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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, the space news website from New Scientist magazine.

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."

Complete survey results are available at New Scientist, but here's the skinny:

WORLDWIDE TOP 10

1. Firefly (TV)


2. Serenity (movie)


3. Farscape


4. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (book)


5. Babylon 5


6. Battlestar Gallactica


7. Dune (book)


8. Ender’s Game (book)


9. The Empire Strikes Back


10. Doctor Who (TV)

1. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)


2. Dune (Frank Herbert)


3. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)


4. Foundation Series (Isaac Asimov)


5. Stranger in a Strange Land (Robert A. Heinlein)


6. Rendezvous with Rama (Arthur C. Clarke)


7. Contact (Carl Sagan)


8. Mars Trilogy (Kim Stanley Robinson)


9. War of the Worlds (H.G. Wells)


10. Hyperion (Dan Simmons)

1. Serenity


2. The Empire Strikes Back


3. Star Wars: A New Hope


4. 2001: A Space Odyssey


5. Alien


6. Dune


7. The Day the Earth Stood Still


8. The Forbidden Planet


9. Return of the Jedi


10. Revenge of the Sith

1. Firefly


2. Farscape


3. Babylon 5


4. Battlestar Galactica


5. Doctor Who


6. Star Trek: The Next Generation


7. Stargate: SG1


8. Star Trek

Share: | Posted by John on Wednesday October 26, 2005 - 4:06 PM | Category: Movies | © 2005 SF Signal

Revenge of the Sith? Also...which filmed version of Dune? And when did Galactica get that second "l"?

Posted by FredKiesche on Wednesday October 26, 2005 at 5:33 PM

To answer your questions, Fred: Yes, I don't know (presumably the theatrical release), and never (I fixed it. Thannks!)

Posted by John on Wednesday October 26, 2005 at 5:40 PM

Oh my god, John, what have you done?!?! You know what this will do -- our readers will be debating endlessly why the list is ordered such as it is (or why certain ones are excluded) a la this...

Hmmmm, I also wonder if "Ken" will be taking your Bladerunner bait?

Posted by Peter on Wednesday October 26, 2005 at 5:42 PM

Clearly most people have very short memories, no concept of cultural impact and (in the case of Blade Runner) little taste.

Posted by James on Thursday October 27, 2005 at 5:54 AM

Um, I don't think Bladerunner qualifies as "Space Sci-Fi."

Posted by Jeff on Thursday October 27, 2005 at 8:47 AM

Over 4k votes, that's a better base than most political surveys in the US!

However..."space sci fi" (urgh), I'd have to disagree with some of the winners.

Very little of "Dune" takes place in space. Heck, they could have set it in the Middle East of WWI and done the same thing (make a comparison between Lawrence of Arabia as depicted in the movie vs. Paul in Dune, fer example).

Ender's Game: Didn't 99% of the book take place in the "Battle School"? I don't recall Ender going into space until the sequels. Of course it's been a few years since I read it.

I'm still mystified as to the appeal of "Farscape". I enjoyed the first season, but the show went downhill for me when they introduced the bondage-scorpion character.

"According to TV Guide, after the SciFi (US) Channel cancelled the show female fans actually mailed execs their bras to show their "support" for a renewal."

Oh my.

I am utterly amazed (but totally agree with the votes) at the quantum leap levels between Firefly/Serenity and the next votes in their categories. Sequel! Sequel! Sequel!

Posted by Fred Kiesche on Thursday October 27, 2005 at 9:21 AM

Return of the Jedi? WTF? Ewoks?!!!?!!! NOOOOOOOOOOO

Posted by Scott on Thursday October 27, 2005 at 4:24 PM

But Ewoks are bad-ass! Especially when you feed them after midnight! Or when you get them wet, they multiply like crazy and take over entire ships!! Luke would've had more problems with the Empire if he didn't have those awesome Ewoks on his side!!

Posted by Peter on Thursday October 27, 2005 at 5:45 PM

I find it interesting that the Star Wars movies would be included on a list of favorite SF movies. IMhO, the more I think about the movies of the SW saga the more they seem like [i]fantasy[/i] stories and not SF stories. yes space ships aliens, etc. However, consider the first trilogy (ANH, EsB, RotJ), a hidden prince finds a hidden sword with unusual powers, battles ruthless wizards and their henchmen, a kindly wizard and warrior assists him in fulfilling his destiny. Consider this could anyone but Luke defeat the Empire, could Han do it, could Cheewie?

Yes, I know this message will be considered real inflammatory and iconoclastic. jess sayin, consider the question.

Posted by Allan Rosewarne on Friday October 28, 2005 at 6:58 PM

Yes, many of the preceding comments could apply to the Dune universe, tooo.

Posted by Allan Rosewarne on Friday October 28, 2005 at 7:01 PM

Thanks, Allan. We've had the "Is Star Wars SciFi or Fantasy?" discussion before. I can see either argument, personally. It all depends on my mood.

Posted by John on Saturday October 29, 2005 at 12:19 AM

There is science fiction in Star Wars - light sabers, hyperspace, space ships with artificial gravity, and more. It is hindered by the inclusion of magic (er, the Force) - I'll give you that.

Posted by Scott on Saturday October 29, 2005 at 9:40 AM