Sexiest Women of Science Fiction,

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Raptor1

Star Wars isn't science fiction? What is it then?

Fantasy set in space.

[Raptor1]

Any particular reason for that? Sure, it has some important fantasy elements, but it still has many more (And still largely critical) science fiction elements...

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Raptor1

Any particular reason for that? Sure, it has some important fantasy elements, but it still has many more (And still largely critical) science fiction elements...

Simply based on how Lucas wrote it. Science Fiction generally relies on a base of current scientific theory or a set of fictional theories on how the universe works. None of that was in Star Wars, it was added later by others (like in the "Essential Guides" books). You can really see this in the famous Kessel Run line in Star Wars or the escape of the Falcon in Empire where stuff just doesn't make scientific sense.

That's not to say that Star Wars is bad its just not real Sci Fi more of a something in between Scifi and Fantasy. Its whats called now a "Space Opera", in fact Space Opera's definition was mostly changed by Star Wars. Before Space Opera was hacky, poorly written, trashy stuff set in space. Star Wars showed it could be good.

[Gerald]

I like the picture, #20

[tater]

Trek is crap as "real" science fiction, too. Just as fantasy as Star Wars.

That said, they completely neglected Firefly.

[Sailor Steve]

The mentioned Summer Glau's roles in both the Terminator TV series and Firefly, but only mention Morena Baccarin in V (not Firefly).

And how could they leave out Gina Torres???

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by tater

Trek is crap as "real" science fiction, too. Just as fantasy as Star Wars.

Well this is where the difference between "hard" and "soft" sci-fi comes in to play. Genneraly speaking Soft Sci Fi makes up its own in-universe rules to abide by (the last few Star Trek shows mostly forgot this but in generally they maintained some kind of in show consistency while ignoring the other past shows). Hard Sci Fi on the other hand uses real universe rules and simply discusses future actions and technologies that are possible but as yet unbuilt.

Examples:

Hard Sci Fi, The USS Discovery in 2001 and 2010 flies through space in a normal Newtonian fashion, like say the real life Apollo spacecraft or the Voyager probes. This is an example of real universe consistency that is the hallmark of hard sci fi.

Soft Sci Fi, the Enterprises (nil to E), they all have the same method of propulsion the Warp Drive. Its fictional but all ships in the Star Trek Universe use it (mostly). This is an example of in-universe consistency that is the staple of soft sci fi.

You can have Sci Fi without real science, but there must be Science somewhere even it its fictional. Star Wars fails this test because simply blasters shoot because the story requires them too. Star Trek succeeds at this because phasers shoot due to a explained scientific manner albeit a fictional one.

That said, they completely neglected Firefly.

Morena Baccarin was on the list.

[Raptor1]

The difference between science fiction and isn't in how much of the science is explained to the audience, it is in how much its fictional elements are explainable by science in-universe. Star Wars' blasters (and everything else except the Force) are presented as something that runs on some fictional scientific theory just like Star Trek's phasers, but it would've been extremely odd if somebody went and started explaining how they work in the middle of the movie, since that's hardly relevant.

Speaking of which, how much of how Star Trek's technology works was actually explained in the original series itself?

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

The mentioned Summer Glau's roles in both the Terminator TV series and Firefly, but only mention Morena Baccarin in V (not Firefly).

And how could they leave out Gina Torres???

Probably because they know you like her, Steve

[ReFaN]

http://www.squaremans.com/?p=63

Here is a Article about Star wars not beince Scifi.

[tater]

trek is crap. In NG virtually every episode was "solved" by the addition of some new technology. 40 minutes of setting up some problem (often a failure in their incredibly unreliable ship), then in the last few minutes problem solved by put_some_stupid_name_here_and_add—"genic field" to the end.

"We're going to drown in crap as the toilets malfunction! Aaaaaah! Wait, just rearrange the poopygenic field unit!" Happy banter ensues.

Bleech.

[Weiss Pinguin]

tl;dr

[Jimbuna]

Caroline Munro as Stella Star in 1978's Starcrash

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

The mentioned Summer Glau's roles in both the Terminator TV series and Firefly, but only mention Morena Baccarin in V (not Firefly).

And how could they leave out Gina Torres???

Likely by virtue of the same blindness that led them to exclude Jewel Staite. Did extreme cuteness and innocence in a young, attractive woman somehow become un-sexy when I wasn't looking?

