This weekend that just passed, Decades TV had their weekend binge, where they show an old television show all weekend long. This time around they showed whatever it is — 40 hours? — of Lost in Space, one of the great sci-fi television programs of all time.
OF ALL TIME!
There is no argument about that.
But seriously, if you grew up in the 60s, the first sci-fi space adventure television program that aired was Lost in Space. I was at the perfect age where I was mesmerized by lasers, force fields, the Jupiter 2, and of course, the greatest robot ever created, the Robot, or B9 as some of us call him.
And because I had fallen in love with the concept — a family of space pioneers setting off to colonize Alpha Centauri, who were unfortunately sent astray by a saboteur, who they then welcomed into their family with open arms — I was able to simply accept the fanciful silliness .
It’s been many years since I’ve watched it. I caught an episode now and then when MeTV was airing it several years ago, but not since they changed their lineup. When Decades aired it this past weekend, we had our television tuned to it for the duration.
And you know what? I still love that show. Even with all the pseudoscience and over-the-top fantasy elements of pirates, knights in shining armor, hillbillies, and a talking carrot, I still found the show very enjoyable to watch.
In fact, something strange happened while watching it.
I started to get the itch to write about it. I mean, if you’re a fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, Star Wars, for example, there are tons of authorized novels out there to satisfy even the most voracious reader.
But Lost in Space? Nothing.
Well, OK, there was one book, published back in 1967 or so, which I read when I was 10.
But that’s it.
And without even consciously thinking about it, a story, a novel of Lost in Space has begun to formulate in my imagination.
Personally? I’d rather it just go away because what could I do with it? Who would buy a novel about a television show that only aired 83 episodes and went off the air in 1968?
I’d rather write something marketable.
I’d rather start the final polish on my own urban fantasy fairie tale.
Or start working on the sequel to my urban fantasy fairie tale.
Or even finish up my two weird westerns.
Anything!
But so far, all I can think about is Lost in Space, and the story keeps growing and growing and at this rate, it won’t be denied.
Maybe I should write it just to make it go away.
Lost in Space is suited to my writing style, however, because it is as much fantasy as science fiction and it’s science is often somewhat fudged. In that way, Lost in Space is more akin to Star Wars than Star Trek.
Lost in Space can best be described as pulp fiction style space opera. More ray guns and monsters than quarks and string theory.
So in that regard, Lost in Space is almost a perfect venture for me.
Let me mull it over some more.
Stay tuned. Same time! Same channel!
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Upon Reflection 