20 Greatest SF Movies Of The Past Decade
The past decade has seen a lot of bloated special-effects brain-sucks... but it's also seen some of the best science-fiction films ever. Superhero films came of age, apocalypses ruled, and interstellar adventures came back.

Who Stole Hitler's Corpse? The Truth Revealed
Ever wondered what happened to the corpses of Hitler, Eva Braun, and Goebbels? Russia has just released the official story of what happened after the KGB grabbed the corpses in Berlin.

Spoiler Filled Stills From Iron Man 2: What's Happening To Tony?
Last night the first ever trailer for Iron Man 2 was released, and it is jam-packed with spoilery goodies. Here's a shot-by-shot break down of what we noticed.

20 Best Science Fiction Books Of The Decade
After much mulling and culling, we've come up with our list of the twenty best books of the decade. The list is weighted towards science fiction, but does have healthy doses of fantasy and horror.

Exclusive Clip From Family Guy's Empire Strikes Back Has A New Lando
We've got the first exclusive clip from Seth MacFarlane's second Family Guy Star Wars spoof. Since Empire Strikes Back is the best of the bunch, MacFarlane is really going to have to bring it...

Avatar Won't Make You Go Native
In Avatar, an ex-marine leaves his body and enters an alien world. And James Cameron hopes the same thing will happen to you, thanks to totally-immersive CG and 3-D.

Who Is The Best New Character Of The Decade?
Never mind the best books, comics, movies or TV shows of the last ten years, which new character made the biggest impact in your hearts and minds? We want to know what you think, and I have my own suggestions.

Daybreakers Clip Shows The "Perks" For Those Who Hunt Humans
In this exclusive Daybreakers clip, Ethan Hawke argues blood ethics with his little vamp bro who hunts down humans for the new Army. Could Hawke be the first vampire teetotaller we don't want to stake?

[Picture via Fandango]

Millennium Predictions That Got Things Right - and Those That Didn't
A decade ago, the world was braced for the Y2K bug and everyone was prognosticating about the 21st century. Ten years into the new millennium, we look back at those predictions and decide which still seem likely - or not.

Gift Ideas for the Ten Major Species of Science Fiction Fan
Stumped on what to get the Doctor Who fan in your life? Still need gifts for lovers of Star Wars, zombies, and Transformers? Our gift guide has plenty of ideas for ten species of science fiction fan.

Exclusive Peek At Liara T'soni In "Mass Effect: Redemption" Comic
Excited for the release of Mass Effect 2 next year? Here's something to whet your appetite even more: An exclusive peek at the variant cover for tie-in comic Mass Effect: Redemption. Click through for a preview of the comic itself.

Why The Road's Baby Scene Was Cut, And Why Its First Trailer Sucked
One important cannibal scene in the post apocalyptic film The Road, based on Cormac McCarthy's book, was cut. Here's why, along with how director John Hillcoat feels about his movie being compared to, and marketed as, "disaster porn."

Trace Cylon Evolution, From Toaster To Centurion To Six
Want to know how Battlestar Galactica's Cylons developed from kitchen appliances to today's sexy/deadly models? Here's your exclusive first look at a new poster that follows Cylon evolution through both BSG series, now available from Quantum Mechanix.

The io9 Guide To December Science Fiction Awesomeness
December isn't a quiet month for science fiction. There's James Cameron's long-awaited Avatar and Peter Jackson's Lovely Bones, double Dollhouse helpings, and rare appearances by Stephen King, Michael Chabon, Neil Gaiman and Mary Doria Russell. Encompass your future!

The Top 10 Wackiest Norman Osborn Weird-Outs
Today's release of Siege: The Cabal marks the beginning of the end of Norman Osborn's Dark Reign over the Marvel Universe. Let's reminisce over the on-again, off-again Green Goblin's stranger moments of murder, mayhem, and flagrant disregard for contraceptives.

Reclaiming Your Humanity Means Killing A Whole Lot Of People
Wolverine, out on DVD recently, is a great example of one of the silliest clichés in escapist entertainment: someone reclaims his/her true humanity and unique individuality - by killing everyone in sight. What the hell is this about?

12 Movie Adaptations That Did The Books Justice
Whether or not you loved The Road, most people seemed to feel it captured Cormac McCarthy's novel. Sadly, most adaptations do violence to the original books, but not all. Here are 12 SF/fantasy adaptations that did right by the books.

Tim Burton's Lost Movie Pitches That We Wish Hollywood Greenlit
A lot of Tim Burton's early artwork in his MoMA retrospective consists of pitches for movies he never got to make... and they'd make some kick-ass films today. Here are the best Burton monsters and mutants that deserve screen time.

Before They Fall, Meet The Hulks
Why are there now seven Hulks (Three of whom are children of the original Hulk)? What are the differences between them all? And where did this all get started? We explain all for beginners and Hulk-curious bystanders

Picture via Jon Deviny's response to our Denzel challenge!

If You Like These Recent Movies, Here Are Books You'll Love
Movies may thrill us with their huge ideas and set pieces, but you always know that anything a movie did, a novel did it first... and better. If you liked these dozen recent movies, here are some books you'll love.

