Star trek re-imagined.
- Thread starter TerraNovan
- Start date
Yes, I recognized Dylan Hunt's name immediately when I watched Andromeda's first episode. Roddenberry reworked Genesis II into "Planet Earth", again with Dylan Hunt, but it also failed to sell. The concept was reworked a third time even, again with Dylan Hunt, in "Strange New World", which also failed to sell. Oddly, Roddenberry's name isn't anywhere on it.
I might get to the rest of your reply later. But this one really stuck out with me.
Genetically engineered humans ≠ aliens
You're playing fast and loose with the definitions of things.
Regarding O'Neill type structures.... Read the novel "Rendezvous With Rama" by Arthur C. Clark. O'Neill type structure enters our solar system. Those who investigate begin to realize that it was launched by an extraterrestrial intelligence, and was likely non-humanoid.
There was another story, but I don't remember the title. Our intrepid explorers enter an unknown O'Neill habitat, and are immediately attacked by predatory dinosaurs.
There was another story, but I don't remember the title. Our intrepid explorers enter an unknown O'Neill habitat, and are immediately attacked by predatory dinosaurs.
I think it depends on how you define Star Trek. If it's just Kirk and the Enterprise, then yeah, this is pretty close. But no one would define it by just that. Spock and aliens, transporters, warp drive, hell just plain science fiction.
At least Voyager contains most of those things, and still acknowledges that Kirk and Spock existed in much the way they are presented in TOS. It certainly takes its own liberties, but it's not even close to the level of change presented in this concept. To even compare the two is ridiculous.
Before Gerard O'Neill began designing space habitats, Dandridge Cole designed similar "bubble worlds". I have imagined that similar structure could become havens for endangered species.
A similar habitat-"Hiawatha"-appeared in Poul Anderson's Psoletechnic League/Terran Empire space opera. However, hyperdrive permitted access to Earth like planets, and it was easier to colonize these planets than to build habitats. I think that a similar scenario applied to Star Trek, with warp drive permitting colonization of those class M planets that were within reach.
However, in the novels some of these planets were attacked and rendered desolate by the Borg. Riker came across a planet that was clearly terraformed, so there was the idea of finding the terraforming technology, and using it to heal the devastated planets.
Of course, there is the idea that an asteroid might be hollowed out by mining operations, and later turned into a habitat. I'm thinking that there might be many of these in different solar systems, and might be quickly turned into habitats with minimal investment. Somewhat similar to the "drifts" in the Adromeda series.
With the sort of technology used in starships, it may not be necessary to build an Cole/O'Neill type habitat-essentially a pressurized centrifuge.
And if one has the opportunity to set up one's own community, different groups of refugees might reject political compromise and create communities based on their own philosophies, religions, ideologies, ethnicities, etc. A somewhat similar scenario played out in the original 13 colonies of the American east coast. And then there were the Mormons in Utah.
A similar habitat-"Hiawatha"-appeared in Poul Anderson's Psoletechnic League/Terran Empire space opera. However, hyperdrive permitted access to Earth like planets, and it was easier to colonize these planets than to build habitats. I think that a similar scenario applied to Star Trek, with warp drive permitting colonization of those class M planets that were within reach.
However, in the novels some of these planets were attacked and rendered desolate by the Borg. Riker came across a planet that was clearly terraformed, so there was the idea of finding the terraforming technology, and using it to heal the devastated planets.
Of course, there is the idea that an asteroid might be hollowed out by mining operations, and later turned into a habitat. I'm thinking that there might be many of these in different solar systems, and might be quickly turned into habitats with minimal investment. Somewhat similar to the "drifts" in the Adromeda series.
With the sort of technology used in starships, it may not be necessary to build an Cole/O'Neill type habitat-essentially a pressurized centrifuge.
And if one has the opportunity to set up one's own community, different groups of refugees might reject political compromise and create communities based on their own philosophies, religions, ideologies, ethnicities, etc. A somewhat similar scenario played out in the original 13 colonies of the American east coast. And then there were the Mormons in Utah.
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I'd call it Battlestar Firefly. 
I think that, post Dominion war, a Genesis II-in-outer-space could be adapted to Star Trek. This would see the start of a new era.
