Infertility in Star Trek

By Victor Grech

Key Words: STAR TREK; INFERTILITY; MED- a dominant role in current cultural perceptions and ICINE IN SCIENCE FICTION expectations, with mammoth commercial inter- ests. Star Trek (ST) has been with us since 1965,3 Abstract and although the original series lasted just three It is fair to say that Star Trek comprises a self- seasons (1967-1969), its effect has multiplied ex- contained subgenre within science fiction (SF). ponentially into an ever-expanding set of films, car- Over nearly 50 years, through six distinct televi- toon series, and spinoffs. Likewise, there appears to sion series, and eleven feature length films, the be an endless assortment of related toys and props, “Star Trek universe” envisioned by Gene Rodden- comics, novelizations, compendiums, biographies, berry has become arguably the world’s most elab- autobiographies and fanzines.4 orate and widely recognized depiction of life in ST continually recreates and reaffirms Gene future times (covering roughly the twenty-second Roddenberry’s view of a possible utopian human through the twenty-ninth centuries). In this future, ennobling a “humanist mythos that fulfils article, situations involving infertility occurring many of the same functions that myth has served in episodes from different Star Trek series are ex- in more traditional cultures.”5 These views and pos- amined and some general conclusions offered sible future histories may potentially guide us away concerning the perception of this problem and from clear errors in avenues that will eventually the variety of responses proposed. open to us, while enabling “[a]n understanding of the mythic facets of […] our own culture.”6 Introduction Thus, ST, along with other narratives apper- Human infertility is common, and it is esti- taining to the SF genre, permit the construction of mated that the number of couples in developed “a cosmology that gives order and meaning to countries affected by infertility will double within people’s deepest confusions, conundrums, and am- a decade, from one in seven today to at least one bivalences.”7 These imagined utopian futures must in three in ten years’ time.1 There are many reasons include the place for humanity in the larger cos- for this increase and the most important causes are mos, the boundaries of the self and the fate of the rising age at first attempt at pregnancy, an increase soul, the nature of human difference and its role in in the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases, forming social relations and institutions, the hope an elevation in the general level of obesity, and a and future of the collective human enterprise, and decline in male sperm count and quality. All of the role of narratives in weaving these diverse mat- these factors adversely affect fertility.2 ters into a living tapestry of meaning.8 In the public’s view, SF has become a popular, A surprising number of ST episodes and fashionable and influential literary genre, playing films have dealt with infertility. This essay will fo-

Victor Grech is consultant pediatrician (cardiology) and associate professor of paediatrics, Humanities and Medical Science Programme, University of Malta. He can be reached at [email protected]

World Future Review Winter 2012 19 Downloaded from wfr.sagepub.com at MATER DEI HOSPITAL on March 20, 2013 cus on instances of infertility in ST, among all spe- referred to as “replacements.” As none are neces- cies, and will attempt to provide a comprehensive sary, they are forbidden by Vaal. As one being ex- reading of such narratives. plains: “Children. Love. What is love? […] Ah, yes. [NOTE: In the text that follows, references The holding, the touching. Vaal has forbidden this.” to episodes of the six different Star Trek series are Kirk and colleagues naturally terminate this situa- indicated in the following fashion: tion, claiming that they have “put those people back • The Original Series (1966–1969) cited as on a normal course of social evolution.” STTOS A spaceship is an even more claustrophobic • The Animated Series (1973–1974) cited as environment which does not permit any sort of STAS “overpopulation.” While recent ST episodes • The Next Generation (1987–1994) cited as clearly do not discourage babies aboard starships, STNG Captain Janeway faces a difficult situation in the • Deep Space Nine (1993–1999) cited as STDSN Voyager series (1995), set in the twenty-fourth • Voyager (1995–2001) cited as STV century. The starship Voyager finds