Twenty-five years of Star Trek stars and fans are celebrated in the special 150th issue of Communicator, a gold-edition collector's item of the official Star Trek Fan Club's bi-monthly publication, on newsstands May 18.

Communicator opens its archives to spotlight the magazine's last full interview with Gene Roddenberry, right off the original pages as they appeared in 1989 — plus bits from its first interviews with Patrick Stewart (1988), Whoopi Goldberg (1990), Kim Cattrall (1992), and a giggling Kirstie Alley (1982). There's also snippets of chats with Star Trek veterans no longer with us: Roger C. "Harry Mudd” Carmel, Mark "Sarek” Lenard, Bib "Carol Marcus” Besch, and Merritt "David Marcus” Buttrick.

But there's more than archives — cast and crew from all generations of Trekdom send their personal greetings on the landmark issue. And, most of all, the magazine's own fans and readers — some of them celebrities — write in to add up "150 Reasons We Love Star Trek.” You can also find 150 issues worth of trivia — one question per issue! — as well as a special collector's fold-out poster of all 150 covers of the magazine, from its newsletter days through digest format to the modern look of today.

Plus, get the story and pictures of how founder Dan Madsen began it all as just another fan's newsletter from his bedroom as a teenager in 1979, and then went on to develop the multi-franchise club, magazine and retail operation licensed in 1982 and now owned by Decipher Inc.  Toss in an update chat with Scott Bakula about Enterprise's future, the regular columnists all turned nostalgic, and it's an issue not be missed.

With space at a premium in a magazine, several congratulation messages were unable to make it to the print edition. Managing Editor Larry Nemecek has asked if we could add the following messages from various Star Trek authors.  We said yes:

Congrats, Dan and Larry!  You guys have a knack for evoking the best in the Star Trek folks you showcase (not to mention bringing us backstage to show us how things work) — taking your readers, to coin a phrase, where no fan has gone before.  Here's to 150 more!
— Margaret Wander Bonanno

Congratulations on hitting the big One-Five-Oh!  As Khan himself might say,
"Excellent!  Truly a superior achievement!"
— Greg Cox, author of "THE EUGENICS WARS," Volumes One and Two

Star Trek isn't just some TV show that NBC aired for three years — it has become part of the culture, part of the language, even part of the technology. (I mean, c'mon, the main reason for the evolution of the physical form of mobile phones into the form they take today is because folks want their own communicators.) One of the many reasons why it has survived for almost four decades, and will continue to do so, is because of the support of its fanbase.
Congratulations to Star Trek Communicator for continuing to serve that loyal fanbase for 150 issues. Bravo, folks!
— Keith R.A. DeCandido, Star Trek novelist

The truth must be told — Dan Madsen is the reason I ever got involved in Star Trek as a "professional” (if that word even applies to the likes of me). Had it not been for his tolerance of my breaking every rule in submitting my first story to the Communicator, let alone his encouragement of my continuing to write for this great publication, my past seven years would not have been remotely as much fun. There is not enough room on this page to list the myriad ways I am indebted to Dan, and the multitude of thanks I'd like to give him on behalf of Star Trek fans everywhere. But enough gushing ... I still have a story due for this issue!
— Kevin Dilmore

Happy 150th, Communicator! May you live even longer and continue to prosper!
— Michael Jan Friedman

Larry--
150 issues!  You all should be very proud of yourselves.  I remember meeting you at a con oh so long ago ... the years have been good to us, look at both of us now.  May the next 150 issues be as great as the first!  Congratulations!
— Christie Golden

Back in my days with Starlog, I had occasion to deal with Dan at the outset of the Fan Club.  His enthusiasm seems not to have wavered at all.  We're both a little older, hopefully a little wiser, and it's terrific to see that we're still playing a universe we've come to love.  Congrats to Dan and the gang at Star Trek Communicator.
— Robert Greenberger, Senior Editor - DC Comics and Star Trek novelist

Vulcan philosophy espouses IDIC — Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. I'm glad to be a part of the Star Trek family, and happy that the Official Star Trek Fan Club and the Star Trek Communicator magazine celebrate IDIC in form and content. Congratulations on the first 150 issues and here's hoping that we'll all be celebrating again in another decade or so!
— Andy Mangels

Here's wishing Dan Madsen, Larry Nemecek, the Official Star Trek Fan Club, and the Star Trek Communicator magazine continued success during this sesquicentennial celebration. Something tells me we'll be doing this again 150 issues from now.
— Michael A. Martin

Wow, 150 issues! Kudos to Captains Nemecek and Madsen, and the rest of the crew, for keeping all us fans so happy; I hope that Communicator will continue to shed light on the murkier corners of this ever-expanding universe for at least a hundred and fifty more. Is there cake now? Will someone mail me a piece?
— S.D. Perry

So what does 150 mean to us?
1. The number of times we've watched "The City on the Edge of Forever”?
2. The age of Dr. McCoy in the Shatnerverse novels?
3. Or the stack of Communicator magazines holding up our printer?

As a matter of fact, all of the above, but this month, mostly #3.
Congratulations to Dan Madsen and everyone who's contributed to making Communicator a magazine as great-looking and well-produced as the franchise it celebrates!  Here's to the next five series, the next 10 movies, and the next 150 issues!
— Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens

I remember writing Trek books back in the day, before all the guides and coffee-table books, when the Communicator was one of the few printed sources I could use for resource.  They've always been a real asset to the Trek community, giving even insiders stuff they didn't know before.
— John Vornholt

9426, and 54. What's the significance of those numbers? The first was my membership number when I joined the Fan Club in 1987. The second is the first issue of the Fan Club newsletter I received. It was a digest-sized magazine in those days, but change was in the air as Star Trek: The Next Generation loomed on the horizon. It's been fun to watch both the club and the magazine evolve and thrive over the years, and I'm also proud to have contributed to a few of the issues along the way. Congratulations on your 150th issue! Oh, and hey: In case you're planning ahead, I should be available in 2012 when you hit #200. Let's do lunch!
— Dayton Ward

In addition to our message already printed in the Communicator celebration issue, STARTREK.COM extends our heartfelt congratulations on the 150 milestone to, among others, Dan and Larry. We've worked closely with both over the years, and it's always been a pleasure.  Thanks, guys, for your steadfast loyalty, passion and brilliance!