[calliefox]

Originally Posted by triox

Star Wars is in the high fantasy genre set in a science fiction setting.

Star Trek is in the science fiction genre.

Originally Posted by Capt Dunsel

Trek is Sci Fi and Star Wars is Fantasy. So long as you recognize that, you can enjoy both.

Originally Posted by Zardoz

Yes, and no. Both are sci-fi/Action Adventure. But Wars is patterned more after swashbuckling tales, and "Flash Gordon" style of Sci-Fi. The movies are fun.

I've got to run out the door now so I can't really respond to stuff, but I do want to point out that this style has not only a long tradition, but a name: space opera. Recognize.

[triox]

Originally Posted by Zardoz

But Wars is patterned more after swashbuckling tales, and "Flash Gordon" style of Sci-Fi. The movies are fun.

I don't think so. Here's why. You can change the setting of Star Wars to a Lord of the Rings fantasy setting easily. The Emperor = Sauron, Obi = Gandalf, Aragorn = Han and so on.

You couldn't put Star Trek in a LOTR setting easily.

[Zardoz]

Originally Posted by triox

I don't think so. Here's why. You can change the setting of Star Wars to a Lord of the Rings fantasy setting easily. The Emperor = Sauron, Obi = Gandalf, Aragorn = Han and so on.

You couldn't put Star Trek in a LOTR setting easily.

One could argue that LOTR is patterned after ancient Japeneese legends, or Gilgamesh. But I do see your point.

[NCC-73515]

Originally Posted by Zardoz

Yes, and no. Both are sci-fi/Action Adventure. But Wars is patterned more after swashbuckling tales, and "Flash Gordon" style of Sci-Fi. The movies are fun.

"We look at it as a different dimension. The laws of physics are different here. "Star Wars" is not science fiction at all. It's much more attuned to mythology, to psychology, to history than it is to science."

- George Lucas

[Zardoz]

Originally Posted by NCC-73515

- George Lucas

Thanks NCC! That seems to sum it up!

[chator]

Originally Posted by Capt Dunsel

In literature, the difference between Science Fiction and Fantasy is that a Sci Fi concept might not be practical or possible today - but it might be reasonable and normal some day as an EXTENSION of known science and engineering. Nothing in Sci Fi should loudly violate the laws of known physics - or at least not in a way that might some day be achieved. Fastasy, on the other hand, throws physics and reason to the wind and re-writes the rules of the world we live in whole cloth. Wizards and Elves and Hobbits and Witches/Wizards who attend boarding school. AND - spaceships that bank and do barrel rolls in space just like biplanes at 10,000 feet, "the Force", Emporers with lightning coming from their fingers, etc., etc.

Trek is Sci Fi and Star Wars is Fantasy. So long as you recognize that, you can enjoy both.

There is a huge difference between violating the laws of known current science - and violating the laws of physics. And that is where Science Fiction lives. And that is where Trek lives.

So what is Battlestar IYO?

[A-CollinsTWC]

Originally Posted by chator

So what is Battlestar IYO?

Battlestar Galactica (contemporary) still has a lot in common with Star Wars, but I really appreciated their visceral feel for space technology and combat.

Their human-styled Cylons did not make a lot of sense though... they came off as clones, but each individual cell was artificial? That was a bit confusing, not to mention that they Cylon "plan" seemed to be more about confusing the hell out of the watching audience rather than eliminating the human race.

All in all though, BSG had a lot in common with Babylon 5 which is arguably the Star Trek offshoot analog. Babylon 5, again, was more focused on believable aliens and technology... and it's focus on the human condition was how it would interact with extra-terrestrials.

All four are Space Operas. You just get to pick your flavoring. I prefer light-hearted and thoughtful... which usually leaves BSG sucking dust for me, even though it was a stellar series.

[FanWriter45]

And while we're at it:

Make "The Wizard of Oz" more like "Stargate SG-1" = "Tinman"

Let's make Dracula more like your senior prom = "Twilight"

Let's make Harry Potter more like the Addams Family = A Series of Unfortunate Events

Let's make The Seven Samurai more like Star Wars = Battle Beyond the Stars.

On second thought: let's just not, and say we did...

[Zardoz]

Originally Posted by FanWriter45

And while we're at it:

Make "The Wizard of Oz" more like "Stargate SG-1" = "Tinman"

Let's make Dracula more like your senior prom = "Twilight"

Let's make Harry Potter more like the Addams Family = A Series of Unfortunate Events

Let's make The Seven Samurai more like Star Wars = Battle Beyond the Stars.

On second thought: let's just not, and say we did...

Ok. I agree Fan, except for "Battle" it was patternmed after the Magnificent Seven, which was a western remake of Seven Samurai. (I'm just messing with you a bit...lol)

[Tribble-eater]

Star wars is to Star Trek
as Gomer Pyle is to Einstein