He’s only half human but Mr. Spock still rates a farewell of honour on Life As A Human. As Captain Kirk’s half-Vulcan, half-human science officer aboard the Starship Enterprise in the original Star Trek series, Spock’s logic served as the perfect foil to the hotheaded emotionalism of Kirk, Bones and Scottie — the humans.

At 79 years old, Spock’s real-life human host Leonard Nimoy is tucking in his pointed ears. After 60 years in the biz, he’s earned his right to embrace other aspects of life. Fortunately, Star Trek fans got to spend time with Spock in last year’s J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek film remake.

Spock (Starfleet service number S179-276) was the child of Sarek, a Vulcan diplomat, and Amanda Grayson, a human schoolteacher. Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, in his TV show pitch for Star Trek, first described Spock as “probably half Martian” with a “slightly reddish complexion and semi-pointed ears”.

Apparently, writer Samuel Anthony Peeples told Roddenberry that Spock seemed too alien. He recommended making him half-human so he could reflect more believably upon the human condition.

Over the years, Spock has been a favourite of Trekkies everywhere. There is even an online church devoted to Spock, The Church of Spock of Latter Day Science Officers.

But some of his most devoted fans are in the town of Vulcan, Alberta in Canada (pop.2000). Today, Spock finally visited Vulcan.

“I have been a Vulcan for 44 years — I figured it was time I came home,” he told the cheering crowd. As a farewell to Vulcan fans, he gave the Vulcan salute and said, “May each and every one of you live long and prosper.”

In honour of Mr. Spock, here are some of my fave Spock quotes:

“It is curious how often you humans manage to obtain that which you do not want.”

“After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing, after all, as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true.”

“Judging by the pollution content of the atmosphere, I believe we have arrived at the late twentieth century.”

“If I were human, I believe my response would be: ‘go to hell’. If I were human.”





Photo Credits

“Spock” and “Spock and McCoy” courtesy of CBC Studios

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