Sci Fi Trifles

By John J Joex

Did you know that Han Solo was originally supposed to be a green-skinned alien and some of the early actors considered for the role included Billy Dee Williams, Al Pacino, and Chevy Chase? Did you know that Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski wrote a proposal for a Star Trek reboot years before the J.J. Abrams movies came out? How about that FOX originally wanted someone more like Pamela Anderson to play the role of Scully on The X-Files? Or that in 1974, science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke predicted the Internet? Ever hear of Varney the Vampire?

Science fiction and fantasy fans love their movies and television shows and books and all the forms that have brought the genre to life. And Sci Fi Trifles are quick hits that go behind the scenes and reveal obscure information and hidden facts which allow you to appreciate the genre that much more. They deliver pages of trivia, anecdotes, little known nuggets and more that present an addicting glimpse into the story behind the story of sci fi.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John J Joex
• Release date: Jun 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781628903201

John J Joex

Blogger and writer focusing on science fiction and fantasy television, movies, books, comics, and more. Also working on genre fiction that I hope to have available in the next year.

Book preview

Sci Fi Trifles

Useless but essential pop culture tidbits and trivia from the worlds of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror

By John J. Joex

Copyright © 2013 by John J. Joex

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

First Edition, October 2013

ISBN: 1-62890-320-1

ISBN13: 978-1-62890-320-1

Cover Design by westinCovers www.westincovers.com

Table of Contents

Introduction: Science Fiction is Serious

Sci Fi Trifles:

J. Michael Straczynski’s Star Trek That Could Have Been

The Thomas Edison Produced Frankenstein Movie

A Dune Movie with Salvador Dali?

Star Wars Was Not Supposed to be 20th Century Fox’s Sci Fi Blockbuster of 1977

What About That Low-Budget Plan B Sequel in Case Star Wars was not a Hit?

The Twilight Zone Almost Never Happened

Where Did They Get Started? George Lucas and Steven Spielberg

And the First Science Fiction Novel Was . . .

What you Didn’t Know about Bill Mumy, Bill Paxton, and Fish Heads

Questor – The Fully-Functional Proto-Data

Holy Guest Stars! Everybody Wants to be on Batman!

Just Say No, Ensign Ro

Strange But True: Zombie Ants

Godzilla – the Original Shark-Octopus-Gorilla-Whale-Beasty

Almost Got the Part – The Other Actors Who Could Have Shot First as Han Solo

Where Are They Now? George Takei

A Ninja/Power Ranger/Shogun Warrior Take on Spider-Man?

Land Trek – The Grounded Star Trek TV Clones

One Year Before the Star Wars Phenomena There was Logan-Mania

Robby the Pot-Bellied Robot

Will the Real Major Kong Please Report to the Bomb Bay?

And the First Science Fiction Television Series Was . . .

Comic Book Legends Can’t Get No Respect Part 1 – Jack Kirby

Comic Book Legends Can’t Get No Respect Part 2 – Steve Ditko

Comic Book Legends Can’t Get No Respect Part 3 – Siegel and Shuster

Sing Along with the Crew of the Enterprise

There Were Lyrics to the Star Trek Theme Song?

Gilligan’s Island in Outer Space . . . No Really

Babylon 5 vs. Deep Space Nine: Which Space Station Based TV Show Came First?

Screenwriter Apologizes for Battlefield Earth

The Star Wars Holiday Special and Other Sci Fi Xmas Misfires

Where Are They Now? Tom Baker

What About That Original Soundtrack to 2001: A Space Odyssey?

Did Indiana Jones Shoot First?

What Happened to the Second Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy TV Series?

What if Pamela (Instead of Gillian) Anderson Played Dana Scully on The X-Files?

And the First Science Fiction Movie Was . . .

Was Casting Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard a Lunatic Move?

After the Final Episode of The Prisoner Aired, Patrick McGoohan Had to Go into Hiding from Fans

The Never-Realized E.T. Sequel

Ray Harryhausen Does War of the Worlds?

Why Ender’s Game Took So Long to Make it to the Big Screen

Johnny Depp Was Not the First Choice to Play Captain Jack Sparrow

Hey Kids, It’s Varney the Vampire!

The High-Tech, Computer-Generated, Cyber-Character Max Headroom Was Actually . . . Latex?

Why Were These Classic Sci Fi Shows Cancelled?

Almost Got the Part: The Many Actors Who Could Have Played Superman

Where Did They Get Started? Gerry Anderson

Strange But True: Arthur C. Clarke Predicted PCs and the Internet Back in 1974

And the Longest Running Sci Fi / Fantasy TV Series Is . . .

Introduction

Science fiction is serious, dammit! It’s profound, it’s mind-expanding, it’s barrier-breaking, it’s earth-shattering! And it’s serious. None of that trite, mindless drivel that we get from romance or comedy or thrillers or westerns or any of the lesser genres. Science fiction doesn’t fool around because it makes us think and consider new possibilities and alternate realities and it will ultimately change our world! And it’s serious . . . dammit!

At least that’s what I used to think when I was younger. I was already attracted to science fiction and fantasy in my earlier years, whether it was books, movies, TV series, comics, toys, or whatever. That was the stuff and I liked it. Of course that was long before science fiction became cool and mainstream and dominated the box office. That was a time when science fiction was just for nerds and you were looked down upon if you liked Star Trek or Ray Bradbury or the Fantastic Four. So I had to justify my love of science fiction (and fantasy) by convincing myself that it was serious stuff and better than all the other forms of entertainment out there because it was more than just mindless distraction and it made you think and it would help change the world . . . and it was serious.

But then something happened that changed my point of view. I went to go see Star Wars in the theater when it first came out (that’s the real first Star Wars movie we are talking about, none of that prequel nonsense). It was a mind-blowing experience at that time to see a sci fi movie explode to life on the big screen in all its glory without having to cut corners because of special effects limitations. But then something was a bit off about that experience . . . people were laughing during the movie, despite the fact that this was a serious science fiction film. They laughed at the antics of R2-D2 and C-3P0, they laughed at the crazy aliens in the Mos Eisley cantina, they laughed at Han Solo’s one-liners and his furry partner Chewbacca. But didn’t they understand that this was science fiction and it was serious business and they were supposed to be paying attention to its deep, mind-expanding message? I still enjoyed the movie (of course), but I didn’t understand why people were laughing at parts of it.

Then my dad said something after the film that helped connect all the dots for me. He made the comment: "Now that’s what I call entertainment!" And it hit me, science fiction could be entertaining! What a concept!

Sure, the genre could still do all those other things I expected of it--make us think, push the boundaries, even give us a glimpse at a better future--but it could be entertaining, and fun, as well. And starting from that point, I learned to lighten up a bit and enjoy science fiction and fantasy while also appreciating it for all its possibilities.

And that brings us to this book, which is just about having fun with the genre. Sci Fi Trifles are little nuggets of information that I--as a lifelong sci fi fan--have stumbled upon over the years that give us insight into our favorite movies, TV shows, comics, books, etc. These aren’t history lessons or deep dives into the genre, just anecdotes, obscure facts, and bits of trivia that you will read and wonder how you have lived so long without knowing them. They are as useless as they are essential, but they are great fun and just might help you appreciate and enjoy the genre a little bit more.

Most of these have appeared previously on line at the former Axiom’s Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy sits as well as the Sci Fi Ditties blog (that latter site has experienced a bit of a lull of late, but I hope to get it back up and running at some point). I’ve packed a ton of them (well, 50 at least) in this book and have even more on the way. So read on fellow sci fi fans and