Symptom 22: Ancient Aliens - Science Fiction As Science Fact

We love science fiction.  It is awesome.  Sci-Fi allows authors and writers to explore the question of what it means to be human as well as attempt to the predict the future or even explore alternate history. These are some of the strengths of the genre, except when that fiction is presented as fact. 

Enter Ancient Aliens. To call it pseudo-archaeology is an insult to pseudo-archaeologists.  Ancient Aliens is science fiction. If it was presented as such, it would be a fine and provocative show. Unfortunately it is presented a science fact, and often deceptively so. The show is dangerous as it further expands upon a trend of false science and false news spun to fit a predetermined narrative. In an era when science is distrusted and losing a public relations war against political and religious ideologues - Ancient Aliens only further weakens trust in actual science. 

So here is Symptom 22 - calling Ancient Aliens what it is - science fiction. 

Symptom 21: All Hostiles Are Down Commander

It is time for another video game review.  This week Scott and Corey decided it was finally time to break down XCOM2.  Turn based strategy games are largely dead on console gaming platforms, but that didn't stop Firaxis and 2K gaming from releasing in our opinion one of the best games in recent years. XCOM2 has near infinite replayability and near perfect strategic gameplay. The story, while not Last of Us good, is good enough to captivate and even poses a few questions about the nature of human beings during a crisis. XCOM2 gets the Sci-Fi Malady seal of approval, it is just a fantastically well done game and we are eagerly awaiting XCOM3. 

Symptom 20: Expand Your Universe

Expanded universes, the exclusive domain of the superfan. This is where those of us sci-fi nerds who can't get enough of their favorite franchises live.  It is where you find out that Luke married a Jedi chick named Mara Jade (pre-disney and pre-prequels that is) or what actually happened to Balok and the people of First Federation, or what in the world Shepard Book's backstory in Firefly  really was.  

Yet, this is where you also get complete lunacy, like Ripley killing a hive mother in single combat without any enhancements or airlocks to blow her out of, or 60 something year Dr. Crusher having child with Captain Picard, or Mon Mothma demilitarizing the New Republic while the Empire was actually still around and still enslaving millions.

So yeah, expanded universes are a mixed bag. In symptom 20 Scott, Corey and the RageMaster attempt to figure out are they good for science fiction and if so, are the canon, or are they just glorified sanctioned fan fiction?

Also, anytime Scott says fan fiction by mistake in this podcast, he means 'expanded universe'.

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Symptom 19: Who Ya Gonna Call

It is hard to believe it has been 30 years since the Real Ghostbusters cartoon debuted. This was my introduction to science fiction. The technobabble, the proton packs, containment unit and overall the science drew me like fly to a bug zapper. This was my first favorite TV show. Recently Netflix released the series for streaming view.  I was nervous, would the series hold up? Yes. A resounding, reverberating yes. 30 years later and the show is as awesome as ever.  

So here is Symptom 19, an isolation unit episode with just Scott rambling on about a the Ghostbuster cartoon for 30 minutes. Enjoy and I promise the next upload will at least have one other member of the Sci-Fi Malady crew on board. 

Symptom 18: The Next Frontier

Back in early March the RageMaster and Scott discussed new movie releases slated for 2017. This week they review The Discovery, the Netflix original film in which an afterlife is confirmed.  Both Scott and RageMaster were both very excited for this film and they felt that while the movie was overall solid, it was not the smash hit anticipated based on the preview. 

Symptom 18 digs deep into concepts of death and an afterlife, as well as looking analyzing the character behaviors in the movie. We try to figure exactly what statement the writer was attempting to make about death and how belief or a lack of belief in an afterlife influences human behavior and societal norms as a whole. Hope you enjoy Symptom 18. 

Symptom 17: Quatrains of SciFiDamus

To finish off our recent run of list based shows in this symptom of Sci-Fi Malady Scott and The Ragemaster discuss three times science fiction correctly predicted the future and three times they got it wrong.  Science fiction writers are often portrayed as being visionaries of the future and sometimes they are, equally often though, the writers get it horribly wrong. So enjoy this week's Sci-Fi Malady as we break down when SciFiDamus got it right and when he or she got it totally and completely wrong. 

Let us know your thoughts by leaving comments at RavingLunaticMedia.com or tweeting at us @mediaraving on twitter. 