20 Science Fiction Books We Can't Wait To Read in 2010
You've got a list of books to read today, but what will you be yearning to read next year? We've picked out 20 scifi and contemporary fantasy books coming out next year that have us filled with excitement

Strange Visitors And Broken Hearts Will Restore Your Faith In Short Fiction
If you believe in reading short fiction for pleasure, you're condemned to frequent disappointment. Most short fiction, even the good stuff, is... laborious. So when reading the anthology Eclipse Three, you may be startled at the unexpected sensation of enjoyment.

What Cormac McCarthy Insisted On Keeping In The Road Movie
Translating a book into film is hard, especially when it's Cormac McCarthy's simply-worded but powerful novel The Road. Director John Hillcoat told us what McCarthy refused to let him leave out of the movie version.

Scientists Say Jupiter's Moon Europa Might Be Teeming With Fish
New evidence has come to light that the vast, ice-encrusted oceans of Europa may be harboring Earth-like life that lives on the oxygen-rich waters. Time to plan your extraterrestrial fishing trip?

J.J. Abrams' Version Of Star Trek's Salt Vampire And Gorn Revealed
Even though they didn't make the final cut, the salt vampire and Gorn were still in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek. Take a look at these revamped versions of classic aliens.

Algae Sex and Amoeba Smackdown - Best Microscopy Videos of the Year
Ever wonder what it looks like when algae have sex? Now you'll find out in this winning video from the Olympus BioScapes Digital Imaging Contest. More winning entries in our gallery, which includes an amoeba vs. algae.

A History of 16 Science Fiction Classics, Told In Book Covers
A single book can inspire a wide range of covers, and sometimes those covers can be works of art themselves. We look at some classic science fiction novels and the various covers they've worn throughout the years

[Picture via bp]

5 Comics You're Not Reading (But Should Be)
You're not new to comics, but you've read all the big names and you're not sure where to go next. Luckily, we're here with five suggestions to make your November bookshelf that little bit heavier.

10 Favorite Faux Deaths In Science Fiction
Death really isn't the end in science fiction... It just depends on whether or not it can be written around later. Here are some of our favorite NotDeaths that prove that the Grim Reaper should really up his game.

The Lost "Cantina Scene" From Abrams' Star Trek
James Kirk stumbles into an exotic alien bazaar on a desert world, in some concept art from a sequence that never made it into J.J. Abrams' Star Trek. Check out more exclusive views from the Trek art book below.

V's Mothership Already Landed In Milwaukee In 2001
Early concept art shows the assymetrical arches and white coolness of the mothership in ABC's V remake - and it turns out the startling similarity to a cutting-edge art museum isn't accidental at all.

What If Moviemakers Swapped Franchises?
The problem with big movie franchises is that you always know what to expect; it's always the same guys making the same movies. But what if you swapped creators and movie franchises around? Here's what'd work - and what wouldn't.

First Kick-Ass Trailer Gets Graphic With Kiddie Vigilantes
The first Kick-Ass teaser trailer is out. Watch the costumed kid cops deal out justice with guns, knives and blood. Proving you don't need superpowers to, well you know...

Seven Ways the World Could End in 2012
So, the world probably won't end in 2012, but that's the date for plenty of imagined apocalypses. We look at the various ways the world ends (or at least radically changes) when the Mayan Long Count Calendar runs out.

The Curious Case of a Woman Addicted to Her Brain Implant
One of the cutting-edge cures for chronic muscle tremors is called a thalamic stimulator - it's a brain implant that delivers current to your thalamus. But it can also cause intensely pleasurable erotic feelings, leading one woman into implant addiction.

Pop-Culture Cyborgs Through The Ages: A Gallery
Cyborgs kick ass with their super-powered robot legs - but they've changed a lot over the years. Here's our roundup of awesome images of cybernetic organisms, bionic superheroes and cyber-villains, from the 1960s to today.

Disaster Movie Moments That Pissed Us Off The Most
Sure, disaster movies are just empty calories of mass destruction - but even when you don't take them seriously, there are always some scenes that you just can't excuse. We've collected the most infuriating moments from the biggest disaster movies.

Top image from Player vs. Player. Read full comic here.

40+ Lurid, Bizarre Science Fiction Dream Sequences
Science fiction takes place in a world beyond our own reality, but sometimes you need to go just a bit further - into the realm of the crazy, surreal dream sequence.

Did SGU's Women Get Lost In The Wrong Universe?
The men of Stargate Universe have been busy punching, exploring and saving lives using complicated math. Meanwhile the womenfolk have cried, drunk, got naked, and been used up sexually. Is SGU getting a little sexist? Fans certainly think so.

Lessons Joss Whedon Can Bring Back To Dollhouse From Glee
Whedonites rejoiced when it was announced Joss Whedon will direct an episode of television's best show, Glee. But you know what would be even cooler? If Whedon could pick up some tricks from Glee and bring them back to Dollhouse.

Scientists Discover the Largest Orbweaving Spider in the World
Yesterday researchers announced the discovery of the largest web-spinning spider in the world. Nephila komaci, which spins meter-wide webs, is 40 mm long. But males of the species (pictured clinging to the underside of the female) are only 9 mm.

Magneto Dead, Deadpool Reboot: X-Movie Update Motherlode!
Empire recently talked to X-Men movie franchise producer Lauren Shuler Donner about plans for Wolverine 2, X-Men First Class, Deadpool and Magneto, and got some some interesting updates on what movies will happen when... if at all. Spoilers ahead.

