Robert Justman's "Klingon on the Bridge"

J is for Justman. On the 18 October 1986, Robert Justman sent a memo to Star Trek's Creator, Gene Roddenberry. The memo concerned the use of the show's writers guide/bible in the Star Trek universe. Justman's memo begins with the sentence,

"Despite your aversion to using Klingons in the new series, I think I've thought of something which might just change your mind."

 In case you were wondering, Robert Justman put forward the idea of a resident Klingon serving aboard the Enterprise played by Michael Dorn. Obviously, Justman had a few hurdles to bypass. Some say Roddenberry's optimistic view of the future was preachy and slow. To neutralize this problem, Justman suggested that the military skills and prowess of the Klingon species might cause such a person (like Worf) to be well-suited for a role in the ship's crew.

"These are Klingons! They'll attack!"

When Roddenberry dug his heels in about excluding the Klingons, he said, "Bob, we've passed all that. We don't need Klingons." However, Justman persevered, challenging the Creator's opinion, pointing out that the acceptance of a Klingon in Starfleet would mean that Human attitudes had grown, which happily played ball with Roddenberry's optimistic view of the future.



Do you remember K'Ehleyr? Didn't Susie Plakson make a great Klingon?

Qapla! Long live the Klingon Empire.

I Am Spock

I Am Spock is the title of Leonard Nimoy's second autobiography, published in 1995 which is a fascinating read.

Leonard Nimoy's second book exploits the logic of the Vulcan Science Officer from Star Trek's universe, revealing a series of private conversations between Mr Spock and Mr Nimoy. This unique book contains a saga of Leonard's experiences as an actor, director, and producer of Star Trek Stories.

A letter in the Foreword section of "I Am Spock" addressed to Mr Leonard Nimoy at Earth's Sol Star System poses the question - Would you consider writing the foreward to my new book? - followed by Mr Nimoy and Spock dialog from Leonard's first autobiography published in 1975.

Can you guess its title?

Live Long and Prosper.

Hugo Gernsback

H is for Hugo. This award is the premier award in science Fiction named after Hugo Gernsback, founder of the first ever sci-fi pulp magazine, Amazing Stories. In 1953 "World SF Convention" gave the first Hugo Award at the 11th World Science Fiction Convention. Since 1955 the Hugo Award for best Science Fiction and Fantasy has been handed over to winners annually for pure excellence.

Theres more than a dozen types including best written and dramatic work. The Hugo Awards are among the highest honors bestowed in science fiction and fantasy, art, publishing and writing. The distinctive design of the Hugo Award Rocket is a service mark of the World Science Fiction Society. The awards themselves are voted on and administered by the World Science Fiction Convention, also known as Worldcon.


Star Trek: The Original Series was nominated eight times for Best Dramatic Presentation, and swept the nominees in 1968. It won the award twice.

Star Trek: The Next Generation was nominated three times, and also won twice.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Enterprise were each nominated twice (Enterprise for Short Form, after the category was split in 2002), but never won.

Nine of the first eleven Star Trek films except for Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and Star Trek Nemesis were nominated for Best Dramatic Presentation. None won the award.

Gene Roddenberry won a special award for Star Trek in 1968.

Hugo Gernsback is known for writing a non fiction in 1952 titled "Evolution of Modern Science Fiction." The novel for which he is best remembered is "Ralph 124C 41+"

Have you read Amazing Stories? Do you like watching the Hugos? Who do you want to see win?

Gene Roddenberry's Message

Gene Roddenberry's "Wagon Train to the Stars" became a cult tv show and refused to die. Star Trek's defenders of the galaxy gave us many hopeful voyages into the future.

Its fair to say, they have been our friends, our guides and our defenders thrilling us with 726 epic adventures, boldly exploring where none have gone before. Its now 50 years later. Heres what Gene Roddenberry said in 1986.




I have thought that having reached this point, it would be fun to go back to the years which Kirk first got the Enterprise and met these people. I know it would please me more than have Star Trek come back years from the future and bright young people and new stars and so on, really make it something.....and have them say thats better than Roddenberry's.... I'd like that.

(True or False) It was Gene Roddenberry's idea to have a Klingon on the bridge of the USS Enterprise NCC 1701-D.

