Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

-STS Staff

Kim Darby in Miri

Oh these kids today!  Oh those grownups!  Oh those grups!

Actress Kim Darby (True Grit) played the girl smitten with William Shatner's Captain Kirk in the original series episode, Miri.  She may have appeared as if she was just barely escaping the torturous throws of puberty, but Miri came from a race of folk who tinkered with their DNA. In truth, she was many hundreds of years old, and since the genetic tampering incurs madness and finally death, she and her fellow ancient children were running out of time.

Happy Birthday To Nichelle Nichols

Wishing Nichelle Nichols a Happy Birthday!

The Original Lt. Uhura

Happy Holidays From The Star Trek Sex Staff

Happy Holidays!  Live Long & Prosper - And Rack Up Those Gifts!

-- STS STAFF

Flashback Fun - Interview With Keith R. A. DeCandido, Science Fiction Novelist

Since everyone is talking Star Wars and J.J. Abrams, I thought it'd be fun to flashback to an interview I did with Keith DeCandido, where he talks Abrams doing the first Star Trek feature.  

This interview was originally published online in 2009.


Keith DeCandido is a prolific writer of media-tie in novels. He's written novels for Star Trek & the hugely popular video games, World of Warcraft & Starcraft.  Here, he talks about how he got his big break, the upcoming Star Trek film and more.

The joy of fandom holds a multitude of ways to reward the faithful.  A popular, profitable and stimulating course to help one further ingest more favored things is reading novels based around hit TV shows, movies and video games. Writers recruited for this media-tie work are a special class indeed.  Not only are they top notch scribes with original titles to their credit, but their knowledge and expertise must run the length of a world as complex as the Star Trek universe or a complicated comic book superhero like Spiderman.  

If you're a devoted reader of Star Trek, StarCraft, World Of Warcraft or Marvel Superhero novels, it's a sure bet you know of Keith R. A. DeCandido. His versatile work spans generations, timelines and multiverses to encompass Starship crews from Captain Kirk's era over to the dark delights of station Deep Space Nine right on up to currently popular genre fiction such as his novels based on the hit TV series Supernatural.  Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Keith to chat about his formidable contribution to the legendary Star Trek mythos and much more.

DeCandido's unbridled enthusiasm on his work and his approach to it is clear.  How he came by it all, however, was basically unplanned. "It was something unique to the circumstance I was in. John Betancourt and I both worked for Byron Preiss, who had just picked up the license to do books based on Marvel Superheroes. The first two books John and I edited together. When he left the company, I was promoted and took over. I was associate editor for Science Fiction, and worked on original stuff, but also licensed, like Isaac Assimov's work and Ray Bradbury.  Anyway, something that nearly took over my life were Marvel novels. We were ridiculously rushed; we wanted the books out by fall.  Marvel had trashed all our proposals.  At this point, we were past the 11th hour and Jose R. Nieto and I ended up writing it.  After tons of rewriting back and forth, I ended up with my first sale. It was a most bizarre set of circumstances."

As a prolific Star Trek novelist and also editor of its eBook Line (now since cancelled), DeCandido jokes he's been a Star Trek fan all his life - or earlier if his Mom can be believed.  "As a kid I fantasized about being a Trek novel author, so I took the opportunity and ran with it, both as a writer and editor.  I'm proud of the Star Trek work I've been given and managed to accomplish on those fronts."

Today the digital domain of video games both compliments and competes with TV and movies for fans.  For DeCandido, obsessive gamers who rally around Blizzard's StarCraft and World of Warcraft are now fans of novels he's written based on the properties. "I'm doing the StarCraft manual. That came about because of my relationship with Blizzard. I did a World of Warcraft book, Blizzard was very happy with my work. With StarCraft I'm excited by the challenge because there's more room to play with in that world, as it's not as highly developed as World Of Warcraft. Blizzard specifically requested I be approached for the job."

DeCandido is highly anticipating the new Star Trek movie from director J.J. Abrams (TV's LOST) coming in May 2009, which tells the tale of a young Captain Kirk and Spock having a first adventure together. "It's probably not a great idea to go backwards to do a remake or prequel, but having said that, you don't know what a movie will be like until you sit in a theater and see it. Examples of that which I experienced: Two scripts I saw in early stages were for Men In Black and the first X-Men.  Based solely on those early draft scripts, I thought both movies would suck hard. As we know, it didn't turn out that way."

