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Not knowing what its about, and knowing only the fandoms involved how about this - Of Stars And Spice. It may or may not be good. You be the judge.

Thanks Karracaz. I've read it was a creation of Gene Coons before, but since it appeared 20 years earlier I have to wonder was it really Coons idea or one that he borrowed from Heinlein.

After I posted my last message I did a little snooping at the Menory Alpha -Trek website http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Prime_Directive

The Directive states that members of Starfleet are not to interfere in the internal affairs of another species, especially the natural development of pre-warp civilizations, either by direct intervention, or technological revelation. When studying a planet's civilization, particularly during a planetary survey, the Prime Directive makes it clear that there is to be "No identification of self or mission. No interference with the social development of said planet. No references to space, other worlds, or advanced civilizations." (TOS: "Bread and Circuses"). Starfleet personnel are required to understand that allowing cultures to develop on their own is an important right and therefore must make any sacrifice to protect cultures from contamination, even at the cost of their own lives.

The Prime Directive is not enforced upon citizens of the Federation. Under the rules as defined in the Directive, a Starfleet crew is forbidden from removing citizens who have interfered with the culture of a world. Violating the directive can result in a court-martial for the offending Starfleet officer or crew. (TNG: "Angel One")

Originally the Directive was a shield for primitive worlds. If such a world was in danger, Starfleet had been known to order ships to save that world, provided it could be done without violating the Directive (TOS: "The Paradise Syndrome").

The Directive was later amended, prohibiting Starfleet officers from intervening even if non-intervention would result in the extinction of an entire species or the end of all life on a planet or star system. By the 24th century the Federation had begun applying the Prime Directive to warp-capable species, refusing to interfere in internal matters such as the Klingon Civil War.

Some Starfleet Captains, including James T. Kirk, Jean-Luc Picard and Kathryn Janeway have noted that the Prime Directive only applies to living growing civilizations and have overlooked the directive where it has been more convenient to do so, particularly in cases where societies have been enslaved or in a state of total stagnation (also known as an arrested culture).

I got the feeling that Kirk didn't care for the prime directive very much. In the TNG episode "Who Watches The Watchers" Picard explains to some proto-vulcan type fellow (I can't remember his name right now) that the prime directive was put in place because of some misunderstanding that led to a war. I got the feeling he was taking about some misunderstanding between Klingons and Humans. But Kirk had to be reminded (usually by Spock, and occasionally by McCoy) that there was a prime directive, it was put in place for a reason, and there would be hell to pay if it was broken. I also got the impression from watching all the episodes of TOS on DVD that the prime directive was something relatively new.

Does anybody know very much about the prime directive? Each series seems to have had it to varying degrees. I'm just wondering what the heck it says. It seems to mean different things to different captains.

In the book Final Frontier Kirks dad mucks around with some Romulans on the very first Enterprise commanded by Robert April. Could the prime directive be the solution to a problem created by earth and Romulus? Enquiring minds want know....at least this one does.

As much as I like Star Trek

I was referring to the original series, which J.J. Abrahms seems intent on reviving. For over forty years ordinary people have identified Star Trek with Bill Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and Deforest Kelly. I suspect if you asked somebody on the street to name anybody from DS9, Voyager, or Enterprise they might say "That black actor" or " the bald captain". And I don't think they were terribly reflective of the times. On DS9 when Sisko was visions, and his father was a preacher the writers took him back to the nineteen fifties when science fiction magazines cost pennies. Hardly reflective if you ask me. On TNG I can't think of a single instance where they addressed the problems of today. The closest they might have come is taking about drug abuse in the 24th century. Voyager was intent on making it back to alpha quadrant. That fact was almost beaten into our heads every week. To me Enterprise was a very bad joke put on film. And simply seeing a scene from today or hearing a piece of dialog that mentions something we know from today doesn't count. The problem had to exist in the future, but the solution had to be in their past.

Members of the original cast have become part of our culture. Other shows and casts have not. Star Trek, the original series was made in the sixties amid troubles domestic and abroad. I fear things that made Star Trek special will either be ignored or trivialized by Abrahms. Plus the little things that made Shatner James T. Kirk, like his telegraphing speech patterns, could very well be lost or belittled by the new cast.

I grew up watching Star Trek. I have fond memories of watching the show on a crumby black and white tv. I simply do not want a childhood memory sullied by a bunch of wannabes.

