Since Retro we've loved Sy-Fy

Before my Hub on Retro Writing.

On a sad note - I know this is the anniversary of the planes crashing into the Twin Towers in New york city. My heart grieves to this day for the families of the fallen and those who lost their lives on that fateful morning. When anniversaries of this magnitude come around, internet sites and television stations around the world honor those brave who never saw another day. I remember vividly where I was on that day and what I saw on TV in living color. The constant reminder of such an atrocity is more than I can bear to watch every year. Call me too sentimental or just a wimp, I care not, I know what happened on that day and I can never get those scenes out of my head. Just like the day the world lost the crew of he shuttle Challenger. When I saw those seven astronauts lose their lives on national TV, my eyes filled with tears, as did the nations, and to this day they still do remembering that tragic event. I will always mourn for the loss of lives and never forget, and I pray the families of those fallen can one day find solace and comfort knowing they died for a reason, be it a heinous one or not. And one more memorial to those heroes will not bring them back. So, if you don't mind, I'll try to take my mind off those tragic events by a bit of light writing. And maybe you can find solace as I do, with the telling of a happy, light-hearted, 'fluff piece' instead.

According to Wikipedia - The word "retro" derives from the Latin prefix retro, meaning "backwards, or in past times". It is the conscious derivative or imitation of trends, modes, fashions, or attitudes of the recent past. It generally implies a vintage of at least fifteen or twenty years.

Since the early forties and fifties, that's the 1840's and 50's folks, the nation has been consumed with the notion of fantastic adventures, be it in outer space, or deep in the oceans. And since those times, some 170 retro years have come and gone. But the writing for such adventures have stayed with us. Why? Well, If you ask a big Sy-Fy geek like myself, its because everyone likes a good adventure. To conquer evil and save the world - or the girl next door who you've always loved - same thing. But be it for romance or not, the role of the hero and the outlandish have stayed with human culture for more years then I've been alive. And when you think of the number of books written in this genre, with this type of scenario, your mind can't seem to cope with its scope. The concept of aliens coming to Earth and conquering the world has been around well before H.G. Wells first wrote the War of the Worlds. Writings in the genre of science fiction and fantasy have been capturing the imagination of people for decades, and will for decades to come. And the adaptations for these writings have been prolific. In 1897 it was first published in a serialized form. Being, a part of the novel was published in a quarterly book, then later the other parts. And in the 1930's, it was broadcast over the radio as a drama series, Mercury Theater on the air, narrated by then future actor/director Orson Welles, in which it caused a mass panic throughout the part of the country which heard it. It was considered a scandalized performance because of the news bulletin-like broadcast it was performed in. And that wasn't the only adaptation to the silver screen. In 2005 another adaptation was performed on the big screen with actor Tom Cruise, centering around the patriarch of a family and what he does to keep his family alive, instead of centering around the invasion itself. On and on it goes. Writers and screen writers alike have used this material for their own works.

From monsters to sea creatures, writers have been delivering the goods for years. Classic science fiction writer Jules Verne also delivered one of the best horror books to come around in his time, and to this day its still considered one of the best. In 1870 he published 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, first introducing Captain Nemo and the submarine Nautilus to the world. And to this day, many adaptations have been done on the work. From writings, to revisions, to poster art, to the silver screen. One of the first movies, directed by Stuart Patton, was a silent film production in 1916. Also in 1954, directed by Richard Fleischer, produced by Walt Disney (of all people), and the best adaptation to the big screen in my opinion, still one of my favorites, starring legendary actor Kirk Douglas.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. For years science fiction has been delivering people's imagination to the stars and below our feet. The legendary producer Gene Roddenberry put on the air one of the most prolific and fan-based series ever seen in the 1960's; Star Trek. In its episodes you can see many of the 'futuristic' devises on the show, which are in fact, real today. Science fiction writers have fueled not only the imagination of other writers, but have fueled the expansion of the modern age.

Here are just a few of the written works that have been changed, adapted, rewritten, and/or put on the silver screen. And to tell you the truth, I don't think these will be the last. 170 years just isn't enough time for Retro to be popular. Who knows, in another 170 years, your book may be talked about and adapted the same way. 'Live Long and Prosper."

Creature from the Black Lagoon - 1954. The movie monsters performance was affectionately referred to as the 'Man in the Rubber Suit'. it went on to be placed in the American Movie Hall of Fame alongside such legendary pictures as The Werewolf, Frankenstein, and the Mummy.

Gulliver's Travels - 1726, by Jonathan Swift. This is one book which has been adapted for every medium one could think about; radio, TV, books, cartoons, posters, and videos. Its considered one of the greatest works of fiction to have ever been written.

Forbidden Planet - 1956, movie adaptation, 1957. It was the first introduction to the world, of a life sized humanoid robot, one of the most famous robots in cinematic history, Robby the Robot.