Collecting Science Fiction: The Caretaker

Living (future) history: 20th century Sci-Fi collectibles
If there's one thing science fiction fans have an abundance of, it's a passion for their favorite authors, TV shows, films, superheroes or whatever it is that draws them to this genre of wonder and imagination. This often means that Sci-Fi enthusiasts are also collectors who are driven by nostalgia for our shared popular culture and as such are always energized by the desire to seek out and acquire artifacts from the vast history of Sci-Fi entertainment. In some sense, collectors serve as caretakers of our cultural past, preserving the history of our creative endeavors. Science fiction collectibles tell the complete story of the genre, but if you're just discovering the joy of pop culture collecting and want to begin your own Sci-Fi collection, you might wonder...where to begin? That's easy enough; you're already here.

For Sci-Fi fans, there's no better time to be a collector than right now, with the explosion of Sci-Fi books, magazines, TV shows, films, fan clubs and the veritable torrent of Internet coverage and activity. Thanks to the technology and communications that were once fantasy and now a practical reality, you can hop around the globe and amass a Sci-Fi collection without so much as leaving your home. But how you shape this collection, and what you choose to collect, is entirely up to you, and it is a personal expression of your own passions in the field.

Playing favorites: a collecting strategy
For those just starting to collect, here are two major strategies that might help you in planning your collecting strategy. For one thing, you might consider collecting based on a favorite television show, movie, or creator. There is no denying the massive marketing power of "Star Trek," "Star Wars," "X-Files," "Buffy," and even "Doctor Who," "Babylon 5," "Planet of the Apes," "Godzilla," and many other popular film and TV creations. From coffee cups to action figures, from sweaters to lightsabers, from communicators to sonic screwdrivers -- there are millions of pieces of merchandise based on hundreds of Sci-Fi films and TV shows, as well as plenty of collectibles centered on actors and actresses from these productions. Any one of these categories makes a great basis for a collection. You might even consider collecting the published works of Isaac Asimov (everything from first editions to the latest trade paperbacks or Ray Bradbury, or maybe you'dlike to find that elusive magazine article on "The X-Files"' Gillian Anderson. It's all available at one time or another, and it's a great way to celebrate the genre.

Categorical collecting: another approach
If focusing on a favorite show or film doesn't feel right, you can always collect Sci-Fi memorabilia based on the type of item. You might be interested only in model ships or photographs or even cookie jars. With the freedom to search for every conceivable category of item, you can shape a Sci-Fi collection around one type of collectible. Press kits, ray guns, action figures, autographs, DVDs, robots, video tapes and more -- all of these are worthy choices upon which to base a collection. By collecting based on item category, you can also create a fascinating collection that spans decades and illustrates how science fiction has evolved with the times to tell its story. A perfect example is spaceship models. From the primitive rocketships of the early '50s through the lunar modules of the '60s right up to the starships of "Star Trek," "Star Wars," and "Babylon 5," these collectibles show us the changing landscape of science fiction as real-world technology caught up with and surpassed our wildest imagination.

The most important thing to remember is that collecting science fiction should be fun, so buy what you like, only spend what you feel an item is worth to you, and enjoy the thrill of building a science fiction collection of your very own!

Arnold T. Blumberg is a prolific science fiction, comic book and media journalist, serves as Editor for the Gemstone Publishing line of price guides, including the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide and Hake's Price Guide to Character Toys, and is a Senior Editor for EON Magazine (www.eonmagazine.com). In his spare time he daydreams about sleeping.