The Unauthorized Trekkers’ Guide to the Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. James Hise van

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СКАЧАТЬ Star Trek magic. Created for the convenience of scriptwriters, it allows for the characters to move from the ship to a planet and back again instantaneously, thereby dispensing with scenes of ships landing and taking off again.

      REWRITING THE RULES OF REALITY

      Which brings us to another device of magical technology: the holodeck. The holodeck that Roddenberry introduced on The Next Generation clearly alters our views of what is possible in reality in any number of ways. The computer can be programmed to create virtually anything in the holodeck, from the lush surface of a planet with jungles and a waterfall to London in the 1890s. The holodeck creates images of substance. In “The Big Goodbye” those images strike back with potentially deadly force. In that Peabody Award-winning episode, Captain Picard creates a realm in the holodeck based on his favorite detective stories. Set in the 1930s, Dixon Hill is clearly based on the hard-boiled detective thrillers of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. Like Sherlock Holmes, they are archetypes that are very much a part of their era.

      It’s not unusual that a science fiction series should be so captivated by images from detective stories. Mystery fiction tends to be very popular among screenwriters and science fiction writers. Using this to create a film noir setting, The Next Generation created a tech noir in which the holodeck world became a reality. The people projected by the computer evidently are not just images that move according to a design but have a sense of self, which as time went on was enhanced, as shown in “Elementary, Dear Data.” In “The Big Goodbye” the hologram people debated whether they were real and struggled to prove their individuality. One of them, who possessed memories of a wife and family, even questioned what would happen to all of them when the program was ended. This question would ultimately be addressed in the sixth-season episode “Moriarty.”

      AIMING FOR THE STARS

      Although Roddenberry was intensely involved with the creation and development of The Next Generation, the show had problems from the start.

      In spite of a series bible that established who all the regular characters were, no detailed background had been worked out for them. Their personalities were largely being established during filming by the actors and their various directors, with a result that the characters were often inconsistent from one episode to the next, particularly Captain Picard. Worf was a late entry in the character roster because initially Roddenberry didn’t want to bring the Klingons back. It was only when he decided to give the Klingons a real background and make them richer characters that he agreed to include them.

      Although episode twelve of The Next Generation, “The Big Goodbye,” won the coveted Peabody Award for television excellence, far too many of the first-year episodes suffered from a distinct lack of excellence. One of the other few exceptions is “Heart of Glory,” the episode that established Worf as being more than just a fixture on the bridge.

      The second year improved consistently, demonstrating that all involved had learned from their mistakes (and the mistakes of others) and were ready to finally get down to work.

      Seasons three through seven continued the process of fine-tuning the characters and establishing them as individuals with distinctive personalities. Picard went from being an inconsistent leader to a seasoned starship captain worthy of the position as commander of the flagship of Starfleet. Episodes were done which spotlighted the many facets of Jean-Luc Picard while capitalizing on the fine acting abilities of actor Patrick Stewart.

      Riker was the steadiest of the crew from the beginning, and subsequent seasons insured that he became even more firmly established as the finest first officer in Starfleet.

      Data, who has no emotions, has been at the center of some of the most moving stories told in the series, including “Pen Pals” and “Hero Worship.”

      By year four, even the female characters, Deanna Troi and Dr. Crusher, were getting episodes that spotlighted them in powerful stories such as “Remember Me” and “Power Play.”

      LOOKING FORWARD

      While all too many series have run out of steam long before they complete seven seasons, and start repeating themselves endlessly, The Next Generation continued to search for ways to grow and strengthen itself. The series carries with it a proud legacy. It is not just a Star Trek spin-off: it was shepherded by the Great Bird of the Galaxy himself, Gene Roddenberry. The dream Roddenberry first brought to life in 1966 has been revised and expanded as Gene looked on like a proud parent.

      The dream called Star Trek has lasted for more than twenty-eight years—The Next Generation gave it new life and exploration in new directions. It’s evident Roddenberry’s dream will never die.

ABOARD THE NEW ENTERPRISE

      The Enterprise NCC 1701-D is the fifth starship to bear that name. It is twice the length of Captain Kirk’s ship and has nearly eight times the interior area to house the crew. The basic structure is the same, even though the vessel looks more sleek and cohesive.

      While the first starships to bear the name Enterprise were designed to represent the Federation in political and military matters, the 1701-D was designed for exploration, de-emphasizing the importance of being a battle cruiser. This Enterprise serves as home to 1,012 people, which is two and a half times the ship’s complement of the Enterprise 1701. This is the result of a century of technological evolution emphasizing human interaction with the hardware they use.

      This new class of Starfleet vessel enables families to stay together. As the first captain on this bold new experiment in human exploration, Picard is uncomfortable with the idea of dealing with families. He’s accustomed to a crew of professional, Starfleet-trained men and women who know their duty and understand their jobs thoroughly. The concept of children and other non-Starfleet personnel running around unnerves him even though he understands that it contributes to the morale.

      The sophistication of the new Enterprise includes a variety of single and group family modules, various levels of schools, study facilities and other features designed so that children and spouses can live lives as normal as possible aboard what is practically a colony ship. Recreation has always been important on starships and now takes into account children.

      THE HOLODECK

      There is a large selection of entertainment, sports, and other recreational forms, but the most elaborate is the holodeck. The holodeck, as seen in “Encounter at Farpoint,” can simulate almost any landscape or sea world complete with winds, tides, rain or whatever is needed to make the illusion convincingly real. The special reality of the holodeck helps prevent the crew from feeling a sense of confinement from their prolonged voyage onboard the starship. The holodeck can also be used for purposes of exercise, as an opponent can be conjured up who is capable of responding to various modes of self-defense, as shown in the episode “Code of Honor.”

      The living and working areas of the Enterprise reflect an emphasis on the quality of life, being brighter and designed more for comfort than utilitarian compromise. Gone is the clutter and profusion of gauges, instruments, and control buttons. Instead the consoles feature black panels with touch-activated controls and voice-activated displays. This enables swifter activation of the necessary controls that could be crucial in emergency situations.

      This new technology is especially important for the bridge. The new bridge is much larger and combines the features of ship control, briefing room, information retrieval area, and officers’ ward room. Much the same kinds of things happen here as on the old bridge, but with less emphasis on the mechanics of steering the starship. It is a place where the starship СКАЧАТЬ