Blinded me with Science (Fiction)

LaVar Burton was everywhere in the 1990s, which helped make it the greatest decade. I understand that fact is now featured in every 6th grade history book.

 Although I’ve already mentioned it, 7-year-old me would be disappointed that I haven’t had the opportunity to travel to space or own a jet pack.

I’m disappointed as well.

The 1990s proved to be a relatively interesting time for science fiction, as it marked the 20th anniversary of “Star Wars,” years of strong ratings and prosperity for “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and its spin-offs, the introduction of the Sci-Fi television network and the breeding grounds for a number of TV shows based on out-of-this-world adventures.

For 7-year-old me, most of his exposure to sci-fi were through cartoons and TV shows, most of which were so-so at best, including Power Rangers, ReBoot and Biker Mice From Mars (a thinly veiled attempt to profit off of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). Even the Turtles faced intergalactic threats, along with other superheroes like Spider-Man and the X-Men -- it was everywhere.As I had mentioned before, there was something especially intriguing about space, about the unknown, to a younger me. In many ways, media has helped me to think differently about that unknown, embrace that greater world around me. And thankfully, that feeling holds true today.

Throughout most of my adolescence and today, Star Wars has been my drug of choice in the science fiction world, but I probably have to attribute this to my 7-year-old counterpart’s relationship with Star Trek (which was aided in no small part to my love of LaVar Burton from Reading Rainbow). I don’t know that I watched it religiously, but I do remember watching it on the many little TVs in my house. I also remember that it was my dad who often would take control of the remote during these viewings, an introduction to his enjoyment of sci-fi. While not nearly as obsessive as I’ve become, my dad was a fan of the original series and it was further realized not too long ago during a family viewing of the excellent 2009 re-imagining.

As I stated, my sci-fi property of choice is Star Wars. Like comic books, I have been a fan of Star Wars for a very long time, and my shelves are a testament to that as they are full of the merchandise, figures and books. Not to mention my multiple copies of the movies, on DVD and VHS because I wouldn’t allow myself to own non-original versions of it. My love of Star Wars has its origins from the School Library, where I would often look at the colorful Star Wars picture books (they had “A New Hope” and “Empire Strikes Back”), which later led to my persistence that the baby sitter bring over their copy of “Return of the Jedi” one day (I was probably about 11 at the time).

But Star Wars isn’t the only sci-fi property I follow today. Recently I have taken advantage of all our ridiculous cable package has to offer and started watching Doctor Who on BBC America, and even more recently, Battlestar Galactica. It’s a strange thing that I have gotten into these properties that for many years I deemed them “especially nerdy.” It’s further proof that sometimes we need the open mindedness of a 7 year old to try new things despite our preconceived notions.

This one is not an apology, but again, a thanks to 7-year-old me for helping me develop an interest for sci-fi. It may not have led me to become a sports star or the most popular kid in school, but I feel like it’s always helped make me a little more interesting. And hopefully science can get working on that jet pack ASAP.