Star Trek The Magazine July 2001

Hi folks, just an overview of this month's Star Trek The Magazine...

This month is ANOTHER Voyager special, two covers again. Although I like the holodoc, I like ships better so I got the ship cover. http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif
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Star Trek The Magazine
July 2001
Issue 27

pg. 6... News review
pg. 9... Star Trek merchandise listings
pg. 10... Berman, Piller and Taylor on creating Star Trek: Voyager
pg. 18... Interview with Robert Picardo
pg. 26... Interview with Brannon Braga
pg. 30... Romance on Star Trek: Voyager
pg. 32-50... BRIEFING 1 U.S.S. Voyager NCC-74656
- U.S.S. Voyager cutaway
- Cargo bay 2
- Main engineering
- Shuttlebay
- Sensor systems
- Turbolifts
- Lower decks
- Stasis chambers
pg. 51... Voyager's greatest visual effects *I vote for 7's catsuit!*
pg. 58-63... BRIEFING 2 Kes
pg. 64... Voyager's greatest makeups (hey I don't write 'em I just report 'em)
pg. 67... Voyager's greatest costumes (you know my vote here! ;b)
pg. 71-81... BRIEFING 3 U.S.S. Equinox NCC-72381
- Ransom's Journey
- Introduction
- Main bridge
- Blueprints
pg. 82... John Teska on building Species 8472
pg. 89... Richard James on designing U.S.S. Voyager
pg. 98... Star Trek Away Team (computer game)
pg. 100-107... BRIEFING 4 Worlds of the Delta Quadrant
- The Ocampa planet
- A Briori planet
- Hanon IV
- Tachyon core planet
pg. 108... Readers' letters
pg. 112... Star Trek props: Tsukatse shoes
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COMING SOON
Next issue on sale July 10, 2001

* Interview with Garrett Wang
* Richard James on designing Voyager's interiors
* Creating Voyager's crew (geez what is this? sounds like another voyager special)

PLUS technical briefings in every issue!

* Deep Space Nine
- Defensive shields
- Wardroom
- Dax's lab (not Dexter's)
- Crew quarters
* Kira Nerys
* Games and Sports
- 3D chess
- Anbo-jytsu
- Springball
- Tongo
- Dabo
- Racquetball
*Overlookers
- The hierarchy
- Blueprints
- Bridge

Sounds to me that our neighborly studio is still trying to force Voyager down our throats. Why can't Paramount get the hint that their 'baby' was a subparticle series that doesn't deserve any mention whatsoever.

Voyager is now no more (Thank God!!!!!). IMHO, the only thing I am looking forward to now, even with a little bit of trepidation concerning the rumored death of Data, is Star Trek X.

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"Cry havoc! And let slip the dogs of war..."
-Chang (ST VI)

Quote:

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Originally posted by Treefrog:
Sounds to me that our neighborly studio is still trying to force Voyager down our throats. Why can't Paramount get the hint that their 'baby' was a subparticle series that doesn't deserve any mention whatsoever.

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Try to remember IDIC.

Not everyone dislikes Voyager. i for one have enjoyed it on the whole. Sure they have had dodgy episodes along with a greater share of Lemons...

They have even had a problem with continuity... All these arguements are valid.

But the fact is. Noone from Paramount comes round your place with a gun and forces you to watch or read anything about it.

The power to control your entertainment lies in your own hands, so if you feel that Paramount are forcing it down your throat, thats only cause your swallowing.

Theres always the off-switch for gods sake!

I apologise for this I have seen post after post slamming Voyager, when as far as I can tell the problem lies in the audience and an inability to accept that they have a choice over what they watch on TV.

Now back onto our previously scheduled programming...


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Dan.

"A couple of thoughts from a random mind!"
http://www.theventure.freeserve.co.uk

As one of many whom have not given Voyager the show a glowing review, the tech freak in me like the ship. Granted, I have been a little tired of the nacelles going up and down, but ignoring that little design flaw, the rest of the ship's structure is sleek.

So while we may breathe a sigh of relief that the series, at least with some acts of redemption when Braga left the show to pursue work in the ... http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/rolleyes.gif ... next Trek series, the ship has found its way to my technical heart. http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/cool.gif

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to order a pair of slipcases for my stack of STM.

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Anyhoo, just some random thoughts...

This message has been removed on request by the
poster

I think it's fitting that they spend this time focusing on Voyager. My order of series preference is TNG, VOY, DS9, TOS. I guess one reason I like VOY better than DS9 is DS9's darkness. Also I guess DS9 was a little too static, focusing mainly on one small region of space.

