What's your favorite sci-fi franchise?

[Blindswordmaster]

A simple question asked by a simple man. Allow me to clarify. It must have at least two entries(includes books, movies, comics, etc,) and a TV series counts if it reached one season.
I was prompted into this line of thinking by a conversation with my cousin. We were talking about sci-fi, and I realized that I couldn't really think of that many sci-fi franchises. I named Star Wars, Star Trek, Mass Effect, Aliens and Stargate. I really like sci-fi, but I've had fairly limited exposure to it. Can you think of more really good ones? What's your favorite Sci-fi franchise? Why do you like it? And, go!

 

[hittite]

The Legacy of the Aldenata book series.

It just gets more epic as it goes on.

 

[BlindMessiah94]

In before STARGATE!!!!

 

[Free Thinker]

Aliens...
They're coming through teh walls! They're coming through teh goddamn walls!
Game over man! GAME OVER!

 

[DividedUnity]

Stargate was my favourite but I havent been able to watch the new one or the last few seasons of atlantis. SG-1 will always have a place in my heart though. You already said it though so thinking of another one hmmm Battlestar Galatica. The first 2 or three seasons of the re-imagined series anyway

 

[WorthlessSix]

I can't say I'm a big fan of sci-fi... But I luuuuuv Mass Effect. >w<

 

[Hashime]

A tie between Stargate and Doctor Who. Both have good characters and interesting situations, and both are INCREDIBLY successful.

 

[Vek]

I'm first inclined to say Star Trek, but I find I'm far more interested in the universe, or galaxy rather, of Isaac Asimov's FOundation series. After those, Warhammer 40,000, because IMPERIAL GUARD IS TEH OWNZ.

Forgive the all caps. Can't help it.

 

[madcap2112]

Definitely Star Wars. Always has been, always will be. I love Firefly, too, but I'm not sure there's enough there to call it a franchise; just a too-brief show and a great movie.

 

[Blindswordmaster]

Do you know why I watch Doctor Who? Because he's the fucking Doctor! 'Nuff said.

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

Hmmm, it's a tie among Starcraft, Star Trek, and Warhammer 40,000. All for different reasons.

 

[NeutralDrow]

Hard to say...though I am actually pretty fond of Known Space.

Not quite sure why. I mean, Larry Niven did put a crapton of thought into the universe, even considering it's basically an alternate "our universe," and it's a timeline technically spanning over a thousand years if you measure from both chronological ends ("Safe at Any Speed" was around 3000 CE). Neutron Star is one of my favorite short story collections, "The Warriors" and "Madness Has its Place" are two of my favorite short stories, and World of Ptavvs is one of my favorite novels.

The Ringworld books also range from good to decent (the first two were better than the second two), though they're just one aspect.

Also, opportunity to prove your nerd credentials!

General Products hulls are vulnerable to only three things. What are they?

 

[Verlander]

I have loads, but I guess most of them don't conventionally fall under Sci Fi- most of them are more fantasy. I'd say Iron Man is up there with an incredible first film, and the second looking equally as hot. WH40K is new to me, but I'm loving it. However Star Wars may just steal the biscuit (although Deep Space 9 was a great Star Trek series)

EDIT: If ou like anime, Outlaw Star's a great series, although too short for me, and the art direction changes halfway through, and isn't as good

 

[Frank_Sinatra_]

*Clears throat*
[HEADING=1]STARGATE. MOTHER-FUCKING-STARGATE[/HEADING] [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Stargate-Fan-Club]
[small][sub]Yes that is a link[/sub][/small]

For a reason why, is because Stargate and all of it's offspring have had the balls to break from the normal affair of Sci-Fi television to be fun, intellictual, based upon real science, and makes fun of itself and other series along the way.

While SG-1 did die in quality during it's last few years the producers decided to axe it before it made a mockery of itself.
Atlantis decided to keep going, and no matter what the haters say, it is better than they will lead you to believe.
SGU is actually getting pretty good minus the horrid first half of season 1.

 

[Vrex360]

Probably still Halo.
It counts as a full fledged franchise because it's gone beyond merely games to books and comics and even animated short films and a lot of points in between.
Besides it has a deep and well developed universe and setting that to me at least makes it well and truly worth exploring.

 

[Catalyst6]

I can't decide between Firefly and Doctor Who.

I was going to phrase that "Its a fight between Firefly and Doctor Who", but I realized that if Mal and the Doctor ever got in a fight the universe would probably explode in a red cloud of awesome.

 

[Death on Trapezoids]

You've named a few of my favorites.
Doctor Who (the new episodes) is pretty good.
Or the matrix (Old, yes, but still awesome).
Heros is also decent.
If games count then Starcraft rocks the boat.
*scratches head*
That's all I can think of right now.

 

[ward.]

It's a toss up between the 40k universe and the farscape one for me.

 

[DeathsHands]

It's a tough match between Star Wars and Warhammer 40,000 for me. They both are very.... big.