After months of planning (I came up with the idea in August), Sci-Fi Month has finally begun! If you’ve missed my chatter about the event, it’s pretty much what it says on the tin: a month long event, spread over many, many blogs, to celebrate the wonderful genre that is science fiction! During this event, all my regular features will be suspended.
Today, all participants will be posting an intro post. Leave a comment if you link up, and I’ll be sure to visit your post and comment back. Don’t forget to check out the schedule for the list of posts. You can also Tweet about the event using the hashtag #RRSciFiMonth.
Let Sci-Fi Month officially begin!
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m 22, from the UK and currently working as a medical receptionist. I’m working to save for my Masters degree, so I can go on and become a museum curator – however I really enjoy my current job too, which is a bonus! I studied ancient history and archaeology for my undergraduate degree, and graduated last summer.
Apart from reading (and sci-fi based things) I also love discovering all sorts of things about ancient cultures and archaeology, listening to music 24/7 (you can sample my tastes here), playing video games/talking out loud to video game characters/obsessing over Alistair with Paola, wasting far too much time on the internet and catching up with a million and one TV shows I still need to finish (here’s looking at you, Supernatural). I also volunteer at a local museum, where I record finds (I love finds!) on the database, and create handouts for the exhibits.
2. How long have you been a fan of sci-fi?
Eh, I’m not really sure. Probably since before I was really aware it was a genre… ever since I could read I’ve loved fantastical stories that took me to new worlds. I’ve always been a massive science fiction and fantasy fan (the two tend to go hand in hand). My dad loves sci-fi so I’ve often asked him for recommendations – or more recently recommended things to him! He totally wanted me to get Dan Simmons to join in this event – but I couldn’t find any way to contact him…
3. Why do you like sci-fi, and what is your favourite thing about it?
I guess I can sort of answer this in one sentence: because of all the amazing worlds and possibilities it opens up. It’s really cool to think that one day (not in every case of science fiction, but in many) something like that could happen. It’s not really a feeling you get with fantasy books. So in one word: the possibilities. My favourite aspects are time travel and space exploration.
4. Favourite books/games/films/TV shows in the genre?
- Books: House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick, Hyperion by Dan Simmons, Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. Ughhh there’s so many more but I can’t list them all! I shall go into more detail later on in the month.
- Games: the Mass Effect trilogy – it breaks my heart in so many places, and stamps on it – but I LOVE IT SO MUCH. Bioware make amazing games with compelling stories and fascinating characters and… well… who knew aliens could be sexy? But you know, I mainly play for the plot. Yes. Plus Borderlands 2 (Borderlands co-op is just the best thing). I have Deus Ex: Human Revolution waiting to be played, and I’m excited for it – I just need to complete several other games first…
- Films: Alien, Prometheus (even though it’s kind of cheesy and full of plot holes I just love how it looks and the music is amazing) and Avatar (can I live on Pandora please?). I also really love the Tom Cruise version of War of the Worlds (I just generally love that story) and Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (I know, I know – hardcore Star Wars fans probably hate me now. But this one brings back good memories of seeing it in the cinema as a kid and wanting my own podracer!). Looper was also pretty awesome.
- TV shows: Doctor Who (I bet you never guessed!), Firefly (why was it cancelled??) and Torchwood.
5. What are your plans for Sci-Fi Month?
I will be posting every day, because I’m slightly insane. Here are just some of the things I have in store for you wonderful people: the top five sci-fi objects I wish were real, a publisher profile on Hodderscape plus a giveaway, an interview and giveaway with science fiction author Jaine Fenn, a guest post by Katherine Roberts about whether dragons are science or fantasy, and a tribute post to Mass Effect.
Rinn Reads 
Why was Firefly cancelled? Because FOX is evil.Just heard about Sci-Fi Month, so too late to get involved. But I will be following along!
Oh, you’re more than welcome to join at any point! =D I’ve sent you an email.And I know, I don’t get it. It was obviously a hit because they came back with Serenity, but I guess it’s been too long now, and they won’t ever be making any more =(
So excited!! I accidentally posted my post yesterday but then I didn’t notice we had to do questions til today so I guess it all works out! Just updated my post with the answers. So pumped! 😀 Thanks for hosting such an awesome event!
Yay! I’ll be checking posts out later after work, right now I’m on my lunch break and just checking my emails etc =) And thank you for joining in Laura, it wouldn’t be anywhere near as awesome without all the participants =D
Hi Rinn! You have a very busy life.. I love how you’re able to balance everything! 🙂 And yes, I agree with you.. Sci-Fi has endless possibilities.. It’s crazy unique that way, I guess. 🙂 I’m a new fan and definitely lovin’ it 😀 – Ara
Haha, it doesn’t feel very busy! Although this past month has, actually… what with working all week, then actually having stuff planned for each weekend (working on one weekend actually) and then trying to find time to write my posts too… but normally, it’s not ;D Next year will be a different story though.I’m glad you’re loving it, hopefully you’ll find some great new reads through the event.
