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World Science Fiction Convention to Celebrate Star Trek's 40th Anniversary

Forty years ago, on September 8th, 1966, Star Trek debuted on television screens across America, forever changing the landscape of television and science fiction. But days earlier, the show's creator, Gene Roddenberry, flew to Cleveland, Ohio and the 24th World Science Fiction Convention to preview his new series for the science fiction fans gathered there.

He came, along with Sam Peeples, a writer for the series, and screened two episodes: the original pilot, "The Cage," and "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" They spoke, extolling the wonders of their series. They also brought three women's costumes and models to display them.

With that association, how could L.A.con IV, the 64th World Science Fiction Convention, not commemorate and celebrate the 40th anniversary of Star Trek?

This year the convention will have hundreds of speakers and program items over its five-day run at the Anaheim Convention Center, with topics covering the literature and business of science fiction books, movies & television, science & space and more. Top authors, artists, filmmakers and scientists from around the world will all take part in the convention's program. And a portion of that program, as well as the convention's extensive exhibits, will be dedicated to Star Trek, the people who created it, and the fans who love it.

The program is still in the works and the convention is still contacting people involved with Star Trek in all of its incarnations, but already scheduled are:

• Appearances by stars from the original Star Trek series Walter Koenig and BarBara Luna, as well as Star Trek: The Next Generation's Marina Sirtis, Star Trek: Voyager's Richard Herd, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Andy Robinson, and Suzie Plakson, who appeared on Next Generation, Voyager, and Enterprise. More stars expected but not yet confirmed.

• Writers from the Original Series including DC Fontana, David Gerrold and Robert Sabaroff, talking about crafting a legend.

• A display of costumes actually used on the series.

• Writers and producers from Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager and Enterprise.

• Graphics, miniatures, and props.

• A slide presentation on Star Trek: Phase 2, the first planned revival of Star Trek, from 1977, which was dropped at the very last minute in order to bring Star Trek to the motion picture screen instead.

• A slide show by John & Bjo Trimble on the history of Star Trek Fandom.

• Panels with fans of Star Trek, talking about the first fan-run conventions, keeping Star Trek alive between its cancellation in 1968 and the debut of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture."

• A show by Star Trek designer Mike Okuda, showing behind-the-scenes graphics from various versions of Star Trek.

• A presentation by Star Trek: TNG, Voyager and Enterprise Special Effects Supervisor Ronald B. Moore.

• Behind The Camera From Behind A Camera A slide show of crew-taken photos of behind-the-scenes moments on Star Trek Enterprise.

• A lesson in speaking Klingon from the director of the Klingon Language Institute.

• The creators behind "Star Trek: New Voyages" and "Hidden Frontier," the two Internet series continuing the adventures of the Starship Enterprise.

• A screening of "Free Enterprise," followed by a talk by Mark A. Altman and Robert Meyer Burnett, the film's writers, producer, and director.

• A screening of "Galaxy Quest," followed by a talk by Robert Gordon, the film's writer.

• The convention's traditional first-night welcome reception, this year themed to the Babel Conference Ambassadorial Reception, with David Gerrold as Master of Ceremonies.

And much, much more. Keep checking our website for more details and future announcements.

L.A.con IV, the 64th World Science Fiction Convention, will be held August 23-27, 2006, in Anaheim, California. Our Guests of Honor are Connie Willis (author), James Gurney (artist), Howard DeVore (fan), and Frankie Thomas (special). See us on the Internet at www.laconiv.org.

Worldcon, World Science Fiction Convention, Hugos, and Hugo Awards are service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary association.