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Star Trek spin-off fiction

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Although books, comic books, video games, and other material based on Star Trek are generally considered to be "non-canon", there are several which deserve mentioning.

Star Fleet Universe

Developed over the last two decades and more as an expansive development of the background as supplied in the Original Series as well as in The Star Trek Star Fleet Technical Manual, the Star Fleet Universe introduces a range of new races and storylines (such as the Interstellar Concordium and the General War) as well as drawing from the animated series Kzinti for inspiration - unlike the Paramount universe.

This universe lives and thrives in the range of works from Amarillo Design Bureau Inc., as well as providing a fount for the unique merging of Star Trek continuities seen in the Star Fleet Command series of PC games.

Star Trek Expanded Universe

Star Trek Expanded Universe is a generic term used to describe information put forth outside the scope of the feature films and television series, in an attempt to provide backstories and chronology to "fill the holes" between canonical material. Star Trek novels and comic books often contribute to the expanded universe. The term was first used in 1966 by writer D.C. Fontana to describe Leonard McCoy's personal history. For many fans, Expanded Universe storylines often hold more validity than televised and theatrical stories, leading to occasional arguments between fans when one contradicts the other.

TV

Assignment: Earth
A spin-off of Star Trek was planned during the run of the Original Series, involving a character named Gary Seven, a human agent trained by an alien race to prevent Earth in the 20th century from destroying itself. A pilot episode was filmed, but as the series never took off, the episode was made into an episode of Star Trek. Note: although considered part of the "Expanded Universe" which as a rule is not canonical, "Assignment: Earth" is unusual in that, since it was a televised episode of the Original Series, it is considered canon (this refers to the revised version used in the series, as opposed to the original pilot version).

Novels

See also: List of Star Trek novels

Since 1967, hundreds of original novels and television and movie adaptations have been published. None of these novels are considered "canon", including "Mosaic" and "Pathways" by Star Trek: Voyager co-producer Jeri Taylor, which feature background information on the main characters of the show and which for a time were thought to be canon (current editors for the Pocket Books series state that they are not). [1]

The very first original Star Trek novel, written by Mack Reynolds and published in 1968.

The first publisher of Star Trek fiction aimed at adult readers was Bantam Books, which initially produced a best-selling series of novelizations of Original Series episodes by James Blish that began in 1967. In 1970, Blish wrote the first original novel published by Bantam, Spock Must Die!, although subsequent novels did not appear until 1976.

The very first original Star Trek novel to be published was actually Mission to Horatius by Mack Reynolds, which was published in hardcover by Whitman Books in 1968. Geared for younger readers, the novel became a collectable and in the 1990s, Pocket Books issued a fascimile edition.

Later, Ballantine Books published a 10-volume series of novelizations based upon episodes of Star Trek: The Animated Series, beginning in 1974, all written by Alan Dean Foster.

Pocket Books began publishing Trek fiction in 1979, starting with a novelization of Star Trek: The Motion Picture by Gene Roddenberry himself, although the company's second Trek novel did not appear until 1981 due to Bantam being allowed to complete its publishing contract first.

Eventually, Pocket Books would publish novels based upon every Trek series. Starting in the mid-1990s the company branched began commissioning books based upon original continuing characters and situations set in the Star Trek universe, including:

Star Trek: New Frontier
A series of novels by Peter David focusing on the crew of the starship Excalibur. Some characters were guest stars from episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, while others were from previous Star Trek titles by the same author, and still others were created originally for the series. The series takes place in Sector 221-G, where the Excalibur is dispatched to help with the chaos created by the crumbling Thallonian Empire.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, "Relaunch"
A series of novels, set after the end of the series. New characters have been added to compensate for the loss of those who left at the end of the show. The series begins with two novels called Avatar, Books 1 and 2. Though it is sometimes called DS9's "eighth season" or the DS9 Relaunch, neither label is officially endorsed by the publishers. (several novels published after the end of the series but before the "eighth season" stories began have been retroactively added to the Relaunch, including the anthology The Lives of Dax and the novel A Stitch in Time).
Star Trek: Voyager, "Relaunch"
An expanding series of novels by Christie Golden, set after the end of the Voyager series. Currently printed are the books Homecoming and The Further Shore, in which the characters settle into their lives back home, Spirit Walk: Old Wounds and Spirit Walk: Enemy of My Enemy.
Starfleet Corps of Engineers
An expanding series of e-books by various authors, set in the same timeline as the Next Generation series. This series features a group of highly-trained engineers stationed aboard the USS Da Vinci and their adventures on various planets. The e-books are collected into paperback novels every now and then, but there are over 20 stories that are only available in e-book form, and that number will continue to grow.
Stargazer
An expanding series of novels by Michael Jan Friedman, set during Picard's command of the Stargazer before the Next Generation series. The series features many events that set the scene for events later to come in the TNG.
Star Trek: Titan
A new series of books, depicting William Riker as the captain of a new ship, the Titan.
I.K.S. Gorkon
An expanding series of novels by Keith R. A. DeCandido. The first Star Trek novel series to feature the Klingons instead of Starfleet, I.K.S. Gorkon tells of the adventures of an all-new Chancellor-class war cruiser, on a mission to conquer new planets for the Klingon Empire.
Star Trek: Enterprise, "Relaunch"
Announced by Pocket Books editors in May 2005. No timeline or other information is available as yet. The novel Rosetta by Dave Stern, scheduled for publication in February 2006, will be the first Enterprise novel published since the series' cancellation, but Pocket Books has yet to confirm whether it will signify the start of the actual Relaunch.
William Shatner's Star Trek novels, post-Star Trek: Generations
A series that instigates on Kirk's ressurection after the events seen in Star Trek: Generation. The series began with Ashes of Eden, which, set immediately after Star Trek: Generations told Spock's recollection of the last adventure he was involved with Captain Kirk, shortly after the Khitomer Conference. The next was the actual The Return, where Kirk comes to life after a Romulan party had allied with the Borg and is set to kill Picard! The rest of the novels are set inbetween the various movies and TV episodes from all the Star Trek series, from 1996 and on. These are disctinctive, as they incorporate events and characters from various episodes from all TV series and movies and tie them into the continuity, bringning a larger scope to the whole Star Trek universe. He is assisted, greatly, by Judith Reeves-Stevens and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, who also wrote the now famous crossover novel Federation.

Some fans consider the novels to be fan fiction although, being publications authorized by Paramount Pictures, they do not fit the general definition. A number of novels have been written (or co-written) by series actors, most notably William Shatner. There have also been many unlicensed, privately published works which do fit the definition of fan fiction, such as the cult classic The Doctor and the Enterprise by Jean Airey which merged the universes of Star Trek and Doctor Who.

Comics

File:StarTrekComic1.jpg
The first Star Trek comic book, published in 1967 by Gold Key Comics.

Almost continuously since 1967, a number of companies have published comic book series based on Star Trek and its spin off series, including Gold Key, Marvel Comics, and DC Comics, with varying degrees of success. As of 2005, Star Trek: Enterprise remains the only Trek series that has yet to be adapted in comic book form.

Gold Key

The first Star Trek comics were published by Gold Key between 1967 and 1978. Originally illustrated by an artist in Europe who had never seen the series and only had publicity photos to use as references, these comics were highly stylized and diverged wildly from the TV series continuity. Nonetheless they are fondly remembered by fans and a series of reprints of these original titles began to appear in 2004. The original issues, most of which featured photographic covers showing images from the series, are highly collectable.

Most storylines used in the Gold Key series featured original characters and concepts, although one later issue was a sequel to the TOS episode "City on the Edge of Forever".

Marvel

Marvel's series of Star Trek comics began in 1979 with an adaptation of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and continued for another year, its tales presumably taking place during the apocryphal second five-year mission of Kirk and the Enterprise that would have been featured in the never-produced Star Trek: Phase II TV series. Marvel's license from Paramount prohibited them from utilizing concepts introduced in the original series, being restricted to only using the characters and concepts as they appeared in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The series lasted a total of 18 issues, ending in 1981.

Comic strip

From 1979 to 1983, the Los Angeles Times Mirror Syndicate produced a daily comic strip based upon Star Trek. The strip debuted on December 2, 1979 and ran until December 3, 1983. Many early storylines were written and illustrated by Thomas Warkentin. Gerry Conway scripted the last few story arcs.[2]

DC

The first DC series picked up immediately after Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan beginning in 1983 but after nine issues started to place stories after Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. In these later issues, Kirk, after a multi-issue showdown with the Mirror Universe, is given command of the Excelsior, while Spock, mentally restored after mind-melding with his mirror self, is given the command of the USS Surak. However, with Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home taking place right after III left off, the series quickly wiped the slate clean by having Kirk lose command of the Excelsior and Spock return to the state he was at the end of III. After the release of The Voyage Home, the series continued with Kirk commanding the Enterprise-A. These later issues also re-introduced the characters of Arex and M'Ress from Star Trek: The Animated Series. In 1988, the series ended when Paramount withdrew its license.

