Infertility in Star Trek
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© 2012 World Future Society • 7910 Woodmont Ave., Suite 450, Bethesda, MD 20814, U.S.A. • www.wfs.org • All rights reserved. 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 popu- lar 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.