What happens when fans learn their beloved Star Trek is returning, but not the way they expect?
This week on The Trek Files, we take a mid-season dive into the pre-internet letter-writing era of fandom with a look at Interstat #109, a Star Trek "LOC-zine" published just after the announcement of The Next Generation in late 1986. With Mission Log host and producer John Champion joining Larry, we revisit that first wave of passionate, skeptical, and sometimes prophetic reactions from fans adjusting to the idea of Star Trek without Kirk, Spock, or the original cast.
From fears about recasting to early excitement about a new crew, these letters reveal a fandom both resistant to change and deeply hopeful for Trek's future. And while the tone may be more thoughtful than today's drive-by social media culture, the underlying emotions haven't changed.
Together, John and Larry reflect on how fandom evolves, why backlash often masks deep investment, and how publications like Interstat helped shape the Trek we know today—slowly, one stamp at a time.
📄 Document and additional references: Interstat Issue #109 (November 1986)
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In the 1993 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Interface," Geordi La Forge uses experimental technology to remotely explore a stranded starship and is confronted by a deeply personal mystery. Was the image of his mother real, or something else entirely?
This week, returning guest Dr. David Williams joins Larry to explore the real-world science behind this episode. Using a vintage press summary as our entry point, they discuss how TNG anticipated advances in virtual interfaces and robotics: technologies that now drive space exploration through probes, planetary rovers, and immersive control systems.
From the Voyager missions to Mars rovers and the growing role of augmented reality in mission planning, Star Trek's tech continues to align with our scientific future. Along the way, Dave and Larry reflect on the emotional themes of "Interface," and how fiction about space helps us prepare for its most human dimensions.
📄 Document and additional references: Paramount press summary for TNG "Interface" (1993)
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Imagine being invited to visit the Star Trek: The Next Generation set before it even aired by none other than Bob Justman.
This week, The Trek Files welcomes back Doug Drexler to share the story of his very first visit to the TNG set in 1987, spurred by a letter from legendary Trek producer Robert H. Justman. That visit changed everything. Doug quickly transitioned from fan to crew member, taking any job that would get him in the door as he built the career that would shape the look of Star Trek for decades to come.
With his signature energy and humility, Doug talks about what it meant to go from wide-eyed visitor to behind-the-scenes creative force, and why, even now, he understands fans who struggle with change in the franchise he loves so much.
Plus, we're in the final stretch of the Kickstarter campaign for Trek Star, the documentary chronicling Doug's incredible Trek journey.
📄 Document of the week: Letter from Robert H. Justman to Doug Drexler – August 12, 1987
🎬 Support the doc: Trek Star – The Doug Drexler Documentary on Kickstarter
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Before he was an Oscar-winning makeup artist and Star Trek's go-to designer, Doug Drexler was just a teenage fan fighting to save the show he loved.
This week, Doug joins The Trek Files to reflect on a remarkable journey—from the 1968 Newsday article that quoted him as a 14-year-old letter-writing activist, to working for the legendary Federation Trading Post in New York, and eventually becoming one of the franchise's most beloved creative minds.
Doug shares memories of fandom in the '60s and '70s like filming Star Trek episodes off his TV with an 8mm home movie camera, then waiting days for the film to be processed just to rewatch them. That early passion led to a career in Hollywood, where he helped shape the look of Trek for decades, from The Next Generation to Enterprise and beyond.
Plus, a look ahead at the upcoming documentary Trek Star, chronicling Doug's unique Trek story from sidewalk protests to the Paramount lot.
📰 Document of the week: Newsday clipping – "This Group Isn't Way Out, But Its Cause Is" (Feb. 1, 1968)
🎬 Coming soon: Trek Star – The Doug Drexler Documentary on Kickstarter
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Before “merch” was a mainstream business, Star Trek fandom had Lincoln Enterprises—and behind the scenes was a small, tight-knit team led by Majel Barrett Roddenberry. This week, The Trek Files welcomes Reinelda Estupinian, who started as Rod Roddenberry’s nanny in 1974 and later worked directly with Majel beginning in 1980.
Reina shares stories from the early convention circuit: selling scripts, collectibles, and Vulcan jewelry to devoted fans while keeping pace with the growing Trek phenomenon. She also reflects on Majel as both a businesswoman and a “force of nature,” balancing humor, strength, and an unapologetically bold personality (sometimes delightfully embarrassing to those around her).
