Trekkies unite

As Star Trek turns 59, discover the captivating power of the franchise on Star Trek Day (Sept 8)

- Sapna Sarfare

When you hear lines like 'Scotty, beam us up' or see the Vulcan salute, you can tell you've met a Trekkie.

Since 1966, Star Trek and its movies have built a fan base that rivals Marvel and Star Wars. Star Trek Day is celebrated on September 8 to mark the beginning of a cult classic in science fiction and pop culture. September 8 is when the series premiered on TV and became a landmark show. Fans and writers have something to say regarding the impact of the series.

Anil Paremal, the founder of Ruskle, got into Star Trek due to his siblings. "Being ushered into consuming Sci-Fi from an early age, Star Trek was one of the more prominent franchises with a relatively easy access — Late 90s."

For writer and publicist Ashad Hussain, the lockdown brought him close to Star Trek. "I had seen bits and pieces before. But during Covid I got hooked on the series. With so much time at home, I started watching it properly and slowly got drawn into the world, the characters, and the storytelling."

Influential series Undoubtedly, Star Trek has had a big impact on science fiction and pop culture. Author Hywel Richard Pinto of Europa and High Tide says the show's appeal comes from our fascination with space travel. "We look up into the night sky and try to piece together the origin of the stars. It's safe to say that any show that combines this curiosity with intrigue and a host of colourful characters would be a crowd puller."

He believes these are the main reasons for the show's popularity, as it sparks our imagination about the universe and keeps us engaged with its fast-paced stories.