Mr. Shatner appeared as "Captain Kirk" on the original "Star Trek" television series and in seven "Star Trek" films. He is also the author of several books, both fiction and non-fiction. His most recent effort is the hilarious "Get a Life!" which documents the phenomenon of Star Trek fandom. Welcome, Mr. Shatner! We are delighted that you could join us today.

William Shatner: Hello everybody. Thank you for joining me... or, am I joining you? However, it is, let's have some fun together for the next half hour.

Question: How many more TREK novels are you going to right? I THINK THEY ARE GREAT PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING.
Patrick

WS: I'm going to write at least another 3. I have a contract for that. But I'm having so much fun with them. If Gar and Judy Reeves-Stevens would join me, I would like to continue as long as you will read them. Remember, Dark Victory, the fifth novel of the Star Trek series, is out there right now.

Q: Since you were a pioneer in sci-fi, how about another first: a internet chat rendition of "Lucy in the Sky..."?
Jay

WS: Yes, of course. I want you to follow me closely... I'm about to sing.... There, I've sung it now... Hope you enjoyed it.

Q: Hello I was just wondering about why you have all of a sudden started making a lot of guest appearances on shows. Did something just hit you and you said " I am going to make myself known again to the fans"?
Tayeeb

WS: Hello. No, something just snapped. Probably the 5th vertebrae in my neck. But in fact I have been extremely busy. Sometimes directing, sometimes writing, sometimes acting. It just seems like a lot of things happened this month all at once.

Q: I just finished "Get A Life," as well. It was so good - and quite hilarious at times! Now that your research is done, are you still sporting disguises for convention attendance purposes?
Teilani

WS: I sport disguises all the time. I have fooled my children. My wife. and even my dog. But of course, you know, I'm kidding. And I'm through with disguises from now on in. The real me from now on. People should watch for me to come in from the sky, from underground or materialize out of a wall.

Q: What is the most important thing that you have gained/learned, personal or otherwise, from being part of Star Trek?
Angelfanci

WS: Well, I guess what I've gained most of all is some weight. Other than that, a great deal of humility, because the fans I've met have been so kind and so loyal. It's humbling because you want to be worthwhile. You want to be worth the fandom and I'm not sure that I am half the time.

Q: If somehow they could bring Kirk back into the current Star Trek movie storyline (hey , Spock did it !) , would you accept the role ?
Mike

WS: If it was a well written return... in fact, they can call it "The

Q: Are you planning on being interviewed in the new publication Star Trek: The Magazine?
Big Daddy

WS: No, I have not made any plans as such. I'm kind of burned out, having done publicity for "Get a Life", "Dark Victory" and "Step into Chaos". This last one is the third in a series called "Quest for Tomorrow." You'd ought to pick it up... it's really good. Then I'm publicizing "Free Enterprise" a movie that opens tomorrow in LA and getting ready to open nationwide. And then 3rd Rock from the Sun, which they are repeating this Sunday.

Q: Mr. Shatner, could you tell me how long an average shooting day lasted for you and the crew on the original series?
Leprocks

WS: We would get in early morning, around six, and work until eight, nine o'clock in the evening during the week... and then on Friday night there was no limit. There's a regulation called "turnaround" which means the actors must have 12 hours between the time they quit and the time they return. The movie company is penalized financially if they break that turnaround. Friday nights are usually very late because there's no work on Saturday mornings.

Q: If our society was to someday become that of what is portrayed in the star trek universe - in what ways should we be heading to now to possibly make that somewhat of a reality?
Steve

WS: The truth of the matter is, unless we head in the direction of zero population growth and non-pollution, we are not going to see the next 50 years. So, that's the direction we all must take immediately.

Q: Exactly what interaction is there between you and your collaborators on your novels? do you give them jim kirk's point of view?
Martine

WS: No, it goes far beyond that. In the ST novels, Gar and Judy and I sit down and spend days talking about what the novel is how it is structured and what the characters are doing to each other. Then we separately go our ways and do a first draft. And then Gar and Judy polish it.

Q: Do you know anything about this new movie "Trekkies"? (If it's a documentary, I don't want to waste my time)
Jonah

WS: I believe it is a documentary and I don't know anything about it.