From Gene Roddenberry’s declining health to Majel’s final convention appearance in 2008, Reina offers rare, heartfelt insight into the personal and professional lives behind the Roddenberry legacy.
📄 Document and additional references: Lincoln Enterprises dealer agreement (circa 1980)
📸 Plus: personal photos of Reina & Majel on the con circuit
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The first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation was famously turbulent, but behind the scenes, it was also a hive of creative experimentation and open doors for new voices.
This week, we welcome veteran writer/producer Cash Edwards, whose original story pitch "The True One" caught the attention of Gene Roddenberry, D.C. Fontana, and his longtime friend, producer Herb Wright. Though the script wasn't produced, it sparked genuine enthusiasm, and Herb's memo to Gene is our document of the week.
Cash joins Larry to share memories from TNG's earliest days: working closely with the producers, meeting the cast, and witnessing the scramble for scripts that defined Season One. He also reveals some, let's say colorful, ideas he contributed to the development of the Ferengi's first appearance (laser bolos, anyone? leech grenades?).
It's a window into a time when Star Trek was still figuring itself out and welcoming new creatives into the mix who helped shape the journey.
📄 Document and additional references: Memo from Herb Wright to Gene Roddenberry re: "The True One" (1987)
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Long before the internet brought fans together, the Star Trek community thrived through newsletters, potlucks, and passionate word of mouth.
This week, The Trek Files celebrates the 50th anniversary of the United Federation of Phoenix (UFP), the longest-running independent Star Trek fan club, with guest Dr. David Williams, UFP member and Arizona State University planetary scientist. Using a 1975 Arizona Republic article as our time capsule, we look back at how a group of Arizona fans kept the Trek spirit alive in the years between the show's cancellation and its cinematic rebirth.
From screening parties and fan films to homemade uniforms and sci-fi socials, UFP didn't just preserve the legacy, it expanded it. Dave and Larry explore the roots of early fandom, the transition from stamps to screens, and why clubs like UFP still thrive after half a century of community-building.
📰 Document and additional references: Arizona Republic article – "Star Trekkies Maintain the Faith" (1975)
The Trek Files Season 14 on Memory Alpha
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Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.
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In 1973, Star Trek: The Animated Series debuted as a Saturday morning cartoon, but early reviewers quickly realized it was something far more ambitious. A contemporary article from the Pantagraph (Bloomington-Normal, IL) praised the show’s complex themes and emotional storytelling, declaring it a breakthrough in children’s animation that adults could take just as seriously.
This week, The Trek Files welcomes back Adam Kotsko, author of Late Star Trek, to explore the deeper legacy of TAS from its psychological depth and allegorical storytelling to its role as the franchise’s first major reinvention. With Gene Roddenberry at the helm and the original cast returning, The Animated Series wasn’t just a placeholder between live-action runs; it was a bold step into new narrative territory.
Was it canon? Does it matter? Adam and Larry unpack how TAS laid the groundwork for later series, balanced nostalgia with innovation, and helped define Star Trek’s long-standing ability to evolve with its audience.
📰 Document and additional references: Pantagraph review of Star Trek: The Animated Series – September 29, 1973
📘 Adam's book: Late Star Trek: The Final Frontier in the Franchise Era
The Trek Files Season 14 on Memory Alpha
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The introduction of Hugh in Star Trek: The Next Generation’s “I, Borg” added emotional depth to the franchise’s most terrifying villains and reshaped Trek’s approach to individuality and redemption.
This week on The Trek Files, returning guest Adam Kotsko joins us to examine the legacy of Hugh’s first appearance, using a March 6, 1992 call sheet as our launch point. From behind-the-scenes insights on day one of filming to Picard’s rare role as the obstacle to resolution, we dive deep into the character’s mythological weight and long-lasting fan impact.
Adam also explores how Star Trek’s modern “franchise era” grapples with this legacy—sometimes successfully, sometimes not—especially as lore becomes both a storytelling tool and a trap in the prestige TV arms race.
📄 Document and additional references: I, Borg call sheet – March 6, 1992
📘 Adam's book: Late Star Trek: The Final Frontier in the Franchise Era
The Trek Files Season 14 on Memory Alpha
All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha
Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.
The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!