Questions tagged [reference]
For when a science fiction or fantasy property references another work.
42
questions
10
votes
2
answers
152
views
Tattooed eyeballs and wall climbing
Ben Aaronovich's Tales from the Folly contains a short story A Rare Book of Cunning Device which has Peter spending the night in The British Library searching for a magical explanation for strange ...
- 16k
3
votes
1
answer
41
views
Story references in conversation with The Living Stone (Vagrus: The Riven Realms)
A while back, I played a game called Vagrus: The Riven Realms. At one time, during the main character's exploration of the titular Riven Realms, they encounter a friendly entity called The Living ...
1
vote
1
answer
33
views
What are the bosses references to in Violent Storm?
The 1993 Konami video game "Violent Storm" features a lot of allusions to earlier works in various media. The whole game is patterned after Capcom's "Final Fight"—itself a game ...
- 91.5k
6
votes
1
answer
336
views
Names referencing other franchises in The Expanse final episode
I noticed a few familiar names in the squads on the Rocinante in the final series episode.
Notably: (as best as I can make out)
Alpha Squad - (other than Bobbi Draper & Alex Burton)
G. Ackbar - ...
- 20.8k
1
vote
0
answers
230
views
Is Star Wars: The High Republic character Lourna Dee a reference to novel/character Lorna Doone?
I have just recently finished reading the first Star Wars novel set in the new High Republic, Light of the Jedi.
One of the villainous female characters is named Lourna Dee, which sounds a lot like ...
- 1,962
10
votes
1
answer
724
views
Is Gregory Laborian a fictionalised version of Isaac Asimov?
In the short story "Gold" by Isaac Asimov, which can be freely and legally read online, the main character is Jonas Willard, a creator of "compu-drama" versions of stories - what ...
- 133k
7
votes
1
answer
240
views
Sci-fi references in the New Year 2021 Doctor Who
The New Year 2021 episode of Doctor Who opens with a nod to another famous scifi franchise.
A reference to Aliens occurs shortly afterwards.
Starting near 35:50, there is a whole scene which is a ...
- 10.4k
0
votes
0
answers
144
views
Is the superhero X-23's name a shout out to an Asimov story?
I was reading Isaac Asimov's story “The Last Question” for the upteenth time, but this time I noticed something: the planet the family of colonists are going to is called X-23.
Well, maybe it's just a ...
- 1,529
3
votes
1
answer
141
views
Was Leckie's Raven Tower inspired by Wizard of Earthsea?
I ask because I've been rereading Le Guin, and came across this interesting passage in Wizard of Earthsea:
“In Matter of the Dragons, which Ged read very closely, there was a tale of an ancient ...
- 651
7
votes
1
answer
827
views
What works do the quest names in "The Outer Worlds" refer to?
In the video game The Outer Worlds, most (or maybe all) quest/mission names refer to works of speculative fiction. So far, I was able to identify some of the works, but the list is incomplete. The ...
2
votes
0
answers
199
views
Is this scene from Kiki's delivery service reference to Superman?
At the end of the movie Kiki's delivery service there is a scene where reporter shouts: "Is it a bird? No, no it is a girl. A witch!"
At least it is this way in English subtitles on Netflix.
That ...
- 4,661
8
votes
0
answers
229
views
Where does this sailor beside Bender come from?
In school we were interpreting a painting from Slovak artist Erik Šille called Wave (Vlna). He used a lot of pop-culture references, but we didn't recognize this little sailor. Is he from a cartoon or ...
- 321
2
votes
1
answer
5k
views
What's this tree in the opening of Neon Genesis Evangelion?
In the first few seconds of the opening to Neon Genesis Evangelion, there is a tree-like thing with a bunch of writing in a language I don't recognize, along with what appears to be a bit of Hebrew:
...
- 11.2k
4
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What is the pattern in the ship names in the Interdependency series?
The names seem peculiar.
I feel like they are referencing something.
"Yes, Sir, That’s My Baby"
this is a Frank Sinatra song
"No, Sir, I Don’t Mean Maybe"
the second line from the Frank Sinatra ...