B-String Monsters That Deserve a Turn in the Limelight
Vampires, zombies, and werewolves have dominated horror movies for some time now. Looking for a new monster to chill you to your core? Here are some less-used beasties that deserve a shot on the big screen.

Marvel: Rise Of The Mediocre Cartoons
Marvel's live-action movies may fill multiplexes and please fanboys across the world, but what about their animated movies? With a boxset just released of their six DVDs to date, I settled in for a movie marathon to investigate. Bad idea.

Ian McKellen Is A Sick Torture Genius In New Trailer For "The Prisoner"
Let the mind games begin. In this exclusive trailer from AMC's miniseries remake of The Prisoner, see the many ways Number Two (McKellen) plans on messing with Number Six (Jim Caviezel). Plus, is that a baby Number Two?

The Secrets Of Astro Boy's Floating Robot City
Here you can see a massive Peacekeeper robot shredding combat drones, in exclusive Astro Boy concept art. We loved this movie's floating mountain city full of robots, so we talked to writer/director David Bowers and two designers about its creation.

You Can See Why New York's Real-Life Spider-Man Makes People Throw Up
Rickshaw driver Shaun Emerson thought dressing up as Spider-Man and doing weird acrobatic stunts would make him an overnight sensation - instead, it's made at least one passenger vomit.

Stanford Study Explains Internet Trolls
In a study conducted at Stanford, psychologists discovered that people who hold extreme opinions are more likely to voice them loudly than those who hold moderate opinions. At last, science has explained most of what you read on the internet.

Is Science Fiction Feminized Or Is It Sexist? Both.
Is science fiction "feminized"? Do women exist to destroy all that is cool and inspiring about space opera? That's what one blogger argues in a post that's stirred up controversy this week. But is his opinion really the problem?

Concept Art That Will Make You See Steampunk Anew
Yap Kun Rong's incredible "Lord Of Yamamoto" adds some much-needed color to steampunk. It's just one of our collection of concept art images which might make you see steampunk a whole new way. Banish those boring goggles and waistcoasts!

The Vatican's Secret Storehouse Of Space Knowledge Is On Display At Last
The Vatican didn't just torment Gallileo - it also helped further the development of astronomy, with masterpieces like this 18th century Planetarium, created by Martin Benjamin. And now the Vatican's treasures of astronomy are going on display.

Trek DVD Extra: Kirk Apologizes To A Green Woman?
The upcoming Star Trek DVD/Blu-Ray throws in tons of deleted scenes, including Spock's parents, Kirk's uncle, Klingon prison-breaks... and Kirk apologizing to a green woman? Special features explain everything - except the writers' theory of time travel.

Is The Large Hadron Collider Being Sabotaged from the Future?
What if all the Large Hadron Collider's recent woes are more than bad luck and technical problems? Two noted physicists speculate that the future may be pushing back on the LHC to avert the disaster of observing the Higgs boson.

Maurice Sendak To Concerned Parents: Go To Hell!
If you're worried about taking your kids to see Where The Wild Things Are after reports of crying children having to leave screenings of the rough cut, halfway through, then Maurice Sendak has a message for you: "Go to hell."

Top 10 Greatest Space Zombies Of All Time!
Pandorum's space-zombie rampage was a huge letdown, but at least Zombieland reminded us how great zombies can be. Especially in space! Here's our list of the top 10 space zombies of all time.

Michael Bay To Kill Megan Fox?
There's been plenty of drama surrounding Bay's next robot masterpiece, Transformers 3. But the back-and-forth, Megan Fox-versus-the-crew arguments and smack talk seemed to be over. Until rumors broke that Bay was going to kill Fox.

The Strange, Twisted, And Destructive Love Stories of Joss Whedon
Beloved geek television creator Joss Whedon is well known for his propensity for long romantic arcs in his television stories. But Whedon seems to favor a very specific kind of romantic relationship: the complicated, often destructive one.

7 Supervillains We Wouldn't Mind Taking Over The World (And Why)
We watch their so-called "fiendish" schemes being defeated on a regular basis, but have you ever stopped to wonder whether life would be better if the bad guy won? Here're some villains we're rooting for... and why we're doing so.

"Paranormal Activity" Is As Scary As Real Life
At the theater where I watched a preview of Paranormal Activity last night, somebody ran out of the auditorium and threw up. It was that scary. And the most terrifying part isn't what's "paranormal" - it's the normal, everyday realism.

io9 Book Club Meeting: Let's Discuss "The Quiet War"
Welcome to the first-ever installment of the io9 Book Club. This month, we've read Paul McAuley's The Quiet War, which I reviewed here, and now it's time to start talking about what you thought of it.

10 Reasons Not to Bring Someone Back from the Dead
When you've got amazing technologies or strong magical powers, death doesn't have to have the final word. But is bringing the dead back to life always a good idea?

Does the Pill Really Affect Our Choice of Mate?
A new paper suggests that the hormonal changes that come with oral contraceptives affects which individuals both men and women are attracted to. But does the pill really have that much impact on how we choose our mates?

Utterly Compelling Evidence That A Cow Was Abducted By A UFO
I'm usually suspicious of alien abduction reports. But you have to believe it when somebody says they saw a cow zooming through the sky for a UFO rendezvous. It's just too weird to be fake - as these pictures prove!

