Looking for psychological military science fiction? Read about the adventure of veteran Brendan Murphy as he tries to keep peace between Earth and a mysterious alien race known as the Sabia. Read the Fallen series today! I’m currently working on the fourth and final book. Please remember to leave a review once you are done. Reviews are the lifeblood of independent creators
Science Fiction Gems of the Forgotten Past
Past great science fiction shows like Star Trek paved the way for many television adventures amongst the stars and technology. However, while shows like Babylon 5 and the X-Files are well known, others have been forgotten. In the interest of broadening people’s horizons not only with my books and other independent works, here’s a list of forgotten sci-fi TV shows and where to watch them.
Project U.F.O.
Where to Watch: YouTube
Dragnet creator and actor Jack Webb made Project U.F.O. (1978-1979), and it showed as this program was a detective series. For each episode, Webb took a case from the Air Force’s Project Blue Book UFO investigation program and fictionalized it. The show stars two Air Force investigators who go around trying to solve what really occurred. The show emphasizes the difference between what people interpret and what was real. Debunking was the overall theme of the show, and some UFO believers hate Project U.F.O. because they view it as pro-government propaganda.
seaQuest DSV
Where to Watch: Xumo (Free with Ads), Peacock, Apple TV
The first season of seaQuest DSV (1993-1996) was the closest we have gotten to hard science fiction on television in a long time. The show’s premise was that countries would try to extract underwater resources in 2018, due to the depletion of land-based resources. Each episode would finish with a short bit on a marine science subject. Then, seasons two and three happened. Aliens, genetically engineered super soldiers, time travel, and other sci-fi tropes were introduced. Stick to season one.
Space: Above & Beyond
Where to Watch: YouTube
Space: Above & Beyond (1995-1996) was such an odd show that produces powerful reactions in those who know about it. On one hand, the show, which took place in 2063, featured realistic geopolitics of countries still being a thing and the U.S. Marines organically developing into a space force. Then it threw in things like a main character going AWOL with no repercussions and the chain of command being frequently ignored when soldiers took votes on what to do. However, at its core, it was about green soldiers becoming veterans as humanity went to war with the first alien race it encountered.
Earth 2
Where to Watch: YouTube
Earth 2 (1994-1995) took place in a 2192 where the Earth is dying and most people live on space stations. A lethal disease was claiming the lives of many children, with it being suspected that the artificial atmosphere of space stations was at fault. A billionaire organizes an expedition to a far-off planet hoping it can be colonized. However, the ship crash landed on the far side of the planet, so the expedition had to make their way on foot, encountering a strange alien world. What I found refreshing was the story’s emphasis on family, with the billionaire father character being depicted as loving and not evil.
Wild Palms
Where to Watch: Roku (Free with Ads)
Wild Palms (1993) mini-series captured the Hollywood zeitgeist of post-Cold War paranoia, VR technology, and powerful, shadowy religious movements. A far-right senator, who was also leader of a thinly veiled stand-in for the Church of Scientology, was developing VR technology for a secret purpose while also running for president, and the only person who could stop him was Jim Belushi. Wild Palms was a sort of Twin Peaks that didn’t dissolve into absolute oddballness. It probably would have been better known if the X-Files didn’t come out right after it.
Honorable Mentions: V and Alien Nation started off as movies but the television shows are good in their own right.
Dishonorable Mention: Earth: Final Conflict. So much wasted potential, with some of the themes working their way into the Fallen series. However, the show runners kept firing actors when they wanted to be paid more, and the writers had to change multiple story lines accordingly. Only one actor remained constant in the five seasons of the show, and he wasn’t the main actor.
Yearly AI Promise Renewal
This is a renewal of my promise to you, my readers. I will never use AI generated text in my fiction. The only time I will use AI generated text in my non-fiction is in a “I asked an AI program X and it said Y” context. As for AI generated images, I will use them for illustrations of free very short and short fiction. However, I will always label AI generated images.
