In the realm of popular science-fiction in all it’s media formats, I doubt that there’s anything that matches these two giants or, for that matter, even comes close. Tell anyone you’re into sci-fi and chances are you get a Vulcan salute or a distorted Darth-Vadreism in response, perhaps along with some raised eyebrows. It’s all pervasive, burned into our pop-culture psyche, and that’s why I hate it.

Hate might be too strong. Both franchises were, at least initially, written and executed well, hitting their respective audience marks exactly. In the case of Star Trek, the original series was written by some of the best sci-fi writers of the time, and Lucas’ adaptation of classic Japanese and Western “cowboy” motifs in the first film are absolutely brilliant. It’s what’s happened afterwards that curdles it for me. Fact is, it’s nearly impossible to escape their clutches.

From design of starships made of Battleship-grade armour (that’d never move, let alone warp, through space) that withstand impact with asteroids, planets, other vessels without any miraculous “shielding”; terminology for everything from alien civilisations to weapons; right through to the abomination made of time-travel and alternate realities, everyone expects other sci-fi writers to confirm to the Star Trek / Wars conventions. I had one short story shot down in flames not because the writing was bad or plot dodgy, but for portraying an alien / human interaction that didn’t confirm to first contact protocols! A fault on the reader’s part for sure, and they missed out.

But it adds a layer of unwanted stress on my subconscious. As I write a small, mousey voice keeps asking if any part of my prose could be mistaken for Star Trek / Wars or conflated for those so-called universes. Worse yet, I have a nasty feeling readers demand it and will not exercise the brain-power to think outside those constraints. Obviously, this drives me to write in a way that makes them work for their reward.

Writing’s a tough gig anyway at times, so Roddenberry and Lucas’ legacy making it that much more problematic for me does not get them onto my Christmas card list.

And don’t even start me on DC and Marvel.