itself stranded • Enterprise (2001–2005) cited as STE] 70,000 light years away from Earth, with an esti- mated 75 year return trip back to Earth. Janeway Episodes and Films expresses her concerns thus: Fear of planetary overpopulation is a popular SF theme. In “The Mark of Gideon” (STTOS, I continue to wonder about the season 3, episode 16, 1969), the Enterprise crew issue of procreation aboard the ship. discovers a planet that has become grossly over- Certainly, it’s wrong to interfere with the populated due to longevity and control of disease, private lives and decisions of the crew, and Captain Kirk suggests to the planetary rulers yet I remain concerned about the envi- that the United Federation of Planets would be ronment we could provide for any child willing to provide help, “new techniques to ster- born here. (“Elogium,” STV season 2, ep- ilize men and women […] devices to safely pre- isode 4, 1995)11 vent conception. The Federation will provide any- thing you need.” But this race believes that life is Intriguingly, the Vulcan race in ST only have sacred, and that the love of life is the greatest gift. sex once every seven years, and males are partic- Their leader replies “We are incapable of destroy- ularly affected during this period, for they expe- ing or interfering with the creation of that which rience a “blood fever” (pon farr) due to a neuro- we love so deeply. Life, in every form, from foe- chemical hormonal imbalance, that appears tus to developed being. It is against our tradition, similar to a combination of menstrual mood against our very nature. We simply could not do problems and premenstrual syndrome.12 This may it.”9 Instead, the rulers introduce a deadly plague cause difficulties during long voyages in space, as a means of population control. and in the Voyager episodes “Blood Fever” (STV, The State may also curtail population levels season 3, episode 16, 1997)13 and “Body and Soul” by deliberately withholding knowledge of sex. Even (STV, season 7, episode 7, 2000),14 the Starship an alien State may also choose to do so, and in “The Voyager crew’s two Vulcans both eventually enter Apple” (STTOS, season 2, episode 5, 1967), hu- pon farr and face limited options: actual mating manoid but alien denizens serve their State, a ma- (which is naturally impossible on this voyage as chine god called Vaal, but have no knowledge of no Vulcan females are available), intensive med- sex, and in return, never age or die.10 Children are itation, participating in a ritual combat, or dying

20 World Future Review Winter 2012 Downloaded from wfr.sagepub.com at MATER DEI HOSPITAL on March 20, 2013 of unconsummated lust. In the former episode, Iatrogenic infertility is depicted in “Miri” meditation solves the problem while in the latter, from the original ST series (SOTOS, season 1, ep- a three-dimensional holographic simulation is isode 8, 1966), where the inhabitants of an extra- used to defuse the situation.15 solar planet created a “life prolongation complex” Contraception is part of everyday life in the virus that inadvertently killed all the adults and ST universe and a somewhat implausible scenario slowed down surviving children’s physical and occurs in the Deep Space Nine episode “The Dogs sexual development. But even these children of War” (STDSN, season 7, episode 24, 1999) eventually still reach puberty at which time they wherein one of the protagonists finds herself preg- contract the virus and die.22 nant as her partner forgot to take his birth con- Alien creatures may also have infertility in- trol injection, and yet both are meant to be tak- flicted upon them. This occurs in an episode from ing their injections.16 the animated ST series (“More Tribbles, More Celibacy, that is, abstention from sex for re- Troubles,” STAS, season 1, episode 5, 1973).23 ligious or spiritual reasons, is a concept found in “Tribbles” are small, cute and apparently harm- several religions, and has been a Christian ideal less creatures that resemble furry pets. Though since early times. The situation is similar in Bud- they normally eat voraciously and multiply pro- dhism and Sufism and also for Hindus who fol- lifically, the tribbles encountered here have been low the Vedic way to its final stages. Conversely, genetically engineered and rendered infertile. Islam is generally hostile to celibacy and Judaism However, they retain their gluttonous appetites, does not generally advocate celibacy.17 In “The and now, instead of multiplying, they grow hugely Covenant” (STDSN, season 