Here's some good news

POSTED BY: dreamtrove
UPDATED: Monday, October 31, 2005 18:13
VIEWED: 17974
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DREAMTROVE

Friday, October 28, 2005 2:26 PM

Here's some good news to keep you warm when you're cuddled up with your DVDs:

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=99241

Axed TV Series "Firefly" Tops NewScientistSpace.com's Greatest Ever Space Sci-Fi Poll
TV Series Led the Way Contributing Four of the Top Five Greatest Ever Sci-Fi Works Worldwide

CAMBRIDGE, MA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 10/26/2005 -- Sci-fi buffs from around the world have voted cult TV series, "Firefly," the world's best space science fiction work ever in an international poll conducted by NewScientistSpace.com ( www.newscientistspace.com), the space news website from New Scientist magazine.

Incredibly, the TV series which is set 500 years in the future was pulled off the air early. However, it has since gained cult status and finished first receiving 21 percent of the votes.

"Serenity," the successful movie spin-off from the "Firefly" TV series, finished second with 17 percent of the votes. It marks a clean sweep for Joss Whedon, the creator of both stories who is best known as the man behind "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

After a summer of failed blockbusters, movie moguls will be dismayed that space sci-fi films only contributed three entries to the worldwide top ten. Instead, TV series lead the way contributing four of the top five worldwide.

Commenting on the findings, Damian Carrington, editor, NewScientistSpace.com, said: "The opinions of the thousands of space sci-fi fans who voted in our poll and chatted on our online forum were pretty surprising to us. There were a sprinkling of classics -- 'Alien,' 'Dune,' '2001' -- but what is really getting the online audience passionate now appears to be TV."

The poll is also a kick in the teeth for George Lucas whose new "Star Wars" trilogy failed to make the top ten. Only "The Empire Strikes Back" in eighth place registered amongst the expert sci-fi audience worldwide and finished ninth amongst US voters.

"Firefly" and "Serenity" were also the most popular space sci-fi works in the US. The TV series "Farscape" finished third, and the novel "Enders Game" was the most popular sci-fi book in America finishing fourth. "Battlestar Galactica" rounded out the top five.

The survey also suggests that, unlike many genres, great works of science fiction transcend gender, with male and female fans voting incredibly closely. The only difference in their top ten was Isaac Asimov's "Foundation Series," an epic work of science fiction written over 49 years ago. "Foundation Series" was voted into tenth place by male sci-fi fans, but did not appear in the women's top ten, its place being taken by "Doctor Who."

However, when it comes to age, opinions on great works of space sci-fi differ significantly. Fifty-year-olds voted "Foundation Series" into third place and "The Forever War," the 1970s novel by Joe Haldeman, into seventh. Neither works were on the radar of 20 year-old sci-fi enthusiasts.

"The many votes for 'Firefly,' which was ditched after half a season, and 'Farscape,' dropped in 2002, shows that the Internet is providing a global forum where fans can make their views heard," added Carrington. "Only three movies appear in the top 10, and perhaps it is the ongoing formats of TV series, and the DVD spin-offs, which really enable today's sci-fi writers to imagine a complex future world and explore how people would behave and survive in it. And with technological progress appearing to move at ever-faster speed, cultural explorations of the future will be ever more critical."

The poll was conducted by visitors to NewScientistSpace.com from Oct. 8 through Oct. 22, 2005. The website launched in May 2005 and has a user base of 300,000 worldwide.

Complete survey results are available at http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn8211 after 1 p.m. today, Oct. 26.

Worldwide Top Ten

-- Firefly - TV
-- Serenity - movie
-- Farscape - TV
-- Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - book
-- Babylon 5 - TV
-- Battlestar Galactica - TV
-- Dune - book
-- Enders Game - book
-- Empire Strikes Back - movie
-- Dr. Wh

PURPLEYIN

Friday, October 28, 2005 2:33 PM

as shiney as a quasar

BROWNCOAT1

Friday, October 28, 2005 5:26 PM

Huh.

