{"id":137234,"date":"2013-05-10T12:58:07","date_gmt":"2013-05-10T16:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"\/gazette\/?p=137234"},"modified":"2019-06-17T17:29:50","modified_gmt":"2019-06-17T21:29:50","slug":"boldly-going-to-houghton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2013\/05\/boldly-going-to-houghton\/","title":{"rendered":"Boldly going to Houghton"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t
\"\"

\u201cWe have been trying to acquire more in the way of what people generally refer to as popular culture material,\u201d said Leslie Morris, Houghton\u2019s curator of modern books and manuscripts and a longtime \u201cStar Trek\u201d fan. Harvard\u2019s Houghton Library recently purchased a copy of \u201cThe Star Trek Guide,\u201d an intriguing and often amusing handbook that includes everything that aspiring writers might need to know before crafting a script for the \u201860s cult sci-fi television series.<\/p>

Photos by Jon Chase\/Harvard Staff Photographer<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tArts & Culture\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t

\n\t\tBoldly going to Houghton\t<\/h1>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\tColleen Walsh\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\tHarvard Staff Writer\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/address>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tExpanding its pop culture holdings, library acquires detailed 'Star Trek' writers\u2019 guide\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\t\t

The camera pans across the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise, where Capt. James T. Kirk and his crew are under attack by an alien vessel firing deadly bolts of photon energy-plasma. As the ship\u2019s deflector shields weaken, Kirk turns to comfort and embrace a comely female yeoman as they await almost certain death.<\/p>\n

Can you spot the fundamental flaw in this teaser? According to the authors of a guide for would-be scriptwriters of the original television series \u201cStar Trek,\u201d the scene involves a major format error for the science fiction fantasy. It is not believable.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve learned during a full season of making science fiction that believability of characters, their actions and reactions,\u201d the guide states, \u201cis our greatest need and is the most important angle factor.\u201d<\/p>\n

To test potential plot pitfalls, writers should always translate their ideas into \u201ca real-life situation.\u201d Using the previous example, the guide asks, if while patrolling Vietnam waters he was faced with a suicide attack from a boat carrying an atomic warhead, would Capt. E.L. Henderson \u00ad\u00ad\u2014 the then-commander of the navy cruiser the U.S.S. Detroit \u2014 turn to hug a pretty \u201cfemale WAVE who happened to be on the bridge?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Captain Henderson wouldn\u2019t! Not if he\u2019s the kind of captain we hope is commanding any navy vessel of ours. Nor would Captain Kirk hug a female crewman in a moment of danger, not if he\u2019s to remain believable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harvard\u2019s Houghton Library<\/a> recently purchased a copy of \u201cThe Star Trek Guide,\u201d an intriguing and often amusing handbook that includes everything that aspiring writers might need to know before crafting a script for the ’60s cult sci-fi television series that spawned several TV sequels, numerous films, countless pop cultural references, and even a complex internal language. The comprehensive manual includes details on the show\u2019s ethos, characters, terminology, spaceship \u2014 even its snug-fitting uniforms.<\/p>\n\r\n\t\n\n\t

\"\"
The comprehensive manual includes details on the show\u2019s ethos, characters, terminology, spaceship \u2014 even its snug-fitting uniforms.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\n\t\r\n\n

\u201cNever have members of the crew putting things into pockets. There are no pockets. When equipment is needed, it is attached to special belts (as in the case of the communicator and the phaser),\u201d reads the guide\u2019s practical instructions.<\/p>\n

The 31-page booklet, along with copies of four \u201cStar Trek\u201d scripts, is part of the library\u2019s growing science fiction collection, which includes more than 3,000 volumes, largely 20th-century trade paperbacks, magazines, fanzines, and prozines.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been trying to acquire more in the way of what people generally refer to as popular culture material,\u201d said Leslie Morris, Houghton\u2019s curator of modern books and manuscripts and a longtime \u201cStar Trek\u201d fan. (Her favorite episode is the show\u2019s second season classic \u201cThe Trouble with Tribbles.\u201d) While Houghton traditionally has been associated with early printed books and illuminated manuscripts and is more commonly known for its papers of literati such as Emily Dickinson and John Keats, there is growing interest from places like Harvard\u2019s English, History, and Literature departments, said Morris, \u201cin using more popular materials as well.\u201d The guide, she added, \u201cis part of that effort to bring material here that will support that kind of research.\u201d<\/p>\n

Morris suspects that the booklet, a third edition from 1967, is one of many sent to interested scriptwriters as a way for the show\u2019s producers to weed out inappropriate material and \u201cget more suitable submissions.\u201d But in addition to being a writer\u2019s how-to, the red-covered, mimeographed manual offers readers an in-depth look at one of the things that helped make \u201cStar Trek\u201d a cult sensation: its obsessive attention to detail.<\/p>\n

The guide contains page after page of \u201cTrekkie\u201d gold. The Enterprise is \u201csomewhat larger than a present day naval cruiser,\u201d carries a crew of 430, and provides the TV audience a \u201cfamiliar and comfortable counterpoint to the bizarre and unusual things we see during our episodes.\u201d Of the ship\u2019s engines, it says, \u201c(the two outboard nacelles) use matter and anti-matter for propulsion, the annihilation of dual matter creating the fantastic power required to warp space and exceed the speed of light.\u201d Warp speed, factor one, the guide notes, is the speed of light, or 186,000 miles per second. \u201cMaximum safe speed is warp six. At warp eight, the vessel starts to show considerable strain.\u201d Sensor, according the guide, is the ubiquitous term for any equipment used for \u201csensing\u201d and \u201creading\u201d a range of details, like the number of aliens on a ship, or the size of a meteoroid. \u201cNever try to explain or describe the sensors, simply use them \u2014 they\u2019re real because they are and they work.\u201d<\/p>\n\r\n\t\n\n\t

\"\"
The 31-page booklet, along with copies of four \u201cStar Trek\u201d scripts, is part of the library\u2019s growing science fiction collection, which includes more than 3,000 volumes, largely 20th-century trade paperbacks, magazines, fanzines, and prozines.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\n\t\r\n\n