7, episode 9, 1998), fat. the ruler of a religious cult enforces his members Aliens have also fashioned sterile beings, to pledge a covenant of abstinence,18 which he such as the “Jem’Hadar” a manufactured, asexual himself is eventually found to have broken, in- race of warriors.24 In the ST Voyager episode “Pro- ducing a pregnancy. totype” (STV, season 2, episode 13, 1996), a group Similarly, in the ST universe, the Deltans are of sentient warrior robots are discovered by the highly sexually evolved humanoids, sexually ir- Voyager crew. These had turned on their organic resistible to humans. Hence, before serving in builders and destroyed them when they attempted Starfleet, they are obligated to take an oath of cel- to shut the robots down as they were no longer ibacy ensuring that they would not take sexual needed for war. However, the builders had cre- advantage of any non-Deltan crew.19 ated a failsafe mechanism in order to prevent the The State, “the coldest of all cold monsters,”20 robots from creating more such creatures. Voyag- may accidentally provoke or deliberately impose er’s chief engineer is abducted, coerced to circum- infertility, and an example of the latter has already vent this limitation and successfully creates a new been given. The power at the heart of the atom, robot, but on animating it, realizes the error of released by the State in an excessive manner this course of action, and destroys her creation.25 through warfare or accidentally, has frequently However, not all synthetic beings are infer- been presented in SF as a cause of infertility. For tile in the ST universe, as witnessed in an episode example, in the ST Voyager episode “Friendship of ST The Next Generation (STNG, season 3, ep- One” (STV, season 7, episode 21, 2001), acciden- isode 16, 1990) entitled “The Offspring,” which tal misuse of antimatter causes devastating explo- features the creation of a mechanical android sions that trigger a nuclear winter and radiation- named “Lal” (the word means “beloved” in the damaged babies.21 Hindi language) fashioned by the equally me-

World Future Review Winter 2012 21 Downloaded from wfr.sagepub.com at MATER DEI HOSPITAL on March 20, 2013 chanical android Data.26 Data is a “fully func- the ship’s children are kidnapped by the planet’s tional” male android, capable even of the sexual alien inhabitants, an otherwise kindly humanoid act,27 but being mechanical, he is unable to father race who claim they are sterile and that they wish children in the biological sense. However, like to teach the human children their customs and Frankenstein, Data creates a new individual with- use them to repopulate their species. The Enter- out the involvement of a member of the opposite prise doctor discovers that they are suffering from sex in an attempt to perpetuate his race. Captain radiation poisoning caused by the overhead plan- Picard is naturally apprehensive with regard to etary cloak, leading to infertility. This story makes Starfleet’s reaction to this unauthorized creation several doubtful assumptions: that humans can and this leads to a humorous exchange regarding interbreed with aliens and that cumulative radi- android reproduction between Pickard and Data. ation effects on fertility can somehow, even in an Pickard asks “Data, I would like to have been con- alien species, be repealed.31 sulted” to which Data appropriately and correctly The Original Series ST crew also encounter replies “I have not observed anyone else on board infertility on an alien planet in the episode “Wink consulting you about their procreation, Captain.” of an Eye” (STTOS, season 3, episode 11, 1968) In an analogous storyline, from Star Trek: The where they find just five survivors who invade the Motion Picture (1979),28 Voyager 6, one of a series Enterprise by stealth, and are invisible to the hu- of NASA deep space probes,29 returns to Earth af- man crew because of a hyperaccelerated metab- ter having been modified beyond recognition by olism that permits them to move at velocities too machine intelligences. Voyager has become sen- fast for the human eye to register. Their aim is to tient and its sole desire is to download the data overpower the crew members of the Enterprise that it has acquired during its travels to its cre- and to hook them to a life-support system so they ator. However, there is a snag in that it has forgot- can be used as mating stock since their own males ten that its creator is mankind, and decides to have been rendered sterile