Did Stupid Marketing Kill "Jennifer's Body"?
Jennifer's Body may not be an artistic masterpiece, but it's a smart, fun horror movie with a big star. It was a cut above the usual B-grade horror fare.

Forget A Zombieland Sequel: Writers Have 12 Films Planned
Zombieland was supposed to be a TV show on CBS. But when the network ditched the series - the fools! - Zombieland was made into a movie. Leaving tons of material for sequels.

10 Essential Superman Comics To Help You Forget Smallville
Do Smallville and Superman Returns have you convinced that it's impossible to tell good Superman stories? Here're our recommendations for the books that prove otherwise.

Stargate Universe: What Worked, What Didn't
This weekend SGU had its dark, bleak, awesomely star-studded premiere. You sounded off your opinions about the brand new series - now hear ours.From the start, this was a pretty compelling new series.

Madness of Flowers: The City Is...Alive
The brilliant and prolific Jay Lake returns to the City Imperishable, with a Madness of Flowers. This is a decadent, surreal urban fantasy in the New Weird vein. Sex Dwarfs, spoilers, and a Polar Bear await.

What Was The Most Successful Summer Movie?
With Summer 2009 well and truly behind us, it's worth taking a look back and wondering: What movies were the big hits of the season? The answer may depend on how you define "big hit," but here's our guide.

14 Reasons Why TV And Superheroes Don't Mix
If there's one thing that this week's premieres of Heroes and Smallville collectively proved, it's that television really shouldn't try and tackle superheroes. Here's even more proof why - as well as some rare examples of when it does work.

Is Caprica A Soap Opera? A Sexy Scifi Romp? Posters Can't Decide
Here's your exclusive first look at six draft posters for Caprica, Syfy's Battlestar Galactica prequel series. Syfy has been testing out these posters, to see if people are more excited about the show's soap-opera elements or its weird-science ones.

First Horrific Clip From The Human Butt To Face Centipede Flick
Finally, the terrible moment is here! See the first video look at the Human Centipede, in which a scientist surgically links three humans together. Plus, enjoy a better look at the half-woman/half-snake film Hissss.

The Guy Who Makes All His Friends Dress Up As Broken Robot Dolls [NSFW]
If artist Evan Hayden ever wants to be your friend, think twice. Sure, his robot art is jarring and beautiful, and he lives in a world of dolls gone wrong. But he also covers his friends with metallic body paint.

First Look At Rorschach As Freddy In New Nightmare On Elm St. Trailer
Freddy is back - and looking terribly realistic. There's the creepy claw that pops up when you least expect, it but gone is the peeled Robert Englund brow, replaced with Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen's Rorschach) sporting an all-too-real burn-ward look.

5 Heroes Whose Powers Will Kill Them
Heroes' Hiro Nakamura isn't the only character to find that their superpowers may ultimately be responsible for their death. Here are five more fictional characters for whom the superhero dream comes at a potentially fatal price.

First Bloody Details From Rodriguez's Predators Give Us Hope
More details of Robert Rodriguez's Predator reboot have emerged, including Danny Trejo's bad ass character, a supreme alien species, and a bloody human-versus-alien rumble in the jungle that would make even Arnold proud. Meet team humans - spoilers ahead.

The Grand Unified Theory of Superman's Powers
Superman is one of those superheroes who has a whole constellation of abilities rather than a discrete superpower. But one fan theory suggests that all these abilities - from superstrength to heat vision - stem from a single superpower.

The One "Wild Things" Change That Bothered Maurice Sendak
When Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers set about adapting Where The Wild Things Are into a movie, Maurice Sendak encouraged them to take a free hand and change stuff. But Eggers and Jonze tell us one change made Sendak nervous.

Ming-Na On Being The First Lesbian To Step Out Of The Stargate
Ming-Na's Stargate Universe character isn't just stepping through a portal into another galaxy, she's coming out of the closet. She tells us about playing Stargate's first openly gay character, and how this show is about to get a lot sexier.

New Species Of Sharks Discovered Sporting Forehead Genitalia
A new species related to the shark has been discovered in Southern California. Not only does this bad boy have a venomous spine and retractable sexual appendages on the forehead, but it's got one bad ass name: meet Ghostshark.

The Nic Cage/Tim Burton Superman That Never Was
A long time ago, Nicolas Cage started a fan war when he was selected to play Tim Burton's Superman in the final adventure of the Man Of Steel. Now test pictures have leaked of the actor in the blue suit.

The Most Expensive Movies Of The Past Decade
The 2009 summer movie season ended, with a record-breaking box office. But 2009 will also go down as the year with the most movies that cost $200 million or more.

When The Concept Art Is Better Than The Actual Movie
It's almost painful to look through Transformers 2's beautiful concept art wondering, what happened? Similar to the red wandering eyes of the robotic Doctor, we too look for answers.

Nigeria Bans District 9, Demands Apology
Is District 9 racist against Nigerians? The Nigerian government clearly believe so - They've stepped in to ask cinemas to stop screening the movie and are demanding an apology from Sony Pictures for the movie's "unwarranted attack" on the country.

