If you watch the SciFi channel on Cable or satellite, you know what the title of this column means. Science Fiction has come a long way from the days when you could see the zippers on the back of monsters, strings holding up flying saucers, and dialog that made even the Aliens blush! These days not only are the special effects outstanding but many of the shows are based on real science, or at least what science is projecting to be real in the coming decades.

I grew up with Rod Sterling's Twilight Zone (he was a local boy from Ithaca) and the original Outer Limits which had the greatest opening dialogue of any TV in history: Do NOT attempt to adjust your TV, WE have control... That opening each week sent shivers up my spine. Even today when I see an old episode, and recognize the many young actors who are today's stars, I am amazed at how well the series holds up (yeah, the special effects are still corny).

If you watch today's crop of scifi such as X-Files, FarScape, Earth Final Conflict, or any of the Star Trek shows (First Generation, Voyager, Deep Space Nine), the stories still hold true to being morality plays sandwiched between the glitter of special effects: avoid war, live in peace with other "kinds," seek out truth and justice. Just what the Doctor ordered.

Fortunately for us SciFi heads, there is a ton of Web related information in the form of Web sites, discussion lists, newsgroups, and chat rooms. Interestingly, two shows from the 1960's. The Outer Limits (new version) and Star Trek (in all it's take offs) continue to be big hits today. Here are a few of the best scifi Web sites to visit.

The X-Files
http://x-files.com
Fox 23, Sunday Nights

This is my favorite show currently and this may be the last season. Two FBI agents Mulder and Scully explore strange cases called the X-Files. Many of the shows deal with extraterrestrials, government conspiracies, and Mulder looking for his alien abducted sister.

You can read capsules of the shows. Message boards let you chat with other xphilers and you can purchase X-Files products such as mugs and hats.

Earth Final Conflict
www.efc.com
ABC 10, Sunday Nights (was on Saturday)

This is a new show from the late Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek. It doesn't get much notice locally but it is a great show about an alien race, the Taelons, (all could use a dose of rogaine) who have come to Earth and share their technology. You and I know there real intentions are to take over the earth. Watch the Resistance battle them each week. Lots of twists and turns. The Web page introduces you to the characters. Roddenberry's wife, Majel Roddenberry plays a recurring role as a microbiologist (she was on the original Star Trek). A chat room and show summaries are also available. A free screensavor can be downloaded.

The Outer Limits
http://www.theouterlimits.com/
Showtime or ABC 10, Saturday Nights

The original Outer Limits which played in the early 60's is my all time favorite SciFi show. This new version isn't bad either. You can read about the cast and production of the show as well as read the listings and summary of each week's show. There is a download page that lets you hear and download the Control Voice, a voice that sets up each show's premise. There are desktop screens, Quicktime movies, and icons to use as well. A Bulletin Board lets you chat with other fans. If you would like to see how a TV script is written, the entire episode of "Joyride" is available. This is the story of a Mercury Astronaut who gets a second chance to go into space - a parallel of the John Glenn real life drama.

SciFi.Com
www.scifi.com
Cable or DirectTV

Here is the place to be if you love SciFi. The SciFi channel has original shows (Lexx is premiering as you read this) and replays of classics like the original Twilight Zone. News and rumors fly on this site. Each week the Nielsen report rates the top 10 scifi shows on the TV (Futurama was number one last week, geez). Weekly SciFi magazines are available for reading, reviews of shows and books, and everything scifi can be found at this site.

The SF Site: Star Trek Links
http://www.sfsite.com/depts/trek01.htm

If you want a Web page that will take you to almost every Trek Web site in the world, visit this site. It has links to more than 60 great Trek related Web sites. The SFSite also reviews books and magazines.

©2000 Don Rittner