Which sci-fi titles (movies, books) do you consider comforting, cozy, something you come back to from time to time? For me, I guess it is The Matrix. Still holds up to this day, gets better with every re-watch, and gives me a sense of peace when I need it.
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I’m at home in the chaotic universe of Douglas Adams.
I can see that. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy movie felt really comfy. I read the book, but it did not draw me in, for some reason. Any particular novel you like, other than obviously The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy?
Try listening to the audiobooks narrated by the author himself. It’s amazing IMO.
I felt the same way. I got about 2/3 of the way through the book and just did not GAF about a single character, so I tried the movie and it was much better. I haven’t read any of his others.
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Still on my to-watch list
I don’t know if I should upvote you for having it on your list or downvote you for not having watched it already…
Ok, don’t downvote, I watched the movie!
The movie is great, but it makes more sense after you’ve watched the series.
Yeah this is my answer as well.
My wife and I have a Valentine’s Day tradition of getting Chinese takeout and starting the series.
We have a child named after a character.
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I’ve heard of this. is it scifi? it always sounded like a YA novel title.
oh shit is there a film version?? I can’t read
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10 episodes of a prematurely cancelled show due to the incompetence of Fox plus a movie called Serenity which wraps up what should have been the rest of season 1. It’s about a crew that does odd jobs in a Rimworld/space cowboy-esque theme.
I just watched it again for like the nth time. It’s still so good. It has Nathan Filion, Jewel Staite, Morena Baccarin and the fantastic Summer Glau!
The show is great, although i have noticed how it has a pretty high amount of shots of Summer Glau’s feet. Just Summer Glau walking and the camera panning to her feet, over and over, almost every episode. It doesn’t even make sense because the spaceship is made of metal grates and sheets, not carpet.
I’m guessing the show runner was into feet. But other than that, the show is pretty wholesome.
It has my all time favorite TV theme song too (ok, maybe tied with Trème).
For real. I always skip show intros, i find them a pointless waste of time and resources that I’m just going to skip anyway, but this show and Game of Thrones are the exceptions because of the cool songs. I am not familiar with Trème though.
It’s a docudrama about New Orleans right after Katrina. A great, but difficult and disturbing watch. It was mostly filmed locally and each episode was named after a song and featured a local band. It was also a fundraiser.
And here’s the Firefly theme. The only song I think I’ve air-violined to. So much nostalgia…
The Martian. Both the book and the movie
Same author (Andy Weir), different book: “Project Hail Mary”. Almost a spiritual successor to “The Martian” and gives you cozy feels AF.
Loved it it’s much more “fantastic”, ie mind inspiring. Also there’s gonna be a movie!
I loved the book. Tried enjoying the movie three times, I think, then finally realized that the book is way better.
For me it’s The Expanse.
And also pretty much anything by Philip K Dick.
Huh, surprised you mention Philip K. Dick. I read a lot of his short stories and found them anything but comfy. Rather, depressing and gloomy.
As for the Expanse, I just read the Leviathan Wakes, and yeah, I really enjoyed the vibe
He can be pretty funny. “Beyond Lies The Wub” for example.
But it’s the novels that I find comforting. He was an ideas guy not a craftsman, but the characters’ inevitable descent into confusion, paranoia, and relationship angst, as he more or less tells the stories despite them, gives it all a certain consistency that I enjoy for its familiarity.
Galactic Pot Healer still warms my heart
Just finished Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. It’s a fun and wholesome scifi story.
Great pick. I read that over the summer and found it both excellent and uplifting! It really showcases a shining example of humanity we should strive for
Indeed! I would say “The Martian” also fits.
The audiobook is fantastic if you’re into that sort of thing, too.
Yeah. I did actually listen rather than read. It was amazing. Rocky’s tunes made him come to life. “Why are you stupid. Question?”
Murderbot of course (Martha Wells), also The Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers. Also her novella To Be Taught, If Fortunate
okay. So. Murderbot hit a space for me. I read it in the middle of the pandemic. the wry, humor of it was just beautiful. the plot and story was engaging. The whole thing was beautiful.
incidentally, the librarian that turned me onto it (a very reliable source,) was kind of acting like how I imagine Gordon Ramsey might act when suggesting going out to KFC. Kind of discretely. kind of like maybe they were dealing weed. And maybe also, kinda like they felt guilty about that.
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I remember watching it back in the days. Some of the “parts” were a bit too weird (especially the animation) for my taste, but yeah, I enjoyed it overall.
No love for 4?
Does it deserve it? I haven’t watched it and tbh kind of afraid to touch
I’m aware of being the exception, but I liked it and view it as the real sequel to the first movie. It’s an appropriately tongue in cheek satire. The director knew what she was doing
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Anything written by Becky Chambers is like a comfy blanket for your soul. She puts so much humanity and empathy in stories about aliens.
I get that OP is almost more thinking of people’s “comfort food” works that serve that need for them personally, but Becky Chambers is very specifically writing to inspire that kind of feeling from the get-go. Life can get hard, bad things can happen, but good things too, and people (including pan-sexual bird aliens) are just living in the future the same way they do now and most of them are trying to be decent.
Pretty much any of the Wayfarers books by Becky Chambers, not so much for familiarity or nostalgia but because that’s intentionally part of their vibe
Thanks for the recommendation, haven’t read it!
I’ve found myself rereading Old Man’s War multiple times.
I have the audiobook of that one. For me it’s Project Hail Mary.
Project Hail Mary definitely has a comfortably buddy feel to it
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Had no idea this existed, thank you
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Read a bit of both, but I found their hard sci-fi writing a little “cold”
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Ok, I see what you mean. Indeed, there is optimism in their ideas.
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The first couple seasons of Sliders are really comfy. It starts fast, episodes are self contained, and the world is usually in a slightly better state at the end of each episode. Often it’s thought provoking too, but not in a Black Mirror doom and gloom way.
SG1 is great and can have the same feeling, but it takes a couple seasons to get there. Definitely worth watching in my opinion, but if you want an immediate hit of comfort it may not work unless it’s a rewatch.
I read the Ender’s Game (and watched the movie after that) recently. It was pretty brutal at times, but I liked it.
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Treasure Planet came out in 2002. You could be in your early 30’s and have been in the target demographic for the film at the time.
Haven’t watched it, will check out
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Certain episodes of Star Trek TNG are that way for me.
A lot of Futurama is this way as well.
I don’t know how many times I’ve listened through the audiobook of Andy Weir’s The Martian.
Yeah, Futurama is awesome, although feels a bit overwhelming sometimes
