Monday, August 22, 2011

Star Trek Blogfest

Two pieces of business for today! First off, I'm over at From the Write Angle today posting about settings - what I've learned so far & I'm looking for tips. I hope you'll pop on over! :)

And now for the fun stuff...


The lovely Ellie Garret has wonderful taste - she's a Star Trek fan! She's hosting the Star Trek As We Know It Blogfest today. Click on her link to get the list of all the participants.

I've always loved Star Trek. No one in my family has ever liked science fiction or fantasy. In fact, they all hated it then and hate it still. I grew up in a house with only 1 TV. When I stumbled on a Star Trek (orignial series) rerun one day, I fell in love. And my sci fi hating family let me watch it. Every week.

I used to make up scripts in my head when I was supposed to be sleeping. I never wrote any of them down, but I would 'rehearse' them over and over in my head until the characters were in the right spots, the scenes were set and the lines were perfect! I've since watched every episode of every series and all the movies - multiple times. Love it all :)

So my 5 favourite Star Trek things...

  • Spock. Love the ears and the eyebrow! Love the clear thinking, the bluntness, and the humour and sarcasm bathed in logic.
  • Data. I think Brent Spiner does a fabulous job playing the straight man throughout the series and the movies. Love the scene when he gets his emotion chip working and hates the drink :)
  • The Voyage Home. I know! Cheesiness at its best! I love the whales, the jokes, Spock on the bus - all of it!
  • Wrath of Khan. Who doesn't love Khan? Such a great movie - cried like a baby the first time I watched it - you know the scene!
  • the whole world & philosophy. I think Star Trek in all its manifestations attracted me because of the hope for the future. How can you not love a future where money isn't the reason people do things? Where people are equals (although this took Roddenberry some doing & he never quite got to showcase his true vision) and always striving to know more, do more and be more? I can't resist!
So, there you have it. I enjoyed the ST new movie too and can't wait to see where they're going to go with it! Don't forget to check out Ellie's blog for more!

So, how about you? Are you a Star Trek fan? If not, what's a series from childhood that's stayed with you?

***

Please remember to pop on over to From the Write Angle and talk about settings! Thanks :)

85 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Jemi, you have captured the essence of Star Trek with your words! And who didn't dig Data?

Jess said...

Wonderful choices! I'm a new Star Trek fan and I love it! But my #1 series is Star Wars. Loved it since I was five years old and it will stay with me forever!

Jemi Fraser said...

Alex - thank you! Data is probably my all time favourite - great job for a comedian!

Jemi Fraser said...

Jess - I'm a Star Wars fan too! Chewie & R2D2 are my favourites in that one. :)

Old Kitty said...

Awww yay for the whole ST philosophy!! It's a good one and oh how I do wish it'll happen too!!!

Yay for your great ST faves!! Take care
x

Amie Kaufman said...

I've always been a fan, but more a watch-it-when-it's-on fan. I recently got my hands on the whole of Next Generation, and it's going to be one of my WIP finishing celebration items!

Jemi Fraser said...

Old Kitty - thank you! I love the whole ST philosophy - I hope we're heading in that direction!

Jemi Fraser said...

Amie - now THAT's what a call a great celebration treat!! Sounds like a good plan :)

Laura S. said...

I liked Voyager a lot! I used to watch that ST series with my dad. The new movie was pretty awesome. I'm looking forward to the sequel.

My husband and I recently watched The Voyage Home because he'd never seen it. I hadn't seen it since I was kid, but the jokes were still funny!

Jemi Fraser said...

Laura - Voyager was a great series! Love the blending of the 2 crews.

Voyage Home is so fun - love the jokes throughout it! :)

LD Masterson said...

Okay, who remembers this line of Data's and what it referred to:

"Fully, Captain."

(Hint: Picard had just commented that at least Data was still functioning.)

storyqueen said...

I watches Star Trek when I was very little...I think it helped me understand a lot of things about the world...

(I really liked Captain Kirk, but I LOVED Captain Piccard!)

Shelley

Jemi Fraser said...

Linda - I know that scene! Tasha - that's all I'll say. :) Loved that episode too!

Jemi Fraser said...

Shelley - It's such a great series. I'm a Picard fan too! :)

LD Masterson said...

Jemi - You got it.

Talli Roland said...

I used to have a massive crush on Captain Kirk. Yes, I know, I know...

Headed over to see your other post!

Jemi Fraser said...

Linda - yay!! That's one of Spiner's great scenes :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Talli - thanks!!

Captain Kirk broke a lot of hearts over the years - I think it had to do with all the interesting lights and shadows created whenever there was a love interest for him :P

Theresa Milstein said...

I'm off to From the Write Angle. Funny-sounding sentence!

Jemi Fraser said...

Theresa - It is, isn't it :)

Anonymous said...

