The Letters to the Editor department is intended to be a forum for our readers to express their own opinions and ideas. While we appreciate the many complimentary letters we receive each day, you won't find them on this page. Instead, you will find letters that go beyond or even contradict what we have written, letters that offer a different perspective and provide a different view of science fiction.
— Scott Edelman, Editor-in-Chief
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hank you for a voice of reason ("Ars Longa, Election Brevis"). I won't ask which way you voted, that's none of my business. I've lived through enough elections to have learned that we will survive any reasonable choice.
And while I do not think John Kerry was the man to lead our country in our present situation, I also do not believe he is the devil incarnate, just as, pagan that I am, I do not believe George Bush is Nehemiah Scudder come to life to haul me (and all like) off to a concentration camp. I hope the overheated rants from people who should know better, on both sides (some in our own sci-fi community), will soon taper off and we will start really listening to each other again.
I am a conservative, going back to the Goldwater campaign, in which I was active. I did not then, and do not now, "hate" the "other side"—only disagree. Some of the people I disagree with are neighbors and friends. We need to remember that now that the elections are history.
D. Schnyer
gunnera4(at)sover.net
cott Edelman's editorial ("Ars Longa, Election Brevis") this issue points up the competition that exists between politics and literature, rarely mentioned and at this time still undefined, to my knowledge. There is a third competitive faction, too—the entertainment world. For a time, beginning with the Kennedy administration, more and more entertainment and literature was appearing at Washington ceremonies ... Robert Frost, a few far-out musical groups and, of course, some actors. This reached a peak and then seemed to diminish again with the present administration. It seemed hopeful to me that this competition might merge with the government somewhat, expanding the outlook of its policies. But I don't know if this will ever come about; it may be that there will be further conflict instead. Of course, I prefer the literary side of things myself.
I note a letter writer calls out for more Buck Rogers ("Rogers Bucked the System") on television. There's been a lot of those—what does anyone say to a revival on sci-fi TV of Tales of Tomorrow, Captain Video and Science Fiction Theater? Those are some shows I'd like to see again. I hope there will be some more network consideration of a more open format.
John Thiel
thiel(at)dcwi.com
F & F that endures ("Ars Longa, Election Brevis") strikes a long-term chord about the big picture while too often, politicians fail miserably. Unfortunately, there has been no SF & F book of late that has captured a wide audience with a vision of the world we live in or may suffer through in the future.
Ironically, War of the Worlds, published more than a century ago, was inspired by the British Empire's ravaging of Africa. While no American would compare our troops in Iraq with Wells' Martians, there are many looking at this war who would.
Kevin Ahearn
kahearn(at)netpub.net
he Incredibles is indeed an incredible contribution to the genre of superheroes for this decade. The computer animation is brilliant. The talented voices of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee, Elizabeth Pena, Sarah Vowell, Spencer Fox and Brad Bird as E. Mode are all equally superb. Mr. Bird's collaboration with Disney and Pixar never failed to please me as a lover of the superhero universe, and if there is already a planned sequel in the works, I expect it to exceed expectations as well.
I also saw the trailer for Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith, which will probably be the most-talked-about science-fiction blockbuster of 2005. It is bound to be a great New Year.
Michael Anthony Basil
mike.basil(at)sympatico.ca
s I was looking for information regarding Sci-Fi HD programming, I read the letters (issue 385) claiming "High Definition Will Have to Wait." The main reason given being that HD TV sets are expensive. Unfortunately, the author confuses HD TV sets with plasma or LCD sets. True LCD screens might be expensive, but regular "tube" HD TVs exist and are more affordable—but still not cheap, I agree. I bought last year a 32-inch wide HD TV for $1,000.
It's a chicken-egg story: Channels wait for people to have HD TV, when people are waiting for HD programming to exist ... so I am disappointed that SCI FI did not join yet the rank of HD broadcasters and choose a wait-and-see position.
Christophe Jouny
xtof(at)msn.com
am an avid watcher of your new show Ghost Hunters. I had never watched or been interested in the SCI FI Channel before this, but now my husband and I refuse to miss an episode, and we have been turned on to other shows/movies that [the SCI FI Channel airs]. We have also turned family and friends on to the show as well.
We really hope that SCI FI chooses to renew Ghost Hunters. It is such an interesting show and a great group of people, too. It would also be nice if they could travel to other parts of the country to do investigations.
Thank you for your time, and we really urge the SCI FI Channel to renew the show and give us a reason to keep watching. Thanks again and take care.
April Casey
apc71(at)yahoo.com
agree with Ms. Hoffner ("Star Trek Has Become Fun Again"). Those of us who have all but given up on Enterprise (because of its revisionist history and other dramatic shortcuts) should try it again. There is still hope. That is, after all, what Mr. Roddenberry wanted to portray—a positive view of the future. The producers are obviously the crux of the present situation. They are making decisions that are not adequately remaining on target to get us, as the wonderful theme song says, "from there to here." We could go on all day talking about the historical flaws in the show that render the original series ridiculous. In itself a sign of weak regard for what has gone before.
I think her solution is, dare I say, logical. (Sorry, I just couldn't resist.) It has possibilities. Enterprise could perhaps go back in time and change the timestream back to one that would lead to the Federation as we know it. Thus, as she put it, forgetting what would have never happened. Hm-m-m-m! It's not like it's never been done.
And as long as we're on the subject, there were Vulcans in Starfleet other than Spock in the original series. In "The Immunity Syndrome" there was an entire Vulcan-manned starship. There is every reason to believe that, as a founding member of the Federation, the Vulcans would be closely connected with Starfleet, especially as its ultimate purpose is exploration. Also, Spock said the mind-meld was something less than common in Vulcan society, intensely personal. I find no inconsistency with the expressed stand on mind-melds in Enterprise.
Mike Hudspeth
mike.hudspeth(at)tycohealthcare.com
just recently signed the online petition to bring Mutant X for season four and beyond on the SCI FI Channel. The address is [here].
I did it because I love the show and it shouldn't been canceled—just when things started to get better. I've been watching the show since season two and never stop watching since. Part of the reason is because of Lauren Lee Smith (Emma). Though I miss her on the show, Mutant X continues to get good, with the introduction of Lexa (Karen Cliche). Though it went darker, it still got better and hotter due to the growing, romantic tension between Brennan (Victor Webster) and Shalimar (Victoria Pratt) as well as Jesse (Forbes March) and Lexa. Another is the introduction of the mysterious, shadowy Dominion.
Last season's cliffhanger kept me hanging. So [many] questions left unresolved: What will happen to Mutant X? Who will live and die? Where will Mutant X go? What about Adam Kane (John Shea) and The Creator? Is the Man of the Dominion Lexa's birth father? There [is] so much to resolve.
SCI FI, if you're out there, you brought back Sliders, Stargate SG-1 and Andromeda. Please bring one of the best shows of television back on the screen or as a "limited" series (miniseries) like Farscape. Give Mutant X the proper closure it deserves.
Garrett Godwin
ggodwin82(at)yahoo.com
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