I’m generally pretty low key about my involvement in Science Fiction fandom. When folks ask, I don’t deny being a fan. But on the other hand, it’s not exactly the first thing I bring up in a conversation. (Being a computer geek pays a lot better than it did 20 years ago, but “Star Trek geek” doesn’t seem to be particularly high on the list of attributes most girls are looking for.)
Two weeks ago, thanks to my involvement with the Farpoint and Shore Leave conventions, I was invited to an advance screening of the new Star Trek movie.
On Monday, I was contacted by a reporter from the Baltimore Sun who was doing a story about how the existing fan base (he was quite diligent about using the word “Trekkers”) was reacting to the new film.
The article appeared in today’s Baltimore Sun on page one of the Entertainment section.
So much for keeping a low profile….
Tag Archives: Star Trek
Star Trek
I had an opportunity to see the new Star Trek movie on Thursday evening.
Going in, I was concerned, but trying to keep an open mind. The difficulty was that it’s been pretty well publicized that the movie was going to have new actors in the TOS roles. Star Trek: Phase II (formerly Star Trek: New Voyages) has done well with the new actors in familiar roles, so that’s not insurmountable. But there’s a lot of established Trek canon out there (four TV series and 10 movies worth) and anything set in the TOS timeframe has to tread carefully lest the established timeline be contradicted.
Unless you do the unthinkable.
When the movie opens on May 8, some hardcore TOS fans may come away a little disappointed. But new and casual fans may very likely come away with an renewed interest in the franchise.
Trekkies Will Buy Anything that says Star Trek…
I forget where I first heard that rather cynical sentiment, but looking at the vast array of Officially Sanctioned Star Trek™ merchandise available in even fairly mainstream stores (e.g. Target), it’s sometimes difficult to dispute the claim, and even more maddening to find myself falling into that stereotype. (On the other hand, I’ve thus far avoided any temptation to remodel my house to look like the Enterprise™. The existing renovation project was daunting enough on its own.)
Tonight though, I ran across a particularly egregious example of that apparent belief: Think Geek is selling a light switchplate for $17.99 that you can make yourself for less than $5.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love Think Geek and do shop there on occasion. (After all, who doesn’t need an Annoyatron or two from time to time?) I’m also well aware that when you buy from a boutique like that which caters to a particular audience (in this case, geeks like me), you’re going to pay a little more than if you bought the same product elsewhere. The two-to-three hundred percent mark up just seems a bit outrageous is all.
I’ll admit to being curious how many people will buy this product, but I won’t be one of them. (I bought mine 15 years ago and paid considerably less.)
(More on this at the Blah, Blah, Blog.)