FROM MARK A. ALTMAN

To my magnificent mom, Gail, for taking me to see Star Trek: The Motion Picture when she’d rather have been anywhere else in the galaxy. At least you got to have The Mommies’ Marilyn Kentz play you in a movie.

To my unforgettable dad, Michael … for everything—and even occasionally turning off the baseball, football, hockey, and basketball games to let me watch Star Trek.

To my sensational grandfather, Seymour, for stopping and taking me to a Star Trek convention in New Jersey when he really just wanted to get home to watch the Jets game.

To my brotastic brother, Ira, for caring about sports and not Star Trek so we never competed with each other, Decker.

To my wonderful wife, Naomi, for being the most enterprising woman I know.

And my amazing kids, Ella and Isaac, who helped me get over my aversion to children after watching “And the Children Shall Lead.” It’s okay that you love the Ewoks … really.

And, of course, Frederick S. Clarke; a mentor, a friend, and the man who made this book possible. You showed us all how it’s done. Remember.

Finally, Ed Gross. Thanks for being such a nudge. I would have never written this book with you if you hadn’t kept bugging me for years about it. I can’t imagine doing it with anyone else.

Also special thanks to our editor extraordinaire, Brendan Deneen, for being a Deep Space Nine fan, among many other things that make him awesome.

 

FROM EDWARD GROSS

To my wife and best friend, Eileen. Over thirty years on and we’re still boldly going! There’s no one I’d rather be on this voyage with. Sorry this book turned you into a Star Trek widow.

To my sons, Teddy, Dennis, and Kevin. I am so proud of all three of you, and thrilled beyond words that we share a love for all things geek.

To my mom, dad, sister, and brother. Thanks for all the years of nodding and smiling politely no matter how strange my obsessions seemed.

To my father, who took me to the first Star Trek convention ever in 1972. Sorry we didn’t connect on much, but that was one moment when we did.

To all of the editors—among them Starlog’s David McDonnell, Cinefantastique’s Frederick S. Clarke, Cinescape’s Douglas Perry, SFX’s Dave Golder, Long Island Nightlife’s Bill Ervolino, Movie Magic’s Karen Williams, SciFiNow’s Aaron Asadi, and Geek’s David Williams—who saw something in me and my writing and helped keep the dream going for all of these years.

To my friends who have shared my love for Star Trek over the years, including John Garry, Kevin Oldham, Tom Sanders, Dexter Frank, Linda Miracco, Scott Milner, Jay Starr, Allen Lane, and Leon McKenzie.

To all of the people connected with Star Trek that I’ve interviewed over the decades. So many of you made it easy to once again talk Trek for this book, and it’s genuinely appreciated.

To Laurie Fox and Brendan Deneen, respectively agent and editor extraordinaire, for believing in this project as much as we do.

And to Mark A. Altman. Throughout the process of writing this book, I could not imagine a better collaborator or cheerleader. It was such a joy to take this trip back to the Final Frontier with you.