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I know "60s housewives who invented slash fanfiction" has taken on a life of its own as a phrase, but Kirk/Spock didn't really exist until the 70s and THOSE WOMEN HAD JOBS. They were teachers and librarians and bookkeepers and scientists and they damn well spent their own money going to conventions, printing zines, buying fanart and making fandom happen. Put some respect on their names.

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Me when Spock

From TV Guide, April 29-May 5, 1967

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"And on the bridge—Kirk! The mere name made Spock groan inwardly as he remembered what it had cost him to turn away from that welcome. T’hy’la!"

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Thought I’d share this for the benefit of those who might be under the false impression that fandom is only for the young. This is me. We’d just moved to a new apartment, and I was excited to decorate my room with my latest con purchases. This photo was taken 42 years ago. I’m still here. And with any luck, you’ll be wherever the fans are in another 42 years. With a lot more luck, so will I.

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Galactic Discourse Fanzine (1977-1987)

Monopoly: Merle Decker, 1980 || At Ease: Nan Lewis, 1980 || Sledding: Toni Hardeman, 1983 || Pillow Fight: TACS, 1987 || Sand Castles: ERIC, 1987

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Phasers on Stun!: How the Making (and Remaking) of Star Trek Changed the World, by Ryan Britt

Informative, entertaining, and delightful

As a lifelong Star Trek fan, I found Phasers on Stun!: How the Making (and Remaking) of Star Trek Changed the World both very informative and highly entertaining. The book covered things I already knew (for example, how Martin Luther King, Jr., told Nichelle Nichols that she had to remain on the show) , but also went into depth on things I hadn’t known (like the extent to which Nichols was instrumental in getting NASA to diversify the astronaut program, and her subsequent recruiting on NASA’s behalf.)

Like me (and my husband, Mr. Bookwyrm), Ryan Britt is a fan not only of Trek in its many iterations, but also of the ideals and underlying beliefs of Star Trek: its optimism; its vision of a future where all intelligent beings are respected and included regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or even species; and its preference for diplomatic resolution of conflicts (although Starfleet is willing to fight to defend its member planets when necessary.) Britt looks at how those ideals have been represented throughout the various series of Star Trek, from the original series (TOS) to Strange New Worlds. The shows haven’t always lived up to those ideals—it wasn’t until Discovery that a Star Trek series featured openly LGBTQIA+ characters as regulars, for instance—but from the beginning, the Enterprise crew, and by extension Starfleet and Star Trek itself, was diverse in terms of race, gender, and species. (I suspect the original Enterprise crew would have included more alien crew members if the show could have afforded them.) And while Star Trek’s example of embracing diversity is very much aligned with the liberal and Quaker values with which I was raised, TOS and ST:TNG both had a profound effect in shaping my worldview.

In telling the history of the shows and how they impacted and interacted with popular culture and real-world events, Britt includes quotes and stories from a number of Star Trek luminaries, from writers and showrunners to actors. Some of these are drawn from interviews conducted for various articles Britt (a sci-fi and pop-culture journalist) has written over the years; other interviews took place specifically for this book. The interviews and quotes give an insight into the experiences and motivations of the people who made and remade Star Trek, and continue to do so to this day.

Whether you grew up watching one of the Star Trek shows, came to the fandom as an adult, or simply want to understand the wide appeal of the Star Trek universe, I recommend reading or listening to Phasers on Stun! It’s a warm, loving, but not uncritical look at a pop-culture phenomenon that, at over 50 years old, is still relevant, influential, and dynamic.

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Look I just think that if you’ve ever loved Star Trek, Like really loved it (not just had a passing interest or casually consumed it) then it’s gonna be a part of you forever. It injects a little whimsy in you. A little thoughtfulness and curiosity and wonder. I’ll watch Star Trek and every time I do I feel like a little kid staring up at the stars holding onto the grass. I’ll watch Star Trek and every time I’m sitting out sharing a sweater with my friend as we talk about Spock and the sun starts to set. I’ll watch Star Trek and it’s the same feeling of calm awe that I get when I sit in the aquarium.

Aliens aside it’s about humanity. It’s always about humanity and trying to understand despite it all (which I think is a core tenet of humanity). And if that compels you then it’s going to stay with you. No matter if the packaging is a bit silly. Maybe even because the packaging is silly.

Also once you love Spock I don’t think you can stop

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Sometimes I need to remember that this movie is real, and so are these lines.

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Tippi Hedren getting her cigarette lit by a Raven, 1962

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what was Happening in the star trek movies this looks like an on sale romance cover

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Hi!! I just wanted say that I just found your channel a few weeks ago and I am really enjoying your videos!! It's so hard to find compelling analysis of the original series on youtube, but you're videos are really filling that niche! I wish you luck and hope you continue to create cool videos!

Aw, thank you so much! I'm so glad you're enjoying the videos. Though I do have more Star Trek (primarily DS9) on the shortlist for upcoming videos, there may be a little while before more TOS is on the docket. Sorry!

Really appreciate the compliment, and glad I can fill a niche for you! It is kinda wild how conservative (for lack of a better word) TOS analysis/conversations outside of, like, tumblr, skew these days. Getting angry responses to my most recent video about Kirk and Spock being in love has been especially crazy to me, because it's like... guys... this isn't a Me thing. The Youths are not Queering your Good American Star Trek. Spirk is as old as the show itself, guys. GUYS.

Thank you again for your kind words, and thank you for indulging my little aside, there. Have a great day!

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so i was visiting my aunt a few weeks back and we got on the subject of star trek (as it's one of the few commonalities we share anymore).

i asked her about what it was like when twok came out and *that* ending and the look on her face was sheer devastation. then she said,

“you probably don’t remember this, but your uncle and i got married the day ‘search for spock’ came out. we cut the reception short and took the entire wedding party to the theatre- well, MORE than just the wedding party. it became this big group of people that all bailed on the reception because we had to know if spock was going to be okay.”

yes, she went to sfs in her wedding dress.

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A new video all about Kirk and Spock is out now!

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Proof of the above exchange can now be found in the first minute-and-a-half of my latest video essay, if you're the curious type!

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