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Start to the Stars: A List of Sci-fi Recommendations

Islay Brady — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:00:30 +0000

Sci-fi is an incredible genre filled with themes of space and the future. It has been a staple for diversity with Star Trek having the first interracial kiss on screen and iconic female characters such as Leia Organa from Star Wars and Ellen Ripley from Alien. The genre has also been a common way to commentate and cope with political, scientific, and social changes and problems. Sci-fi is a staple genre, but it can also be hard to start due to how fantastic and elaborate it can be. In this article, I will be giving my top recommendations as well as what I’m currently watching.

Dune

Dune was originally a book published by Frank Herbert in 1965. It is a true unsung origin of modern sci-fi and world building in general. This book was the inspiration for many famous space and sci-fi stories, including Star Wars. However, this story wouldn’t get a proper film adaptation or recognition by the general public until 2021. Dune is about Paul Atreides and his family becoming the new governors of the planet of Arrakis. When they arrive, however, the locals believe that Paul is the chosen one who would help them reclaim their planet from those who want to exploit it for a fuel source called spice. He is thrown into this prophecy when the planet is attacked, and the only way to fight back is with Paul at the front lines. It’s a gorgeous story with themes of leadership and religion, a wonderful place to start for classic sci-fi.

Star Wars

Star Wars is a sci-fi genre staple. One of the biggest names in sci-fi next to Star Trek. This world has been expanding since 1977 and continues to this day. Star Wars is, in its most basic form, about a family of magic knights, called Jedi, who are both the galaxy’s saviors and destroyers. The original movies, episodes 4-6, focus on Luke Skywalker, the prequels, episodes 1-3, focus on his father, and the sequels, episodes 7-9, are about the Skywalker legacy in general. The other properties of Star Wars, the spin-off movies, the shows, and the video games, are about the consequences and ripple effect the Skywalkers had on the galaxy.

If starting Star Wars, it is important to know the order to watch everything. Different people will give you different recommendations, and while there is no wrong way to watch Star Wars, here is my recommended order. Episodes four through five, episodes one through three, Solo, Rogue One, Episode seven through nine, Clone Wars, Mandalorian, Book of Boba, Andor, and then the other shows and video games if you’re up for them. Star Wars can be complicated and has lots of time jumps, so don’t feel disheartened if you’re confused at first. Watch with a friend who knows the world and story. They will be able to explain, and watching with someone is always fun. If you are looking for a sci-fi staple that you can get lost in, Star Wars is a perfect place to start.

2001 a Space Odyssey

2001 a Space Odyssey is a one-off movie, but still a staple of sci-fi. Released in 1968 and created by Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, this movie is a deep look at the past, present, and future. The movie is less about a central story and more about the positives and negatives that could be in the future. The moon landing wasn’t until 1969, so a majority of the film focuses on the fear of the unknown and the introspection of the vastness of space. The movie is severely trippy, but it’s meant to be less of a story and more of a conversation starter. If you are looking for something with incredible visuals and an ending that leaves you reeling, I couldn’t recommend this movie more.

I have no Mouth, and I must Scream

I have no mouth, and I must scream is a short story by Harlan Ellison published in 1967. The story may be 10-15 pages long, but do not let that fool you. This story is one of the most haunting stories of the genre as a whole. The story is about an AI that named itself AM, wiping out humanity and putting five humans on trial for their crimes. AM talks about the complexities of humanity and its perspective on the topic as an AI. The story ends with all of those on trial dead except for one. It is definitely the scariest sci-fi staple. It does not hold back with its debates over man vs machine. If you are someone who loves horror and wants to shift into sci-fi, then this story is perfect. However, if you are squeamish, I would stick to the other recommendations on this list.

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a much lighter and funnier option than the others. Written by Douglas Adams in 1979, this book is a comedic take on the sci-fi genre as a whole. There are still themes and moments that are incredibly sci-fi. But most of the book is more about the silliness of sci-fi’s debates on philosophy and the future. The book is about a man named Arthur Dent who finds out that his friend, Ford, isn’t from earth and is a researcher for the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. They then get forced into this grand adventure, succeeding through knowing zero to nothing about Aliens and other planets. The book is a hilarious and trippy ride through the genre as a whole. While it is not something for someone new to sci-fi, it is required reading for anyone who enjoys the genre.

There are so many to recommend and experience, including my current watch, Trigun: Stampede. However, the world of sci-fi is as vast as space itself. There are many more stories in sci-fi, but you can’t explore a whole galaxy without a good starting point. So take some of these recommendations and dive into the world of sci-fi; a galaxy awaits you.