Star Trek was produced in the sixties with all manner of baggage accompanying it. It stopped in the sixties. Sure the films attempted to recapture the flavor of the show. They came close many times, but missed on every occasion. The human race, and time has moved on. We need something fresh, new, and exciting to escape to from our everyday lives. Star Trek offered us a place to go when the world got too much to handle. Repeating something from the past will not help cure the ills of the present. That's why we need something new.

I tried to compose a responce to the essay last night offline, and I simply didn't like the way it was turning out. So I'm going to try online, so here goes.

Star Trek as a series began in Sept. 1966. The original series had one thing going for that none of the successive versions of the franchise never had: science fiction writers writing for a science fiction show. Theodore Sturgeon, Harland Ellison, and Richard Matheson all wrote for the original series. One of the most loved episodes, "City On The Edge Of Forever", was penned by Harland Ellison, and won a Hugo award. Gene Roddenbery tweaked it to the form we know it in today, but Harland Ellison wrote the basic skeletal structure of the episode. Other writers such as Gene Roddenberry, D.C. Fontana, and Gene L. Coon all contributed to memorable episodes. But the series was crippled by a pathetic budget, and a network (NBC) that didn't fully understand what it had. I regard the latter half of the first season, and the first half of the second season as having the best episodes. By the end of the second season the writing was on the wall - there would be a third season, but just barely. But the original series dealt with many thorny modern day problems such as bigotry, racial tensions, and an unpopular war on a semi-regular basis. Subjects that were normally forbidden were frequently dressed up as science fiction, and slipped past the network censors.

The original series died a death no TV show deserves. Herb Solow, the executive in charge of production, D.C. Fontana, one of its most prolific writers, Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the show, and Robert Justman, co-producer, all left Star Trek in its third and final season. Few actually saw the show to its fateful conclusion.

D.C. Fontana did pen the first episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Robert Justman did return, but only for the first season. Issac Asimov, one of the worlds premier science fiction writers, a person that saw so much potential for the original series saw nothing in TNG.

Some the episodes in the original series were truly awful, but that only made the really good episodes shine brighter. In TNG there were quite a few really bad episodes. I think "Skin Of Evil" and "Conspiracy" were so bad there just isn't a excuse for them.

It's been suggested that Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was an interstallar soap. On this point I would have to agree. Even though I've seen every episode of DS9 I would say the really exceptional episodes could be counted on one hand. DS9 didn't do anything for me.I watched it. I enjoyed it. but I frequently yawned. The story arc with the Dominion War I felt was a tad too long.

Rick Berman, now the keeper of the Star Trek flame (Roddenberry had passed away) thought it would be interesting to see Star Trek before Kirk, Spock, and The USS Enterprise. So while Star Trek Voyager crept along Berman and friends began planning Enterprise. Voyager began in trouble. Its original captain, a Canadian actress, jumped ship before the first episode aired. Kate Mulgrew was brought in as relief, but fans found fault with the show. Some fans objected to the way Capt. Janeway had her hair up in the first episode. It was supposedly a show based in 24th century, but with hair styles firmly entrenched in the 19th century. There was even an internet site called Janeways Hair. The show was almost cancelled until actress Jeri Ryan was added. But the show had to go on. Enterprise was nowhere near ready.

Its been suggested that Enterprise debuted in the "shadow" of 9/11. Ok, viewers were probably not watching. But if 9/11 is to honestly be regarded as a reason the show was cancelled then every show that debuted that fall should have tanked. I think lousy writing, and a creeping disinterest in the show killed it off. Committing a show to a story arc that would last one full season is just plain nuts. If a fan disliked the show three episodes after the beginning of the Xindi story arc they're probably going to ignore the remainder of the season.

Rick Berman tried to redeem himself with the film Star Trek Nemesis. To this day he doesn't understand why fans disliked it so. It had lousy writing, actors were tired of playing characters they've portrayed for years gave a ho-hum performance, and it stank!

As much as I like Star Trek it was a child of the sixties. It died in the sixties. Lets leave it there.

Far too many drivers get a slap on the wrist for charging through a school zone. I think a driver should automatically lose their license for two weeks and a $500.00 - $1,000.00 fine.

The driver worked hard to get their right to drive. They should lose the right should they violate the law regarding school zones for any reason. And should they hit a child while speeding the should lose the right to drive for life. There are far to many boneheads behind the wheel right now. They need to dealt with harshly.

