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Ewan Kirkland

SCI-FI fans will be swapping ray guns for textbooks when they descend on High Wycombe to discuss cult classic TV show Battlestar Galactica.

A one-day talk about the space-based show is being held at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College and is expected to attract dozens of starry-eyed enthusiasts.

The talk is the first academic conference held in the country devoted to the revamped version of the 70s show, and has been organised by fan Ewan Kirkland,a media studies lecturer at BCUC in Queen Alexandra Road.

He said: "This ground-breaking TV series demands serious academic attention.

"Battlestar Galactica is the most politically, philosophically and artistically compelling television programme of recent years. The show combines thriller, space opera, war film and docu-drama, raising questions about the nature of humanity, governance, desire, technology and religion."

The show is set in the future and follows a group of humans who have managed to survive a cyborg attack, after mankind was nearly wiped out by them.

It began in 1978 and was followed by a film of the same name.

Throughout the late 70s and 80s, more series and films followed but floundered in the ratings stakes.

Despite this however, the series managed to maintain cult status among fans.

In 2003 the show was "reimagined", given a facelift and put back on UK screens in October 2004. And since its relaunch, it has gained critical acclaim and shot back into the TV stratosphere. The conference will be focusing entirely on the new series.

Ewan said: "Its characters and storyline often exhibit parallels with today's current affairs, for example the role of women in the military, suicide bombing, the events of 9/11 and the war on terror'. Transforming this topic to a science fiction venue, they can be dealt with slightly more in depth."

He stressed it was not a convention about the show but rather an academic discussion focusing entirely on the new series.

The 14 speakers who will appear at the forum called The Politics, Poetics and Philosophy of Battlestar Galactica come from backgrounds including fandom, philosophy and psychoanalysis and some are travelling from as far as America to take part.

The conference is being held at BCUC's Queen Alexandra Road campus on Saturday, July 28 from 9.30am. Tickets cost £30 or £10 for students. For more information or to book email bsg2007@bcuc.ac.uk

11:02am Wednesday 4th July 2007

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