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STAR TREK began in 1966 as a science fiction television show
created by Gene Roddenberry. Thirty years, four television series, and
eight theatrical releases later, STAR TREK is as alive and strong
as ever. Although STAR TREK's primary mission has always been
to entertain, in the process it has become a phenomenon in and of itself.
The combination of STAR TREK and its loyal fans are much more
than the sum of the parts; together, they represent a distinctive element
in popular culture.
In addition to being terrific entertainment, STAR TREK may attribute its longevity and popularity to its optimistic vision of a future in which humankind not only prospers, but has also fostered a world of peace and equality for all -- certainly a desirable and uplifting outlook. Achievement of the vision presented in STAR TREK may at times seem unattainable to those of us locked into this century, but as more than one STAR TREK captain has said, "There are always possibilities." Perhaps it is hope for those possibilities that reinforces the appeal of STAR TREK. THE TELEVISION SERIES The first step in understanding STAR TREK is learning about the evolution of the television shows.
STAR TREK
"These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise... Its five year mission..." This is where it all began. The founding STAR TREK series ran from 1966 through 1969, for a total of three seasons and 79 episodes. Sometimes referred to as "a Wagon Train to the stars," classic STAR TREK features the adventures of the crew of the Constitution-class Starship Enterprise on its five year mission to explore outer space. On board the starship is a diverse set of shipmates, which include many varieties of human and non-human individuals: In command of the starship is Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), followed by his half-Vulcan first officer Commander Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and by their side, the opinionated Doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley). To keep the warp engines humming at top speed is the Chief Engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (James Doohan), to choose a star to steer by is Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu (George Takei) at the helm, and the young Ensign Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) arms phasers and photon torpedoes to protect all in a crunch. Lieutenant Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) is in charge of all the ship's communications. There to aid the ship's doctor is Nurse Christine Chapel (Majel Barrett). The five year mission lasted only three years in Earth time. But the legacy of those three years of STAR TREK gave the world a phenomenon yet to be matched by any other single television series. While STAR TREK lasted only three seasons on first-run television, in syndication the series spawned a fan following that numbers in the millions. From that first series has sprung an incredible number of spin-offs: an animated series, three television series, numerous feature films, and hundreds of novels and consumer products. At the present time, the original STAR TREK series is broadcast regularly in over 100 different countries around the world.
STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise... Its continuing mission..." From 1987 until 1994, the producers of the second STAR TREK series dared to try in first-run syndication what had only been done once before on the television screen. This time, they produced a weekly series focusing on the adventures of the crew of a newer and bigger starship, the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D. This ship would fly under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, support a larger crew, and feature, on a weekly basis, some of the most technologically advanced special effects. The series stayed in production for a total of seven seasons, thanks to an ever-increasing populous of loyal STAR TREK fans, and ended with a total of 177 episodes. STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION became the highest rated syndicated dramatic series on television as its run progressed, and is still in high demand today, running in syndication around the world. The Galaxy-class Starship Enterprise is guided by a leader who is both an intellectual and an explorer, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). The second in command -- often referred to as "Number One" -- is First Officer William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), with their science officer, the android, Lieutenant Commander Data (Brent Spiner). Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) serves as the ship's psychologist, and seeing that all is well with the warp engines is Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton). Overseeing sickbay is Chief Medical Officer Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden). An interesting twist, Chief of Security Lieutenant Worf (Michael Dorn) serves as the only Klingon on the ship. Down below, in Ten Forward lounge, Whoopi Goldberg appears as the recurring character of Guinan. Frequently taunting the crew is the seemingly omnipotent being known simply as "Q" (John de Lancie).
STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE
The adventures near a wormhole on the edge of the final frontier. In the third STAR TREK television series, first made for U.S. syndication in 1992 and still in production today, the action moved from a starship to a space station. The series has just completed its fourth season and continues the tradition of state-of-the-art effects and a top rated cast and crew. Deep Space Nine is commanded by Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), alongside Science Officer Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell), Medical Officer Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig), Security Officer Odo (Rene Auberjonois), Chief Operations Officer Miles O'Brien -- formerly of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D -- (Colm Meaney), Bajoran First Officer Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor), and the Ferengi bartender Quark (Armin Shimerman). Also along for the ride is the Captain's son, aspiring writer Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton). In the fourth season the crew was joined by a STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION veteran, the Klingon Lieutenant Commander Worf (Michael Dorn).
