Apocalyptic Science Fiction

The 11 Best Apocalyptic Science Fiction Books of The 21st Century

If you’re a fan of apocalyptic science fiction books, then this list is for you. Apocalyptic novels about the future and other worlds have been popular since the late 19th century. These stories often explore how different cultures might react to disaster or if we will be able to save ourselves from extinction. Some of these titles are classics that all readers should experience, while others may be less well-known but equally as captivating as their more famous counterparts. 

These 11 21st century apocalypse novels offer diverse perspectives on life in an uncertain world—and what could happen when it’s over:

1) The Dog Stars by Peter Heller (2012)

The story takes place in the near future and covers a period of about two years. Most people have died of a flu pandemic and all that’s left is a pilot named Hig and his dog Jasper, who live on an abandoned airfield in Colorado with their plane. They run out of supplies soon after the novel begins, so they head into town to scavenge for more. Along the way, they have to deal with a group of violent criminals who have set up camp in an abandoned high-rise building and a boy who thinks he’s a superhero.

2) World War Z by Max Brooks (2006)

This non-fiction book has been compared to Studs Terkel’s The Good War. It is a collection of individual accounts from survivors of a war against zombies that nearly destroyed civilization as we know it. Woven throughout these personal stories is the account of a United Nations employee trying to track down the origin of this mysterious virus.

3) The Road by Cormac McCarthy (2006)

A father and his young son travel a post-apocalyptic landscape in search of a place where they might be able to survive. They carry very little with them, but their quest is filled with dangers both human and inhuman. This novella was written for the author’s son, whom he taught how to read at a young age. As such, it is a deeply personal account of the lengths a parent will go to in order provide for their children.

4) Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (2003)

Margaret Atwood is perhaps best known as one of the most famous feminist writers of our generation. However, she has proven that not all her novels and short stories must be concerned with gender equality and other social issues. In this one, a man named Snowman is the sole survivor of a human race brought to extinction by genetic engineering. He is searching for answers about his past in a world gone mad.

5) The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood (2009)

This is a companion novel to Oryx and Crake and follows the perspective of two fully developed characters. In this post-apocalyptic world, genetic experimentation has caused most people to become infertile and violent toward one another—unless they are members of an organized religion. This story explores a different aspect of the same world as Atwood’s other novel, but it is equally as vivid and haunting.

6) Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (2014)

Station Eleven takes place in an alternate reality where a famous Hollywood star dies of a heart attack onstage at the end of Arthur Leander’s last performance. Three weeks later, most of the world is destroyed when the deadly Georgia flu sweeps through the population. Twenty years after this global catastrophe, a traveling theater company makes their final tour across Canada.

7) The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North (2014)

This novel is told through the perspective of a man who has lived and died many times previously. It takes place in an era where technology allows people to relive their past life experiences and correct mistakes they’ve made. The protagonist follows their own unique path to change the world for good, while also dealing with the physical limitations of repeatedly dying young.

8) Wool by Hugh Howey (2013)

This novel falls somewhere between science fiction and dystopian literature. A community of people scrape out an existence in a series of underground silos that are meant to protect them from the harsh elements outside. The only problem is that everyone must remain underground for their entire lives, or risk being killed by robotic “silo-dogs.”

9) Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (2011)

This novel is set in a dystopian future where most of humanity spends all their time engaged in an online game that is meant to bring people together. OASIS is a virtual world that gives its users the ability to be whomever and whatever they want to be. The creator of this virtual reality has recently died, leaving behind a hidden quest inside of OASIS itself.

9) The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell (2014)

The main character in this novel is a woman, but the majority of the story follows several different protagonists. The Bone Clocks takes place across several decades and alternates between two worlds—one being modern-day England, and the other being an afterlife where souls are harvested for their energy.

10) The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins (2008)

The Hunger Games is a post-apocalyptic novel with strong social criticism pertaining to the nature of reality television and state control. In this world, North America has been taken over by a totalitarian regime that forces teenagers to fight to the death in a televised event called “the games.” Katniss Everdeen volunteers to become one of the participants, to save her younger sister’s life.

11) The Maze Runner Trilogy and The Scorch Trials by James Dashner (2009 and 2010)

The Maze Runner follows a group of teenage boys who live in an experimental community that is enclosed in a large, ever-changing maze. An organization called the WCKD controls this place, while also experimenting on its inhabitants with genetic mutations. One of the boys, Thomas, becomes determined to find a way out of the maze with his group.

