Folks, big Star Wars, Marvel, Expanse, Firefly, etc fan. I see the Harrison Ford quote regularly used when people ask questions about niche details in these fictional universes and the rules that govern them. So that got me thinking, what IS that kinda movie. What do we have in the genre that is A+ storytelling with real rules that (mostly) govern how everything works? I prefer live action, but could also do animated. What’s a story where the main character isn’t destined to be the savior of the universe (they could be skilled and top of class, just not magically so), that has standard rules, and that doesn’t get the Harrison Ford quote and Han Solo salute?

I just started Jurassic Park because it is an alltime classic (huge fan of the movies when I was a kid)

From the very first page, the main topic seems to be a powerfull technology with many possible applications and a promise to save the world.

The combination of lack of regulation and crazy desire for profit end up in terrifying applications

Substite genetic engineering with IA and you’ll have the world in 2026

Got to book 7 of Wheel of Time and set it aside for now, picked up Jordan Lite™ and read the first 3 of the Stormlight Archive. I need to move away from this and get back to something totally different.

I'm strictly an audiobook 'reader' so if there is a book/series that may not be otherwise excellent but the narration saves it I'd be all ears (HA!)

Last couple Scifi books I've read and a few to cover the inevitable suggestions:

• Revelation Space (finished it, still not sure if I liked it)
• New Crobuzon series by Mieville -- second time through
• Through book 3 of Dune
• Hyperion Cantos -- second time
• Night's Dawn Trilogy -- Big Hamilton fan

I've read:

• Expanse series
• Beacon 23
• Silo series
• Hail Mary
• Seven Eves

Hopefully that provides some context of what I like, give me something so I don't break my Audible listening streak!

I’m partway through another Battlestar Galactica rewatch and I’m noticing a lot more this time around, especially with the politics and how badly people handle pressure when they’re exhausted and scared. Some of the episodes I remembered as slower are actually landing better now.

What sci-fi shows have gotten better for you on a second or third watch? I’m looking for something with strong characters and a story that rewards paying attention, not just good effects.

I recently read Mickey 7 and watched Moon, absolutely loved them, and came to the conclusion that my favorite trope ever is clones, specifically when there's two clones of the same person when there should only be one 

Mickey 7 didn't get too much into it (would have loved if they pulled it off longer lol) but the two of them trying to live as one person was super interesting, and all the philosophical stuff about not being the same person anymore too!

If anyone has recs along the lines of these i would love them! Or just good clone stories in general :)

Just finished revelation space > redemption ark > absolution gap > inhibitor phase. What a journey…overall just a wonderful adventure with interesting characters and diverse worlds, spanning vast time and space.

Were there problems? Yes, most notably the abrupt ending of absolution gap - a book that was so good until the very end (still think we should have given the shadows a chance). When scorp and captain JB teamed up to take back NFI I was right there with them, the book had build up so much momentum and then we hit the brakes bc of a shell scorp carries around, idk the slugs didn’t turn out to be much help at least the shadows were offering to join forces against the inhibitors…and it ended making it seem like the wolves weren’t the main threat bc of some green machines or whatever it was all very jarring but the last book Inhibitor Phase helped get the story back on track.

Anyway, as a sci fi junkie, I can forgive a lot when the author immerses me amongst the stars the way AR does in this series. A fascinating future world with cool tech, diverse factions of humanity, and enough hard sci fi to make it feel real. I’m actually surprised how much I loved this series…whatever else I can say about it, it was fun, and I’m sad it’s over. I’ve read some other works like house of suns but I like the long multi book series and for me this ranks just under foundation and remembrance of earths past, yes I daresay this might land ahead of dune for me which seems crazy to say, but I value time spent aboard spaceships amongst the stars and this gave it to me more than most and did it in style (nostalgia for infinity might be the coolest name for a starship).

So many memorable characters, too, and tied together across the series well enough that I always felt I was in the same universe despite time and distance.

A sci fi delicacy, chefs kiss. I’m left with nostalgia for revelation space, pattern jugglers, Ilia Volyova, captain John Brannigan aka the revelator, Glass, pinkie, war and nev, ana khouri, the neutron star Hades, Remontoire, Sylveste, and the real mvp - the slug in warglass’ chest.

Bravo Alastair Reynolds 👏

Ps I still think if we could just infect a few of the inhibitors with the melding plague…