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This is a link post Lunchtime reading: the Battle of Hoth
Okay, I know. It's quite sad. But this is a very, very nerdy analysis of the Battle of Hoth, and why it was a military disaster.
"When Vader enters the Hoth System with the Imperial Fleet, he’s holding a winning hand. What follows next is a reminder of two military truths that apply in our own time and in our own galaxy: Don’t place unaccountable religious fanatics in wartime command, and never underestimate a hegemonic power’s ability to miscalculate against an insurgency."

Also, there's a sequel, in which actual military historians, political analysts and such respond to the article.

It's like those conversations you had at 3am as a student, but involving people who really should know better.
 (I helped save b3ta! Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Fri 15 Feb 2013, 13:21, , Reply)
This is a normal post One thing that always bugs me in sci-fi movies
is aerodynamically designed spaceships that will never enter an atmosphere.
 (I helped save b3ta! Brandy_Bumwinkle, Fri 15 Feb 2013, 13:34, , Reply)
This is a normal post ...
One of the minor details of a good SF film is spaceships that look like spaceships: Discovery and Alexei Leonov in 2000/ 2010, Nostromo in Alien, and so on. Even the Borg cube things.

See also Chris Foss' wonderfully ugly spacecraft...
 (I helped save b3ta! Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Fri 15 Feb 2013, 13:44, , Reply)
This is a normal post The Star Destroyers are designed to enter an atmosphere - e.g. Clone Wars
The design of the USS Enterprise is supposedly to enable smooth warping (and it sometimes enters an atmosphere).
The B-Movie spaceships and flying saucers often moved from atmosphere to space.
Also, you never know when you'll hit a dust cloud or Mutara Nebula.
 (Victoria'sBeard Different political view? I hate you!, Fri 15 Feb 2013, 14:50, , Reply)
This is a normal post I'm now wondering whether there'd be much advantage to making sci-fi spaceships aerodynamically efficient.
After all, if you're packing enough power to travel faster than light, a bit of wind-resistance in the couple of minutes it'll take you to get into and out of an atmosphere isn't going to make any real difference, is it?
 (I helped save b3ta! Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Fri 15 Feb 2013, 15:14, , Reply)
This is a normal post Interesting read. Daft Vader more like.

(I helped save b3ta! presferatu, Fri 15 Feb 2013, 13:42, , Reply)
This is a normal post This is what happens when
an emo is put in charge of a military force.

EDIT: Are there still emos?
 (I helped save b3ta! Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Fri 15 Feb 2013, 13:49, , Reply)
This is a normal post I haven't seen any since Rod Hull died.

(I helped save b3ta! presferatu, Fri 15 Feb 2013, 14:04, , Reply)
This is a normal post I think they all faded away of ennui.

(I helped save b3ta! Brandy_Bumwinkle, Fri 15 Feb 2013, 15:02, , Reply)
This is a normal post A good lunchtime read

(I helped save b3ta! Jahled Three shades of black, Fri 15 Feb 2013, 13:47, , Reply)
This is a normal post That was good
However I'm struggling to think of a sci-fi battle I've ever seen that didn't display total tactical ineptitude.
 (I helped save b3ta! evil_andy Stick stick stick stick sticky sticky stick stick, Fri 15 Feb 2013, 14:51, , Reply)
This is a normal post Now you mention it...

(I helped save b3ta! Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Fri 15 Feb 2013, 15:11, , Reply)
This is a normal post Hmmmm, 'Battle of Hoth re-enactment weekend' - everyone invited.

(Victoria'sBeard Different political view? I hate you!, Fri 15 Feb 2013, 15:04, , Reply)