WEEKLY WHINE

Only three votes for Krypton

Science fiction has been around as long as science and fiction. In that time, there have been many exciting novels, short stories, comic books, graphic novels, television serieses, films, and Youtube videos dealing with science fiction. There have also been many mediocre ones, and a great many craptacular ones. One need only view a random episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 to find a craptacular science fiction film.

But let’s not dwell on the craptacular now. Instead, let’s talk about the awesome. We asked you to suggest the most awesome planets in the history of science fiction, and we received thousands of suggestions. We had never heard of most of them, and in many cases, there was good reason for that. But some of them were actually interesting, and we thank you for opening our eyes to them.

So, stand back and don your aluminum foil hat as we open the GoobNet Mailbox.

And by the way, all you suckers who are wearing tin foil hats, those things totally don’t work. We’ve been reading your thoughts for years! Ha ha ha!

The best planet in scifi is the planet Vulcan. With its immense wilderness preserves and exciting mountain ranges, it is way ahead of all other planets.

– Ben Kalarnay
Donchester, England, UK

That could be, but in our poll, it lost points for its high gravity and thin atmosphere. It would just be too much work for us to visit there.

Trantor, from Isaac Asimov’s Foundation books, has got to be the most awesome planet in sci fi. Home to more than forty billion people, it is the capital of the First Galactic Empire. But it is itself comprised of hundreds of sectors, each of which has a population equivalent to a small world unto itself, and many of which have their own cultures. Trantor was even the inspiration for Coruscant, the capital of the Galactic Empire in Star Wars.

– Jana Walsh
St Petersburg, FL, USA

Trantor sure is awesome. In fact, we would go so far as to call it yeastacular.

The most awesome planet has to be Dagobah, home of Yoda. Filled with swamps and lush vegetation, it is a must visit location for anyone who seeks to understand the Force. Awesome this planet is.

– Kelly Darcowicz
Santa Fe, NM, USA

When in the wrong order do you speak your words... then, only then, a Jedi will you be.

Virgon, from Battlestar Galactica, is the most awesome planet ever. It is the bluest planet ever, owing to its massive deposits of anthracene, and its cultural refinement is second to none.

– James Forsters
Portland, OR, USA

Who could be against blue planets? Well, Leonans, perhaps.

McPluto, from Futurama, has to be so awesome. I can’t wait for their first episode about McPluto.

– Jed Fallerberg
Cassburg, IN, USA

McPluto was downgraded to a dwarf McPlanet in 3006. The most awesome planet in the Futurama universe is now Urectum.

I always had a soft spot for Ix, the machine planet of Frank Herbert’s Dune series. In addition to being the lead source of technology for the Imperium, it is also where the no-chamber and the Navigation Device were developed.

– DeWallace Karlara
Seawall, NJ, USA

It has come to our attention that this message actually came from the GoobNet No-Mailbox rather than the GoobNet Mailbox. We apologise for any misunderstanding.

Gallifrey is the most awesome sci-fi planet. There is no comparison. Burnt orange skies, an artificial black hole, vast mountain ranges, deep red grass, silver leafed trees. Who would not want to visit the Mountains of Solace and Solitude on the Continent of Wild Endeavour? Nobody, that’s who.

– Carrie Jones-Fogg
Tottenham, England, UK

And who wouldn’t want to take a swim in the River of Unbounded Sexual Frustration?

I don’t understand how you can choose any planet as the most awesome in sci-fi other than Melmac, home of ALF. What could be more awesome than its awe inspiring motto, “Are you going to finish that sandwich”?

– Chris Carringsworth
Daly City, CA, USA

Go away. And take your sandwich with you.