The best apocalyptic science fiction novels are both entertaining and thought-provoking. Whether you love to read about the end of the world or would prefer not to think about it, these books will provide a captivating reading experience. 

Which book has been most affecting? Comment down below!…

Space Opera

Best Space Opera Films

What is a space opera and why do people enjoy this genre?

Space operas are science-fiction films that often take place in outer space. They encompass many different themes, but often focus on the hero’s journey. People enjoy these types of movies because they combine all of the elements we love about sci-fi: aliens, spaceships, futuristic technology and more. Not to mention it’s fun to see what kind of new species we’ll be meeting and how they will interact with the hero.

This list contains some of the most popular space operas and what makes them great.

1) Star Wars (1977)

George Lucas created one of the greatest sci fi films in this fun western-esque adventure film. He also made a franchise that could be seen as a blueprint for successful franchises with its great cast of characters and interesting story lines. Plus, who could forget the “May the force be with you” line?

2) Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

Created as a sequel to the original Star Trek series, this film has what sci-fi fans love: cool spaceships and aliens. Also, they created a successful franchise, which is still going strong today.

3) Jupiter Ascending (2015)

This is another great sci-fi story that has a new and exciting plot. It’s about the daughter of a housekeeper who gets sent to space and learns she is not human, but rather an acendent of aliens. She must fight off an evil genetic family and fulfill her destiny as queen of Earth.

4) The Fifth Element (1997)

This is a favorite for many sci-fi fans. This story follows a taxi driver who accidentally saves the world from an evil alien bent on destroying every living thing on Earth. What makes this movie unique is that it combines comedy with adventure and sci-fi, which we don’t see often in this genre.

5) The Martian (2015)

Based on the novel of the same name, this film follows an astronaut who is stranded on Mars for over a year when his crew thinks he died from a dust storm. He must use his knowledge to survive until they can rescue him.

6) Pacific Rim (2013)

This is another favorite for many sci-fi fans. It takes place in the near future where robots are forced to fight off giant monsters that threaten to wipe out humanity. People watch it because they enjoy seeing the robot vs monster battles, of course.

7) Interstellar (2014)

This film is about astronauts who must travel through a wormhole near Saturn in order to find a new home for people on Earth. They must also ensure that humanity continues to survive. This movie has great visuals and is known among sci-fi fans for its interesting plot, especially once they get to their destination.

8) Guardians of The Galaxy (2014)

This film is the first in a series that focuses on superheroes fighting together to save the galaxy. This is different than most space operas because it has little emphasis on the “space” part of its title. Instead, Guardians focuses mainly on the heroes and their story lines. It still meets all of the criteria for this list, though.

9) The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

This is the second installment of George Lucas’ Star Wars franchise. It follows our favorite group of heroes on their journey to save Han Solo from evil Darth Vader. There are epic lightsaber battles, space dogfights and more in this classic sci-fi film.

10) Valerian and The City of A Thousand Planets (2017)

Based on the French comic series, Valerian follows two special operatives who must travel to an intergalactic city in order to stop a dark force that has taken over. Together they journey through space and discover new species and planets. It’s almost like an adult version of Star Wars.

11) The Last Starfighter (1984)

This is a classic for our list. It’s about an arcade champion who gets sucked into outer space in order to fight off aliens by using his video game skills. This is one of the earliest films to show the potential of computerized special effects, which makes it fun to watch.

12) District 9 (2009)

This is another favorite. This movie is about an extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum conditions on Earth. A human organization decides to relocate them after years of tension between the two races. District 9 has great special effects, like most modern sci-fi films, and it tells a story that you don’t see much in movies.

13) The Terminator (1984)

This is another classic in the sci-fi genre, which was followed by 5 more films in this franchise. It’s about a robot from the future who comes back to kill the mother of an unborn leader who will later lead humanity against machines. This film has spawned many imitations and was one of the first to use computer graphics.

Space operas are a great way to get lost in an imaginative world where anything is possible. The variety of stories and themes provide something for everyone who enjoys this genre, from comedy to adventure with sci-fi elements thrown into the mix. 

These movies show that it’s not just about space exploration or aliens anymore; there’s plenty of room for human drama as well! 

Which one was your favorite? Comment down below!…

Best Military Science Fiction Movies

 My Top 10

One of my favorite genres of movies is science-fiction. One such category within this genre is military science fiction, and below I will share with you what I think are the 10 best military science fiction movies to date.

