The Twentieth
Anniversary of the Twentieth Anniversary of Star Trek
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The Twentieth Anniversary of the Twentieth Anniversary of
Star Trek
(Originally published in issue 10 of Neo-opsis.)
The first aired episode of Star
Trek was “The Man Trap,” originally broadcast on September 8, 1966.
(The fiftieth anniversary of Star Trek was September 6, 2016, which is the date the episode
"The Man Trap" was released in Canada, 2 days before it was released
in the US.)
One need not be religious to recognize
that there has been a significant impact on society by people like Moses, Lao
Tzu, Jesus, Krishna, or Mohammed. One need not be a scientist, to realize that
people like Galileo Galilei, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla or
Richard Feynman have had a significant impact on society. Similarly, one need
not be a follower of Kirk, Spock, McCoy or Scotty, to recognize that Star
Trek has had a significant impact on society
Many shows wind up with some extremely
devoted fans, but unlike all others, the original Star Trek pilot
episode, “The Cage,” came with
a warning to potential fans. A warning similar to the health notes on the side
of cigarette packages. The story featured Talosians with the power of
illusion and the ability to live and feel the experiences others go through
(real or illusionary). They also play back and live through recordings of these
experiences. The warning to potential fanatical fans was presented as dialog
between the two main characters of the episode:
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Captain
Pike: “So the Talosians who came underground found life limited here, and
they concentrated on developing their mental power.” Vina:
“But they found it’s a trap, like a narcotic. Because when dreams become more
important than reality, you give up travel, building, creating. You even
forget how to repair the machines left behind by your ancestors. You just
sit, living and reliving other lives left behind in the thought record.” |
Susan Oliver and
Jeffrey Hunter. |
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Star Trek has inspired some
fans to produce artwork, poetry, prose, costumes, props, movies, animations,
etc. Star Trek has inspires some to produce technology, paralleling the
devices found in the show. Star Trek has inspired some to try to make
the world a place where people can get along, regardless of race, sex, etc. Star
Trek has also inspired some to re-watch Trek episodes over and over
and over, without the slightest heed to Vina’s apt warning.
In my case, I was inspired to
contribute to the betterment of mankind by adding some devastatingly funny
captions to photos of Star Trek characters.
Not all
ideas in Star Trek have come to fruition. This isn’t a bad thing in all
cases. One of the devices commonly used on the show kills people by
disassembling all of the atoms comprising their body. The device then creates a
new person somewhere else, who thinks he’s the original person. For some
reason, they give this nasty device the innocuous name ‘transporter.’ Most of
the crew, and their subsequent copies, have no problem with this. Personally,
I’m not too pumped on the idea of being killed, all so that some other
collection of matter and energy somewhere else, can have the privilege of
becoming sentient, self-aware, and having my memories and other attributes.
A noteworthy point about the starship Enterprise, is that it doesn’t have
any toilets (or rather, none have been shown on any of the episodes). Perhaps
this can be explained by considering other uses for the ‘transporter’ than
routinely killing and copying the crew. With fine enough control, one could use
a device like the ‘transporter’ to selectively disassemble the atoms comprising
urine and feces, inside the bodies of the crewman. If the crewmen get quite
used to such a system, most of the crew might wet themselves within a few hours
of any power failures on the ship. Alternately, crewman might simply urinate or
defecate anywhere they want, with the ‘transporter’ set to intercept and
disassemble the atoms of the waste material before it lands on the floor.
