"Unseen Elements" Updated: 7-31-08

[alchemist]

Hi Guys, Ladies, and Others,

Well, it’s the end of the month, and that means new reviews and articles are up on “Unseen Elements” at Orion Press.

First Up: Sir Rhosis reviews Alan Dean Foster's "In Thy Image" story treatment for the shelved Star Trek, Phase II series.The treatment has many interesting elements in it, and one can clearly see the embryo of ST:TMP. As you’ll see, Sir Rhosis loved the story until the ludicrous (in his opinion) "reveal" in Act Four.

http://www.fastcopyinc.com/orionpress/articles/in_thy_image_2.htm

Secondly: Modesty would probably forbid Sir Rhosis from mentioning this, but it won’t forbid me. Sir Rhosis, like many fans over the years, was struck by the similarities between a certain classic TOS episode and one of the movies. So, he put pen to paper and wrote the fictional piece “Settlers.” It’s a terrific read:

http://www.fastcopyinc.com/orionpress/2294-2400_The_Adventures_Continue/settlers.htm

And to see the genesis of “Settlers,” Sir has written a great behind-the-scenes article:

http://www.fastcopyinc.com/orionpress/articles/old_hippies_and_other_scifi_ideas.htm

Finally: I review the final draft script for “Journey to Babel.” D.C. Fontana wrote a tight piece, so I had to work hard to find differences. I’m hoping the photos distract everyone from realizing how short the review is.

http://www.fastcopyinc.com/orionpress/articles/journey_to_babel.htm

As always, Dave and Dave hope you enjoy our efforts.

Alchemist

 

[Christopher]

What's with the teeny-tiny picture of Uhura in the middle of the large black rectangle in the "Babel" review?

 

[Sir Rhosis]

I can't speak for Alchemist -- he wrote that review -- but if you mouse over the tiny Uhura picture, you will see he has labeled it something like "Smallest matte used in a Trek episode." I had been meaning to drop him a line and ask if it was perhaps from some long shot, maybe matted onto a background screen while Kirk , Sarek and Amanda toured Engineering.

Sir Rhosis (the other Dave)

 

[alchemist]

What's with the teeny-tiny picture of Uhura in the middle of the large black rectangle in the "Babel" review?

Hi Christopher,

The image of tiny Uhura is from a film clip of the matte insert element from the scene in engineering of Kirk talking to her on the monitor. It is one of the smallest matte inserts in TOS and was created by optically reducing a medium close-up shot of Nichelle Nichols.

Best,

Alchemist (the other Dave)

 

[Outpost4]

Wait, if you are both (the other Dave), then who is Dave?

Illogical. All units relate. Norman, coordinate.

 

[Sir Rhosis]

I would tell you who is who, but honestly, everything I say is a lie.

Sir Rhosis, starts doing little Chekov jumping in the air dance

 

[alchemist]

Did I ever tell you that Mrs. McCave
Had twenty-three sons and she named them all Dave?

Well, she did. And that wasn't a smart thing to do.
You see, when she wants one and calls out, "Yoo-Hoo!
Come into the house, Dave!" she doesn't get one.
All twenty-three Daves of hers come on the run!

This makes things quite difficult at the McCaves'
As you can imagine, with so many Daves.
And often she wishes that, when they were born,
She had named one of them Bodkin Van Horn
And one of them Hoos-Foos. And one of them Snimm.
And one of them Hot-Shot. And one Sunny Jim.
And one of them Shadrack. And one of them Blinkey.
And one of them Stuffy. And one of them Stinkey.
Another one Putt-Putt. Another one Moon Face.
Another one Marvin O'Gravel Balloon Face.
And one of them Ziggy. And one Soggy Muff.
One Buffalo Bill. And one Biffalo Buff.
And one of them Sneepy. And one Weepy Weed.
And one Paris Garters. And one Harris Tweed.
And one of them Sir Michael Carmichael Zutt
And one of them Oliver Boliver Butt
And one of them Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate ...

But she didn't do it. And now it's too late.

(Too Many Daves, Theodor Geisel)