\u201cStar Trek\u201d first aired in September 1966 and was almost canceled during its second season because of poor ratings. But a massive letter-writing campaign by devoted fans gave it a lifeline and a third year on the air. Its last episode ran in June 1969. Many observers argue that the series\u2019 initial appeal \u2014 and its wild success in reruns \u2014 came because the show touched on important issues of the times, including the space race and a burgeoning social revolution. Men would soon walk on the moon, and the Civil Rights Movement was thriving. A TV series that tracked the adventures of a spaceship patrolling unexplored parts of the galaxy struck a chord with viewers, as did the crew\u2019s diversity. The crew, the booklet states, is \u201cinternational in origin, completely multiracial.”<\/p>\n

Lt. Uhura, the \u201cquick and intelligent\u201d communications officer, hails from the \u201cUnited States of Africa\u201d and is fond of singing during her off hours, both traditional songs and \u201cspace ballads.\u201d She can also \u201cdo an impersonation at the drop of a communicator.\u201d The ship\u2019s helmsman, Lt. Sulu, is a compulsive hobbyist. One week he \u201cmay be fascinated by botany with the intention of that becoming his lifelong avocation, then another week we will find he has switched to a determination of acquiring a galaxy-famous collection of alien firearms.\u201d Capt. Kirk is described as a \u201c\u2018space-age Horatio Hornblower,\u2019 constantly on trial with himself, a strong, complex personality.\u201d Mr. Spock, the show\u2019s famously logical human-Vulcan, has a \u201cyellowish complexion\u201d and \u201csatanic pointed ears.\u201d On his planet, any show of emotion, the guide notes, is considered \u201cthe grossest of sins.\u201d<\/p>\n

The manual also contains practical advice. The stories should always be \u201cabout people, not about science and gadgetry.\u201d All scripts must have four acts, and run no longer than 65 pages. There are a limited of number of standing sets for the show, and \u201ccompletely new and unusual sets are costly.\u201d Writers should also \u201cavoid long philosophical exchanges or tedious explanations of equipment,\u201d and anyone in need of technical guidance should consider reaching out to a university, the aerospace research and development industry, or to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. But the manual also urges writers to ignore the fact that they are not scientists.<\/p>\n

After all, it asks rhetorically, how many cowboys wrote westerns?<\/p>\n\r\n\t\n\n\t

\"\"
Many observers argue that the series\u2019 initial appeal \u2014 and its wild success in reruns \u2014 came because the show touched on important issues of the times, including the space race and a burgeoning social revolution.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\n\t\r\n\n