After a year's hiatus DC's second Star Trek series began with an adaptation of Star Trek V and took place in the large gap between Star Trek V and Star Trek VI, but did not continue on from the previous series, so storylines from that series were either ignored or rewritten. Although more limited in scope than the first series due to restrictions from Paramount (which included a prohibition on creating non-series-related ongoing characters, resulting in R.J. Blaise - a popular character and love interest for Kirk - disappearing from the comic without explanation), the series lasted around 75 issues and fleshed out some of the changes between V and VI, such as Sulu's promotion to captain of the Excelsior. As part of Paramount's increased restrictions on storytelling, planned appearances from Arex and M'Ress were shelved, with some formative artwork showing M'Ress (that appeared in a preview) re-drawn. The series was mainly written by Peter David and Howard Weinstein, who are also Star Trek novelists.

DC also published two Star Trek: The Next Generation comic series. The first, a six-issue series, takes place during the first season, while the second series covers seasons two to just before Generations. The series was mainly written by Star Trek: The Next Generation novelist Michael Jan Friedman.

At the same time DC was publishing its comics, Malibu published a Deep Space Nine series during the first three seasons, and DC and Malibu joined forces to publish a TNG/DS9 mini-series. DC also published one of the first crossovers between the TOS and TNG eras in another mini-series.

Malibu

Beginning in 1994, Malibu published an ongoing series based upon Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and, as noted above, also joined forces with DC to publish a cross-over story with that company's TNG series. In addition, Malibu published a standalone issue focusing on the Romulans, and two issues of a "celebrity series" of stories written by Star Trek actors Mark Lenard and Aron Eisenberg.

In 1996, Malibu also announced plans to publish a Voyager comic, and art from this comic appeared in some comic industry periodicals. However, that year Paramount Pictures (owners of the Trek franchise), signed a deal with Marvel Comics to publish comics based upon Star Trek and Mission: Impossible under the new Paramount Comics banner. As a result, DC and Malibu abruptly lost the rights to publish Trek comics of their own.

File:StarTrekComic2001.jpg
Published in 2001 by the DC Comics imprint Wildstorm, Star Trek Special was one of the last Trek comics published to date.

Return to Marvel

Restricting TOS and TNG stories to the quarterly Unlimited series, Marvel published monthly comics based upon Deep Space Nine and Voyager. They also introduced two new series, Star Trek: Early Voyages which dealt with Captain Pike's adventures as captain of the Enterprise (as depicted in the rejected TOS pilot "The Cage") and Star Trek: Starfleet Academy which dealt with a group of cadets, including Deep Space Nine's Ferengi, Nog.

Fan acceptance of these comics got off to a shaky start when Marvel's inaugural publication of its new Star Trek line turned out to be a crossover between TNG and Marvel's popular superhero team, The X-Men. (Pocket Books, likewise, published a novel based upon this premise entitled Planet X). However, the different series turned out to be relatively popular, with Starfleet Academy and Early Voyages registering strong sales.

After about a year, however, Marvel's agreement with Paramount changed and similar restrictions to those imposed upon DC resulted in Starfleet Academy and Early Voyages being abruptly cancelled, even though both were in the middle of story arcs at the time.

Wildstorm

Marvel continued to publish TV-based Trek comics for another year or so, but eventually the license drifted back to DC's Wildstorm inprint. Wildstorm decided to not do an ongoing series, but instead a series of miniseries and trade paperback graphic novels. Their TNG series mainly dealt with the movie era, between Insurrection and Nemesis; their Deep Space Nine stories were based on the post-Season 7 novel continuity, and their Voyager series took place during the series. Wildstorm also created comics based on the novel series New Frontier and the video game Elite Force. Their license expired in 2002.

Tokyopop

For several years, no comic book company held the rights to publish Trek-based comics. However, in October 2004, Tokyopop announced plans to publish an anthology of Next Generation-based stories presented in the style of Japanese manga. No publication date has been announced as of October 2005.

