Li@RUTGERS (01/18/83)
From: Tony <Li@RUTGERS> A collage of stuff from the last three weeks: 1) Re: Empire storm troopers. Ever notice how the storm troopers wear this funny white styrofoam padding? Ever seen it stop a blaster? Why do they wear it???? 2) Re: Light sabers. Nonsense. Luke didn't know how to use the force when he first turned his saber on. Rather, the end of the blade is a force field polarized to reflect the wavelengths of light that the saber uses. Note that the field is NOT affected by solid material, and so can pass 'through' someone. 3) Re: Black Fire. This is a new ST novel, put out by TIMESCRAPE. It was written by Lee Corey, and obviously was a first effort at a novel. She could have greatly benefited from a knowledgeable trekkie leaning over her shoulder. But she didn't get this, so the book is full of poor characterizations, and contradictory references. I think it's fitting that Lee is a protege of Theodore Sturgeon. 4) Re: The Abode of Life. This is another ST novel, not very new. Again, it is published by TIMECRAP. This is probably one of the best ST novels I have read in a long time. It is plausible, accurate, funny, interesting, and true to the spirit of the original ST. Kirk and company end up outside of the galaxy, warp engines out, and looking at a long trip home. They find a star and a lone habitable planet in their region, and visit it in hopes of repairing the engines. Of course, this gets them in a sticky wicket, and as usual, they have a tough time getting out of their predicament. I heartily recommend this one to all loyal trekkies. 5) Re: Dark Crystal. I don't think that anyone will dispute that Dark Crystal was an excellent movie from a technical standpoint, even sometimes to the point of over-kill. I think that the main criticism of the movie can only be that the plot was so average. True, the denoument (sp?) was interesting and provocative, but it didn't make up for the hour and 55 minutes of blah beforehand. All in all I found it enjoyable, but not worth a second shelling out of large green. And that's my 2.14 cents worth, Tony Li -------
csc (02/28/83)
The stormtroopers wear white battle armour because it is good in a vacuum! (Or nasty gas environment). Proof: In SWIV:ANH, some stormtroopers can be seen outside of the Death Star as the Millenium Falcon is captured by the tractor beam. There is also an obvious radio-like static when stormtroopers talk. speaking of tractor beams, how many other Star Trek inspired terms are there in movie SF? -jan ...watmath!csc