At least tater has his head on straight

Anyone who has seen her performance as Katewinnit Lee Fry in Firefly and doesn't think she is one of the most adorable creatures in existence is an enemy of all that is good and just in this world

Oh, well...at least they included Summer Glau. No force in the 'verse can stop her, you know

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Raptor1

The difference between science fiction and isn't in how much of the science is explained to the audience, it is in how much its fictional elements are explainable by science in-universe. Star Wars' blasters (and everything else except the Force) are presented as something that runs on some fictional scientific theory just like Star Trek's phasers, but it would've been extremely odd if somebody went and started explaining how they work in the middle of the movie, since that's hardly relevant.

None of the science behind Star Wars was created for Star Wars, it was made later by other authors. As for Star Trek (even the movies) there are several times when they go about explaining technologies.

Speaking of which, how much of how Star Trek's technology works was actually explained in the original series itself?

Quite a bit actually.

Lets compare Star Wars to Star Trek. Propulsion technology this time.

Star Wars:
"Punch it!" -Han Solo
"The Hyperdrive Motivator has been damaged, its imposable to go to light speed!" -C-3PO
"Horizontal Boosters! Alluvial dampers...! Well that's not it. Bring me the hydrospanners!" -Han Solo
(That last one is the most technical line in Star Wars related to engines, and its jibberish, Horizontal Boosters might be something related to thrusters, Alluvial deals with sediments as in dirt and sand, Hydrospanner is a type of wrench.)

Star Trek
SPOCK: There is one other possibility, Mister Scott. The final decision, of course, must be the captain's, but I believe we must have it ready for him. The Enterprise is propelled by matter-anti-matter reactors. The barrier we must traverse is negative energy.
....
SPOCK: The barrier we must penetrate is composed of negative energy.
SCOTT: I have opened the control valves to the matter-anti-matter nacelles. On your signal, I will flood them with positive energy.
KIRK: What?
SPOCK: When we engage the barrier, the ship will explode. The Kelvans will be stopped here.

-By any other name (TOS)

KIRK: Then use your imagination. Tie every ounce of power the ship has into the impulse engines. Discard the warp drive nacelles if you have to, and crack out of there with the main section, but get that ship out of there!

SCOTT: Sir, I'm going to switch over everything but the life-support systems and boost the impulse power, but that's just about as dangerous.
-The Apple (TOS)


SCOTT: Captain, the impulse engines' control circuits are fused solid.
KIRK [OC]: What about the warp drive control circuits?
SCOTT: Aye, we can cross-connect the controls, but it'll make the ship almost impossible for one man to handle.
-The Doomsday Machine

(Engines and weapons this time)
SPOCK: From the outpost's protective shield. Cast rodinium. This is the hardest substance known to our science.
(He crushes it with his hand)
SPOCK: Lab theorises an enveloping energy plasma forcing an implosion.
KIRK: Comments?
SPOCK: Obviously, their weaponry is superior to ours, and they have a practical invisibility screen.
MCCOY: You're discussing tactics. Do you realise what this really comes down to? Millions and millions of lives hanging on what this vessel does.
SPOCK: Or on what this vessel fails to do, Doctor.
KIRK: Yes, well gentlemen, the question still remains. Can we engage them with a reasonable possibility of victory?
SCOTT: No question. Their power is simple impulse.
KIRK: Meaning we can outrun them?
STILES: To be used in chasing them or retreating, sir?
KIRK: Go ahead, Mister Styles. I called this session for opinions.
STILES: We have to attack immediately.
KIRK: Explain.
STILES: They're still on our side of the Neutral Zone. There would be no doubt they broke the treaty.
SULU: Attack, without a visible target? How do we aim our phasers?
STILES: Aim with sensors. Not accurate, but if we blanket them
SULU: And hope for a lucky shot before they zero in on us?
STILES: And if we don't? Once back, they'll report that we saw their weapons and ran.
...
KIRK: Full astern! Emergency warp speed! KIRK: Do we have emergency warp? SULU: Full power, sir. It's still overtaking us. If we can get one phaser working, sir, one shot might detonate it.
KIRK: Navigation?
STILES: Estimate it'll overtake us in two minutes, sir.
...
SULU: Ten seconds to impact. Captain, It's dissipating, sir.
STILES: It must have a range limit.
-Balance of Terror

KIRK: Estimate damage on Lexington, Spock.
SPOCK: Hit in engineering section. Possible damage to her impulse engines. She's still maneuverable on warp drive.
...
SPOCK: Probably true, Captain. It works faster, thinks faster than we do. It is a human mind amplified by the instantaneous relays possible in a computer.
-The Ultimate Computer