Another project by Tokyopop, based upon the original series, has also been announced. The new comic, produced by Joshua Ortega, has been announced for a 2006 release to coincide with TOS's 40th anniversary.[3]


Current Fan Series & Productions

Video

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Poster for Star Trek: Hidden Frontier episode
Star Trek: Hidden Frontier
A fan-made series set in the Briar Patch, the wild region of space introduced in the film Star Trek: Insurrection. Currently in its sixth season (42 episodes produced), the series focuses on the starship Excelsior and its home base, Deep Space 12, as they fend off attacks from a powerful new alien race, The Grey, and mediate disputes between such races as the Tholians, Cardassians, Bajorans, the Son'a and the Breen. This video series is produced by volunteers in Southern California.
Star Trek: New Voyages
A live action video created and funded by a volunteer troupe of fans, the series picks up where the original series left off, putting fan actors into the original series roles. Two episodes are available for download. This production reportedly has the blessing of Gene Roddenberry's estate. Several actors who once appeared on the original Trek series have appeared in this production. On May 3 2004, TrekToday it was announced that Eugene Roddenberry, Jr. had endorsed New Voyages, accepting a position on the production staff. [4] He later provided the voice of "The Timepiece Guard" in the second episode. In March 2005, it was announced that Walter Koenig had been signed to reprise his TOS character Pavel Chekov in an upcoming installment written by TOS/TNG writer D.C. Fontana.[5]
Starship Exeter
An online series of live action videos, produced by fans Jimm and Josh Johnson, which focus on the adventures of the starship Exeter (NCC-1706) in the TOS era. One episode has been released, the second one between July 1st and August 19th of 2005, and a third is in production. Their first episode, 'Savage Empire' debuted (’02) with the extensive use of interior starship sets and the video was made more complete with it’s many Human, Klingon, and Andorian characters.
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Heavy Lies The Crown.
Star Trek: Intrepid
A Star Trek fanfilm in the latter stages of production. Intrepid is set in the 24th century, several years after Star Trek: Nemesis, and features Federation and Merchant Service efforts to colonise a sparse region of space far from the Federation core. A trailer and several bloopers can be found on the Intrepid website. Star Trek: Intrepid is filmed entirely in Scotland; production wrapped late October 2005, with the film currently on schedule for a 2006 release.
Tales of the Seventh Fleet (TotSF)
A new ongoing multigenerational fandom video project covering all timelines. Currently focusing on a small destroyer named the USS JUSTICE in the late 23rd and early 24th centuries. Most of the cast are members of Star Trek fan clubs located in New Jersey.
The REDSHIRT Series, 'Life Insurance' #1
A southern California live action 'filmette/short' video series shot by the volunteers and Genovese Cine Productions 2000 [6]. This filmette series explores the TOS redshirt traditions sometimes with comedic parody. **Two additional filmettes are in current production. It’s most memorable character is the lead fan actor playing the bewildered redshirt crewman. This Vhs tape series has been debuted at many major scifi conventions. Several west coast sci-fi conventions have screened this video. Some other events that screened this video are Shoreleave Con [7] in USA and the video has been premiered through European clubs like the International Science Fiction Federation [8].
Star Trek: USS Hathaway
Star Trek: U.S.S. Hathaway is a tribute film series based on Star Trek which is currently in production. The series takes place during the Original Series "Movie Era" beginning in 2285 (the same calendar year as Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek III: The Search for Spock). If all goes well the production should have a finished pilot (called "Genesis") out for release in the first quarter of 2006. The group hopes to be able to produce about three to four episodes a year. On looking fans are hopeful that this newest addition to the Star Trek Fan Production family will be as much a success as some of the current productions are now.
Star Wreck
A series of Finnish parody movies created by Samuli Torssonen from 1992 onward. The first animation was simple and in 2D, but subsequent films were in 3D and the latest movies make use of real (amateur) actors and bluescreen technology. As of October 1, 2005, Star Wreck: In The Pirkinning (7th movie made) is available for download from its official website
Star Trek: A New Beginning
This two-part Star Trek fan film was produced by high school students Nicholas Kent and William Downes (both 16) in early 2005. The film takes place aboard the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-C and is notable among other reasons for its general lack of computer generated effects. All starship scenes were created using miniature models suspended on strings animated with motion photography. Unlike other internet productions, the film is unique in that it was made with only a digital camera, Windows Movie Maker and Microsoft Paint. The fifteen-minute long first half includes a zero-gravity fight, a space battle and authentic Klingon. A reduced-size copy is available for download here while high definition versions are available on P2P networks such as Kazaa. The second half of the film is due to be released circa April 2006. See teaser preview here.
Star Trek: Unity
A new 3D-animated fanseries currently in production. It is set to fill the gap between ENT and TOS, which will also be reflected in all designs. Be it ships, sets or costumes...everything looks part Ent, part TOS. The big differce of this project to others is that you don´t have to be in a specifc city to be part of it. The whole production process takes place on project member´s computers. Coordination and discussions happen in the projects forum. Anybody intersted in joining the project can do so by registering in the forum on the project´s website.
Bring Back Kirk
When Captain Kirk was killed in Generations, legions of Star Trek fans from around the world united to form the Bring Back Kirk campaign. The goal of the campaign is simple—to see Captain Kirk returned to the living, and to see the character have a happy ending. Star Trek has always been about possibilities. This short film is not so much an endorsement on a particular plot point, but an effort to show the exciting possibilities that Kirk’s return would bring. This nine minute trailer was created in 2004 and is truly an international effort, as it represents the combined work of fans from both the United States and the United Kingdom whose common bond is the desire to see Kirk return.
Rather than using stock footage of the ships from any of the movies and television shows, the trailer features brand new CGI footage, created using meshes by Jason Turner and Wil Jaspers. This enabled the team to engineer all new space scenes and even show ships from the various different shows together on screen.
Star Trek Animation
A new fanfilm 3d animation productions. Star Trek: The Ghosts of War is currently in script stage.

