Top Things To Read, Watch, And Do To Save The World

Some months ago, SCI FI Channel’s new Visions For Tomorrow initiative polled SCI FI fans to discover which works of film, TV, and literature deserved a place in history.  Nearly 20,000 people cast their votes and here are the interesting (and a little surprising) results.  

SCI FI’s Visions For Tomorrow “Top Things To Read, Watch, And Do To Save The World” are:

TOP 10 BOOKS TO READ

1. 1984 by George Orwell          
2. The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells   
3. Dune by Frank Herbert          
4. The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
5. I, Robot by Isaac Asimov               
6. The Stand by Stephen King              
7. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 
8. 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
9. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley       
10. The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton       

TOP 10 TELEVISION SHOWS TO WATCH

1. Firefly
2. Battlestar Galactica (2004)
3. The X-Files
4. Heroes
5. Stargate: SG-1
6. Doctor Who
7. Star Trek: The Next Generation
8. Babylon 5
9. Star Trek
10. Buffy The Vampire Slayer

TOP 10 FILMS TO WATCH          

1. Blade Runner (1982)
2. The Matrix (1999)
3. The Terminator (1984)
4. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
5. Jurassic Park (1993)
6. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
7. The Day After Tomorrow (2004) 
8. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
9. Children of Men (2006)
10. Armageddon (1998)

(What?  No Star Wars?)

TOP 10 THINGS TO DO                    

1. Read.          
2. Recycle.               
3. Register to vote! Cast your ballot in November.
4. Eat healthier. 
5. Be kind.               
6. Empower children and yourself through education.
7. Protect wildlife.      
8. Conserve energy by switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).
9. Plant a tree and print less paper.
10. Give blood.

The final lists produced some interesting facts:

– H.G. Wells, who some consider “The Father of Science Fiction”, is the most celebrated author on the list with The War of The Worlds and The Time Machine.

– Gene Rodenberry’s invaluable contribution to science fiction on television is recognized twice with Star Trek, the original series, and Star Trek: The Next Generation.

– Academy Award winning director Steven Spielberg has directed the most films on the list with Jurassic Park and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Since reading was the number one “thing to do” to save the world, SCI FI Channel has partnered up with Booksfree.com,  the largest online paperback and audiobook rental service and is offering a 20% discount to members who sign up for the service from SCI FI’s Visions For Tomorrow web site.

What do you think? Did they get it right?