Old School: An Oral History of Captain Dick Chase

‘Old School’ is a light-hearted far-future story about how the science fiction genre has changed over time. It’s a little self-aware, a little bit cheeky at times, and intended as a good-natured romp. The story’s protagonist is the proverbial ‘hacky, grinding, stinking, outworn, spaceship pilot’ of old, an insensitive Captain Kirk-ish figure who is revived from hibernation by a diverse and inclusive group of contemporary space opera characters who reflect modern readers and writers. Together they confront an existential threat to humanity and, in the process, the story's hero (the term is used loosely) finds a way to work with those he previously disregarded (elements of the story are inspired by contemporary debates within the SFF community). ‘Old School’ is presented as an oral history to differentiate it from more straightforward stories in a similar vein (Galaxy Quest, say, or elements of Futurama) and also to play up the absurdity of Dick Chase’s behaviour in mockumentary fashion.