by radiation released merge with a human female in order to become during volcanic eruptions. Naturally, the Enter- a being that is greater than the sum of the two prise crew prevails and escapes the planet.32 parts—a man and a machine. It does this first by The Enterprise NX-01 series crew also en- destroying a woman in order to reproduce her counter the relics of a sterile race that had passed mechanically, and then uses this facsimile in or- away on an ancient planet centuries before (STE, der to merge with one of the male crew. The re- “Extinction,” season 3, episode 3, 2003), leaving sult is an offspring fathered by a man and birthed behind a genetically engineered virus that is ca- off a machine. While such physical man-machine pable of mutating other races—both bodies and reproduction is unlikely in real life, mankind does minds—into their species in an attempt to per- metaphorically give birth to machines that may petuate the race.33 However, it is difficult to be- surpass us in unknown and unknowable ways, as lieve that a species capable of such advanced feats has already been mentioned.30 of genetic engineering would be incapable of Infertility among biological aliens is a com- treating themselves for infertility. mon theme in many stories set in the Star Trek Only one individual of the “Caretaker” race is universe. In “When the Bough Breaks” (STNG, encountered by the Voyager crew. The Caretakers season 1, episode 17, 1988), the starship Enter- had inadvertently destroyed a planet’s ecology and prise encounters a planet that is deliberately kept a Caretaker couple had been left to supervise the cloaked using a form of sophisticated stealth tech- survival of the inhabitants of the planet, but when nology. While the Enterprise is in orbit, seven of one of the couple leaves, and the remaining Care-

22 World Future Review Winter 2012 Downloaded from wfr.sagepub.com at MATER DEI HOSPITAL on March 20, 2013 taker ages and approaches death, he unsuccessfully generation of the clones.37 attempts to find a mate and reproduce in order to Conversely, in the ST universe, trans-species leave behind another Caretaker to supervise the unions abound and result in fertile offspring. In- planet (STV, “Caretaker,” season 1, episode 1).34 deed, a bewildering number of species seem to be In “Meridian” (STDSN, season 3, episode 8, able to interbreed, but undoubtedly, the most fa- 1994), a humanoid race based on the planet which mous crossbreed not only in ST, but in all SF is shifts between this dimension and another is dis- Spock, the son of a Vulcan male and a human fe- covered by the Deep Space 9 crew. When the male (STTOS, “Journey to Babel,” season 2, epi- planet shifts into the alternate dimension, the in- sode10, 1967).38 All of these crosses are said to be habitants exist as pure consciousness and are un- possible in the ST universe, with or without the able to procreate. Starfleet manages to establish a help of genetic technology, because of the shared means of stabilizing the planet allowing it to re- genetic ancestry of most of the humanoid races main locked in this, our native dimension, allow- of the galaxy who had been seeded by an ancient ing the aliens to reproduce.35 race known as the “Progenitors” (STTNG, “The Somewhat illogically, the Voyager episode Chase,” season 6, episode 20, 1993).39 However, “Ashes to Ashes” (season 6, episode 18, 2000) por- even if such cross-breeding were possible, it seems trays an alien species that reproduce by reanimat- highly likely that the resulting offspring would be ing the newly deceased of other species, and over sterile, as mules, the result of a cross between a a period of months, the dead DNA is remodelled horse and a donkey, are on Earth. into alien DNA.36 This is unsound on many counts The ultimate in ST credibility challenging fe- as the aliens could just as easily reanimate them- cundity is the combination of a mobile holo- selves when they die. In addition, neighbouring graphic emitter with the DNA of a male human species would surely consider such practices grave and cybernetic Borg nanoprobes to produce a robbing and would likely react by totally destroy- twenty-ninth century Borg drone (STDSN, ing their dead. Moreover, this alien reanimation “Drone,” season 5, episode 2, 1998).40 Yet another practice would create a significant moral dilemma fantastic situation is portrayed in the episode for this species in that a family wishing to have a “Blink of an Eye” (STV, season 6, episode 12, 2000) child would