Too many young readers of this you will find it difficult
to believe that there was actually a time when there was very little
science-fiction or fantasy on TV or at the movies. To many of us this is known as the "Dark Times".


So what did we do to keep the faith, to hold onto our fandom and dream of the heady days that were to come.
We would have club meetings. In Fan clubs around the world people would get together and discuss their favourite shows and episodes, talk about conventions, a rare thing to attend a convention in those times. Write new stories using, a typewriter and publish them using photocopiers or other ancient technology.
It was called costuming in those days and not cosplay, as the concept of performing as your character was still in it's infancy, and if you came wearing a costume that had only a passing resemblance to the character or in a full Marvin the Paranoid Android outfit you were applauded for your efforts.
But those days did have their perils. I remember being at a small convention in Melbourne, where a well known costumer had arrived in is Marvin outfit only to discover that the elevator to the convention floor was out of order and he had to walk up stairs. So he promptly removed the costume.
It was a sight not soon forgotten to see several men carrying bits of Marvin into the convention floor and one fellow in is underwear then proceeding to climb back into the suit.
We are blessed today with such variety of product and activities at our disposal. The ability to communicate easily, but every now and then take the time to just get together for no other reason than to say hello.
It still fascinates me that the fan community is one of the most inclusive of groups world wide welcoming all comers, perhaps that is the greatest legacy of the Dark Times.
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