Symptom 16: I Can't Believe They Invented It

Two weeks ago Scott and the Ragemaster discussed the best tech in science fiction history. Now it is time to bookend that with a discussion of the worst tech in science fiction history.  The items that make this list are useless, misapplied, unrealistic or just plain stupid and cringe inducing. Some of the items are actually conceptually awesome, had the writers put just a little time into making look the least bit realistic or functional. 

We also take time to crap on Captain Planet, because even though he is not science fiction he is technically a superhero, and the worst one ever. 

Symptom 15: Do Androids Dream of Positronic Emotions

This week is another Isolation Unit Episode, meaning Corey, Nick and the Ragemaster could not make it.  Of course this also means Scott had no one to stop him from talking about Star Trek.  Symptom 15 discusses Data from Star Trek The Next Generation and his supposed lack of emotions. 

Data is portrayed throughout the series as having no emotions. By season three it is firmly established that he has no emotions. In this week's Sci-Fi Malady I argue that this is as believable as the sales pitch of a Ferengi.  While Data may not have complex emotions, or display the physiological manifestations of emotion, he clearly, on some level, has emotions, even if he doesn't realize that he does. 

This, like all solo efforts, is a shorter podcast, its only about 20 minutes in length. Feel free to leave comments and feedback at our website, RavingLunaticMedia.com or tweet at us @mediaraving on Twitter. 

Symptom 14: Gadgets, Gizmos and Super Science, Oh My!

We can discuss for hours (and lets face it, we have) what makes great science fiction.  Sure, memorable characters, a cutting and weighty moral dilemma, an in depth exploration of the human condition and what makes us tick, but in every SciFi nerd's heart there is a soft spot for a TARDIS, Lightsaber or some other crazy gadget.  

This week Scott and The RageMaster list their favorite science fiction gadgets plus a couple honorable mentions. Grab your replica of Mr. Spock's tricorder or steal your kids lightsaber and settle in for Symptom 14: Gadgets, Gizmos and Super Science, Oh My!

Feel free to send us you comments either at our website, RavingLunaticMedia.com or on twitter @mediaraving

We hope you enjoy Symptom 14. 

Symptom 13: Reviewing The Future

It was supposed to be a simple show about reviewing future science fiction movie releases.  That's how it started. Then, about 10 minutes into things, the Ragemaster began singing and gave us all a moment of awesomeness.  

Aside from the Ragemaster's impromptu singing, we do discuss the major upcoming sci-fi movies set to appear on the silver screen in 2017, and to our surprise, there was a lot less "worst movie ever" than we thought.  

Don't miss the Ragemaster remix at the end of the Symptom 13. 

Symptom 12: Wandering the Wasteland

Time to take a nostalgic trip to the commonwealth and the wasteland that is America in the Fallout universe. Corey, Nick and Scott take some time to review 2015's blockbuster video game Fallout 4, the beauty and enjoyability of the massive open world sandbox, ease of gameplay, as well as dive into some of the weightier ethical questions posed by the aims of the various factions. The crew also discusses, with some regret, the lack of power of the main story, as well as a brief discussion of where Fallout 4 ranks within the series. 

So settle in and crawl out through the fallout with the Sci-Fi Malady crew in Symptom 12, Wandering the Wasteland.

Symptom 11: Set Phasers to False

Hard science or soft science fiction. Interstellar or Star Wars? The Martian or Minority Report? Star Trek or 2001: A Space Odyssey? In some circles there is a fierce debate over this, among fans who want more science in their sci-fi. This week, Ragemaster and Scott discuss the differences between the two and the pros and cons of each. In the end, it doesn't matter if the tale is grounded in real science or overloaded with transporters and faster than light travel, what matters is if there is a compelling story that explores the human condition and entertains you. If story manages to do those things its good science fiction, regardless of how accurate or inaccurate the science is. 

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Episode 10: Netflix One, Hollywood None

We have discussed that the place to go for quality science fiction that doesn't cater to the lowest common denominator are streaming sites like Netflix or Hulu. Spectral, a Netflix original film, is a prime of example of good, not great, entertaining science fiction. Spectral is an enjoyable, action packed, fast paced sci-fi romp, with a little bit of subtle examination of the human condition included. This week's episode of Sci-Fi Malady discusses Spectral and why we feel it is a cut above the films coming out of major Hollywood studios at this time. We also take a shot at JJ Abrams, because of course we do, he sucks. 

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Episode 9: Life, The Universe and Everything

It is another Isolation Unit episode as due to scheduling we could not the entire crew together.  Grab your towel, it is time to discuss The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.  This episode discusses the questions, is the reality we perceive the true reality, what is the meaning of life, the purpose of existence, and once again, is being happy the real goal of existence. 