Audio

Inspired in part by the success of a long-running series of audio adventures produced in Great Britain based upon Doctor Who, a couple of similarly premised audio series based upon characters and situations from Star Trek have been launched. Unlike the Doctor Who productions, which are produced under license by the rights holders of the Doctor Who property, the BBC, these Trek audio series are not similarly licensed by Paramount. It's worth noting, however, that Doctor Who audios weren't initially licensed by the BBC, but this changed over time.

Darker Projects Audio Works
Since the Summer of 2005, Darker Projects has become the home for Star Trek Fan Audio. In March, Pioneer Audio Productions, best known for Star Trek: Pioneers, was integrated into Darker Projects, and Pioneers was added to the growing family of Darker Projects Productions. Ever since it's conception Star Trek: The Section 31 Files, Darker Projects' flagship Star Trek series, fans have been discussing about a possible option for Paramount to license the series as both an official and sanctioned production. However, to both the Production's and Fan's dismay, Paramount has yet to comment. Even without official approval by Paramount, the Darker Projects Star Trek Audio Series have become a world wide success with thousands of loyal listeners across the globe.
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A Production poster for one of the first episodes of Star Trek Pioneers
Star Trek: The Section 31 Files
The Section 31 Files, an audio series by Darker Projects, explores the darker side of the Federation, the side virtually unexplored by the canon films and series. The series is based on a starship that protects the Federation from what it cannot protect itself from. The series has already produced fourteen episodes in the first season and has released their first four episodes of the second season, as of November 2005. The series works loosely in conjunction with another series, Star Trek: Pioneers. The creator of The Section 31 Files is located in Oregon and relies on voice talents from across the globe for the production.
Star Trek: Pioneers
This series, which made it's debut in 2003, follows the experiences of a new crew and starship, The USS Pioneer. During a routine mission of exploration, the Federation discovers a gateway to the other side of the galaxy. On the other side, Starfleet finds a bold new frontier waiting to be discovered. In the series, the USS Pioneer is the forerunner in the exploration of this new area of space, and all the dangers, new enemies, old friends, and mysteries it has to offer. In March 2005, Star Trek: Pioneers became part of the Darker Projects family, best known for Star Trek: The Section 31 Files and their Doctor Who series. As of November 2005, the series had produced six episodes, and have three in production.
Crossroads
This bold new adventure begins with the Q Continuum's revelation that the end of the Universe itself is at hand. With their acceptance of the end of time, they intend to protect the natural flow of history as the universe comes to a close. A certain Q we are all familiar with however, refuses to accept this flow of events and in after a failed attempt to prevent the disaster, the Continuum strips him of his powers and he is forced to enlist the help of not only the Federation, but also a civilization from an entirely seperate dimension and reality. With not only our universe at stake, the New Republic faces the exact same disaster, that is if our heros cannot prevent an infinately unlikely cataclysmic event that will mark the beginning of the end of both realities. In this adventure we learn not only about new aspects of both legends, but the answers to many questions that have arisen in past events in both realities' histories. In the production our long lived heros from both the Star Wars Universe, and Darker Projects' Star Trek productions, unite to prevent the destruction of reality itself. The production is set to take place shortly after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. This epic story, although in it's pre-production stages, is planned to be a feature length audio drama, set for release sometime in Winter/Spring 2006.

