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Perfectsword wrote:

I learned those terms in 8th grade science. I mean, compared to alot of scifi shows, Planetes isn't pulling things out of the anus.

That's the beauty of hard science fiction: everything has a very hard, concrete grounding in modern science fact and theory. It becomes fiction by mainly taking things that are currently ideas or theories that are not capable of being implemented today, and running with them as if they have now been perfected or implemented.

In planetes, these are things such as the commercialisation of space travel, space resource development, and all the technology necessary. It doesn't make any fantastic tech leaps, but stays more with, "This is what we know is possible, but we can't do it yet due to things like cost factors. Let's take these things and see what life is like when these things are possible and implemented into normal life of a society."

That's the difference between science fiction and fantastic science fantasy. You get more realism, and thus another angle from which people can identify.

That's how I see it, that is.

ANother reason I love Planetes, is that they give much credit to us engineers. In that series, the heros are your techies and engineers who make things possible. It's the people with brains who are the stars, not necessarilly the people with brawn (though the people with bulk and little brains, like the debris section chief and assistant chief do play an important role later). because though we see that Ai Tanabe isn't the smartest woman on the block, she's plenty intelligent to do space work (which is quite difficult, and even if you're just collecting debris, takes a high level of technical skill and physics knowledge to be applied practically), and Hachi is very bright as is demonstrated throughout the series, along with the rest of the Toy Box crew (think episode 5 and creating the artificial gravity through a high speed roll along the ship's x-axis).

And even when considering that space workers are still wage slaves in Planetes, they're smart wage slaves, not just dumb muscle. I appreciate the nod towards those of us in technical fields such as engineering, etc.

Kruszer wrote:

After making my way through the second volume of Planetes earlier today it's quickly becomming one of my favorites. It's very much character driven which may turn some away but I personally enjoy these types of series the best. It also has the advantage of being very good and believable science fiction with lots of detailed attention payed to the physics and mechanics of space. Has anyone else seen or is currenty following it?

I first got the show after i saw it sitting in my local PX (Post extainge for you nonmilitary people Smile

) for good mounth and i never heard of it b4. So i picked it up and i love it. I really like the fact that it's not the typical Lets save the world or we have to beat this super bad guy or we have to uncover this huge mystery. BUt it's more about the every day job. it's very down to earth even thow it's in space, ironic isn't it? I totaly agree with ANN's decription of it's genra as "slice of life" And i really like the whole thing about Hachimaki and Tanabe, just to see how that ends up, I guess i'm just a romantic Smile

But over all i love it and i can't wait for the 3rd vol.

Planetes reminds me of Patlabor in a very good way. The blend of humor, slice of life, and SF blends very well for both series. The series did really well in sales on amazon.co.jp. I wonder if like Patlabor it will eventually be relatively more popular in Japan?

Last edited by Kruszer on Sun Jun 08, 2008 12:57 am; edited 1 time in total

I've haven't seen the Patlabor series however I have seen the 3 films which were varying degrees of good. I may check out the OVA series when my bank account has recovered from September's purchases.

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...commercialisation of space travel, space resource development, and all the technology necessary.

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It's the people with brains who are the stars, not necessarilly the people with brawn...

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...it's more about the every day job.

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...space workers are still wage slaves in Planetes, they're smart wage slaves...

I couldn't have said it better myself. These aspects of the story are what I find most appealling. Whenever I tell someone about Planetes I always tell them that debris section's job is crucial to 2075, just like garbage collection is today. It's the job you'd dream of having now but end up getting stuck with then. This show is quickly working its way to the top of my list.

actually, garbage collection isn't as necessary to us today as debris collection is to 2075. if we have to drive our trash to the dump to get rid of it, it won't kill us. however, in 2075, if debris isn't collected, then people could die because that debris wasn't picked up.

Garbage collection is a service that is nice, but not necessary. Debris collection is critical, but just as thankless Wink

.

I watched through Volume two, and I am impressed. This show has alot of hard science and that is way cool for a change. I think the details are well done like the simple foot rails and how they perform the g' roll. I also really think it is cool that they used the Nasa modle for the debrie field in the show. I cant wait for the next vol. Sir Brass are there any more "hard science" anime titles you could recomend. You can pm me if it gose to far off toppic. thank's in advance Smile

There's Infinite Ryvius which has a more scientific approach to the physics of space, zero G movement and such though not as down to Earth as Planetes. The show is quite excellent nonetheless though and like Planetes it focususes greatly on the characters.

