Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Futurism.
Behind the Scenes of 'Star Wars'
Carrie Fisher is the beautiful Princess Leia, the woman who inspires the rebellion against the evil Galactic Empire. Carrie is the main female in the Star Wars movies up until A New Hope, where she still maintains her presence. When Star Wars was first released, this was quite an achievement. In the previous two biggest-ever money-making films of the 70s, The Godfather and Jaws, women had very little to say about things. But in Star Wars Carrie, tough-willed and rarin' to go, is right in there with the men. In February 1978, Fisher and some other Star Wars fan favorites sat down with Roy Pickard of PhotoPlay magazine to discuss their experience on the set of the well-known space opera.
By James Lizowski9 years ago in Futurism
History of Computer Villains
You've broken into the memory banks of a computer game company. "Global Thermonuclear War" is the game you're playing. At your next command, the Russians will annihilate the United States. But wait. something's very wrong here. This is no game. The U.S. Government believes it's under a real Soviet Attack. The Defense Department's computer has taken over your game and has gone crazy. It's preparing to launch real U.S. missiles. It's code red. Count down: 10, 9, 8...Wait! Stop! 6,5...It's only a game, 3,2...Isn't it? 1.
By Frank White9 years ago in Futurism
The Best 'Star Trek' Gifts
Beam some amazing gifts under your Christmas tree and impress the Trekkies in your life. Old, young, fans of the original series or devoted followers of the new one, it doesn’t matter - everyone will find something to love on this list (unless they don’t like Star Trek, in which case, why are you getting them a present again?). Give the holidays all you’ve got and remember to gift long and prosper.
By Sarah Quinn9 years ago in Futurism
Time Traveling Through a Lens
I would hesitate to claim that anything is impossible—or rather virtually impossible. The White Queen in Through the Looking Glass made a regular morning habit of believing at least six impossible things before breakfast. In my personal view, however, there is one thing that simply cannot be done traveling backward in time. I have absolutely no faith that we might be able to transport ourselves back to the Crusades, the Ice Age, or even earlier I do not doubt that Einstein's relativistic time-dilation effect is valid; but that is a different thing.
By Futurism Staff9 years ago in Futurism
Greatest Sci-Fi Artists of All Time
When engaged with science fiction as a genre, we are transported by the visual work of great sci-fi artists. Without their work in bringing books to life, and making films a reality, the science fiction world would be impoverished. While literature provides us with the opportunity to imagine science fiction worlds on our own, the work of artists allows us to share that vision with other fans and those outside the genre. Science fiction owes a great debt to the greatest sci-fi artists of all time.
By James Lizowski9 years ago in Futurism
Biological History of the Vampire Legend
Bram Stoker, through his novel Dracula, and the motion-picture industry with its many portrayals, have led us to consider Count Dracula, a fifteenth-century Romanian nobleman, as the vampire. The Count, who was known as Vlad the Impaler, was a seemingly unpleasant person who was known to feast in the presence of impaled enemies. Once, during such a feast, an ambassadorial guest complained that the sights and sounds interfered with his appetite. Count Dracula ordered one more stake (pun intended), on which he had his guest impaled. He then continued dining, alone.
By George Gott9 years ago in Futurism
Best Sci-Fi TV Shows of 2016
My priorities are simple. My family/friends first, then my business. Then science fiction. Quite frankly, as I look back on my life, I realize that before I had my own family or a business, sci-fi was all i had. From Buck Roger's and Space 1999, I have watched almost every sci-fi TV show ever. I have seen every episode of Star Trek for each of the series. I never stopped watching Sliders, and when the Syfy channel began it was a big day in my life. I am a sci-fi geek, and this year was an awesome year for sci-fi TV. Again, I watched every episode of every series. And yes, I still try to make time for family, friends, and business.
By Frank White9 years ago in Futurism
Gender, an Alternate Reality
I sat on the cheap plastic chair and tried to stop shaking. I felt like I was going to vomit. I couldn’t get my head around what the woman was saying, although she’d been saying it for some time now. I’d managed to grasp she was a scientist though, the ill-fitting lab coat and science fiction t-shirt were a bit of a giveaway.
By Dan Swindlehurst9 years ago in Futurism
Pain & Paranoia
The itching in his leg consumed Jason’s attention as he sat in his bland, beige cubicle. He scratched at his shin with the heel of his shoe, while trying to keep a smooth rhythm of clacking on his keyboard. He answered his phone without stopping the rubbing at the front of his shin, just above his ankle. The digging of his shoe heel caused an aching and a bruise throughout his shin, but only stopped the itching momentarily.
By Jeff Sherwood9 years ago in Futurism
