Space Invaders Trivia Quiz

Answer: War of the Worlds

H.G. Wells first serialized "War of the Worlds" in 1897 in magazines in the UK and United States. This was followed by a novel in 1898. The story of Martians who invade Earth, it's been adapted into so many forms of entertainment. It was famously adapted into a radio programme in 1938 that was narrated by Orson Welles.

Although there were likely not a ton of listeners and not quite the widespread panic that has become part of the legend associated with it, it was reported in newspapers following the broadcast that it caused massive panic.

The book has also been adapted into television series, an album, comic books and movies. In 2005 Steven Spielberg directed a movie version starring Tom Cruise that garnered three Academy Award nominations.

Answer: Paul

Actors and writers Nick Frost and Simon Pegg wrote the screenplay for the 2011 movie "Paul" which also starred Frost and Pegg. They play two sci-fi nerds who meet a snide alien named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) who appreciates cigarettes and alcohol. They travel across America together and help him get back home, while being chased by Secret Service. Jason Bateman plays the agent on the case and Sigourney Weaver plays 'the big guy', his female boss.

The movie is a sci-fi parody that gives nods to the genre and plots that include conspiracies and aliens who just want to get back home.

It won a National Movie Ward for Best Movie.

Answer: X-Files

This television show that was created by Chris Carter first aired in 1993. It follows two FBI agents, Fox Mulder (played by David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson). Mulder is an agent who earnestly investigates strange phenomenon and Scully is the agent who is initially assigned to work with him to keep an eye on him.

Although they investigate all kinds of mysterious and unexplained events, the main theme and driving force behind Mulders obsession with the unexplained is the truth about aliens. Throughout the series, the agents uncover the truth about alien existence and the governments awareness of it, involvement in it and the lengths taken to cover it up. Mulder and Scully both have first hand encounters with aliens that impact their lives in dramatic ways.

Answer: Doctor Who

"Doctor Who" first aired in 1963 on the BBC in the UK. It's the story of an alien Time Lord who time travels and saves the Earth from various invaders and threats. The Doctor looks like a human but has two hearts and can take on the form of a new body when the existing one becomes damaged.

This ability to regenerate is brilliant because different actors can play the doctor. In 2017 the Doctor was played for the first time by a woman. Each version of the Doctor has unique personality traits but all Doctors are tied together into a single overall storyline.

The Doctor is accompanied by various companions, some from Earth and some not, and this makes for some interesting storylines as the relationships between the travellers develop. The Doctor travels in an old police box called the TARDIS and fights enemies such as Daleks and Cybermen.

Answer: Zaphod Beeblebrox

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" is a comedy sci-fi franchise that was created by Douglas Adams and was originally published as a radio programme. It has been adapted into books, comics, films and plays. It is the story of a human named Arthur Dent who is the last surviving human after Earth is destroyed.

In his space travels he meets the President of the Galaxy, a fascinating character named Zaphod Beeblebrox who is pretty far from being what would typically be considered presidential. Zaphod invented a drink called the Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster, he's been named the "Worst Dressed Sentient Being in the Known Universe" seven times and he's a thief, stealing a ship called the Heart of Gold at the ships unveiling ceremony. Portrayal in books and movies of Zaphod differs as he is portrayed as pretty dumb in movies, including a surfer type portrayal by Sam Rockwell.

A bar called Zaphod Beeblebrox existed in Ottawa, Canada until 2017, serving a drink called the Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster.

Answer: Planet Claire

"Planet Claire" is an upbeat dance number from the very creative Athens, Georgia based band the B-52s. It was the second single released from their debut album and was released in 1979. It hit number forty-three in Australia and number twenty-four on the US dance charts.

The song begins with Morse code, there are no lyrics until two and a half minutes into the song and it samples the "Peter Gunn Theme" from Henry Mancini who has a writer credit on the song. It's about a woman from a planet called Claire.

The woman "drives a Plymouth Satellite faster than the speed of light."

Answer: Earth Girls Are Easy

The 1988 movie "Earth Girls Are Easy" was based off a song of the same name by Julie Brown. The movie was directed by Julien Temple, who is known for working on off-beat projects. Julie Brown is in the movie as a character named Candy Pink who is the friend of Valerie Gail (played by Geena Davis). Gail is a Valley Girl manicurist who just broke up with her fiancé for cheating on her. Jeff Goldblum, Damon Wayans and Jim Carrey play three furry aliens who come to Earth looking for female companionship.

They meet Valerie and Candy Pink who shave their fur off, revealing three good looking aliens who look like humans. Valerie and Mac, played by Jeff Goldblum, begin a relationship that is complicated because she is human and he is alien. The movie was adapted into a very short-lived stage show with Kristin Chenoweth in the role of Valerie.

Answer: Tim Curry

"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" was originally a stage musical that was first produced in 1973 by Richard O'Brien. O'Brien wrote the screenplay for the movie and had a role in it. It is about a young, naive young engaged couple who get stranded and end up at a creepy looking house asking for help.

When they go inside, they meet up with aliens who are there for an annual convention. The head of the house is Dr. Frank-N-Furter who is a mad scientist and transvestite who seduces the young couple. He is played by Tim Curry who gives an absolutely over the top performance as the scientist, mostly in fishnet stockings, punk rock inspired lingerie and a wig.

He not only seduces the couple but also makes a living man named Rocky. Eventually the servants hold a coup, declaring Frank a failure and taking over.

Answer: Ghost

The little alien becomes stranded and separated from his fellow aliens in this Steven Spielberg directed movie. E.T. is discovered by a young boy named Elliott who he develops a close connection with. They learn to communicate and E.T. tells Elliott that he wants to go home.

The government of course want to intervene and capture the alien and so Elliott, along with his older brother, devise a plan to try to help E.T. On Halloween night, they sneak him out of the house by dressing him up as a ghost and he goes waddling through the neighbourhood with the kids. Elliott gets E.T. to the forest where he is able to communicate with his home planet and let them know they should come and collect him.

Answer: Scream

"Alien" is a 1979 sci-fi horror movie directed by Ridley Scott. A ship from Earth comes upon a deadly alien species that invades their ship and kills the crew one by one. The movie stars Sigourney Weaver, John Hurt, Ian Holm and Harry Dean Stanton and won an Academy Award and three Saturn Awards.

It was marketed with the iconic tagline "In space, no-one can hear you scream" and was a commercial success. It has become a franchise with more movies, comics, toys and video games but was initially met with mixed reviews.

Some critics were not fans of sci-fi and reviews including by Leonard Maltin were not positive. Despite this, it has been incredibly successful and very influential in the genre of sci-fi.