According to the baby book compiled by his mother, Bill Spangler wrote his first fan letter to a television show while he was in elementary school. (The show? “Romper Room.”) These days, his fan letters are being published by BenBella Books in volumes such as Farscape Forever and Star Wars On Trial, as well as this one. He has also written articles about pop culture for national magazines and original comic-book stories based on science fiction TV shows such as “Alien Nation” and “Quantum Leap.” Bill and his wife Joyce live in Bucks County, Pa., with two ferrets and a dog. Bill would like to thank his wife, Jon Plante, and Kathy Morrow for their help in pulling this essay together on a relatively tight schedule.