Abstract
The five Star Trek series — the original Star Trek (TOS, 1966–69), The Next Generation (TNG, 1987–94), Deep Space Nine (DS9, 1993–2000), Voyager (Voy, 1994–2001) and Enterprise (Ent, 2001-) — are beyond doubt among the most well-known American TV series. By now Star Trek, which started out as a cult phenomenon with a small but dedicated following, has for a considerable time been ‘an integral part of US popular culture’ (Rey 2001: 139). Star Trek has become a ‘multimedia saga’ (Thompson 2003: 79), consisting of ‘many interlinked Star Trek tales told in television, film, print, and the Internet’ (ibid.) In addition to the five Star Trek series just mentioned, there are also Star Trek films, an animated Star Trek series (1973), numerous Star Trek novels, internet fan fiction, and a vast range of merchandise. The prominent status Star Trek has among TV series is attested to by its ‘continuity, longevity, and the academic interest it has generated’ (Rey 2001: 139), but also by intramedial references that turn up in countless TV series (ranging from The X-Files to Friends).
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