Stephen Poe is the author of the new book "A Vision of the Future - Star Trek: Voyager". He is also the author of the classic book "The Making of Star Trek" which chronicled the origins of the original Star Trek television series.

Question: There has been so much rumor and speculation on what happened with Jennifer Lien (Kes) can you set us straight on this?
Criag

Stephen Poe: No, because I don't know what rumors or speculation you may be referring to. I can tell you what Jeri Taylor told me: the character Kes simply was not working as they had thought she would. It is not at all unusual for a Star Trek series, or any other series for that matter, to make cast changes as they go along, and for a variety of reasons mostly because the producers believe such changes will improve the show.

Q: Why was Seven (Jeri Ryan) a Borg picked as the new character? Was is sex appeal or something else?
Pat

SP: Good question. Seven functions on two levels. First, she provides the perfect foil for Janeway- something Voyager did not have previously. Kirk had Spock, Picard had Data, but Janeway's foil was missing. The result is, Janeway's character has been strengthened significantly. This is very apparent throughout this current season. Second, Seven is a perfect example of something Star Trek has always done superbly well: force each of us as viewers to look in the mirror again and realize this too is part of what it's like to be human. In this case, it forces us to confront old ideas, stereotypical images, pre-conceived notions. At first look, Seven appears to be blatant T&A aimed squarely at the male demographic. But if we can get past that "image" what do we see? A character who, because she was raised by the Borg, has not got a clue as to what effect her appearance might have on a male crewmember. In that sense she is sexless. What we then discover is here is a FEMALE character (do I have to shout Hooray!?) who is strong-willed, independent, tough, takes no crap from the Captain, calls everyone on their hypocrisies and silliness ---whoa! That's one heck of a role model for women everywhere. Jeri Ryan told me one day when we were discussing this point that she gets a lot of mail from women and the letters generally all start out the same way: "I really, really, really did not want to like your character - but I do. "

Q: Do you feel that Star Trek: Voyager, and to a lesser extent Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, has lost something of the original spark that Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation brought to TV.
Kim

SP: Well, I think DS9 and Voyager are different from TOS and TNG - the basic premises are quite different, which makes the whole dynamic of each feel different, because it is. This is also something I address in the Voyager book. By the way, one of the things I am MOST proud of in A Vision of the Future is the fact that I made a serious attempt to honor the fan in particular, and the viewer in general. Chapter 10 is devoted entirely to the fan, and I think it is quite accurately titled The Owners of the Game. I don't know of any other book currently on the market today that seriously tries to do that.

Q: It has been 30 years since your last Star Trek book "The Making of Star Trek" what has happened to you since then? How come you disappeared from the Star Trek scene?
Kenny

SP: I lived life. Working on all sorts of writing projects - newspapers, magazines, non-theatrical films and videos, books, research studies - you name it, and travelling all over the world in the process. My life includes Star Trek, but that is a rather small slice of it, I guess because I have always been so intensely curious about everything -and most especially human beings. We are such wondrous works of art.

Q: What do you do for a living? Are you a writer full time?
Carrie

SP: I'm a writer, I write full time. It's the only thing I've ever wanted to do, from maybe five years old onward.

Q: Do you think Star Trek: Voyager will end up with the same sort of reputation that the animated series had? When everyone looks back on it will they want to sweep it under the rug?
Jon

SP: No, I don't think so. It's been a different construct from the other three, with quite different dynamics. I go into the background of this in my Voyager book.

Q: Once DS9 goes off the air next year do you think Voyager can carry the torch into the 21st century or do you think that Star Trek as a whole might be winding down. In other words should they take a break and regroup and let people want Star Trek again?
Dave

SP: I'm not sure what Paramount and Rick Berman are planning. DS9 might get extended another season or two, for example. Voyager may take some surprising turns, for example. I don't know for sure, and could only speculate like everyone else (well, I might hear rumors a bit earlier, but that's not necessarily much help, because what I "hear," I do not talk about - it's part of my responsibility as a writer and, specifically, a chronicler of some things Star Trek. ) One thing you can bet, however: Star Trek is an enormously profitable franchise. I doubt if Paramount or Viacom will do anything that will seriously impede that income. I guess we'll all have to wait and see what that translates into.

