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“What she does,” he says, “is she finds out what issues each inmate has had in life, and then she gives them the corresponding Star Trek episode that deals with that issue — as therapy!

“Can you imagine that?”



That philosophical bent that has always been a wonderfully prominent aspect of Star Trek since its debut in the mid-1960’s doesn’t end at the walls of a federal pen, either.

Wang says he hears some astonishing stories from fans at the various expos he attends.

“They thank me,” he says, “for bringing the enjoyment (of Star Trek) into their lives.

“Multiple people,” he says, “have told me they were suicidal, and (Star Trek) Voyager stopped them from killing themselves.

“I don’t know of any show (like that),” he says.

“Or,” he says, continuing, “people say, I was in a car accident and the doctor told me I had this much time to live, but in the hospital room, Voyager was on and it gave me the will to live! I don’t really know of any show that can say that about.

“No one’s going to say that Friends saved their life!

“But Voyager,” he adds, (and) Star Trek in general — it’s just been a life changer for many people.”

Although truth be told, as a kid who was born in Riverside California, and moved around a lot — Indiana, Memphis and Bermuda — before returning to California, Wang wasn’t a huge Star Trek guy as a boy.

“My entire into sci fi was an eight year old boy in 1977 watching Star Wars in the movie theatre,” he says.

“From there, I saw all the Star Trek films,” he says. “I saw the original series — but never really got into it because let’s face it — 1977 Star Wars visual effects were much more appealing to an eight year old than 1966 television special effects.

“To me (as an eight year old), it was a little boring.

“Not until I became an adult,” he says, “did I realize the importance of Star Trek -(and) the message that each episode holds for humanity.”

Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo

April 16-19 at Stampede grounds

calgaryexpo.com

shunt@calgaryherald.com

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