- 1,929
23
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What does this line mean in Zelazny's The Courts of Chaos?
I'm rereading the Chronicles of Amber, and this line in the fifth book, The Courts of Chaos, has me entirely stumped. It comes just at the end of Corwin's encounter with "Lady."
I'll include a few ...
- 1,909
17
votes
2
answers
4k
views
What are the out-of-universe reasons for the references to Toby Maguire-era Spider-Man in Into the Spider-Verse?
We see numerous iconic scenes directly lifted from the Tobey Maguire-era Spider-Man films in Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse, such as:
etc.
What are in out-of-universe reasons (rights, story-...
- 59.1k
8
votes
2
answers
8k
views
What do the lyrics of "2Wicky" by Hooverphonic refer to?
The lyrics to the song "2Wicky" by the band Hooverphonic seems to contain a couple of scifi references.
Prophet-60091
This is the flight number of our galactic sun
Prophet-60091
Before we ...
- 652k
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What does "the princess and the queen" refer to here?
In volume 36 of the fairly entertaining Sandman written by Neil Gaiman, George calls Barbara and Wanda "the princess and the queen". Wanda appears to not take kindly to it.
George: ...
- 313
5
votes
2
answers
443
views
Is Zam Wesell inspired by early Ralp McQuarrie Concept Art of Han Solo & Starkiller Hero?
I was recently looking at some early McQuarrie concept art (and my 30th anniversary action figures based on them) commissioned for George Lucas' second draft, which would eventually become A New Hope.
...
- 1,962
9
votes
1
answer
535
views
Reference to a 'haunted asteroid' in Rendezvous with Rama
In Rendezvous with Rama, Commander Bill Norton makes the following comment:
“The Haunted Asteroid”: why had that phrase popped up from the depths of memory? Then he recalled a silly story he had ...
- 2,411
6
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Is the "bear monster" in Annihilation film a deliberate reference to alzabo from The Book of the New Sun?
It might be coincidental, but to me the bear-like speaking creature encountered by characters in the Annihilation film adaptation seems so similar to alzabo that it's probably a deliberate reference. ...
- 1,737
3
votes
1
answer
133
views
Page reference for information on Durin II
I found a note on Tolkien Gateway that Durin II began a cooperation with the Men of the Vales of Anduin, but this simply cites The Peoples of Middle-earth (the section titled 'Of Dwarves and Men') and ...
- 1,637
-4
votes
4
answers
17k
views
What is "DON'T PANIC" a reference to on the dashboard of Elon Musk's car?
SpaceX recently launched the Falcon Heavy into space while carrying Elon Musk's car to be sent into orbit around Mars. (News article reference) During the launch, footage was shown of a space suit ...
- 1,532
8
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Why is Daenerys Targaryen called the "Mother of Dragons"?
This is the Mother of Dragons hat from the 2017 Winter Bash.
I understand that the hat is a reference to the Game of Thrones character Daenerys Targaryen, but I don't know more than that.
Why is she ...
- 1,835
15
votes
3
answers
8k
views
What is Rick referencing when he says "I'm not a mouse in a European children's book?"
In the episode "Morty's Mind-blowers" Rick says:
"I don't sort by color, Morty. I'm not a mouse in a European children's book."
Call me clueless, but what book is Rick referencing?
- 23.5k
18
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Was Tolkien explicitly referencing C.S. Forester's "Captain Hornblower"?
In The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien named a couple of Hobbit families (Hornblower and Bracegirdle) with names that also appear in the Hornblower novels by C.S. Forester.
Horatio Hornblower is ...
- 14.8k
19
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Has there been any foreshadowing of Captain Marvel in the MCU?
The Wikipedia article on the Marvel Cinematic Universe feature films says that in 2019 a new hero will be introduced to the MCU - Captain Marvel.
Has there been any foreshadowing for this character ...
- 498
2
votes
1
answer
441
views
What movie is this NROL mission patch referencing?