Ain't that something. Looks like people are finally starting to see what we have known all along.

Let's hope word spreads fast & if they can't get into theatres before the BDM is gone, they will at least get into stores & get the DVD to boost sales.

__________________________________________

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Fans:

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/richmondbrowncoats/

http://www.richmondbrowncoats.org

RPLACKETT

Friday, October 28, 2005 5:44 PM

whilst it is undoubtedly good news, looking at the results from the new scientist page the numbers of people who took part are rather low, and the votes for firefly and sirenity suspiciously high. A quick look at the results sugests a phenomena and that is no bad thing for our cause, but a more detailed look should make any serious observer take the results with a pinch of salt.

The probable explanation is that this poll was linked from whedonesqe, and the firefly fanbase is somewhat energised at this time.

That being said, as a measure of community activity and awareness it can't be faulted ;] ... the browncoats are almost certinaly the most active fandom at this point in time and this is reflected by them getting out there and filling in every poll they can find to promote the 'verse.

EMBERS

Friday, October 28, 2005 6:35 PM

thanks for the link Dreamtrove,
good news is ALWAYS welcome
(people have been so glum around here lately...).

**********************************************
watch the R. Tam Session vids: http://www.hittarivertam.nu/
and buy the 'Serenity' comics published by Dark Horse,
and have you joined the Browncoats yet?
http://browncoats.serenitymovie.com/serenity/?fuseaction=tools.invlink
&u=embers&linkID=36

RABBIT2

Friday, October 28, 2005 9:34 PM

Hmm` looks like the next `Hugo` awards nominations might be interesting.

CYBERSNARK

Saturday, October 29, 2005 4:32 PM

"Define 'interesting.'"

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

RABBIT2

Saturday, October 29, 2005 4:50 PM

As in `Serenity wins a Hugo` interesting

SKYSCRAPER

Saturday, October 29, 2005 6:31 PM

Shiney!

But, I wish they would have used a better method for getting the results. Being that it’s an article in a publication about science, I would have expected they used a more 'scientific' method for getting their numbers. Unfortunatly, web polls aren't a scientific method and they aren't protected by bias voting. (Look at the disclaimer for most webpolls.) And most of us, me included, have done our part to push Serenity to the top of any list we could fine. Any exposure for Serenity is good exposure.

I don’t mean to sound like a pessimistic, spoiling Browncoat, but I’d like the numbers to be, as Niska would say, "solid." I would be way more excited about this poll if results we're solid.

Nevertheless, the article was very interesting, especially in that it mentions what readers and viewers like about certain works. Unlike some other long running sci-fi shows, Babylon 5 had epic overarching plot lines, which connected each episode and season- . For Dune, the article say readers praised it for its meticulous depiction of the politics, religion and culture in a far away and troubled universe...

If anything, this article did a great job of pointing out what we Browncoats have known about good shows. 'Famous actors' and big budgets do not make good movies. But a great story, great characters, great consistancy are things that capture many people's attention. A lot of the movies and books on this top ten list have those qualities.

Now… Serenity winning the Hugo would be beyond amazing. Check out the last 5 Hugo awards:

Dramatic Presentation (Long Form)
2000: "Galaxy Quest"
2001: "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"
2002: "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring"
2003: "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers"
2004: "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"

Oh yeah… and the 2004 winner Dramatic Presentation (Short Form):
"Gollum's Acceptance Speech, 2003 MTV Movie Awards"

http://www.hugo.org/hy.html

Once, just once, I want things to go according to
the gorram plan!

THEHOPGOBLIN

Saturday, October 29, 2005 7:51 PM

"Dramatic Presentation (Long Form)
2000: "Galaxy Quest"
2001: "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"
2002: "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring"
2003: "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers"
2004: "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"

Oh yeah… and the 2004 winner Dramatic Presentation (Short Form):
"Gollum's Acceptance Speech, 2003 MTV Movie Awards"

From Gollum to... Jayne?

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