Good morning, gentle readers, and welcome to On This Day In Science Fiction, Fantasy, And Horror History ... with your host ... me!
I kid, I kid, I kid. I'm really no host. I'm really no expert on anything. I like to do a bit of research here and there, and I do keep the blog flowing with daily tidbits to the delight of readers around the world, but ... me? A host? I kinda/sorta subscribe to that whole Woody Allen philosophy that goes a little something like this: "I'd never be a part of any organization that would have someone like me as a member!" (snicker snicker)
But, nonetheless, I'm happy to bring you the latest and greatest daily trivia blurbs from Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror; and if that keeps you coming back to this space on a regular basis to share in the joy? Well, then my job here is done. I hope it brings a smile to your face because that's my only goal.
Let me say ... what can I say about today?
Well, nothing quite yet. I'm just getting started. I did, yesterday afternoon, watch an old grindhouse-style murder thriller called Impulse. It stars genre master William Shatner as a kinda/sorta serial killer who robs rich old ladies of their money and then leaves them dead in his wake. Quite a surprise to see the ol' Shat up to such deviousness, but he did a reasonably good job in the part. I'll likely have a review up either later today or tomorrow, depending upon how my morning and afternoon shape up. I have a few errands to run, but I should squeeze in some writing time later today. Keep your eyes peeled, if you will.
I kid, I kid, I kid. I'm really no host. I'm really no expert on anything. I like to do a bit of research here and there, and I do keep the blog flowing with daily tidbits to the delight of readers around the world, but ... me? A host? I kinda/sorta subscribe to that whole Woody Allen philosophy that goes a little something like this: "I'd never be a part of any organization that would have someone like me as a member!" (snicker snicker)
But, nonetheless, I'm happy to bring you the latest and greatest daily trivia blurbs from Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror; and if that keeps you coming back to this space on a regular basis to share in the joy? Well, then my job here is done. I hope it brings a smile to your face because that's my only goal.
Let me say ... what can I say about today?
Well, nothing quite yet. I'm just getting started. I did, yesterday afternoon, watch an old grindhouse-style murder thriller called Impulse. It stars genre master William Shatner as a kinda/sorta serial killer who robs rich old ladies of their money and then leaves them dead in his wake. Quite a surprise to see the ol' Shat up to such deviousness, but he did a reasonably good job in the part. I'll likely have a review up either later today or tomorrow, depending upon how my morning and afternoon shape up. I have a few errands to run, but I should squeeze in some writing time later today. Keep your eyes peeled, if you will.
On this day all the way back in 1971, the groundbreaking SciFi/Drama The Andromeda Strain first put the face of killer viruses from Outer Space into our collective consciousness.
Directed by the great Robert Wise -- who about a decade later would helm the first Star Trek movie on the big screen -- the script emerged from the mind of the late Michael Crichton; and, yes, the project enjoyed a 1972 Hugo Award nomination in the category of 'Best Dramatic Presentation' along with a pair of Academy Awards noms (in technical categories). Its talented line-up included James Olson, Arthur Hill, David Wayne, and Kate Reid, all playing brainy scientists trying to unravel the mystery of why one off-the-beaten-track sleepy Arizona town was wiped out with the exception of two survivors ... one very old man and a crying infant.
Now ... for those of you who haven't seen it, let me give you my two cents on the matter. You can check out the citation for the flick over on IMDB.com, and you will find that it has a solid critical reputation. Yes, that's definitely earned, as The Andromeda Strain is respectably 'hard SciFi' or, at least, about as close to 'hard SciFi' that mainstream audiences expected in the early 1970's. Performances are very good, and the script is exceedingly well crafted. My issue with the flick has always been around its slow, slow, slow pacing. Wise takes his time in putting his principles through their paces, and it kinda/sorta shows in a few spots. True, science takes time, but this is a movie, after all, and I think this one could've used a clip job in a sequence or two that would've resulted in a better experience.
