Dear STARTREK.COM,
I was disappointed that I have not seen any comments on the recent events to
hit London. As a massive Star Trek fan who visits your site everyday, I could
not believe that everyday I came to the site since Thursdays I have seen no
announcement.

I would expect a site that is used by people around the world you would keep
it up to date with such news.
Neil M.

Neil,
We appreciate your comments. However, as a site dedicated to an entertainment franchise, we don't always feel comfortable, or appropriate, in commenting on the goings-on in the world. From a personal perspective, speaking as one who lived in London for many years, the bombings were horrific and tragic; I'm thankful that family and friends were not affected. I'm also glad to work for a franchise with a philosophy that espouses the very antithesis of any ideology that would condone violent acts against innocent people.

Dear STARTREK.COM,
I am a fan of all the Star Trek shows, and I was disappointed to see Enterprise go off the air this year. I thought it had a lot of potential left, a lot of interesting directions to explore. However, what's done is in the past, and as Star Trek fans, the future is our business. As much as I have become used to my weekly dose of Star Trek over the years, I do see the benefit in letting the franchise "rest" a bit. I think there are many stories left to tell, and this is how I think it should happen:

2006 will be the 40th anniversary of TOS; 2007 will be the 20th anniversary of TNG. The best way to re-launch Gene Roddenberry's dream is with a new series and a new movie. The new movie should be with TNG, perhaps with full roles by DS9 and Voyager cast. The new series should be "The Third Generation," though better-named. It seems that a well-written and acted film could provide a ready-made opening for the next series.

I don't know whether or not anyone involved in the future of Star Trek will be reading these pages, but Star Trek is about optimism, so let's hope they will. Here are some questions to the Trek fans out there that might help inspire future development: What is it about Star Trek that has us checking out STARTREK.COM a month after the end of the lastest series? When we talk about Gene Roddenberry's dream, what is it that we're talking about? Just some things to think about.
Scott

Scott,
Good questions all. And thank you for your ideas. As you probably know, the next show will be what the producers decide is best. We all have ideas on what would be the best way forward, and you are not alone in your suggestions. You are also not alone in your feelings toward Enterprise. The fourth season was certainly the most engaging and everyone here felt very good about the direction the show was going, should it continue to a fifth season and beyond. On the other hand, there is a large contingent who will argue that the show should have started where it finished, i.e. more tied in with established Star Trek history as well as more character development and timely metaphorical commentary on the world at large. For whatever reasons, the fans spoke by not watching in sufficient numbers to keep Enterprise alive.

Dear STARTREK.com,
I am one of a new generation of Star Trek fans — the ones who for the first time in their lives, in 18 years, there will be no new Star Trek around the corner. For my generation, we are facing the unknown. Star Trek has always been a certainty. Whether there was a movie out in the summer or fall or another series to replace a retiring one, we have always known that there will be more Trek. But no longer.

But we are not alone. We are not the first to be on this frontier; there have been others. My father was one of those original fans, and he too had to face a time where Star Trek was cancelled, but their time was more uncertain in that respect.

We know that there will always be more. As long as we try and grow as a human race, as long as we still have faults, as long as we are still curious about what is out there, and as long as we maintain the ability to examine in ourselves our vices and virtues, there will be Star Trek. Star Trek has the most invaluable lessons for our entire human race — IDIC, the Prime Directive, and especially, "To boldly go."

My generation may not be going where no generation has gone before, but it is my hope that we all know that just like the crews of the Enterprises, the Defiant, and Voyager, that we are at our very best in trying circumstances — and most especially as we face this unknown frontier.
Thank you,
Ginny A.

Ginny,
That's the spirit! Keep a stiff upper lip in the face of this current Star Trek void.

Sure, Star Trek is taking a break, but that doesn't mean that it won't be back bigger and better than ever at some point. And yes, there's already talk about an eleventh movie, but for now it isn't much further than the talk stage. You can be sure we will have any news about a film production when it is confirmed. Let's face it, Star Trek is a part of everyday life for many, and for the rest, they are confronted with references to the show on an almost daily basis. Just try to get through one day without hearing, or making, a Trek reference!

Dear STARTREK.COM,
Hello, I would like to thank STARTREK.COM for making this possible for viewers and fans to voice their opinions. I am writing this to thank all of those who took part in Star Trek since the beginning. From Cast to Crew you made it possible for us to take a look at someone's vision of the future. Though Star Trek is no longer on in primetime, I know that myself and other fans will enjoy it in syndication. I own Seasons 1 through 7 of Deep Space Nine and every time it's played on Spike TV, I always take a look and think to myself what I liked about that episode. It is truly a great honor to be a part of a time in television when Star Trek was on and hope that the future will be great as well.

Thanks for the memories.
Adam
San Diego

Adam,
We hear you. And thank you for supporting this franchise. Without the dedication of fans there would have been no Star Trek beyond TOS, and certainly no prospect of it ever coming back. In the immortal words of Spock, "Remember."