Look for books written David Weber..... They might be a bit heavy though

Other than that Heinleins Starship Troopers is a nice book. With loads of hidden messages in it.... The way he describes the society compared to the way the society functions today, should enable you to start some intresting discussions. STAY away from the film though.....

II. Time Travel

1) Novel-- The Time Machine by HG Wells (only 100 pages, but half the class hates this story and can't get into it at all... others tell me they love it. Not sure what to do)

I would think about trying out 1632 by Eric Flint http://www.ericflint.net/ or some of his short stories.

III. Future Societies

How about Heinleins "Moon is a harsh mistress"??

You heard my plea before I even made it, oh Great One.

I'm going to admit that I'm not a science fiction fan. In fact, for the most part, I think the genre's trite, dull, and relies too heavily on stereotypes for survival. So maybe my suggestions might resonate with some of your other, more bored students.

* Set up an "Optional Reading List" or "For Further Reading", so if students are interested in cyberpunk or any of the other things you didn't get to, they know where to start. Some of my favorite books in high school I found through those sorts of lists.

* I hated everything I've ever read of H.G. Wells. His style is too breathlessly Victorian. However, I think that's pretty much how H.G. Wells is; you either really like him or you really don't. For that reason, I don't think you should remove Wells-y Boy completely from the syllabus; what you've got is more than enough exposure.

* Have you considered maybe pulling out a video game to help supplement your class? I'm not talking "Halo" or anything; I'm thinking one of the old text adventures, something like "Planetfall" or "The Hitchhiker's Guide" or "A Mind Forever Voyaging". Those are surprisingly literary efforts, especially compared to what we've got going in the SF genre of videogames now. It might be an interesting homework assignment?

* One of the best science fiction books I've ever read was Contact, by Carl Sagan. It was one of the first SF books I read that actually included a lot of science (instead of just robots and aliens and such), and the science is explained at a level where most non-physicists can understand it. It might be an excellent addition to either your "Aliens" or "Space Travel" sections. It is a long book, however, and so perhaps only an excerpt would suffice?

* Take a gander at Octavia Butler's "KinDred". It approaches time travel in an interesting fashion--in that it doesn't even attempt to explain why it happens--and instead focuses on the result of the time travel. Essentially, the plot is such that a black woman from the 1970's must go back in time and ensure that her great-great-grandmother is born; said relative is the product of a black slave and her white master. The writing is accessible for most audiences, and it's not too long, although the subject matter might a little too salacious for high school, I don't know. Plus, it's actually a fascinating take on race relations, so you'd be able to kill two birds with one stone. If you have an "Optional Reading List", this would be perfect for it.

* I'm curious; Why Farenheit 451 instead of 1984? As much as I like the ideas behind Farenheit 451, its actually a surprisingly dull book to read--or, at least, I thought as much when I was back in school. Whatever you do, just don't do "The Giver" (Lois Lowry). I think I might have to hurt you if you did that.

*Arthur C. Clarke wrote many excellent short stories, especially about aliens and first contacts with alien species. I defintely suggest you add one or two of his stories, especially since he's synonymous with 20th century Sci Fi.

* Could you get away with Philip K. Dick? If not his stories, then maybe a movie or two (like Minority Report; despite Tom Cruise Tom-Cruising it up, that was actually a rather good movie).

*Future Societies unit... and no Matrix? I'm shocked! Shocked, I say! Actually, "The Matrix" might be a very good idea, considering it's the younger generation's "1984".

* Also, for robots, I suggest the stellar movie, "Metropolis". Yes, I know, this is an anime. But like a Miyazaki film, it's not your typical anime. (It doesn't feature catgirls or ninja masters or any of the other crappity crap that makes up your general Toonami affair.) It's a haunting, gorgeous look at 1) a future society 2) with robots, and it's drawn in the same Astro-boy style that purposefully gives the movie a very retro look. Of all the recommendations on this list, I think this has the potential to become the biggest surprise hit with your students. If you haven't seen it, then at least watch the movie before you rule it out.

Alright, for someone who admittedly doesn't like Sci Fi, I've made a lot of recommendations. But I love the idea that you're teaching a SF class in a high school. That automatically makes you the coolest teacher in the school, I hope you know.

Larry Niven's N-Space.
It's a collection of essay's and book snippets presented to cover a range of topics, scenarios, and it's all Science Fiction.

I'd recommend a few stories, but they're all good in my opinion! (as a bonus, if you use only a few stories and you get lucky enough to snare a couple of minds... this book is chock full of the good stuff for independent reading!)
//Awkward Simile: It's like putting a SF grenade in a kid's hands and yanking the pin!

What? No Trek! Use Data as an example for Robots/AI!

I was about to say this myself, Katerin - perhaps your negative take on sci-fi (trite, rehashed) applies only to the bad sci-fi of most TV and movies? I like to tell people I'm a fan of "real" sci-fi - that is to say, stories about concepts, stories about fictional science, rather than space operas with lazer blasters.

