tradition does point to extremes, as you point out here:
-> There's also the point that the milieu of cyberpunk isn't really
-> futuristic...except for the technology. A world in which a tiny minority
-> live lives of unparallelled luxury, surrounded by obscene wealth, while the
-> vast majority spend their lives in perpetual poverty and living at the
-> sufferance of the Powers That Be....is essentially what life has been like
-> in most parts of the world throughout most of history.
In a world, as it is. There does seem to be a trend towards a permanent
underclass which is expanding. What I'd like to see is stories about a future
world where there is LESS of the underclass (say, those who make less than
10.00 an hour) and an EXPANSION of jobs which takes skills and are more
rewarding. The test of ANY CIVILIZATION, I would submit, is HOW WELL it treats
the poor and how much it works to ratchet UPWARD those at the low end. Wealth,
per se, is not an arbitrary evil and needs to be spread around a bit more.
I'm no socialist nor a communist because those are poor ways to achieve social
justice but in science fiction, why not an entirely new form of democratic
political system wherein the economic "realities" are more humane??
--- PCBoard 15.2
* Origin: 32 lines 40 Gig BBS, Realtime InterNet SLIP (403)299-9900 (1:134/10)
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Msg : 31 of 158
From : ROBERT LIDGREN 1:134/10 .pд 21 .юн 95 18:07
To : ALL
Subj : SLIDERS FAQ EXTRACT
ДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДД
THE LATEST ON SLIDERS ---> FROM THE FAQ
Well, if this baby HAS BEEN RENEWED, there are undoubtedly many out there who
have further interests in the show. Here are a few extracts from the SLIDERS
FAQ (latest version).
If any of you fine fellow travellers in SFFAN would like me to post the WHOLE
Sliders FAQ,
send me a message here or at my internet address:
robert.lidgren@bbs.logicnet.com
----------------------
SLIDERS FAQ EXTRACT
----------------------
10. Where is Sliders Filmed?
Sliders is primarily filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, although a
few establishing exterior shots have been filmed in San Francisco and
on the University of California at Berkeley campus.
Most studio work is done in Vancouver at the studio where M.A.N.T.I.S.
was filmed.
12.3 USENET NEWSGROUPS:
* alt.tv.sliders
* alt.tv.sliders.creative
* rec.arts.sf.tv
* alt.history.what-if
* alt.parallel.universes
12.4 SLIDERS MAILING LIST:
A Sliders discussion list has been created by Alicia Mowlai-Ashtiani
(mowlaial@ucunix.san.uc.edu) for the purpose of discussing the
series. Because a member of the Sliders production staff is expected
to subscribe to this list, please do not post suggested or possible
storylines or they may become the property of St. Clare
Entertainment.
To subscribe to this mailing list, send a message to the address
majordomo@stargame.org and in the body of the message type
"subscribe sliders" without the quotes and without your name.
13. Where do I send fan mail?
13.1 FAN MAIL CAN BE SENT TO THE CAST AND CREW OF SLIDERS IN CARE OF ST.
CLARE ENTERTAINMENT AT:
St. Clare Entertainment
Universal Studios
Building 506-A
100 Universal Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
13.2 FAN MAIL TO FOX BROADCASTING TELLING THEM HOW MUCH YOU ENJOY
WATCHING
SLIDERS EVERY WEEK CAN BE SENT TO:
Mr. John Matoian
Programming Executive
Fox Broadcasting Company
10201 West Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90035
13.3 FAN MAIL CAN ALSE BE SENT TO FOX BROADCASTING VIA E-MAIL AT:
sliders@delphi.com
_________________________________________________________________
14. Sliders News
16 JUNE 1995
Fox Broadcasting ordered thirteen new episodes of Sliders as a
mid-season replacement. The new episodes will begin filming in October
of 1995 with an expected air date of early 1996.
Congratulations to everyone who took the time to tell Fox that you
wanted to see more episodes of SLIDERS!
1 JUNE 1995
Fox announced that Sliders re-runs will be aired starting Sunday June
25th at 7PM (6PM Central.) Repeats will continue until a new series,
Space, takes over the timeslot in the fall. Fox also said "a
decision on Sliders as a fall backup is still pending."
This web page will be updated as more information becomes available.
15. Acknowledgements
My thanks to the following people who, in one way or another, helped
make this a better FAQ:
* Stewart M. Clamen (clamen@cs.cmu.edu)
* Brian Eirik Coe (bcoe@trumpet.aix.calpoly.edu)
* Ed Dravecky III (dsheldon@netcom.com)
* Ford A. Thaxton (FordaT@aol.com)
* Frank Garcia (fgarcia@direct.ca)
* Mitch Gold (goldm@rpi.edu)
* C. Daniel Kinser (70004.146@compuserve.com)
* Tim Lucas (lucast@etsu.east-tenn-st.edu)
* J. Brett Martinson (u9010521@muss.cis.mcmaster.ca)
* Will Mengarini (seldon@eskimo.com)
* David Playle (dplayle@ins.infonet.net)
* PromoGuy (!) (kokh@ionet.net)
* Scott W. Roby (roby@oswego.oswego.edu)
* Stephen Sisk (sjsisk@islandnet.com)
* Larry Trujillo (ltrujillo@cctr.umkc.edu)
* Robert K. Weiss (rkweiss@aol.com)
Yes, that Robert K. Weiss.