STAR TREK: VOYAGER
The voyages of the Starship U.S.S. Voyager. The fourth and newest STAR TREK series, which hit U.S. airwaves in January 1995, is the first to feature a female Captain -- Kathryn Janeway. Set aboard the starship U.S.S. Voyager NCC-74656, the ship and crew are marooned over 70,000 light years from Federation space and struggling to find a way home. The U.S.S. Voyager was carried beyond the explored limits of space while in pursuit of a rebel Maquis vessel, and out of necessity, the two marooned ships combined into a mismatched crew of Starfleet officers and Maquis rebels.
The main crew members of the U.S.S. Voyager are: Captain Kathryn THE MOTION PICTURES The ongoing series of STAR TREK feature films has been an important part of the STAR TREK experience. STAR TREK The Motion Picture Released in 1979. the first motion picture is the story of Kirk, reunited with his original crew, and a refitted U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701, which endeavor to save Earth from the powerful machine life form V'ger, which is systematically destroying everything in its path on its way toward Earth. STAR TREK II: The Wrath of Khan Released in 1982, the second motion picture finds Kirk and crew sent on a mission to protect the Genesis Project, an important scientific experiment. Spock is killed when genetic superman Khan Noonian Singh escapes planetary exile and seeks revenge on Admiral Kirk by using the secret Genesis Device. STAR TREK III: The Search for Spock In the third film, released in 1984, Kirk and crew jeopardize their careers by stealing the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 in an attempt to rescue Spock's body from the Genesis Planet and reunite it with its katra (or spirit). STAR TREK IV: The Voyage Home Released in 1986, the fourth feature tells of Kirk and crew, with only a hijacked Klingon Bird-of-Prey in which to return to Earth; they must eventually time travel to twentieth century Earth to save the future from the catastrophic effects of a mysterious alien probe. STAR TREK V: The Final Frontier In the 1989 release of the fifth motion picture, Spock's half-brother hijacks the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-A and its crew to pursue his visions of God, who he believes exists at the center of the galaxy. STAR TREK VI: The Undiscovered Country Released in 1991, the sixth film finds Kirk and McCoy wrongly convicted of the assassination of Klingon chancellor Gorkon; they must escape imprisonment in order to find the real killers and stop them from derailing a Klingon-Federation peace initiative.
STAR TREK GENERATIONS
Released in 1994, the seventh motion picture was the first feature to star the cast of
the STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION series as well as to bring together the two
captains of the U.S.S. Enterprise, James T. Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard; they join
forces to stop evil Dr. Soran from destroying an inhabited star system in his quest to
reenter the Nexus. STAR TREK: First Contact Released on November 22, 1996, the eighth motion picture was the first feature to star only the principal cast of the STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION television series. Captain Picard and the crew of the newly-commissioned U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-E battle the insidious Borg to restore the rightful future of Earth after the Borg travel back to the twenty-first century and attempt to prevent Zefram Cochrane, inventor of warp drive technology, from making his historic first flight. DID YOU KNOW... STAR TREK is seen in more than 100 countries and has been translated into dozens of languages. Every month, a classic STAR TREK or STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION novel is published by Pocket Books. More than 63 million STAR TREK books are in print and have been translated into more than 15 languages including Chinese, Norwegian, Hungarian, and Hebrew. "Trekkies," now called "Trekkers," are the only fans listed by name in the Oxford English Dictionary. STAR TREK conventions are held every weekend of every year in at least four different U.S. cities, annually attracting more than 300,000 U.S. fans and an estimated one million fans worldwide. The first U.S. Space Shuttle, the "Enterprise," was given its name after NASA received 400,000 requests from STAR TREK fans. A 1993 study from Purdue University found that children learn more about science from STAR TREK than from any other source.
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