Science fiction headlines

#madscience Nearly two centuries ago, famed scientists Charles Darwin and Joseph Hooker transformed the barren volcanic island of Ascension into a lush artificial ecosystem, unwittingly inventing terraforming. Now, Darwin's incredible achievement could help us transform Mars into a livable environment. More »

#retrofuturism Rendezvous With Rama author Arthur C. Clarke predicts telemedicine, telecommuting and mobile phones, in a 1964 BBC interview. Too bad we don't have space colonies or mentally enhanced chimpanzee servants yet. More »

#madscience In 1997, Brazilian soccer player Roberto Carlos scored on a free kick that first went right, then curved sharply to leftwards in what looked like a physics-defying fluke. We've finally discovered the physics equation that shows it was no fluke. More »

The crisp, cool evenings, trees exploding into color and kids back in school all make you think of fall. But fall is also the time when network TV decides to unleash a barrage of new shows on the unsuspecting viewing public. This year is no exception and there are plenty of genre related shows, both new and returning, for the SF/F fan.

But will there be any worth watching?

Monday Chuck (NBC)
Status: Returning
Premiers: Sept 20, 8/7pm


Chuck returns for a fourth season with big changes in store, considering all deaths, explosions and mayhem from last season's finale. You can expect to see 100% more of Chuck's mom and, hopefully, the same goofy, silly, geeky humor that makes Chuck a fun show to watch.

The Event (NBC)
Status: New
Premiers: Sept. 20, 9/8pm

Billed as "an emotional, high-octane conspiracy thriller that follows Sean Walker, an Everyman who investigates the mysterious disappearance of his fiancee, Leila, and unwittingly begins to expose the biggest cover-up in U.S. history. Conspiracies, shadowy groups, an an "event", looks like NBC is going after the LOST crowd. Will it be a hit or the next Jericho?

Tuesday No Ordinary Family (ABC)
Status: New
Permiers: Sept. 28, 8/7pm

After a plane crash in the Amazon, the Powell family discover they each have a unique superpower. They also have to discover how to enjoy being a family with superpowers. Sounds a lot like The Incredibles only a live action version.

Stargate Universe (SyFy)
Status: Returning
Premiers: Sept. 28, 9/8pm

Stargate Universe returns for season 2 with the promise of an interesting dynamic existing on Destiny as the Lucian Alliance and Rush and company struggle for control of the ship. The promo shows a lot of intriguing storylines and as the only SF show with spaceships, I'll definitely be watching.

Sanctuary (SyFy)
Status: Returning
Premiers: Sept. 28, 10/9pm

I had no idea this show had been renewed for a season 3. I never go into it and it hasn't done anything to change that, but if you like it, there's more for you this season!

Wednesday Undercovers (NBC)
Status: New
Premiers: Sept. 22, 8/7pm

Not really a SF show, but it's J.J. Abrams, billed as Alias meets Mr. & Mrs. Smith (isn't that Chuck?) and we know Abrams had SF elements in Alias. Probably worth a look.

Thursday The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Status: Returning
Premiers: Sept. 23, 8/7pm

The Big Bang Theory may not be the best sitcom on TV, but when it's on, it's hilarious. And they must be doing something right as Jim Parsons just won the Emmy for Best Actor in a Comedy Series, and deservedly so. His portrayal of Sheldon is awesomely terrific.

Fringe (Fox)
Status: Returning
Premiers: Sept. 23, 9/8pm

I've had my issues with Fringe, but it got a lot better once they dropped the 'monster of the week' storylines. And with the war between realities verging on the hot and Faux-livia running around in 'our' universe, things could get really, really interesting.

The Vampire Diaries (CW)
Status: Returning
Premiers: Sept. 9, 8/7pm

It's Twilight for the small screen and I'm so not in their target audience. Do we need any more info? No, no we don't.

Nikita (Fox)
Status: New
Premier: Sept. 9, 9/8pm

Yet another remake of La Femme Nikita. The movie with Bridget Fonda (Point of No Return) was pretty good, but this isn't really SF at all. So why is it here? For the completely gratuitous picture of Maggie Q. You're welcome.

Friday Human Target (Fox)
Status: Returning
Premiers: Oct. 1, 8/7pm

Based on the comic of the same name, Human Target may not be a stellar show, but it's cheesy fun and any show that lets Lee Majors exercise his acting chops again is alright by me.

Smallville (CW)
Status: Returning
Premiers: Sept. 24, 8/7pm

The soap opera version of the Men of Steel's early life. It's so not my thing, yet it keeps getting more seasons. Someone must be watching, must be those whippersnappers I've seen in my lawn.

Supernatural (CW)
Status: Returning
Premiers: Sept. 24 9/8pm

Yet another show on the CW I'm proud to say I've never seen, though I've heard it's not a bad show. Whatever. I get the feeling the CW isn't the network for middle aged white guys.

Sym-bionic Titan (Cartoon)
Status: New
Premiers: Sept. 17, 8/7pm

Genndy Tartakovsky (worth it right there) brings us the tale of "three alien teenagers who crash-land on Earth and must protect their new home from alien invaders while navigating the perils of high school life." Tartakovsky has made a living of Westernizing the 'anime' look and feel and Sym-bionic Titan is no different, being his take on the popular high school/giant mech genre of anime.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Cartoon)
Status: Returning
Premiers: Sept. 17, 9/8pm

The Clone Wars just keeps chugging along on Cartoon Network and really, why shoulnd't it? It has the awesome Star Wars flavor with liberal amounts of Jedi and action thrown in for good measure. I may need to catch up with this.

Sunday The Walking Dead (AMC)
Status: New
Premiers: Oct. 31, 10/9pm

I'm not a zombie guy but this looks really good and with only six episodes, the time investment, and potential gross out factor, is minimized. When is Halloween again?

So let's see, Chuck, Stargate Universe and Fringe are definite watches. The Event and The Walking Dead are the new shows I'm most interested in, which really says something about the rest of the genre shows here. Of course, my preference is for space based SF, which only SGU and a the two cartoons fit, but I really, really don't like the vampire stuff or the more fantasy oriented shows, though the zombie show looks promising. I'll still take a gander at most stuff just to check them out.

This is a blog post from SF Signal. Subscribe via RSS, Twitter or Facebook.

Clarkesworld #48 is now posted:

Fiction

• "The Cull" by Robert Reed
• "Paper Cradle" by Stephen Gaskell

Non-Fiction

• Steel is not Enough: The Lives and Times of Magnus, Robot Fighter by Bill Spangler
• To See Beyond the Points of View: A Conversation with Karen Lowachee by Jeremy L. C. Jones
• Each Facet Intensely: A Conversation with Angela Slatter by Jeremy L. C. Jones

Podcast

• "The Cull" by Robert Reed, read by Kate Baker

[Cover art: "Honeycomb" by Julie Dillon]

This is a blog post from SF Signal. Subscribe via RSS, Twitter or Facebook.

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