The Times is reporting that Ridley Scott, director of “Alien” and director of the venerable “Blade Runner,” has declared that science fiction is dead. In the article, Scott says that the genre has lost its originality and it’s all been written before.

I can see where he’s coming from. Yes, it’s pretty hard to think of a completely original science fiction story anymore. Want to write a story about an idealistic scientist’s struggle to save an aging observatory, only to make a world-changing discovery? Well, it was done in “Contact.” Or maybe a menacing alien robot bent on destruction? You’re bound to come face-to-face with the gleaming red eye of the “Terminator” sooner or later. How about a film that shows the consequences of altering the past? There’s the “Back to the Future” trilogy.

The truth is, no story is original—that’s what makes them accessible. All stories, be they historical fiction like “Gladiator,” Fantasy, like “Legend,” or Science Fiction, like “Alien,” explore themes that get at the heart of what it means to be human. Those themes are what give a story its draw and its power. It doesn’t matter if the story follows aliens, alimony, or aloe plants. If it gets an audience to think about a theme without being dull, it’s going to be a success.

I’m a huge fan of the style in “Alien”, so I’m sorry to see Ridley Scott leave us. I guess one positive thing we can draw from this is that “Alien” has already had an irrevocable influence on the genre. He may not be writing new science fiction, but the best elements of his style, like our most cherished themes, are unlikely to disappear.

You did good work, Sir Ridley. We’ll take it from here.