The pilot is one of the most enduring archetypes of science fiction. These characters come in all shapes and sizes, human and non-human, physical or virtual — yet they all embody our need to explore. …

When Amazon announced it was creating a television show based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth saga, I was skeptical. How could a television production do such a grand, rich setting justice? I am happy to say that Amazon stepped up to that task in every single way. Not only in the…

“I kept dreaming of a world I thought I’d never see. And then, one day…I got in.” — Kevin Flynn, from Tron: Legacy Greetings, programs. For many people, Tron is a 1980s science fiction flop that tried to cash in on the current video game craze, while utilizing ground-breaking computer…

“Blade Runner is not ‘about’ social stratification or identity, cultural alienation, or urban decay. Blade Runner is about death. The death of everything.” — Paul M. Sammon; Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner Longevity is one of the themes of Blade Runner, Ridley Scott’s 1982 science fiction masterpiece. One’s…

“I think, Sebastian, therefore I am.” — Pris One of Blade Runner’s key themes is emotional response. Not only the degree of that response, but its authenticity. Can the replicants in the film ‘feel’ as well as a human? Are their feelings even real, in human terms? And if their…

“How can it not know what it is?” — Rick Deckard When Blade Runner hit cinema screens in 1982, the prevailing opinion — among audiences and critics — was that Rick Deckard, the protagonist, was human. The 1992 Director’s Cut, however, strongly hinted he might be a replicant. This has…

“The design of the film is the script.” — Ridley Scott This year marks the 40th anniversary release of Blade Runner, one of the greatest science fiction films ever made. I’ll admit, that is a subjective statement, yet the movie consistently ranks high on many film lists. Its influence over…

The cautionary tale. It is as old as humanity itself, offering counsel along with entertainment and pathos. Everything from mythological, heroic narratives to fairy tales reminds us of our physical and emotional frailties: mortality, greed, jealousy, hubris. In these regards we are no different than our pre-historic ancestors who dwelled…

So you have a post-apocalyptic story you want to tell? They can be great vehicles for not only personal but social expression, often more so than other SF subgenres. …