I’m a huge fan of both Star Trek and the Alder Planetarium’s “Adler After Dark” event series here in Chicago. Essentially, the planetarium stays open after regular hours one Thursday a month for a 21+ event, which is often themed around space, science, and geek culture. In honor of Star Trek‘s 50th anniversary, this month’s event “Adler After Dark: Boldly Go” on Thursday, September 15th, celebrates all things Star Trek, and I’m pleased to share that I will be on a panel at the event, talking about the cultural legacy of the show. I’ll be joined by fellow Chicago Nerd Social Club board members Matthew Peters (moderator) and Tanya DePass, as well as Chicago SF/F author Mary Anne Mohanraj (who coincidentally has written a beautiful essay in the newly-released Uncanny Magazine Issue Twelve*, exploring how much Star Trek has meant to fans, and how it’s mission has been reflected by the different Captains and Commanders leading the various series).
UPDATE 9/14/2016: The panel will take place on the 1st floor of the planetarium at 9:15pm. A full schedule for the event can be found here.
If you haven’t gotten tickets, CNSC has a limited block of tickets available at a discount, but they’re only available through this Thursday, September 8th, 10pm CST, so don’t miss out! And if you’ll be at Adler After Dark next week, I hope you’ll come by and join us for what promises to be a fantastic discussion about Star Trek‘s legacy and influence on geek culture and mainstream culture, as well as on my fellow panelists and myself.
*I’d be remiss if I didn’t also note that Star Trek novel author Una McCormack also has a Star Trek-themed essay in this issue of Uncanny as well. It’s a delightful ode to a certain Cardassian tailor and how he convinced Una to give DS9 a chance.