Anyway, I was going to recommend some authors, but Katerin mentioned most of the greats already - funny for someone who dislikes sci-fi!

(seriously, though, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress fo' sho' - and possibly the short story "Nightfall" by Asimov.)

* Harlan Ellison- "Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman." It's a short story about a totalitarian society where wasting time is a criminal offense.

*It's been a while since I've seen it, but you may want to consider "Armitage III: The Third". It's a movie, and an anime at that, about a society in which a new series of robots is able to bear children. Fair warning: screen it first, I think there may be boobies.

*This is probably stretching it a lot, but Ayn Rand - "Anthem".

I know there's at least one movie adaptation of 'Nightfall', but haven't seen it. We read Harrison Bergeron in one of my h.s. classes.

Okay, I just realized where you might be going wrong. Your course themes are really just based along the lines of the conventions of sci-fi -- not broad overarching thematic ideas that have guided science-fiction for the past 50+ years. When I intro the unit I key on sub-genres which is another way to look at things. For example, you can talk about these genres and fit your texts into them rather than the way you are doing it:

Hard Sci-Fi.
Stories told with a serious attempt to stay within the currently known realms of possible science. The language and details in hard sci-fi is often quite technical.

Soft Sci-Fi.
These are stories in which the science or technology or natural phenomenon take a backseat to the development and reaction of characters. There is a distinct emphasis on psychology and sociology, ex. Frankenstein.

Space Opera.
Stories in which there is an emphasis on action and plot – to excite and lightly entertain the audience. Serious scientific details are de-emphasized, ex. Star Wars.

New Wave.
Highly imagistic and metaphorical sci-fi that deals with psychology than hard science (fiction). A sub-genre that gained popularity in the 1960s with the work of Ray Bradbury.

Cyberpunk.
Stories that deal with the nihilistic, underground side of the digital age (think computers). Set primarily within the world of computers, "cyberspace", and the corporate world. First popularized by Canadian author William Gibson.

Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi.
Stories set in a world devastated by nuclear war or other civilization-ending disaster.

Alternate History.
These are stories that revolve around the basic premise that a particular historical event never happened or happened differently. The events subsequent to that event are extrapolated for effect.

Utopian and Dystopian Future.
Stories that feature, respectively, an ideal world as the setting or an ideal world gone horribly wrong. In either case, the common themes are to reflect on current social trends in a negative light – either we are too imperfect in comparison or our trends can be taken to nightmarish extremes. Dystopian sci-fi is frequently used as social satire to warn off humanity from a problematic course, ex. 1984.

Comic Sci-Fi.
A sub-genre that exploits the traditionally held sci-fi conventions for comic effect, ex. Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

I think you can see what the possibilities are now. This might engage your class a bit better than focussing on the standard plot conventions way of looking at things.

Last couple of suggestions... Look for the overlap into fantasy fiction (and horror for that matter like in "I am Legend") if you want to shake things up. And if catering to a lower common denominator is important (or it's Futurama Friday) then ratchet up the video count. I strongly recommend "Trekkies", the documentary on Star Trek fans as a starting point. It will scare the poop out of the non-Trekkies.

I can vouch for Metropolis, Katerin and Sleipnir took me to see it. Definitely give it a watch to see what you think.

I would also like recommend a short story or two from Ursula K. Le Guin. The way she handles space travel is very well done. In her interpretation the only thing that can travel faster than light is information through a device she calls The Ansible. It takes hundreds of years for a space traveler to reach another planet, so all space travelers know they can never return to their home once they leave. It makes for some interesting stories. One I would strongly recommend in "Vaster than Empires and more Slow." Another that might be a little much for your class, but I loved in High School was "The Left Hand of Darkness"

I hope that helps you.

I would also include Diamond Age and Snow Crash in with the future society genre. The extension of a wired society is something that kids, I think, would be able to relate with.

I've got a ton of books I'd like to recommend, but most are too many pages ( I think Dune clocks in over 500, actually) or too complex.

Here's a few I was able to come up with within the guidelines you specified:

Rendezvous with Rama, Arthur C. Clarke - Great take on aliens that you never get to meet... just try to figure out how they think. Also, relatively short & a page turner.

The Toynbee Convector - Ray Bradbury - Short story, future society ... I don't know how to describe this one without giving it all away. But it is also a quick read.

Hyperion - Dan Simmons - novel, fits into your alien & future societies category, I guess. Excellent read. Here's the plot synopsis:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperion_%28novel%29

Beggars in Spain - Nancy Kress - genetic engineering, future societies. Explores boundaries of what it means to be human.

Neuromancer - William Gibson - a bit longer than you wanted, but one of the first cyberpunk novels. I'm recommending this one with a strong caveat for adult situations. There's definitely some drug use and violence, possibly more. It's been a while since I've read it.

Kat, can you name a genre that this isn't true for?

A genre is formed by sets of conventions, and if it's the bad writers/stories, well, isn't 90% of any genre recycled garbage that was written to make money?