Q: What is your opinion on the quality of Star Trek: Voyager?
Mario

SP: I must remind everyone at the outset that my answers are merely my own opinion, and therefore may not reflect the opinion of ANY one else, including Rick Berman and the "suits" at Paramount. Like each of the series before it, Voyager seemed to start out (after the pilot) somewhat unevenly, in terms of quality. Also like each of the series before it, I think Voyager has gotten better every year. I think this is a rather curious pattern for Star Trek series in general, but as to the "why" of it, well, that would probably take some philosophical discussion not appropriate (time-wise) to this chat. Certainly the early seasons of TNG andDS9 bear little resemblance, quality-wise, to their later seasons.

Q: Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to get into the book yet. But I am curious as to how you went about establishing the backgrounds/ history for the Voyager characters in your book. Did you draw from the info available from prior books and/or television episodes?
Maia

SP: I didn't establish anything. Berman, Piller, and Taylor created the concept, and the rest of The Company fleshed everything out. My job in writing the book was to chronicle certain events, and make my own observations. In that sense I was an observer on the scene. I did not create anything with respect to Voyager.

Q: Does Kes Return?
Doug

SP: No.

Q: I am a big fan of the original cast of trek. I'm wondering if there is some type of closure to the lives of Spock, Dr. McCoy, and Scotty? Will this be evident in some future episode of DS9?
Edward

SP: I don't know, but it sounds like a great idea.

Q: Will Voyager ever get home? And will Tom and B'Elanna get married?

SP: I guess Voyager will get back to the Alpha Quadrant in either the sixth or seventh season. Your guess is as good as mine. I don't know if Paris and Torres will get married, but I'm sure it's a possible story line that is being thought about.

Q: Have you ever directed any episodes of Star Trek? Would you ever want to?
Tom

SP: No, I haven't, and no, I have no desire to do so.

Q: How did you become involved with Star Trek in the first place?
Chris

SP: That's a long story. I suggest you read the intro to my first book, about TOS, The Making of Star Trek, which I wrote under my stepfather's name, Whitfield. Stephen E. Whitfield.

Q: Have you ever been in any episodes?
Chris

SP: No.

Q: Have you written any episodes for the show? If not do you want to?
Fred

SP: No, and no I don't. I'm very happy writing books and other things.

Q: You have been categorized as a "Futurist". What exactly does that mean to you?

SP: I've been a member of the World Future Society for more than 25 years now. A lot of my research and writing has been focused on where are we going to be, as human beings, in 10, 20, 50 years.

Q: Do you watch a lot of Star Trek to get a feel for the people you write about.
Jerry

SP: No, because that's not a lot of help for the kind of book I wanted to write. Instead, I interviewed everyone, repeatedly, and stayed pretty much on the Lot for several years. That's what gave me the information I needed.

Q: I haven't read the book quite yet, because I was wondering if there are any stories about how this series may not be faithful to Roddenberry's Vision? I hope so. Because my opinion is: who cares?
Jason

SP: Glad you asked. I have an entire chapter devoted to this subject. It's titled The Vision. I think it will tell you a great deal about what you might want to know.

Q: How's your experience on Star Trek saga helped your career?
Keith

SP: That's a tough question. Star Trek has been part of my life for more than thirty years. But since I don't work on or write for any of the series, I can't say it has benefited my career directly. However, Star Trek's philosophy has certainly permeated my life, and I think, help make me be more of the sort of person I would like to be.

Q: While I have enjoyed this season, it seems as if the strength of the Janeway and 7/9 characters has come at the expense of a watered down Chakotay, et al. One thing nice about Generation is that all of the characters seem to stand on their own. Do you think Voyager writers will resurrect the other characters during the next two seasons, or should the title be changed to the Janeway/Seven Show?
Lexia

SP: I doubt they will change the series' title. Probably they devoted much of this last season to establishing the Seven character, which I think is appropriate. I think you'll see a more even spread in terms of characters and their stories in upcoming seasons.