only be able to acquire one by killing when the holographic doctor claims to have a child of another species, and then reanimating somehow fathered a child.41 the corpse. While this may not be considered true Finally, in the famous episode “The Inner infertility, scouring space for the purposes of Light” (STNG, season 5, episode 25, 1992), Cap- scavenging corpses would at least seriously limit tain Picard deliberately postpones having chil- potential population. dren for five years with his new wife when he in- This Faustian scenario is again repeated in explicably finds himself transferred from his “Up the Long Ladder” (STNG, season 2, episode starship to a planet wherein he had somehow al- 18, 1989), where a crashed spaceship crew of only ready been leading an existence as a married five individuals decide to perpetuate the involun- man.42 It is finally revealed that Picard’s supposed tary and otherwise non-viable colony through “pre-existence” is in fact the result of his having cloning, initially avoiding sexual reproduction been struck by a mind probe from a now-extinct through a combination of drugs and legislation, alien race that wished to preserve the memory of but later through no coercion whatsoever as sex its existence by enabling the first individual with becomes repugnantly primitive. However, re- whom it came into contact to experience (in less peated cloning is shown to result in physical de- than half an hour of real time) every minute from

World Future Review Winter 2012 23 Downloaded from wfr.sagepub.com at MATER DEI HOSPITAL on March 20, 2013 forty years of life lived as a member of its gentle, every sentient species. However, it must be noted peace-loving, but ultimately doomed society. that such outlooks do not eschew the enjoyment An interesting medical solution to future in- of human emotions, spirituality and intuition. fertility is the transfer of unwanted fetuses to the Roddenberry referred to ST as “my social [...] wombs of infertile women.43 This trope is used racial philosophy, my overview on life and the hu- twice in ST, once to transfer a baby to another man condition” and correctly believed that he (alien albeit humanoid) mother due to injury of could reach far more people by way of the mass the human biological mother (in STDSN, “Body media than a conventional philosopher or even a Parts,” season 4, episode 25),44 and once to trans- conventional SF writer.49 port a full-term baby out of its mother (in STV, Infertility is one of the problems that may be “Deadlock,” season 2, episode 21),45 in what is ef- encountered and must be overcome, not only by fectively a high-tech caesarean-section, that none- humans, but also by purported alien species. This theless, accedes to the “cognitive utility of SF […] issue is a cause for great concern to both genders, based on the rigor of applying scientific laws; such and this may explain why the condition is so fre- worlds must be possible.”46 quently brought up in ST narratives, since it res- Conversely, men are truly needed, albeit onates with audiences of all ages and from all cul- briefly, in the two episodes, “The Lorelei Signal” tures. Although the psychological effects of (STAS, season 1, episode 4, 1973)47 and “Favorite infertility on individuals have been well studied, Son” (STV, season 3, episode 20, 1997),48 where the effects of mass sterility remain unknown. beautiful females feed off the “life energies” of Mass despair would be likely, potentially precip- males, thus killing the men to retain their own itating suicides. immortality at the expense of infertility. The closest parallel available is the “infertility belt” of sub-Saharan Africa where up to one-third Discussion of all couples are unable to conceive. This is mainly Star Trek has been with us for almost 50 years, due to infectious diseases that are acquired sexu- and constitutes a universally known and recog- ally, post-partum or post-abortion. Moreover, in- nized metanarrative in its own right, spanning no fertility can be tragic in highly pronatalist cultures, fewer than 6 distinct television series, plus 11 fea- where parenthood is culturally mandatory and ture films, representing a total viewing time of childlessness is socially unacceptable, and may lead over 735 hours. to active stigmatization. For example, infertile The series’ creator, Gene Roddenberry (1921- women in the Ijo community of the Niger Delta 1991), was a humanist, espousing the belief that are extremely stigmatized. Barren women cannot humanity