Sci-Fi Thread

[Ovals]

Finished the two season of the Mandolorian. It did get better - I was quite enjoying it by the end. It's really just an old fashioned Western series in a Sci Fi setting. The IMBD rating is quite a bit too high though.

I did try watching the Expanse but couldn't get into it - maybe I should give it another try.

I think in the first season of the Expanse you have to put in some effort to get the setting, language etc. and the writing isn't so snappy. It really hits its straps in season 2 though and the world building pays off.

If memeory serves - it was the main character that I wasn't keen on.

I'll give it another go once I've finished a series I've already started.

[Tichtheid]

1st official Dune trailer out. Can’t be arsed to link. Do a search on youtube lazy feks. Looks good. As one comment put it,’looks like someone actually read the book.’

Sure even the original looked okay ish in a trailer.


This is the new one.

Sounds promising

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/s ... m-festival

[PCPhil]

1st official Dune trailer out. Can’t be arsed to link. Do a search on youtube lazy feks. Looks good. As one comment put it,’looks like someone actually read the book.’

Sure even the original looked okay ish in a trailer.


This is the new one.

Sounds promising

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/s ... m-festival

Do hope so. Read the book was I was 15 for the 1st time and just couldn’t put it down.

[tabascoboy]

The Expanse: just finished reading Book 5 'Nemesis Games', and right at the end in the epilogue we apparently learn

Spoiler

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the identity of who stole the protomolecule sample from Tycho Station and some weird shit going down at the Ring

. Does anyone with better memory than me know if this was included in Season 5 of the show? This seemed new to me, and seemed to open up some new directions for the whole story.

[yermum]

it becomes a key moment for the development of the story in the later books.

wont spoil anything though...

[tabascoboy]

OK well they have recently finished filming season 6 though it's not expected to air here until December, so the dilemma is to read the next book before or not....

[fishfoodie]

Anyone got any info on the new Apple TV series; 'Foundation", from the Asimov books ?

I'm in the horrible mixed feelings space; where I've read the books a dozen times, & so have visualized the characters & the environment; & so if whoever is writing/producing/directings vision jars too far off my version; watching it will be like fingers on the blackboard

[Uncle fester]

Anyone got any info on the new Apple TV series; 'Foundation", from the Asimov books ?

I'm in the horrible mixed feelings space; where I've read the books a dozen times, & so have visualized the characters & the environment; & so if whoever is writing/producing/directings vision jars too far off my version; watching it will be like fingers on the blackboard

Books are very dated now. Would need serious writing to bring the story up to scratch.

[Dismal Pillock]

Dark is brilliant.

1st 2 seasons were goddamn gripping but during S3 I gave up when the whole "such and such's daughter is actually their grandmother" palava become too much of a mindfuck

S3 was all so very, very serious and earnest they seemed to forget to make it entertaining.

They started too many narratives running concurrently I reckon. Westworld's circumlocutious tailchasing ladled out as a thick teutonic gruel.

The overwrought dialogue was taking the piss too"...and so time itself is whatever it was always meant to be and life is but a looped circuit of linear events which have a past bound to a future that lives on in the present" oh fuck off Hans

[Biffer]

Dark is brilliant.

1st 2 seasons were goddamn gripping but during S3 I gave up when the whole "such and such's daughter is actually their grandmother" palava become too much of a mindfuck

S3 was all so very, very serious and earnest they seemed to forget to make it entertaining.

They started too many narratives running concurrently I reckon. Westworld's circumlocutious tailchasing ladled out as a thick teutonic gruel.

The overwrought dialogue was taking the piss too"...and so time itself is whatever it was always meant to be and life is but a looped circuit of linear events which have a past bound to a future that lives on in the present" oh fuck off Hans

Same

[yermum]

Anyone got any info on the new Apple TV series; 'Foundation", from the Asimov books ?

I'm in the horrible mixed feelings space; where I've read the books a dozen times, & so have visualized the characters & the environment; & so if whoever is writing/producing/directings vision jars too far off my version; watching it will be like fingers on the blackboard

Books are very dated now. Would need serious writing to bring the story up to scratch.

they have gender switched a few main characters and changed a bit afaik.

there will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth from the usual demographic of neckbeards that like to get upset about such matters.

[PCPhil]

Watched the two 1st episodes of foundation early this morning. Pleasantly surprised and want to see the 3rd as soon as possible.

[Biffer]

Watched the two 1st episodes of foundation early this morning. Pleasantly surprised and want to see the 3rd as soon as possible.

What’s the release schedule? New episode every week? Think I’ll probably wait until they’re all released to take a month of Apple TV and binge them.

[PCPhil]

Yeah it’s weekly. I am not sure on this but try to watch the 1st episode for free and see what happens. Worked for me but not sure what I did.

[Ovals]

Anyone got any info on the new Apple TV series; 'Foundation", from the Asimov books ?

