Teching the Tech on Voyager / March 11, 2013 by Charlynn Schmiedt

“It’s some sort of chromo-dynamic module powered by a tripolymer plasma”

Sound familiar? Technobabble (or Treknobabble, if you will) is the term used to describe all of the jargon used on Star Trek. The quote above was delivered by Lieutenant Torres in the episode “Prototype” and is just one of many examples of the kind of tech talk Star Trek provides.

Endgame: Voyager Finds Her Way Home / January 19, 2013 by Trek fm

I remember it well, that day I saw the Starship Voyager set course for the Badlands to make history as the title ship of the unprecedented third Star Trek spin-off. It was a chilly January day back in 1995, and a group of friends and I had just returned from a trip to see Generations on the big screen.

The Good, the Bad, and Ugly of Holodeck Programs / September 23, 2012 by Lorrie Sears

With Microsoft recently developing a basic “holo-desk” program that allows users to manipulate 3-D computer generated objects, a second look has been given to Star Trek holodeck programs and their uses. Whether holodecks were used for training, medical programs, sports and recreation, the re-creation of real-life characters, novels, children’s’ entertainment and learning, or sex, the programs filled a need in starship crews’ lives.

Voyager Season One Wrap-up / September 3, 2012 by Charlynn Schmiedt

Let’s take a look at how overall ratings stacked up in season one…

Trek Children: Looking Back At the Franchise's Youngest Crew Members / August 26, 2012 by Lorrie Sears

TNG had Wesley Crusher. DS9 had Jake and Nog. Voyager had Naomi Wildman. Children, the literal “next generation,” are a small presence in Star Trek, yet some have a big impact. Whether they are annoying or endearing, the kids of Trek are not easily forgotten. Let’s take a look at those we got to know the most.

Rewriting Trek / March 2, 2012 by Trek fm

The fictional universe of Star Trek represents one possible future. That future has been assembled by numerous writers over the course of 45 years, six television series, and eleven feature films. When dealing with such a long span of time, so many contributors, and the evolving nature of society, it’s only natural that elements of this universe will change, stories will contradict one another, and early ambiguities will be filled in by later treks.

Riker! Riker! Won't You Please Sit Down? / February 18, 2012 by Trek fm

William T. Riker always wanted his own command. It was his Number One priority—in terms of his career anyway. It’s hard to imagine the allure of the captain’s chair winning out over Minuet, Etana Jol, or certainly Deanna Troi. Yes, Riker’s love of women has been well documented over the years, but there is one other thread that ran through all of TNG: Riker’s desire to one day command his own ship. Fortunately, in the end, he didn’t have to choose. He got his ship and his Imzadi, too. But the road to that final destination was a long and winding one

Janeway and Chakotay: The Relationship that Never Was… Or Was It? / February 10, 2012 by Trek fm

Troi and Riker. Paris and Torres. Worf and Dax. Janeway and Chakotay.

Wait, Janeway and Chakotay? Yes… sort of. It’s the relationship that’s been the topic of an endless stream of discussion—and fan fiction—since the mid-1990s.

Just My Type: Kardashev Civilizations in Star Trek and Beyond / February 3, 2012 by Trek fm

We often hear scientists throwing around the fashionable statement that any alien civilization is going to be far advanced beyond our own. Such civilizations, they say, could be millions of years ahead of us. But what does it mean for a civilization to be a million years old? In this Captain’s Log we’ll examine an established method for classifying civilizations and find out where we are, where we’re headed, and just how far ahead of us those like the Iconians or that ancient humanoid played by Salome Jens may be.

The Best of Star Trek: Voyager / January 19, 2012 by

Most people I’ve talked to would call finding the top five Star Trek: Voyager episodes a game of Boggle. “Shake the episodes and just pick five. They’re all the same level of garbage.” But there are a few, like myself, who look at Voyager and see classic SF adventure that has more to offer than just a rainbow-colored lizard chef. So here are my picks for the five best episodes.

