Reid Picks: Top 10 science fiction movies

It's time for a top 10 list. But on what? Science fiction movies, of course!

If you poll random people and ask them what they think of when they hear the words "science fiction," what would they say? I speculate they'll likely name a science fiction movie, such as those in the Star Wars or Star Trek universe.

Science fiction movies are so ingrained in society that it's only natural to talk about them. So here is a list of my favorite science fiction movies (remember, they are my personal favorites and are ranked solely by my interest in them):

Religion in science fiction

I believe religion will always be discussed in science fiction. There's just something about it that will always be of interest, whether you're religious or not.

The "big three" of science fiction, Arthur C. Clarke, Asaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein, all nonreligious, wrote great stories that involved religious themes (most notably "The Star," "The Last Question," and Stranger in a Strange Land, respectively).

There also are many authors who have written great stories with religious symbolism. I personally like the Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis (although he's known more for his fantasy) and the Firebird Trilogy by Kathy Tyers. The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe is another story known for its religious symbolism.

If you want to read the short stories "The Star" by Clarke and "The Last Question" by Asimov, the following websites have the full text of the stories:

lucis.net/stuff/clarke/star_clarke.html

www.multivax.com/last_question.html

Let me know if there are any other good religious-themed stories you'd like to point out.

Science fiction game "Metroid: Other M" videos

Of course, science fiction is not just for books and movies--it also plays an important role in video games. In particular, I'd like to point out the Metroid franchise as a longstanding science fiction game series.

Metroid first came out in America on Aug. 15, 1987, for the Nintendo Entertainment System and hit huge success with Super Metroid for the Super NES (which came out in the U.S. on April 18, 1984). Twenty-three years later since the first game, the newest game in the series, Metroid: Other M, will be coming out for the Nintendo Wii this Aug. 31. It looks great and is expected to go deeper into the storyline. For more information about the games, visit www.metroid-database.com (the website has about everything you want to know about Metroid).

Check out the two videos for the game. The first one was a trailer revealed at the 2010 E3 event (focusing on the game play) while the second one is from the 2009 E3 event (with both story and game-play elements). And just just because I love the video, I threw in a trailer for the Metroid Prime game that came out Nov. 8, 2002 (although the CG is not in the game, unfortunately). Enjoy!

Great science fiction song: 'We Don't Need Another Trilogy'

Below is a link to a science fiction song called "We Don't Need Another Trilogy" by John Anealio and "nerdcore superstar" Dale Chase. It's a "folk/rock/hip-hop collaboration" song I found at scifisongs.blogspot.com (May 12 post). I thought it was great, so check it out:

Sci Fi Songs: Free MP3: We Don't Need Another Trilogy

Sci-Fi Songs (John Anealio) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

Reid Picks: 5 Best Places to Submit a Science Fiction Short Story

Here is a list of--in my opinion--the five best places to submit a science fiction short story. The picks are not ranked in any particular order. If you'd like to point out a magazine not mentioned, that's great--leave it as a comment.

A favorite quote from author Kevin J. Anderson

I was checking out the forum on L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future website (www.writersofthefuture.com) and found an excellent quote from author Kevin J. Anderson (one of my favorite writers who I got to meet at Shevacon in Roanoke, Va., this year).

He was on the forum June 24, 2008, to answer questions (since he is a contest judge), and answered this query: "What inspires you to write?"

His response was: "I write because if I didn't write, then my head would explode from all the ideas that keep coming."

OK, it's not a blow-your-mind kind of quote, but what I like so much about it is that it rings true with me and likely many other writers. Ideas and/or scenes pop into my head often, and I have to jot them down or I'll forget them. If they're for a chapter of a book, the ideas will keep pouring in until I complete the chapter.

And then ... the relief sets in ... too bad it doesn't last long. Almost immediately, I get more ideas for the next chapter. Save it for another day, I tell myself. Even writers need some sleep.

Reid Q&A: About me and this blog

Thanks for checking out ReidKemper.com!

Who am I? Ahem! I'm a author who, after publishing nonfiction articles in a variety of magazines and newspapers, decided to launch my career in science fiction writing.

What do I do? I write science fiction stories, whether they are books or short stories.

What sparked my interest in writing? It started when a genius classmate and friend of mine wrote an astounding science fiction story for a class project in middle school. He spearheaded a science fiction group, and I became a part of it. As the collaborative universe we created grew, I befriended other great budding authors who became a part of it. They helped me in so many ways throughout the years become a better writer. And I am eternally grateful for their friendship.

What have I written? I finished my first novel while in college and am halfway through my second one. (Professional authors say that the experience you gain from the first book you write is like riding a bicycle with training wheels. I totally agree. Utilize what you've learned from writing your first novel and continue on to the second one. Odds are that the second book will be a far greater piece of work.) I've also written multiple short stories and have just recently begun submitting them to publishers.

Why did I create this website? I wanted to provide you, the science fiction fans, with what you love--stories, tips, resources, and whatever else science-fiction related information I can muster. Check in later for more posts. And feel free to comment on what topics you'd like to read.