Science fiction movies have a bad reputation. I am a science fiction fan, but I have been embarrassed by some of the movies that have been made (and continue to be made). These movies portray science fiction as juvenile and clichéd, filled with cheap horror or thrills. Some is, and I confess a secret vice in enjoying the occasional bit of science fiction fluff. But I have also advised people not to watch the Syfy Channel(one of my favorite channels) on Saturday nights, which seems a magnet for some of the worst of these films. Isaac Asimov often distinguished sf, which he considered serious science fiction, from scifi, the typical Hollywood fare.

Ask someone to name more serious science fiction movies, however, and they will name many of these: Blade Runner, Confessions d’un Barjo, Impostor, Inception, Minority Report, Next, Paycheck, A Scanner Darkly, Screamers, Total Recall, or perhaps the new movie, The Adjustment Bureau.

What else do these movies have in common? Each is based on a work by sf writer Philip K. Dick. Dick’s view of the world was dark but thoughtful. Those movies which remain faithful to their sources owe some of their intellectual depth to him. To read more about Philip K. Dick, visit his official website at http://www.philipkdick.com/.

For those interested in serious science fiction, there are other writers to consider. I grew up reading Isaac Asimov (Bicentennial Man; I, Robot), Ray Bradbury (The Martian Chronicles), Arthur C. Clarke (2001: A Space Odyssey), Lester del Rey, Robert A. Heinlein (the 50’s movie Destination: Moon, The Puppet Masters, Starship Troopers), Frank Herbert (Dune), Ursula K. LeGuin (The Lathe of Heaven),Murray Leinster, Alan Nourse, Robert Silverberg, Clifford Simak, Kate Wilhelm, and many others. Admittedly, there are times when the writing lacks sophistication. And that’s not to say these writers don’t also add entertainment value. I think, for instance, that Asimov, Heinlein, and Silverberg have all argued that their primary goal was to tell a good story. But most were also committed to good science or thoughtful social commentary. Not all will appeal to every taste. However, the best works will reward the serious reader.