Dr. Horrible's Emmy Announcement: Television Is Dead, Long Live Musical Blogs!
We waited and waited for Neil Patrick Harris' big evil cameo on tonight's Emmy Award shows. But we didn't expect the entire cast from Joss Whedon's musical to pop in as well -

10 Best Robot Bodies To Load Your Brain Into
You can't be beautiful and immortal until you abandon your meatsack! Surrogates, opening Friday, shows a culture that's gone over to robot avatars. But here are ten other universes where you could abandon your flesh for a shiny, perfect robo-body.

Meet the Bounty Hunters of the Clone Wars
The coming season of Clone Wars will feature not only the battle between Clone Troopers and battle drones, but a colorful new crew of characters: the galaxy's deadliest bounty hunters. Check out concept art of these hunters for hire.

How To Get Your Future Robot Self High
We asked Surrogates director Jonathan Mostow all the really important stuff about our robot-filled future. Such as: how do we go to the bathroom while attached to a robot? And what kind of drugs are there for my robot half?

Dennis Quaid On Pandorum, And The Other Enemy Mine
Dennis Quaid has starred in many of our favorite science fiction movies, so we're excited that he's back in deep space with the horror movie Pandorum. He told us about Pandorum's disorientation... and the Enemy Mine you never saw. Spoilers!

Top image from Head Injury Theater - inspired by the new species of snorks, and proof that you can find anything on the internet.

Rodents of Unusual Size Found in Volcanic Lost World
For 200,000 years, life has flourished deep inside the crater of Mount Bosavi in complete isolation. Now a team of scientists has found it teeming with hairy caterpillars, fanged frogs, and the largest rats ever recorded.

The io9 Guide To 2009's Fall Movies
The days are already getting shorter and colder, which sounds like the ideal time to start considering spending evenings at your local multiplex, taking advantage of comfy chairs and large screens.

The Curious Case Of The Superwoman Porn That Wasn't
The internet may already have become sick of Superman's short-lived porn career, but apparently Superwoman almost got into the business as well. Well, until a DC Comics lawsuit changed her costume and name into something more Magnificent, that is.

Six Signs You Might Be Dating a Robot
You've met someone new, and things are going great, but you start to notice something off about them. Could your significant other be a robot in disguise? Check our list for the possible signs.

Stop Shaking My Movies Like A Polaroid Picture
The shaky cam is so common these days it's cliche. In order to curb this trend we've categorized the good, the bad, and the ugly of the candid cam takes.

Top 10 Unlikely Survivors Of The End Of The World
In 9, deadly machines wipe out the human race and the only creatures left alive are... ragdolls? Okay. But those hempen freedom-fighters aren't necessarily the weirdest people to survive the apocalypse.

Avatar Concept Designer Reveals the Secrets of the Na'Vi
Sculptor and concept artist Jordu Schell breathed life into the Na'Vi, Avatar's blue aliens. He talks about working with James Cameron, the actresses who inspired the lovely Neytiri's look, and why design isn't the most interesting part of Avatar.

If Nice Machines Battle Evil Machines After You're Dead, Will You Care?
In most post-apocalyptic movies, we bring destruction on ourselves with our advanced science, and there's a cautionary message about trusting technology. But the lyrical 9 may be the first film that shows good machines fighting evil ones, after we're dead.

Fan Artists Reimagine Classic Comics Covers
Robert Goodin's blog Covered invites artists to remix and reinterpret their favorite comic book covers, resulting in fun and funky covers of classic superhero art.

The Reg Barclay Effect: Dweebs Who Take Over Dying Shows
You know a TV show's doomed when a minor character, who's exponentially weaker and more annoying than the existing cast, suddenly gets more screen time. This is a strange breed of rat, who boards a sinking ship instead of fleeing.

Could Playboy's Vampire Issue Bring Back She-Vamp Power?
The October issue of Playboy is vamped out. Huzzah for supernatural nudity but here's hoping they turn down the coy and turn up the blood-bathing Elizabeth Báthory centerfolds.

io9 is looking for interns who are obsessed with science fiction and/or science. An intern works 5 - 10 hours per week doing research, fact-checking, and contacting sources in the science and entertainment industries for story ideas and information. Some writing may be involved too, depending on experience. You must be detail-oriented, very familiar with science and/or science fiction, and able to work quickly. Photoshop and graphic design skills are a plus.

Day-to-day, the job involves seeking out story ideas and helping editors gather more data for stories they're working on. This is an unpaid internship. Send us your resume, and URLs for three samples of your writing by September 15.

Sorry, you must be 18 or over to apply.

Send materials to fallintern09@io9.com.

Image of steampunk keypad vambraces via bruteforcestudios.com

Your Complete Guide To Fall Science Fiction TV
The fall TV season is just around the corner, bringing us aliens, visions of the future and slutty witches. Here's a complete rundown of new and returning shows, with launchdates and clips, so you won't miss any of the shininess.

At Last, A Graph That Explains Scifi TV After Star Trek
When have TV aliens been more popular than magic? Do shows featuring time travel fare better than those about space exploration? We chart the popularity of television's most common themes, and see how scifi television has changed since 1970.

Reality TV Host Boosted Ratings By Murdering People
It sounds like the plot of a 1970s scifi movie. Brazilian reality TV host Wallace Souza was charged earlier this month with ordering his bodyguard to kill people to boost ratings for his crime-themed reality show Canal Livre.