I definitely agree: Possibilities! I love it when there’s a book/TV show/movie that seems realistic enough that you could almost see it happening in the future.Hmm, I actually own one of the Mass Effect games (not even sure which one) but have never played it. Maybe I should give it a go.Looper! I still need to watch that movie. I was so pumped for it when I first heard about it but then forgot to go watch it at the cinema haha.
PLAY IT NARA PLAY IT NOWWWWWW!! Yes I kind of completely love it ;D You should really start with the first one if you want to immerse yourself in the story. If you just want some SF fun then I guess you could start anywhere.I was really impressed. It’s quite a low key SF movie in that we don’t *see* loads of the technology but we’re aware of it.
I love the David Tennant gif!Other than following the twitter hashtag, will there be a place for us to leave links to our posts that go up during the month?
I’ll link them directly from the schedule =) I’ll be checking the blogs each day and updating it, but it’ll be a great help if you can Tweet them in my direction too! =DA Doctor Who gif is appropriate for any situation ;D
I’m still sore about Firefly getting the axe years ago (darn you FOX!). All the books you mentioned are books I still have not read (Reynolds and Dick especially)–really need to bump them up my list of books to-read :)Great intro! I totally agree about the whole possibilities aspect of the genre…Did I ever mention yay for history? (re: your degree) *high fives*
I actually have to admit that I only watched it for the first time last year… and at the end I was all pumped for the next series and then I realised and IT WAS NOT GOOD >=( Why do all the good ones get cancelled, yet crappy reality TV never goes away?!Yes! You should =D*history high five* Wahey!
You’re “what do you like about Sci-Fi was put perfectly! I totally agree! And I’m going to need to read those fave sci-fi books of yours – haven’t read any of them! It’s awesome that you are posting every day for Sci-Fi month, I’m really looking forward to this and to be introduced to more books to read! My sci-fi load has been pretty light of late!
Yes, I’m a bit crazy for deciding on that, but with some forward planning it seems to be working! I still have some posts to write but they’re not until midway through the month at the earliest, and this weekend *should* see a lot done. Hopefully…Ooh, I hope I (and everyone else!) can make some great recommendations. I reckon you’d enjoy House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds for sure, especially after reading your recent review of a Stephen Baxter novel (I forget the title now).
Hooray for Doctor Who and Firefly! I really need to play Mass Effect.I love what you love about sci-fi, too. I read to escape, and to read about worlds vastly different from my own. Sci-fi rarely disappoints when it comes to escapism! The only books in your list of sci-fi favorites that I’ve read is the Hunger Games trilogy. I’ll have to look into the others!I’ve been looking forward to November since I first found out about your Sci-Fi Month event! I can’t wait to participate–and to see what everyone else is doing! 🙂
You doooooooooooooooo it is amazing!I’m glad you’ve been looking forward to it =) It feels like the time has gone really quickly, so I hope November doesn’t just whirl by =0
I really need to watch Firefly at some point… My boyfriend gasped at me a couple days ago because I haven’t seen it yet. D:I’m really excited to read all your posts this month. I have a feeling that I’ll be wanting to watch/play/read so many more new things thanks to you and all the other participants. There isn’t enough time in the day. >_<;
Haha, tell me about it! That is one downside… my to read list has recently gone over 300, which is what my max limit was supposed to be, and it’ll probably be over 400 by the end of the month… uh oh D=BUT if I get my posts done asap, I can’t spend what would otherwise be post writing time reading, and get through more of that list ;D
Okay, so somehow I missed the whole “introduce yourself” part of my intro post, LOL, but oh well! I think it’s so cool that you’re studying to be a museum curator! I’ve always found that kind of thing so fascinating! I’ve had Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? on my TBR list for a LONG TIME. I really should get around to reading that soon!I’m a huge gamer, but sadly I’ve only seen bits and pieces of the Mass Effect series (I KNOW, don’t kill me!). Someday my husband and I will get all three and play them right in a row! We’ve been playing through Deus Ex: Human Revolution recently. It’s definitely interesting, but we got to this point where we feel sort of aimless, so… kinda quit for the moment, lol. I think my favorite sci-fi video games I’ve played are the Xenosaga series from the old PS2 days. So great!Hahaha, I can’t believe you are posting every day for SFM, but I’m also super excited about it! I can’t wait to see everything you have in store for the month! 😀 Thanks so much for putting this whole thing together, Rinn. I’m bouncing with excitement!
Haha, the intro post is totally open to interpretation, I just added the questions in for ideas really. And yes, you should – it’s a pretty short book too =DPleeeeeease do and then tell me when you have! I did start Deus Ex the other week, but since I also have Fable III, Bastion and trying to 100% both Lego Harry Potters also on the go, I think I’ll leave it for now,I’m just astounded by the responses! It’s crazy! All these people tweeting and posting who hadn’t even signed up so it’s just growing and growing =D
Rinn! Well done on setting this up! Is the easiest way to find everyone’s posts to go via your blog? 🙂
Yep, I think so – people are welcome to copy the schedule onto their own blogs too of course =) It’s been hard work, haha!
