No, not
those space invaders. I've previously complained about the idea of an
alien invasion from space as an absurd plot for a
science fiction story.
Before I discovered science fiction as a literary genre, I was amazed to see an endless series of "war movies" that came out of
Hollywood. By the time I was seven years old, I was tired of watching vast numbers of Hollywood extras playing the role of Indians and Japs and other despised targets for the "heroic" dudes who would kill thousands of "bad guys" without a qualm.
When I started reading science fiction, I quickly came across examples of military science fiction such a Edward Elmer Smith's
Lensman Series. Two great advantages of
reading science fiction are that 1) you can easily skip over the long-drawn-out battle scenes and 2) you don't have to worry about possible injuries to the poor extras who made dramatic falls from their horses after being shot. Still, I quickly tired of
military science fiction and eventually learned to avoid buying any more books about fictional wars.
Some bad ideas never go away, persisting like a bad stink. Sadly, when technology became available for reaching outer space, some people could not imagine a future of peaceful exploration.
Instead, in many imaginations the miserable human habit of using new technologies for war was simply extended into space....endlessly.
Star Wars
It was inevitable that someone would go ahead and translate all of the memes of Earthly war movies into an outer space setting. In many ways,
Star Wars is a great example of anti-science fiction. I agree with Heinlein's description of science fiction as a form of literature that is about
change.
Star Wars is
anti-science fiction in that it depicts a society where there have been great advances in technology, but nothing about the lives of people is changed: there are still slaves, wars and people don't even have cell phones.
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| repeat, endlessly |
Of course, even
Star Wars must depict some change. Every couple of years, the death star can be made a little bigger and the characters a bit more politically correct.
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| click image to enlarge |
I enjoy science fiction stories built upon imagination and exploration of new ideas and strange new worlds. For me, there are few things more depressing than a science fiction story that simply translates a tired old plot into an outer space setting.
By 1950,
Galaxy magazine proclaimed the need for a safe haven, a magazine for science fiction stories that would
NOT simply transplant tired old plots from Earth into an outer space setting (see the image to the left).
 |
| Galaxy |
Space Invaders
However, if your goal is $$$, then you are probably wise to be in the plot recycling business.
From my perspective, the endless flow of military science fiction from Hollywood and the people who are responsible for these mindless Sci Fi epics represent the most horrible type of space invaders. Science fiction should be a genre about interesting new adventures, not endless repetition of the worst aspects of human existence. Hollywood: please stop invading outer space and polluting it with your dreary fantasy wars.
Possibly the most annoying aspect of
Star Wars is that everyone in these movies is supposed to be an alien being who lives in a galaxy far away. Sadly, these aliens seem identical to Earthlings, right down to the details of all our worst features.
SIHA 2018
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| rubber mask party |
Does anyone in Hollywood have the imagination and patience to tell a story about how new technology could radically change the way people live?
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| The last? Really? Don't get my hopes up. |
Starting next month (in 2018) I will begin looking for interesting new aliens from Hollywood. So far, the most hopeful rumor is that
Ringworld might be coming to the small screen. I wonder if anyone in Hollywood will actually present the idea of an alien breeding project designed to change human nature.
SIHA 2018:
the search begins
Next: Celebrating the life of
Arthur C. Clarke
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