Q: What brought you back to Star Trek?
Rick

SP: Pocket Books called me and asked me if I'd be interested in writing a book about Voyager. I said yes, if I could focus on the people involved, and explore some philosophical questions I thought people would be interested in. They said okay. So I began in November of 1994.

Q: How do you feel about the twists and turns Voyager is taking? Do you feel it should or that Star Trek should stick to it's ground no matter what the world of today does?
RichF

SP: I don't think they've taken enough of them. Part of the Star Trek tradition is dealing with the unexpected in episodes. Additionally, though, Star Trek has always mirrored to some extent what is going on in our culture today. I think it should continue to do that. Layered over the top of that is also the idea of "pointing the way. " Showing viewers that what exists now as attitudes and so forth does not have to stay that way. We can change, and hopefully for the better. I think that should continue as well.

Q: What's the easiest way to get into writing and publishing a ST novel?
David

SP: Write to Margaret Clark, Senior Editor, Pocket Books (in New York) and ask for her guidelines on writing Star Trek novels. She'll be happy to send you out a packet.

Q: Are you a fan of Science Fiction? Do you watch current shows (X-Files, etc. )?
DDrex

SP: Yes, and I always have been, starting with Asimov, Heinlein, Bradbury, VanVogt, etc. No, I don't watch a lot of stuff on TV, primarily because I don't have the time. I'm too busy writing or travelling and doing research. But I record shows and tell myself I'll watch them later. I've got twenty million recorded tapes by now, I'm sure.

Q: Why did you write the other book (Which I loved all my life!!) under a different name?
4everFriend

SP: My birth name was Poe. My father died when I was 18 months old. My mother later remarried, to a man named Whitfield. When I was 12 my mother laid a guilt trip on my brother and sister and I, saying she and my stepfather would get divorced if we didn't agree to be legally adopted and have our names changed to Whitfield. I hated it, but agreed. When I left home I went to court and got my birth name back. When I wrote the first book I used my stepfather's name because I thought it would help bring peace to a fractured family. It didn't help. I thought it was the right thing to do at the time. Otherwise, I write under my birth name.

Q: You "feel" like a very spiritual person, from what I've heard and read about you. Are you religious? Can you tell us about Noetic Sciences?
Rockon!

SP: Thank you. I'd like to think I'm a spiritual person. A seeker on the Path, if you will. No, I practice no religion (I jokingly refer to myself as a Born Again Heathen). But I have studied the world's great religions, and as a Pisces I have always been drawn to the mystical. I feel very comfortable there. IONS was founded by Astronaut Edgar Mitchell, and is largely devoted to investigating things which cannot easily be measured on a meter. That often ends up in some interesting spiritual realms.

Q: Mr. Poe I loved your book of the Making of Star Trek and stillhave my copy form the sixties, how did you get the funny anecdotes and practical jokes from Gene Roddenberry?
Lynsee

SP: I spent a great deal of time with him, and did basically the same thing on Voyager. Gene, Majel and I became close friends, we owned a 36 foot sloop together, and after TOS ended we still spent a fair amount of time together. I miss him a lot, as I'm sure others do as well.

Q: Are you working on another book?
AllenK

SP: Yes, it's a trilogy, and has nothing to do with Star Trek. The first book is titled Jeremiad, and means 'a tale of woe. ' Perhaps we will see it in the Fall of next year.

Q: Is it true that you were involved, somehow, in the making of the AMT Klingon ship model?
GrokSpock

SP: Yes, it's true about the Klingon ship. The model of the Enterprise became such a runaway bestseller that AMT asked me to get them another ship. I told Gene, but we both knew there were no other ships (except for that crutchy Romulan saucer with the wings painted on it). So I pitched him on the idea of designing a Klingon ship and he said go to it. So I worked with Matt Jefferies on it, and that's how it came about.

Stephen, thank you very much for joining us here tonight.

SP: This has been great! Thank you all for allowing me to share with you, and you with me. Maybe some people at Paramount don't see it this way, but in my book you ARE the owners of the game. Thanks again for the time.