The Evolution of 'Space Seed'

Ricardo Montalban in 'Space Seed' (1967)

My work schedule is set to be a heavy one for the next two weeks, so don't expect any new articles until later this month. To tide you over, I thought I'd link to some of the excellent research Maria Jose and John Tenuto have been showing off at the official Star Trek website about the development and production of the episode 'Space Seed' and the 1982 follow-up, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Their work first came to my attention when io9 interviewed John Tenuto about his Star Trek-related research in March, and will be of interest to anyone reading this blog.

Part one of their research can be found here, while part two can be found here.

To complement their work, I thought I would post a few excerpts from the December 13, 1966 de Forest Research memo for 'Space Seed.'

Page 13, Scene 27:

A Sikh probably. A 'Sikh' is a member of the Sikh religion, not a racial type, any more than a Roman Catholic is a racial type. They are distinguish-able physically only because one of the tenets of their religion is that men do not shave or cut their hair.

Page 21, Scene 35: 

Your Earth was on the edge of a 'dark ages.' See 19.35 where the days for this is set in the 1990’s. It is difficult to believe that a ship of this complexity could have been built only 30 years in the future during the press of a major world conflagration.

Page 27, Scene 46:

Wasn't until a dozen years later that the first Alpha Centauri expedition was launched. Proxima Centauri is the closest star to our sun, 4.30 light years away.  Alpha Centauri is 4.33 light years away. On the basis of present astronomical measurements, neither sun is thought to support any planetary system. Suggest: first interstellar expedition.

Page 28, Scene 46: 

The scientists encouraged carefully selected marriages...And our patient?  One of those children. I the events recounted took place in the 1990’s, these eugenics experiments would have been going on right now in order to produce children who would be adults at the time of the launching of 'The Botany Bay.' See 19/35, 27/46.

Page 38, Scene 59: 

Sibahl Khan Noonien – This name is not Sikh or Indian in form. 'Khan' is a Mongol title which has found its way into some Muslim names in India and Pakistan. For proper name suggest: Govind Bahadur Singh. All Sikhs use the name Singh after their own sir name.

Page 57, Scene 96: 

Kirk runs in from behind...gun in hand – With Kirk armed, this scene is specious since all Kirk has do is shoot him down, which logically he would do to maintain the safety of the Enterprise. Suggest reason be found for Kirk not using the gun.

Image Courtesy of Trek Core.

Sources:

The Gene Roddenberry Star Trek Television Series Collection (1964-1969)