The latest in the “Star Trek” franchise continues with “Star Trek Into Darkness,” which opens nationwide on May 17.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A newly acquired writer\u2019s guide for the science fiction fantasy TV show \u201cStar Trek\u201d at Harvard\u2019s Houghton Library offers aspiring scriptwriters everything they would need to know before crafting a script for the \u201960s cult classic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":105622744,"featured_media":137243,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"gz_ga_pageviews":41,"gz_ga_lastupdated":"2021-04-06 03:23","document_color_palette":"crimson","author":"Colleen Walsh","affiliation":"Harvard Staff Writer","_category_override":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1360],"tags":[1511,2227,2379,7068,17232,24600,34620,34621],"gazette-formats":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-137234","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-humanities","tag-star-trek-into-darkness","tag-the-star-trek-guide","tag-colleen-walsh","tag-capt-james-t-kirk","tag-houghton-library","tag-mr-spock","tag-u-s-s-detroit","tag-u-s-s-enterprise"],"yoast_head":"\nBoldly going to Houghton — Harvard Gazette<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A newly acquired writer\u2019s guide for the science fiction fantasy TV show \u201cStar Trek\u201d at Harvard\u2019s Houghton Library offers aspiring scriptwriters everything they would need to know before crafting a script for the \u201960s cult classic.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2013\/05\/boldly-going-to-houghton\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Boldly going to Houghton — Harvard Gazette\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A newly acquired writer\u2019s guide for the science fiction fantasy TV show \u201cStar Trek\u201d at Harvard\u2019s Houghton Library offers aspiring scriptwriters everything they would need to know before crafting a script for the \u201960s cult classic.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2013\/05\/boldly-going-to-houghton\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Harvard Gazette\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2013-05-10T16:58:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2019-06-17T21:29:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_043_605.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"605\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"403\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"harvardgazette\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2013\/05\/boldly-going-to-houghton\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2013\/05\/boldly-going-to-houghton\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"harvardgazette\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#\/schema\/person\/78d028cf624923e92682268709ffbc4b\"},\"headline\":\"Boldly going to Houghton\",\"datePublished\":\"2013-05-10T16:58:07+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2019-06-17T21:29:50+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2013\/05\/boldly-going-to-houghton\/\"},\"wordCount\":1328,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2013\/05\/boldly-going-to-houghton\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_043_605.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"\\\"Star Trek Into Darkness\\\"\",\"\u201cThe Star Trek Guide\u201d\",\"\u201d Colleen Walsh\",\"Capt. 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enterprise\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2013-05-10T16:58:07Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2013-05-10T16:58:07Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2019-06-17T21:29:50Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/news.harvard.edu\/p.js"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_043_605.jpg","has_blocks":true,"block_data":{"0":{"blockName":"harvard-gazette\/article-header","attrs":{"blockColorPalette":"","coloredHeading":"","creditText":"Photos by Jon Chase\/Harvard Staff Photographer","displayDetails":"","displayTitle":"","categoryId":1360,"mediaAlt":"","mediaCaption":"\u201cWe have been trying to acquire more in the way of what people generally refer to as popular culture material,\u201d said Leslie Morris, Houghton\u2019s curator of modern books and manuscripts and a longtime \u201cStar Trek\u201d fan. Harvard\u2019s Houghton Library recently purchased a copy of \u201cThe Star Trek Guide,\u201d an intriguing and often amusing handbook that includes everything that aspiring writers might need to know before crafting a script for the \u201860s cult sci-fi television series.","mediaId":137243,"mediaSize":"full","mediaType":"image","mediaUrl":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_043_605.jpg","poster":"","title":"Boldly going to Houghton","subheading":"Expanding its pop culture holdings, library acquires detailed 'Star Trek' writers\u2019 guide","centeredImage":true,"className":"is-style-full-width-text-below","mediaHeight":403,"mediaWidth":605,"backgroundFixed":false,"backgroundTone":"light","coloredBackground":false,"displayOverlay":true,"fadeInText":false,"isAmbient":false,"mediaLength":"","mediaPosition":"","posterText":"","titleAbove":false,"useUncroppedImage":false,"lock":[],"metadata":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"403\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_043_605.jpg\" width=\"605\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">\u201cWe have been trying to acquire more in the way of what people generally refer to as popular culture material,\u201d said Leslie Morris, Houghton\u2019s curator of modern books and manuscripts and a longtime \u201cStar Trek\u201d fan. Harvard\u2019s Houghton Library recently purchased a copy of \u201cThe Star Trek Guide,\u201d an intriguing and often amusing handbook that includes everything that aspiring writers might need to know before crafting a script for the \u201860s cult sci-fi television series.<\/p><p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Photos by Jon Chase\/Harvard Staff Photographer<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","innerContent":["<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"403\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_043_605.jpg\" width=\"605\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">\u201cWe have been trying to acquire more in the way of what people generally refer to as popular culture material,\u201d said Leslie Morris, Houghton\u2019s curator of modern books and manuscripts and a longtime \u201cStar Trek\u201d fan. Harvard\u2019s Houghton Library recently purchased a copy of \u201cThe Star Trek Guide,\u201d an intriguing and often amusing handbook that includes everything that aspiring writers might need to know before crafting a script for the \u201860s cult sci-fi television series.<\/p><p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Photos by Jon Chase\/Harvard Staff Photographer<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"<header\n\tclass=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-article-header alignfull article-header is-style-full-width-text-below centered-image\"\n\tstyle=\" \"\n>\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"403\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_043_605.jpg\" width=\"605\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">\u201cWe have been trying to acquire more in the way of what people generally refer to as popular culture material,\u201d said Leslie Morris, Houghton\u2019s curator of modern books and manuscripts and a longtime \u201cStar Trek\u201d fan. Harvard\u2019s Houghton Library recently purchased a copy of \u201cThe Star Trek Guide,\u201d an intriguing and often amusing handbook that includes everything that aspiring writers might need to know before crafting a script for the \u201860s cult sci-fi television series.<\/p><p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Photos by Jon Chase\/Harvard Staff Photographer<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t<div class=\"article-header__content\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"article-header__category\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/arts-humanities\/\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\tArts & Culture\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t<h1 class=\"article-header__title wp-block-heading \">\n\t\tBoldly going to Houghton\t<\/h1>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"article-header__meta\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-post-author\">\n\t\t\t<address class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"author wp-block-post-author__name\">\n\t\tColleen Walsh\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-post-author__byline\">\n\t\t\tHarvard Staff Writer\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/address>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<time class=\"article-header__date\" datetime=\"2013-05-10\">\n\t\t\tMay 10, 2013\t\t<\/time>\n\n\t\t<span class=\"article-header__reading-time\">\n\t\t\t7 min read\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-header__subheading wp-block-heading\">\n\t\t\tExpanding its pop culture holdings, library acquires detailed 'Star Trek' writers\u2019 guide\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<\/header>\n"},"2":{"blockName":"core\/group","attrs":{"templateLock":false,"metadata":{"name":"Article content"},"align":"wide","layout":{"type":"constrained","justifyContent":"center"},"tagName":"div","lock":[],"className":"","style":[],"backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","ariaLabel":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/freeform","attrs":{"content":"","lock":[],"metadata":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\t\t<p>The camera pans across the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise, where Capt. James T. Kirk and his crew are under attack by an alien vessel firing deadly bolts of photon energy-plasma. As the ship\u2019s deflector shields weaken, Kirk turns to comfort and embrace a comely female yeoman as they await almost certain death.