Thoughts on the Star Trek Beyond Trailer

I like it. The first trailer, for a movie that’s out in seven months, doesn’t have to do a lot. The idea is to whet the appetite, to remind the viewer of who these characters are and the world they inhabit. That’s what the trailer for Star Trek Beyond does. Yes, it’s loud and brashContinue reading “Thoughts on the Star Trek Beyond Trailer”

A New Star Trek Television Series

Today, CBS announced that there will be a new Star Trek television series in January 2017, executive produced by Alex Kurtzman, one of the writers of 2009’s Star Trek and 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness movies. Suffice it to say, I had thoughts on this today, which is why I wrote about it on Facebook:Continue reading “A New Star Trek Television Series”

Harve Bennett: A Reminiscence

There is a generation for whom their Star Trek isn’t one of the television series. It’s the movies. Maroon jackets. Admiral Kirk. James Horner. “Of all the souls I have encountered…” Protomatter and Project Genesis. “My god, Bones, what have I done?” Humpback whales. “A double dumb-ass on you.” Born too late for the animatedContinue reading “Harve Bennett: A Reminiscence”

Building a Better Star Trek: Generations

It’s possible I’ve written about this on the blog before. Over the years, I’ve written about a great many things, and there’s some inevitable overlap. Recently on a mailing list discussion turned toward the Star Trek: The Next Gernation films, and I mentioned in passing my opinions of Star Trek: First Contact (I really don’tContinue reading “Building a Better Star Trek: Generations”

Boldly Going Where No Word Salad Has Gone Before

Like everyone, I receive “word salad” spam. By “word salad,” I mean spam that uses words and phrases from other sources that go together and make sense to try and get past a Bayesian filter. I’ve just received a Star Trek word salad spam. This is a first. The subject line, as it arrived: PicardContinue reading “Boldly Going Where No Word Salad Has Gone Before”

On a Lost Story

I have on my desk a composition book. It dates to 2001. There are things in it like notes from that year’s Shore Leave, directions to my friend Jason’s house in Arlington, notes from the Electronics Boutique vendor show in Las Vegas that year. Random stuff. It also has the first few pages of aContinue reading “On a Lost Story”

On That Wesley Crusher Smut-Book

Never let it be said that I have standards! I’ve bought Wesley Crusher, Teenage Fuck Machine. You can read about this piece of insane fanfic, for sale on the Amazon Kindle, here in this io9 article. Dayton Ward suggested that this belongs in the pantheon of late-night con readings, alongside The Eye of Argon andContinue reading “On That Wesley Crusher Smut-Book”

On Rethinking Some Old Star Trek

Some recent discussion on TrekBBS, specifically about the alternate possibilities Paramount considered for Star Trek: Generations, brought to mind something I wrote a decade ago (!) that reimagined Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s finale, “All Good Things…,” as a multi-generational crossover film event. In other words, what if Rick Berman, Brannon Braga, and Ronald D.Continue reading “On Rethinking Some Old Star Trek”

On Ranking the Star Trek Directors

Science-fiction author John Scalzi ranks the Star Trek film directors for American Movie Classics’ website. Who’s best, who’s worst? Here’s Scalzi’s list (though without his commentary): Nick Meyer Leonard Nimoy Jonathan Frakes J.J. Abrams Robert Wise David Carson William Shatner Stuart Baird The problem I have with Scalzi’s list is that he’s confusing whether orContinue reading “On Ranking the Star Trek Directors”