I know I've read a ton of it across a lot of genres, including SF. But the 10% is worth it.

What an interesting class, SommerMatt. I bet its alot of fun, but I'm also sure its tough finding some kind of balance between entertaining the kids and actually teaching them.

I think its good that you're hitting alot of the highpoints of sci-fi. Is this primarily an English class, where you're talking about the themes? Or do you hit the history of it at all? Are you talking about the Golden Age of SciFi (40's & 50's)? That's a good way to put alot of it in a historical context.

I'd say, if you can find it, the original Metropolis may be a better bet. Made in 1927, its a great example of early scifi's thinking about future societies. It may not have the flashiness/trendiness of anime, but it more purely expresses the same themes, I think. You may disagree, so, of course, pre-screen.

I think that its important for them to see the originals and classics of the genre. You can always tell them about the later incarnations, further developments in a series, or additional spins (like cyberpunk). A 'Additional Reading' list would be a great idea, as Kat mentioned. But while they're in class, you help them through things they might not otherwise understand, or even pick up. So, with that in mind, there are a couple things I think the forum has hit on already.

Dune. Great book. Tough to get through, but a fantastic piece of work. I think it would be tough for the kids to digest, but its definitely an option.

An episode of Star Trek seems mandatory. There are plenty of themes and Some of those kids may never have heard Scotty's "can't take any more" or Bones's "Dammit, Jim."

I want to second the vote for 'A Connecticut Yankee' and 'Contact', but nix '1984' and 'Brave New World'. Those are two that may come up in other English classes, and you want to avoid overlap for their little cultureless minds' sakes. Connecticut Yankee is a great read, and another good example of early sci-fi. There are also a couple different movie tie-ins.

More to come as I think of ideas.

I thought about bringing up Snow Crash, Pale, and didn't think of Pastwatch (great book, Chumpy), but since this is high school Matt may wish to steer clear of any book that explicitly talks about pee-pees. We don't want him losing his job or anything. The same general rule probably rules out The Left Hand of Darkness, and now that I think about it, most Robert A Heinlein.

I didn't mention it before, but I took a sci-fi course in college. Here's a list of what we read, that I can remember:

The Left Hand of Darkness
1984
Nightfall (the novelization, which is good, but we should have just read the short story)
Have Spacesuit, Will Travel - a fine story, but it's a travesty to do this if you're only doing one Heinlein story
War of the Worlds - I still think this book is a snoozer. I'm a terrible sci-fi fan.
A Canticle for Leibowitz - a great dystopian novel centering on a monastery. Better than that sounds!
Neuromancer - Awesome, but probably too many adult themes?
Childhood's End - I hate this book. I hate the ending, I hate the central idea.

Can't remember what (if anything) else. If I had made the list (and keeping in mind this is college), my list would have looked more like this:

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - Heinlein
Dune - Herbert
a book of Asimov's robot short stories
Neuromancer - Gibson
something semi-comprehensible by Philip K Dick. Possibly _Do Androids..._, but I like his short fiction too.
Probably John Carter of Mars. Now there's an idea you can probably use in high school!
1984 - Orwell
perhaps Martian Chronicles by Bradbury
The Forever War (Haldeman, I think)

and then I'd probably look at my collection and throw in something wild and offbeat. I'm not sure what.

Romance novels. Now there's a genre that breaks new ground. /sarcasm

You're absolutely correct, of course. All genre-classified fiction tends to fall into the same trap. For that reason, I tend not to read much of it.

I second Haakon's suggestion of the original Metropolis, but it might be impossible to find. Ooh, what about The Day The Earth Stood Still? I loved that movie... but then again, some teenagers might be turned off by the black-and-white.

What about extra credit for watching Battlestar Galactica?

I wonder if you might be better served by short stories? You can explore more themes, more examples of the genre that way, and as with most fiction, I think great sci-fi short stories are both more common, and can be even more powerful, than novels. And many of the editors have done some of your work for you:

"Best of Time Travel" (Robert Silverberg's "Sailing to Byzantium" and "Up the Line" count as both time travel and future society, and are fantastic at both. I'm sorry I cannot give you the editor's name for the collection I'm thinking of; I have the e-book on my Palm, but it doesn't cite the editor. I can tell you "up the line" is the first story in the particular anthology I'm thinking of.

"Masterpieces: the Best Science Fiction of the 20th Century" edited by Orson Scott Card. I think a no-lose selection of great stuff, spanning all the themes you're currently teaching.

If you want to tie in modern fads, I think both of Dan Brown's best sellers qualify as science fiction, though Angels and Demons more overtly so.

And for examples of what ties many themes together, and makes simply stunningly great reading, Ursula K. Le Guin's Worlds of Exile and Illusion, a cycle of 3 of the greatest short stories (all genres included) I've ever read. I think they make great examples of how powerful a story can be because of the humanity of the author, not just some plot device of hyper-technology.

NB: Kat, I think Le Guin's writing would very likely change your opinion of what sci-fi can be.