Overused Science Fiction Cliches: or, 'You Mean, Beings of Pure Energy Isn't a New Idea?'

Well, that's interesting:

• "The Grand List Of Overused Science Fiction Cliches"
  Television Tropes & idioms

This might be a useful guide for the writer. If that brilliant(?) idea shows up in this list, put it on the bench and do a full diagnostic to see if there's something - anything - original, or even interesting, in the idea.

Actually, there are four lists:

• Overused Sci Fi Storylines (Section I)
• Overused Sci Fi Settings (Section II)
• Overused Sci Fi Plot Devices (Section III)
• Overused Sci Fi Silly Science (Section IV)

Oddly enough, I'd been thinking about using something from Section I: "Brain-controlling parasites attempt to wrest control of human race." I still think I've got a relatively fresh angle on this, but: Yeah, I'm going to be studying the lists. Quite a bit.

By the way, although this one's a cliche, it may be a cliche for a reason:

"People connect their brains directly to computers and get dependent on them."

See:

• "Next-Generation Prosthetic Hand - and Intel Says Direct Neural Interface Brain Chips by 2020"
  Apathetic Lemming of the North (December 2, 2009)
• "Good News, Neural Devices Connect Brain, Computers: Bad News, Same Thing"
  Apathetic Lemming of the North (July 11, 2009)

And: Yes, neural interfaces are in the research & development stage; but aren't (quite) on the market yet.

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A tip of the hat to irish_brigid, for the heads-up on this part of 'TV Tropes.'