Some of the older colonies may have been spared, and developed something of their own cultures/flavor.
There might be a handful of ships that boldly go forth, as in TOS. At least just beyond Federation space.
Earth might be compared to Constantinople, which sheltered behind city walls when the Byzantine Empire was invaded. Of course, this assumes that a complete collapse is averted, and the Federation survives, if just barely.
Some of the older colonies may have been spared, and developed something of their own cultures/flavor.
There might be a handful of ships that boldly go forth, as in TOS. At least just beyond Federation space.
Earth might be compared to Constantinople, which sheltered behind city walls when the Byzantine Empire was invaded. Of course, this assumes that a complete collapse is averted, and the Federation survives, if just barely.
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Just give me a cool spaceship with larger-than-life heroes exploring space and mixing it up with badass aliens on occasion. These premises are tedious and try to make Star Trek into something it isn't. I don't want it to be Firefly. I don't want it to be James Bond. I don't want it to be Battlestar Galactica.
I just want Star Trek to be Star Trek.
I just want Star Trek to be Star Trek.
I suppose you could create a sort of quasi-Trek is you stripped away some of ultra tech: transporters, holodecks, replicators....subspace communication.... Stuff that isn't crucial for space exploration. However, without ftl travel your "Star Trek" doesn't go to the stars. Therefore, not a Star Trek series.
Then you get Enterprise. How'd that turn out?
Pike is Kirk under a different name, McCoy is Boyce under a different name, Colt is Rand under a different name. Hell it wouldn't surprise me if Tyler was Sulu under a different name.
Seriously why do people put such an emphasis on character who basically rough drafts of the ones we ended up with?
Or maybe you should just drop Trek, and create your own sci fi universe.
TerraNovan
Lieutenant Commander
Its still the trek to the star, just one that will take thousands of years, and not a commercial break.
Using firefly for a template, I think its obvious many wouldn't even figure out that all this is happening in one solar system.
I honestly think part of the problem people are having with the concept is not understanding the depth and scale of our own solar system.
Using the premise that the solar system is teaming with alien life via genetic engineering, I think many many watchers of such series would be absolutely clueless that its not in another part of the galaxy.
TerraNovan
Lieutenant Commander
Say I do that.
I have a captain kirk, with a Vulcan first officer.
A Federation seeking out diplomatic relations with Klingons, Andorians etc.
I have a bridge with a con officer, tactical officer, and ops officer.
A 5 year mission to seek out new life and civilizations.
Id reuse the same uniform types, red blue gold.
A ship where all the inhabitants live in the saucer section etc.
I really couldn't imagine me getting away with it without being sued into oblivion. Nor could imagine fans not calling it star trek with a slightly different backstory.
No. The problem is that you are attempting to call something "Star Trek" that clearly isn't. It doesn't mean your ideas are bad. It just means they aren't Star Trek.
TerraNovan
Lieutenant Commander
Based on what though, obviously its a reboot reimagined situation.
my question what exactly is missing.
Other than the very literal distances being covered.
Say what you will, the idea that we could fling people across interstellar distances give the show mythological gravitas.
"Star Trek" tells me something much larger than ordinary tales are going to be told. There is something big about the name. It would be like limiting Star Wars to one star system. Sure you could tell some of the same stories, but it seems small compared to what is in the name.
I don't think what you propose captures the imagination the way Roddenberry and Lucas were able too.
TerraNovan
Lieutenant Commander
So its a lack of scale.
I understood that viewpoint, but that is something star trek created.
The solar system is huge, and what I suggesting is huge.
Putting effort in to creating something that truly gets the scale of trek is exactly what im getting at.
Trek writers are notorious for not understanding scale, as I think are most fans.
Its great irony that so many plots have characters going across a galaxy, to find a race of pale skinned hominids, who have such diverse views that they practice slavery.
Its great irony that so many plots have characters going across a galaxy, to find a race of pale skinned hominids, who have such diverse views that they practice slavery.
Which shows you're missing the point. It's the fact that we can go across the galaxy. That we choose to go across the galaxy. That there is nothing beyond our grasp.
Say what you want, but that represents a powerful hook for a story.
