Editors Page-Winter 2000

"And Away We Go..."

By: Eric Anderson, Vice President/Editor

Hello and welcome to the first issue of DIMENSIONS Quarterly. This is a true first step for DIMENSIONS as we enter the year 2000, and hopefully a new way to look at a science fiction and fantasy organization. If you look further in this issue, you will see the proposal plan I have for DIMENSIONS, and I hope that you well look it over and get back to me with ideas of your own in which direction you would like to see this organization go.

Now then, you are all possibly wondering who I am and what I may have done in the field of science fiction and fantasy. In fantasy, not much. It's not my cup of tea and I will be the first to admit it. I don't hate it, but I do not go out of my way for it unless it's something that catches my eye. For science fiction, I'm a nut. I eat, sleep and breath science fiction. Blame my father.

It was many moons ago that my father sat me in front of the TV to watch a show called 'The Making of Star Wars' to tempt me into see the big film of the year. I wanted nothing to do with it, because at that time SF scared the hell out of me. But my dad had me watch this show to tempt me, and it worked. From that time on I started on the path that still amazes me and fills me with wonder.

That path took me into fandom. I never really liked Star Trek except for certain episodes like 'The Trouble with Tribbles'. It wasn't until 1983 when I became a true fan of the series after watching Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn on cable. Then a couple years later some friends of mine introduced me to a club called the USS Czar'ak part of Starfleet International. It was there that I met a man named Tim Dover who showed me what fandom was about, and how much fun it was to be part of this phenomenon. After a few years in the Czar'ak, I was lucky enough to become the president and help grow it into what I feel where the golden years and opening it up to science fiction other then Star Trek.

Just over a year as the head of the Czar'ak, an opening came up on the national level of Starfleet as the regional coordinator of Region Six. I took it and stepped down as head of the Czar'ak as not to show a preference to the other clubs in the five state area under my watch.

After several year of all this, I started to burn out. This is rather sad because I had finally obtained something inside Starfleet that I was fighting for, The Starfleet Corps of Engineers. It was at this time that I had left and walked away from fandom, but not my love of science fiction. There wasn't really anything out there that really interested me into to joining another club. It was during this time though that I started my ideas that I placed forward in the plan. Not all these are my ideas I must admit. Some come from Harlan Ellison's lament about what is out there and what is not, and how science fiction is abused by the 'mainstream'.

Aside from being the head of the Czar'ak some time ago, I am now the president of the Viking Age Club-Sons of Norway which is recognized by many sources as a major information house for Viking history; such as the Norwegian Consulate, the American/Swedish Institute, the Sons of Norway and many collages and universities around the world.

So this is a little about who I am and what I have done. I also look forward in making DIMENSIONS into a major force in the world of science fiction and fantasy.

Until next time, best wishes and enjoy.

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