wee doors banging

It was with disappointment that I read that the BBC had cancelled their much hyped new sci-fi series Outcasts. It had a big-name cast, decent budget and talented writers, and was aimed at a larger “mainstream” audience, but none of these managed to save it from being another one-series-wonder.

In previous instalments of this blog, I’ve questioned the apparent lack of science fiction television programmes aimed at adults made in the UK, singling out the evergreen Doctor Who as an example of such a show that is aimed squarely at children and teenagers. Having said that though, the fifth series of the new Who has just finished its run and I must admit that this particular adult enjoyed it very much.

For this UFO: Enemy Unknown fan it’s been a long wait for a sequel. Sixteen years long. So you can imagine how terribly excited I got when I read 2K Games’ announcement that they had a brand new X-COM game in production. I thought my wait was finally over, but then I read on a little. They’re making an X-COM first person shooter?!

Doctor Who returned to the nation’s screens recently for the fifth series of the modern (post 2005) era. A new lead actor, Matt Smith, plays the eleventh incarnation of The Doctor and the appropriately titled first episode, “Eleventh Hour”, has been well received by critics and the series’ many fans alike.

That’s all very nice, but the return of Who has left me wondering, where’s the grown up science fiction on UK television?

I’ve enjoyed the previous Academy books (with reservations) but I’m not sure what to make of this one. One the one hand, Odyssey is excellent and worthy of the award nominations it has receieved, but on the other the pacing fails in spots and there’s a gaping back story hole you could, well, fill a book with.

Omega is typical McDevitt, but one of his better efforts.

I referred to Chindi, the previous novel in the series, as an “action movie of a book” and Omega is no different. Expect a fun read, filled with mishaps and adventure, but with a certain lack of depth.

On the other hand, who has time for chat when a civilisation is at stake?

Matter is Iain. M. Banks’ latest novel set in his much lauded Culture universe, an advanced, interstellar society of (mainly) humans, operating in a scarcity free economy and protected by benevolent artificial intelligences. I’ve very much enjoyed Banks’ previous outings into science fiction and the Culture, and Matter is his first Culture novel for eight years and his first science fiction novel since 2005′s The Algebraist, so I was eager to find time to read this latest offering.

Chindi is another in Jack McDevitt’s “Academy” series. True to form, it is an adventure romp across the galaxy to investigate a Mysterious Thing(tm), with daring rescues and dangerous situations to get out of along the way.

This weekend saw the return of the highest rated comedy show in BBC history. Space based cult sitcom Red Dwarf returned to UK screens after a nine year hiatus, not on the BBC as before, but on satellite channel Dave which has resurrected the show for a three part special, Red Dwarf: Back To Earth.

When we last saw the Boys From The ‘Dwarf back in 1999, they were in trouble. Red Dwarf itself was being consumed by metal eating space bacteria and on the verge of breaking apart. The crew had abandoned ship, our heroes Lister, Cat, Kryten and Kochanski had fled to a mirror universe leaving Rimmer trapped on the burning mothership with the Grim Reaper and a vending machine with a bad attitude.

How did they get out of that one?

Battlestar Galactica, the much praised “re-imagining” of Glen A. Larson’s classic 1970′s science fiction series of the same name, came to and end this week. I was hooked on the new show since 2003′s astounding mini series that introduced us to the new cast of characters, including advanced Centurions, Cylons that looked like humans and a female Starbuck. These are my thoughts and rantings on the three hour series finale, “Daybreak”.

Spoilers ahead!