Space Station K-7 was originally quite different

[TrickyDickie]

Not symmetrical and pristine, but a conglomeration of different shapes and sizes. I just saw these pages from David Gerrold's outline for The Trouble with Tribbles, which he originally called 'A Fuzzy Thing Happened To Me' (note how he forgot and put 'funny' in at the top of the second page). This description of the original concept of the space station is likely in his book about the making of the episode (it's been a long time since I read that) but it's neat to see it here just as he originally typed it:

It would be interesting if CGI and physical model fans would do something with the idea, to show what it might have looked like.

 

[Maurice]

Jefferies did a sketch of something more like that early on. MGagen discussed it and built a 3D model of that concept (LINK).

 

[TrickyDickie]

That's great stuff, no doubt. But the description by Gerrold suggests more of a 'shantytown' in space conglomeration that would also be interesting to see.

 

[Lord Other]

I like Gerrold's idea: One would think that the molecular "spokes" or bonds would be arms not unlike those of the K-7 station, with turbolift shafts, utility and wiring trunks, and walkways (as need be) to go from one part of the station to the other. It would be a very higgledy-piggledy affair, and gravity for each section may not have the same orientation as in other sections, depending on how the particular module was constructed or attached. Differences in atmospheric composition and lighting would also be something of note- just because we orbit a green-yellow dwarf doesn't mean everyone does. Overall, it would be kind of reminiscent of Bab5.

 

[BoredShipCapt'n]

It's always been interesting to me that this shows how prominent "Uncle Tom's Cabin" still was in American cultural memory in the Sixties, and how apparently Gerrold thought it would remain prominent in the distant future.

 

[F. King Daniel]

That's great stuff, no doubt. But the description by Gerrold suggests more of a 'shantytown' in space conglomeration that would also be interesting to see.

So kinda like the City of a Thousand Planets in Valerian

 

[feek61]

It's always been interesting to me that this shows how prominent "Uncle Tom's Cabin" still was in American cultural memory in the Sixties, and how apparently Gerrold thought it would remain prominent in the distant future.

Why, because he used the word "Shantytown?"

 

[TrickyDickie]

I didn't put 'shantytown' in quotation marks because the word is not Gerrold's. It's mine. It's just a colloquial term I grabbed for what he seemed to be describing on the page.

 

[David cgc]

It's always been interesting to me that this shows how prominent "Uncle Tom's Cabin" still was in American cultural memory in the Sixties, and how apparently Gerrold thought it would remain prominent in the distant future.

Why, because he used the word "Shantytown?"

"Topsy was never born" is a reference to Uncle Tom's Cabin.

 

[scotpens]

Yes, when I saw the name "Topsy," I immediately got the Uncle Tom's Cabin reference. Frankly, it never occurred to me that plenty of younger people today might not know who the heck Topsy was!

 

[Locutus of Bored]

So kinda like the City of a Thousand Planets in Valerian

That's exactly what the description reminded me of as well. Great opening sequence:

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[lawman]

It's always been interesting to me that this shows how prominent "Uncle Tom's Cabin" still was in American cultural memory in the Sixties, and how apparently Gerrold thought it would remain prominent in the distant future.

Are you suggesting that it's less a part of our cultural vernacular today? I think of "grew like Topsy" as a perfectly common figure of speech!...

 

[The Old Mixer]

I've never heard that expression in my life, and I'm no spring chicken.

 

[BoredShipCapt'n]

Are you suggesting that it's less a part of our cultural vernacular today? I think of "grew like Topsy" as a perfectly common figure of speech!...

It is, but the quote Gerrold referred to ("I never was borned, I just grew") is not commonly heard anymore. For most people today it would require more explanation than he gives.