Star Trek is probably the only fictional series that I've ever encountered where fans actively seek to restrict what can and cannot be considered "real" Trek.
Most fictional universes have few inherent restrictions on the types of stories that can be told within them and still be considered a viable part of the universe. As long as the story telling adheres to the rules and conventions of that universe, writers can feel free to visit any part of the universe.
For instance, despite all of the various incarnations of Star Wars stories, you rarely hear a Sat Wars fan say something like..."That's not Star Wars." Like fans anywhere, Star Wars fans argue about the varying quality of the stories, but no one ever argues that something is out of bounds for that universe. Thus, creatos are free to explore any part of that universe. They can follow pirates, bounty hunters, pilots, imperial officers, Republic politicians, spies, renegades, Jedi, Sith etc...and people will never get into an argument about the story's viability as part of the Universe. The same goes for Babylon 5, Stargate etc.
But some Star Trek fans have an almost rigid orthodoxy about what is and is not Star Trek. For some, if the stories deviate from the formula established for the Original Series, then some kind of way, its not viable as Star Trek.
For instance, some of the complaints about DS9 was that it was not Trek precisely because it was on a space station, and did not necessarily involve "boldly going." Its as if the only viable Star Trek is that which mimics the episodic planet hopping and exploration of the 60s series. Thus, unlike Star Wars, Star Trek is not a complete universe, but also a format and strict ideology. If a show followed the daily events of the Federation President, that would not be trek. Following engineers as they have adventures fixing things in Federation space would not be star trek. Following the work of Section 31, or the events on a distant starbase, or even getting to know a single race...cannot be considered viable Trek.
Is Trek the only fictional universe that have fans with a strict interpretation of what kinds of stories can and cannot be told and still be parts of the universe?
Why is Trek so much more rigid than other fictional universes.
Most fictional universes have few inherent restrictions on the types of stories that can be told within them and still be considered a viable part of the universe. As long as the story telling adheres to the rules and conventions of that universe, writers can feel free to visit any part of the universe.
For instance, despite all of the various incarnations of Star Wars stories, you rarely hear a Sat Wars fan say something like..."That's not Star Wars." Like fans anywhere, Star Wars fans argue about the varying quality of the stories, but no one ever argues that something is out of bounds for that universe. Thus, creatos are free to explore any part of that universe. They can follow pirates, bounty hunters, pilots, imperial officers, Republic politicians, spies, renegades, Jedi, Sith etc...and people will never get into an argument about the story's viability as part of the Universe. The same goes for Babylon 5, Stargate etc.
But some Star Trek fans have an almost rigid orthodoxy about what is and is not Star Trek. For some, if the stories deviate from the formula established for the Original Series, then some kind of way, its not viable as Star Trek.
For instance, some of the complaints about DS9 was that it was not Trek precisely because it was on a space station, and did not necessarily involve "boldly going." Its as if the only viable Star Trek is that which mimics the episodic planet hopping and exploration of the 60s series. Thus, unlike Star Wars, Star Trek is not a complete universe, but also a format and strict ideology. If a show followed the daily events of the Federation President, that would not be trek. Following engineers as they have adventures fixing things in Federation space would not be star trek. Following the work of Section 31, or the events on a distant starbase, or even getting to know a single race...cannot be considered viable Trek.
Is Trek the only fictional universe that have fans with a strict interpretation of what kinds of stories can and cannot be told and still be parts of the universe?
Why is Trek so much more rigid than other fictional universes.
