The Sci-Fi Movie Guide: The Universe of Film from Alien to Zardoz

814 Pages·2015·33.18 MB·English

by  Chris Barsanti

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chris Barsanti is the author of Filmology: A Movie-a-Day Guide to
the Movies You Need to Know (2010) and the Eyes Wide Open annual
film guide series. A member of New York Film Critics Online and the
Online Film Critics Society, he is a regular film reviewer for Film
Journal International, PopMatters, and Film Racket. He has also
written for numerous other publications, including The Barnes &
Noble Review, The Chicago Tribune, Playboy, Publishers Weekly, The
Millions, The Virginia Quarterly Review, and The Chicago Reader.
Barsanti earned his master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern
University and works in publishing. He cried the first time he saw
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and thinks anybody who didn’t has a
heart of stone. He resides in New York.
ALSO FROM VISIBLE INK PRESS
Alien Mysteries, Conspiracies and Cover-Ups by Kevin D. Randle
ISBN: 978-1-57859-418-4
Conspiracies and Secret Societies: The Complete Dossier, 2nd edition by Brad Steiger and Sherry Hansen
Steiger ISBN: 978-1-57859-368-2
The Government UFO Files: The Conspiracy of Cover-Up by Kevin D. Randle
ISBN: 978-1-57859-477-1
Hidden Realms, Lost Civilizations, and Beings from Other Worlds by Jerome Clark
ISBN: 978-1-57859-175-6
The Horror Show Guide: The Ultimate Frightfest of Movies by Mike Mayo
ISBN: 978-1-57859-420-7
Real Aliens, Space Beings, and Creatures from Other Worlds by Brad Steiger and Sherry Hansen Steiger
ISBN: 978-1-57859-333-0
Real Encounters, Different Dimensions, and Otherworldly Beings by Brad Steiger and Sherry Hansen
Steiger ISBN: 978-1-57859-455-9
Real Ghosts, Restless Spirits, and Haunted Places, 2nd edition by Brad Steiger
ISBN: 978-1-57859-401-6
Real Miracles, Divine Intervention, and Feats of Incredible Survival by Brad Steiger and Sherry Hansen
Steiger ISBN: 978-1-57859-214-2
Real Monsters, Gruesome Critters, and Beasts from the Darkside by Brad Steiger
ISBN: 978-1-57859-220-3
Real Vampires, Night Stalkers, and Creatures from the Darkside by Brad Steiger
ISBN: 978-1-57859-255-5
Real Zombies, the Living Dead, and Creatures of the Apocalypse by Brad Steiger
ISBN: 978-1-57859-296-8
The Superhero Book: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Comic-Book Icons and Hollywood Heroes by Gina
Misiroglu
ISBN: 9781578593750
The Supervillain Book: The Evil Side of Comics and Hollywood by Gina Misiroglu and Michael Eury
ISBN: 9781578591787
Unexplained! Strange Sightings, Incredible Occurrences, and Puzzling Physical Phenomena, 3rd edition by
Jerome Clark
ISBN: 978-1-57859-344-6
The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead, 3rd edition by J. Gordon Melton, Ph.D.
ISBN: 978-1-57859-281-4
The Werewolf Book: The Encyclopedia of Shape-shifting Beings, 2nd edition by Brad Steiger
ISBN: 978-1-57859-367-5
The Witch Book: The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Wicca, and Neopaganism by Raymond Buckland
ISBN: 978-1-57859-114-5
The Zombie Book: The Encyclopedia of the Living Dead by Nick Redfern with Brad Steiger ISBN: 978-1-
57859-504-4
“Real Nightmares” E-Books by Brad Steiger Real Nightmares: True and
Truly Scary Unexplained Phenomena (Book 1) Kindle ISBN: 978-1-57859-
398-9
ePub ISBN: 978-1-57859-400-9
PDF ISBN: 978-1-57859-399-6
Real Nightmares: True Unexplained Phenomena and Tales of the Unknown (Book 2) Kindle ISBN: 978-1-
57859-402-3
ePub ISBN: 978-1-57859-403-0
PDF ISBN: 978-1-57859-404-7
Real Nightmares: Things That Go Bump in the Night (Book 3) Kindle ISBN: 978-1-57859-405-4
ePub ISBN: 978-1-57859-406-1
PDF ISBN: 978-1-57859-407-8
