Science Fiction Hall of Fame: "Arena" by Frederic Brown.

I picked up a copy of The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One, 1929-1964 a couple of weeks ago and have been slowly making my way through it. I like to read short story anthologies between my readings of books. Sometimes I’ll only read a few stories and then move along to the next novel on my list, and sometimes the anthology will be so engrossing that I read all of them before moving on. Sadly, that hasn’t been my experience with this anthology. That isn’t to say I’m not enjoying it because I really and truly am! But the stories are on the longer side and older so some don’t quite hold up or are just written in a style that was popular and has faded out. 

Last night I came across what might be my favorite story in it so far: “Arena” by Frederic Brown. It was written in 1944. It’s about Bob Carson, a pilot for the Earth military, who is attempting to engage in combat with an Outsider, an alien race invading our galaxy. Before the fight can commence in space a higher evolved alien takes them out of typical space-time and makes them fight as the champions for their respective races. Whoever wins the battle one on one will win the war as the higher being will destroy the loser’s army. This is meant as a generous gesture by the higher being who notes that war between the two advanced races—Earthlings and Outsiders—will result in the destruction of both their cultures. The arena that they are sent to isn’t made for typical combat. A force field runs the length of it so that they cannot actually touch each other and must rely on ingenuity rather than brute strength.

If this plot sounds a little bit familiar it may be because an earlier post of mine has you thinking about Star Trek and the episode “Arena” is loosely based on this short story. I mean, technically the episode was written and only afterwards was it realized that it shared a striking resemblance to Brown’s story. Whether it was accidental plagiarism or a total happenstance Brown was contacted and got the story credit. But that’s neither here nor there! In the episode it’s Kirk not Bob Carson and a Gorn not an Outsider. There isn’t a force field keeping them separate in the episode either, though it’s Kirk’s use of intelligence that wins him victory over the Gorn’s simple use of force. 

 

I like both the short story and the episode. I don’t find one to be particularly better than the other. Bob Carson isn’t a character I find myself as emotionally invested in as Captain Kirk. The Gorn is a more intimidating foe (in the story the Outsider is just a red ball). However, the short story has a stronger sense of desperation and the stakes are higher there as well. Whichever you choose to indulge in both stories are worth the time. Of course, maybe I’m being biased. Being a small and lacking upper body strength myself I’m always interested in reading about fights and battle that are one through something other than physicality.

To Boldly Go.

As I’ve already stated in this blog I’m a big Star Wars fan. Some people think that if you like Star Wars you can’t like Star Trek (it’s like brand loyalty, I think). But that’s just not true. The fact of the matter is I love both! They’re vastly different entertainment experiences. Since I already have a post on my feelings about Star Wars it’s about time I got everything about Star Trek off my chest.

Even without being told I think most people would recognize the three characters in the above photo. Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy, Captain James T. Kirk, and Mr. Spock are three of the most iconic faces in mainstream science fiction. Countless quotes said by these three men have ingrained themselves in our popular culture. Most people understand that “Live long and prosper” is a Star Trek thing, and everyone has head some rendition of “Dammit, I’m a doctor not a [insert thing which you are not]!”

Star Trek was created by Gene Roddenberry in the 60s. It was an optimistic look at the potential future. Star Trek deals with questions of belonging, equality, pacifism, and much more. Philosophy was important to Roddenberry as he crafted this future of peace and education. While the series does suffer some of the prejudices of the time it was made in it is also markedly progressive. Some people remember the series solely for having one of the first interracial kisses on television.

What I love most about this show is the way the characters interact, especially McCoy, Kirk, and Spock. They are three men with different personalities whose friendships grow and develop over the three season series. McCoy who is prone to fits of passion and cynicism while simultaneously believing the best in human nature has a hard time dealing with Spock who disavows his half-human heritage in favor of the pure logic and emotional coldness of his Vulcan side. Between them is Kirk who is confident, capable, and compassionate. Kirk and Spock’s friendship in particular is wonderful to watch as they slowly change from peers to friends. It’s Spock’s friendship with Kirk (and begrudgingly with McCoy) that help him understand the value in humanity and help him come to terms with what he previously felt was a flaw of his nature.

I had the intense pleasure of meeting William Shatner (Captain Kirk) two years ago at New York Comic Con. I was getting married a few months after the convention so my husband and I took the leftover RSVP cards and had them signed by various guests. I was more nervous standing on line for William Shatner than I was walking down the aisle at my wedding.

The line itself was refreshing. The crowd gathered for him was extremely varied in ages. I was with a friend and the woman in front of us was in her 50s. She had been watching Star Trek since she was a little girl. It was fun to talk about our opinions of the series. You get a different perspective watching something for the first time as a child than you do when you watch it for the first time as a teen (and it’s been off the air for years). It was especially interesting because so much of what the series dealt with was more current to when it aired. Some of the issues that get brought up feel dated to a modern audience because they are social issues that we have put behind us.

William Shatner was very nice. He congratulated me on my impending wedding and commented on how he was happy to see that so many young people still knew who he was. I was shaking and probably a little red in the face so I don’t know exactly how good of an impression I made on him. After he signed my card I stepped to the side. You’re supposed to immediately leave the autograph area once you get your signature so you can’t sneak any photos or take time away from the people behind you in line. I asked the attendant if I could just wait to the side because it was my friend who was behind me. Before the attendant could answer one way or the other William Shatner waved away my question and told me not to be silly and wait right there. I could’ve cried.

All right, I’ll be honest. I was a little misty eyed.

My friend made a total fool of himself (he wasn’t able to say a coherent word) but William Shatner was gracious and understanding, signed the picture my friend had purchased, and told us both to have a good day. To this day it remains one of my absolute favorite memories.