- This article is about "Star Trek" in-universe. For real world information on the franchise, see Star Trek.
Star Trek is the name given to a series of science fiction stories set in a fictional world in the 23rd and 24th centuries.
Star Trek was created in the summer of 1950 by Incredible Tales of Scientific Wonder writer Benny Russell. (DS9 novelization: Far Beyond the Stars)
- Russell's Star Trek incorporated elements of Star Trek: The Original Series as well as Star Trek: The Next Generation. He was more than likely shown this knowledge by the Prophets.
In March 1953, Incredible Tales printed numerous stories (DS9 episode: "Far Beyond the Stars"):
- These may or may not be related to Russell's Star Trek.
- The Cage by E.W. Roddenberry
- The Corbomite Maneuver by Jerry Sohl
- Journey to Babel by D.C. Fontana
- Metamorphosis by Gene L. Coon
- Where No Man Has Gone Before by Sam Peeples
In September, Russell wrote his last official Star Trek story. Titled "Deep Space Nine," the story was a spinoff centering around a space station commander of African descent. That issue ceased publication and most were pulled from the shelves by Douglas Pabst, for fear of a backlash of rascism at the magazine. (DS9 episode: "Far Beyond the Stars")
After suffering from a nervous breakdown, Russell continued writing Star Trek stories while incarcarated in a mental institution. These unpublished stories include:
- April 1954
- The Emissary
- January 18, 1955
- Image in the Sand
- February 1955
- Take Me Out to the Holosuite
- February 17, 1955
- Many, including:
- Shadows and Symbols
- Afterimage
- Chrysalis
- Treachery, Faith, and the Great River
- Once More Unto the Breach
- The Siege of AR-558
- Covenant
- It's Only a Paper Moon
- Prodigal Daughter
- The Emperor's New Cloak
- Field of Fire
- Chimera
- Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges
- Badda-bing, Badda-bang
- Penumbra
- 'Til Death do us Part
- Strange Bedfellows
- The Changing Face of Evil
- When it Rains...
- Tacking into the Wind
- Extreme Measures
- Dogs of War
- What You leave Behind
These stories were pasted on his cell walls, and covered them entirely. (SNW story Isolation Ward 4)
In 1964, television writer Gene Roddenberry met time travellers J. R. and Berlinghoff Rasmussen, who shared with him knowledge of the future. He used this to write the television incarnation of Star Trek. (SNW short story Research)
By 1968, Star Trek was a successful television series. During filming of an episode titled "The Omega Glory," Star Trek actors William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelly were somehow transposed through space and time to 2268, onto the real USS Enterprise. Kirk, Spock and Leonard H. McCoy were likewise transposed onto the 'Star Trek' soundstage in Burbank. After the incident, the three actors told Roddenberry of their adventure (TOS short story Visit to a Weird Planet Revisited).
Eventually, Benny Russell's original story was published under the title Far Beyond the Stars. (TOS novel The Eugenics Wars: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh, Volume 1).
J. R. and Berlinghoff Rasmussen traveled to the 1980s, and would use their future knowledge to provide Paramount executives with material for three Star Trek spinoffs well into the 1990s.
Some time after Berlinghoff's death in 1999, J. R. left the television Star Trek franchise. (SNW short story Research)
Coincidentally, the term "Star Trek" was used by a writer named Gene Roddenberry in his novel Star Trek: The Motion Picture. This was based on the V'Ger Incident and was asked for by Rear Admiral James T. Kirk. (TOS novelization Star Trek: The Motion Picture).
By the 2370s, television programme themes were commonly found in computer files, accessible to anyone. Bajoran musician Varani once played the theme tune of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to a rapt audience, including Kira Nerys (DS9 episode Sanctuary).