<\/p>\n<p>Can you spot the fundamental flaw in this teaser? According to the authors of a guide for would-be scriptwriters of the original television series \u201cStar Trek,\u201d the scene involves a major format error for the science fiction fantasy. It is not believable.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve learned during a full season of making science fiction that believability of characters, their actions and reactions,\u201d the guide states, \u201cis our greatest need and is the most important angle factor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To test potential plot pitfalls, writers should always translate their ideas into \u201ca real-life situation.\u201d Using the previous example, the guide asks, if while patrolling Vietnam waters he was faced with a suicide attack from a boat carrying an atomic warhead, would Capt. E.L. Henderson \u00ad\u00ad\u2014 the then-commander of the navy cruiser the U.S.S. Detroit \u2014 turn to hug a pretty \u201cfemale WAVE who happened to be on the bridge?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, Captain Henderson wouldn\u2019t! Not if he\u2019s the kind of captain we hope is commanding any navy vessel of ours. Nor would Captain Kirk hug a female crewman in a moment of danger, not if he\u2019s to remain believable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Harvard\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/library.harvard.edu\/libraries\/houghton\">Houghton Library<\/a> recently purchased a copy of \u201cThe Star Trek Guide,\u201d an intriguing and often amusing handbook that includes everything that aspiring writers might need to know before crafting a script for the '60s cult sci-fi television series that spawned several TV sequels, numerous films, countless pop cultural references, and even a complex internal language. The comprehensive manual includes details on the show\u2019s ethos, characters, terminology, spaceship \u2014 even its snug-fitting uniforms.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n\t\t<p>The camera pans across the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise, where Capt. James T. Kirk and his crew are under attack by an alien vessel firing deadly bolts of photon energy-plasma. As the ship\u2019s deflector shields weaken, Kirk turns to comfort and embrace a comely female yeoman as they await almost certain death.<\/p>\n<p>Can you spot the fundamental flaw in this teaser? According to the authors of a guide for would-be scriptwriters of the original television series \u201cStar Trek,\u201d the scene involves a major format error for the science fiction fantasy. It is not believable.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve learned during a full season of making science fiction that believability of characters, their actions and reactions,\u201d the guide states, \u201cis our greatest need and is the most important angle factor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To test potential plot pitfalls, writers should always translate their ideas into \u201ca real-life situation.\u201d Using the previous example, the guide asks, if while patrolling Vietnam waters he was faced with a suicide attack from a boat carrying an atomic warhead, would Capt. E.L. Henderson \u00ad\u00ad\u2014 the then-commander of the navy cruiser the U.S.S. Detroit \u2014 turn to hug a pretty \u201cfemale WAVE who happened to be on the bridge?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, Captain Henderson wouldn\u2019t! Not if he\u2019s the kind of captain we hope is commanding any navy vessel of ours. Nor would Captain Kirk hug a female crewman in a moment of danger, not if he\u2019s to remain believable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Harvard\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/library.harvard.edu\/libraries\/houghton\">Houghton Library<\/a> recently purchased a copy of \u201cThe Star Trek Guide,\u201d an intriguing and often amusing handbook that includes everything that aspiring writers might need to know before crafting a script for the '60s cult sci-fi television series that spawned several TV sequels, numerous films, countless pop cultural references, and even a complex internal language. The comprehensive manual includes details on the show\u2019s ethos, characters, terminology, spaceship \u2014 even its snug-fitting uniforms.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n\t\t<p>The camera pans across the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise, where Capt. James T. Kirk and his crew are under attack by an alien vessel firing deadly bolts of photon energy-plasma. As the ship\u2019s deflector shields weaken, Kirk turns to comfort and embrace a comely female yeoman as they await almost certain death.<\/p>\n<p>Can you spot the fundamental flaw in this teaser? According to the authors of a guide for would-be scriptwriters of the original television series \u201cStar Trek,\u201d the scene involves a major format error for the science fiction fantasy. It is not believable.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve learned during a full season of making science fiction that believability of characters, their actions and reactions,\u201d the guide states, \u201cis our greatest need and is the most important angle factor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To test potential plot pitfalls, writers should always translate their ideas into \u201ca real-life situation.\u201d Using the previous example, the guide asks, if while patrolling Vietnam waters he was faced with a suicide attack from a boat carrying an atomic warhead, would Capt. E.L. Henderson \u00ad\u00ad\u2014 the then-commander of the navy cruiser the U.S.S. Detroit \u2014 turn to hug a pretty \u201cfemale WAVE who happened to be on the bridge?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, Captain Henderson wouldn\u2019t! Not if he\u2019s the kind of captain we hope is commanding any navy vessel of ours. Nor would Captain Kirk hug a female crewman in a moment of danger, not if he\u2019s to remain believable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Harvard\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/library.harvard.edu\/libraries\/houghton\">Houghton Library<\/a> recently purchased a copy of \u201cThe Star Trek Guide,\u201d an intriguing and often amusing handbook that includes everything that aspiring writers might need to know before crafting a script for the '60s cult sci-fi television series that spawned several TV sequels, numerous films, countless pop cultural references, and even a complex internal language. The comprehensive manual includes details on the show\u2019s ethos, characters, terminology, spaceship \u2014 even its snug-fitting uniforms.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"sizeSlug":"full","align":"center","id":137241,"caption":"The comprehensive manual includes details on the show\u2019s ethos, characters, terminology, spaceship \u2014 even its snug-fitting uniforms.","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_036_500.jpg","alt":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkDestination":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":[],"borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_036_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-137241\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The comprehensive manual includes details on the show\u2019s ethos, characters, terminology, spaceship \u2014 even its snug-fitting uniforms.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t","innerContent":["\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_036_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-137241\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The comprehensive manual includes details on the show\u2019s ethos, characters, terminology, spaceship \u2014 even its snug-fitting uniforms.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t"],"rendered":"\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_036_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-137241\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The comprehensive manual includes details on the show\u2019s ethos, characters, terminology, spaceship \u2014 even its snug-fitting uniforms.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t"},{"blockName":"core\/freeform","attrs":{"content":"","lock":[],"metadata":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>\u201cNever have members of the crew putting things into pockets. There are no pockets. When equipment is needed, it is attached to special belts (as in the case of the communicator and the phaser),\u201d reads the guide\u2019s practical instructions.