Reading Suggestions for George McFly
Image by Dave Tavres from Pixabay
Today is Back to the Future Day and in celebration of one of the most culturally significant science fiction films, we at Quirk have decided to make a reading list for George Mcfly (Crispin Glover), who eventually makes a space for himself as a science-fiction novelist and seems to have very distinct tastes.
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
George has a bit of an obsession with stories of alien invasion; after all, he was attacked by Darth Vader from the planet Vulcan. The novel focuses on Valentine, the first human being born on Mars and raised by Martians. It would be easy for George to relate to the main character as they are both outcasts in their societies.
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
There are so many great and classic stories of time travel, but Wells’s novel is far and away the most influential. Maybe after a good read about the difficulties of integrating into a much different society, George might catch a clue that his son Marty a.k.a Calvin Klein is actually a time traveler.
Black Science by Rick Remender and Matteo Scalera
One of the best modern stories about what happens when scientific experimentation goes wrong; Black Science follows Grant McKay, a scientist/anarchist who perfects interdimensional travel, only to find that he has jeopardized the entirety of existence. Grant fights to right the wrongs of his past, just like George does in his struggle to become a better man.
A Scanner Darkly by Phillip K. Dick
George McFly is a bit of a skittish fellow, jumpy and kinetic. His vibe would mesh perfectly with the works of Phillip K. Dick, in particular his novel A Scanner Darkly would be a great piece for George. Who can Bob Arctor trust in a world full of people with questionable morals and motives, and how does a scanner see into him? Does it see darkly?
Flatland by Edwin Abbot
A sci-fi classic, this book is more sci than it is fi. There are so many books that have little grounding in the scientific aspects of what they are talking about, but Abbot’s book is all about math. This is likely right up George McFly’s ally. He seems to be a sharp guy, and understanding this book takes more than just basic math skills.
All You Need is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka
If only it were easy to change a simple mistake. If only it was possible to relive a day until it plays out perfectly. This is the concept which drives Sakurazaka’s work. Keiji is a grunt in the Japanese military, fighting against a hoard of Alien invaders known as Mimics. He finds himself repeating his day and with the help of another repeater, Rita Vrataski, he might just have what it takes to save the world.
Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughn and Cliff Chiang
There are only a handful of great science fiction time travel stories and Paper Girls is one of them. The story of a group of strong willed girls fighting their way through time to save the future from the past, this story has some aspects reminiscent of Back to the Future II. While George McFly is only in the film briefly (recast with actor Jeffery Weissman) there is a lot to be said about flashing forward into the future to tell a great story.
