About 10 years ago, my husband and I found out there was going to be a convention for our favorite science fiction obsession, “Battlestar Galactica.” We decided to go. Then we discussed going as Viper pilots. “You know,” I said. “If we dress up for this this convention, we will officially be nerds.”
He said, “That ship sailed a long time ago.” Good point.
So we went, and we donned our Galactica patches and our hexagonal dog tags, and we got to see some of the creators and stars of our favorite show talking about all the behind-the-scenes stuff, and we met James Callis in the elevator. We were as excited as little kids. And I started thinking about why so many of us love science fiction.
If books and movies and TV are an escape, then sci fi and fantasy are even more so. And it’s not just an escape – it’s an escape to another world, or another universe. What better way to forget about the day-to-day stresses of life and the bad news of the world than to go to Westeros for a while? Who wouldn’t want to visit Rivendell, or Caprica, or Deep Space Nine?
In the movie “The Neverending Story,” the old man in the bookstore asks Bastian: “Have you ever been Captain Nemo, trapped inside your submarine while the giant squid is attacking you?” Yes! Books do that to you. So do movies and TV shows. The good ones, anyway.
And when we wear the costumes of our favorite characters, whether it’s for a convention, a Renaissance fair or a Halloween party, we get to pretend we are that character, and that’s an escape too. And it might be really nerdy, but it’s fun.
If you like sci fi too, check back with me on my blog, and I’ll keep you up to date on the coolest science fiction news and happenings.
Grab your gun and bring in the cat.
Earth to Shawna 