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In 1987 a new series launched, Star Trek: The Next Generation, which featured a new crew and a new plotline. While in the classic series the captain ([James Kirk]? , played by William Shatner) often used "cowboy diplomacy", in The Next Generation (TNG) the [Prime Directive]?, which states that the Federation shouldn't get involved in less evolved species' business, is given greater importance. This leads to a far more pacifist approach, which was gradually abandoned after Roddenberry's death. The other spin-off series rely heavily on action and warfare, much like the original series. An exception, of course, is the episode about tribbles.
Roddenberry was a proponent of egalitarian politics, and frequently used the shows to showcase his vision of a utopian future society based on those principles. The original series, for example, had a prominent black female crew member ([Lt. Uhura]?, played by [Nichelle Nichols]?), one of the first black women to hold any major role on American television and the recipient of the first televised interracial kiss in the episode Plato's Stepchildren. It also had a Russian character ([Mr. Chekov]?, played by [Walter Koenig]?) at a time when the United States was engaged in the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The Vulcan First Officer Mr. Spock?, played by [Leonard Nimoy]?, was at first rejected by network officials who feared that his vaguely satanic appearance might prove too disquieting (Mr. Spock of course went on to become one of the most popular characters on the show). Viewers of today who watch the old series may find its portrayals of minorities and especially women somewhat backward, but they were actually quite progressive and daring for the time.
Television series:
Movies based on the original series:
Movies based on The Next Generation:
Video Games:
Computer Games (By Microprose, Interplay and Paramount):
(This is an incomplete list)
The Star Trek universe in general:
Official website: http://www.startrek.com/
For Recent News: http://www.trektoday.com/
See also: Physics and Star Trek