A few years ago, I was watching a movie called The Thing (1982) and it made me realize that there were a number of good ones out there that I didn’t know about. After doing some research, I realized that it would be hard to narrow down my list to just 5 so here’s my 10 favorites:

1) Independence Day (1996)

I’m starting with this one because it’s a great movie. It has a bit of everything in it for everyone, and the fact that they saved the world from aliens makes it even better. The action is non-stop and you’re going to wish you had all the cool gadgets they have in this movie.

2) Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Tom Cruise has a bit of a reputation for making movies that provide mindless entertainment, but this movie was not one of those. This movie’s action is non-stop and provides an amazing re-watch value due to the fact that you will want to watch it over again as soon as it ends. In addition, its story line is surprisingly deep and fluid. And for those of you who know the phrase “Live, Die, Repeat” I’m pretty sure this movie started it all.

3) Battle: Los Angeles (2011)

In this movie, Aliens attack Earth for the first time and people are desperately trying to figure out how to fight back. The intensity in this movie is high throughout and leaves you wanting a sequel.

4) Rouge One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

If you’ve been a fan of the Star Wars series from the beginning, then this movie is a no-brainer for you. It’s interesting to see how they chose to retcon some events since it’s a sequel to something that doesn’t exist yet in their universe. And overall, it was different enough from the previous Star Wars movies that they didn’t feel like it was just a rehash of one of them.

5) Lockout (2012)

For those who want to see Bruce Willis and Guy Pearce at their best, then look no further than this movie. There’s just something about it that makes you wish that everything in life was that easy. In other words, if you’re going to spend a night out at the movies, I recommend this one.

6) The 5th Wave (2016)

This movie is great for those who enjoy alien invasion type movies. Additionally, the story line’s message of hope is something that many people need to see in these times. For me, this was one of those “I didn’t want this movie to end” kind of movies and I’ve already watched it twice in theaters.

7) Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)

Another great movie in the Independence Day series. The effects are top notch, action is non-stop, and you will get to see some of your old favorites again. I have yet to watch this one in theaters so I can’t guarantee it’s worth seeing but, based on my experience with the first two movies I’m guessing you’ll want to see this one too.

8) Apollo 18 (2011)

This movie made the list because it’s a great psychological thriller. In this movie, you follow two astronauts on a mission to the moon that discover something far more sinister than they could have ever imagined. It has that “I can’t take my eyes off of it” effect and it leaves you wanting more.

9) Repo Men (2010)

If you’re into intense and thought provoking movies then this is the one for you. The action is intense and will leave your heart beating fast by the time it’s over. Additionally, this movie presents a unique world that I’ve never seen in any other movie before making it a good watch.

10) Inception (2010)

I’m ending this list with another mind bending movie because it’s just as good as the last one. In this movie, you follow a team as they break into peoples dreams and steal their ideas. Watching how they go about doing so is impressive but if you’re anything like me then the ending will leave you saying “what just happened?!” That’s all for these movies. Stay tuned for part two where I’ll cover more good movies you should see at the theater. Thanks for reading.

P.S. Did you like my article? If so, please feel free to share it with your friends on social media (links are in the menu near the top of the page). Also, if you have any movie suggestions or feedback feel free to comment on the article or send me an email. Thanks!…

Science Fiction Museum

The Museum of Science Fiction in Washington, DC, will be the world’s first comprehensive science fiction museum, covering the history of the genre across the arts and providing a narrative on its relationship to the real world. The mission of the Museum of Science Fiction is to create a center of gravity where art and science are powered by imagination. Science fiction is the story of humanity: who we were, who we are, and who we dream to be. The Museum will present this story through displays, interactivity, and programs in ways that excite, educate, entertain, and create a new generation of dreamers

Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall Of Fame

The Hall of Fame honors science fiction and fantasy’s leading creators and most impactful creations. Inside The Museum of Pop Culture’s mission is to make creative expression a life-changing force by offering experiences that inspire and connect our communities. Located at 325 5th Avenue N Seattle, WA 98109.

Hollywood Science Fiction Museum

The mission of the Hollywood Science Fiction Museum is to “inspire people of all ages with an uplifting vision of the future found in science fiction media, art, and literature by teaching real science through science fiction, including technology, ecology, engineering, computers, robotics, math, space travel, and all aspects of filmmaking through interactive exhibits and programs”
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40 Years of Alien: 40th-Anniversary Exhibit and Film Screenings

The Hugh M. Hefner Exhibition Hall, George Lucas Building Lobby 900 West 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90089

University Southern California

No tickets required. Free admission. Open to the public.