<\/p>\n<p>The 31-page booklet, along with copies of four \u201cStar Trek\u201d scripts, is part of the library\u2019s growing science fiction collection, which includes more than 3,000 volumes, largely 20th-century trade paperbacks, magazines, fanzines, and prozines.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have been trying to acquire more in the way of what people generally refer to as popular culture material,\u201d said Leslie Morris, Houghton\u2019s curator of modern books and manuscripts and a longtime \u201cStar Trek\u201d fan. (Her favorite episode is the show\u2019s second season classic \u201cThe Trouble with Tribbles.\u201d) While Houghton traditionally has been associated with early printed books and illuminated manuscripts and is more commonly known for its papers of literati such as Emily Dickinson and John Keats, there is growing interest from places like Harvard\u2019s English, History, and Literature departments, said Morris, \u201cin using more popular materials as well.\u201d The guide, she added, \u201cis part of that effort to bring material here that will support that kind of research.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Morris suspects that the booklet, a third edition from 1967, is one of many sent to interested scriptwriters as a way for the show\u2019s producers to weed out inappropriate material and \u201cget more suitable submissions.\u201d But in addition to being a writer\u2019s how-to, the red-covered, mimeographed manual offers readers an in-depth look at one of the things that helped make \u201cStar Trek\u201d a cult sensation: its obsessive attention to detail.<\/p>\n<p>The guide contains page after page of \u201cTrekkie\u201d gold. The Enterprise is \u201csomewhat larger than a present day naval cruiser,\u201d carries a crew of 430, and provides the TV audience a \u201cfamiliar and comfortable counterpoint to the bizarre and unusual things we see during our episodes.\u201d Of the ship\u2019s engines, it says, \u201c(the two outboard nacelles) use matter and anti-matter for propulsion, the annihilation of dual matter creating the fantastic power required to warp space and exceed the speed of light.\u201d Warp speed, factor one, the guide notes, is the speed of light, or 186,000 miles per second. \u201cMaximum safe speed is warp six. At warp eight, the vessel starts to show considerable strain.\u201d Sensor, according the guide, is the ubiquitous term for any equipment used for \u201csensing\u201d and \u201creading\u201d a range of details, like the number of aliens on a ship, or the size of a meteoroid. \u201cNever try to explain or describe the sensors, simply use them \u2014 they\u2019re real because they are and they work.\u201d<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>\u201cNever have members of the crew putting things into pockets. There are no pockets. When equipment is needed, it is attached to special belts (as in the case of the communicator and the phaser),\u201d reads the guide\u2019s practical instructions.<\/p>\n<p>The 31-page booklet, along with copies of four \u201cStar Trek\u201d scripts, is part of the library\u2019s growing science fiction collection, which includes more than 3,000 volumes, largely 20th-century trade paperbacks, magazines, fanzines, and prozines.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have been trying to acquire more in the way of what people generally refer to as popular culture material,\u201d said Leslie Morris, Houghton\u2019s curator of modern books and manuscripts and a longtime \u201cStar Trek\u201d fan. (Her favorite episode is the show\u2019s second season classic \u201cThe Trouble with Tribbles.\u201d) While Houghton traditionally has been associated with early printed books and illuminated manuscripts and is more commonly known for its papers of literati such as Emily Dickinson and John Keats, there is growing interest from places like Harvard\u2019s English, History, and Literature departments, said Morris, \u201cin using more popular materials as well.\u201d The guide, she added, \u201cis part of that effort to bring material here that will support that kind of research.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Morris suspects that the booklet, a third edition from 1967, is one of many sent to interested scriptwriters as a way for the show\u2019s producers to weed out inappropriate material and \u201cget more suitable submissions.\u201d But in addition to being a writer\u2019s how-to, the red-covered, mimeographed manual offers readers an in-depth look at one of the things that helped make \u201cStar Trek\u201d a cult sensation: its obsessive attention to detail.<\/p>\n<p>The guide contains page after page of \u201cTrekkie\u201d gold. The Enterprise is \u201csomewhat larger than a present day naval cruiser,\u201d carries a crew of 430, and provides the TV audience a \u201cfamiliar and comfortable counterpoint to the bizarre and unusual things we see during our episodes.\u201d Of the ship\u2019s engines, it says, \u201c(the two outboard nacelles) use matter and anti-matter for propulsion, the annihilation of dual matter creating the fantastic power required to warp space and exceed the speed of light.\u201d Warp speed, factor one, the guide notes, is the speed of light, or 186,000 miles per second. \u201cMaximum safe speed is warp six. At warp eight, the vessel starts to show considerable strain.\u201d Sensor, according the guide, is the ubiquitous term for any equipment used for \u201csensing\u201d and \u201creading\u201d a range of details, like the number of aliens on a ship, or the size of a meteoroid. \u201cNever try to explain or describe the sensors, simply use them \u2014 they\u2019re real because they are and they work.\u201d<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n<p>\u201cNever have members of the crew putting things into pockets. There are no pockets. When equipment is needed, it is attached to special belts (as in the case of the communicator and the phaser),\u201d reads the guide\u2019s practical instructions.<\/p>\n<p>The 31-page booklet, along with copies of four \u201cStar Trek\u201d scripts, is part of the library\u2019s growing science fiction collection, which includes more than 3,000 volumes, largely 20th-century trade paperbacks, magazines, fanzines, and prozines.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have been trying to acquire more in the way of what people generally refer to as popular culture material,\u201d said Leslie Morris, Houghton\u2019s curator of modern books and manuscripts and a longtime \u201cStar Trek\u201d fan. (Her favorite episode is the show\u2019s second season classic \u201cThe Trouble with Tribbles.\u201d) While Houghton traditionally has been associated with early printed books and illuminated manuscripts and is more commonly known for its papers of literati such as Emily Dickinson and John Keats, there is growing interest from places like Harvard\u2019s English, History, and Literature departments, said Morris, \u201cin using more popular materials as well.\u201d The guide, she added, \u201cis part of that effort to bring material here that will support that kind of research.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Morris suspects that the booklet, a third edition from 1967, is one of many sent to interested scriptwriters as a way for the show\u2019s producers to weed out inappropriate material and \u201cget more suitable submissions.\u201d But in addition to being a writer\u2019s how-to, the red-covered, mimeographed manual offers readers an in-depth look at one of the things that helped make \u201cStar Trek\u201d a cult sensation: its obsessive attention to detail.<\/p>\n<p>The guide contains page after page of \u201cTrekkie\u201d gold. The Enterprise is \u201csomewhat larger than a present day naval cruiser,\u201d carries a crew of 430, and provides the TV audience a \u201cfamiliar and comfortable counterpoint to the bizarre and unusual things we see during our episodes.\u201d Of the ship\u2019s engines, it says, \u201c(the two outboard nacelles) use matter and anti-matter for propulsion, the annihilation of dual matter creating the fantastic power required to warp space and exceed the speed of light.\u201d Warp speed, factor one, the guide notes, is the speed of light, or 186,000 miles per second. \u201cMaximum safe speed is warp six. At warp eight, the vessel starts to show considerable strain.\u201d Sensor, according the guide, is the ubiquitous term for any equipment used for \u201csensing\u201d and \u201creading\u201d a range of details, like the number of aliens on a ship, or the size of a meteoroid. \u201cNever try to explain or describe the sensors, simply use them \u2014 they\u2019re real because they are and they work.\u201d<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"sizeSlug":"full","align":"center","id":137240,"caption":"The 31-page booklet, along with copies of four \u201cStar Trek\u201d scripts, is part of the library\u2019s growing science fiction collection, which includes more than 3,000 volumes, largely 20th-century trade paperbacks, magazines, fanzines, and prozines.","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_044_500.jpg","alt":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkDestination":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":[],"borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_044_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-137240\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 31-page booklet, along with copies of four \u201cStar Trek\u201d scripts, is part of the library\u2019s growing science fiction collection, which includes more than 3,000 volumes, largely 20th-century trade paperbacks, magazines, fanzines, and prozines.