FP is not a Trek prequel - Trek is an FP spin-off. 
"Forbidden Planet" as TOS prequel?
- Thread starter TOS Purist
- Start date
That idea has not appealed to me in quite a while, and I believe it was Christopher who articulated it uptopic most directly: Forbidden Planet is at least Trek's equal, and subsuming it into the blessed Star Trek "universe" is slighting it.
Could someone start a new sci-fi series of novels, that re-writes Star Trek TOS and it's history... to originate from 1956 "Forbidden Planet"? I guess it would have to be named something other than 'Star Trek' or 'Forbidden Planet'. Like in an alternate FP/ST universe.
* Where the human-colonized worlds of the 'United Planets' federation, will evolve into the 'United Federation of Planets' - when Vulcans are eventually encountered in deep space.
* Where pre-existing fleets of C-##-D hyperspace flying saucer space cruisers, are being replaced (augmented) by the new Federation warpdrive starships. But the saucer fleets continue to exist for some years to come.
* Where the C-57-D carries the name of Enterprise.
* Where Robby robots are an Earth-science creation (before Bellerophon departure); and Altaira Morbius is found to be an android, of Dr. Morbius' creation.
* Where Robby robots are standard equipment on all ships, both military and civilian.
* Where Constitution-class starships carry planet-landing saucers in their hanger decks, and reserve warpdrive shuttlecraft for long distance (non-landing) shuttle activities. A good planet-lander style would be like those of the 1967 "The Invaders" tv series.
* And where civilian colonist and explorers use slower (light-speed) hyperspace flying saucers (shaped & sized like the Metaluna saucer in 1955 "This Island Earth" movie), that require crew to be in stasis chambers for the voyage. One such ship being named the Bellerophon that voyaged to Altair-4, and another such ship carrying a Robinson family (and other colonizing families and explorers), that became lost through a momentary wormhole in their flight path. And other such Metaluna ships for other civilian adventures.
And all in one consistent sci-fi universe - by any name.
* Where the human-colonized worlds of the 'United Planets' federation, will evolve into the 'United Federation of Planets' - when Vulcans are eventually encountered in deep space.
* Where pre-existing fleets of C-##-D hyperspace flying saucer space cruisers, are being replaced (augmented) by the new Federation warpdrive starships. But the saucer fleets continue to exist for some years to come.
* Where the C-57-D carries the name of Enterprise.
* Where Robby robots are an Earth-science creation (before Bellerophon departure); and Altaira Morbius is found to be an android, of Dr. Morbius' creation.
* Where Robby robots are standard equipment on all ships, both military and civilian.
* Where Constitution-class starships carry planet-landing saucers in their hanger decks, and reserve warpdrive shuttlecraft for long distance (non-landing) shuttle activities. A good planet-lander style would be like those of the 1967 "The Invaders" tv series.
* And where civilian colonist and explorers use slower (light-speed) hyperspace flying saucers (shaped & sized like the Metaluna saucer in 1955 "This Island Earth" movie), that require crew to be in stasis chambers for the voyage. One such ship being named the Bellerophon that voyaged to Altair-4, and another such ship carrying a Robinson family (and other colonizing families and explorers), that became lost through a momentary wormhole in their flight path. And other such Metaluna ships for other civilian adventures.
And all in one consistent sci-fi universe - by any name.
Only if the universe also includes Shakespeare's The Tempest as a canonical event.
A history where "The United Planets" (Earth, Vulcan, Andor, others), encounters "The Federation". Our exploration ships meet their exploration ships, after a brief period of tension and unease a political compromise is reached and the two societies merge, forming "The United Federation of Planets."
I have always perferred the original story that Humans met the Vulcans in space, a Earth ship came to the aid of a disabled Vulcan craft.
From my viewing of the movie, there was never any suggestion that the C57D had a name.
Fembot? I like this idea, Dr Morbius wasn't the most honest man around, when he told his visitors that Altaira was his daughter and that his wife was dead he easily could of been lying. It's possible his wife and daughter left on the ship with the others (the ship he destroyed with his mind), and he built first Robby to help him and then Altaria for company.
Question: how mechanical and how biological is Altaria?
It's a bit surprising that Federation ships don't possess robots in some form, maybe not all human shaped. A early robot like Robby makes sense, might explain why the corridors are so wide.
Not legally, because those properties are owned by different companies. FP was an MGM film, though the remake rights are now held (and being used) by Warner Bros. Not sure which of those would hold the novelization rights, but either way, CBS/Paramount doesn't.
It's too bad we can't get around all that legal junk, to create a really rich sci-fi adventure universe.
It's too bad we can't get around all that legal junk, to create a really rich sci-fi adventure universe.
