Recently in Science Fiction Category

If you haven't figured it out by now, I am a huge fan of Battlestar Galactica. Between episodes I get my BSG fix from a number of different podcasts out there, mainly Ron Moore's podcast and most recently the Galatica Quorum - created by fans. Quorum is a top notch podcast in my opinion. They bill themselves as just a bunch of friends talking about the show, but they clearly put a lot of effort into the production of the show, which really does matter. Plus, not only do they manage to get interviews with actual cast members, but they also happen to conduct really good and thoughtful interviews without coming across as a bunch of adoring fanatic sycophants. Seriously - they are good interviews, like the one recently with James Callis.

They have a call in line to leave messages, or audio comments if you will. I often can't help but call in.

This week one of my comments was played on the air. I am beaming with pride. I am about 7 minutes in...

There is rekindled speculation about who the fifth cylon might be in Battlestar Galactica now that the series has finally returned for its fourth and final season. The season premiere gave me new reasons to believe that the hunch I had a long time ago might actually be right: that Baltar may very well be the last cylon.

The secret I think lies among the many religious allegories woven into the fabric of the story. These have existed from the beginning, and there has been one in particular that is only now becoming apparent: that Baltar is a parallel for Christ. The season premiere makes this comparison virtually unavoidable be it from the iconic beard and robes he adorns, to his belief in "The One True God," all the way to the miracles performed upon the sick and meek. Looking back however you see another very interesting parallel throughout the entire series: the constant testing of his faith in God.

Avoiding the retrospective of Baltar's faith for the moment, let's just assume that Baltar is an allegory for Christ. That would make him by some measure the Son of God, and by another measure God himself.

That sounds a little odd, except when you place it within the context of one possible story line. Suppose that Baltar, a brilliant scientist, was so obsessed with his own immortality that he sought a way to clone himself. Cloning of course is "easy" - the challenge is in the transference of consciousness. But this is exactly what Baltar discovered how to do, and what ultimately was the genesis of a new breed of cylons. In this way, Baltar became the Cylon's Creator, or God.

The first cylon he developed was modeled in his own image: meant to be the vessel for his own consciousness when the time came. However, while it would hold its consciousness, it would lack the knowledge of his true identity. Why? Because Baltar had a plan. In that plan, or destiny if you will, Baltar knew he would be tested in unimaginable ways. To help him along the way he programmed into himself a guide, an angel of sorts to instill in him a faith in himself (God) and is so doing help him survive and fulfill his destiny. This theory even helps to explain how an image of Baltar, a.k.a. "Head Baltar" appears to Six.

Naturally, I could be wrong in all of this. But I stand by my conviction that Baltar is not the last cylon, but the first.

Arin has Pink, I have io9 -- which my friend pointed out is "Go!" upside-down. Anyways, today on my favorite Gawker blog I saw the new BSG Season 4 cast photos.

Now normally I would just add something like this to my action stream, but Battlestar has a special place in my heart. Therefore I have elevated this to a full post.

For my birthday Arin took me to see I Am Legend. In my old age whenever I see a blockbuster that has the Hollywood hype machine behind I fear that the movie will suck, as they frequently do. Because ever since Harper was born I have come to cherish the evenings I get to go see a movie; and I hate, hate, hate the feeling that I have squandered a night out on a lackluster film.

That was my fear with I Am Legend. Compounding my fear was also the fact that it was date night and if the movie sucked then not only did I waste my night out, but I also wasted Arin's night out, and our night out. A triple whammie.

When the movie ended I looked nervously at Arin to see what she thought, and our first impressions of the film were exactly the same: this movie was the perfect length.

Hollywood seems far too willing to sacrifice a tight, well edited movie, for ultra-long (Peter Jackson), special effects laden (Lucas) for which the added time does nothing or exceedingly little for the story as a whole. Not so with I Am Legend. Which when you think about it is a surprise. The setting alone is ripe with opportunity for meaningless fly-throughs of an abandoned Manhattan. On top of that, the temptation to show Will Smith pilfering The Met or MoMA for art to hang on his apartment wall, or even to elaborate upon the madness of his character would be completely overpowering for most directors.

But Francis Lawrence restrained himself admirably. What you are left with a solid hour and forty minutes of the tensest and terrifying movie I have seen in years.

• Watch the Trailer
• Buy the DVD
  

Last year I was on the hunt for a good Battlestar Galactica podcast. The selection was not the best in the world - not in grand scheme of podcasts, but there was one that stood out from the rest. Galactica Watercooler featured a trio of friends that actually managed to have chemistry. But after listening to them for a while I eventually grew tired. I mean how can anyone host a two hour podcast in the off season of a television show? I am a reasonable man, and I could talk about BSG as much as the next fan, but I could never carry on a two hour conversation about it, especially when there is nothing new to talk about! And therein lies the crux of why their podcast has grown tired. They have simply talked themselves out.

Then a couple of weeks ago a reader pointed me in the direction of Galactica Quorum. I picked it up looking to appease my Galactica addiction and I was actually surprised. I was expecting very little, but the podcast was refreshing. Not only was it short, but they were actually critical of the show as opposed to being these sycophantic geeks that think Ronald Moore can do no wrong. Who woulda thunk?

Naturally, I called in with my own ideas to share. And lo and behold, they aired my message! I admit, I am a simple man, with a simple ego (I am about 8:25 seconds in).

If you are a fan, of virtually any sci-fi show on television, you will probably like this group of cynical friends - they trash (and admire when the case calls for it) virtually every show on televion, from the awful Bionic Woman to the do-no-wrong Heroes. Trust me, it ain't bad. It's even a little good.