Screenplay & Novel-Episodic Series

Star Trek: Voyager Virtual Season 8 Project
A collaborative fan fiction project continuing the story of the Voyager crew after they returned to the Alpha Quadrant at the end of the show. Written in the form of 25-45 page short stories (in Word or PDF format) grouped into two twenty-six-episode "seasons" (Seasons 8 & 9 if they aired on TV). This series was produced in 2001 & 2002.
Star Trek: Renaissance
A collaborative fan fiction project depicting events in the Alpha Quadrant after the Dominion War. With an original ship and crew, the series is a mixture of political intrigue, exploration, and character-driven drama with a strong story arc. It is written as a series of teleplays grouped into twenty-six-episode "seasons".
Star Trek: Frontiers
A recent entry into the fan-based series arena, featuring weekly episode releases in teleplay format. The series blends the spirit of adventure from the classic series and the dramatic, serialized storytelling of Deep Space Nine. The show follows a new ship and crew who set out to establish a network of transwarp gates in other galaxies, in an effort to expand the crumbling Federation forty years after the war with the Dominion.
Virtual Enterprise
A script-based series which continues the cancelled Star Trek: Enterprise beyond its 4th season.
Star Trek Avalon
A fan made series that follows the creative vision of several fans who wish to redefine the franchise and Roddenberry's vision of the future by throwing the rules out the window and creating a new time where some things are familiar but many are completely reinvented. More of a western in space than even TOS , Avalon is a mix of dark drama, action and quite a bit of humor.

Past Fan Series & Productions

Redshirt Blues
D. Rogers [9] in 2000 brings to us a TOS comedy satire. The video covers major Star Trek Redshirt folklore. A veteran cynical older crewman reveals his 'Death Duty Truths' to his younger over enthusiastic security comrade and fun problems occur. The dialogue is embedded Star Trek and other scifi trivia and jokes. This live action video was featured on the Scifi Channel 'Exposure' fan video screening show [10].


Mystery Science Theater 3000: Star Trek V.
This is a live action comedy [Mystery Science Theater 3000] parody video shot in Washington state by Ryan K. Johnson [11]. The Satellite of Love’s fun inhabitants make Bill Shatner’s film something to see a second time. It spoofs William Shatner film direction of Star Trek V:The Final Frontier.
"Star Trek: The Pepsi Generation".
A live action comedic shot ‘film to tape’ in Washington state (in the 80’s) by Ryan K. Johnson [12]. The story explores the Star Trek TNG crew. The starship crew seeks out new the Ferrari alien lifeform and the great taste of Pepsi. Pun dialogue and other humorous scenes are included. One of the most memorable video characters is a very convincing Look alike fan performer playing 'Captain Pic-a-Card'.

"Yesterday's Essex, Tomorrow's Command".

This live action video drama was produced in New Zealand in 1993. Produced by Essex Productions, Medalstone Pictures and the Scifi Modelers Club of New Zealand, it takes place in the TNG age, but has a plot twist that allowed a full TOS Constitution Class bridge set to be featured with Klingon and Ferengi plot complications. This story celebrates the constitution class starship centenary at planet Pastel 5, but a ship’s distress call causes aliens to interfere. Some USS Essex video crewmembers are Internet available for their video production recollections[13]. Some this video’s main production crew moved into the professional film industry ranks by working on the Lord of the rings trilogy.
Star Trek Unity The Rakelli Conflicts
A fan made series concerning the Federation and Klingon's attempt for peace in the Alpha Quadrant, 4 years after Star Trek: Nemesis. A crew is sent to Unity starbase, a newly built station, designed to protect the Alliance from those who would destroy it. The Rakelli. In the seven episode series, we explore how a race of refugees and pirates, the Rakelli are attempting to take revenge on the Klingons who stole their territory centuries ago. At the end of the series, we also find that the Rakelli have been under the subtle but powerful influence of the once thought extinct Borg. The series deals with various problems that Captain Puto and Captain Lewis, Unity's commanders deal with, from an all out Rakelli invasion, to drug addiction and time travel.