Looking past the forthcoming Star Trek feature film, DeCandido muses whimsically on the sort of television show he'd produce if he were chosen to create a new Star Trek TV series, "I'd do a TV series centered around the Starfleet Corps. Of Engineers.  It would be high adventure problem solving stories involving the SCE, which has a great group of characters at its core.  Great ensembles are at the heart of great TV shows, and TV shows do character development so well.  I hope to see Star Trek as a television series again."

The Cougar Of The Galaxy

Lwaxana Troi, played by Majel Barrett Roddenberry, was never shy about expressing her romantic interests.  On Captain Picard's Enterprise, she always saved some romance suggestions for her beloved, Jean-Luc!

Lwaxana put the roar in Cougar before it was a thing.

Counselor Troi's Romance

Captain Picard's Enterprise D may not have been staffed with as randy a crew as Captain Kirks, but those Next Generation Starfleet officers still found some time for singular pleasures.

Counselor Troi - played by Marina Sirtis - listened to the romantic problems of many.  When it came to her own romance issues, however, I guess Troi only confided in her friend Dr. Crusher on the ups and downs of her on again/off again romance with Commander Riker, or her Imzadi, the Betazed word for beloved one.  In the episode, The Price, Troi is swept off her feet - in all possible ways - by a suave, telepathic negotiator, Devinoni Ral - played by Matt McCoy.

Star Trek Beyond - First Look At Trailer

Star Trek Beyond directed by Justin Lin - coming in July 2016.

Kirk's Orion Girl

In Star Trek 2009, we saw the return of a familiar face - well at least race.  Actress Susan Oliver had portrayed the first Orion Slave girl back in Star Trek's pilot, The Cage, opposite Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Pike. In JJ Abram's first big screen Trek, Chris Pine's Kirk bedded down with a green gal.

Starship Of Legend

When you are the legendary starship Enterprise, where do you go to hang out and have people admire you?  Why you dock yourself at The Smithsonian Institute, of course.

Paramount Pictures donated the filming model of Captain Kirk's majestic starship in 1974.

Captain Kirk Becomes A Romulan

Being a starship Captain isn't easy, and it's a simple fact that a Starfleet officer's duty is never truly done.  It's especially hard when you have to change your race and even species.

In the classic episode, The Enterprise Incident, Kirk and Spock must become intergalactic spies to obtain the famed cloaking device technology.  Kirk may not have really enjoyed the surgical procedure which gives him his new alien look, but he doesn't look half bad as a Romulan - a member of Spock's offshoot, or cousin race.

Actress Susan Oliver Before She Was Green

Before actress Susan Oliver originated the iconic green skinned girl that every Star Trek fan knows and loves, she appeared in Rod Serling's classic show, The Twilight Zone, in the episode, People Are Alike All Over - co-starring Roddy McDowall.

Here's Khan Before All That Wrath

Some casual Trek fans may never have seen Khan outside of the blockbuster motion picture Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan.  Played with memorable gusto by Ricardo Montalban, the villainous, though charismatic Khan was introduced in the classic, original series, Space Seed.  

After nearly killing him and commandeering his starship, Captain Kirk (William Shatner) regrets releasing the Earth despot from his deep hibernation on the cryogenic ship - the SS Botany Bay.

Hey, shit happens. 

It's Janeway or The Highway

During Voyager's time in the Delta Quadrant, Captain Janeway was a Starfleet pro - through and through.  She ran a tight Starship, and one thing she rarely did was dress casually. Kathryn Janeway never wore this t-shirt - she didn't have to the way she ran things.

Andrea The Android

There are Androids.....

And then there's Andrea The Android from classic Trek, What Are Little Girls Made Of?

 Any questions?

Hallmark Christmas Ornament - Spock's Death

It may not be everyone's idea of an acceptable festive tree ornament, because hey, it's a death scene, but every Trekkie or Trekker would put this on their Christmas tree.  

Live Long And Prosper.

Trek Twitter Poll

Take my Star Trek Twitter Poll

https://twitter.com/WillStape/status/673531997369798656

Scotty, Beam Up My Drinks!

Scotty would be proud to help you bream up your drinks.  Wouldn't he? If you had this nifty Star Trek drink coaster, you could do it all by yourself.  Well, sorta....  Click the drink for more beverage dazzling info.

