On September 8th, 1966 the first episode of Gene Roddenberry’s groundbreaking tv show “Star Trek” aired. Through the decades, the franchise has gone on to become a pop culture phenomenon that continues to challenge society’s notions about things like race and gender roles. Nana Visitor, who played Major Kira Nerys on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” has written a book called “Star Trek: Open a Channel: A Woman’s Trek.”
Visitor will embark on a mission to see how “Star Trek” simultaneously led the way for women, while also being a painful product of its time. This will be more than a book about the franchise. It’s about how society and the stories we tell have evolved in the last 60 years, and how the role of women has changed in that time. “Open a Channel” will consist of interviews with cast, writers, producers, and celebrity fans all touching on the highs and lows of women behind the scenes and in front of the camera across the franchise’s run.
When Visitor announced the book, she explained how the project snowballed. “This book was supposed to be 200 pages when it was proposed, grew to 300, and could easily been 1,000,” the post reads. Which sounds about right given how broad and nuanced the topic of gender in pop culture can be.
Interviewees
The book will have interviews with Kate Mulgrew who played Captain Kathryn Janeway on “Voyager” and Terry Farrell who played Jadzia Dax on “Deep Space Nine.” Alongside Denise Crosby who played Tasha Yar on “The Next Generation” and Mary Wiseman who plays Sylvia Tilly on “Discovery.” As well as Rebecca Romijn who plays Una Chin-Riley on “Discovery” and “Strange New Worlds.”
“Open a Channel” also chronicles the pioneering stories behind the scenes, including the groundbreaking casting of the late Nichelle Nichols as Lt. Uhura. A casting decision that inspired a slew of young black women to pursue their dreams. Including Whoopi Goldberg who famously exclaimed, “Come here, mom, everybody, come quick, come quick, there’s a black lady on television and she ain’t no maid!” About Nichols’ performance. Goldberg ended up playing Guinan on “Next Generation.”
But the actress-turned-author didn’t stop at the women involved in the franchise. “Open A Channel” details how the franchise impacted the women of the real world. Visitor even interviewed astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti for the book while she was in orbit on the International Space Station.
A Legacy of Books About “Star Trek“
Visitor will be the latest in a long line of “Star Trek” stars to write books about the franchise. The late Leonard Nimoy, who played Lt. Commander Spock on “Star Trek: The Original Series,” wrote his autobiography “I Am Spock” in 1995. His co-star William Shatner, who played Captain James T. Kirk, wrote a memoir called “Star Trek Memories” in 1993. Wil Wheaton, who played Wesley Crusher on “Next Generation,” recently wrote an updated and annotated version of his 2004 memoir “Just a Geek” retitled “Still Just a Geek.”
“Star Trek: Open a Channel: Women in Trek” will hit stores on October 1st. You can pre-order our copy here.
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