Every now and again, science fiction and fantasy throw me for a loop.

Here are a list of convictions that Sci Fi and Fantasty have forced upon me by useful tactic of blowing my mind.

1. District 9 - Humans are more likely to put aliens in slums and steal their technology and their children than treat them humanely. Aliens, unless you can prove really, really convlusively that you are superior to us, don't come here. We'll screw you over.

2. The Sparrow- If we discover life on another planet, the Jesuits will be the first humans to make landfall. No need for wrangling, a large budget, and an instinctive desire to explore. “For the greater glory of God” covers just about anything.

3. So You Want to Be a Wizard- The entirety of the universe is described within the pages of a book- it is the operating manual and hard drive for everything that ever way and ever will be.

4. Sandman- Women in groups of three are one of the organizing forces of the universe. Fear them, and under no circumstances piss them off.

5. Harry Potter- When you don’t care about the characters anymore, it’s time to stop reading.

Note to Self

ANGIER Pleased to meet you, Mr. Ackerman.
ACKERMAN Likewise, I'm sure. Let's get on,
shall we? Angier smiles.
CUTTER (down to stage) Turn it on, please.
After a moment, the machine SPARKS INTO LIFE. ELECTRIC BOLTS CASCADE from the GLOBE and SPLASH on the stage.
ACKERMAN Very pretty.
Angier smiles at Cutter and head back down the stage. he STEPS himself into the machine and DISAPPEARS.
The machine SPUTTERS out and is silent.
ACKERMAN (CONT'D) That's it, Cutter? He simply
disappears? That's not a trick. He has to come back. There has to be a-
VOICE (O.S.)a Prestige?
ACKERMAN
Exactly- Ackerman begins to turn around- then STOPS- ANGIER IS STANDING DIRECTLY BEHIND HIM. Ackerman is dumfounded. He looks back down at the stage.
Anckerman
steadies himself;
ANGIER Are you interested in helping us?
ACKERMAN
(nods) Yes. But you'll have to dress it up a little. Disguise it. Give them enough reason to doubt it.
(quiet, Pardon me.
ACKERMAN (CONT'D) haunted) It's very rare to see...
real magic. since I've seen...


I would very much like to read a story someone wrote about the last time Ackerman saw real magic before Angier.