The Voyages of the USS Angeles' Series, 'Return to Duty'

This was a live action episodic VHS video series produced (mid 90’s) by a Los Angeles Star Trek club’s 'video production committee' staff. It was distributed & sold only to club members. This TNG time period dramatic project featured many club members as performers and the video production crew. Stories take place around the wild region of space introduced in the film Star Trek: Insurrection. The REDSHIRT Filmette Series'[14] and Star Trek: Hidden Frontier's first cast & crew grew out of this progenitor Los Angeles Fan club video series. Some other club VHS video epsiode titles were 'Dreamers', 'Q In the Dark', and 'Price of Duty'.

The Voyages of the USS Angeles, ‘A Little Night Music’

This was a live action episodic video series produced in ’98 by a Los Angeles Star Trek club's video committee and distributed only to their Fan club members. This video featured the Baku race[15] threatened by a mysterious traveling temporal rift containing a new alien 'time explorer' race called, the Locurians. This dramatic project of the TNG time period featured many fan club member volunteers as cast and crew. A. Genovese[16], a club member and pro-actor guest-starred as the ‘Locurian’ alien explorer. Stories involved Star Trek’s Deep Space Nine stations.

Yorktown 2, A Time to Heal

There are only sparse Internet facts about this Star Trek Vhs fan video being the FIRST initially produced and could be the 'Grandfather' of this fan video genre. Little specifics are known and more information is sought. Please add to this entry with known facts.

Games

Among Star Trek-based games, the single most successful and longest enduring is Star Fleet Battles and its sister game Federation and Empire, both the property of Amarillo Design Bureau which is preparing its latest generation of the game called Federation Commander. They were not the only games to continue the vast Star Trek universe however. There were role playing games, board games, card games, computer games, even arcade games and pinball games. Other games include the following:

  • Online RPG's - PBeM, Chat, Newsgroup/BB:
    • StarTrek.com's official online Role Playing forum.
    • Bravo Fleet
    • Star Trek: Liberty Fleet PBEM RPG - Star Trek Role Playing Game played out over email. Dozens of missions and thousands of well-written posts/stories since 2001
    • Star Trek: A Call to Duty The first - and only - online RPG officially affiliated and endorsed by Paramount Pictures from 1996 to 2000. The only true successor to vTrek, it ran continuously from the end of vTrek to the present day. Star Trek: A Call to Duty separated from Paramount in 2000 due to ongoing server issues that eventually caused the demise of Paramount Digital Entertainments's public chat server. Continues to run games in chat, email, and newsgroup formats.
    • Star Trek: Echoes The return of a RPG that unofficially bridged the gap between the original VTrek on the MSN and the Paramount-sanctioned Star Trek: A Call to Duty in 1996. Hosts games in chat and PBeM formats.

Theme Parks

'Star Trek Adventure, Universal Studios Hollywood, 1988'

At the Hollywood Universal Studios Theme Park in late '80's featured a Star Trek themed attraction.[17] The attraction was set up to select 10 participating performers from the theme park's audiences and place them into a Star Trek story line. Those park patron performers are put into authentic Star Trek costumes and sets. The participants are director "coached" to deliver scripted dialogue in scenes that are then recorded on a video camera for edited final version. The storyline script is made up of several dramatic Star Trek feature films clips featuring characters from Starfleet, Klingons and other Star Trek film characters. The finished edited mini video/film is then shown to the audience and the "actors" can purchase their own video tape. This Star Trek attraction closed after several years of operation.

Great American Adventure Amusement Park, Santa Clara near San Jose, Calif.

In the '80's Paramount Pictures Inc. bought the theme park operating company, Great American Theme Parks. [18]After this corporate owner's change, the San Jose property added many major Star Trek elements to entertain the park's patrons. There were several costumed Star Trek characters entertaining patrons near the large Star Trek transplanted movie sets brought up from the studio. A Klingon starship command bridge and other interior set elements along with other Star Trek sets were delivered and installed in this property. There were costumed Star Trek charcters 'meeting and greeting' the parks visitors.