Mix up a pan galactic gargle blaster and settle in for a discussion of Douglas Adams' classic Sci-Fi satire, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. 

Don't Panic - The answer is always 42. 

Episode 8: Ditch Your Meat Body

It is very possible that in the distant future science will figure out how to create a virtual world that looks, sounds, smells and feels like reality, in essence, The Matrix. Some current scientists and theorist believe that human memory is so similar to computer memory, that is a matter of time before your brain can be uploaded in a computer virtual reality construct, allowing one to live eternally in a digital world. 

This week the Sci-Fi Malady crew discusses the Black Mirror Episode San Junipero, a virtual world where the dead have uploaded their consciousness and the terminally ill visit weekly for five hours. We discuss first how in our opinion, this is an amazingly well written piece of science fiction and we wish there was more stories like this, and secondly, the moral and ethical implications of San Junipero. 

Is a virtual world real? What if you could experience love in that artificial world? Can you actually upload yourself into a computer, or would that just become an algorithm running as an independent program in a greater program? Are "you" really just your neural pathways and synapses, or is there that as of yet unidentified soul that gives us spark of life, a thing that can't be transferred into a computer? 

Episode 7: Retcon this Title

Retconning.  Necessary evil or abomination? Much debated by fans, and much maligned, retconning is sometimes necessary, and when done well, an effective story telling device. This week, Scott and the Ragemaster discuss when retconning is, in our opinion, properly used, and examples of when it has been horribly applied to gut the soul of a science fiction franchise. 

Note - please realize I reserve the right to retcon this description to address future criticism of the episode. 

Episode 6: To Struggle is to Grow

It's the first Sci-Fi Malady Isolation Unit episode. What does that mean? It means its just Scott because we were unable to get the crew together to record this week. Me being a trekkie, I decided to discuss a theme from TOS, (The Original Series) that a society that does not have conflict or struggle is a flawed, non growing society, even if it is perfectly happy, crime, poverty and disease free. It is by facing difficulty and striving to overcome it that individuals and humanity as a whole, improve, not by being happy or healthy.  While being happy and healthy are important and everyones end goal, it is only by overcoming obstacles that we improve. 

1/19/17 Edit - The original upload had an editing error which had 30 seconds of dead air. I corrected that with today's upload. 

Episode 5: Take Me Out Into the Black

This week the Sci-Malady crew was a little shorthanded, but The Ragemaster and Scott discussed a science fiction cult classic, Firefly. Spoilers, we love Firefly and had nothing negative to say about it. It is simply one of the greats in the pantheon of science fiction franchises.  In this week's episode we discuss why Firefly was so great, artistically, as well as why the show was ultimately cancelled. We wrap with a what if discussion about whether Firefly should or should not return for a postscript on Netflix. 

 

Episode 4: RageMaster Hates Rogue One

In this week's podcast the Sci-Fi Malady crew discusses Rogue One, what it did well, where it failed and asks the question should the writer/director have attempted to inject some originality into the film instead of following the same old formula. This episode contains numerous spoilers, so if you have not seen the movie yet bookmark this episode and give it a listen after checking out Rogue One. 

Sci-Fi Malady Episode 3: A Golden Age of Nerdom

It's current a golden age to be a nerd. After years of all things geek being uncool, science fiction, fantasy, video games, all things once considered nerdy, are now fringe cool. In someways that is awesome.  A wider market for science fiction and fantasy products means more movies, novels and TV shows.  It has given us Game of Thrones, The Ender's Game Movie adaptation, a new Star Wars Trilogy, a new Star Trek TV show, but is has also given us AVP, AbramsTrek and countless other movies which lack any messages, substance, or in some cases a plot. 

In the Golden Age of Nerdom, movies are now made for the masses, which means more and bigger special effects and explosions, murder-killing, flash panning and fast cutting camera shots, and all types of things out of a Michael Bay wet dream.  In this weeks episode the crew laments that so much new science fiction is watered down garbage while discussing examples of past science fiction we felt was done at a high level. 

Show ending soundbite goes to The RageMaster - he is starting to earn that name. 

***A note on production. I had a latency issue with the computer while recording this.  There are a couple minutes of distortion halfway through, then it clears up, bear with it, it won't last long.  You do however, miss a good discussion of Dune and the Chronicles of Riddick, which were unfortunate casualties of this computer failing, or maybe operator failing***