I'm in the horrible mixed feelings space; where I've read the books a dozen times, & so have visualized the characters & the environment; & so if whoever is writing/producing/directings vision jars too far off my version; watching it will be like fingers on the blackboard

Books are very dated now. Would need serious writing to bring the story up to scratch.

they have gender switched a few main characters and changed a bit afaik.

there will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth from the usual demographic of neckbeards that like to get upset about such matters.

Asimov's Foundation series was what got me into reading Sci Fi in my late teens - I read all of Asimov's books.

But it has been many, many, years since I last read them again, so I won't be too put out if the new series isn't very faithful to the books - and, TBF, they would have had to change them substantially to make a decent TV show - even before bringing the writing up to date.

Now that the 1st two episdoes are in, I think I'll get Apple TV + on a free one weeks trial and then pay for a couple of months to see the rest of the 10 episodes.

[yermum]

I am a sci-fi lover and have read lots of good and bad sci-fi, The one glaring omission in my reading list was foundation. When I heard that Apple were adapting it I started to read it.

I found it super dry and very dated. (to my shame I gave up). I am enjoying the tv adaption though.

[PCPhil]

I am a sci-fi lover and have read lots of good and bad sci-fi, The one glaring omission in my reading list was foundation. When I heard that Apple were adapting it I started to read it.

I found it super dry and very dated. (to my shame I gave up). I am enjoying the tv adaption though.

With the super sophisticated scifi of authers like Ian M Banks and others I don’t think I could read foundation again. But at the time I remember being impressed that the series could hold me despite each book featuring a complete new character set as it covers a huge amount of time. The ending was interesting too.

[mat the expat]

I am a sci-fi lover and have read lots of good and bad sci-fi, The one glaring omission in my reading list was foundation.

Same

[robmatic]

I am a sci-fi lover and have read lots of good and bad sci-fi, The one glaring omission in my reading list was foundation. When I heard that Apple were adapting it I started to read it.

I found it super dry and very dated. (to my shame I gave up). I am enjoying the tv adaption though.

I don't think Asimov holds up as well as many of his peers from the time.

[Ovals]

Books are very dated now. Would need serious writing to bring the story up to scratch.

they have gender switched a few main characters and changed a bit afaik.

there will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth from the usual demographic of neckbeards that like to get upset about such matters.

Asimov's Foundation series was what got me into reading Sci Fi in my late teens - I read all of Asimov's books.

But it has been many, many, years since I last read them again, so I won't be too put out if the new series isn't very faithful to the books - and, TBF, they would have had to change them substantially to make a decent TV show - even before bringing the writing up to date.

Now that the 1st two episdoes are in, I think I'll get Apple TV + on a free one weeks trial and then pay for a couple of months to see the rest of the 10 episodes.

Watched the 1st episode last night and was impressed. Just hope they don't fall into the trap of things becoming too magical or spiritual - I could see some signs of that happening already. But, so far, so good. Glad they didn't try to rush the start too much.

[FalseBayFC]

Episode 3 out tomorrow. Enjoyed first 2. I'm trying to avoid any analysis or criticism of the show . All the hard science dissections online have ruined most scifi shows for me in the last few years. I've lost my ability to suspend disbelief.

[Biffer]

Different type of Scifi but I watched Free Guy the other night. Brilliant, really funny

[BnM]

Foundation ep3 is like a 5th rate wannabe speilberg directed it. Cliched directing and cliched script.

[PCPhil]

Foundation ep3 is like a 5th rate wannabe speilberg directed it. Cliched directing and cliched script.

Agree. Not going to give any spoilers but It looks like they could be wearing red, yellow and blue sweaters if it goes in this direction.

Update. Hopefully episode 3 ending was just a little aberration. Been a long time since I read the books but just now while driving to shops I completely understand the ending to episode 2 so feeling a little better.

[BnM]

THe kids bit at the start of the 2nd half of the ep, my eyes rolled so hard.

[Ovals]

Foundation ep3 is like a 5th rate wannabe speilberg directed it. Cliched directing and cliched script.

Agree. Not going to give any spoilers but It looks like they could be wearing red, yellow and blue sweaters if it goes in this direction.

Update. Hopefully episode 3 ending was just a little aberration. Been a long time since I read the books but just now while driving to shops I completely understand the ending to episode 2 so feeling a little better.

Ep 3 was painstakingly slow and spent far too long concentrating on the, rather irrelevant, lives of the Emperors. The story really didn't move ahead at all.

Spoiler

Show

I was very surprised that they revealed Demerzel as a Robot, so early in the series. In the books the robot (Daneel Olivar ?) wasn't revealed until the very end.

The end of ep 2 wasn't entirely surprising, if you've read the books. Seldon didn't want any Psychohistorians in the Foundation - they would probably have 2nd guessed/spoiled his plans.

Hopefully the storyline wll progress a bit faster now and they'll move away from the lives of the Emperors - it should now be all be about the Foundation and how it deals with the locals warlords of a decayng empire.