Star Wars Vs Star Trek - Failure At Unity

Star Wars Vs Star Trek - will there ever be unity? Will there ever be peace?

http://www.inforum.com/variety/3894938-star-wars-vs-star-trek-some-galaxy-isnt-big-enough-both

That OTHER Kiss

Much is made of Captain Kirk and Lt. Uhura's kiss in the classic episode, Plato's Stepchildren.  The alien enforced liplock was the first interracial kiss on television.  Despite a recent revelation that an obscure British live drama snagged the title a few years prior, the great cultural interest in Star Trek makes the William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols scene still the one most talked about.

But there was another kiss.

In the same episode, Spock and Nurse Chapel - Leonard Nimoy and Majel Barrett Roddenberry - were also forced into romantic play by the sadistic Platonians.  Because of Chapel's pining lust for the stoic Vulcan, and Spock's romantic resistance to her, their embrace and smooch is, in many ways, even more dramatic.

Admiral James T. Bark - The Doggy Trek

Khaaaaaaaaaan!   Khaaaaaaaan!   Khaaaaaaaaan!

Book Trailer

Star Trek Sex Book Trailer

Star Trek Sex On Facebook

Visit us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thestartreksexbook/

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!  -- Star Trek Sex Staff

Valeris knows how to roast a turkey!

Amanda of Earth and Sarek of Vulcan

Two people coming from very different worlds found each other, and they came together in a loving union. Through their joining they created a son - Spock - who would go on to become a legendary scientist and Starfleet officer.

Journey To Babel

Where No Poster Has Gone Before

Wonderful new Star Trek posters are now available. Check out one of the very best of the bunch.

For more information - check out this article: 

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/11/23/star-trek-posters-voyager-wrath-khan-tos

Nichelle Nichols - Lt. Uhura

Here's a wonderful publicity photo of actress Nichelle Nichols as Lt. Uhura from the original series. 

A Casual Jeri Ryan - Seven of Nine

Great shot of the beautiful Jeri Ryan of Star Trek: Voyager fame.

Captain Janeway Or The Cosmic Highway

Captain Janeway - played by Kate Mulgrew - was the first woman commander of a Starship to be featured as star of a Trek spin-off. Voyager became lost in space in the Delta Quadrant, but its intrepid leader never wavered in her pursuit of getting home to Earth, nor the Starfleet goals and ethics which guided her and her valiant crew.

Riker Feels Pretty

Starfleet members are professionals.  They are expected to do whatever it takes to see that their important mission is carried out efficiently and completely.  In the Next Generation episode, Angel One, Commander Riker really takes one for the team.

Oh, Commander Riker, don't you look pretty!

It's Good To Be Khan

Yes, indeed, it's really good to be Khan.

Who needs Genesis with these two by my side?

Spock's Almost Wedding

Spock almost got married - remember?  It was a casual affair, only a few good friends invited, kinda low-key.  Ultimately, it was really an amok time!

Don't they both look thrilled?

Wink Of An Eye

Captain Kirk is fast, but Deela - played by actress Kathie Brownie - is just a wee bit faster.  In Wink Of An Eye, Kirk must confront an alien race whose slowest gesture is beyond hyper fast to humans.

 

The beautiful Deela.  She's the fastest woman Kirk has ever faced.

Romulan Commander And Spock

In The Enterprise Incident, Spock must team up with his Captain for a sort of James Bond meets Jason Bourne mission.  Stealing a Romulan cloaking device isn't easy - the job tasking Kirk - but romancing a steely Romulan Commander may be even harder.

Only known as the Romulan Commander, actress Joanne Linville brings a classy and smokey sexuality to the character and always makes us wonder if Spock will be able to resist her temptation. 

Talosians - Androgynous Aliens

Played by small, lithe female dancers, the legendary Talosians are the epitome of the androgynous alien.  After imprisoning Captain Pike (Jeffrey Hunter), the telepathic aliens put him through a series of mental exercises - where reality and fantasy blur into one maddening spectacle after another.  

Fueled by a need to live their mostly non physical lives through other species, the aliens want to breed as many living toys as they can - so to vicariously live out their dynamic, and often sexually tinged fantasies. 

Gene Roddenberry - On The Appeal Of HIs Legendary Show

Enterprise Snack Attack

Can getting a snack on the Enterprise be that difficult?

Book Excerpt - About The Author

Nurse Chapel And Lwaxana Troi

Nurse Chapel is one of the sadder characters on Star Trek. Wonderfully played by Majel Barrett Roddenberry, Chapel has to keep her romantic secret - that she dearly loves Spock.  When the revelation is finally made, it's both poignant and touching.

It's no wonder that when Next Generation was created, Majel was given the joyous and highly libidinous character of Lwaxana - a woman who never was shy about admitting her attraction to the bemused Jean-Luc Picard.  Oh Jean-Luc!

