The Book Lightwalker Files

Long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away …

Oops! Wrong opening.

But it was a long time ago, while I was entering my teenage years, I saw my very first science fiction show, ever. Or at least, it passed as sci-fi in those days. Dad bought us our first TV set in 1965—the old black-and-white cabinet style that took five minutes to turn on. The movie was titled Teenagers from Outer Space, and it featured an alien crew no more than 18 years ...

Isn’t it strange how often the word “devil” pops up in sci-fi? Usually it’s a general term for a variety of other negative things.

1) In “Shore Leave,” Captain Kirk called his old tormentor Finnegan “my own personal devil.” 2) “The Doomsday Machine” had Commodore Decker claiming the conical weapon which had destroyed his starship was the devil. 3) Captain Pike in “The Menagerie” was sent to a “le...

Last week, I talked about several Star Trek episodes that depicted threatening, frightful gods who demand obeisance without compassion. However, no film has shown the common attitude of ancient gods more than the 1981 movie, Clash of the Titans.

I know there has been an updated version made in 2010. Though I haven’t seen it, I understand from those who have, and from reviews on-line, that it was far more violent, and it went in different directions than ...

AUTHOR NOTE: For the past two weeks, I’ve been unable to log onto Facebook because the Wi-Fi administrator at my new place has blocked all access. With the help of others, I’m trying to get it back, but it’s a battle. Please pray for me.”

It’s interesting how often science fiction deals with one or two people, all alone in a strange world. In The Twilight Zone’s “Two” (

When you hear the phrase “peace negotiations,” what naturally pops into your head? Do you think of sitting down and rationally talking through the issues, and coming to a solution beneficial to both sides? This would be the ideal. Unfortunately, peace negotiations in the world usually means bickering, backbiting, slanderous accusations, and a war of words that ultimately amounts to … nothing.

In The Next Generation’s “Loud as a Whispe...

Normally, I don’t care for war stories, whether in sci-fi or in earthbound settings. The series Babylon 5, for instance, completely turns me off; in spite of preaching peace, it shows one war after another, constant battling. I guess this appeals to many fans, but I keep wondering: If they truly want peace, why are they so fascinated by war?

However, it is not my place to judge, so I will keep the question largely to myself. I only know that to grab my own i...

In 1994, a new sci-fi series began (and lasted only one season). On Earth 2, the world as we know it is so polluted, only a handful of residents remain; the rest have escaped to space stations. The evil government (a common stereotype) had agreed to let Devon Adair’s crew leave to search for another Earth to colonize. But then they hear a broadcast scheduled for the next day, reporting an “unfortunate accident” in which their ship blew up, and no one survived. So wh...

Our blog chain topic for June is “Pursuit,” and I found myself in a quandary where to focus my remarks. So many scenes in sci-fi are about reaching the finish line first, or about chasing and being chased. I finally wrote one about Starfleet’s ongoing war with the Romulans; as of last week, the blog had been ready to go. Then I saw Gene Roddenberry’s 1974 movie The Questor Tapes for the first time in years, and I felt it had a lot more potential for carrying the...

Part 6 of 6 on the “next generation” of space travelers.

In honor of Mother’s Day, May’s blog chain theme is “Nurture,” and in that spirit I present a story of two little boys in science fiction, one of whom is my own invention. This also finishes my series on children in space, so it works out perfectly.

I have indicated throughout this series that children need to be seen in space more often. Contrary to the ideas of ...

Regardless of their philosophical bent, there’s one thing all science fiction has in common. The story begins when somebody asks “what if” such-and-such was true? The 1999 movie Galaxy Quest, for instance, asks, “What if aliens received TV sci-fi transmissions and thought everything they saw on the screen was real?”

Jason Nesmith (played by Home Improvement funnyman Tim Allen) plays Captain Taggart as a good caricature of Kirk. Th...