O is for Orion

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Orion

Constellation Orion

I not only love science fiction and fantasy, but I love science as well--especially astronomy. And Orion is my favorite constellation. It contains the Orion nebula (M42), the stars Betelgeuse and Rigel and is one of the easiest to locate thanks to the hunter's (Orion's) belt and sword, often mistaken for the big or little dipper.

My love of fantasy began in my teens when I encountered Tolkien's work, but my love for science fiction began even earlier. The night sky has always left me in awe, whether viewing it through a telescope, binoculars or the naked eye.

As an adolescent, I would lie on the roof of our house and stare at the stars for hours on end. I'd imagine what it would be like to travel among them, praying that one day it would be possible.

But to keep true to my theme, I find myself obligated to mention the green Orion slave girls of Star Trek, of whom it's said no man can resist.

I fell in love with astronomy, in large part, due to Orion. So thanks to Orion, I fell in love with science fiction and fantasy too.

The Orion Nebula (M42)

N is for Leonard Nimoy

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Leonard Nimoy.

Before I begin, let me just state for the record that anyone claiming to be a fan of science fiction, but not a fan of Leonard Nimoy, is a heretic and should be subjected to the Vulcan nerve pinch immediately. Just sayin'.

He made his role as Spock on Star Trek one of most recognized and loved science fiction characters ever created.

This actor has one of the most distinctive voices in the industry. Scan his list of credits on IMDB and notice how many credits appear where only his voice was featured--including The Big Bang Theory. (Took them long enough!)

Having just turned eighty-two years old last month, his acting credits, starting in the early 1950s, has spanned more than sixty years. And he's still going strong.

Leonard Nimoy is the most logical reason why I love science fiction and fantasy.

Mr. Nimoy, I have been, and always shall be, your fan.

M is for Merlin

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Merlin.

I can't recall ever reading or watching a depiction of Merlin that didn't fascinate or entertain me on some level. This wizard has surfaced in tales and shows I'd never have expected.  Even Stargate!

Everything about him is rooted in mystery. The source of his allegiances. The nature of his beliefs. His origins.  He's been rumored to be ageless, an alien, aging backwards, and the list goes ever on.  And no one seems to agree on how much power he really possessed.

I have to stop and wonder how much of a role the legend of Merlin played in J. R. R. Tolkien's mind when he created Gandalf.

But whether wizard, magician or merely a mysterious mortal, Merlin is one reason why I love science fiction and fantasy.

Sunday Surfing

Flogging the Quill

Why Do We Keep Making Ebooks Like Paper Books?

Feeling Rejected? Join the {Prestigious} Crowd

Style, Fear and the Bias Against Creativity

Horatio Nelson Fiction Prize at Black Balloon Publishing

The Other Face of Rejection

The 9 Ingredients of Character Development

LTUE: First person POV

How can story writers and book authors hook their readers?

Very fascinating and a little spooky: Where No Search Engine Has Gone Before

Progress on my Magic Muse writing workbench application is coming along rather nicely thus far.  I'm still dealing primarily with interface design, trying to determine what features to implement and how they best function.

I'm sure the appearance will change as development continues, but here is a screenshot of how some of the windows look now.

Click image for larger size display

L is for Lightsabers

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of lightsabers.

On rare occasions, a person pulls something from their imagination that fires the imagination of others. George Lucas did exactly that when he created the ultimate weapon for the ultimate warrior.

Science fiction is replete with pulses and beams of light flying across the screen--or page.  Armories 'R Us sells ray guns, blasters, lasers and phasers at deep discounts from their oversized cargo holds every time they dock at a space station.

But lightsabers?  They're the perfect weapon. Reach back in time and grab a hilt from the surest of swords.  Pull from the future a most lethal blade of glowing force to add to it.  Combine that with some cool sound effects and let the dance begin. 

That meter's worth of light attached to a hilt lets your flair for swordplay flare.  It's what the Jedi do.

Lightsabers are definitely a reason I love science fiction and fantasy.

For the civilized warrior

K is for Kirk

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Kirk, Captain James Tiberius--the only man to ever win the no-win scenario. (And in two different timelines!)

Back in the 1960s, sci-fi wasn't exactly mainstream.  Gene Roddenberry pitched the concept of Star Trek to NBC as a wagon train through the stars.  The "western" setting even surfaced in an episode or two.

William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk

But everyone knows Captain James T. Kirk. He's bested everyone from Harry Mudd to the Klingons and done so in more places and in more time periods than almost anyone.

He was a worthy competitor at chess, but poker was his game.  And he bluffed the best of them.

Roddenberry, through Kirk and his crew, opened the door for science fiction to go mainstream.  Yet another reason I love science fiction and fantasy.

J is for Robert Jordan

I Love Sci-Fi/Fantasy Because...

...of Robert Jordan.

I'm indebted to James Oliver Rigney, Jr. (aka Robert Jordan) because he inspired me to write fantasy.

Robert Jordan

The man was a creative genius. Oftentimes accused of being verbose, not to mention writing huge books comprising a huge series, he possessed a priceless talent.  He had a way of grouping and arranging twenty-six little letters that fired my imagination. Paint a picture with words? Jordan was a master at it.

One would be hard-pressed to find another world so fully rounded, so intricately detailed and yet so incredibly fascinating as the world he created for Wheel of Time.

I still recall the day I read of his passing. I was eating lunch at my desk at work and literally gasped.  A titan had fallen.  And he is sorely missed.

Robert Jordan, with the entertaining characters and immense world he brought to life, is high on my list for why I love science fiction and fantasy.