The "joke," points out the author, is that almost every
Journal Entry contains a nod to one or more science fiction stories, serials, comic books, or what have you. Elf makes it a point to try and include something along those lines in each story, although sometimes forgets in the heat of the moment.
The name "Spinward March" was one of the early modules published with the SF Role Playing Game "Traveller". The author admits to still using the original Traveller books when writing up starships, planets, and sometimes even characters.