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The It Girl: Simplified

Adriana Silva — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 15:41:38 +0000

nd sOne quick Google search of the term it girl will generate millions of research papers, videos, and articles about who today’s it girls are and how to become one. From clothes to hobbies to even mannerisms, there seems to be a never-ending list of what girls and young women must do to become the girl whom everyone else either loves or hates to love. To understand the individual and cultural impacts of the it girl syndrome, it is important to understand the basic principles of what exactly an it girl is, how to become one, and what these standards for girls and young women reveal about society.

What an It Girl is

To start off, an it girl is defined by Wikipedia as “an attractive, well-known young woman who is perceived to have both sex appeal and a personality that is especially engaging” [1]. Today, the term is used to refer to beautiful women who appear to be the closest thing a person can get to perfection: style, intelligence, independence, and confidence. Essentially, an it girl is a girl who has it all.

However, it is important to know the difference between a popular girl and an it girl. Popularity has seemed to exist since the beginning of time. There have always been those who, for some reason or another, seem to know everyone—those who get invited to all the parties. It girls, however, are the girls who everyone knows, the ones who host all the parties. It girls are not known for impressive skill or memorable traits like popular girls, but rather are defined by their entire being. Popular girls come and go, but it girls ingrained their existence into an entire culture.

The Modern It Girl

So, the question on millions of girls’ minds: what does it take to become an it girl today? Well, it is actually quite simple to become one. All you need is access to money, incredible intelligence, impossible beauty, and always have unwavering confidence. An it girl doesn’t have to worry about the cost of spoiling herself with luxurious clothes, bags, and perfumes. She holds the “right” opinions on social issues and is disgustingly knowledgeable in every subject from literature to science.

Somehow she looks both youthful and mature; she doesn’t need makeup or filters to look like the girls in magazines. She has issues and is therefore relatable, but never do her issues actually affect her. Every guy wants to date her, but she has only a “tasteful” dating history. And above all, she maintains every one of these standards effortlessly and constantly. One is either an it girl or she isn’t—remember, there is no such thing as halfway perfect.

Social Medias Influence

As social media influence rises, so does the pressure to embody this perfection. Society is notorious for imposing unrealistic expectations on girls and young women, but now these standards have become a must rather than a bonus. Social media allows and encourages everyone to watch everyone else at all times, and through likes, views, and follows. This creates the demand for girls to constantly have an entertaining, aesthetically pleasing life to display. Girls are particularly vulnerable to these demands as society holds them to a much higher standard of appearance, relationships, likability, and their actions.

Another cruelty of this era of social media is the fact that this standard is enforced on nearly everyone. Social media has given this generation the illusion that everyone else has everything, and if you don’t, you are somehow behind. It is not enough to not have social media, as these expectations follow girls through modern books, shows, peer groups, and pop culture. The It Girl replaces passing trends with a modern blueprint for belonging.

Of course, social media harms young people in countless ways. But what is specifically damaging about the pressure to be an it girl is the fact that it is an impossible task. Girls are chasing a vision shaped by corporations that profit from their insecurities: beauty brands, wellness companies, influencers, and algorithm-driven platforms. The more unattainable the ideal, the more girls will invest and the more these corporations make. When girls inevitably fail to meet these standards, it only deepens the mental health crisis today by generating further insecurity, anxiety, and depression. The it girl standard is not problematic solely because it is impossible; it is problematic because it has created the illusion that it is entirely possible.

Where We Go From Here

The it girl trend began nearly a century ago and is once again trapping girls in unrealistic standards for every part of their lives, and through constant visibility, these standards have seeped into nearly every waking moment. But this situation is not indefinite. I would like to emphasize that this is not to say that social media is all bad. Social media has the potential and currently has many positive aspects on girls’ lives. The answer is not to abandon social media entirely, but to rethink who gets to define the it girl. Girls must build a collective movement that redefines the iconic. This does not mean rejecting beauty, confidence, or the desire to feel special, but rather rejecting the idea of perfection.

There is nothing more iconic than someone who is emphatic, compassionate, genuine, and resilient. Create a standard that does not create envy but fosters inspiration. In re-imagining the it girl as someone who uplifts others, we will create a more positive world for girls that will benefit not only individuals but entire communities.

Citations:

“It Girl.” Wikipedia, 31 May 2022, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_girl.

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