I was a big fan of TNG, but the latest movie caused me to appreciate the original series in a new way -- and it was great to see Nimoy, still acting even though he's ancient!

Jemi Fraser said...

Milo - yes! I love Nimoy - he's got that special something for sure!

Jemi Fraser said...

Karen - thank you! I think Star Trek is a seriously cool idea and Roddenberry did a great job bringing his vision to life! :)

Unknown said...

the trek universe is saved, you have captured it...

captain, we've got whales.

jeremy

Laila Knight said...

I would love to be living Star Trek right now. Do you remeber Kirk's comment about how Spock got his head caught in an electric rice picker. They were all hilarious. :)

Ellie Garratt said...

You've summed up what Star Trek means to so many people perfectly. Loved this post!

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

I bet you just liked the whales.

Lisa Gail Green said...

OH YEAH I was a HUGE Trekky (or Trekkor so I don't offend anyone). I even *gasp* went to conventions. OMG this is now going to be on the Internet! LOL. I agree about Data, and since I'm admitting stuff? I had a HUGE crush on Captain Kirk.

Jemi Fraser said...

Jeremy - we do indeed have whales!! Love that scene :) Thanks!

Jemi Fraser said...

Laila - I'd forgotten that line! So glad you reminded me - so many great lines! So much humour, sometimes very subtle too :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Ellie - thank you! I've long been a fan of the show - can't resist when they rerun all the movies!!

Jemi Fraser said...

Michael - and you'd be right! I've always been a huge fan of whales - the show was the icing on the cake :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Lisa - it's on the internet FOREVER! Convention Lisa - any photos of costumes? :P

I love the amount of people with huge Kirk crushes! I always preferred Spock & Sulu! :)

Isis Rushdan said...

Refreshing list that really captures why we all enjoyed it so much. Glad to see Khan made the list :).

Jemi Fraser said...

Isis - gotta love Khan!! Thank you. Star Trek really 'hit' me when I was a kid and it's never really let me go. :)

Emy Shin said...

The first (and only) time I watched Star Trek was the 2009 Reboot movie. But I adore that one so much, and consider myself a fan. Does that count? :)

I love Spock. Yes, the eyebrows! So much love for those.

Star Trek turned me into a huge Sci-Fi fan, so it will always have a special place in my heart.

Jemi Fraser said...

Emy - really??? Hard to imagine... :)

I love Spock too - the eyebrow is AWESOME!

ST opened the whole world of sci-fi and then fantasy to me as well. LOVE it!

julie fedderson said...

The whole philosophy is what made Star Trek so awesome and unique, not to mention the hope for a better future. I still dream of a day where people everywhere in hospitals will be screaming "Doc gave me a pill and I grew a new kidney!"

Jemi Fraser said...

Julie - I agree - the dream is all. Wouldn't it be awesome. Love that scene in Voyage Home!

M Pax said...

I like how you picked the whole world & philosophy. It's certainly one of Star Trek's most endearing qualities. The Voyage Home is my favorite movie, too. Cheesy or not, it's great.

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

I'm an ST fan but not like you guys.

Jemi Fraser said...

Mary P - thank you! I agree - the philosophy is the core of it all :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Mary - lol :) There are fans and then there are fans! I've had so many good memories from reading all these posts today!

Rosalind Adam said...

I loved the original Star Trek. I still wish I could use the line, "Beam me aboard, Scottie," when I'm tired and I want to go home.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately I am not a Star Trek fan. For me the childhood series I most remember watching constantly was Boy Meets World. It was relate able and had an overall good message to send.

Amy said...

Great picks! Gotta love Spock and Data both! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Rosalind - that would be the best! Can you imagine how easy it would be to travel if we could beam ourselves around! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

C'est la Vie - that's another good one. My kids enjoyed watching it ... and now I feel really old! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Amy - I love them both too - something about that serious demeanour while delivering a punch line just gets to me! :)

Hutch said...

Great post, can't agree more with your favs. I watched the Wrath of Kahn and Voyage home so much I wore out the VCR tapes, and I started again..

Jemi Fraser said...

Hutch - thanks! I love those 2 movies - so much fun! I need to get them on DVD someday! :)

Belle Wong said...

The Voyage Home is my absolute favourite Star Trek movie. When I say, I feel like watching Star Trek, my kids try to get to the shelf ahead of me so they can hide it - they KNOW I mean The Voyage Home :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Belle - yay! Another Voyage Home fan!! :) I bet your kids will remember it fondly ... eventually! :)

laughingwolf said...

well done, jemi!

my fave was ds9 [check my post]...

gonna check out your angle, next :O lol

Jemi Fraser said...

Laughing Wolf - I liked DS9 too - Jadzia was my favourite actor on that show! :)

Thanks for checking my angle :)

Michelle Gregory said...

a huge fan, but didn't start watching until the reruns of TOS came out. husband got me hooked.