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t","innerContent":["\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_044_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-137240\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 31-page booklet, along with copies of four \u201cStar Trek\u201d scripts, is part of the library\u2019s growing science fiction collection, which includes more than 3,000 volumes, largely 20th-century trade paperbacks, magazines, fanzines, and prozines.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t"],"rendered":"\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_044_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-137240\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 31-page booklet, along with copies of four \u201cStar Trek\u201d scripts, is part of the library\u2019s growing science fiction collection, which includes more than 3,000 volumes, largely 20th-century trade paperbacks, magazines, fanzines, and prozines.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t"},{"blockName":"core\/freeform","attrs":{"content":"","lock":[],"metadata":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>\u201cStar Trek\u201d first aired in September 1966 and was almost canceled during its second season because of poor ratings. But a massive letter-writing campaign by devoted fans gave it a lifeline and a third year on the air. Its last episode ran in June 1969. Many observers argue that the series\u2019 initial appeal \u2014 and its wild success in reruns \u2014 came because the show touched on important issues of the times, including the space race and a burgeoning social revolution. Men would soon walk on the moon, and the Civil Rights Movement was thriving. A TV series that tracked the adventures of a spaceship patrolling unexplored parts of the galaxy struck a chord with viewers, as did the crew\u2019s diversity. The crew, the booklet states, is \u201cinternational in origin, completely multiracial.\"<\/p>\n<p>Lt. Uhura, the \u201cquick and intelligent\u201d communications officer, hails from the \u201cUnited States of Africa\u201d and is fond of singing during her off hours, both traditional songs and \u201cspace ballads.\u201d She can also \u201cdo an impersonation at the drop of a communicator.\u201d The ship\u2019s helmsman, Lt. Sulu, is a compulsive hobbyist. One week he \u201cmay be fascinated by botany with the intention of that becoming his lifelong avocation, then another week we will find he has switched to a determination of acquiring a galaxy-famous collection of alien firearms.\u201d Capt. Kirk is described as a \u201c\u2018space-age Horatio Hornblower,\u2019 constantly on trial with himself, a strong, complex personality.\u201d Mr. Spock, the show\u2019s famously logical human-Vulcan, has a \u201cyellowish complexion\u201d and \u201csatanic pointed ears.\u201d On his planet, any show of emotion, the guide notes, is considered \u201cthe grossest of sins.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The manual also contains practical advice. The stories should always be \u201cabout people, not about science and gadgetry.\u201d All scripts must have four acts, and run no longer than 65 pages. There are a limited of number of standing sets for the show, and \u201ccompletely new and unusual sets are costly.\u201d Writers should also \u201cavoid long philosophical exchanges or tedious explanations of equipment,\u201d and anyone in need of technical guidance should consider reaching out to a university, the aerospace research and development industry, or to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. But the manual also urges writers to ignore the fact that they are not scientists.<\/p>\n<p>After all, it asks rhetorically, how many cowboys wrote westerns?<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>\u201cStar Trek\u201d first aired in September 1966 and was almost canceled during its second season because of poor ratings. But a massive letter-writing campaign by devoted fans gave it a lifeline and a third year on the air. Its last episode ran in June 1969. Many observers argue that the series\u2019 initial appeal \u2014 and its wild success in reruns \u2014 came because the show touched on important issues of the times, including the space race and a burgeoning social revolution. Men would soon walk on the moon, and the Civil Rights Movement was thriving. A TV series that tracked the adventures of a spaceship patrolling unexplored parts of the galaxy struck a chord with viewers, as did the crew\u2019s diversity. The crew, the booklet states, is \u201cinternational in origin, completely multiracial.\"<\/p>\n<p>Lt. Uhura, the \u201cquick and intelligent\u201d communications officer, hails from the \u201cUnited States of Africa\u201d and is fond of singing during her off hours, both traditional songs and \u201cspace ballads.\u201d She can also \u201cdo an impersonation at the drop of a communicator.\u201d The ship\u2019s helmsman, Lt. Sulu, is a compulsive hobbyist. One week he \u201cmay be fascinated by botany with the intention of that becoming his lifelong avocation, then another week we will find he has switched to a determination of acquiring a galaxy-famous collection of alien firearms.\u201d Capt. Kirk is described as a \u201c\u2018space-age Horatio Hornblower,\u2019 constantly on trial with himself, a strong, complex personality.\u201d Mr. Spock, the show\u2019s famously logical human-Vulcan, has a \u201cyellowish complexion\u201d and \u201csatanic pointed ears.\u201d On his planet, any show of emotion, the guide notes, is considered \u201cthe grossest of sins.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The manual also contains practical advice. The stories should always be \u201cabout people, not about science and gadgetry.\u201d All scripts must have four acts, and run no longer than 65 pages. There are a limited of number of standing sets for the show, and \u201ccompletely new and unusual sets are costly.\u201d Writers should also \u201cavoid long philosophical exchanges or tedious explanations of equipment,\u201d and anyone in need of technical guidance should consider reaching out to a university, the aerospace research and development industry, or to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. But the manual also urges writers to ignore the fact that they are not scientists.<\/p>\n<p>After all, it asks rhetorically, how many cowboys wrote westerns?<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n<p>\u201cStar Trek\u201d first aired in September 1966 and was almost canceled during its second season because of poor ratings. But a massive letter-writing campaign by devoted fans gave it a lifeline and a third year on the air. Its last episode ran in June 1969. Many observers argue that the series\u2019 initial appeal \u2014 and its wild success in reruns \u2014 came because the show touched on important issues of the times, including the space race and a burgeoning social revolution. Men would soon walk on the moon, and the Civil Rights Movement was thriving. A TV series that tracked the adventures of a spaceship patrolling unexplored parts of the galaxy struck a chord with viewers, as did the crew\u2019s diversity. The crew, the booklet states, is \u201cinternational in origin, completely multiracial.\"<\/p>\n<p>Lt. Uhura, the \u201cquick and intelligent\u201d communications officer, hails from the \u201cUnited States of Africa\u201d and is fond of singing during her off hours, both traditional songs and \u201cspace ballads.\u201d She can also \u201cdo an impersonation at the drop of a communicator.\u201d The ship\u2019s helmsman, Lt. Sulu, is a compulsive hobbyist. One week he \u201cmay be fascinated by botany with the intention of that becoming his lifelong avocation, then another week we will find he has switched to a determination of acquiring a galaxy-famous collection of alien firearms.\u201d Capt. Kirk is described as a \u201c\u2018space-age Horatio Hornblower,\u2019 constantly on trial with himself, a strong, complex personality.\u201d Mr. Spock, the show\u2019s famously logical human-Vulcan, has a \u201cyellowish complexion\u201d and \u201csatanic pointed ears.\u201d On his planet, any show of emotion, the guide notes, is considered \u201cthe grossest of sins.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The manual also contains practical advice. The stories should always be \u201cabout people, not about science and gadgetry.\u201d All scripts must have four acts, and run no longer than 65 pages. There are a limited of number of standing sets for the show, and \u201ccompletely new and unusual sets are costly.\u201d Writers should also \u201cavoid long philosophical exchanges or tedious explanations of equipment,\u201d and anyone in need of technical guidance should consider reaching out to a university, the aerospace research and development industry, or to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. But the manual also urges writers to ignore the fact that they are not scientists.<\/p>\n<p>After all, it asks rhetorically, how many cowboys wrote westerns?