There are some niggling plot holes in almost any story. Even if it’s just a coincidence that defies our suspension of disbelief. Then there’s the plot holes that seem to negate an entire book, film, or maybe even a franchise.

I like plot holes. I enjoy looking for them, I like finding them, I get a kick out of debating them with others. Here’s a look back at some of the great science fiction/fantasy plot holes of yore in honor of my completely plot-hole-less Molly Fyde series:

Star Wars

Can’t remember where I saw this one, but it was a hilarious online comic strip of some sort. Dude tells his friend if he was a Jedi, he would totally destroy all the other Jedis. Not because he’d be faster, or have extraordinary skills — he’d just use the force to switch off their light sabers.

And that’s the problem with the force. Too powerful. You have to pretend it’s not there 99% of the time to generate any sort of tension. I mean, if you can toss around huge chunks of metal machinery (or lift a sogging wet X-Wing), you should have no problem plucking out eyeballs, collapsing tracheas, bursting hearts, snapping bones, holding eyelids shut, turning people’s guns and sabers on themselves, etc…

Lord of the Rings (Mature Language)

‘Nuff said.

Star Trek (The new one)

This applies to most time travel films wherein the future is actually able to be modified. Why go back in time to punish people for some heinous deed? Why not go back and stop it (and THEN punish them for having committed the offense in some alternate reality)? As much as I loved Star Trek (and LOTR & Star Wars), Parsona could fly through this hole sideways. It also seemed weird that the Klingons couldn’t shoot up the drilling rig when it seemed pretty vulnerable to attack.

More as I think of ’em…