Captain Janeway and the Ever-Morphing Hairdo / November 25, 2011 by Charlynn Schmiedt

“When I joined [Voyager] at the eleventh hour, we had nothing but hair problems. Short? Long? With a hairpiece? Without a hairpiece? All the concerns were about my hair—the hair being the trademark of the woman, right?” —Kate Mulgrew, TV Guide Star Trek Special, Spring 1995

10 Years Removed from Voyager: What's the Crew Up to Now? / October 31, 2011 by Charlynn Schmiedt

It’s been ten years since the last episode of Star Trek: Voyager aired. With the exception of convention appearances, the world of Trek no longer consumes the cast’s lives. Here’s a look at what the actors and actresses behind the Voyager crew have been up to over the past decade.

Spook Treks: A Selection of Star Trek Episodes for Halloween / October 31, 2011 by Trek fm

Over the years Star Trek has had its share of creepy moments, and we’re not just talking about that guy in the skant who roams the Enterprise-D corridors in “Encounter at Farpoint.” Long before the man dress was unveiled The Original Series set the tone for spooks in space with the episode “Catspaw.” While this was the first and only real Star Trek Halloween special (it aired October 27, 1967) there have been many more thrills and chills worthy of All Hallows Eve.

DeForest Kelley: The One and Only / October 16, 2011 by Trek fm

He’s a beloved fan favorite, and he was also a favorite of his Star Trek co-stars. He was considered a quintessential Southern gentleman, and a selfless, intelligent actor. DeForest Kelley took the character of Dr. McCoy and made him his own. He developed McCoy from the ground up, and when you’re watching Bones be Bones, you’re watching Kelley be Kelley. Dr. McCoy is also a true Southern gentleman because of the man portraying him.

The Best of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine / October 14, 2011 by Trek fm

Asking a fan to name the five best episodes of a Star Trek series is like asking Quark which Rules of Acquisition are the best. There are too many that lead to profit to choose just five. Neverthless, I’m going to set out to name five of the best episodes from DS9.

The Best of Star Trek: The Next Generation / September 29, 2011 by Trek fm

Asking a fan to name the five best episodes of a Star Trek series is like asking Barclay which holodeck program is the best escape from reality. There are too many good ones to choose just five. Neverthless, I’m going to set out to name five of the very best episodes from each of the series and explain why I feel they are some of the greatest examples of Star Trek. In this first installment my focus was on The Original Series, and now I’m moving on to the first of the modern series, The Next Generation.

The Best of Star Trek: The Original Series / September 20, 2011 by Trek fm

Asking a fan to name the five best episodes of a Star Trek series is like asking Troi which chocolate dessert she likes best. There are too many good ones to choose just five, although the Spock’s Brain Sundae is one you’d be willing to pass over after most meals.

Vulcans Running Amok: The Pon Farr / August 5, 2011 by Trek fm

Send the children into the other room for an episode of SpongeBob if you would, please. Actually, if any Vulcans are in the room, they may wish to join the children, as they may find SpongeBob preferable. Come to think of it, you might go too and make it a party. Just keep it down.

What is being written here today, no outworlder must know. Vulcans do not even discuss it amongst themselves!

Twitterfic: Role Players Explore Strange New Worlds On Twitter / August 4, 2011 by Shanna Gilkeson

Commander T’Pol is missing. A survey mission to a Class M planet rich in minerals possibly related to Romulan cloaking technology has gone horribly wrong. Sensor readings are disrupted. When the crew finally locates T’Pol, she’s out of her mind, shooting at everyone—and that phaser isn’t set for stun. To make matters worse, the Romulans are probably lurking out there, waiting to make their move.

Borgified! The Assimilation of Star Trek: Voyager / August 3, 2011 by Trek fm

“We are the Borg. Lower your shields and surrender your episodes. We will add your series distinctiveness to our own. Your show will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile.”

If there’s one distinct impression that Star Trek: Voyager left on the audience, it’s that perhaps the series should have been called Star Trek: Borg. But is this really true?