Learn About the Future

by Rachel Kanter

Beam over to the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame this fall and get educated on all things SciFi.

Back in June, a giant green alien sat atop the Space Needle in anticipation of the opening of the first Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame. On June 18, 2004 a crowd of humans and aliens stood on the lawn of the new museum to partake in opening ceremonies. Mayor Greg Nickels announced this day as official, "Science Fiction Day." Director Donna Shirley and co-founder Paul G. Allen said a few words and then pressed a big button. Neon green and silver slime (ribbon) burst into the air and landed on the audience. Smoke billowed from beneath the ship that sits on top of the museum.

I stood in line to the entrance behind a blue Andorian and a Vulcan. We walked on a red carpet through glass doors and were greeted by the blue-shirted ticket-takers.

The museum consists of two stories filled with artifacts and information. Original posters, first edition books, and pulp magazines are featured throughout. There are four sections: Homeworld, Fantastic Voyages, Brave New Worlds, and Them!

Homeworld

The first floor introduces you to the world of Science Fiction. Posters, costumes, and multimedia displays illustrate various themes. The influence that science fiction and science have on each other is addressed along with a celebration of the genre’s fans. The question, "What If?" is posed, accompanied by a poster from "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." A historical timeline illustrates the genre’s evolution. A model of the Starship Enterprise NCC1701 signed by cast members floats above Captain Kirk’s chair and Nichelle Nicol’s (Lt. Uhura) scripts.

The Science Fiction Hall of Fame honors those who made a big impact on the genre such as Ursala K. Le Guin, Isaac Asimov, and Hugo Gernsback (Hugo Awards namesake). You can find more information about each author through an interactive multimedia presentation.

Fantastic Voyages

Transport yourself downstairs to discover more artifacts such as weapons, technology, and space garb. You’ll find various types of ray guns, communicators, and Will Robinson’s space suit. There’s an exhibit on different forms of travel such as time and dimensional. An example is illustrated by a photograph and description of the Twilight Zone episode entitled, "Little Girl Lost," about a man’s daughter stuck in the fourth dimension. I was happy to discover the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy exhibit. Here you can find the book in multiple translations. There is also a poster of, "the babelfish" from the BBC film. An impressive Star Wars action figure collection is also featured.

Brave New Worlds

"Cities of Tomorrow" shows the perceived futures of The Jetsons, Blade Runner, and The Matrix. Walk over to the Cargo Bay to see beautiful paintings of alien landscapes.

Them!

Stop by "Metal or Mortal" to hear Robot from Lost in Space and Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet talk/argue with each other. A suitcase filled with Tribbles waits in the "Baggage Claim" area. The 18-foot high Alien Queen looks menacing but she can’t hurt you scrunched in her 12-foot cage. The SETI exhibit discusses communication with other life forms and features Contact by Carl Sagan and The Listeners by James Gunn.

The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame has an entire section devoted to education on their website. They also recommend books including resources for readers and writers. There is indeed a lot to learn. Visit their website at http://sciencefictionexperience.com.

Rachel Kanter is working on her certificate in Technical Editing at Bellevue Community College.