The United States National Reconnaissance Office have developed a penchant for highly unusual mission patches that commemorate their secretive rocket launches.
I'm convinced that this patch (NROL-28)...
- 652k
4
votes
1
answer
428
views
Is Pinkwater in The Expanse a reference to the author of "Fat Men from Space"?
I mean in addition, of course, to being a Blackwater reference. The Expanse series is highly referential (they even named a ship the Mark Watney and claim to be part of that timeline) and based on the ...
- 651
12
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Explain this reference to Luke Starkiller in The Flash
In The Flash S3 Ep 14 - Attack on Central City, Cisco and Gypsy are talking. Gypsy is in a cell, and Cisco is trying to convince her to help the team. Gypsy says
Are you trying to Luke Starkiller ...
- 6,780
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Star wars reference in Voyager's Caretaker
I just noticed Netflix has added Voyager, and watched the first episode for nostalgia's sake.
It starts with an opening crawl describing a political situation including plucky rebels. The crawl then ...
- 268
4
votes
1
answer
425
views
In the prequel, "I Did NOT Give That Spider Superhuman Intelligence!", what are the references to future events and characters?
I Did NOT Give That Spider Superhuman Intelligence! is fourth book of the "Don't Tell My Parents" series by Richard Roberts, and is a prequel to the events of the first four books, taking place in the ...
- 207k
28
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is Jabba the Hutt: The Art of the Deal's title a deliberate reference?
Disclaimer: Please keep this as apolitical as possible while still answering the question.
The Dark Horse graphic novel Jabba the Hutt: The Art of the Deal was released 11 years after the more well ...
- 66.6k
6
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What happened to the third "Dalek" movie?
In the Wikepedia article on Daleks – Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D., it is stated that a third Dalek movie was considered but was never realised. The claim is that it was to be based upon the serial The ...
user66716
4
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Do earlier books in the Witcher series already reference the Arthurian legend?
The last novel in Andrei Sapkowski's Witcher saga, The Lady of the Lake, draws heavily from the Arthurian legend, from its obvious title, to the naming of characters like Nimue and the Fisher King, ...
- 3,109
4
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Dark Tower references in other works of Stephen King or vice versa
I recently started re-reading the Dark Tower saga (just finished part IV: Wizard and Glass, probably my favorite part in the series) and noticed some links with other work of Stephen King. For ...
- 1,663
7
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Why should god bless Lili St. Cyr?
In the song Don't Dream It, Be It, Janet (Susan Sarandon) finishes the number with the line
God bless Lili St. Cyr!
Lili St. Cyr was essentially famous for getting naked a lot, especially on camera. ...
- 68.5k
16
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Rocky Horror Picture Show sci-fi references
In the opening theme to the Rocky Horror Show, the films that are being made reference to are relatively easy to identify. But, besides the obvious Frankenstein, how many other films are alluded to ...
user66716
3
votes
0
answers
240
views
Has Marvel ever referenced the song "Catch Me Now I'm Falling?"
"Catch Me Now I'm Falling," by the Kinks is written from the perspective of Captain America.
I remember, when you were down
And you needed a helping hand
I ...
- 66.6k
1
vote
1
answer
843
views
Is Starkblast a Song of Ice And Fire reference?
In Stephen King's The Dark Tower: The Wind Through the Keyhole, there is a storm called the starkblast, which is a very cold wintery storm that comes on very suddenly.
In a George RR Martin's Song of ...
- 1,837
9
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Does Marvel Comics exist in the the DC universe?
We know from this question that DC Comics, or at least some of its properties, exist in the Marvel Universe.
Is the reverse true? Have any DC comics shown or implied that Marvel Comics, or any of its ...
- 66.6k
4
votes
1
answer
955
views
Why was Alfred's father named Jarvis? (Out-of-Universe)
In the New 52 continuity, Alfred Pennyworth's father is named Jarvis Pennyworth.
However, there was already a very well-known comic book butler named Jarvis; Edwin Jarvis, the butler of Tony Stark ...
- 66.6k