When it premiered on NBC in September 1966, Star Trek was described by its creator, Gene Roddenberry, as "Wagon Train to the stars." Featuring a racially diverse cast, trips to exotic planets, and encounters with an array of alien beings who could be either friendly or hostile, the program opened up new vistas for television. Along with The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, Star Trek represented one of the small screen's rare ventures into science fiction during the 1960s. Although the original series was a modest success during its three-year run, its afterlife has been nothing less than a cultural phenomenon. To celebrate the show's debut fifty years later, it's time to reexamine one of the most influential programs in history. In Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek: The Original Cast Adventures, Douglas and Shea T. Brode present a collection of essays about the series and its various incarnations over the years. Contributors discuss not only the 1960s show but also its off-shoots, ranging from novels and graphic novels to toys and video games, as well as the films featuring Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and the rest of the Enterprise crew. Essays address the show's religious implications, romantic elements, and its role in the globalization of American culture. Other essays draw parallels between the series and the Vietnam War, compare Star Trek II to Milton's Paradise Lost, posit Roddenberry as an auteur, and consider William Shatner as a romantic object. With its far-reaching and provocative essays, this collection offers new insights into one of the most significant shows ever produced. Besides television and film studies, Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek-a companion volume to The Star Trek Universe-will be of interest to scholars of religion, history, gender studies, queer studies, and popular culture, not to mention the show's legions of fans.

About the Author
Douglas Brode is a screenwriter, playwright, novelist, graphic novelist, film historian, and multi-award-winning journalist. He is the coauthor (with Carol Serling) of Rod Serling and The Twilight Zone: The Official 50th Anniversary Tribute (2009) and coeditor (with Leah Deyneka) of Sex, Politics, and Religion in Star Wars, Myth, Media, and Culture in Star Wars, and Dracula's Daughters. Shea T. Brode has an MA in Literature and Cultural Studies from the University Autonoma in Madrid. Douglas and Shea are the coeditors of The Star Trek Universe: Franchising the Final Frontier (Rowman & Littlefield, 2015).

Reviews
This collection of essays is certain to entrance Star Trek TOS fans. . . .The texts here illustrate how the series, conflicted, tried to promote feminism, while still enjoying fetishism or even indulging in a bit of its own misogyny. . . .As an assemblage, the book gives us an even greater appreciation for the franchise, which stands as one of television's greatest accomplishments. * Pop Culture Classics *
If you are looking for a true guidebook not only to the Star Trek phenomena, but also to a deeper understanding of the dynamics to the show, then you'll want to seek out Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek: The Original Cast Adventures. * Comics Grinder *
This is an excellent addition to the growing scholarship related to the Star Trek franchise. * Journal of American Culture *



Book Information
ISBN 9781442249875
Author Douglas Brode
Format Hardback
Page Count 234
Imprint Rowman & Littlefield
Publisher Rowman & Littlefield
Weight(grams) 490g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 161mm * 22mm