Features

Every once in a while, we have things come through the Inter Galaxy Portal, space flotsam and jetsam if you will, that doesn't quite "fit". It might belong to several categories, or none at all. For instance, where would you put a piece on tried and true science fiction plots (yes, that one is in the pipeline)? That's what the features page is for. Enjoy!

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry: The First Lady of Star trek

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry has acted as ambassador and first lady of Trekdom for over 40 years. We look at some of the ways that she has helped contribute to the show.

If You Liked Twilight You Might Like This

Let’s face it, right now; the world seems to have Twilight fever. If you're left wondering what now, consider this: Before Bella and Edward, there were a few other vampire stories that are definitely worth checking out!

Team Portal Watches: Star Wars Holiday Special

The Star Wars Holiday Special is notoriously awful television. George Lucas has stated that if he had the time, he'd hunt down every single copy of it and destroy it. Well, there was one copy that he didn't manage to hunt down, and thus the intrepid Team Portal reports on their experience of the Star Wars Holiday Special.

The best and Worst Tried and True Science Fiction Plots

You know the plots. You can even predict how it’ll turn out because you’ve seen it before. This is science fiction junk food for the brain. What follows is some of the best (or worst) of the tried and true (or tired and trodden) science fiction staples.

Dear Network Executive: Scott Peters V Re-Make or Why can’t Hollywood be a little more original?

Nicki here again, mouthing off as usual. This time due to a rumour flooding the internet that creator and executive producer of The 4400, Scott Peters is adapting a new version of the 1980’s lizard invasion series, V, for ABC.

Dear Network Executive: A Letter Regarding Cancelled Shows and Outdated Ratings Systems

As I’m writing this, Heroes premiered yesterday on NBC. As it happens, Sarah Connor Chronicles is on Fox at the same time. Hmm… what a conundrum….that would have been, many, many years ago. But today’s viewers are extremely savvy, and yet quality shows like the 4400 have been given the axe due to an outdated ratings system.

Team Portal Watches: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Fringe

Well kids, it’s fall again, which means a lot of new shows to watch and some returning favourites, too. Nicki and Rob decided that this called for a special, fall season edition of Team portal Watches.

Women and Science Fiction

Science fiction as a genre has truly shown me what women are capable of. Women can be fighters as well as mothers; they can be world leaders; they can be intellectuals; they can be superheroes. So why do some women steer away from science fiction?

Team Portal Watches: Batman (1966)

This new regular feature has the newly formed Team portal, consisting of plucky young publisher Nicki and co-publisher, Rob watching, and for your reading pleasure, doing a running commentary of movies. What kinds of movies? All kinds. But for our first mission, with Dark Knight fever, we decided to check out the original Batman movie from 1966, starring Adam West and Burt Ward.

15 Dystopic Futures We Hope Won't Happen

Here's our list of the top 15 (technically 16) dystopic movies, in no particular order. Yes, we realise that there is a lot we haven't mentioned, but most movies take at least their basic premise from these 15. Please note, SPOILERS ahead. You have been warned...