SCOTT [OC]: Captain, the matter-antimatter
KIRK: Belay that order. What is it, Scotty?
SCOTT: The anti-matter pods are rigged to blow up the moment we go into warp drive.
KIRK: Scotty, that bomb he planted. Can you dismantle it?
SCOTT: Not without being blown halfway across the galaxy.
KIRK: Give us every ounce of power you can from the impulse drive, and find a solution to the bomb. Kirk out. Mister Sulu, stand by to make your manoeuvres smartly. She'll be sluggish on response.
...
SCOTT: I've got bad news, Captain. The entire dilithium crystal converter assembly is fused. No chance of repair.
SCOTT [OC]: It's completely unusable.
KIRK: No chance of restoring warp drive?
SCOTT [OC]: Not without dilithium crystals. We can't even generate enough power to fire our weapons.
...
KIRK: They're trying to force a fight. Scotty, what's our energy status?
SCOTT: Ninety three percent of impulse power, sir.
SPOCK: We can still manoeuvre.
SCOTT [OC]: Manoeuvre? Aye. We can wallow like a garbage scow against a warp-driven starship. Our shields will hold for a few passes, but without the matter-antimatter reactor, we've no chance. Captain, can you not call Starfleet on this emergency?
...
SPOCK: The necklace.
KIRK: What kind of jewels are in this?
ELAAN: They call them radans. The necklace is supposed to bring you luck. It is of little value. They are common stones.
SPOCK: These are common stones? (scans them) See, Captain? Here and here.
KIRK: You may have just saved our lives. Mister Spock, do you think Scotty could make use of dilithium crystals?
SPOCK: No doubt, Captain.
...
SPOCK: Captain, these are crude crystals. There is no way to judge what the unusual shapes will do to the energy flow.
SCOTT [OC]: Aye, that could blow us up just as effectively as...
-Elaan of Troyius

But that is TV not movies you say...


Kirk: Explanation, Mr. Decker: Why was my phaser order countermanded?

Decker: Sir, the Enterprise redesign increases phaser power by channeling it through the main engines. When they went into anti-matter imbalance, the phasers were automatically cut off.
...

Ross: Why has the Captain ordered self-destruct, sir?
Scotty: I would say, lass, because he thinks -- he hopes -- that when we go up... we'll take V'ger with us.
Ross: Will we?
Scotty: When that much matter and anti-matter are brought together? Oh, yes; we will, indeed.
-Star Trek: The Motion Picture


Dr. Marcus: Project Genesis. A proposal tothe Federation.What exactly IS Genesis? Well, put simply, Genesis is life from lifelessness. It is a process whereby the molecular structure is reorganized at the sub-atomic levelinto life generating matter of equal mass. Stage One of our experiments was conducted in the laboratory. Stage Two of the series will be attempted in a lifeless underground; Stage Three will involve the process on a planetary scale. It is our intention to introduce the Genesis device into a preselected space body, a moon or other dead form, instantaneously causing what we call the Genesis effect. Matter is reorganized with lifegenerated results.Instead of a dead moon, a living breathing planet, capable of sustaining whatever life forms we see fit to deposit on it... The reformed moon simulated here represents the merest fraction of the Genesis potential, should the Federation wish to pursue the experiments to their logical conclusion. When we consider the cosmic problems of population and food supply, the usefulness of this process becomes clear. This concludes our proposal. Thank you for your attention.

Spock: The prefix code?
Kirk: It's all we've got.
...
Spock: Reliant's prefix number is one-six-three-zero-nine.
Saavik: I don't understand -
Kirk: You have got to learn WHY things work on a Starship.
Spock: Each ship has its own combination code...
Kirk: ... to prevent an enemy to do what we're attempting; using our console to order Reliant to lower her shields...
-Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
... in case you missed that one that was the action movie of the original Star Trek Movies!!

Originally Posted by tater

trek is crap. In NG virtually every episode was "solved" by the addition of some new technology. 40 minutes of setting up some problem (often a failure in their incredibly unreliable ship), then in the last few minutes problem solved by put_some_stupid_name_here_and_add—"genic field" to the end.

NG? As in TNG? As in the most cerebral show of the bunch, where dozens of episodes are decided by debate?

Lets take a list of Episodes not decided by inventing some technology...
Encounter at Farpoint
Code of Honor
The Last Outpost
Justice
Hide and Q
Haven
The Big Goodbye
Datalore

Ahhh screw it! The ENTIRE first season on TNG has no solve the problem with a new technology plot!