6 July 2013

 Birthdays
Jennifer Saunders b. 1958 (Shrek 2, Coraline)
Geoffrey Rush b. 1951 (Pirates of the Caribbean)
Sylvester Stallone b. 1946 (Demolition Man, Dredd, Death Race 2000)
Burt Ward b. 1945 (Batman)

Except for Burt Ward, all these actors are better known for their work outside the genre. I often fail to include actors whose only work is in voiceover, which is the situation for Jennifer Saunders, but I have a soft spot for Absolutely Fabulous.

Many happy returns to all concerned.

Prediction: The Americans will not get into outer space until 1962, though the project was first presented to Congress in 1944.

Predictor: James Blish, They Shall Have Stars, published in 1956

Reality: I can't find the evidence of presentation in 1944, but 1962 is a damned good prediction. Alan Shepard gets into space in 1961, but the first earth orbit by an American is by John Glenn in 1962.

It should be noted that Blish is making this prediction a year before Sputnik.

Blish wrote a series of books about the future, but only They Shall Have Stars deals with years that have already passed or are just a few years away. The rest are centuries away, so not interesting as predictions we can verify or disprove.

Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

Blish makes another remarkably close prediction, this time about demographics in 2010. He then screws the pooch by misinterpreting the numbers, but the first part is really top notch.

 Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!

5 July 2013

Birthday
Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek) 

As much as I like to have pictures of actors in the picture slot (and let's face it, by actors I mean pretty actresses), I'm also glad to have the writers of science fiction represented. The written word is where this all starts.

Many happy returns to Mr. Moore, of course. 

In the year 2000!

Prediction: Madame at her toilette will be attended not by a ladies' maid but by clever mechanical devices designed to make her more lovely.

Predictor: A series of French postcards about the year 2000 published at the beginning of the 21st Century.

Reality: It's not realistic, but it looks a lot safer than the similar contraption designed for men.

Looking TWO WHOLE DAYS ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

This weekend, we'll enjoy two predictions from a 1956 novel by James Blish. He's by no means perfect, but he's a damn sight better than Heinlein or Clarke.

 Join me then... IN THE FUTURE!

4 July 2013

Birthdays
Eva Marie Saint b. 1924 (Superman Returns)
Ted Elliott b. 1961 (co-writer with Terry Rossio of the Pirates of the Caribbean series)

Looking on imdb.com, I could only find one credit in Ms. Saint's long and illustrious career that could count as genre, and it's in a movie that has already been re-booted.

But seriously, if I have a choice for the picture slot and it's between a fabulous babe and a writer, can that even be called a choice at all?

I think not.

Many happy returns to Ms. Saint and Mr. Elliot.

Prediction: On 4 July 2008, action star Boxer Santaros, former pornstar/reality show star Krysta Now and twins Ronald and Roland Taverner hold the key to the future in post-apocalyptic Los Angeles.

Predictor: Southland Tales released 14 November 2007

Reality: I have met people who will defend this film, but the guy who wrote it also made Donnie Darko and I don't know anyone who thinks this was a step up.  The movie is counted as a 2006 release because it aired at Cannes that year, but it was pulled and re-tooled after a vicious critical reception.

There are some kinda sorta predictions about the future in the script, the one I remember best is the idea that California is a battleground state in the 2008 election. Regardless of your political persuasion, that would have to be called a failed prediction.

Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

Yet another French postcard from the early 1900s predicting life in the year 2000!
  
Join us then... IN THE FUTURE! 

3 July 2013

Birthdays
Patrick Wilson b. 1973 (Watchmen, Prometheus)
Tom Cruise b. 1962

A good sign of how important genre movies have become is to look at Tom Cruise's career. He's always trying to make hits, though not always succeeding. That used to mean comedies and dramas. Now it's sci-fi.

Many happy returns to both gentlemen.

Movies released

The Amazing Spider-Man released, 2012
Transformers released, 2007
Men In Black released, 2002
Terminator 2 released, 1991
Back to the Future released, 1985

In the Year 2000!