Ummm... if you want to create a rich sci-fi adventure universe, you create one. I.e. invent something new. Nothing's stopping anyone from doing that.
It's too bad we can't get around all that legal junk, to create a really rich sci-fi adventure universe.
Ummm... if you want to create a rich sci-fi adventure universe, you create one. I.e. invent something new. Nothing's stopping anyone from doing that.
I’m no story writer. But your avatar says you are. So try writing this story...
The Enterprise is approaching an unknown planet. Someone carelessly left a phaser on top of something in engineering. The phaser is vibrated off, falls to the deck, activates it’s overload function, and damages a power coupling for ship maneuvering control and transporter systems. Scotty, some engineering crew, and a couple Robby robots begin repairs of the damage. Spock scans the nearby planet and finds a crashed Federation cargo ship on it’s surface. Scotty reports the repairs require a component they do not have another of. Spock suggests the crashed cargo ship should have one, and it may still be useful. Unable to use the transporter… Spock, Scotty and a Robby robot board a ‘flying saucer’ landing-craft in the hanger deck, and fly it down to the cargo ship wreckage to hopefully retrieve a replacement component. Meanwhile, a Klingon ship has determined that the Enterprise is disabled, and de-cloaks, and attacks. Kirk returns fire, but can not maneuver the Enterprise for effective defense. He has Uhura issue an encrypted distress signal to Starfleet Command. Repairs can not be made before the Klingons destroy the Enterprise. At the last moment, 3 old Federation patrol saucers appear out of hyperspace, and engage the Klingon warship – battling it into cloaked retreat. They display registration numbers: C-32-D, C-98-D, and C-57-E (an upgraded C-57-D). Kirk contacts the C-57-E and expresses his gratitude to the captain of the Enterprise’s predecessor patrol ship – which also carries the name of ‘Enterprise’. The old patrol saucers then depart back to their hyperspace duties. Spock and the flying saucer landing party return with the needed component, and make repairs.
Now… all you need to do is fatten it out with a few thousand more words.
fap fap fap fap fap...
How about rolling your own instead of appropriating the works of others?
Legal junk? Stealing other people's property?It's too bad we can't get around all that legal junk, to create a really rich sci-fi adventure universe.
How about rolling your own instead of appropriating the works of others?
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Never try to give an unsolicited story idea to a professional author. For legal reasons, we can't listen. All you do by asking a professional author to write a story is guarantee that they can't ever write that story.
Not that I ever legally could write a Trek/Forbidden Planet crossover (assuming that's what you proposed -- I naturally didn't read the actual suggestion), nor would I want to do anything so absurd. As I argued quite emphatically earlier in this thread, they're separate realities and should stay that way.
Not that I ever legally could write a Trek/Forbidden Planet crossover (assuming that's what you proposed -- I naturally didn't read the actual suggestion), nor would I want to do anything so absurd. As I argued quite emphatically earlier in this thread, they're separate realities and should stay that way.
Be careful what you wish for.
The Enterprise approaches an unknown planet, dubbed by later explorers as Prospero VI, after the magical Duke who founded the practice of white magic on the great planet Earth.
"Captain," says Lieutenant Robby the Robot over the intercom, "an unvibrated phaser activated its overload function, damaging our power coupling for -"
"Yeah yeah." Kirk interrupts. "Scotty?"
"Stuff got broken. We need to fix it!"
"How much time you need?"
"Mr. Scott -" the robot tries to interrupt;
"Four hours." Scotty snaps.
"You've got two. Kirk out."
Kirk chows down on a burger. "Spock, you tried one of these? They're pretty good. Ancient Earth recipe," Kirk exposits, "considered a delicacy by my people. What records survive indicate it was known as the Whopper; or possibly the Whomper, this remains a matter of scholarly debate. It belonged to the Burger King school of delicacies, however, that has been reasonably determined. This here design is a reconstruction served up by the ship's historian, what's her name, the redhead who's really into submissive-"
"McGivers, sir."
"Yeah, that's the one." Kirk has finished the burger. "Yeoman," he snaps to a petite girl, "send down to the scullery. Provide more Whompers or whatever it is."
"Captain," interrupts Spock, "I'm detecting a crashed Federation cargo ship on the surface of the planet... and engineering reports we need a component to perform repairs. Sir, if I may suggest -"
"I've got an idea. Send the engineering guys down, see what they can pick up."
"That was my idea, sir."
"Bam! My genius strikes again Mr. Spock."
"But sir, how will they go down to the surface? Transporters are inoperable."
A beat, Kirk is furious. "Why don't people tell me about this? And anyway, is my Whomper ready?"
"Not yet sir," the Yeoman replies.
