The American cowboy was a figure in Human history and culture, particularly as part of the Ancient West. The cowboy was often reflected in films and literature as a "hero" character, (ENT episode: "North Star") and associated with a "shoot from the hip and hope for the best" mentality and cowboy diplomacy.
By 2276, the cowboy had achieved an almost mythological status in most people's minds. (TOS novel: The Romulan Way)
In personality[]
Doctor Judith Klass considered Leonard McCoy to be a cowboy when she knew him at St. George's University. (TOS novel: Excelsior: Forged in Fire)
James T. Kirk often considered himself a cowboy, riding in to save the day. (TOS novel: The Rift)
In fiction[]
Beginning in the mid-22nd century, the Orions experienced a craze for 20th century Earth culture that included Westerns, after the UNSS Marco Polo sold them a number of Clint Eastwood movies and other cultural artifacts in reference stardate 0/7907.27 (c. 2150). They bought Western-style clothing, and imagined that 23rd century Earth was still inhabited by cowboys murdering Indians. (FASA RPG module: The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge)
Benjamin Sisko read about cowboys when he was a boy. (DS9 novel: The Long Night)
Ian Troi read the cowboy novels of Larry McMurtry, Zane Grey and Ernest Pratt to Deanna Troi. Her favorite were the tales of Cowboy Ralph. (TLE novel: The Art of the Impossible)
In 2369, Lieutenant Worf fancied himself a cowboy sheriff, after his holodeck experience with "the mysterious cowgirl" Durango, and his deputy. (TNG episode: "A Fistful of Datas")
Worf reprise his cowboy sheriff role with Jadzia Dax and Kira Nerys. (DS9 comic: "Unhappy Trails")
In reality[]
In 2268, James T. Kirk and a landing party took on the roles of "cowboys" due to Melkotian influence. The Melkot said Kirk's heritage should set the "pattern" for their death sentence. (TOS episode: "Spectre of the Gun", TOS novelization: The Last Gunfight)
External links[]
- Cowboy article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Cowboy article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.