If you read the History article here on the website, you learned that the entire FSM odyssey began in 1990 when I had a letter published in Starlog magazine (#153, April 1990), the major sci-fi/genre publication of the pre-Internet era. I felt like I was famous to be published in the pages of Starlog.

I found my copy of that issue and here, word-for-word, is the letter as they printed it; I no longer have the version I sent but I don't recall them doing any major editing. (I must have written this in the winter of 1989-1990; I was 15 and a half years old. Remember that, please, as you read it.)

...In response to James Little's letter to STARLOG #145, I agree that Jerry Goldsmith is the best SF film composer—his music in Star Trek V was the best thing about the movie. The thing that makes Goldsmith the best is how prolific he is. Star Trek V and Star Trek: The Motion Picture sound alike and yet different, much in the way John Williams' scores for the Star Wars trilogy do. For example, the music of The Empire Strikes Back is similar to the music of Star Wars, and yet it is unique.

A problem with James Horner is that Horner is not prolific—at least not as much as Goldsmith is. Star Trek III's music sounds just like Star Trek II's music. What makes Horner an excellent composer is not his being prolific but his ability to create a masterpiece every so often. In my opinion, Star Trek II is one of the finest SF scores ever written, and overshadows Goldsmith's Star Trek scores. (Now, if only Horner could create a masterpiece like his Star Trek II every time...)

On another subject, I, too, was shocked to find Goldsmith's music on the main title of Star Trek: The Next Generation. I was a little annoyed. If they went to the trouble to do a whole new TV show, you would think they could at least get some new music. The main title, however, is wonderful when compared to the synthesizer trash used for the rest of the series.

On the whole, I am glad to see there are soundtrack fans out there in the world of SF fandom, for SF music is one of the facets of the science-fiction world which too often gets ignored. (Anyone want to start a club? Write me!)

Lukas Kendall

RFD 488

Vineyard Haven, MA 02568

It was that last parenthetical that led to the website you are looking at now, as well as our magazine, CDs and everything else. This letter changed my life. Thanks, Starlog!

A few observations: I must have wanted to sound grown-up by using "SF" and not "sci-fi," as I had read true science fiction fans regarded "sci-fi" as derogatory; apparently I had recently learned the word "prolific" and intended to use it no matter what; and, don't kill me, I later grew to love the ST:TNG underscoring, but in 1989 I still longed for the 1960s-style of TV scoring. Still...that was pretty harsh.

And that's how it all began. This is why I love printing people's letters...when you start putting yourself out there and communicating, you never know where it might lead.