Star Trek: Phase II. In the 1970s Paramount wanted to start a new television network, and they wanted to launch it with a new Star Trek series, bringing back together as many of the old crew as they could. Only, it didn’t happen. Instead, the pilot story, “In Thy Image,” became Star Trek: The MotionContinue reading “On Star Trek: Phase II”
Category Archives: General
On Language and Its Uses
Like it or not, “ain’t” is a word. Etymologists treat it as a word; historically it’s the contraction of “am not.” It functions as a word in speech. Yes, you’re unlikely to find “ain’t” in written English, but you will find it in spoken English, but that doesn’t make it any less of a word.Continue reading “On Language and Its Uses”
On Middle-Earth Nomenclature
Discover thy name as a…. Hobbit Elf Dwarf Orc Or, discover who (or what) you were in a past life in Middle-Earth. For myself, I was: Bilbo Millbanks from Yale (as a Hobbit). Arhis (though some records list me as Arhision) as an Elf. Báin Loreboot (as a Dwarf, naturally). Grishalûk the Atrocious (my OrcContinue reading “On Middle-Earth Nomenclature”
On George Harrison
My favorite Beatle depends as much upon what day of the week it is as it does upon my mood for that day. Some days my Beatles-sense revolves wholly around John, other days Paul, sometimes George, sometimes Ringo. I have a favorite Beatle to the same extent that I have a favorite Doctor; I likeContinue reading “On George Harrison”
The Psi Phi Summit Report
I’m on the spot, all attention in the ballroom is focused upon me as a microphone dangles in my face. “‘Enter the Wolves,’ what did you think?” asks Howard Weinstein, an insistant look upon his face. I had fallen victim on one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is never get involvedContinue reading “The Psi Phi Summit Report”
On Getting the Job
Good news, everybody! I think I might’ve mentioned it a time or three, but I work for Electronics Boutique. You’re probably familiar with it; it’s one of the world’s leading software and video game retailers, and I’ve been working for them for close to two years now in a variety of capacities. What began asContinue reading “On Getting the Job”
On Saavik's Vulcan-ness
I have a friend Bob. He lives in Canada. He’s a wee bit daft, as this quotation shows: I don’t think it’s that easy to play a Vulcan. You have to have that intangible quality about you. [Leonard] Nimoy and [Tim] Russ have it. Kirstie Alley did not. What!? Kirstie Alley didn’t have the intangibleContinue reading “On Saavik's Vulcan-ness”
On Who Should Play Who
Who would make a good Doctor Who? I’ve been giving it some thought, and there are some people I think would make a good television Doctor and some people who would make a good film Doctor, and the lists don’t really cross. I’ll leave aside Paul McGann. I would love to see McGann have anotherContinue reading “On Who Should Play Who”
On a Force of Nature
James Tiberius Kirk. Kirk’s life had a purpose. Kirk’s life had a drive. Kirk was not just a man, he was a force of nature. He dared gods to strike him down, and walked away to tell the tale. Dying on Veridian III was an ending so mundane that I was insulted because the deathContinue reading “On a Force of Nature”
On the Young Sherlock Holmes
You might have heard — Granada Television is about to revive Sherlock Holmes for British television, rolling the clock back and looking at Holmes and Watson in the early years of their partnership. A Holmes mailing list I subscribe to has been filled with messages the past few days bemoaning this, saying on one handContinue reading “On the Young Sherlock Holmes”