Welcome to Star Trekking, my weekly attempt to share points of interest and random intersections in the final frontier.
The ongoing thesis of this newsletter is that, whether you’re actively looking for it or not, Star Trek is everywhere.
This week’s example involves just glancing at a logo.
“There are two things I can say with certainty,” Sherilyn Connelly wrote to me on Twitter. “I am not losing my mind, and the Enterprise is on my cutting board.”
Do you see it? As you scroll, it’s like the Enterprise is flying away!
Anyway, I saw it right away. Sherilyn is not losing her mind.
Sherilyn is, however, the author of a 2019 book that I really enjoyed reading. The First Star Trek Movie is a deeply researched and breezily written look at Star Trek—The Motion Picture. It’s the kind of history book that’s filled with facts and also fun to read.
Star Trek the opera?
Affirmative.
Star Trek is everywhere.
I don’t remember that creature in the crashing saucer scene from Generations.
Crafty!
CONTEST
I am giving away a copy of this new book by Jeff Bond and Gene Kozicki, Star Trek—The Motion Picture - Inside the Art and Visual Effects.
HOW TO WIN: Comment on this post or reply via email telling me your favorite thing about ST—TMP. I’ll post the name of the winning entry next week.
Find out more about the book in this preview I wrote for TrekMovie.com.
Need a new binge watch?
MIND MELD
With Boldly Go!
In which we get to know a Trek fan - in this case, a Trek BAND - just a little bit better.
First, please tell us about yourselves.
We are Boldly Go! a Star Trek themed Punk Rock band from the West Virginia sector of the Alpha Quadrant. We are:
Foz Rotten - Vocals
Alex Smith - Guitar
Rusty Felty - Bass
Chris Gibson - Drums
What's your origin story?
The band started in 2019 when Foz had the idea to mash his two favorite things together. A lifelong Trekkie and Punk Musician both, it was only shocking he hasn’t thought of it sooner.
Foz put out a post online and it took off pretty quickly. Within a couple of weeks we were at our first practice. It’s now been a year and we are signed with Coffin Curse Records and about to release our debut album, “United Federation of Punx”.
What would be an ideal evening of Trek viewing if each member chose one episode/movie?
Foz: Star Trek (2009), it re-kicked off the franchise for the mass public and my passion of for Trek. It’s the perfect movie with something for everyone. A great starting off point for any new fan, or a great love letter for any long time Trekkie. I was obsessed with Star Trek as a kid in the TNG era, and always loved it, but once 2009 came out, I was all in with my obsession.
Alex: I love Voyager. It’s hard to pick an episode, it’s more like whole seasons. I love the suspense. Will they get home or won’t they? Will Neelix ever learn how to cook or will people be doomed to his food forever? And most importantly will Harry ever be promoted from an Ensign?
Rusty: All of it is great, I love just turning on the TV and finding a random episode to watch. There’s so much to choose from sometimes it’s nice to find one at random.
Chris: Balance Of Terror.
You have to have a TOS season 1 episode in there. Balance Of Terror is tense, entertaining, and smart. A trip to the neutral zone, Kirk vs the Romulan captain, and has a bit of social commentary about overcoming prejudice (one reason we all love Trek)
Obviously things are not normal right now, but what are your long-term goals for the band?
We’d love to tour. Tour all over. Big Shows, Small Shows, Conventions, House Parties, any size, any where. We are ready to play! With the album coming out, we hope that as soon as the world allows for it, we will be hitting the road to promote it as much as possible. Hit us up to come to your town!
Thanks, guys!
You can follow Boldly Go! on Twitter: @BoldlyGoBand
Their website: hyperurl.co/boldlygoband
Band photo credit: @BrooklynEwwwing
Here’s Boldly Go!’s debut single, First Contact.
Not punk. Metal.
DIRECTIVES
Dayton Ward’s Star Trek novel Elusive Salvation is only 99 cents for ebook this month. This is a book for which I made a contribution - I made Spock say the word “booger.” Here’s the story.
I owned at least one of these “worst and weirdest Star Trek toys.”
Happy Star Trek Day!
That’s all for this week. Thank you for reading. Please share with other Trek folks and let me know what random Trek references you come across during your week.
Grok you later.
LLAP,
My favorite part of TMP is the music.
My favourite part of TMP is the sense of scale and grandeur used in the cinematography. Seeing the massive shot of the Enterprise then later having it juxtaposed against the inside of V’Ger is amazing! - SHardy