SF Television's Most Eye-Melting, Ear-Bleeding Opening Credits
Why does science fiction television sometimes get a bad reputation? Oh yeah - because of cheesetastic opening credits like this one, from Jason Of Star Command. Here are a few dozen of the absolute scariest opening discredits in SF television.

The Television I Need Therapy To Work Through
I go to my therapist twice a week and often we just talk about television. You'd think I wouldn't need to pay someone to analyze why Lost works when nothing else will, and yet that's exactly what I do.

Original Pilot vs. Official Pilot: Which Shows Changed the Most?
While most shows' pilots air as their first episode, some shows get a do-over to make creative changes, improve production, or appease the network. We look at some of the pilots that didn't make it and how the shows changed.

What The Hell Happened to the Mid-Sized Scifi Movie?
This is a weird post. Maybe even a rant. And my ire could be significantly misplaced, but WTF - This is something I've been thinking about all summer: Where is the middle? I'm talking movie budgets here.

TV Shows We Wish Would Swap Writing Staffs
We don't just love television for the special effects or crackerjack acting, but for the writing. That's where our heroes get their cool lines and defining moments. And sometimes we wonder: what'd happen if our fave shows swapped writing staffs?

From Enchantress to Vamp Slayer - How "Bewitched" Created "Buffy"
A blonde hides her supernatural powers from the rest of the world while her show deals with social issues through metaphor and analogy... Sounds like Joss Whedon's Buffy, but Elizabeth Montgomery was there thirty years earlier with classic sitcom Bewitched.

30 Rock Salutes Science Fiction: Every Great Clip
We've all seen the big spoofs of scifi classics. Family Guy just recreated Star Wars and the Simpsons' Prisoner tribute was perfection. But nobody salutes science fiction better than 30 Rock's sly one-liners, which just slip it in there.

5 Reasons Why "House, M.D." Is Science Fiction
Popular medical forensics drama House is about science, and it's quite obviously fiction, but is it science fiction? Absolutely. And here's why.

Dinosaur Creationism Theme Park Seized By The Government
You'd think that dinosaur-loving creationists would be law-abiding citizens. Not so. Last week a South Carolina judge ordered the government to seize control of Dinosaur Adventure Land creationist theme park after its owners were convicted of tax fraud.

District 9's Director Tells Us All About His Alien Back Story
Who are the humanly named "prawn" aliens of District 9, and where did they come from? Director Neill Blomkamp reveals all to us about these beings, their planet, ships and possible home in the Andromeda Galaxy. Spoilers!

When Science Fiction Fans Go Bad
Most fans of science fiction and comic books just want to enjoy their hobby in peace, or maybe one day don a costume and save the world. But every now and then, a fan turns to the Dark Side instead.

Three Scenarios For The Future Of Romantic Love
We all know the future of sex involves robots and teledildonics, but what will love be like in centuries to come?

The Real Reason Marlon Wayans Passed On Playing Robin
We talked superheroes with the all-new "real American heroes," Marlon Wayans and Channing Tatum, and found out the real reason Marlon wasn't cast as Joel Schumacher's Robin.

Kick-Ass Clips Revel In The Messiness Of Real Superhero Violence
Four clips from the movie of Mark Millar's Kick-Ass reveal the bloody business of being a non-powered superhero in the real world. The costumed vigilantes crash into cars, get stabbed, and slice and taser their way to victory.

How Do We Get New Science Fiction Stories? Have New Nightmares
Tired of the creaky entertainment machine churning out copy-cat stories of zombies, superheroes, apocalypses and cyborgs? Then you need to conjure new dreads and fantasies in the real world, since that's where all our science fiction cliches come from.

Jim Henson's Studio Readies The Dark Crystal Sequel For Pre-Production
Great flying Gelflings - the Henson studio hasn't decided to abandon the Dark Crystal sequel. In fact, it's moving forward. Just in case you've run out of things to watch while getting high.

Why You Should Discover Iain M. Banks' Evil Twin
Iain M. Banks, one of the best writers of contemporary science fiction, has an evil twin: Iain Banks, without the M, crafts sadistic, often surreal, novels about religion, politics and disturbed families. Here's why science-fiction afficionados should read both Bankses.

Picture from Kyle Brady.

The Most Badass Female Space Pilots Of All Time
Some of the hottest hot-shot pilots in space opera are women. It's a longstanding tradition in science fiction to show women taking the controls of starships, space fighters and star-cruisers, and here are our favorite badass female cockpit jockeys.

Warners Want You To Watch The Watchmen - Yet Again
Excited about the Director's Cut of Watchmen? Don't be... because there's another version of the movie around the corner, and it's the one that fans have been waiting for since day one.

Characters Who Say What The Audience Is Thinking
There's nothing better than a character who can take a step back from the wreckage of a convoluted plot and say what we, the viewers, are already thinking. Here's why we love characters who come out and admit the truth.

Is Superman Really Damaged Goods?
One of the more troubling things to come out of the Siegel/Warners/DC lawsuit decision this week was the feeling that everyone involved in creating Superman stories has already decided that the character is broken. Is Superman's failure a self-fulfilling prophecy?

Say Goodbye To Your Favorite Heroes
Despite the success that they've brought their publisher, it seems as if DC Comics is very eager to celebrate the end of both Superman and Batman, given the care and attention lavished on two hardcover goodbyes to the characters.

