Escape Artists

The Arcade => Polling Place => Topic started by: Ocicat on April 20, 2010, 10:53:24 PM

Title: Second Semifinal of the SF novel poll
Post by: Ocicat on April 20, 2010, 10:53:24 PM

Hitchhiker's Guide has secured it's place in the final, though Flowers for Algernon put up a pretty good fight, with a few vocal supporters.  

Next week the final starts.  It will run two weeks to get all the votes in.  But in the meantime, we have the second and last semifinal to decide which novel will go up against Hitchhiker's Guide...

Title: Re: Second Semifinal of the SF novel poll
Post by: DKT on April 21, 2010, 04:24:31 PM

I enjoyed rereading Frankenstein recently (actually, listening to it), but for me it's Dune. I love the epic feel and distant planet and spice and pretty much everything.

I should go read it again, probably.

Title: Re: Second Semifinal of the SF novel poll
Post by: kibitzer on April 22, 2010, 11:59:26 AM

Hoping for a clear sci-fi winner this time...

Title: Re: Second Semifinal of the SF novel poll
Post by: CryptoMe on April 23, 2010, 03:21:37 AM

I have to agree with Kibitzer. Frankenstein is fine, but not clear sci-fi.

Title: Re: Second Semifinal of the SF novel poll
Post by: Heradel on April 23, 2010, 03:49:45 AM

Quote from: CryptoMe on April 23, 2010, 03:21:37 AM

I have to agree with Kibitzer. Frankenstein is fine, but not clear sci-fi.

Whoa, wait a second here. Frankenstein isn't just SF, it's probably the first real SF novel. The creation of a new lifeform, created from dead parts and shocked into existence, was very much Science fiction for it's time, and that novel deals with the cultural, ethical, and emotional issues created by said scientific innovation.

Title: Re: Second Semifinal of the SF novel poll
Post by: Scattercat on April 23, 2010, 06:08:42 AM

Dune *does* have a fun board game, though...

Title: Re: Second Semifinal of the SF novel poll
Post by: Bdoomed on April 23, 2010, 08:22:20 AM

Quote from: Heradel on April 23, 2010, 03:49:45 AM

Quote from: CryptoMe on April 23, 2010, 03:21:37 AM

I have to agree with Kibitzer. Frankenstein is fine, but not clear sci-fi.

Whoa, wait a second here. Frankenstein isn't just SF, it's probably the first real SF novel. The creation of a new lifeform, created from dead parts and shocked into existence, was very much Science fiction for it's time, and that novel deals with the cultural, ethical, and emotional issues created by said scientific innovation.

Yes but it's been put more into the horror genre.  While it is science fiction, I don't necessarily point to it when I say science fiction.

Title: Re: Second Semifinal of the SF novel poll
Post by: Ocicat on April 23, 2010, 09:15:42 AM

Quote from: Bdoomed on April 23, 2010, 08:22:20 AM

Yes but it's been put more into the horror genre.  While it is science fiction, I don't necessarily point to it when I say science fiction.

Have you read it?  Because the movie versions aren't so much science fiction, but they have a very different tone.  And admittedly the book is horror too, but something can be both.  But whereas something like Alien just uses science fiction as a setting for a horror story, Frankenstein uses horror to explore science fiction themes and ideas. 

Title: Re: Second Semifinal of the SF novel poll
Post by: DKT on April 23, 2010, 10:02:29 PM

Horror and Science Fiction? Madness!!!!!

 ;D

Title: Re: Second Semifinal of the SF novel poll
Post by: kibitzer on April 24, 2010, 04:21:29 AM

...and just to put the cat amongst the pigeons (or the horror among the sci-fi), I fully agree that Frankenstein (the book) can easily be classed as sci-fi, with or amongst other genres. (Still not sure on that gay interpretation though). I was actually bitching about something else but too gutless to say it in the right place ;)

Having said that, I did vote for Dune.

Title: Re: Second Semifinal of the SF novel poll
Post by: Scattercat on April 24, 2010, 05:43:36 AM

Pigeons?  What?  Where?

Title: Re: Second Semifinal of the SF novel poll
Post by: Ocicat on April 25, 2010, 08:18:42 AM

Just a few days left on this poll, and it's currently tied!