"Young lady if I don't have my Whomper in the next five minutes I'll have to give you in my office for a severe dressing down. Scratch that, get it on time and you'll be thoroughly debriefed. Speaking of -"
"Sir," Spock interrupts, "the malfunctioning transporter?"
"The what? Oh, yeah. Of course. Send the flying saucer."
"Is that some sort of human prank?"
"No really, we've got these flying saucers. They sound like theremins or something. Wooooooo!"
"There's no sound in space, sir."
"Yeah. Right." Kirk rolls his eyes contemptuously. "No sound in space. What do I pay this guy for? I bet there's no gravity or air either."
"Actually-"
He waves at Spock. "Go on, tell Scotty to make quick with the saucer, and also I'm getting hungry. Send word to the scullery."
The Vulcan stalks off, obedient but perhaps showing the slightest twinge of his Earth emotions? A saucer soon jetts off from the Enterprise, and sure enough, it makes a wooooo! sound, even though it's in space (somehow). It lands on the unknown planet, and Spock, Scotty plus a team of Robby the Robots march around doing engineering things and being wizards with technomabobs and so on.
Suddenly a Klingon ship DE-CLOAKS!
"Romulans!" Kirk exclaims.
"Sir, they appear to be of Klingon origin." Sulu intones.
"Uh, right. I knew that." Kirk shifts uncomfortably. "They got cloaking devices now?"
"Evidently." Sulu observes. "The Klingons are opening fire!" The ship shakes, people are tossed around, this all would look very exciting if it was on TV. Imagine Sol Kaplan is doing a number over this scene and you just might buy it.
"Return fire!" Kirk says. "Photons, phasers, incandescent beams of light, whatever we've got!" The Enterprise does so, lighting up the night sky like a Christmas tree and maybe scoring a point or two on the Klingon ship.
"We can't manouevre Keptin! We're as inoperable as a spaceborn nuclear wessel!" Chekov observes.
Kirk frowns. "A rather highly gratuituous analogy Mr. Chekov, but the point is well taken. Uhura, call Starfleet, tell them we need reinforcements. And if Admiral Komack pulls that 'only ship in the sector' routine on me, tell him I won't let him win at chess anymore! Also that I'll tell his wife about Altair VI."
"Aye sir."
Kirk grows grim. "Spock," he coms to him down on the planet; "if help doesn't arrive and that next salvo comes, we might go belly up like a humpback whale in the twentieth century. I just want you to know that if it comes to that, well, in all my travels and of all the souls I've encountered, yours was the most -"
"Here it is, sir." The bright young yeoman says, presenting Kirk with another burger. He lights up and chows down. "Delicious!"
Spock arches an eyebrow. "If you say so, Captain."
Suddenly they are overpowered by a Wooooooooo! sound. Three flying saucers jump out of space and shoot at the Klingon ships! In the hands of a TV crew or a better writer this would be an exciting moment. The Klingons beat a hasty cloaked retreat.
"The captain of the Enterprise is hailing us, sir," Uhura observes.
"What? Trippy." Kirk stares at the burger. "Is it the Whomper?"
Onscreen appears the other captain.
"Captain J.J. Abrams of the patrol saucer Enterprise," says the guy on the screen.
"Yeah, about that, I'm captain of the Enterprise too." Kirk says. "That's kinda freaky."
"We're your predecessor."
"So why are you still in service?"
Abrams winces. "Not ready to be put out to pasture yet!"
"Yeah. Um. Okay. Look, seriously though, my gratitude on stopping me and my crew from having a horrible death. Next one's on me."
"Right. So long." WOOOOOOOOOOO! Go the flying saucers again.
"Captain, Spock is hailing us. He says the cargo ship had the parts they needed, sir."
"Conveinent!" Kirk stands and adjusts his shirt. "Another job well done. Now yeoman, about that debriefing..."
"Captain," says Lieutenant Robby the Robot over the intercom, "an unvibrated phaser activated its overload function, damaging our power coupling for -"
"Yeah yeah." Kirk interrupts. "Scotty?"
"Stuff got broken. We need to fix it!"
"How much time you need?"
"Mr. Scott -" the robot tries to interrupt;
"Four hours." Scotty snaps.
"You've got two. Kirk out."
Kirk chows down on a burger. "Spock, you tried one of these? They're pretty good. Ancient Earth recipe," Kirk exposits, "considered a delicacy by my people. What records survive indicate it was known as the Whopper; or possibly the Whomper, this remains a matter of scholarly debate. It belonged to the Burger King school of delicacies, however, that has been reasonably determined. This here design is a reconstruction served up by the ship's historian, what's her name, the redhead who's really into submissive-"
"McGivers, sir."