Prediction: Oranges will grow in Philadelphia. Fast-flying refrigerators on land and sea will bring delicious fruits from the tropics and southern temperate zone within a few days. The farmers of South America, South Africa, Australia and the South Sea Islands, whose seasons are directly opposite to ours, will thus supply us in winter with fresh summer foods, which cannot be grown here. Scientists will have discovered how to raise here many fruits now confined to much hotter or colder climates. Delicious oranges will be grown in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Cantaloupes and other summer fruits will be of such a hardy nature that they can be stored through the winter as potatoes are now.

Predictor: John Elfreth Watkins in the 1900 edition of The Ladies' Home Journal

Reality: Again, Watkins overshoots on the agriculture advances.  Tropical fruits are much easier to grow in the tropics and while refrigeration and some methods of keeping fruit fresh have improved, the summer months are still the time to have the tasty melons.

Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!


We interrupt our regularly scheduled weekday line-up for a prediction about July 4, 2008 from a movie some people consider the worst cinematic dreck of the 21st Century.

Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!

2 July 2013

Birthday
Terry Rossio b. 1960

Rossio is best known for the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, which I guess counts as fantasy. He also gets a story credit for the American version of Godzilla, which is a stain hard to wash out as far as I'm concerned.

Many happy returns of the day to Mr. Rossio in any case. 

Movies released
Terminator 3: The Rise of the Machines released 2003
Hancock released, 2008  

In the year 2000!

Prediction: We will not achieve a "World State" in the predictable future. Nevertheless, Communism will vanish from this planet.

Predictor: Robert A. Heinlein in 1950, predicting the year 2000.

Reality: Bob gets points for the “no World State” part and some credit for the shrinking of communism, if not its complete disappearance. More than that, calling a country a “Communist state” has next to no meaning in the 21st Century. If a country lets corporations exploit its citizens for cheap labor, the 1% doesn’t care what they call their form of government.

As for exactly how many points Heinlein should get for this, I'll be honest. I was getting a little tired of the sports coat, though it will be back.

Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!


John Elfreth Watkins returns, but July will be our last month to enjoy his company. Only four more predictions from the 1900 version of The Most Interesting Man in the World. (No, I have not been able to discover what beer he drinks.)

Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!

1 July 2013

Liv Tyler b. 1977
 Dominic Keating b. 1962 (Enterprise, Heroes)
Andre Braugher b. 1962 (Andromeda Strain, Fantastic Four)
David Prowse b. 1935 (Star Wars)

Liv Tyler gets the Picture Slot all dolled up as an elf, though next year I might very well go with Darth Vader. Andre Braugher has a long career with very little work in genre films, but I do love a same day/same year pair, and he shares that exact birthday with Mr. Keating, whose career is not quite as illustrious but with more work in sci-fi/fantasy.

Movies released
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs released, 2009
The Last Airbender escaped, 2010

Prediction: In 2016, our cars will be transported in pneumatic tubes.

Predictor: Popular Mechanics in 1957

Reality: What the what?!? I fully understand the coolness of pneumatic tubes, but for transporting cars? This would be a ridiculous waste of space and energy.

Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

I've been hunting through the Heinlein predictions, and I think I found one that isn't completely ridiculous.


I know, it's like the Museum of the Hard to Believe.

Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!

30 June 2013

Birthday
Jeri Taylor b. 1938 (Star Trek)

Ms. Taylor was a writer and producer on several Star Trek shows, including The Next Generation and Voyager. She is credited with inventing the Cardassians. (Note: NOT THE KARDASHIANS! She cannot be blamed for them in any way.)

Many happy returns to Ms. Taylor.


Movies released
Twilight Saga: Eclipse released, 2010
Spider-Man 2 released 30 June 2004

Prediction: By 2013, One in ten people is a believer. Eight of the other nine have given up religion as a bad job.

Predictor: James Blish in They Shall Have Stars, published 1956

Reality: Among readers of science fiction, these numbers might be correct. Among humans in general, it's close to the other way around.

Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

Alternate Mondays belong to Popular Mechanics, promising us technological marvels and sometimes even getting them right.

Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!