Thanks for everyone's comments, suggestions, and answers!
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright й 1995 by Ed Hall. All rights reserved.
This FAQ may be posted to any USENET newsgroup, on-line service, or
BBS as long as it is posted in its entirety and includes this
copyright statement. This FAQ may not be distributed for financial
gain. This FAQ may not be included in commercial collections or
compilations without the express written permission of the author.
Ed Hall (edhall@brillig.com)
--------------------------------------------------
END OF EXTRACT FROM SLIDERS FAQ
-------------------------------------------------
I didn't post the whole thing because I want some input first. Hope Ed Hall
doesn't send his
inter-demensional droogs to my house with knuckle busters!!
Do CONTACT ME if you want more of this. I am sensitive to what you like and
don't like. This is one of the very best groups anywhere on the Fidonet or
Internet (believe me, I've done enough "comparison shopping" to know what's
good).
All the best,
Robert Lidgren
robert.lidgren@bbs.logicnet.com
--- PCBoard 15.2
* Origin: 32 lines 40 Gig BBS, Realtime InterNet SLIP (403)299-9900 (1:134/10)
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Msg : 32 of 158
From : ROBERT LIDGREN 1:134/10 .pд 21 .юн 95 18:24
To : MARK JONES
Subj : CYBERPUNK AND OUR FUTURE
ДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДД
IN YOUR MESSAGE TO ME YOU SAID:
In that sense, cyberpunk fiction could be considered *optimistic* in
that the underclass have greater access to information and tools
(including weapons) than they ever did in the past. They have the
potential to either join TPTB, or to overthrow them.
REPLY:
I like this. Your assessment of the POWER the underclass get from technology
was a twist on things I had only considered peripherally. The nifty thing
about your whole message was that I could tell YOU'VE READ THE STUFF and
haven't JUST gleaned insights from TV and MOVIE Cyberpunk themes.
Neuromancer by William Gibson my now be a "classic" in the field but what is
also interesting is that Bill has decided to move on to other things. Have you
ever seen an interview with him? He's quite an interesting man, lean, funny
and a denizen of Vancouver, British Columbia too (yep, the very city where
X-Files and Sliders is filmed!!). Being from Calgary, Canada myself, it feels
good that American producers, casts and other creative talent seem to enjoy
working in my country. Too often we Canadaians feel inferior in terms of our
place in the world but it's great to see other appreciate us too. It's always
been a struggle living right next door to the United States but, what the heck,
we try! By the way, I'm not anti-American. That is a dumb approach and
attitude. I've travelled all over the States and in EVERY STATE I've met many
really terrific people with very similar goals, desires for the future and
concern for family and friends.
Legends of the Fall and The Unforgiven were both filmed just a few miles from
my house. It really is beautiful country here and I sometimes forget just how
good it is. The recent exchange rates have made Canada an EXCELLENT travel
destination for Americans. If you travel here you can buy Canadian dollars for
about 70 cents.
Who knows, if you visit Vancouver this summer, you might just see them filming
an episode of X-Files!
--- PCBoard 15.2
* Origin: 32 lines 40 Gig BBS, Realtime InterNet SLIP (403)299-9900 (1:134/10)
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Msg : 33 of 158
From : ROBERT LIDGREN 1:134/10 .ет 22 .юн 95 00:57
To : ALL
Subj : EARTH 2 MAILING LIST DETA
ДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДДД
I have been on the Earth2 Mailing list for a while and thought I should share
the following with you. This is a cross-post from the mailing list itself. It
tells how to get on and how to get off the mailing list and also a copy of the
guidelines IS INCLUDED.
Be forewarned that when you subscribe, you can expect
MANY messages on Earth 2!!
-----------------------------------------------------------
On Mon, 19 Jun 1995, Robert Lidgren wrote:
> Hi there! What is the command for subscribing to and unsubscribing from this
> list? I lost my log entry for these commands and have several people beating
> down the door for both items. I would very much appreciate your response to
> this request.
Robert,
To subscribe: send e-mail to majordomo@stargame.org
in message put subscribe earth2 <--- Exactly!
They will receive a how-to unsubscribe message that they should keep.
Many people get frustrated when they try to unsubscribe to the mailing
list and not the server. Also they get the address wrong and use .com
and not .org .
To unsubscribe: send e-mail to majordomo@stargame.org
in message put unsubscribe earth2
Here's a copy of the instructions I received when I first subscribed:
Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 22:02:53 GMT
From: Majordomo@stargame.org
Subject: Welcome to earth2
Reply-To: Majordomo@stargame.org
--
Welcome to the earth2 mailing list!
If you ever want to remove yourself from this mailing list,
you can send mail to "Majordomo@stargame.org" with the following
command in the body of your email message:
unsubscribe earth2
Here's the general information for the list you've
subscribed to, in case you don't already have it:
This list, , is the center for discussion
about the NBC television series EARTH 2....
Welcome to Earth 2! Watch out for Terrians, don't get in Devon's
way, and remember, *this* Yale is *not* your average cyborg!
The list is *very* loosely moderated with only two *absolutely*
enforced rules...
1) *NO* flames!!! We're going to disagree from time to time and
that's fine, but there's no need to get personal. If you
disagree with someone's opinion, feel free to state your
own...keeping in mind that *opinions*, by their very nature,
