The Sword and Laser discussion

I grew up watching Red Dwarf. It was on Public Broadcasting in the States. My parents thought everything on PBS was educational, but that isn't the case. I can't begin to describe the effect this series had on me.

Anyway, I went back and watched the whole series this past week, and even watched the new season ten episodes, and two things stood out.

1) how hard it is to write comedic science fiction. There's basically Red Dwarf and Home Boys from Outer Space for it on TV.

2) My god, the years have not been kind to these actors. The robot needs a facelift.

I want more of this kind of thing on TV. The internet is full of physics and causality jokes. can't we get the guy from xkcd to develop a series for Fox? There are more episodes of Red Dwarf on the way, and I'm glad of that, but where is it written that all sci fi series have to be dramas? I want a mini series of Bill the Galactic Hero.

And most of all, I want a set of Jupiter Mining Corporation bath towels.

Big Bang Theory is sorta like that.

Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy is very different in tone from Red Dwarf, but also qualifies as comedic science-fiction. The TV series is generally neglected in favour of the books and radio show, but I think it stands up well.

I was lucky enough to be at the recordings of two of the episodes, and at the premiere (and afterparty!). What struck me was the actors' undimmed passion for the series. But 20 years tends to hit most people in the face like a shovel, and even Danny John Jules can't hold the years at bay forever...

There was also a Nick Frost sitcom called, I think, Hyperdrive, which ran for a couple of seasons a few years back now.

And yes, I want JMC bath towels! I almost managed to swipe a can of JMC beer from the set, but my conscience wouldn't let me...

I love Red Dwarf. I think it lost it's way a bit in the later seasons but the new series was something of a return to form.

I want them to release the novels as e-books. They were good. Tried looking for them a while back and couldn't find any legal downloads of them. May need to re-buy the physical books instead.

The problem is entertainment is imitative and with the exception of Red Dwarf I can't point to another show that did even remotely well. In english anyway.
That being said some Doctor who series clearly wanted to be comedy, and there is always eureka.

I'd like to read the novels myself, they weren't released in the US. I've heard there are references to them in Back to Earth and X.

In re-watching the series the thing that made me laugh out loud most was the realization that from season four onward they slapped a JMC logo on just about everything. It took the grim commercialism of cyberpunk, and turned it into a running gag.

So, was I the only person who liked Chloe Annett's Kristine Kochansky? I don't think they quite knew how to write from a woman's perspective, but the character had potential. When they put her in the Canaries, I thought they'd riff a bit on Ripley from Alien, but they never did.

Now I want a six pack of JMC lager, and a chicken vindaloo container.

They are available through audible, well the first 2 are anyway.

I went to a Red Dwarf Q&A evening a couple of weeks ago to celebrate 25 years of the show. The actors do all love the show and love talking about it. It was a very good night and even got a few of my red dwarf books signed.

I wonder if we could read of of the books as an S&L pick? I don't know if it is easy to find the books in the US but there fairly easy to find in the UK. If not there is a book (trilogy planned) by Robert Llewelyn (Kryten) called 'News from Gardenia' about a guy who ends up in the future were everything is self sustainable and Eco-friendly. There is an ebook version and hardcover so could be a good laser pick

Daran wrote: "I grew up watching Red Dwarf. It was on Public Broadcasting in the States. My parents thought everything on PBS was educational, but that isn't the case. I can't begin to describe the effect thi..."

I grew up watching red dwarf also and loved it and all through my teen years I had the habit of breaking into the liverpudlian accent without realising it cos I watched it so much! Would love to see more tv like red dwarf , I read one red dwarf book are there more ?

I remember buying the first Red Dwarf book when it first came out. Got home with it at 10:30 in the morning and by 3:30 in the afternoon I had finished it. That included 15 minutes spent laughing so hard at one particular part, that I pulled several muscles in my chest and my family thought that I was having an asthma attack. :)

Has anyone listened to the red dwarf audiobooks? There narrated by Chris Barrie and are fantastic to listen to as he does all the the voices for the characters. Well worth checking out.

There are 4 books but the first two are the only ones that are really great. The last 2 are both book 3 and are written by one half of the original team each. They are ok but not quite the same thing. With out both of them the magic is gone.

Aaron wrote: "Has anyone listened to the red dwarf audiobooks? There narrated by Chris Barrie and are fantastic to listen to as he does all the the voices for the characters. Well worth checking out."

Yeah I had these on cassette tape back in the day. His reading was excellent. Helps that Chris Barrie started out as an impressionist and can do some pretty dead on voices for the characters.

Seems like a good time to change my profile pic to me with some of the cast. :)

I'm surprised the books aren't out yet in e-format, but then I'd never looked as I have the paperback copies (the omnibus edition of the first two with the pilot script at the back :) ).

I have the same version as you Andrew, but mine is signed by the cast :)