The problem I have with this series is that it doesn't take itself serious enough to give it the hard edge feel it needs.

For example, they say that it's dangerous in space and you certainly notice it. Yet still everyone keeps jumping around like rabbits breaking their own ship apart. I understand humor is necessairy for the pacing, but this series takes serious content and wraps it with humorous characters and a very "free" plot, which makes the whole thing lose alot of its charm.

I have only seen a few episodes of this, but I'm not really convinced.

Kruszer wrote:

There's Infinite Ryvius which has a more scientific approach to the physics of space, zero G movement and such though not as down to Earth as Planetes. The show is quite excellent nonetheless though and like Planetes it focususes greatly on the characters.

Hey off topic but I used to live in Duluth and I still buy a season ticket at Spirit Mt. I go there to snow board every weekend. Any way thank you for the tip on Infinite Ryvius I will check that out. Of course like so many others I need to save more money, that I can not seem to make right now Crying or Very sad

Iemander wrote:

The problem I have with this series is that it doesn't take itself serious enough to give it the hard edge feel it needs.

For example, they say that it's dangerous in space and you certainly notice it. Yet still everyone keeps jumping around like rabbits breaking their own ship apart. I understand humor is necessairy for the pacing, but this series takes serious content and wraps it with humorous characters and a very "free" plot, which makes the whole thing lose alot of its charm.

I have only seen a few episodes of this, but I'm not really convinced.

Are you sure we're watching the same series? While Planetes doesn't always take itself seriously, I have never seen a more believable sci-fi series.

Iemander wrote:

The problem I have with this series is that it doesn't take itself serious enough to give it the hard edge feel it needs.

Oh yes it does. Space IS dangerous, even if the people working in it have gotten so used to it that it isn't as dangerous to them any more.

Space work is about as dangerous as heavy construction work, or light hazardous duty (like protecting the President). Death is certainly a reality, but not so likely when proper precautions are taken.

Also, if you don't think this series is that serious, give it time. It gets WAAAY more serious by the time the series ends.

Also, as to the question of "any other hard sci-fi titles?" I'd say that there are none. None that are the caliber of Planetes, that is. Not even the sci-fi grandmasters (Heinlen, Assimov, and possibly even Card some day) ever wrote sci-fi THIS hard (well, no, that's not true. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress was quite hard in it's science, though its sequel The Cat Who Walks Through Walls most certainly isn't).

The only thing that I can recall off the bat that comes close to being as hard in its science is the book Back to the Moon by Homer Hickam, and that's more of a tech thriller than science-fiction (but it's oh so darn good and so believable). But sadly enough, no anime series, movies, or OVAs come to mind.

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actually, garbage collection isn't as necessary to us today as debris collection is to 2075.

You make persuasive argument.

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if we have to drive our trash to the dump to get rid of it, it won't kill us.

Well not necessarily, driving is likely the most dangerous thing any of us will do; hell, flying in a plane is safer. In fact, jobs that involve driving like garbage collection and trucking are inherently more dangerous because those that perform the job are always on the road.

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however, in 2075, if debris isn't collected, then people could die because that debris wasn't picked up.

I could also argue that if trash wasn't picked up, then people would die from disease, especially those who live in cities. America for example, being how incredibly wasteful we are, would drown in our own filth. Could you imagine what New York city would be like just after a week.

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Garbage collection is a service that is nice, but not necessary. Debris collection is critical, but just as thankless

So you're right, Debris collection is critical to 2075 and the future of space developement. It's likely that it's more important than garbage collection today. Both services are greatly taken for granted. However, to say garbage collection isn't necessary would be like saying we don't necessarily need sewage systems, but they’re nice.

thing is that we can take our own garbage to a waste disposal facility, and don't need people to go out and get it for us. just like people didn't NEED chambermaids to empty their chamber pots, but it was nice to have them. HOwever, in 2075, people NEED others to go out and collect and dispose of debris because if the debris is even THERE, it poses a fatal risk, whereas garbage in my opinion is not so inherently dangerous (it's more of a passive danger rather than an active danger).

but I do see where you're coming from, however.

Though taking our own trash to the dump could possibly render some of us completely bankrupt if the damn gas prices continue to rise. I'm lucky I drive a little economical motorscooter, though I couldn't haul all my trash with it. Laughing

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