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One ‘prediction’ made in the episode “The Ultimate Computer” paralleled a technology that seems about to come to fruition. It was mentioned that the Federation computers used ‘duotronic’ components, but that the M5 computer in this episode used ‘multitronic’ components. Real world binary computers arguably parallel the fictitious duotronics. Recent experiments into ‘spintronics’ should allow for circuits with more than the two states, on and off, that are used in binary systems. This could easily be referred to as ‘multitronic.’ Spintronics could give people yet another reason to assume their current computer is too damn slow, and that they need a new one. |
M5 (Multitronic 5) computer. The visual interface, featuring thin rectangular lights and a round screen with swirly colours, was so popular, that the same interface was used by Gary 7 on his computer in the episode “Assignment Earth.” The Atavachron, the control device for a time travel machine used on the planet Sarpeidon, featured a similar design. |
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Nomad |
Much has been made of the inconsistencies in Star Trek from episode to episode. Some account for this by pointing out that the show had multiple writers, and no writer had the task of arcing the stories over time and forcing consistency on the series. While these are clearly factors, I suggest another explanation. The episode “Mirror Mirror” featured a ‘transporter’ incident, where Kirk, McCoy, Scotty and Uhura (rather, new copies of them created by the ‘transporter’) appear in a ‘parallel universe’. (They even managed to swap uniforms with their counterparts from the other universe.) I think the “Mirror Mirror” story is clearly and unambiguously telling us that each of the episodes of Trek take place in slightly different universes, neatly explaining most of the inconsistencies. This is also the only conceivable answer as to why in Star Trek the Motion Picture, when the crew met V’Ger (an early human space probe that disappeared, and came back looking for Earth, billions of times more powerful than when it left), not one of the crew said, “Hey, this is just like that time with Nomad.” Nomad, from the episode “The Changeling,” was also an early human space probe that disappeared, and came back looking for Earth, billions of times more powerful than when it left. They were from a universe where they hadn’t met Nomad. |
The episode “Day of the Dove” featured a
non-corporeal alien that feeds on hate and has the power to induce violent
feelings in others. The Federation in the “Mirror Mirror” universe has numerous similarities to the
universe Kirk and crew arrived from, other than that they are a bunch of
extremely nasty sorts. The “Mirror
Mirror” universe seems to be one in which the hate feeding
creatures have taken up permanent residence.
Star Trek had ‘humanoid’
life forms living throughout the galaxy. This is unlikely in the extreme. An
attempt to hand wave away this unlikelihood was done in the episode “Bread and Circuses.” This planet in
this episode is Earth-like, with humans living in a society one might expect if
the Roman Empire had lasted until the 20th century. Kirk asked why there were
humanoids throughout the galaxy and Spock said something about Hodgkin’s law of
parallel planetary development. This sounded scientific, but was of course pretty
much as useful as answering the question, “Why is the sky blue?” with
“Hodgkin’s law of blue skies.”
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In the episode “Return to Tomorrow,” a half million year old alien named Sargon, mentions that their race seeded humanoids throughout the galaxy. Of course, a more apt answer to why human-like aliens were common, was because classic Trek had a low budget for creating aliens. Unfortunately some of the later Trek series, which had better budgets, more advanced special effects and make up techniques, rarely had aliens that were aught but human actors with silly putty stuck to their heads. Even though most classic Trek aliens looked pretty much human, the show also had some fairly alien aliens. The group shot at the beginning of this article includes a Gorn, a Horta, a Mugatu, a Salt Vampire, a Tribble, two Pyris, a neural parasite, and a dressed up little dog from Alfa 177. |
Sargon’s napping sphere. The sphere got a later gig as part of a Romulan cloaking device in “The Enterprise Incident.” |
Even
when competing with more modern Trek series, classic Trek is still popular, as
originally filmed and now with updated special effects.
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Original Special effects. |
Remastered special effects. |
The crew
of the Enterprise on Dark
Star night.
Have you
ever wondered why control panels explode in Star
Trek?
Star Trek Videos
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December 8, 2020 |
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This
video compares Khan to the giant Amoeba in the episode “Immunity Syndrome.” August
12, 2020 |
Why Are Ships the Same Way
“Up” in Star Trek? Here's
an idea that might explain why, when there's no "up" in space, that
spaceships in Star Trek are so
often the same way "up." Enjoy! August 2, 2020 |
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8b3G5VZlI8
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krYL7QWmSD8 This
video compares Khan to the Doomsday Machine, in the episode of the same name. |
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMgZY9k6_Q In this video Khan
is compared to the flying snot monsters from outer space, aka the neural
parasites, in the episode "Operation Annihilate," written by Steven
W. Carabotsos. |
This
video compares Khan to the giant gorrilla like creatures in the episode
“Galileo Seven." |
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ4ryqyVKQU This
video compares Khan to Dr. Roger Corby and the android Ruk, in the episode
“What are Little Girls Mafe of?” Who
was the worst villain in the classic Star
Trek series? This video series examines various adversaries in Star Trek
and compares them to Khan (from the episode "Space Seed," and the