Unidentified Biological "Goo," 15 Miles Long, Creeps Down Alaskan Coast
A gigantic smear of gooey, black biological material is making its way through the Chukchi Sea between Wainwright and Barrow in Northern Alaska. Eyewitnesses say it's definitely a living entity, though unlike anything they've seen before. Closeup shot below.

Did Battlestar Galactica Have The Worst Ending In Science Fiction History?
We've all had our problems with Battlestar Galactica's weird solar flare-out of an ending, but was it actually the worst ending in the history of science fiction? That's what Usenet luminary and Electronic Frontier Foundation Chairman Brad Templeton is claiming.

Will G.I. Joe Be The Worst Movie Of The Year?
We're all expecting G.I. Joe to be one of the worst movies of all time - but we were actually overestimating it. Judging from the novelization, G.I. Joe will be a masterpiece of badness, Showgirls meets Plan 9. Spoilers ahead...

First Look At Scarlett Johansson's Spin On Iron Man's Black Widow
The first ever shots of Scarlett Johnansson crawling around in a skin-tight costume for Iron Man 2 have been published. The shots are a little grainy, but they're still enough to energize your fusion reactors. UPDATE: Cleaner pics up.

Enter The Forbidden Galaxy Of Cheesecake Art [NSFW]
Two beautiful adventurers stalk the steam-tunnels of Kraang, armed only with pulse-lasers and wearing their protective fishnet stockings and bustiers. The New York Pin-Up Club turned its lusty eye to science-fiction recently, and we've got some of the loveliest pics.

We've been searching for a way to moderate discussions in comments that don't involve disemvoweling and smashing the banhammer around quite so much. So what awesome Gawker Tech Team (thanks, guys!) has come up with is a way for the (hopefully) more meaty comments to be easily accessed. How will we do this? The crux of the new comment system is that starred commenters have new powers (and you know that means new responsibilities).

Starred commenters are now discussion leaders, which means simply that their comments will automatically appear on the first page of comments. People who aren't starred yet will find their comments appear on the second page.

If you want to see all comments, not just starred ones, click the button at the bottom of the page that says "show all comments."

We will also be handing out a LOT more stars in coming weeks, so don't worry if you don't have one yet. If you consistently make interesting/funny/smart comments, you'll get that star. (Even more granular details about star privileges/responsibilities at the bottom of the post after the ***)

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE.

Comments can now be edited for 15 minutes after publishing. Yes, that's right. You can now correct your typos!

AND GUESS WHAT?

We now have improved image and video embedding in comments.

Comment threads will always appear in reverse chronological order, with the most recent comments at the top of the page.

Related stories show to the right of each post on the permalink page. This is incredibly awesome.

DO YOU CRY OUT IN CONFUSION?

We realize it's a complicated new system, and it's still buggy - bugs will be especially bad today. Pipe up if you're having problems, or email tips@io9.com with the subject line "bugs in new comment system" and we will be sure to pass it along to our awesome tech team.

* * * EVEN MORE DETAILS ABOUT STARRED COMMENTER RESPONSIBILITIES

Starred commenters can see comments from unapproved commenters that are invisible to everybody else. If you're a starred commenter and see a comment in red, it's from somebody who hasn't yet been approved as a commenter for io9. But you can reply to it or click the "thumbs up" button and make that comment visible. If you think the comment is irrelevant or abusive, just leave it alone. It is invisible to everyone but you.

As ever, only moderators will have the power to approve commenters. So even if you give the thumbs-up to somebody's comment, they won't have the ability to comment publicly until a moderator has approved their commenter account.

Top image via Roberto Campus.

Your First Look At Doctor Who's Next Big Guest Star
Who is David Tennant standing next to in this photo? The answer reveals a lot about the storyline of Tennant's final adventure as the time-traveling eccentric in Doctor Who, and its impact on the show's mythos. Major, huge spoilers below.

The Strange Life of Creatures Whose Sperm Is Larger Than They Are
Some insects and sea creatures produce sperm that is up to 10 times bigger than they are. Now scientists have used an innovative new x-ray technology to show how this bizarre situation evolved over hundreds of millions of years.

So When Does The Writers Strike Stop Ruining Movies?
Hollywood writers went on strike in 2007-2008, but we're only seeing the results now, in a crop of summer movies with half-baked scripts and abnormally dunderheaded writing.

Jurassic Park 4 A "Long Shot," But NeverEnding Story's Coming
Legendary producer Frank Marshall chatted up his future genre projects today, including whether we'll be seeing the NeverEnding Story continue - and what are the chances of another Jurassic Park movie?

8 Superhero Movies That Broke The Mold (Please Copy Them!)
If Marvel really goes ahead with its plan to put out four movies per year, and other studios follow, we could see a million cookie-cutter superhero origin stories.

Sleeper Offers Classic Noir Pessimism
Now that it's being turned into a movie for Tom Cruise, DC Comics have issued a new edition of forgotten superhero classic Sleeper. But how does it hold up, seven years later? Plus, an exclusive Q&A with writer Ed Brubaker.

Spielberg Puts Indiana's Hat Back In Shia's Hands
Are you ready to hear the Indiana Jones theme song one more time? Indy's co-star from the Crystal Skulls says Spielberg is gearing up for another Indy.

