Category Archives: Solar Sci-Fi

Solar Sci-Fi, Space films and videos

Videos: More Sci-fi short films at DUST

Here are some recent additions to the collection of sci-fi short films at DUST – “sci fi videos and visions of the future” (see also this earlier posting):

** Wire Cutters:

“Wire Cutters” – Writer / Producer / Director: Jack Anderson www.jackanders.com/

A chance encounter proves fateful for 2 robots mining on a desolate planet.

** 9 Minutes:

‘9 Minutes’ – by P.J. WOLFF

9 Minutes is a tense science fiction thriller set in the middle of the desert.  As this darkly atmospheric short progresses, this man and his dog are paid by a visit by unwelcome extraterrestrial guests.  The encounter is sudden and terrifying.  When the man comes to, he is unnerved by the footage captured by his phone.

The man tries to go about his business and move on but there is something irreversibly wrong with his dog after the encounter.  Watch the short for yourself to find out what happened.

Dust loves the director’s resourceful use of one location, one actor, spare CGI, and patient suspense building.  The short stars Joshua Leonard of “The Blair Witch Project” fame, who finds himself ensnared in yet another terrifying experience. 

** Never Happened:

“Never Happened” a new film by Mark Slutsky  markslutsky.com

When colleagues Laura and Grady have an impulsive fling on a business trip, they decide it might be for the best if it all just never happened.

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DUST is the first multi-platform destination for binge watchable sci-fi. We feature science fiction short films and other content from emerging filmmakers with stunning visual effects, captivating plots and complex character explorations. Robots, aliens, space exploration, technology, and human experience are all a part of DUST. Explore, subscribe and follow for more:

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Solar Sci-Fi, Space books, Space Settlement

Stephen Hawking on why humans should go to space + Arthur C. Clarke reads an excerpt from 2001: A Space Odyssey

Stephen Hawking wrote an afterword to the new book How to Make a Spaceship: A Band of Renegades, an Epic Race, and the Birth of Private Spaceflight and it is reprinted here: I think the human race has no future if it doesn’t go to space – The Guardian. He talks about his experience of weightlessness aboard the ZERO G parabolic flight aircraft and about why he believes space development and settlement is so important.

I believe in the possibility of commercial space travel – for exploration and for the preservation of humanity. I believe that life on Earth is at an ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as a sudden nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus, or other dangers. I think the human race has no future if it doesn’t go to space. We need to inspire the next generation to become engaged in space and in science in general, to ask questions: What will we find when we go to space? Is there alien life, or are we alone? What will a sunset on Mars look like?

My wheels are here on Earth, but I will keep dreaming. It is my belief, and it is the message of Julian Guthrie’s book, for which I have written the afterword, that there is no boundary of human endeavour. Raise your sights. Be courageous and kind. Remember to look up at the stars and not at your feet. Space, here I come!

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Here is a reading by Arthur C. Clarke from a section of his book 2001: A Space Odyssey, which is his version of the story told in the movie: Hear Arthur C. Clarke Read 2001: A Space Odyssey: A Vintage 1976 Vinyl Recording | Open Culture

Mars, Solar Sci-Fi, Space TV

Videos: National Geographic’s MARS series premiers in November

The National Geographic Channel‘s MARS mini-series, directed by Ron Howard, will debut in the US on Nov. 14 and Nov. 13 internationally. The program consists of a drama about the settlement of the Red Planet plus interviews with a diverse array of experts on Mars, space technologies and space science. The 21 interviewees include, for example, Andy Weir, author of The Martian: A Novel, Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

Here are two trailers released to promote the series:

 

Find more about the program at

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Solar Sci-Fi, Space TV

Videos: Star Trek’s 50th anniversary

50 years ago today the first episode of Star Trek was broadcast on network TV. Here is a documentary from the Smithsonian about the Star Trek show and cultural phenomenon:

[ Update: See also this new Smithsonian program (its embedding is disabled) about Star Trek and the technologies that it has inspired.]

Fan made versions of Star Trek have greatly improved in production quality and story making over the years. This is especially true of the Star Trek Continues series, whose episodes often include recognizable professional actors.

Here are some episodes in the Star Trek Continues video collection, including Embracing the Winds, just released this week:

Multiple media, Solar Sci-Fi

Video: Sci-fi short films via DUST

Check out the new digital channel called DUST – “sci fi videos and visions of the future”. They aim “to become the destination for premium sci-fi content”.

Lots of sci-fi short films at Dust – YouTube. Here, for example, is one called Telescope:

The short follows a cosmic archaeologist who travels backwards in time to capture photos of Earth’s brighter days.  The other character is a charming astronomer who gazes back up at the stars and considers the Earth’s future.

See also Dust on Facebook.

Here is a DUST promotional video: