Introduction
The Original Series
http://www.trekcore.com/specials/artifacts/article24/ST-TMP-comics-bk-cvr-adv-re.jpg
"Space... the final frontier. These are the voyages of the
starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission, to explore strange new
worlds, to seek out new life and new
civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before."
-Star Trek (TV Series 1966-1969)
The Star Trek universe was created by Gene Roddenberry and the
original series ran for 3 seasons starting in 1966. The series
chronicled the adventures of the
USS Enterprise during its exploration of space. It was followed by
six movies with the original crew including "Star Trek: The Motion
Picture", "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan",
"Star Trek III: The Search for Spock", "Star Trek IV: The Voyage
Home", and "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier", and "Star Trek: The
Undiscovered Country."
The Next Generation http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130402225055/memoryalpha/en/images/2/24/Star_Trek_The_Next_Generation_365_cover.jpg
The Next Generation was also created by Gene Roddenberry and
ran 176 episodes in 7 seasons from 1987 to 1994. It takes
place in the 24th century, decades after
the first series, on the 1701-D. With a much different
dynamic than the first series, it captured the audience'
interest with its great special effects. The Klingons are
no longer a problem, but more dangerous enemies, Q,
the Romulans and the Borg, are now to be contended with. It
was followed by four motion pictures including
"Generations", "First Contact", "Insurrection", and
"Nemesis."
Deep Space Nine http://www.startrekmagic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/DS9-cast.jpgenterprise
Deep Space Nine was the third of the Star Trek series'
running 7 seasons from 1993 to 1999. Taking place
immediately after The Next Generation, the series focuses
on a space station instead a ship. There is a stable
wormhole nearby that leads to the other end of the galaxy
making it an extremely strategic location for the
Federation.
As different from The Next Generation as Kirk's
series, there were themes of crew conflict and religious
themes that Gene Roddenberry would not allow in the previous
two series.
Star Trek: Voyager was the next Star Trek spinoff running 7
seasons from 1995 to 2001. In this series, the USS Voyager
chases Federation rebels called the Maquis
into an area of space called the Badlands, which is a
nebula. Both parties are transported to the Delta Quadrant
(75000 light years from Federation space) and learn
to work together to try to return home, which would
take 75 years at maximum warp speed.
The first prequel to the original series, Star Trek:
Enterprise takes place about a century prior to Kirk's time.
The ship in this series captained by Jonathan Archer is
called the Enterprise NX-01, the first warp 5 capable ship.
The series focused on the development of the Federation and
had a more serious tone like that of Deep
Space Nine. This series ran 4 seasons from 2001 to 2005
winning 4 Prime Time Emmys, while Voyager won 7 and The Next
Generation won 18. This was the last
Star Trek series ending an 18 year streak of new Star
Trek episodes.
The first of the reboot films simply titled "Star Trek" was
released in 2009 and directed by JJ Abrams. Taking place in an
alternate timeline as a result of Romulans
going back in time through a "red matter" created wormhole,
the movie was very successful at the box office. The second of the
reboot films was released in 2013
again at the direction of JJ Abrams. Title "Into Darkness" the
second film was a remake vastly different form the original Wrath
of Khan film with Captain Kirk.
There is set to be a third film released in 2016 for the 50th
anniversary of Star Trek.
