National Science Fiction Day


National Science Fiction Day is unofficially celebrated by many science fiction fans in the United States on January 2, which corresponds with the official birthdate of famed science fiction writer Isaac Asimov.
While not a federally-recognized holiday, National Science Fiction Day is recognized by organizations such as the Hallmark Channel and by the Scholastic Corporation. It is also listed in the National Day Calendar.

Suggestions for Celebrating National Science Fiction Day

For those looking to celebrate National Science Fiction Day, here are some recommended books, films, TV series, and games that explore science fiction themes:

Books

  • Fahrenheit 451 – A novel by Ray Bradbury which explores the dangers of censorship through the outlawing and burning of books in a dystopian society.
  • Foundation - A series of novels by Isaac Asimov focused on how trends in society impact the health of nations, written through the fall and rebirth of the Galactic Empire.
  • The Past Through Tomorrow - A collection of short-stories, novellas, and novels by Robert A. Heinlein, connected by plot and in-universe technological advancements to form theFuture History storyline.
  • Kindred - A novel by Octavia E. Butler about a young African-American woman who inadvertently time travels repeatedly to an early 19th-century plantation, surviving the hardships of slavery to return to her own time of 1976.

    Movies

  • Blade Runner – Based off the book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick, human-like androids develop memories and challenge the themes of artificial intelligence and humanity.
  • Blade Runner 2049 – A sequel to the original film, expanding on the philosophical questions about AI and identity.*
  • The Matrix – A classic film franchise about virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and the human struggle for freedom.
  • Alien – A sci-fi horror film series that also delves into AI themes, particularly in the films Prometheus and Covenant.

    TV Shows

  • Westworld – A TV series that examines the ethical implications of artificial intelligence and consciousness in a futuristic theme park.
  • Black Mirror – An anthology TV series exploring dystopian futures and the dark side of technological advancements.
  • Love, Death & Robots – An animated anthology series that features stories about futuristic worlds, AI, and human nature.
  • Cyberpunk: Edgerunners – An anime series set in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe, focusing on cybernetic enhancements and the dangers of corporate control.
  • Stargate: SG-1 - Science fiction TV series that catalogues the travels of an Air Force team tasked with uncovering the secrets behind an alien piece of technology.

    Video Games

  • Cyberpunk 2077 – An open-world role-playing game set in a dystopian future where cybernetic enhancements are commonplace.
  • Detroit: Become Human – An interactive narrative game exploring the ethical dilemmas of sentient artificial intelligence.