‘TREK’ TENSIONS

Your cover story on “Star Trek” executive producer Rick Berman touched on an issue that has been bothering me (“ ‘Star Trek’ Only a Show? Is This Guy Serious?” Nov. 13).

It is an issue even more serious that the trend toward militarism on “Star Trek.” The problem is that the Federation and humans have hostile relationships with all the other recurring alien civilizations except for Vulcans and Bayjorans, and even then, resentment and friction are common.

I find it disturbing that Romulans, Klingons, Cardassians, Ferengi and most of what Cerone terms “the whole gang in the Alpha Quadrant” are imbued with evil qualities right out of a textbook on racial stereotypes and prejudice. Is it too much to ask for a recurring alien civilization that is nice ?

Why are humans the only species that is consistently decent and polite? The Thrill civilization (which we’ve seen only once) could be further developed along those lines.

Instead of projecting our fear of others to alien creatures, I suggest an occasional story about overcoming our need to have enemies. Even if it is a difficult task, it is worth doing.

STEVEN LYNN

Pasadena

Rick Berman is corporate, not artistic. By complying with the studio’s edict for multiple spinoffs, the entire endeavor now exists in name only.

The current movie is merely a TV episode, saddled with small-screen scripting. “Deep Space Nine” is a muddle, and the upcoming “Voyager” sounds dangerously like one of the mediocre rip-offs (i.e., “seaQuest,” “Babylon 5”) that this whole bonanza inspired.

With Berman holding all the reins, “Star Trek” has truly become a “franchise.” Just like a fast-food chain, there’s a lot of “Star Trek” everywhere . . . but the quality is none too good.

DAVID BERKERS

Sherman Oaks