A Visit to the Outer Limits and Inner Space : Science fiction: The genre’s fans and dealers exchange ideas and collectibles at the weekend event in Anaheim.

From the stellar to the strange--sleek models of Star Trek’s USS Enterprise, pointy wax Spock ears, postcards of Wookies and even a Batmobile--if it has to do with fantasy or science fiction, it’s at the Sci-Fi Mega Show at the Anaheim Civic Center this weekend.

Along with booths of science fiction offerings, the show includes celebrity appearances by Mark Hamill of “Star Wars,” Bill Mumy from “Lost in Space” and “Babylon 5,” and Marina Sirtis from “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”

Barry Finnigan, 24, of Anaheim not only had on a “Next Generation” costume, but sported bubbly black-and-red makeup where, he said, the right half of his face was burned off by a phaser blast--then again, maybe body part-stealing aliens took half his face and left the mess. Finnigan, an aspiring makeup artist, hadn’t decided. Either way, he said, the weekend show allowed him to combine makeup and science fiction.

“Events like this are perfect for practice because you can walk around and almost not be noticed,” Finnigan said.

Equally enthusiastic about “Star Trek”--but makeup free--were Dave Ramsperger, 39, and his 11-year-old son, Eric LaManna, who discussed the merits of the original series and the newer version.

“I like the old one because it has a lot of interesting concepts--like when Kirk goes to a parallel world and finds himself,” Eric said. “But the special effects in the second one are really good.”

“I introduced my son to ‘Star Trek’ when he was 4,” Ramsperger said. “It was the only program of its kind on TV because it showed the future in a positive way.”

Among sci-fi devotees, the future is an obsession.

To them, the wax ears, Luke Skywalker key chains and flip-top toy communicators are little symbols of hope for a harmonious future in the same way Norman Rockwell posters seem to evoke a distant, contented past.

“Things today are at times difficult and depressing, and they’re showing us a future that seems could be approachable and livable,” said Ken Kopec, 39, of Yucaipa, while holding a pair of Spock ears purchased for a friend in Boston.

In space, for example, racial harmony refers to human-alien relations, not to different ethnic groups. Good wins over evil. And to top it all, the special effects are dazzling. At least on television.

Items that dazzled and menaced movie-goers got mixed reviews at the Mega Show.

“Is that it?” whispered a man while staring at a Darth Vadar costume from the “Star Wars” movies. “It looks a little cheesy,” he said, walking away.

The suit belongs to Roger Sides a model maker who has worked on science fiction shows. Sides, who sat nearby giving details about the costume and making sure no one walked off with it, said he bought the Darth Vadar costume for about $30,000 from Universal Studios.

“It’s really the centerpiece of my ‘Star Wars’ collection,” he said.

Others, however, were awed and moved by the jet-black caped, booted and gloved figure before them.

“Now that’s impressive,” said Devin Irwin, 22, reverentially. Irwin drove more than 60 miles from Palmdale for the sci-fi event.

Irwin, who wore a brassy Klingon insignia pin, likes “Star Wars,” but loves “Star Trek.”

“I’ve always liked the Klingons--even during the first ‘Star Trek,’ ” he said. “Like Worf, they have a loyalty to their people and he has a deep sense of honor--that’s basically like me.”

Mike Knott of the Intergalactic Trading Co. traveled even farther than Irwin to be at the Anaheim show. But he came from Florida to sell souvenirs too. He has a wealth of information about sci-fi items, but he does not completely subscribe to the happy vision of the future shared by many of his buyers.

“What most people want is a better future than what they think it’s going to be,” Knott said. “And frankly, it’s something that’s probably not going to happen.

“People in the U.S. can’t even keep together enough to keep a federal building from being blown up,” Knott said. “What are we going to do if an alien really does show up?”

The Sci-Fi Mega Show continues today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets: $12 for adults; $10 for 6- to 12-year-olds; children younger than 5 are free when accompanied by an adult.