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The Trekkie Formerly Known As Surak, AKA The Coch, Humble Creator of the Bwuutut and Mensaeans, Aba and Zwickau, and the Perseus Federation, Guy Who Still Hasn't Actually Played The Game, And Who Finally Decided To Use A Signature.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Treefrog:
Voyager is now no more (Thank God!!!!!). IMHO, the only thing I am looking forward to now, even with a little bit of trepidation concerning the rumored death of Data, is Star Trek X.

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One less rumor for you all. Marina Sirtis was interviewed and she denied that anyone of the TNG cast will die on Star Trek X.

Check www.trektoday.com for the news bit.

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Chakotay: You didn't poison my coffee, did you?
Janeway: Not any more than I usually do.
"The Voyager Conspiracy", Voyager

But all good things must come to an end. Even characters.

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The Trekkie Formerly Known As Surak, AKA The Coch, Humble Creator of the Bwuutut and Mensaeans, Aba and Zwickau, and the Perseus Federation, Guy Who Still Hasn't Actually Played The Game, And Who Finally Decided To Use A Signature.

Hey StyroFoam Man, I would not use Taylor and Piller in that interview. They were long gone as executive producers of the show.

It was Brannon Braga who replaced them AND brought the Borg (the "wimpy-er" kind) to TV and on VOY.

If anything, Piller and Taylor should be horrified as to what Braga did to VOY for the remaining 4 seasons.

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Anyhoo, just some random thoughts...

Also I guess DS9 was a little too static, focusing mainly on one small region of space.

Of course, DS9 is static. Show me a space station that can move at warp speed.

I see this as a refreshly, different aspects of the Star Trek universe. In past show, it's about a ship that can travel from one sector to another, leaving behind whatever adventure and "sail on to the next star." But DS9 shows what happened when they stayed in one place, especially out near the border of the Federation.

Star Trek universe is not all about starships traveling at warp speed. It's about the people living in the future, wherever they make their home, either on a starship, or station or a planet.

In that aspect (as well as the story writing & development), I prefer DS9 way over VOY.

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Anyhoo, just some random thoughts...

Very nice Styro http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif

Voyager did indeed have its share of crap especially

a) Transwarp
b) Pussy Borg
c) Distance/speed inconsistences

But overall I thought it was well done for its 'out there' look especially like DS9 and its 'staionary' design http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/biggrin.gif

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SIRSIG :D
AKA: SirPostalot
AKA: The MapMaker
AKA: The Trek Cartographer
AKA:...Well I could keep going forever ;)

what have I started? :b

Sorry I interjected my lil comment about Voyager... just fyi I prefer DS9 & TNG...

Yeah I just got that issue. http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif Very nice overall but I have one beef: whoever labeled those schematics for the Nova class should be taken to Trektech remedial school!!! I mean, labeling a dorsal deflector shield grid as a consumables resupply hatch!? A dorsal secondary shuttlebay as an aft ventral cargo bay!? Sheesh! http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/frown.gif

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Remember, once you have thrown the switch on Mr. Photon Grenade, he is no longer your friend.

It's been like that since the premiere issue. They draw a line to indicate an area or vessel structure ... and label it incorrectly. There is at least one error of this type per schematic. It used to irk me, but now I ignore it.

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Anyhoo, just some random thoughts...

[This message has been edited by REG (edited 06-12-2001).]

I hate to say that from all photos of the studio model, the squared area on the Constellation is indeed a shuttlebay...

No glow or colour. I think the Deflector is in the same place as it is on a Miranda...

... Somewhere else.

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Dan.

"A couple of thoughts from a random mind!"
http://www.theventure.freeserve.co.uk

This message has been removed on request by the
poster

Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 02-Issue 02 (June 2001)

Check out the ventral (aka bottom) view of the Constellation-class Stargazer schematic. The one where they label it as the "Main Bridge"?

If it's anything like the predecessor's saucer design such as the Miranda-class (including variants), that's where the navigational deflector should be.

Besides, who would want to risk landing a shuttle in a shuttlebay while both ship and shuttle in warp speed transit ... other than Kirk? http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Anyhoo, just some random thoughts...

[This message has been edited by REG (edited 06-12-2001).]

I was similarly disappointed with the schematic of the Constellation-class they did last issue.

I mean, f'cryin' out loud, if the rectangular area to the far foreward of the ship is the main shuttlebay, then where's the bloody Navigational deflector on the thing?! Designed like that, it'd go *poof* the first time it went to warp...

Quote:

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Originally posted by StyroFoam Man:
And where, pray tell, where the hell is that?! http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/biggrin.gif

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It would be located on the whajammacallit, attached to the doohickey. Im certain of that. http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/wink.gif

As REG said on the underside, possibly even where the partial Anamie Mech model parts are located... (Strange but true, but dont ask me which Mech they used... Its like the 37 link, TNG has several Manga connections due to the crews favourite group activity at the time...)