I plan to read Ready Player One this month and seeing you list it as your favorite has made me glad. I’m going to be watching at least one Star Wars movie this month! I really need to. Also, because I’m obsessed with time travel lately so some Doctor Who as well.I’m completely ignorant of games when it comes to sci-fi except their names like Halo because of The Big Bang Theory. However, I do regularly watch RWBY which is an anime-styled series. I LOVE it. Try watching it and see if you like it, Rinn!November is going to rock! =D
It is BRILLIANT. So many wonderfully geeky references. RWBY? Ohh I haven’t heard of that =o I haven’t watched anime at all in the last year really, I STILL need to finish Fairy Tail.Yes, it really is! ❤
Hallo, Hallo everyone!! :)I completely forgot about the linky — that’s how excited I am!! I just entered my post into the widget!! 🙂 Eek!! I cannot wait to see everyone visiting around the blogs and engaging in the conversations!! Wicked sweet – we’re off!
Rinn,If your slightly crazy for attempting 30 days of blogging, than I’m right in line with you!! 🙂 Its interesting that you and I have similar paths into sci-fi! 🙂 My Dad was my inspiration too! I wrote about in my first Feature, which I linked on this page! I wasn’t quite sure when I first started to appreciate the genre either! Isn’t that curious!? We each inherited our passion for something passed down by a parent! Wicked! If you scope out my review of “Virtual Blue” you’ll get the full gaming history of mine! I was curious if anyone else used to play “The Journeyman Project”!? I was a young girl when Alien was all the rage, and trust me, I wasn’t akin to it, because the mere ‘sound for motion picture’ attached to it freaked me out of my skull! 😦 I remember at a birthday party they were watching it (unbeknownst to me – I was helping their Mum in the kitchen!!), and I walked in to these hauntingly frightful sounds emerging from the tv in the living room! 😦 Ugh. I never lost my terror of it and have thus boycotted it! Don’t even mention Pet Cemetery! which forebodes worse for me! 😦 Its nice to know we all have different roots but share the common passion for science fiction!!! 🙂 🙂
Hehe, hopefully we’ll struggle through this crazy amount of posts! 😉 I’ll head over to your post in a mo and link it up in the schedule. I’ve just gone through the entire participant list and linked all the ones I could see so far, but doubtless I’ll probably have to check again tomorrow for more.Hmm, I’ve not heard of ‘The Journeyman Project’. What’s that about?Oh gosh, I actually only saw Alien for the first time fairly recently. I’m such a wuss with gore etc so I avoided it for AGES but then I was finally convinced into watching it and realised the worst bit gore-wise was the chest burster scene, which I had already watched elsewhere. So it’s not gory at all really, and totally set the bar for so many other ‘survival movies’.
Thanks for setting this up, Rinn! I’m looking forward to reading all the different posts!I too really wish there was more Firefly. It’s one of my favorite TV shows of all time.
No problem, thank you for taking part =)I know… it makes me sad. It needed that fan love, and it got it too late =(
Yay! So glad it’s finally here! 🙂
I know, it’s been a long wait but has also felt like the past few months zoomed by somehow =o
Yay; I’m excited about this month! Thanks so much for putting together this event!
No problem, thank you for joining in, Amy! It wouldn’t be the same without everyone taking part ;D
Omg, it’s so awesome that your dad loves sci-fi too! 😀 I guess I really do need to find time to chip away at the Doctor Who episodes… I keep saying I will get to it but alas, SO MANY SHOWS! D: Some day, some day!
Yep, it’s pretty much the only thing he’ll read now. And you do, but I know how time consuming all these awesome shows (and books!) are =(
I’m here, finally 🙂 I’m ready to roll … hey, I STILL haven’t watched any Dr. Who. Please don’t kill me 😛
Get on it, Aloi! Watch some NOW! >=OHaha, I’m glad you’re joining the month. Don’t feel you *have* to watch any DW… it just rocks 😉
Hello, anyone in NaNoWriMo? I’m writing Vol.3 of my sci-fi, post-apocalytpic trilogy. I’ll have 50,000 words by the 21st of November at the rate I’m writing now ;)Glad to help and contribute to the event in any possible way.—————Massimo MarinoAuthor of “Daimones”, Vol.1 of the Daimones Trilogy2012 PRG Reviewer’s Choice Award Winner in Science Fiction2013 Hall of Fame – Best in Science Fiction, Quality Reads UK Book Clubhttp://www.amazon.com/Massimo-Marino/e/B008O53L5O/http://massimomarinoauthor.comhttp://www.facebook.com/MassimoMarinoAuthor@Massim0Marin0
Hello Massimo, good luck with NaNoWriMo! =)
Hi Rinn! I’m bummed that I didn’t know about this until I read Andrea’s first post at Little Red. It would have been fun to join in, especially considering the run of posts I’ve had up lately. Oh well, maybe next year? The blog doesn’t get the attention I would like to give it, so it’s always a bit behind.Anyway, I’m looking forward to reading everything you and the others write. (Also planning on digging into your archives, since I just started following.) I will ping on you on Goodreads as well, for maximum creepy stalk-age.
Aw, you’re still more than welcome to join in! I guess it depends on whether you’re the type to plan your posts up a while in advance, or whether you can whip something up/like to write when the mood takes you. I’ll send you a message on GR in case you don’t see this reply!Haha, enjoy! =D