Interrogating influences in sci-fi novels

In a recent conversation about genre, my friend challenged me to come up with specific examples instead of speaking in vibes. OK fair point 😉 I decided I’d try the same thing looking at how modern SF connects back to older SF books and films, especially after I couldn’t come up with examples of matriarchal societies in SF recently. I’m of course limited here by what I’ve read / watched. Murderbot (2017) pairs the snarkiness of Alan Rickman’s robot in the Hitchhiker’s Guide movie (2005) and the character Lore from Star Trek TNG (1988) with the emotional distance of Imperial Radch‘s Breq (2013). The narrative combines the found family of Becky Chambers’ Long Way (2014) with the forthright, humorous narration of The Martian (2011). Murderbot‘s robots and androids owe little to Asimov (1942), and more to Blade Runner (1982). AI ships are right out of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). To me, the hyper-corporate world tastes more of Fifth Element (1997) than Blade Runner. The Expanse series…