Star Trek Canon
Star Trek Canon
The Star Trek canon is the set of material considered official within the expansive Star Trek universe. This encompasses the narratives, characters, and events depicted across all official Star Trek media. The concept of canon in Star Trek has evolved, reflecting changes in content creation and fan interpretation over the decades.
Evolution of Star Trek Canon
Originally, the Star Trek canon was primarily centered around the live-action television series and films initiated by Gene Roddenberry with the premiere of Star Trek: The Original Series in 1966. This foundational series laid the groundwork for what would become a sprawling multimedia franchise.
Television Series
The canon includes every live-action Star Trek series:
- Star Trek: The Original Series (1966–1969): Introduced audiences to the iconic starship USS Enterprise and its diverse crew.
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994): Followed the new crew of the Enterprise-D, pioneering many new story arcs and themes.
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999): Explored complex socio-political narratives from a stationary space station.
- Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001): Chronicled the return journey of a starship stranded in a distant quadrant.
- Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005): Explored the early days of Starfleet and the human drive for exploration.
- Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024): Reinvigorated the franchise with a modern aesthetic and complex characters.
- Star Trek: Picard (2020–present): A sequel to The Next Generation, focusing on Jean-Luc Picard's later life.
- Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020–present): An animated series that blends canon with humor and unique storytelling perspectives.
- Star Trek: Prodigy (2021–present): Targets younger audiences while expanding the narrative universe.
Films
The film series is an integral part of the Star Trek canon. Notable entries include:
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979): The first feature film, expanding on the original series' legacy.
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982): Introduced the iconic antagonist Khan Noonien Singh.
- Star Trek: Beyond (2016): Part of the Kelvin Timeline, a parallel universe created by J.J. Abrams' rebooted films.
The Animated Series and Expanded Canon
For many years, Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973–1974) was excluded from the canon. However, as of 2010, it was officially incorporated into the Star Trek canon, broadening the scope of the universe.
The Star Trek canon also extends to some novels, comics, and other media, though these are generally viewed as non-canonical unless explicitly stated by the franchise's custodians.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Launched in 2022, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is part of Alex Kurtzman's expanded Star Trek Universe, following the adventures of Captain Christopher Pike and the crew of the USS Enterprise. This series further diversifies the canon with its novel storytelling approach.
Related Topics
- Science Fiction Television
- Gene Roddenberry
- Space Exploration in Fiction
- USS Enterprise
- Klingons
- Vulcans
The Star Trek canon remains dynamic, continuously evolving as new series and films are developed, reflecting the ongoing cultural and technological changes influencing the franchise's storytelling.