Quote:

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Originally posted by REG:
Besides, who would want to risk landing a shuttle in a shuttlebay while both ship and shuttle in warp speed transit ... other than Kirk? http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/biggrin.gif

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REG, I think the problem about the 'going 'Poof' everytime it goes to warp' was more about going to warp with a Nav Deflector, but a forward shuttlebay would most certainly stop warp landings as the ship went to warp...

Hey, if both ships were pulling warp 5, then the impact speed would be Transwarp... Would this mean that while being everywhere at the same time, that they would miss each other? http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/wink.gif

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Dan.

"A couple of thoughts from a random mind!"
http://www.theventure.freeserve.co.uk

Just picked up the current issue (there aren't a lot of good bookstores in the immediate area, so I have to wait for it to hit the newsstand, which can often be a week or more into the month) ...

It's not that everyone hates Voyager. I really wanted to see a good series -- but the writing and the concepts just didn't step up to the plate. There has to be a better way than to take your first two seasons and use them to beta-test your ideas.

Particularly ideas that no one seems to claim ownership for. The interview with Jeri Taylor, et al seem to be chock-full of disavowals, as with the following observations about the Kazon:

"But I was only involved in the day-to-day operations of the first 12 episodes ... and the Kazon were being cast by Jeri and Rick ..." -- Michael Piller, p. 17 (Piller doesn't claim to have created the Kazon, only the 'teenage gang' concept.)

"I was very vocal in saying let's get rid of these guys, let's cut bait!" -- Jeri Taylor, p. 17

"I felt that after awhile, the Kazon just got tiresome, and it felt like Voyager wasn't going anywhere." -- Brannon Braga, p. 27

And it doesn't stop there. A caption indicates that Braga felt Kes was the only major character that didn't work. Taylor remarks on the Janeway/Holonovel concept. And so on.

Although passing reference is made to the loyal fans who liked Voyager, the interviews left me with the feeling that there's a lot of self-justification going on -- suggesting that the producers know there's an equal number of fans who felt the series was a substandard offering.

To be fair, Voyager did (as noted in this issue) put forth some amazing CGI effects, and one has to admire Robert Blackman and Michael Westmore for their work in costuming and makeup.

All of the pieces were there, but I feel Voyager needed stronger thematic leadership and attention to detail.

Bob

My beef with Voyager, other than the Braga years, is that they had so many good premises in the beginning and just tossed them.

It was amazing to see arcs like the Seska betrayl and the very serious friction between the two crews. That could have been utilized far beyond what it was.

Maquis and Starfleet meshed together too quick and Paris, except for a few episodes, became the model officer. I would have appreciated less of the "eccentric" Paris and more of the "rebel trying to deal with being a StarFleet" officer. With his cynicism in the start of the series, I think that it would have taken more than one season to be Mr. Nice Guy.

I would have liked to have kept the Delta Quadrent as the backwater Quadrent. We already had the Gamma Quad and its once-superior Dominion. It would have been cool to see Voyager, bastion of Federation tech in the land with transporters or replicators. Thats what sold "Caretaker" on me. Too bad it degenerated into the "megapowerful-alien-of-the-week".

The ship got too self sufficent by the end. I would have like to have seen the continuance and upscaling of the energy shortages, etc. It would have been cool to have Voyager have to integrate alien technology (No not Borg!) into the ship so at the end of the series the once Federation Bridge might have looked a bit different.

Then there was that annoying habit of the Delta Flyer getting destroyed and being rebuilt every second episode. Gee no replicator shortages there...and where did they get all those Torpedos...alright, I have to stop here http://www.trekrpg.net/Board/ubb/smile.gif

Anyway, with all my criticism, Voyager wasn't a bad series overall. There were some very memorable episodes and they added some new ships and tech (Prometheus Woo Hoo!). Too bad everyone, like me, seem to remember the infamous shows...

Quote:

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Originally posted by Dan Gurden:
I have seen post after post slamming Voyager, when as far as I can tell the problem lies in the audience and an inability to accept that they have a choice over what they watch on TV.

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I gave up consistently watching Voyager after the first season, and caught the occasional episode in weeknight reruns for lack of anything better to watch (gods, what a concept!).

So I don't feel bad in slamming Voyager. I will continue to express my opinion that the show had serious problems and that those problems may even be a symptom of a greater malaise in the Star Trek franchise.

That is why a forum such as generously provided on trekrpg.net is good for Star Trek fandom as a whole. There's not a whole lot of lemming-posts on the boards, but often exchanges about storytelling, writing, and in-genre concepts. Along, I feel, with a cameraderie that goes beyond whether or not someone likes Voyager.

That is closer to IDIC - the exchange and interaction between diverse opinions - than simply clicking the dial.

Bob