Captain Kirk - Commander Of Love

That commanding stare.....

Star Trek Sex Image Gallery

William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk

Galactic Romance

Going boldly can get romantic....

Roll-Up Piano From "Lessons"

Captain Picard's love interest, Nella Darren, in the TNG episode, Lessons, played a mean roll-up keyboard.  Sadly, the actual prop hasn't stood the test of time.  Available for $3109 bucks, the item is pretty beat up now.

T'Pring - A Vulcan Woman Of Sexual Strategy

T'Pring always gets what she wants...

Do You Really Want To Get Involved, Captain Kirk?

Captain Kirk Gets Inspirational Meme

Is Tony Robbins jealous?

Inspire us, J.T. Kirk!

Star Wars Essays Goes Into Hyperspace

Star Wars is coming - there's no denying it.

Available On Amazon Kindle

Stormtroopers VS Red Shirts

A battle that HAD to happen.  A bit anti-climatic, don't you think?

Han Solo On The Enterprise

What if Han Solo decided to hitch a ride on the Enterprise?  We can dream...

Star Trek & Star Wars: Sci-Fi Titans

A War or A Trek?  Fight among the stars or a trip to explore the stars? Which do you prefer?

Star Trek & Star Wars - those star spawned sagas shadow each other like a cloaked Romulan Warbird trailing Bobba Fett's bounty hunter ship Slave One

As a sci-fi writer, I'm often asked which I like better.  For one who penned episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, the answer may be obvious. Long before I was listed in the credits of a Star Trek episode, however, I preferred seeing Starship Enterprise jump into warp to watching Han Solo's Millennium Falcon burst into hyperspace.

There's no denying George Lucas created fantastic characters. Of course Gene Roddenberry created his universe first.  Star Trek blazed a trail in pop culture so fiery, it's still felt today in every aspect of media. That influential legacy can be felt in TV, film, novels, comic books, video games and now even fan produced episodes and movies.

Media success is great, but there's a more fundamental, intellectual facet which not only sets itself apart from Star Wars, but from nearly every other sci-fi themed entity around.

Star Trek brims with philosophy.

Star Wars has philosophy in Jedi?  These laser sword wielding warriors strut around in flowing robes talking about the "Force."  On surface, they seem to use philosophy. Yoda, one of the wisest teachers waxes philosophically on how the Force is his ally.  Yet, when he launches into a savage saber fight with Count Dooku in Attack of the Clones, where's his philosophy? Is Jedi Philosophy only effective in combat? Is there no peaceful way of utilizing the Force?

There's Vulcan philosophy, Klingon philosophy, Bajoran philosophy - you even have Borg Philosophy. IDIC. It's a Good Day To Die. Resistance Is Futile. This promotes Vulcan ideas of the infinite diversity and respect for life, the Klingon notion of fighting for honor and the Borg totalitarian mind set of assimilation being inevitable.  Klingons and Borg aren't great role models, but their respective philosophies speak volumes about their race's culture and evolution. Klingons love combat - it's the air they breathe, the blood wine they drink. Borg seek perfection - it's neural energy that feeds total domination of species they encounter.

These are potent intellectual exercises in how a world operates in reality. We use these lessons in sociology, political science and even in psychology. College courses are not only taught with Star Trek's examples, but sometimes focus solely on Gene Roddenberry's universe of ideas.  Star Trek deals in complex philosophy and diplomacy - something usually lacking in Star Wars.

The flash of Star Wars is fun.  Thrilling.  But like choosing between a quick deli sandwich or fast food concoction compared to a nutritious full course meal, the surface sizzle never matches the deep, mental and philosophical stimulation found in Star Trek.

A War or A Trek?  That's easy.  I prefer a journey of discovery and adventure trek over a war every time

Han Solo VS Captain Kirk

One has a bigger gun.  One has a bigger ship.  One has a hairy pal. One has a pal with pointy ears.  One dates a Princess.  One dates dozens.







Yeah, we know.

Captain Picard Calls Out Han Solo

New Star Wars is coming, but Captain Jean-Luc Picard isn't upset in the least.

Bitches, Jean-Luc?  OH MY!

New Star Trek Series Coming

CBS is planning a new Star Trek series.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2015/11/02/cbs-new-star-trek-series-streaming/75036818/

Space Race To Romance

Click Here For A Sci-Fi Love Voyage

Space.... The Final Frontier Of Romance...