Entertaining Emmys

E is for Entertaining Emmys. Each year the Emmys are celebrated on TV with awards held in the USA since 1949 to honor the best in Prime-Time TV viewing. Believe it or not Star Trek The Animated Series won an Emmy for the most entertaining children's series in 1975! So did TNG, DS9, VOYAGER and ENT. Sadly Star Trek's classic TOS show is the only show to truly bite the dust at the Emmys! I mean how in great space does Enterprise beat TOS classic show? Someone please explain that to me.

In any case, The 67th Primetime Emmy Awards will hit the airwaves on Sunday september 20th 2015. You've probably wondered at some stage whats the recipe for choosing the Prime-time Emmy Awards host, right? The scoop is Andy Samberg aka Brooklyn Nine-Nine's will be in command. So tune in for the fun. "Buckle your seat belts, Emmy lovers!"

Tell us why you love watching the Emmys!

Star Trek Into Darkness has been nominated for Best Science fiction Film of 2015.
 Is STID in with a chance to win?

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

D is for Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....so what gives? The original author, Robert Louis Stevenson wrote his first edition novella "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde" in 1886. Since that time there have been dozens of stage and film adaptions of the novella, over 123 film versions alone not including radio and stage versions.  There doesn't seem to any stopping Dr Jekyl or his doppelganger hiding within, hehe! Looking back Rouben Mamoulian's 1931 B/W version made quite an impact.


1931 didn't have 3D CGI techo special effects we take for granted today. Jekyll and Hyde fans should get a kick out of Mamoulian's movie. I reckon lots of remakes failed to capture the spirit of Stevenson's original book, lacking Mamoulian's movie style and technical innovation.  It really was the golden age of science and inventions.






The arrival of new age special effects has changed Hollywood forever. Theres a brand new "true to text" 2015 Jekyll and Hyde movie due out on April 17th. The official website is here. Theres something about the earlier classics that gives us an appreciation and stretches the imagination.

What's your favorite Jekyll and Hyde film?

Hyde long and Prosper, trekkers.

In Memoriam Leonard Nimoy (1931 - 2015)

Leonard Nimoy lived and shared many moments with fans across the world. I met him in 1995 at his book signing "I AM SPOCK." Meeting Leonard was a big moment in my life that I'll cherish forever. Goodbye Leonard.

Leonard Nimoy

Leonard Nimoy passed away on Friday the 27th February at the age of 83. All over the world tributes have poured in from NASA, Celebrities to Barack Obama.

I never really expected this day to really come. Leonard was universally loved for playing the pointy eared Mr Spock devoted to logic and so much more. He was remarkable and will be sorely missed.

Deforest Kelly's Dr McCoy captured Mr Spock's passing best in Star Trek's Wrath of Khan as you'll remember heres what he said,

McCoy: He's not really dead. As long as we remember him.

Happy Birthday Jeri Ryan

Aw shucks! Heres Jeri Ryan hanging out with trekkies. I'm guessing this photo was taken at a Sci Fi convention but which one? These tickled pink Trekkers in Starfleet uniforms look really pleased as punch. Don't forget, Star Trek fans come in all shapes and sizes. We've even got a green one wearing a Starfleet combadge. 'Captain Four To Beam Up!'



 Happy Birthday Jeri,  Have a great day.

Into Darkness Speed Chase

Hello Everyone, Heres the David and Goliath Star Trek Into Darkness space chase. You know the score. Big baddie Vengence spaceship races after Captain Kirk's chicken USS Enterprise ship. So now its battle stations! Chekov's got his cool space shades on and Dr Carol Marcos wants permission to, I quote "come on the bridge..."




Anyway, in this space chase the admiral's dreadnought is frightening fast roaring a little like a retro Godzilla but you be the judge. Poor USS Enterprise hasn't a chance. No time for Uhura's 'hailing frequencies, open captain.' Instead its fire first and prepare to die. (1m 20sec) Secretly we're all getting off on the speed chase and what happens next. Those poor devils!!!

 Did you get a rush when Starfleets finest got sucked out the side of USS Enterprise NCC 1701? Go on now admit it, warrior to warrior. How did you feel?