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Choosing the most famous science fiction characters is no easy task these days, with the explosion in popularity of the genre. After a lot of soul-searching, a few impromptu opinion polls, and a brutal ransacking of science fiction section of the New York Public Library's 58th Street Branch (sorry for the mess, Mrs. Lafferty) I have come up with the definitive list of the seven most famous characters in science fiction:

THE SEVEN MOST FAMOUS CHARACTERS IN SCIENCE FICTION

1. Frankenstein. Well, strictly speaking it's Frankenstein's monster, but if you ask just about anyone who Frankenstein is, they'll be able to tell you, and even draw you a picture. Mary Shelly's story, published in 1818, is considered by many to be the first work of science fiction so it's appropriate that Frankenstein's monster should lead off this list.

2. Superman. I place Superman at number two because an impromptu poll failed to discover a single person - not even an old codger! - who could explain who Buck Rogers was, but everyone knew all about the man of steel.

3. Mr. Spock. I would've gone with Captain James T. Kirk at number two, except that he wasn't in the first Star Trek episode, whereas Mr. Spock was. And most people know what the Vulcan salute is - even when they can't do it themselves.

4. Captain James T. Kirk. Everyone I polled had heard of Captain Kirk, and one old lady could even "sing" one of those songs he did in the Priceline commercials.

5. Darth Vader. This menacing figure is instantly recogizable. Actually, the whole Star Wars gang fares pretty well in terms of fame. The actor who played R2-D2 says that he's been told his character is an icon in the gay community.

6. Dr. Who played by Tom Baker. Dr. Who started in 1963 and is now on its tenth Doctor, but Tom Baker, the fourth Doctor, who played the role from 1974 to 1981 was far and away the most recognized Doctor in my polling. In fact, he was the only Doctor who was recognized, which perhaps has something to do with the way the shows have been aired in North America.

7. Spiderman. The success of the movie franchise has made the character of Spiderman world-famous, and to a generation that never read the comic book because they were too busy playing video games.

So there you have it: the definitive list of the seven most famous science fiction characters. These characters are known by nearly everyone, nearly everywhere. And rightly so, for they are the creations of some of the most imaginative minds ever to live among us.

Learn more about this author, David Riel.
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