[PCPhil]

Er Spoilers Alert!

[PCPhil]

I’m really starting to question whether an Apple TV subscription is worth it for 45minutes of Foundation where there is only about 5 minutes of any meaningful interest. The first 2 episodes where okay but they gave some pretty high content to pull you in. After that……well. am going to give it 1 more week.

[PCPhil]

Spoiler alert

Spoiler

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this weeks storyline.
The girl mathematician genius from the few episodes wakes up in an empty spaceship and runs around in a very fetching outfit. This is the highlight.
Meanwhile back on Terminus the invaders are dressed like extras from game of thrones, talk gibberish and shoot at force fields for no discernible reason. their chief huntress leader is a captive of the foundation. Then she breaks free by setting off a device in her head and holds a gun to the head of someone’s mum. The daughter of the mum (foundation defender) frees her mum and chases the huntress. They then have a fight using a gun, a knife, an iron bar, a chain and finally a spike of metal that was conveniently left lying around. Huntress is back to being a captive……oh but then the game of thrones guys come in with the mum held captive so back to square one.
Meanwhile a warship of the most powerful empire in history appears above the planet and shot down by other game of thrones guys using what is in effect a pea shooter.
Oh, forgot. With the force field down hundreds of game of throne guys storm the foundation camp firing endlessly and constantly like machine guns on the somme from about 50ft away…..I think they manage to hit someone not to badly in the shoulder.

I think there was more but I kept hitting the jump 15s forward button before I cancelled my subscription.

[fishfoodie]

Spoiler alert

Spoiler

Show

this weeks storyline.
The girl mathematician genius from the few episodes wakes up in an empty spaceship and runs around in a very fetching outfit. This is the highlight.
Meanwhile back on Terminus the invaders are dressed like extras from game of thrones, talk gibberish and shoot at force fields for no discernible reason. their chief huntress leader is a captive of the foundation. Then she breaks free by setting off a device in her head and holds a gun to the head of someone’s mum. The daughter of the mum (foundation defender) frees her mum and chases the huntress. They then have a fight using a gun, a knife, an iron bar, a chain and finally a spike of metal that was conveniently left lying around. Huntress is back to being a captive……oh but then the game of thrones guys come in with the mum held captive so back to square one.
Meanwhile a warship of the most powerful empire in history appears above the planet and shot down by other game of thrones guys using what is in effect a pea shooter.
Oh, forgot. With the force field down hundreds of game of throne guys storm the foundation camp firing endlessly and constantly like machine guns on the somme from about 50ft away…..I think they manage to hit someone not to badly in the shoulder.

I think there was more but I kept hitting the jump 15s forward button before I cancelled my subscription.

Spoiler

Show

The; "Storming", was so bizarre; I came to the conclusion,that they weren't actually laser rifles; but actually selfie sticks that the attackers were using to take photos for their instagram accounts.

Instead of taking photos of their food; soldiers will now take photos as they storm a city !

Imagine the photos the thin red line could have gotten at Sebastopol !

[Ovals]

Took my teenage Grand Daughters to London yesterday, to see Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds 'Immersive Experience'. Escaping from the Martions via a combination of scrambling through different sets, with live actors, Film/FX, VR and, of course, the music. Great fun, the kids loved it. Bit pricey though, at £80 per head - but you go through in groups of just 12, so I guess it's bound to be costly.

Did Madam Tussards beforehand - much better than I expected - the Star Wars and Alien sections were very good.

[Biffer]

Halfway through The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu. Decent, but there's a few times I've cocked a metaphorical eyebrow at some of the science proposition.

[Torquemada 1420]

Dune.

***** effort.

[Enzedder]

Movie theaters are shut here but I acquired a link to watch the Dune movie

If you are keen, try http://aa01.net

[JM2K6]

Halfway through The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu. Decent, but there's a few times I've cocked a metaphorical eyebrow at some of the science proposition.

Laboured exposition: The Book. Paper thin characters with some absolutely hatstand scientific ideas. I didn't understand the praise it got.

[mat the expat]

The translation is completely off I think.

[robmatic]

Halfway through The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu. Decent, but there's a few times I've cocked a metaphorical eyebrow at some of the science proposition.

I don't get why people regard it so highly. Wasn't fond of the characterisation and the science is a mix of 'ooh' and 'hmm'.

[Biffer]

Halfway through The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu. Decent, but there's a few times I've cocked a metaphorical eyebrow at some of the science proposition.

Laboured exposition: The Book. Paper thin characters with some absolutely hatstand scientific ideas. I didn't understand the praise it got.

Yeah, I’m not understanding the level of praise either. Think it might be because it was huge in China and no one wants to offend them.

[tabascoboy]

Loved The Three Body Problem, even if parts of it were a bit batshit

[Jock42]

Movie theaters are shut here but I acquired a link to watch the Dune movie

If you are keen, try http://aa01.net

Decent quality?