Howard Weinstein
Writer, DC Comics / Freelance
Working on: *Star Trek* comic (DC); planning original series
Weinstein discusses his career path from selling the animated Star Trek episode "The Pirates of Orion" at age 19, through writing five Star Trek novels and three V novels, to taking over the DC Star Trek comic from Peter David in late 1990. He addresses working within Paramount's content restrictions, the challenge of adapting novel pacing to comics, and his transition to new editor Kim Yale.
Michael Jan Friedman
Writer, DC Comics / Pocket Books / Freelance
Working on: *Star Trek: The Next Generation* comic (DC); *Dark Stars* (DC); *Space Ranger* mini-series (DC)
Friedman traces his writing from heroic fantasy novels to DC's Star Trek: The Next Generation comic, highlighting favorite storylines including a doppelganger Enterprise arc and a crew-separation adventure. He describes his two new DC projects — Dark Stars (a grittier, morally ambiguous space-law-enforcement team) and Space Ranger (a 22nd-century mini-series revamping the classic Rick Starr character) — as well as his work novelizing an unproduced Gene Roddenberry screenplay, The God Thing.
Walter Koenig
Actor / Writer, Freelance
Working on: *Walter Koenig's Star Quest Comics*; original superhero character; screenplays
Koenig reflects on the Smithsonian Star Trek exhibit, the slim chances of a Star Trek VII with the original cast, and his extensive collection of vintage comic-character pinback buttons and Big Little Books. He also discusses upcoming writing projects: Walter Koenig's Star Quest Comics, an original superhero character, two screenplays, and stage appearances.
Majel Barrett Roddenberry
Actress, Freelance / Paramount
Working on: *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (Lwaxana Troi); discussing *Deep Space Nine*
Barrett Roddenberry discusses Gene Roddenberry's evolving vision for the franchise and shares behind-the-scenes details on the then-upcoming Deep Space Nine — its space-station setting on the edge of a stable wormhole, its ensemble cast, and its deliberately different tone. She also confirms that a Star Trek VII film is likely once TNG concludes.
George T. McWhorter
Librarian / Editor, Burroughs Bibliophiles / University of Louisville
Working on: Curating the Burroughs Memorial Collection (Part 2 of 2)
In part two, McWhorter explores what keeps Edgar Rice Burroughs in print: his timeless, fully imagined worlds, rich humor, and moral underpinnings. They discuss Burroughs' classical vocabulary, his satirical streak, the history of Tarzan in film adaptations, the founding of fan organizations, and the need for quality screenwriters to restore Burroughs' literary reputation.
DAK reflects philosophically on the finite nature of human time and effort, connecting it to *Star Trek*'s message that perception shapes one's experience of life.