I was around five years old in the early 1980s, watching the original “Star Trek” series on the weekends with my father on KTLA, channel 5 in Los Angeles. I fondly recall the episode “Shore Leave”. Around that time, “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” was in theatres. It was on cable television quite a lot following its run on the big screen. From there, the stories, characters, and vision for the future of humanity intrigued me. Decades and several related films and shows later, I’m still captivated. Welcome to my “Star Trek” blog.
So, what got me to open shop in this corner of the universe? Well, there are a few warped factors. Recently, my girlfriend and I attended STLV, the “Trek to Vegas” convention in early August. This was my first convention since sneaking into the Grand Slam Convention in Pasadena, CA in 2000. That’s another story, however, this was Tori’s first major experience in the vast world of Trek fandom. We came home with some very memorable encounters and experiences. Among the opportunities to speak with cast members, the celebrity panels, and vendors was one thing that stood out: It was the fans that comprise a unique and diverse community of the most [not only] passionate, but friendly and polite people you could ever find.
I’ve always enjoyed writing, but I’ve struggled to find the proper outlet. In the past, I was a short fiction editor for a literary journal for about a year. I was encouraged to look into starting my own thing. Going back even further, I was the president of my high school’s speech and debate team during my senior year. During freshman year, I did an expository presentation on “Star Trek” and managed to win some awards and even qualify for the state-level competition in 1992. I had no idea as a teenager that I would have more to say about Trek over thirty years later on something called, “the Internet”.
On the web, like many of you, I have read my share of Trek related articles. It’s amazing how accessible and convenient it is now to stay up to date on the franchise. We’ve come a long way since the bi-monthly print publication of “The Official Fan Club” and “Communicator”, which was run by the devoted and inspirational, Dan Madsen. However, “Star Trek” is no exception to being vulnerable to some of the trappings of the Internet, such as click-baiting and forum infighting, although it’s much worse in other sectors.
My goal is to provide a glimpse into my observations and opinions as they relate to ST. I will also delve into bits of history, along with interviews with those associated with ST whether they be artists, actors, behind the scenes, or even certain fans. I’m also interested in connecting “Star Trek” to the real world, which I’ll attempt to bridge the gap between its stories and how they apply to our realm in the 21st century. If I could, I would also give you the weather report on Risa, but I hear it’s nice most of the time. At any rate, I aim to offer content with substance, while occasionally having fun with the fluff. Yes, I’ve made room for a few tribbles. I wish to not only serve my own creative needs as a writer, but above all, to serve the ST community. If I’ve done that to any degree then I’ve done my job.
Like classic Trek, we’ll probably be leaving Spacedock with a few loose ends to tie along the way. You know how Starfleet is with their deadlines. I imagine I’ll be learning a lot along this journey and I hope you will, as well. We don’t need a starship to be explorers, as long as we have an imagination and an open mind. See you out there.
Engaged,
~Andy K. Smith