<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"sizeSlug":"full","align":"center","id":137238,"caption":"Many observers argue that the series\u2019 initial appeal \u2014 and its wild success in reruns \u2014 came because the show touched on important issues of the times, including the space race and a burgeoning social revolution.","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_028_500b.jpg","alt":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkDestination":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":[],"borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_028_500b.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-137238\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Many observers argue that the series\u2019 initial appeal \u2014 and its wild success in reruns \u2014 came because the show touched on important issues of the times, including the space race and a burgeoning social revolution.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t","innerContent":["\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_028_500b.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-137238\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Many observers argue that the series\u2019 initial appeal \u2014 and its wild success in reruns \u2014 came because the show touched on important issues of the times, including the space race and a burgeoning social revolution.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t"],"rendered":"\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_028_500b.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-137238\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Many observers argue that the series\u2019 initial appeal \u2014 and its wild success in reruns \u2014 came because the show touched on important issues of the times, including the space race and a burgeoning social revolution.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t"},{"blockName":"core\/freeform","attrs":{"content":"","lock":[],"metadata":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p><em>The latest in the \"Star Trek\" franchise continues with \"Star Trek Into Darkness,\" which opens nationwide on May 17.<\/em><\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p><em>The latest in the \"Star Trek\" franchise continues with \"Star Trek Into Darkness,\" which opens nationwide on May 17.<\/em><\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n<p><em>The latest in the \"Star Trek\" franchise continues with \"Star Trek Into Darkness,\" which opens nationwide on May 17.<\/em><\/p>\n"}],"innerHTML":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide\">\n\n\r\n\t\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\n\t\r\n\r\n\t\n\t\r\n\n\n<\/div>\n","innerContent":["\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide\">\n\n","\r\n\t","\n\t\r\n","\r\n\t","\n\t\r\n","\r\n\t","\n\t\r\n","\n\n<\/div>\n"],"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n\n\n\t\t<p>The camera pans across the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise, where Capt. James T. Kirk and his crew are under attack by an alien vessel firing deadly bolts of photon energy-plasma. As the ship\u2019s deflector shields weaken, Kirk turns to comfort and embrace a comely female yeoman as they await almost certain death.<\/p>\n<p>Can you spot the fundamental flaw in this teaser? According to the authors of a guide for would-be scriptwriters of the original television series \u201cStar Trek,\u201d the scene involves a major format error for the science fiction fantasy. It is not believable.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve learned during a full season of making science fiction that believability of characters, their actions and reactions,\u201d the guide states, \u201cis our greatest need and is the most important angle factor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To test potential plot pitfalls, writers should always translate their ideas into \u201ca real-life situation.\u201d Using the previous example, the guide asks, if while patrolling Vietnam waters he was faced with a suicide attack from a boat carrying an atomic warhead, would Capt. E.L. Henderson \u00ad\u00ad\u2014 the then-commander of the navy cruiser the U.S.S. Detroit \u2014 turn to hug a pretty \u201cfemale WAVE who happened to be on the bridge?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, Captain Henderson wouldn\u2019t! Not if he\u2019s the kind of captain we hope is commanding any navy vessel of ours. Nor would Captain Kirk hug a female crewman in a moment of danger, not if he\u2019s to remain believable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Harvard\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/library.harvard.edu\/libraries\/houghton\">Houghton Library<\/a> recently purchased a copy of \u201cThe Star Trek Guide,\u201d an intriguing and often amusing handbook that includes everything that aspiring writers might need to know before crafting a script for the '60s cult sci-fi television series that spawned several TV sequels, numerous films, countless pop cultural references, and even a complex internal language. The comprehensive manual includes details on the show\u2019s ethos, characters, terminology, spaceship \u2014 even its snug-fitting uniforms.<\/p>\n\r\n\t\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_036_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-137241\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The comprehensive manual includes details on the show\u2019s ethos, characters, terminology, spaceship \u2014 even its snug-fitting uniforms.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\n\t\r\n\n<p>\u201cNever have members of the crew putting things into pockets. There are no pockets. When equipment is needed, it is attached to special belts (as in the case of the communicator and the phaser),\u201d reads the guide\u2019s practical instructions.<\/p>\n<p>The 31-page booklet, along with copies of four \u201cStar Trek\u201d scripts, is part of the library\u2019s growing science fiction collection, which includes more than 3,000 volumes, largely 20th-century trade paperbacks, magazines, fanzines, and prozines.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have been trying to acquire more in the way of what people generally refer to as popular culture material,\u201d said Leslie Morris, Houghton\u2019s curator of modern books and manuscripts and a longtime \u201cStar Trek\u201d fan. (Her favorite episode is the show\u2019s second season classic \u201cThe Trouble with Tribbles.\u201d) While Houghton traditionally has been associated with early printed books and illuminated manuscripts and is more commonly known for its papers of literati such as Emily Dickinson and John Keats, there is growing interest from places like Harvard\u2019s English, History, and Literature departments, said Morris, \u201cin using more popular materials as well.\u201d The guide, she added, \u201cis part of that effort to bring material here that will support that kind of research.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Morris suspects that the booklet, a third edition from 1967, is one of many sent to interested scriptwriters as a way for the show\u2019s producers to weed out inappropriate material and \u201cget more suitable submissions.\u201d But in addition to being a writer\u2019s how-to, the red-covered, mimeographed manual offers readers an in-depth look at one of the things that helped make \u201cStar Trek\u201d a cult sensation: its obsessive attention to detail.<\/p>\n<p>The guide contains page after page of \u201cTrekkie\u201d gold. The Enterprise is \u201csomewhat larger than a present day naval cruiser,\u201d carries a crew of 430, and provides the TV audience a \u201cfamiliar and comfortable counterpoint to the bizarre and unusual things we see during our episodes.\u201d Of the ship\u2019s engines, it says, \u201c(the two outboard nacelles) use matter and anti-matter for propulsion, the annihilation of dual matter creating the fantastic power required to warp space and exceed the speed of light.\u201d Warp speed, factor one, the guide notes, is the speed of light, or 186,000 miles per second. \u201cMaximum safe speed is warp six. At warp eight, the vessel starts to show considerable strain.\u201d Sensor, according the guide, is the ubiquitous term for any equipment used for \u201csensing\u201d and \u201creading\u201d a range of details, like the number of aliens on a ship, or the size of a meteoroid. \u201cNever try to explain or describe the sensors, simply use them \u2014 they\u2019re real because they are and they work.\u201d<\/p>\n\r\n\t\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_044_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-137240\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The 31-page booklet, along with copies of four \u201cStar Trek\u201d scripts, is part of the library\u2019s growing science fiction collection, which includes more than 3,000 volumes, largely 20th-century trade paperbacks, magazines, fanzines, and prozines.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\n\t\r\n\n<p>\u201cStar Trek\u201d first aired in September 1966 and was almost canceled during its second season because of poor ratings. But a massive letter-writing campaign by devoted fans gave it a lifeline and a third year on the air. Its last episode ran in June 1969. Many observers argue that the series\u2019 initial appeal \u2014 and its wild success in reruns \u2014 came because the show touched on important issues of the times, including the space race and a burgeoning social revolution. Men would soon walk on the moon, and the Civil Rights Movement was thriving. A TV series that tracked the adventures of a spaceship patrolling unexplored parts of the galaxy struck a chord with viewers, as did the crew\u2019s diversity. The crew, the booklet states, is \u201cinternational in origin, completely multiracial.