Earthbound or Spacebound Scifi?

[Miss Chicken]

I prefer science fiction that is set on Earth rather than in space or on other planets. This is especially true when it comes to literature but less so when it come to TV shows or films.

Do you have a preference for one or the other?

 

[Hermiod]

Spacebound preferably for me.

 

[Hyperspace05]

Spacebound or else-where bound is my preference for sure...

I seek out Sci-Fi for new possibilities, new experiences. I get plenty of earth-bound stories elsewhere.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I should explain my preferences further.

I like earthbound stories that deal with a) time travel b) cataclysm c) contact or invasion by aliens d) the distant futures e) alternative histories f) parallel Earths.

 

[RAMA]

I like both, but its sad we don't have more fully realized space adventure universes to explore...like Man-Kzin, Ringworld, Hyperion, Foundation, Galactic Center, et al.

RAMA

 

[Red Ranger]

Both. My only top criteria is that either setting have good stories. I just finished a collection of short stories and novellas dedicated to the "New Space Opera" style, and there were many types of settings they explored, in deep space and on Earth.

 

[Theonethatis]

Spacebound or Cyberpunk

 

[Roshi]

I like a well told tale, whether it be earthbound or spacebound, well it's just wallpaper.

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

No real preference either. Space operas are fascinating, but I also happen to enjoy near-future stuff set on Earth, alternate history and similar scenarios. When it comes to reading novels, I constantly switch between the two without much thinking.

I guess it's a bit different with movies and TV. Cost-effectiveness often leads Earthbound stories to be set in the present day. And I often find the present to be quite boring (with a few exceptions like "Lost"), so space operas might have a slight edge here. But as long as Earthbound stories are not set in "our" familiar world (= the future, alternate realities, time travel etc.) I have no preference.

Most important to me are: Plot, characters, consistent world-building, sound science (unless it starts to resctrict the plot too much).

 

[Lt. Trull]

Earthbound, Spaceborne, fantasy land's... doesn't matter as long as it takes me away from freekin reality....

 

[bigdaddy]

Odyssey 5 is one of my favorite shows ever and takes place on Earth.

it depends, if it's good or not. Just make good sci-fi and I'm happy.

 

[Starbreaker]

Judging by my top 10, it's definitely spacebound. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis is my favorite book set on Earth, though.

 

[Andrew_Kearley]

Yeah, I'm not fussed as long as the stories are engaging, and the characters interesting. Or to put it another way, I like "UFO" and "Space: 1999" in equal measure.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Space! Space!

I'm sick of all the Earth-based sci fi on TV.

 

[Caliburn24]

Space. It frees the story from the confines of Earthly dictates.

 

[Hober Mallow]

As long as the show/movie is competently written, I really don't care where it's set.

 

[Trent Roman]

I'd evince a preference for a space setting, mostly because, as I was saying in the other thread, I'm a worldbuilding junkie and that setting generally gives you more opportunities to do so. Of course, the dearth of spatial sci-fi compared to earth-bound sci-fi at the moment may also be influencing me at the moment.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[jefferiestubes8]

I prefer science fiction that is set on Earth rather than in space or on other planets.
Do you have a preference for one or the other?

I enjoy both. I'll speak for a movie as a TV series is a lot harder to get off the ground.

I think it is harder to create an Earthbound scifi movie.
You have films that are set in the future on Earth like:
Demolition Man (1993) [set in 2032]
Total Recall (1990) [set in 2084]
Minority Report (2002) [set in 2054]
The Island (2005) [set in 2019]
Artificial Intelligence: AI (2001) ['Set sometime in the future']
Surrogates (2009) [set in 2054]
2010 (1984)
Back to the Future Part II (1989) [set in 2015]
Soylent Green (1973) [set in 2022]
The Fifth Element (1997) [set in 23rd century]
Starship Troopers (1997) ['In the distant future']
THX 1138 (1971) [a future]
Westworld (1973) & Futureworld (1976) [set sometime in the near future]
Gattaca (1997) [“the not-so-distant future” - probably 2050-75 or so...]
any of the Star Trek feature films or Trek series episodes set on Earth except STIV:TVH.

They have all had to create many aspects of a future including wardrobe, daily-use technology, transportation, communication, enviromental pollution, cityscape, computer.

It is surely much easier to create a film set on a spaceship where everything is entirely controlled and not everything needs to be shown as a believable future on Earth.

 

[Mistral]

I'll take either. Just give me a good tale....

 

[The Wormhole]

While Earthbound can at times have its merits, I do prefer spacebound.