Again: feel free to disagree. I know that my opinion is in the minority ... and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Directed by the great Robert Wise -- who about a decade later would helm the first Star Trek movie on the big screen -- the script emerged from the mind of the late Michael Crichton; and, yes, the project enjoyed a 1972 Hugo Award nomination in the category of 'Best Dramatic Presentation' along with a pair of Academy Awards noms (in technical categories). Its talented line-up included James Olson, Arthur Hill, David Wayne, and Kate Reid, all playing brainy scientists trying to unravel the mystery of why one off-the-beaten-track sleepy Arizona town was wiped out with the exception of two survivors ... one very old man and a crying infant.
Now ... for those of you who haven't seen it, let me give you my two cents on the matter. You can check out the citation for the flick over on IMDB.com, and you will find that it has a solid critical reputation. Yes, that's definitely earned, as The Andromeda Strain is respectably 'hard SciFi' or, at least, about as close to 'hard SciFi' that mainstream audiences expected in the early 1970's. Performances are very good, and the script is exceedingly well crafted. My issue with the flick has always been around its slow, slow, slow pacing. Wise takes his time in putting his principles through their paces, and it kinda/sorta shows in a few spots. True, science takes time, but this is a movie, after all, and I think this one could've used a clip job in a sequence or two that would've resulted in a better experience.
Again: feel free to disagree. I know that my opinion is in the minority ... and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
There's a small contingent of semi-regular readers who show up in my private messages from time-to-time complaining that I don't cover enough Science Fiction authors in this space. While I'll admit that's true, I've always (ALWAYS) confessed that -- unlike many who do what I do online -- I just didn't read much SciFi when I was growing up, consequently I'm just not aware of the number of writers and works as I should be. I'm always on the lookout for additions; but -- like any voluminous archive -- that takes time. So just be happy with what I've managed to squeeze in instead of harping on what I've left out.
That said, I can assure you that one of the earliest SciFi reading experiences on my youth was the 'Stainless Steel Rat' series of novels, and those, my friends, were penned by the great Harry Harrison. His isn't a name as well known as it should be, what with another one of his creations serving as the inspiration for 1973's incredible SciFi/Classic Soylent Green ... but who am I to complain? Nobody listens, after all. Sigh.
But Harrison's prose makes for some compelling visions for those seeking suggestions on one's to check out. He might not have crafted works that were as rewarded as his contemporaries, but I always thought he had a solid knack of delivering ideas and characters that were relatable within the context of their respective universes. Maybe it's safe to suggest that he was one of the writers who popularized Science Fiction and Fantasy for more mainstream-style audiences -- great concepts with a bit of wit -- and that's something our genre can always use more of.
Though he's no longer with us, Harry Harrison was born on this day back in 1925.
That said, I can assure you that one of the earliest SciFi reading experiences on my youth was the 'Stainless Steel Rat' series of novels, and those, my friends, were penned by the great Harry Harrison. His isn't a name as well known as it should be, what with another one of his creations serving as the inspiration for 1973's incredible SciFi/Classic Soylent Green ... but who am I to complain? Nobody listens, after all. Sigh.
But Harrison's prose makes for some compelling visions for those seeking suggestions on one's to check out. He might not have crafted works that were as rewarded as his contemporaries, but I always thought he had a solid knack of delivering ideas and characters that were relatable within the context of their respective universes. Maybe it's safe to suggest that he was one of the writers who popularized Science Fiction and Fantasy for more mainstream-style audiences -- great concepts with a bit of wit -- and that's something our genre can always use more of.
Though he's no longer with us, Harry Harrison was born on this day back in 1925.
Of course, it should go without saying that there's more -- there's a lot more -- and a mind-blowing 59 genre trivia citations is really only scratching the surface of the goodness in store for those of you willing to check out On This Day In Science Fiction, Fantasy, And Horror History compliments of yours truly. I have a great many new additions just waiting in the wings -- maybe I'll get a few of them up this morning -- so keep your eyes fixed on this space. There's always more to come.
In the meantime, check it all out right here ...
As always, thanks for reading ... thanks even more for sharing ... thanks for being a fan ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ
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