Fantasy and Sci-Fi Cross Boundaries

Really? I thought he broke the cycle and the humans and machines coexistence peacefully afterwards? But to know for sure I'd have to watch the Matrix sequels and I'm not interested in that.

The Matrix is an odd case though because it's sci-fi on paper, it's fantasy thematically, but it feels like neither of those. It's... weird. Like everything the Wachowskis do. Everything they touch turns to weird.

 

I don't think I could voluntarily re-watch the sequels to the Matrix. Hell, they put me off so much I've not even re-watched the Matrix since those two were vomited out. I don't think it helped that the first movie was so awesome. Meh, maybe it's because I'm not naturally drawn to Sci-fi that I couldn't appreciate the sequels.

 

And I will raise you:

 

I see your deflector shields, and raise you Marauder Shields





...leading an unstoppable Reaper invasion backed by heartbreaking emotional music.




EDIT: Wait what did I get ninja'd by I don't even

 

Ah yes, the true hero of Mass Effect. He died trying to save us from the shitty ending.

 

Star Trek is a nice series but its materialistic and humanist propaganda annoys me.

 

TRUTH. That's part of why I like the NuTrek films more than what came before. There's none of that, but they kept the space adventure.

And since I've brought up Mass Effect, it's an interesting example. Because while it has all the trappings and feel of a sci-fi story, it's humanistic without any heavy-handed materialism. It even includes positive examples of spirituality (something that you either don't see or is outright mocked in most sci-fi), and I find it far more enjoyable than most sci-fi because of it.

 

The problem is a lot of writers don't want to have spirituality in the Sci-Fi because the genre is generally seen as a means to rail against Protestant America culture. A lot of sci-fi books in the 50s for example, hold science in high regard. After the 70s, science fiction became more cynical but it still believed strongly in scientism.

ME is probably the result of a Science-Fiction that has being more influenced by SW than by the older styles of Sci-Fi. Making the two genres cross boundaries is very important, I think, in order to keep both genres interesting and give them the ability to talk about new ideas from different angles.

I don't why people say that Sci-Fi heroes have to suck(not really a right the word to use).

 

Good points. Incidentally, I think the themes of Mass Effect are also (intentionally or not) a giant middle finger to (virulent racist and uber-atheist) H.P. Lovecraft. "Not only can we beat Cthulhu, but we're gonna do it through the power of racial diversity and cooperation, dammit!"

As for sci-fi heroes, an interesting trend is that they're usually not as "special" as fantasy heroes are. Fantasy heroes are (stereo)typically extraordinary people of great power and destiny who only appear to be average joes, whereas sci-fi heroes will actually be average joes. Or, failing that, they'll be people made special through training, education, or technology that could just as easily have been attained by someone else rather than any inherent qualities or powers that only they can access. Only Luke can bring balance to the Force, but anybody can join Starfleet. Just don't become a redshirt.

 

Still gnawing away at that bone, are we? xD

 

Sarah Connor, Alex Murphy, and Katniss Everdeen also fit this pattern, along with many others. In fact, Katniss is the preeminent modern incarnation of this type of hero. There's nothing particularly special about her, she has strong emotional reactions to trauma and loss, and yet by chance she's become the super-important figurehead of a rebellion and is trying to do the best she can. A fantasy-style Chosen One would've taken it all in stride, stormed the gates of the Capitol with a small squad of elite sidekicks, and shot President Snow in the face by now.

Yeah... Like I said, Neo is weird. Just like everything the Wachowskis do.

I just think it's funny that the end of the Matrix Trilogy made you hate Neo so much. xD

 

Oh, and going back to Mass Effect, this means that Commander Shepard straddles the line between fantasy and sci-fi hero. Shepard doesn't have any particularly extraordinary powers in the context of his/her universe. There are plenty of other biotics, soldiers, and techies, and the specialists on Shepard's squad are more often than not better than Shepard is at their chosen fields. But the game still portrays Shepard as exceptional and Shepard's feats as things that only Shepard could have done. Though in this case the inherent traits Shepard possesses are ingenuity, leadership, inspirational ability, and determination rather than magic or destiny. Just about anybody in the wrong place at the right time could have done what Katniss has done, but only Shepard could be Shepard.