When Did Japan Stop Being The Future?
U.S. science fiction used to be fascinated with Japan, from Blade Runner to Neuromancer. Everything Japanese was cooler, sleeker and shinier than our grubby American aesthetic, and Japan was destined to dominate. And then, Japan's futuristic status waned. What happened?

A Harvard Psychiatrist Explains Zombie Neurobiology

In Night of the Living Dead, zombies are brought back from the dead by a "mysterious force" that allows their brains to continue functioning. But how exactly does a zombie brain function?

Three Recent Breakthroughs That Will Change Your Computer Forever

Scientists are engaged in a race to make electronics components even tinier. Now, three breakthroughs in the manufacture of chips and superconductors are about to make computer components so small that they can operate on the quantum level.

How To Reboot Star Wars

Now that both Batman and Star Trek have enjoyed cinematic reinventions, it's only a matter of time before Hollywood reboots the franchise that rebooted entertainment itself.

6 More Heroes Who Might Still Be Trapped In Virtual Reality

Yesterday, we looked at six characters who seemingly managed to escape virtual prisons. Now, we'll make it an even dozen as we examine another sextet of science fiction heroes that may or may not still be stuck inside their own minds.

Why All The Wonder Woman Hate?

With Transformers starlet Megan Fox calling her "lame" and the most successful writer in the American comic industry joking that she's "a walking STD farm," it's time to ask:

Live Action Jetsons Movie Takes Flight Next Year: Pick Your Judy Now

Robert Rodriguez is going full hovermobile ahead with his live-action Jetsons movie. Which means we could be just a year away from seeing Judy Jetson live and in the flesh.

Futurama Lives Again on Comedy Central

Confirming yesterday's rumor, Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files confirms that Comedy Central is reviving Futurama - and not just for 13 episodes, but for 26. In a jar somewhere, the disembodied head of Al Gore is smiling.

Guess Who Won't Show Up In Spider-Man 4?

One of these beloved characters is coming back for Spider-Man 4, the other will have to spend the remainder of their days sucking the blood to regain their pale beauty off-set.

Take A Tour Of 9's Post-Apocalyptic Stronghold

Take a deeper look inside the post apocalyptic animated movie 9, produced by Tim Burton. This detailed look at the rag dolls' throne room shows what scraps human culture will survive past our extinction at the hands of feral machines

Virtuality Is More Like An Indie Movie Than A Space-Opera

We chatted with Michael Taylor about the two-hour Virtuality movie that he brought to life with Ronald D. Moore. We cleared up rumors about the plight of this series, and ventured into virtual world of the cutest crew member.

4 Authors We Wish Would Return To Science Fiction

Some of our favorite science fiction authors appear to have left SF behind, after creating stories that live with us forever. We asked Nicola Griffith, Karen Joy Fowler, Samuel R. Delany and Mary Doria Russell why they left the genre.

Giant Jellyfish Swarms Off The Coast Of Japan

Just when you thought it was safe. Overfishing and human activities have led to jellyfish growth all over the world. And not just in population; this jellyfish, found off of the coast of Japan, is almost 5 feet across.

Never Before Seen Ghostbusters Behind The Scenes Shots
A glorious collection of Ghostbusters stills and set pics have been released, showing the painstaking care that went into crafting the movie's devil-dogs and ghouls.

The Dumbest Holodeck Episodes Of All Time
It's a terrible cliche - the television episode where our intrepid hero goes inside the cyber-world and things start going terribly wrong. Star Trek owns the holographic disaster story, with its litany of holodeck mishaps, but plenty other shows have gone there.

What It Would Take For New Firefly?
What does Dollhouse's second season have to do with Firefly? According to TV By The Numbers, more than you may expect. And, if you follow their logic, it may even mean that we could see new Firefly on our screens.

Peek At Your Favorite Super-Characters' Off-Duty Lives
It's not just Doctor Octopus' secret that's out; photographer Ian Pool's series of images, Super, offers off-duty shots of Batman, Hulk, Darth Vader and even Wonder Woman, indulging in something a little something you wouldn't expect from an Amazon Princess.

The Feel Of An Explosion At His Back Moves J.J. Abrams To Song
The MTV Movie Awards actually managed to make my little black heart laugh with this musical gem. Host Andy Samberg joined a Neil Diamond-clad Will Ferrell, and sang how, "Cool Guys Don't Look At Explosions."

The 5 Science Fiction Tales That Made Us Love Virtual Reality
For almost as long as there has been science fiction, there's been virtual reality, teaching us about worlds inside machines before we even knew what the internet was.

Virtual Sex: Cheating or Not?
You've asked yourself this question 1000 times. When you put on your virtual dolphin suit and do terrible things to that giant squid in your favorite virtual world, does your spouse have the right to be angry?

The Old Republic MMO Trailer Displays The Proper Way To Fillet A Jedi
BioWare's beautiful Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO trailer shows us exactly why the dark side is so attractive. Watch a team of highly skilled assassins mow down a flock of Jedi.

Kick-Ass Scenes That Are In Trailers, But Aren't In The Movies
Check out this Star Trek TV spot - notice something that wasn't in the movie?

Original Star Trek Boss Doesn't Like The Enterprise's New Pilots
The man who gave the greenlight to the original Star Trek has finally seen J.J. Abrams' reboot, and he's almost impressed... if only it wasn't for those damn actors.