The all-time best sci-fi books, films, TV shows and stories
Sci-Fi Lists is dedicated to bringing you quality lists and concise reviews of science fiction's all-time top books, films, TV shows and short stories. The Top 200 Sci-Fi Books list is the flagship of the site, but lists have also been compiled for movies and television with the aim of being the most statistically reliable of their type found anywhere on the net. All lists are regularly updated to include new sources of information that become available, including results from the relevant Sci-Fi Lists online polls.
The Book List Awards - 20; Published critics - 38; Popular polls - 15; Other lists - 53 A statistical survey of sci-fi literary awards, noted critics and popular polls. To qualify a book has to be generally regarded as science fiction by credible sources and/or recognised as having historical significance to the development of the genre. For books that are part of a series (with some notable exceptions) only the first book in the series is listed. (Updated 23 May 2009) The Film List Published critics - 22; Popular polls - 13; Other lists - 77 A statistical survey that includes data from noted critics and popular polls. The qualification rules are similar to those used for the books list and for statistical purposes films in a series are treated in tallies as stand-alones. Exceptions to this rule include the Star Wars trilogies. (Updated 3 January 2009) The Television List Experts polled - 11; Published critics - 6; Popular polls - 9; Other lists - 90 Based on data gathered from a statistical survey and a direct poll of sci-fi television experts - including critics, editors and website managers. Shows often classified under other genres but containing significant and notable sci-fi content (e.g. The Avengers & The Wild, Wild West) qualify for inclusion on the list. (Updated 27 April 2009)
The Short Fiction List Popular polls - 3; Published critics - 2; Awards - 6 A very difficult list to start owing to the lack of published data. Locus, Nebula and Hugo award information helped formulate the original list. A couple of ageing polls also helped out, but it was site visitor interest that kept it going. The online poll and visitor feedback are the main sources for updating this list, which generates more than its fair share of healthy debate. (Updated 27 December 2008)
Site Visitors Choice Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood 2003 (McClelland & Stewart)
Editorial: Alternative-Histories and Science Fiction ***************************** Is Michael Chabon's award-winning alternative-history The Yiddish Policemen's Union really science fiction?
Not on your life… but in 2008 it took out three major sci-fi awards for best novel. This website has a policy of accepting popular opinion on what is and isn't science fiction, however, the time has come to speak out.
First off, Chabon is a great writer and YPU is a fine piece of literature. Unfortunately, the last few years have seen a number of "genre-bending" books accepted into the sci-fi family that, under close and diligent scrutiny, are really just-plain-fantasies.
To make matters worse, Chabon's book is just the tip of a very worrying iceberg. The genre seems hell-bent on ignoring truly great sci-fi novels from talented mainstream writers (e.g. Cormac McCarthy's The Road), while at the same time promoting any old dross its favourite sons trot out as science fiction. It is not only time for a change, but the very integrity of the genre is on the line.
Although resistant to the 'sci-fi' tag, Margaret Atwood pens a compelling near-future tale of bio-madness.
Snowman may be humanity's last survivor. As he watches over a group of human-like hybrids known as the Children of Crake, he recounts how it all went wrong.
Known by sci-fi fans for her intelligent feminist dystopia A Handmaid's Tale (1985), this time around Atwood aims in a whole new direction. Rich vs poor, bio-genetics, and climate change are the targets--while the evil corporations that caused it all come in for some extra-special attention.
Atwood didn't win many friends in the sci-fi community when in an interview on BBC Breakfast she described the genre as focussing on "talking squids in outer space". Oryx and Crake, however, is a prime example of cautionary science fiction spiced with intelligent social speculation.
Nostalgia Buffeted
Classic Sci-Fi TV 2009 (60hrs+) 12 discs Mill Creek [Region Free]
Watch for Free
Get Smart Complete Series 138 episodes 1965-70 (NBC/CBS)
Promotional material may be sent to:
Sci-Fi Lists PO Box 771 CANNONVALE Q 4802 Australia
Buy Amazon
Sci-fi TV nostalgia buffs won't want to miss out on the latest 150-episode Mill Creek public domain extravaganza.
To start with, the instalments of hard-to-find time travel adventure Captain Z-Ro (24eps), the 50s TV version of Flash Gordon (14eps) and Rocky Jones (23eps) are worth the price of admission alone. A handful of sci-fi spiced episodes from early anthology series help keep things rocketing along nicely.
Also included are some theatrical serials that got mercilessly replayed during the early years of television--the best of which is Republic's Commando Cody adventure Radar Men From the Moon (1952). For sheer low-budget joy check out failed pilot Here Comes Tobor and the three nifty 'Synchro-Vox' Cambia animated series.
No Captain Video, Tom Corbett or Space Patrol--but the cosmically canny sci-fi artefacts on offer are out of this world.
All 138 half-hour episodes of the funniest spy series ever are now available online for free viewing at YouTube.
Maxwell Smart, secret agent 86, and his pretty partner 99 somehow always manage to get the job done for CONTROL--America's top security agency. Starring Don Adams and Barbara Feldon, this series took sci-fi gadgetry to a whole new level.
The show was the brainchild of Mel Brooks and Buck Henry. While Brooks' brand of corny sight-gag humour was already well established, many now credit Henry with most of the show's cleverer jokes.
The original cast eventually reunited for a feature film and a revival movie, but things were never quite the same. The 2008 feature film has its moments, but it is hard to match the sheer KAOS of the original item.