I hit the hay at midnight every day. But I also find my creative juices flowing at the same time. So I jot the ideas in a little journal I keep near my computer where I write. Sometime during the next day the ideas get put into the story.

I just want to put in my two cents. We all want people to read our work. I had somebody comment on a story I wrote. Acronyms forced me to read the blasted message three times! It drives me up the wall when somebody writes anything, be it a story or a comment, that is peppered with acronyms. Acronyms like LOL and WTF have no place in literature. If I read one I stop reading right there. A story uses words to tell a story. Using acronyms is a lazy persons way of writing. They serve no useful purpose in literature. Acronyms are not words.

You've done a fantastic job. You've re-reated an atmosphere for me that I thought was long gone. The way you wrote of the record shop, and the assistant (who wasn't helpful at all) were spot on. I've been through that situation many times. I remember haggling over the price of a record album - bought my first LP when I was ten. And the scouring of the record was a touch I don't many writers would have paid attention to. But one thing stood out in your story. Many stores, in America and Canada, phased out listening to records in the early 1960s. So the request to listen to the album was way off for the seventies. Other than that it was a most pleasant read, and an interesting jaunt down memory lane. Thanks JP

PS The number three is significant for record retailers. During the sixties and seventies retailers usually had three copies of an LP in stock till the "hot" sellers were established.

A former MCA Records (Canada) employee
Austin

The gatekeeper idea is a great idea, and I think a team of people working together will get the job done. That way no one person is doing all the work. I'd like to nominate marylee, marphlets, and Darsy. The reason I suggest three persons is in case two are out of commission for any reason the third can pick up the slack.

Sorry I have been around for some time, but an extremely painful and almost useless left arm is not letting concentrate on my writing.

cynthiab - I tried to get into the story...I really did. But it did nothing for me. Maybe its the lousy weather we're getting. It looked promising, but I was left with questions. Like whats an AD, a PA?

The names were believeable but one was not - Vera Valentine. The name sounded phony, so I really couldn't put much stock in anything she said. I understand the story is about the lives of actors, but when a reader comes across a name like that it almost screams phony.

Neely was appropriately named, but I think Chace should be Chance.

Sorry I wasn't of more help.

Dear Bev,

I know its all in good fun. I'm just a liitle sensitive I guess. But if you had said something about my shoes...well lets just say I might be inclined to use an Andorian laxitive....

(I know what you're thinking. Andorians don't need laxitives. Everything just happens naturally. And you know what I mean when I say everything)

Guinan

To the chief CMO officer of NCC-1701-D

Subject: Coffee Cups

What the hell you been putting in my coffee cups? Word has it you currently developed a certain drug for a particular friend of mine. Word of warning- ration the dosage. One your special brews founds its way to one of my Bolian waiters. What a mess! A severe case of Warp Core Revenge!
That little something of yours also eats through the ships china. So if you find a hole you know you blame.

And heard what you said about my hat. You are seriously bent!

The proprietor of Ten Forward G.

Just curious do featured members have to be American citizens too, because I'm not.

I was wondering if Admiral Surlak was an original character, or if he has appeared elsewhere. It's appropriate that his name seems to contain the word "surly," and I'm wondering whether this was your intent.

Adm Surlak was a creation of mine. I modeled him after a teacher I had in grade school. He too, was surly, cold, distant person. The only thing funny about him was his name.

I liked how McCoy had dubbed Admiral Surlak "the Lord High Executioner" of Starfleet. By any chance, are you a fan of Gilbert and Sullivan?

My father recently retired brom the bench. When he was appointed to the bench I gave him a noose, so when anybody entered his office they would know they were dealing with a no nonsense person. I dubbed him the lord high executioner. I thought it was something McCoy might call somebody. I'm not a G&S fan per se, but some of their tunes are catchy.

I agree with what has already been said about the ending being too abrupt. Heck, I'd love to see an entire chapter written about the details of McCoy's and Tonia's wedding! Who all were invited, what sort of wedding gifts did they receive from the guests, etc.

You read all about it in the upcoming sequel. I haven't started writing just yet, but over the Xmas holidays I should get to it.

you kept Jim and Bones in character throughout -- I could almost hear their dialogue and thoughts recited in the voices of the actors who made them famous.

Thank you very much, and thank on the tips regarding dividers.