\"<\/p>\n<p>Lt. Uhura, the \u201cquick and intelligent\u201d communications officer, hails from the \u201cUnited States of Africa\u201d and is fond of singing during her off hours, both traditional songs and \u201cspace ballads.\u201d She can also \u201cdo an impersonation at the drop of a communicator.\u201d The ship\u2019s helmsman, Lt. Sulu, is a compulsive hobbyist. One week he \u201cmay be fascinated by botany with the intention of that becoming his lifelong avocation, then another week we will find he has switched to a determination of acquiring a galaxy-famous collection of alien firearms.\u201d Capt. Kirk is described as a \u201c\u2018space-age Horatio Hornblower,\u2019 constantly on trial with himself, a strong, complex personality.\u201d Mr. Spock, the show\u2019s famously logical human-Vulcan, has a \u201cyellowish complexion\u201d and \u201csatanic pointed ears.\u201d On his planet, any show of emotion, the guide notes, is considered \u201cthe grossest of sins.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The manual also contains practical advice. The stories should always be \u201cabout people, not about science and gadgetry.\u201d All scripts must have four acts, and run no longer than 65 pages. There are a limited of number of standing sets for the show, and \u201ccompletely new and unusual sets are costly.\u201d Writers should also \u201cavoid long philosophical exchanges or tedious explanations of equipment,\u201d and anyone in need of technical guidance should consider reaching out to a university, the aerospace research and development industry, or to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. But the manual also urges writers to ignore the fact that they are not scientists.<\/p>\n<p>After all, it asks rhetorically, how many cowboys wrote westerns?<\/p>\n\r\n\t\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/042213_star_trek_028_500b.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-137238\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Many observers argue that the series\u2019 initial appeal \u2014 and its wild success in reruns \u2014 came because the show touched on important issues of the times, including the space race and a burgeoning social revolution.\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\n\t\r\n\n<p><em>The latest in the \"Star Trek\" franchise continues with \"Star Trek Into Darkness,\" which opens nationwide on May 17.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n"}},"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":147799,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2013\/10\/the-things-they-carried\/","url_meta":{"origin":137234,"position":0},"title":"The things they carried","author":"harvardgazette","date":"October 9, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"We get close to long-dead great writers by reading the works they left behind. But there is another way, which can be just as electric and emotional: to see or touch or just be near artifacts from their writing lives.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts & Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts & Culture","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/arts-humanities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/curio_15_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/curio_15_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/curio_15_605.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":332600,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2021\/09\/houghton-library-gets-an-upgrade\/","url_meta":{"origin":137234,"position":1},"title":"Users give Houghton renovation a thumbs-up","author":"harvardgazette","date":"September 30, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Changes to Harvard's Houghton Library include better accessibility, expanded exhibition spaces, and updated classrooms.","rel":"","context":"In "Campus & Community"","block_context":{"text":"Campus & Community","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/campus-community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lewis Day at Houghton.","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/090921_Houghton_25_2500.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/090921_Houghton_25_2500.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/090921_Houghton_25_2500.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/090921_Houghton_25_2500.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":336534,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2021\/12\/tv-series-dickinson-donates-props-to-houghton\/","url_meta":{"origin":137234,"position":2},"title":"Belle of Amherst 2.0 (feat. Emily D)","author":"Lian Parsons","date":"December 16, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Production archive materials donated by the Apple+ TV series \"Dickinson\" arrived at Harvard's Houghton Library.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts & Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts & Culture","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/arts-humanities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Items from the Dickinson collection.","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1216321_Dickinson_10.jpeg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1216321_Dickinson_10.jpeg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1216321_Dickinson_10.jpeg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1216321_Dickinson_10.jpeg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":324289,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2021\/04\/renovated-houghton-library-readies-for-eventual-reopening\/","url_meta":{"origin":137234,"position":3},"title":"New, improved, and almost open","author":"harvardgazette","date":"April 15, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"With renovations complete, accessibility enhanced, and new collections to show off, staff at the Houghton Library look forward to welcoming visitors again.","rel":"","context":"In "Campus & Community"","block_context":{"text":"Campus & Community","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/campus-community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Houghton Library exterior shot.","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/030321_Houghton_05.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/030321_Houghton_05.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/030321_Houghton_05.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/030321_Houghton_05.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":184757,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2016\/06\/babar-comes-to-harvard\/","url_meta":{"origin":137234,"position":4},"title":"Babar comes to Harvard","author":"harvardgazette","date":"June 10, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cBabar Comes to Houghton\u201d in an exhibition to celebrate a donation from author Laurent de Brunhoff and his wife, Radcliffe alumna Phyllis Rose.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts & Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts & Culture","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/arts-humanities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/060816_babar_0526_356979-605.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/060816_babar_0526_356979-605.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/060816_babar_0526_356979-605.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":158843,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2014\/07\/the-peter-pan-portfolio\/","url_meta":{"origin":137234,"position":5},"title":"The Peter Pan portfolio","author":"harvardgazette","date":"July 18, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Harvard\u2019s Houghton Library contains a lush Peter Pan portfolio, a collection of vivid drawings by noted illustrator Arthur Rackham. The images are from the children\u2019s book \u201cPeter Pan in Kensington Gardens,\u201d published by J.M. Barrie in 1906.","rel":"","context":"In "Arts & Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Arts & Culture","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/arts-humanities\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/peterpan_puts-case-before-solomon_605_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/peterpan_puts-case-before-solomon_605_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/peterpan_puts-case-before-solomon_605_1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137234","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/105622744"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=137234"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137234\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":278764,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137234\/revisions\/278764"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/137243"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=137234"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=137234"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=137234"},{"taxonomy":"format","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/gazette-formats?post=137234"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=137234"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}