movie Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan)
who is claimed in the movie Star Trek: Into Darkness to be "the most
formidable adversary the Enterprise ever faced." |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV9wiPC-vd4 Justify
the Science Flaw VCon 2016 Part 3 Excerpt
from the 6th annual “Justify the Science Flaw” panel at VCon 41 in Vancouver, BC. Joe Fulgham, BJ
Allen, Robert J. Sawyer, Judy McCrosky, Lynda Williams, Jamie Matthews, and
Karl Johanson discuss flaws in the classic Trek episode “Spock’s Brain.” |
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Ten
years after the twentieth anniversary of the twentieth anniversary of Star Trek was the fiftieth anniversary
of Star Trek. The
first episode of Star Trek aired on
September 6, 1966 in Canada. 2 days later it was played in the US. |
The
Phaser Trick! The
ultimate part trick involving a phaser! Impress you friends! Impress your
relatives! Impress Dave! |
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzGKXxd7J7Q This
video compares Khan to the Romulan Commander in the episode “Galileo
Seven." Who
was the worst villain in the classic series? This video series examines
various adversaries in Star Trek
and compares them to Khan (from the episode "Space Seed," and the
movie Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan)
who is claimed in the movie Star Trek: Into Darkness to be "the most
formidable adversary the Enterprise ever faced." |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4OstmcAqMw This
video compares Khan to the polymorphic salt vampire in the episode “The Man
Trap." Who
was the worst villain in the classic Star
Trek series? This video series examines various adversaries in Star Trek
and compares them to Khan (from the episode "Space Seed," and the
movie Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan)
who is claimed in the movie Star Trek:
Into Darkness to be "the most formidable adversary the Enterprise
ever faced." |
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdOoDmvgsCQ This
video compares Khan to Charlie Evans in the episode “Charlie X." Who
was the worst villain in the classic Star
Trek series? This video series examines various adversaries in Star Trek
and compares them to Khan (from the episode "Space Seed," and the
movie Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan)
who is claimed in the movie Star Trek:
Into Darkness to be "the most formidable adversary the Enterprise
ever faced." |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfpYsAdS0r0 This
video compares Khan to Balok from the episode, "The Corbomite
Manuever." Where No Man has Gone Before."
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Star Trek Stamps. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEx14rXboZM A
look at the Star Trek stamps and coins we purchased. |
The Worst Star Trek Villain: Part Two Who
was the worst villain in the classic Star
Trek series? This video series examines various adversaries in the show
and compares them to Khan (from the episode "Space Seed," and the
movie Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan)
who is claimed in the movie Star Trek:
Ascent into Darkness to be "the most formidable adversary the
Enterprise ever faced." |
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Star Trek Captain’s Chair https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvR2HAAsBmU Editor
Karl Johanson tries out his inflatable Star
Trek chair at Cox Bay, near Tofino and Pacific Rim National Park, on
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. Also
appearing in the video are Emily Kazanowski and Wendy Lightbody, and Isaac
the dog. |
The Worst Star Trek Villain: Part One "The
Menagerie." New
August 2015 |
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Phaser Sale! A
phaser prop used in classic Star Trek
is going up for auction. Karl is offering his phaser for a hugely discounted
price instead. New
Jan 2015 |
Star Trek Shiver Syndrome Classic Star Trek animation. Mr. Sulu on a
frozen planet. Created using Go
Animate: |
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Zombie Kirk Editor Karl
Johanson wore multiple costumes for ‘Halloweek” at his job at ParetoLogic. He
combined his Zombie Day costume and his “Science Fiction Day” costume for
this brief video tribute to the classic Star
Trek Episode “Spock’s Brain.” |
Largest
Star Trek Drawing Ever
Drawing Captain Picard in the sand at Long Beach, BC. In Pacific Rim
National Park.
Filmed by Stephanie Ann Johanson. |
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Star Trek happy Birthday Animation A Star
Trek Happy Birthday wish, created at http://goanimate.com/ A
happy birthday from Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, Sulu, Chekov, Scotty, Chapel,
two red shirts, a Klingon, and an Orion. |
Doodle Trek Some hand drawn Trek animation I did in 1987. I filmed it with a Super 8 camera
in 1993. I had it telecined to DVD in 2009, then converted it to WMV and
added sound in 2010. There's a bit of dirt & some scratches on the film and
some compression artifacting from the DVD conversion. |
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Captain Picard and the Gorn Short animated movie about an alien
encounter. I put this together in 2007 or so. This is my second Picard
cartoon, as he's about the only character I can draw somewhat consistently. Produced with PhotoShop and AVI
Constructor. |
Star Trek: Phaser Bounce A Trek
cartoon I put together a few years ago. |
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Star Trek: The Search for an Episode Trek Animation - created at http://goanimate.com/. The classic Trek characters go on a search for a new episode. |
Transporter A server cage showed up in the office at my old job. It sat in the entrance for a few weeks and lots of people wondered what it was, so I made this video and emailed it to everyone. (No audio.) |
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Karl Johanson
Editor of Neo-opsis
Science Fiction Magazine
(Extended
version of the original article, from issue 10 of Neo-opsis. Dec 29, 2013. Updated March 11, 2015. Updated January 3,
2020.)
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