Geordi La Forge
| Character | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Geordi La Forge |
| Occupation: | Chief Engineer |
| Relationships: | |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: The Next Generation |
| Other: | played by LeVar Burton |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
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Geordi La Forge is a fictional character from the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series and movies, portrayed by LeVar Burton.
Real Life Inspiration
In 1983, David Gerrold said:
Ten years ago, a kid with multiple sclerosis was wheeled into a convention in a wheelchair, and this was the highest point of his life because at that point, he had like one year to live. Someone told Gene about him and about how much it would mean to him if he would name him a "Commanding Admiral in Starfleet." From that point on, he was Admiral LaForge, and I even mentioned him in my Star Trek novel. Later, his family wrote and told us that while it wasn't really such a big thing to do, it did mean so much to him that his life was transformed for him. "Gosh, I count! I make a difference!" The Star Trek cast responded to that human spark—that human self. In most shows, the crew is playing gin rummy. Not Star Trek. In Star Trek, there was interest in what they were doing. It was speaking to the best in us. (Editor’s Note [1] The character Geordi LaForge was named for this young fan as well.) [2]
Fandom
Pairings
The most prominent pairing for Geordi is Data/La Forge, other romantic pairings seem to be fairly rare in fandom.
Tropes
- friend of Data
- his visor, Disability fic
Fanworks
- LeVariations (1994 zine)
Fan Comments
I like Geordi (because he's a genuinely likable person: nice to see the cheerful well-adjusted types getting their innings).[3]
Re: Geordie [sic] as overbearing snot. In the beginning, the interplay between him and the android Data was rather sweet. But as time passed, Geordie developed some unfortunate habits. When he was with Data, he knew all the answers. Just once I wished Geordie would shut up and let Data ramble for a change. When some important thingie broken down, Geordie's feeling was of course Data will fix this—so much so that when Data has a nightmare it's to the effect of Geordie saying, "C'mon Data. Fix it! It'll be fun!"
A re-occurring guest character was Lt. Barclay (Dwight Schultz, the actor who did "Howlin' Mad Murdock" on the A-Team). When Chief Engineer Geordie finds out what a klutz Barclay is, he tries get him transferred off the ENTERPRISE! Now I realize that STAR TREKs' authoritarian structure requires that The Captain (or other higher-ranking officer) Is Always Right—you have to have a "bad boy" who makes mistakes so that the Captain (or other higher-ranking officer) can show him The Error Of His Ways. But, it is a hard thing to watch Geordie do these dumb, hurtful things, especially when the actor playing this part is someone as talented and compassionate as LeVar Burton. The problem with Geordie is not the actor but with everything else namely, the aforementioned authoritarian structure of the show. [4]
Fanworks
Zines
Sample Art
- LCDR geordi la forge by nightwing1975
- Lt. Commander La Forge by tracieching
- Geordi La Forge by prmedia
Cover of Eridani #9, with art by Julie Nosal
Cover of Levariations, with art by Gabi Stiene
Cover art for Ship's Log Supplemental #6, by Yvonne M. Bowhay
Cover art of Trekworld #10 by unknown artist
Interior art from Continuum #6, by Wendy Holt
Interior art from Grip #46, by Marjorie Russell
Cover of the newsletter The Captain's Log #215, by unknown artist
Interior art from What You Fancy #3 by Virginia Turpin
Archives and Links
Resources
References
- ^ from Randall Landers in Stardate.
- ^ from Third Annual Emory Science Fiction and Fantasy Symposium Interview with Robert Bloch and David Gerrold
- ^ from Strange Bedfellows (APA) #13 (May 1996)
- ^ from Strange Bedfellows (APA) #13 (May 1996)