Leonard Nimoy
In writing about Terry Pratchett's death, it occurred to me that I never wrote about Leonard Nimoy's passing, the end of a life far more consequent to mine that Sir Terry's. Nimoy died while I was away at the Rainforest Writers Village at the end of February where internet access was unreliable. He was 83 years of age, and was another man who lived life fully and well.
Here's the thing: I don't remember a life without Star Trek, which means that I don't remember a world without Spock, a character created by Gene Roddenberry, embodied by Nimoy, and fleshed out by decades of writers both professional and fannish (including myself). Star Trek literally changed my life. It was my first taste of science fiction, and Spock was an inextricable part of that. Nimoy's devotion to the role, his passion for getting the character right, his infusion of Spock with nobility, thoughtfulness, and spirituality made the character more substantial than almost any other character in the media side of the genre until that time.
Star Trek brought me to science fiction. Science fiction brought me to friends, to fanfic, to a career, and to a life I would never have had otherwise. And it was a delight when I got to work with the property in a professional capacity at Bantam Books.
Leonard Nimoy helped make Trek the indelible cultural touchstone it's become, the indelible personal touchstone it became for me. Respect, sir, and thank you for your work.
"Of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most ... human."
--Captain James T. Kirk
""He's really not dead ... as long as we remember him."
--Dr. Leonard McCoy
Here's the thing: I don't remember a life without Star Trek, which means that I don't remember a world without Spock, a character created by Gene Roddenberry, embodied by Nimoy, and fleshed out by decades of writers both professional and fannish (including myself). Star Trek literally changed my life. It was my first taste of science fiction, and Spock was an inextricable part of that. Nimoy's devotion to the role, his passion for getting the character right, his infusion of Spock with nobility, thoughtfulness, and spirituality made the character more substantial than almost any other character in the media side of the genre until that time.
Star Trek brought me to science fiction. Science fiction brought me to friends, to fanfic, to a career, and to a life I would never have had otherwise. And it was a delight when I got to work with the property in a professional capacity at Bantam Books.
Leonard Nimoy helped make Trek the indelible cultural touchstone it's become, the indelible personal touchstone it became for me. Respect, sir, and thank you for your work.
"Of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most ... human."
--Captain James T. Kirk
""He's really not dead ... as long as we remember him."
--Dr. Leonard McCoy