Real Nightmares: Things That Prowl and Growl in the Night (Book 4) Kindle ISBN: 978-1-57859-408-5
ePub ISBN: 978-1-57859-409-2
PDF ISBN: 978-1-57859-410-8
Real Nightmares: Fiends That Want Your Blood (Book 5) Kindle ISBN: 978-1-57859-411-5
ePub ISBN: 978-1-57859-412-2
PDF ISBN: 978-1-57859-413-9
Real Nightmares: Unexpected Visitors and Unwanted Guests (Book 6) Kindle ISBN: 978-1-57859-414-6
ePub ISBN: 978-1-57859-415-3
PDF ISBN: 978-1-57859-416-0
Real Nightmares: Dark and Deadly Demons (Book 7) Kindle ISBN: 978-1-57859-436-8
ePub ISBN: 978-1-57859-435-1
PDF ISBN: 978-1-57859-434-4
Real Nightmares: Phantoms, Apparitions and Ghosts (Book 8) Kindle ISBN: 978-1-57859-439-9
ePub ISBN: 978-1-57859-438-2
PDF ISBN: 978-1-57859-437-5
Real Nightmares: Alien Strangers and Foreign Worlds (Book 9) Kindle ISBN: 978-1-57859-442-9
ePub ISBN: 978-1-57859-441-2
PDF ISBN: 978-1-57859-440-5
Real Nightmares: Ghastly and Grisly Spooks (Book 10) Kindle ISBN: 978-1-57859-445-0
ePub ISBN: 978-1-57859-444-3
PDF ISBN: 978-1-57859-443-6
Real Nightmares: Secret Schemes and Conspiring Cabals (Book 11) Kindle ISBN: 978-1-57859-448-1
ePub ISBN: 978-1-57859-447-4
PDF ISBN: 978-1-57859-446-7
Real Nightmares: Freaks, Fiends and Evil Spirits (Book 12) Kindle ISBN: 978-1-57859-451-1
ePub ISBN: 978-1-57859-450-4
PDF ISBN: 978-1-57859-449-8
Copyright © 2015 by Visible Ink Press®
This publication is a creative work fully protected by all applicable copyright laws, as well as by
misappropriation, trade secret, unfair competition, and other applicable laws.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher,
except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion
in a magazine, newspaper, or website.
All rights to this publication will be vigorously defended.
Visible Ink Press®
43311 Joy Rd., #414
Canton, MI 48187-2075
Nightmare
Visible Ink Press is a registered trademark of Visible Ink Press LLC.
Most Visible Ink Press books are available at special quantity discounts when purchased in bulk by
corporations, organizations, or groups. Customized printings, special imprints, messages, and excerpts can
be produced to meet your needs. For more information, contact Special Markets Director, Visible Ink Press,
www.visibleink.com, or 734-667-3211.
Managing Editor: Kevin S. Hile Art Director: Mary Claire Krzewinski Typesetting: Marco Di Vita
Proofreaders: Larry Baker and Dorothy Scott Indexer: Shoshana Hurwitz
Cover images: Kobal Picture Library images include: Terminator, Blade Runner, Brazil, A Clockwork
Orange, The Matrix, Star Wars: A New Hope, Godzilla, Tron, Metropolis, Close Encounters of the Third
Kind, X-Men, and Avatar. The Day the Earth Stood Still and Forbidden Planet images are in the public
domain.
ISBN: 978-1-57859-503-7 (paperback) ISBN: 978-1-57859-533-4 (pdf ebook) ISBN: 978-1-57859-535-8
(Kindle ebook) ISBN: 978-1-57859-534-1 (ePub ebook) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Barsanti, Chris.
The science fiction movie guide: the universe of film from Alien to Zardoz / by Chris Barsanti.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-57859-503-7 (pbk.: alk. paper) 1. Science fiction films—Catalogs. I. Title.
PN1995.9.S26B275 2014
2014017822
016.79143’615—dc23
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Photo Credits
Introduction: The Art of the (Im)possible
Sci-Fi on TV
Index

A
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man
The Abominable Dr. Phibes
Abraxas: Guardian of the Universe
The Absent-Minded Professor
The Abyss
The Adjustment Bureau
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension
The Adventures of Pluto Nash
Aelita: Queen of Mars
Aeon Flux
After Earth
Aftershock
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Akira