"Yeah, that's the one." Kirk has finished the burger. "Yeoman," he snaps to a petite girl, "send down to the scullery. Provide more Whompers or whatever it is."
"Captain," interrupts Spock, "I'm detecting a crashed Federation cargo ship on the surface of the planet... and engineering reports we need a component to perform repairs. Sir, if I may suggest -"
"I've got an idea. Send the engineering guys down, see what they can pick up."
"That was my idea, sir."
"Bam! My genius strikes again Mr. Spock."
"But sir, how will they go down to the surface? Transporters are inoperable."
A beat, Kirk is furious. "Why don't people tell me about this? And anyway, is my Whomper ready?"
"Not yet sir," the Yeoman replies.
"Young lady if I don't have my Whomper in the next five minutes I'll have to give you in my office for a severe dressing down. Scratch that, get it on time and you'll be thoroughly debriefed. Speaking of -"
"Sir," Spock interrupts, "the malfunctioning transporter?"
"The what? Oh, yeah. Of course. Send the flying saucer."
"Is that some sort of human prank?"
"No really, we've got these flying saucers. They sound like theremins or something. Wooooooo!"
"There's no sound in space, sir."
"Yeah. Right." Kirk rolls his eyes contemptuously. "No sound in space. What do I pay this guy for? I bet there's no gravity or air either."
"Actually-"
He waves at Spock. "Go on, tell Scotty to make quick with the saucer, and also I'm getting hungry. Send word to the scullery."
The Vulcan stalks off, obedient but perhaps showing the slightest twinge of his Earth emotions? A saucer soon jetts off from the Enterprise, and sure enough, it makes a wooooo! sound, even though it's in space (somehow). It lands on the unknown planet, and Spock, Scotty plus a team of Robby the Robots march around doing engineering things and being wizards with technomabobs and so on.
Suddenly a Klingon ship DE-CLOAKS!
"Romulans!" Kirk exclaims.
"Sir, they appear to be of Klingon origin." Sulu intones.
"Uh, right. I knew that." Kirk shifts uncomfortably. "They got cloaking devices now?"
"Evidently." Sulu observes. "The Klingons are opening fire!" The ship shakes, people are tossed around, this all would look very exciting if it was on TV. Imagine Sol Kaplan is doing a number over this scene and you just might buy it.
"Return fire!" Kirk says. "Photons, phasers, incandescent beams of light, whatever we've got!" The Enterprise does so, lighting up the night sky like a Christmas tree and maybe scoring a point or two on the Klingon ship.
"We can't manouevre Keptin! We're as inoperable as a spaceborn nuclear wessel!" Chekov observes.
Kirk frowns. "A rather highly gratuituous analogy Mr. Chekov, but the point is well taken. Uhura, call Starfleet, tell them we need reinforcements. And if Admiral Komack pulls that 'only ship in the sector' routine on me, tell him I won't let him win at chess anymore! Also that I'll tell his wife about Altair VI."
"Aye sir."
Kirk grows grim. "Spock," he coms to him down on the planet; "if help doesn't arrive and that next salvo comes, we might go belly up like a humpback whale in the twentieth century. I just want you to know that if it comes to that, well, in all my travels and of all the souls I've encountered, yours was the most -"
"Here it is, sir." The bright young yeoman says, presenting Kirk with another burger. He lights up and chows down. "Delicious!"
Spock arches an eyebrow. "If you say so, Captain."
Suddenly they are overpowered by a Wooooooooo! sound. Three flying saucers jump out of space and shoot at the Klingon ships! In the hands of a TV crew or a better writer this would be an exciting moment. The Klingons beat a hasty cloaked retreat.
"The captain of the Enterprise is hailing us, sir," Uhura observes.
"What? Trippy." Kirk stares at the burger. "Is it the Whomper?"
Onscreen appears the other captain.
"Captain J.J. Abrams of the patrol saucer Enterprise," says the guy on the screen.
"Yeah, about that, I'm captain of the Enterprise too." Kirk says. "That's kinda freaky."
"We're your predecessor."
"So why are you still in service?"
Abrams winces. "Not ready to be put out to pasture yet!"
"Yeah. Um. Okay. Look, seriously though, my gratitude on stopping me and my crew from having a horrible death. Next one's on me."
"Right. So long." WOOOOOOOOOOO! Go the flying saucers again.
"Captain, Spock is hailing us. He says the cargo ship had the parts they needed, sir."
"Conveinent!" Kirk stands and adjusts his shirt. "Another job well done. Now yeoman, about that debriefing..."
...or "The Conscience of the King", although some say it is better in the original Klingon.
Fo'sho.
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