The Vulcan and the Other

In last week’s post about Star Trek Into Darkness I mentioned that you probably shouldn’t ask me about the aliens of the Abramsverse.

You’re about to find out why.

First, let’s discuss the role aliens played in the original incarnation ofStar Trek.

One of Roddenberry’s explicit goals in what is now known asThe Original Series was to present a genuinely diverse society. This is spelled out plainly in the Star Trek writers guide:

THE CREW

International in origin, completely multi-racial. But even in...