should not expect divine or supernat- attain full womanhood and join appropriate age ural intervention or help, but should instead rely associations since they cannot be circumcized on Cartesian and Baconian exhortations to use without having given birth. Uncircumcized women reason and the scientific method to search for and cannot be buried within the town and are instead apply universal truths. buried in a designated forest.50 Roddenberry’s humanism also championed In these narratives from the Star Trek uni- the notions of voluntary cooperation, nonviolent verse, we see how protagonists in different peri- conflict resolution, the right to self-defence, re- ods over roughly eight centuries of time face and spect for the dignity of all life forms, and avoid- deal with the challenge of infertility, relying on ing the imposition of one group’s dogmas and reason and science as much as possible and avoid- doctrines while respecting the personal beliefs of ing any hint of divine intervention. Furthermore,

24 World Future Review Winter 2012 Downloaded from wfr.sagepub.com at MATER DEI HOSPITAL on March 20, 2013 ST episodes frequently take the form of morality September 1995. plays, displaying a stylised Manichean conflict of “Extinction,” dir. by LeVar Burton, Star Trek Enter- good versus evil, with the good guys invariably prise, September 2003. encompassing Starfleet crews, who, in their ex- “Favorite Son,” dir. by Marvin V. Rush, Star Trek Voy- plorations, occasionally encounter human evil or ager, March 1997. its alien equivalent. Indeed, very few ST episodes “Friendship One,” dir. by Mike Vejar, Star Trek: Voy- involve shadings or nuances of good and evil. A ager, April 2001. simple dichotomy appears to suffice for directors “Journey to Babel,” dir. by Joseph Pevney, Star Trek and fans. The Original Series, November 1967. Simplistic humanism and the demonstrable “Meridian,” dir. by Jonathan Frakes, Star Trek Deep triumph of good over evil are implicit in the vast Space 9, November 1994. majority of ST episodes—so much so that, in the “Miri,” dir. by Vincent McEveety, Star Trek The Orig- narratives outlined above, Starfleet crews almost inal Series, October 1966. always find a solution to end infertility, or when “More Tribbles, More Troubles,” dir. by Hal Suther- this is not possible, at least manage to escape en- land, Star Trek: The Animated Series, October 1973. snarement by nefarious aliens. “Penumbra,” dir. by Steve Posey, Star Trek Deep Space Future humanity is therefore depicted in 9, April 1999. Ulyssean fashion, “strong in will. To strive, to seek, “Prototype,” dir. by Jonathon Frakes, Star Trek Voy- to find, and not to yield,” as the poet Tennyson ager, January 1996. put it—acceding to the humanist penchant to “The Apple,” dir. by Joseph Pevney, Star Trek The overcome all odds and triumph over evil and ad- Original Series, October 1967. versities of every kind, including infertility. “The Cage,” dir. by George Butler, Star Trek The Original Series, February 1965. Bibliography “The Chase,” dir. by Jonathon Frakes, Star Trek The Next Generation, April 1993. Television Episodes “The Covenant,” dir by John Kretchmer, Star Trek “Ashes to Ashes,” dir. by Terry Windell, Star Trek Deep Space 9, November 1998. Voyager, March 2000. “The Dogs of War,” dir. by Avery Brooks, Star Trek “Blink of an Eye,” dir. by Gabrielle Beaumont Star Deep Space 9, May 1999. Trek Voyager, January 2000. “The Inner Light,” dir. by Peter Lauritson, Star Trek “Blood Fever,” dir. by Andrew J. Robinson, Star Trek The Next Generation, June 1992. Voyager, February 1997. “The Lorelei Signal,” dir. by Hal Sutherland, Star Trek “Body and Soul,” dir. by Robert Duncan McNeill, Star The Animated Series, September 1973. Trek: Voyager, November 2000. “The Mark of Gideon,” dir. by Jud Taylor, Star Trek “Body Parts,” dir. by Avery Brooks, Star Trek Deep The Original Series, January 1969. Space 9, June 1996. “The Naked Now,” dir. by Paul Lynch, Star Trek The “Caretaker,” dir. by Winrich Kolbe, Star Trek Voyager, Next Generation, October 1987. January 1995. “The Offspring.” dir. by Jonathan Frakes, Star Trek “Deadlock,” dir. by David Livingston, Star Trek Voy- The Next Generation, March 1990. ager, March 1996. “Up the Long Ladder,” dir. by Winrich Kolbe, Star “Drone,” dir. by Les Landau, Star Trek Voyager, Oc- Trek The Next Generation, May 1989. tober 1998. “When the Bough Breaks,” dir. by Kim Manners, Star “Elogium,” dir. by Winrich Kolbe, Star Trek Voyager, Trek The Next Generation, February 1988.