Q: What are your thoughts/feelings/reactions to the ending of Deep Space Nine? How do you like Voyager?
William

WS: William, you may find this hard to believe, but I have never seen either of the shows. You may ask me why and I would say to you: I really don't know. I don't watch hour shows on television at all. I prefer the news, sports and movies.

Q: I heard that you don't sign autographs, is this true?
Leprocks

WS: No it's not true. I do sign autographs, but frequently the people who come up to me have professional pictures that I am almost sure they're going to sell. That strikes a false note in me so I'm always adjudicating to sign for a genuine fan -- which I would like to do -- or not sign for someone who's there for commercial reasons.

Q: Have you seen Star Wars Phantom Menace? Where do stars like you get to see these films? In Paramount? A special theater or what?
Edward

WS: I have seen The Phantom Menace. It wasn't up to my expectations and I saw it on a Saturday matinee in a hail of popcorn.

Q: Which do you find the most challenging...acting, writing or directing?
Gary

WS: They're all challenging. You're constantly faced with the choices that have to be made in an earnest desire to entertain you. What are the best things to do or the best things to say... are the questions that are always there. Any of those skills require a lot of guesswork, experience and a modicum of talent. When it's all said and done, perhaps directing pleases me the most.

Q: Are you going to participate in any of the Alien voices projects that Leonard Nimoy does?
Lisa

WS: I did one already and they bilked me out of a lot of money. I gave them my best shot and they paid me scale like everybody else. Fie on Leonard.

You know of course, I am joking. I number Leonard among my best friends. I am continually punishing him in print, on film, on the radio and with would even go to sky writing if I could afford it.

Q: Hello Mr. Shatner. It's nice to see you here online. Have you heard any good jokes lately?
Lodger

WS: I did hear a great joke lately, but I can't remember the punch line. It involves a 10 year old kid with a beer and a cigar and a salesman at the door... After that, I forget.

Q: Mr. Shatner, how did you decide to title your book "Get a Life"? When I heard about it I laughed my a** off.
Sharia

WS: You must look very funny without an ass. You understand that the gluteous maximus is very important in running and walking. But I'm glad you laughed your ass off.

"Get a Life" was named from the Saturday Night Live sketch. The book is even fonder and even more insightful than anything I've written before about the fans of ST. It's a funny book and it also delineates my growth of love and respect for the fans of ST.

Q: Have you ever encountered a 'Kobayashi Maru' scenario on real life?
Luis

WS: Luis... Perhaps you know or perhaps you do not know... I have been divorced twice. That's an unwinnable situation.

Q: Did you find any famous movie actors among the Star Trek fan community who were proud to be Trekkers?
Neville

WS: Secretly I happen to know, everybody in Hollywood is a Trekkie. Some don't admit it, but we all know the truth, don't we?

Q: Do you desire to make another appearance on SNL?
Matthew

WS: I haven't seen SNL in a long time. But if it's as good as it used to be, I certainly will.

Q: What made you originally decide to write a book about the fans of Star Trek?
Alyssa

WS: It occured to me one day after years of going to conventions that I had no idea who was out there or why. So I delved into it. It took me two years of research and a lot of batteries for my tape recorder.

Q: Mr. Shatner, How is the research on TINNITUS (ringing in the ears) progressing? I know how annoying it can be, and hope that more people learn about it. Do you think, eventually, Doctors will find a standard treatment.
Dave

WS: There is some hope that there can be a treatment that would eliminate the ringing in the ears. At the moment there is none such. BUT, there is a habitiation technique that allows you to live with it and get your life back. I did it. I know it works.

Q: Could you tell us more about the proposed "Quest for Tomorrow" Tv Movie/series and if you will be starring in it.
Colin

WS: "Quest for Tomorrow" is about an adolescent boy who wants to become a starship captain. We follow his adventures in each of the novels. I would like to star in it, but the casting directors have looked askance. I am actively trying to make it a viable project and I have a great deal of interest in Canada, so my interest is there. In the mean time, a network is interested in Man of War and we have a 4 hour miniseries planned for that one. Showtime is the network.

Q: You've often said that you think Kirk could kick Picard's butt... do you think he could take Riker?
Jacqueline

WS: Yes, I think he could take Riker, except Riker laughed his ass off... so kicking butt would be very difficult.

On that elegant note... Let me call a halt to these proceedings before I get sillier. It's been fun being with you all. I look forward to the next time.