Bewildering Stories welcomes...

Herb Kauderer

Herb has made a career shift that is a little unusual but by no means unheard-of. Retired as a Teamster, he holds an advanced degree in Creative Writing and has become a professor of English. He has published many poems and books of poetry.

“Star Trek Immortality” has already caused a great deal of controversy. The poem’s structure as part essay, part poem is the least of it. Rather, does the poem run up against the problem outlined in our article Brand Names and Cultural References?

The question is generational: what can readers make of the poem if they’re unfamiliar with Star Trek? Must even die-hard “Trekkies” remember who “Lt. Galloway” is, in order to understand the poem? Maybe. But maybe not. Consider the poem an exercise in cultural decryption. What does it say, not about Star Trek but about “immortality”?

Herb Kauderer’s bio sketch can be found here.

Welcome to Bewildering Stories, Herb. We hope to hear from you again soon and often!