My stories may not put me amongst the greats of the genre, but they are my stories. That’s more than what a person who uses AI prompts to ghostwrite stories can say.
Other Independent Book Promotions
Free Sci-Fi & Fantasy Reads - Books Giveaway
Futuristic Canada - An anthology for $3.99 or free on Kindle Unlimited
Canada is a land known for polite people and poutine, but don’t be fooled. Canada is as diverse as is it vast. From an apocalyptic future to genetically designed children gone bad, from librarians trained in the martial arts to sentient bookshops using spell books to increase sales; this collection of speculative fiction was inspired by the cities, wilderness, and rich cultural diversity which makes Canada great. Sit back, relax, and get your alien-blaster ready, as you experience a Futuristic Canada.
Whoever said Canlit was boring‽
Featuring stories from: Timothy Carter - Jen Frankel- Mathias Jansson - Andrew Jensen - JF Garrard - Ira Nayman - Helen Power - Frederick Charles Melancon - Christine Rains - Melissa Small - Ryan Toxopeus - Paul Williams - Melissa Yuan-Innes
Novaflight by T.L. Ryder - Book for Sale for $3.99 and Free on Kindle Unlimited
Super-team Space Adventure
A brand new Spec Ops ship with a brand new crew. Same old enemy-- biomechanical insects that make spare parts out of everything they come across. Where did they come from? Renaud doesn't know, doesn't care. He's got a job to do and a raw but talented crew to help him do it. This crew rotation Renaud is getting way more than he bargained for. His personal motto of "don't get attached"? Right. Turns out he'll have to care about a lot of people and things, or no one's going to survive.
Devin wants to save the galaxy-- and escape an arranged marriage.
Veris wants to use her piloting skills to earn money for school.
Kerai just needed a new job, and one where she gets to shoot things for a living is perfect.
Jareth wants to keep his bro Devin out of trouble while getting into plenty of his own.
Renaud? Another day, another battle. And as always, secrets to keep and unexpected connections.
Join the crew of the Destrier as they try to save the universe, one suicide mission at a time.
The Seven Ravens: A Fairy Tale Retelling (Modern Tales of Old) by Maria Caiazza - Book for 99 cents.
Heidi thought her life was perfect until she overheard a rumor about her missing brothers. Left to wonder whether she deserved the respect she received all along, she decides to find a way to rescue her long-lost siblings. She must choose who to trust in a world of living fantasy and cruel gods. Will she save her raven-cursed brothers, or is something else waiting for her in the castle at the top of the world?
Beast Be Gone by A L Billington - Free Book
Creatures in your basement? Undead spooking your castle? Infestation of goblins? Beast Be Gone will clear out those pesky pests and save your health and business - (no dragons)
Adventurers rampage across the land, stealing everything from bread rolls to ancient heirlooms, slaughtering countless innocent monsters in their hunt for glory.
Eric, the owner of Beast Be Gone pest control, knows that most creatures can be removed with a bit of repellent, however, the adventurers want to do things the flashy way; blowing up half of the dungeon with fireballs in the process.
With no work left, Eric is broke and desperate. That is until a young woman equipped with mechanical gadgets becomes his apprentice. Together they uncover the mystery of a diabolical plot that answers the timeless questions about adventuring...
Why are there so many Chosen Ones? Are goblins inherently evil or are they just misunderstood? Why do all the shopkeepers say they have the best swords in the land? What are the socio-economic implications of all these sword merchants?
Somebody wants a world full of adventurers, but why...?
Until Next Time
Next time, I will feature My Interview on I Might Believe in Faeries podcast where I discuss aliens & religion and objective thinking on the topic.
As always, please leave a comment with any questions, reviews, thoughts, whatever about Fallen, Risen, Dormition, An Odd Pilgrimage, The Savannah Paranormal Detective Agency or whatever else I have discussed. I promise to reply!
some gems I had forgotten about
Man there was a time when we’re making incredible shows.