The Giant Gila Monster (1959)

 

An atomic age movie where atomic radiation has mutated a Gila Monster into a gigantic venomous monster. Normal monster movie shenanigans ensue. There are movies that are better, but for the genre it is a fun romp. Just don’t expect much of a plot.

Death by Terran by One Last Bird

 

This is a really cute story about the beginning of Yondu and Peter’s relationship. It gets into some imagined? back story of Yondu and the decision he makes to raise Peter and not give him over to Ego. (I have never read the Guardians of the Galaxy comics so I only know what the movies tell me. I don’t know if the back story that One Last Bird is canon or not). It takes a while for Yondu to warm up, crusty space pirate that he is, but he eventually does and decides not to give him to his homicidal dad. It really is kind of sweet. It also gets into Youdu breaking into a Kree research facility and being pursued by the Kree. It really is a fun story.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10604285/1/Death-by-Terran

Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969)

 

The series that started it all. The first pilot was “The Cage” which featured Captain Christopher Pike, Number One, and Spock. It was not picked up. They ran a new pilot that introduced us to Captain James Tiberius Kirk. Due to low special effects budgets, the series relies much more on character development and relationships than later series. The primary friendship was between Jim Kirk, Spock, and Dr. Leonard McCoy. Nichelle Nichols, who played, Lieutenant Uhura, influenced African American children in the 60’s. She was a valuable member of the crew. Whoopi Goldberg has expressed how Nichols’ work inspired her because “she ain’t a maid.” Martin Luther King JR was also a fan and inspired Nichols to continue to do the show when she was thinking of quitting. I think one of my favorite episodes is the City at the Edge of Forever when they all go back to the 1930’s to fix the future. Really one of the best scifi shows of all time.

City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

 

The first in the Book of Ember series. Hundreds of years ago, the Builders created the City of Ember underground to outlive some catastrophe. But now the lights are failing. Lina and Doon, two children must follow an ancient parchment to find their way out of Ember.

Andromeda (2000-2005)

 

Created by Gene Rodenberrry of Star Trek fame, Andromeda tells the Captain Dylan Hunt who along with his sentient space ship Andromeda is caught up in an uprising of Nietzcheans. They are caught in a black hole. Three hundred years later they are found by the salvage crew Eureka Maru who Hunt convinces to help him to restore the Commonwealth. One of my favorite characters is Dylan Hunt, played by Kevin Sorbo, and Trance Gemini, a mysterious alien. I will not tell you who Trance actually is just in case you ever want to watch it! While watching the third season of Star Trek Discovery I was very much reminded of Andromeda. As far as I am concerned Andromeda was a better show with better characters.

The Ship Who Sang by Anne McCaffrey

 

Another great science fiction book from the author of Pern. The Ship Who Sang tells the story of Helva. Helva was born with severe birth defects and therefore she was chosen to be the “brain” of a starship. Although her body is now made of sleek titanium she still have the heart and mind of a woman. A woman who can fall in love with her “brawn” just as much as the next person. We travel with Helva through the cosmos and experience all the heartache right along with her.

Bumblebee (2018)

 

A film in the Transformers movie verse, it tells the story of Bumblebee. In an epic battle at the beginning of the film, Bumblebee’s voice box is destroyed. He is found by a young woman named Charlie who just takes him for a derelict car. When she finds out that he is actually a transformer she teaches him how to use the radio to talk and keep him away from the government and the Decepticons. It is a great movie and one of the better ones in the franchise.