World Future Review Winter 2012 25 Downloaded from wfr.sagepub.com at MATER DEI HOSPITAL on March 20, 2013 “Wink of an Eye,” dir. by Jud Taylor, Star Trek The inal Series, February 1965. Next Generation, November 1968. 4. See Taylor Harrison and others, eds. Enterprise Zones: Critical Positions on Star Trek (Boulder, Colorado: Publications Westview Press, 1996). Alexander David, “The Roddenberry Interview.” The 5. Jan Lundeen and Jon Wagner, Deep Space and Sacred Humanist 51:2 (1991): 5–30. Time: Star Trek in the American Mythos (Westport: Brown, Peter, The Body and Society, Men, Women Praegher, 1998), p. 3. and Sexual Renunciation in Early Christianity (New York: 6. Ibid. Columbia University Press, 1988). 7. Ibid. p 42. Grech, Victor, “The Irruption of Vulcan Pon Farr as 8. Ibid. Unleashment of Jung’s Shadow,” New York Review of Sci- 9. “The Mark of Gideon,” dir. by Jud Taylor, Star Trek The ence Fiction, 25 (2012), 13-15. Original Series, January 1969. Harrison, Taylor, and others, eds. Enterprise Zones: 10. “The Apple,” dir. by Joseph Pevney, Star Trek The Orig- Critical Positions on Star Trek, (Boulder, Colorado: West- inal Series, October 1967. view Press, 1996). 11. “Elogium,” dir. by Winrich Kolbe, Star Trek Voyager, Hollos, M., “Profiles of Infertility in Southern Nige- September 1995. ria: Women’s Voices from AMAKIRI,” African Journal of 12. Victor Grech, “The Irruption of Vulcan Pon Farr as Reproductive Health, 7 (2003), 46-56. Unleashment of Jung’s Shadow,” New York Review of Koman, Victor, Solomon’s Knife (Danbury: Franklin Science Fiction, 25 (2012), 13-15. Watts Inc., 1989). 13. “Blood Fever,” dir. by Andrew J. Robinson, Star Trek Kurzweil, Ray, The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Voyager, February 1997. Transcend Biology (New York: Viking, 2005). 14. “Body and Soul,” dir. by Robert Duncan McNeill, Star Ledger, W. L., “Demographics of Infertility,” Repro- Trek: Voyager, November 2000. ductive Biomedicine Online, 18 (2009), 11-14. 15. Grech, “The Irruption.” Luckhurst, Roger, “The Many Deaths of Science Fic- 16. “The Dogs of War,” dir. by Avery Brooks, Star Trek Deep tion: A Polemic,” Science Fiction Studies, 21 (1994), 35-50. Space 9, May 1999. Lundeen, Jan, and Jon Wagner, Deep Space and Sa- 17. Peter Brown, The Body and Society, Men, Women and cred Time: Star Trek in the American Mythos, (Westport: Sexual Renunciation in Early Christianity (New York: Praegher, 1998). Columbia University Press, 1988). Nietzsche, F. W., Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883-8; 18. “The Covenant,” dir by John Kretchmer, Star Trek Deep London: Penguin, 1969), p. 75. Space 9, November 1998. Sagan, Carl, Murmurs of Earth: The Voyager Interstel- 19. Star Trek: The Motion Picture, dir. by Robert Wise (Par- lar Record (New York: Random House, 1978). amount Pictures, 1979). 20. F. W. Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883-8; Lon- Motion Pictures don: Penguin, 1969), p. 75. Star Trek: The Motion Picture, dir. by Robert Wise 21. “Friendship One,” dir. by Mike Vejar, Star Trek: Voy- (Paramount Pictures, 1979). ager, April 2001. 22. “Miri,” dir. by Vincent McEveety, Star Trek The Origi- Notes nal Series, October 1966. 1. W. L. Ledger, “Demographics of Infertility,” Reproduc- 23. “More Tribbles, More Troubles,” dir. by Hal Sutherland, tive Biomedicine Online, 18 (2009), 11-14. Star Trek: The Animated Series, October 1973. 2. Ibid. 24. “Penumbra,” dir. by Steve Posey, Star Trek Deep Space 3. “The Cage,” dir. by George Butler, Star Trek The Orig- 9, April 1999.

