Science Fiction Films Capricorn One and the Illusion of American Certainty Capricorn One examines a staged Mars mission, media manipulation, and institutional self preservation in a tense 1970s paranoia thriller where belief matters more than truth.
Dune Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam and the Power of Discipline Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam is one of Dune’s most formidable figures, embodying Bene Gesserit discipline, institutional power, and the dangers of certainty in Frank Herbert’s universe.
Star Wars The Force Explained in Star Wars Canon Learn what the Force is in Star Wars canon, how it works, and why balance matters. An encyclopedia guide covering the light side, dark side, midi-chlorians, and the Living and Cosmic Force.
SFC Newsletter The Quiet Fear at the Heart of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” A look at how “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” uses conformity, comfort, and fear to warn against surrendering conscience, showing why classic science fiction treated individuality as fragile and worth defending.
Star Wars Droids as Second-Class Citizens in "Star Wars" An in-depth explanation of why droids are treated as second-class citizens in "Star Wars," examining law, culture, economics, memory wipes, and the galaxy’s reliance on artificial labor.
Book Review Building the Long Future in "The Fountains of Paradise" A thoughtful review of "The Fountains of Paradise" examines Arthur C. Clarke’s vision of progress, engineering, and patience in classic hard science fiction.
Trivia "The Last Starfighter" and Early CGI How "The Last Starfighter" used early CGI and a Cray X-MP supercomputer to pioneer digital visual effects, marking a turning point in how science fiction films created space battles.
SFC Newsletter How The Six Million Dollar Man Grounded Science Fiction How The Six Million Dollar Man made science fiction feel practical by grounding futuristic technology in everyday America, disciplined authority, and a working man hero audiences trusted.
Dune Lady Margot Fenring in Dune A close look at Lady Margot Fenring in “Dune,” examining her Bene Gesserit training, political placement, and quiet influence on imperial power and destiny in Frank Herbert’s classic novel.
Dune The Quiet Authority of Count Hasimir Fenring A clear, canon grounded look at Count Hasimir Fenring in Dune, exploring his role as imperial adviser, near Kwisatz Haderach, and master of restraint in Frank Herbert’s political universe.
Hard Science Fiction What Is Hyperspace in Science Fiction Hyperspace is a classic science fiction concept that enables faster than light travel through an alternate realm, shaping galactic adventure, trade, and warfare across iconic stories of the genre
SFC Newsletter Ender’s Game and the Machinery of Command Explore the publication of Ender’s Game and how the novel examines training, command, and moral responsibility in late Cold War science fiction, where victory is engineered long before battle begins.
Time Travel How “Doctor Who” Created an Iconic Sound Discover how a simple piano, a set of keys, and creative necessity produced the unforgettable TARDIS sound, and why that accidental noise helped define “Doctor Who” for generations.
Dune Princess Irulan and the Voice of Empire Who is Princess Irulan Corrino in Dune Explore the Emperor’s daughter as court figure, political bride, and historian whose voice preserves empire and shapes how Paul Atreides is remembered.
Dune Who Was Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV rules the Imperium in “Dune” through tradition, fear, and balance. This profile explains his power, his limits, and why the last Corrino emperor falls.
Star Wars Jedi Council vs Jedi Order Explained in “Star Wars” Lore Learn the difference between the Jedi Council and the Jedi Order in Star Wars, how each functions, who holds power, and why their structure shapes the rise and fall of the Jedi.
The Men of Science Fiction How Isaac Asimov Made the Future Understandable Isaac Asimov, born January 2, 1920, shaped classic science fiction through clarity and reason. Explore how his ideas, robots, and empires made the future understandable.
Science Fiction Films Why "Blade Runner" Takes Place in Los Angeles Why Blade Runner is set in Los Angeles, examining film noir roots, urban sprawl, architecture, and themes that shaped Ridley Scott’s iconic vision of the future city in classic science fiction cinema.
Dune Iakin Nefud and the Cost of Obedience in Dune Who is Iakin Nefud in Dune? A classic analysis of the Harkonnen guard captain, his rise after the Atreides fall, semuta addiction, and what he reveals about power and obedience in Frank Herbert’s novel.
Star Wars The Origin of the Clone Army in Star Wars Learn the origin of the Clone Army in Star Wars, from its secret commissioning on Kamino to its role in the Clone Wars and the downfall of the Galactic Republic.
SFC Newsletter Classic Sci-Fi From Jules Verne to the Space Age An exploration of classic science fiction from Jules Verne to the early space age, showing how reason, discipline, and responsibility shaped the genre before spectacle took over.
Book Review Inferno in Classic Science Fiction A clear look at Inferno as a classic SF journey that blends reason, choice, and timeless themes for readers who enjoy straightforward storytelling rooted in the traditions of the genre.
Trivia Stephen King’s Three-Day Dash Through “The Running Man” Stephen King’s seventy-two-hour draft of “The Running Man” reveals a raw, urgent story shaped by pressure, American anxieties, and a father’s struggle to protect his family in a changing world.
Dune Glossu Beast Rabban in Dune Glossu Beast Rabban rules Arrakis through fear in Frank Herbert’s Dune. His fall shows how cruelty and blind ambition turn strength into weakness and bring down House Harkonnen.
Science Fiction Films The Fly 1986 The Fall of Reason A scientist’s experiment turns to tragedy in David Cronenberg’s “The Fly” 1986. This review explores ambition, transformation, and the cost of progress when intellect outpaces morality.