Tara said...

My father was a sci-fi fanatic - I'm sure I've seen every Star Trek at least 3 times.

Oh, and sadly, Captain Kirk was my first crush. I can't believe I said that out loud. Haha.

Mason Canyon said...

Great list. You included two of my favorites - Spock and Wrath of Khan.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Freelance Editing By Mason

Anonymous said...

I wish I had something to add. I vaguely remember watching Star Trek when I was little, but can't remember much.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

I wasn't a big fan, but I did watch Star Trek as a kid...and loved Spock. :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Michelle - I got hooked on the Original too - reruns as well. Loved the whole morality side to it as well as the action! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Tara - you wouldn't be the first! Shatner sure created an incredible character! :)

I never could convince my dad to watch with me!

Jemi Fraser said...

Mason - yay! I adore Spock, and there's nothing like Khan! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Medeia - that's okay! I know a lot of people don't enjoy the series - or sci fi at all. That's what makes it all so interesting! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Elizabeth - there really is something about Spock that is so intriguing. Such a great character! :)

Ciara said...

I used to race home from school so I could catch one of the old Star Trek episodes even thought I'd seen them a ton. :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Ciara - that's awesome! There are so many people who have such fond memories - it's amazing! :)

Margo Berendsen said...

I HATE this drink!!! ha ha you got me laughing. I can picture it, his voice too.

I loved your last point - the whole world and philosophy. Most of the characters are noble, even when they mess up. In reality, the Federation would probably be as messed up as any real beaucracy, but we can dream and hope, right? I love that vision.

Jemi Fraser said...

Margo - yes! That's the scene - love it! :)

Me too. It's definitely the philosophy behind the series that gets me. I'm a total sap of course so that helps, but it really is about stretching, reaching and growing! :)

KM Nalle said...

Data/Brent Spiner is wonderful! He was my favorite part of the show. I really enjoyed the latest movie too, can't wait to see if they come out with another one.

Jemi Fraser said...

Kari - I love Data too! Such a great character :)

I think they are supposed to have at least another movie - as long as profits were good - which I think they were!

James Garcia Jr said...

Hi, Jemi. I so love all of the Wrath of Khan mentions. I still get "quiet" during "that" scene. ;)

-Jimmy

Jemi Fraser said...

Jimmy - isn't great how many people love Khan?! Love it :) and that scene is heart breaking.

msmariah said...

Great choices. You can't go wrong with the Wrath of Khan.

Jemi Fraser said...

Mariah - agreed! Khan is well worth a watch!! :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks very much for sharing your list. I especially loved what you said about the outlook and future of Star Trek - partly this is because of Gene Roddenberry's idea of "Technology Unchained."

If you get a chance, check out a fellow writer's zombie story and help me make him wear an embarrassing shirt next year! It's the ultimate grudge match between social media and the zombies. Details are here:
http://kelworthfiles.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/prove-the-zombies-wrong-social-platforms-can-build-readership/

Anonymous said...

My dad was a Trekkie and I watched right along with him on our one black and white television, as well as MASH.

Lola Sharp said...

I love Star Trek! Old, original TV series (dude, Kirk was kinda hot back then!) and all the newer version...and Spock. Love Spock. Though his uber talent of raising one eyebrow began my first, early days of angst trying SO hard in the mirror to do that.

Many years later, I still lament the absence of such a fabulous skill...and yet gave birth (fruit of MY loins!) to a daughter who can raise either eyebrow at will, and do the wave with them! She has complete and total control of them. This kills me. KILLS ME! ;) (srsly, it does.) (I can't roll my Rs either...I cant make that purring sound. This too kills me. But I digress.)

Have a lovely weekend, my friend.
Huggles,
Lola

Jemi Fraser said...

Kel - well - you sure have me intrigued - I'll check it out! :)

Thanks - I think Rodenberry was a true visionary!

Jemi Fraser said...

Cat - I loved MASH as well - another show with both brains and heart. So many great characters in that one too :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Lola - that's so cool! I could never do that either. Serious eyebrow envy over your daughter's abilities! SO jealous!!!!!

As a compensation I can roll my r's - definite bonus of having Scottish parents :)

Julie Musil said...

This cracks me up. I've never sat through even one whole episode of Star Trek. Can you believe it? Am I allowed to come back and visit you or am I banned forever?

Jemi Fraser said...

Julie - you're always welcome! My hubby, my parents, my sister and my kids are all completely with you! They are so NOT sci-fi fans :)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I'm mainly an original star trek fan although I did enjoy all the future star treks and spin offs.

Jemi Fraser said...

Lynda - the original series got me hooked as well, but while I really enjoyed the other spin offs, I became a huge TNG fan.