26 World Future Review Winter 2012 Downloaded from wfr.sagepub.com at MATER DEI HOSPITAL on March 20, 2013 25. “Prototype,” dir. by Jonathon Frakes, Star Trek Voyager, 42. “The Inner Light,” dir. by Peter Lauritson, Star Trek January 1996. The Next Generation, June 1992. 26. “The Offspring,” dir. by Jonathan Frakes, Star Trek The 43. Victor Koman, Solomon’s Knife (Danbury: Franklin Next Generation, March 1990. Watts Inc., 1989). 27. “The Naked Now,” dir. by Paul Lynch, Star Trek The 44. “Body Parts,” dir. by Avery Brooks, Star Trek Deep Space Next Generation, October 1987. 9, June 1996. 28. Wise, Star Trek: The Motion Picture. 45. “Deadlock,” dir. by David Livingston, Star Trek Voy- 29. The Voyager program consisted of only two unmanned ager, March 1996. probes, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, both of which were 46. Roger Luckhurst, “The Many Deaths of Science Fic- funded by NASA and were launched in 1977 to study tion: A Polemic,” Science Fiction Studies, 21 (1994), 35- the gas giant outer planets of the solar system. Voyager 50, p. 39 2 is about 14 billion km away from the sun and is the 47. “The Lorelei Signal,” dir. by Hal Sutherland, Star Trek longest continuously operating NASA spacecraft. Voy- The Animated Series, September 1973. ager 1 is about 17 billion km away from the sun and is 48. “Favorite Son,” dir. by Marvin V. Rush, Star Trek Voy- the most distant active spacecraft. Periodic contact has ager, March 1997. been maintained with both probes since the crafts’ ra- 49. David Alexander, “The Roddenberry Interview.” The dioactive power supplies are still functioning. Carl Sa- Humanist 51:2 (1991): 5–30. p. 18. gan, Murmurs of Earth: The Voyager Interstellar Record 50. M. Hollos, “Profiles of Infertility in Southern Nigeria: (New York: Random House, 1978). Women’s Voices from AMAKIRI,” African Journal of 30. Ray Kurzweil, The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Reproductive Health, 7 (2003), 46-56. Transcend Biology (New York: Viking, 2005). 31. “When the Bough Breaks,” dir. by Kim Manners, Star Trek The Next Generation, February 1988. 32. “Wink of an Eye,” dir. by Jud Taylor, Star Trek The Next Generation, November 1968. 33. “Extinction,” dir. by LeVar Burton, Star Trek Enterprise, September 2003. 34. “Caretaker,” dir. by Winrich Kolbe, Star Trek Voyager, January 1995. 35. “Meridian,” dir. by Jonathan Frakes, Star Trek Deep Space 9, November 1994. 36. “Ashes to Ashes,” dir. by Terry Windell, Star Trek Voy- ager, March 2000. 37. “Up the Long Ladder,” dir. by Winrich Kolbe, Star Trek The Next Generation, May 1989. 38. “Journey to Babel,” dir. by Joseph Pevney, Star Trek The Original Series, November 1967. 39. “The Chase,” dir. by Jonathon Frakes, Star Trek The Next Generation, April 1993. 40. “Drone,” dir. by Les Landau, Star Trek Voyager, Octo- ber 1998. 41. “Blink of an Eye,” dir. by Gabrielle Beaumont Star Trek Voyager, January 2000.

World Future Review Winter 2012 27 Downloaded from wfr.sagepub.com at MATER DEI HOSPITAL on March 20, 2013