Circa 1965, A Typical Saturday

In 1965, I was ten years old.  On Saturdays,  I was up,out of the by 9:00 AM and out in the surrounding neighborhood with my push mower cutting grass.  Most yards, I charged $1.50 (gas being 35 cents a gallon), but occasionally more for the larger yards.  I would cut grass continually until around 3:00 PM (with a short lunch break - PBJ & water usually).  After cleaning and stowing the mower I would head up to the Giant Grocery on Main Street with anywhere from $6.00 To $12.00 dollars in my pocket.  Saturdays at around noon, was when the cigarette guy delivered to Giant.  I didn't smoke, but he also stocked the 5 foot tall, circular comic book rack with the new releases.  Now, I was known in this store, because my grandparents shopped there, and when I was with them, my Big Daddy always indulged me with at least one comic.  I would start at the top with Superman and go around the rack, working my way down.  I stacked the ones I was going to buy and kept a running cost account in my head.  The cover prices were 12 cents, except for the 80 page Giants, which were a quarter.  Once I had my purchases in a basket, I would read some of the more interesting looking ones that I wasn't going to buy for a half hour or so.  The manager would let me know when my time was up and I would purchase my stack, along with some candy, put my bag in the basket of my bike and head home.  I was in heaven.

I still read comics, just not to the extent I did in my youth.  The cover price of one comic now is more than I paid for a dozen in those days, but, I guess I'm just showing my age.

Remember "Classic Comics".  They were a little larger than regular comics and cost a quarter.  The took classic novels - like "Lord Jim" or "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" - and put them in a "kid friendly" comic.  I admit to doing (more than once - see titles above) book reports based on these, and getting good grades.

When I was in the 4th grade, my English teacher, Miss Rush, avidly encouraged reading, but looked up comics with contempt.  Her favorite phrase was "Read a book and learn, not comics and rot your brain."  If she caught you reading a comic in class, it was ripped in half and thrown in the trash.

One day though, we were reading something in class and the word "sphere" came up.  She asked, "Does anyone know what a sphere is?  I don't mean a long, sharp pointed stick.  Anyone?" 

No one was raising their hand, but me.  She hesitantly said, "Alright Jerry, What is it?"

I answered it was something circular like a ball or the earth.

She seemed amazed and said, "That's absolutely right.  How do you know that?"

I grinned and said, "I read it in the latest "Legion of Superheroes" comic.  Their time machine is a clear sphere."

She just shook her head as my friends laughed. 

Live Long and Prosper!

The Future Was Then

In 1967 I happened upon this book by Mac Kinlay Kantor and I was hooked into the world(s) of alternative history.  The fact that changing one small event could institute massive changes in history.  In fact, I would say that this is probably my favorite sub-genre of science fiction.

I am now reading "Roma Eterna" by Robert Silverberg.  The starting point is the Israelites failing to escape Egypt, and the resulting world where Christianity never evolved.  This book will also be available to mooch when I finish it.

Now, I love good Sci fi theater, but my (not so) guilty  pleasure is really cheesey Sci Fi.
I call these "Sharon Specials" because when my late mother-in-law (named Sharon, natch!) would visit and I was watching one, she would shake her head, take a breath, and say, "You watch weird shit!"

I would smile, nod my head and say, "Yeah, its great!"

Now I know that there is a lot of sci fi out there now, but most of it seems to be on the internet/web (whatever the term is) but unless its on TV (I have DirecTv) or DVD, I don't watch it.  Part of the reason is that I grew up in the era when cable was just getting started.  In my early years we received two (2) stations, the local CBS & NBC affiliates.   When we got cable, I was 13 and the number of channels jumped to 12.  I was overwhelmed.  Now I have over 200 channels, and most of the time I prefer to read.  But I digress, the other reason is that because I live in a rural area, wifi is sometimes sketchy and most viewing has multiple breaks and freezing.  I can do without the frustration. 

One of my pet peeves is a show I like that plays on TV and then disappears onto the web.  The most recent example of this is "The Orville".  For two seasons I have enjoyed Seth MacFarlane's Sci Fi comedy/drama, but it was announced that the third season will move to hulu.  pffffftttt! 

I think that in my next entry I'll focus on  comics primarily, but my attention span is like a cat in a room full of lazer pointers. 

Live Long and Prosper!

Days of Future Past

I'm starting this blog for myself, but anyone - and everyone - is invited along for the ride.  I am a life long Science Fiction Nerd. (And in case you are wondering, I will be 65 in April.)  This blog is for me to share any Sci Fi book titles I am currently reading, movies I have watched - recently or otherwise, and incidents from my wayward youth.

Speaking of "wayward Youth", some of my fondest memories are of being stretched out on my bed, reading a stack of new comics, which cost a staggering 12 cents each!  Many a neighborhood yard mowed contributed to my collection.  Oh, how I wish I still had them, but life goes on.  Family (wife & kids) and a Coast Guard career (21 years) contributed to my selling them, but never ended my love for them.

I read a lot (250 to 300 books a year) and most of those are science fiction.  I am currently reading Isaac Asimov's "The Complete Robot" (Doubleday Book Club Edition-1982).  I love vintage sci fi, with those past visions of the future.  For example, in this book, the story "Robbie" was written in 1940 and is set 58 years in the future. (Do the math.)  I also mention "Robbie" because it was IA's first robot story.    And don't skip over the introduction, written by IA himself.

Now, a little housekeeping.  A BIG thank you to my wife, Debra, for doing most of the "grunt-work" setting up & formatting this blog.  Also, the book I mentioned in the previous paragraph, will be available on BookMooch once I finish reading reading it (almost half-way thru).

I'm going to wrap up this initial entry, but I hope to publish at least once a week, if not more.   Next time - my take on some cheesey Sci Fi movies that I love and favorite authors!

Long Live and Prosper!