The World's Largest Coalition of Nontheists and Nontheist Communities!

Science Fiction/Fantasy Atheists

Information

Atheists enjoy speculative stories as they *should* be enjoyed: for entertainment purposes only, not to be confused with reality. Members here can have fun discussiung the literature, movies, TV, etc.

Members: 405
Latest Activity: Apr 29

5 members like this

Welcome science fiction & fantasy fans!

As a science fiction/fantasy writer myself, I enjoy taking voyages into the unknown. Looking at the universe as it isn't often helps us put the real world into perspective. It's also fun to take an occasional vacation from the often-harsh reality around us. Unlike the theists, the religionists, the god-groupies who feel compelled to live in fantasy realms, we visit them and then come back home--and then go voyaging again.

I hope you'll all feel free to congregate here and compare your experiences in other worlds and times.

Discussion Forum

View All

SF Scope RSS

Loading feed

Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of Science Fiction/Fantasy Atheists to add comments!

Comment by Hilde on February 22, 2010 at 9:39am: i think loren's got a point that avatar is more anti-mindless military (and maybe a bit anti-manifest destiny or something similar). while the navii are not technologically sophisticated, the humans use amazing technology for science and research, technology that is either beneficial or neutral at worst. only the military might is shown negatively and that really has more to do with why the weapons are being used than anything.

Comment by Loren Miller on February 22, 2010 at 8:50am: I think I would likely watch Moon solely for Sam Rockwell's performance. I was mightily impressed with him in The Green Mile and suspect a one-man show like Moon should be even more impressive. Of course, when I went to get it at Borders, they were out of stock! GRRRR!

Comment by Jenniffer on February 22, 2010 at 8:37am: I enjoyed Avatar as well, although it did trigger a sort of unexpected feminist rant in me. I am pretty tired of seeing women represented as more innately "spiritual" and "intuitive". It irks me. But it certainly was pretty and it was a lot of fun. I have some criticisms, but I am not anti-Avatar.

Comment by Paul Jarvis on February 22, 2010 at 8:35am: I thought Moon was fantastic. I really enjoyed that movie. It did bring Solaris to mind, but it also made me remember one of my all time favorites, Silent Running. Admittedly, Moon barely touched upon the loneliness of Silent Running, but it moved me in a similar way. Oh, and I loved Avatar! For entertainment value and eye candy if nothing else.

Comment by Jenniffer on February 22, 2010 at 8:22am: @Loren I saw "Moon" with Sam Rockwell recently, and it wasn't that bad, but much like "Solaris" it was more of a character study on the moon. But it definitely wasn't showing science or technology in a negative light, just raising some questions about human nature. But that wasn't exactly a big Hollywood blockbuster.

Comment by Loren Miller on February 22, 2010 at 8:17am: I wouldn't characterize Avatar as being "anti-science" so much as rather stereotypically anti-mindless-military. You're right, though - the last two thoughtful science-fiction flicks I saw were Gattaca and Solaris, and Solaris was less S/F than a character study in a futuristic environment.

Comment by Jenniffer on February 22, 2010 at 8:06am: that word was "scientist".

Comment by Jenniffer on February 22, 2010 at 8:05am: There do seem to be a rash of late of "sci-fi" movies that really turn out to be anti-scirntist, pro-spiritualist garbage and it makes me insane. "Nine" is a good example. That was such a disappointment to me. And Avatar... It's amazing how much technology went into making this anti-technology film! But science fiction films aren't really made for science fiction fans anymore, and the general public is disturbingly mistrustful of science these days.

Comment by Gliktch on February 21, 2010 at 9:35pm: John, there are many other reasons to hate Knowing besides its pathetically flawed anti-science messages... As others have pointed out, Cage should really stick to what he's good at (Face-Off was a prime example), and stop making a fool of himself in movies that don't suit him. The only saving grace is that he's a very expensive fool, so the blame really lies with the casting/producers; I can't fault him for picking up whatever hefty pay-packet gets thrown his way ;)

Dan, I was just considering starting a new group for Horror/Dark Fantasy fans, centered around Brian Lumley, Stephen King, et al - do you think there'd be enough activity to warrant it? :)

Comment by Dan DuPree on February 11, 2010 at 9:26pm: Stephen brought up Harlan Elison..best short science fiction ever..except for Triptree but the movie rendition of a boy and his dog was not a bad job.

and I want to throw a query out.. this may need its own thread, but Stephen King's Dark Tower series meet the standard for sci-fi sorry harlan or is it Fantasy? If you haven't read it it is a unique work in literature and I generally don't think of SK as literature. The series was written over a 30+ yr period and goes full circle.