January 15th, 2007 at 10:44 am
One of my favorite SciFi books is a series by C.S. Lewis… The Space Trilogy. The science and tech is great, even though it 50 years old. He even introduces the Force in a way. Keep up the great work Judie!
January 15th, 2007 at 11:24 am
My favourite sci-fi movie will be the “Back to the Future”. Going back or forward in time and able to choose the exact moment is simply amazing!