Interview With The Captain

You know her as Captain Logic or most likely just Sam. The leader and founder of Starbase Leicester, but how does a club like SBL get started, what keeps it going and what's the most interesting thing we've done?

Last month our Captain opened up the forum to these questions and many others that we had always wanted to know the answers to;

Garak: What made you want to start a sci-fi group in Leicester, and were you surprised when anyone wanted to join it?


Captain Logic: Hometown + Crew = SBL

I simply loved having a club at uni, we really became a tight group of friends and always had a laugh and my logic was why on any planet should Leicester miss out! We have sport clubs, and club clubs, book clubs and bingo clubs! No movie clubs at all. No diverse club for the geeks of the city, so its simple logic my dear Garak.

Was I surprised? You bet! I took a year just to recruit 5 members at uni! But I'm definitely glad we stuck it out.


Garak: Well, there hangs a tale eh? Leicester actually did have a sci-fi group and it was called Outlanders, and I ran it!


I remember hearing about a letter in the Leicester Mercury asking if there was a sf club in town. I had moved out to Rugby by now but a friend told me about the letter and that's how I got in touch with you, to tell you about MY group, but for some reason you didn't want to join it


Captain Logic: I seem to remember someone mentioning that I may be too young for the group ... that they simply met at a pub to talk. Not what I was aiming for. More exploration and experimentation.


Garak: Hmmm, maybe I subconsciously put you off the idea of joining Outlanders, but I'm so glad you didn't! I don't think you'd have liked it anyway.

So the next 'logical' question then is what made you start a club at Lincoln University? I mean it's not something most people would think of doing, or they might 'think' of doing it but never actually get around to it. What is it that drives you to do these things? Are you just a born leader perhaps?


Captain Logic: I have no idea. It just came to me that there were all these sports clubs and nothing else. I hate seeing unfairness go unchallenged and I was running out of things to keep me busy so why not. I don’t think I was a natural leader and I’m not now. I still get things wrong but at least I’m not married to a ship.


It was tough though. The first year failed. Admin was impossible to get around and there were not too many geeks. The second year though was a major success as I could start at the freshers fair.


Blane: What was the biggest challenge in attracting members and keeping the group going?


Captain Logic: Figuring out what we offered now and what we could offer. This and the lack of a venue or decent publicity sources made the begining of SBL a massive challenge. Just how do you go about reaching an entire city?


Keeping it going? Many would say coming up with new ideas but I think of that as the fun bit. What makes it difficult is keeping track of all these excellent new members. Ever seen the bit in gremlins where water is added, or experienced a transporter malfunction and found an extra you?


Zade: What has been the most interesting thing you have done in aid of SBL?


Captain Logic: Uummmmm that's a tough one. First midnight lock in, abseiling the tigers ground, first en masse invasion of a cinema, creating a PR pack? Nope I think being in two interviews for Radio Leicester was the most interesting. I especially like getting an e-mail reffering to us as the "city's experts".


Jake: What was the very first sci-fi/fantasy you watched?


Captain Logic: Star Trek at 4am, or maybe Johnny 5? "Batteries Not Included"? Trek was definitely the first series. The Original Series.


Garak: Next question is the gender question! Do you think the group has a different dynamic because it's run by a girl? I'm sure that's the reason we have so many female members, certainly more than most male run and male dominated groups. Do you think girls think about sci-fi and fantasy differently to guys?


Captain Logic: Do girls make the club different? Of course and so would Vulcans or Eldar. I'm not sure if more girls join because of a girl captain, you'd have to ask. I just like the mix. If you have a mix of people things are always more interesting, more exciting and you get a lot further. It's the whole I.D.I.C (Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations) concept.


How do boys think of scifi is the question there.


Garak: Could I rename this "Interview with The Umpire" and get away with it?


Captain Logic: *Raised eyebrow*


Kaltak: What is your next big challenge with the group? Franchising maybe?


Captain Logic: Franchising would be great, a dream if you like but I'd have to find the right captain from far far away. Our own club house would be great too maybe above a comic shop or arcade?


Kaltak: If this was a different universe, without a Starbase Leicester in it, how do you think your life would be different?


Captain Logic: No SBL? And no way to create it? I'd go crazy! Or have won a few archery competitions. It's that or have become a total nerd staying home all the time.


Kaltak: If you had a TARDIS where/when would you go?


Captain Logic: Everywhen/where if I lived long enough. If not, first stop until I could pick up some creative friends would be to all the Star Trek releases.