Table of Contents Acknowledgments vi Introduction 1 Launching The Next Generation 1 The Twin Strains of Sci Fi 4 One--Background 7 Science Fiction from Shelley to Star Wars 7 Growth of a Genre 11 Star Trek's Generations 15 The New Voyages 24 Contextual Communication Theories 32 Two--The Intrapersonal Context 44 Data and Symbolic Interactionism 44 Gender Differences, Worf and Troi 52 Character Realization with Picard, Riker, Crusher and La Forge 59 Summary 63 Three--The Interpersonal Context 65 The ­Parent-Child Dyad 65 The ­Mentor-Protégé Dyad 67 The Friendship Dyad 70 The Romance Dyad 74 Summary 83 Four--The Group and Organizational Contexts 85 The Enterprise Command Crew as a Group 86 Starfleet as an Organization 92 Summary 98 Five--The Mass Communication Context, Part I 100 Intrapersonal Issues: Philosophy of The Next Generation 100 Interpersonal Issues: Parasocial Interactions 112 Six--The Mass Communication Context, Part II 116 Group/Organizational Issues: Fans and Texts 116 Seven--Next Frontiers for Communication Contexts 128 Intrapersonal Issues on Star Trek: Discovery--Michael Burnham and the Four Loves 128 Interpersonal Issues on Star Trek: Voyager 136 Group/Organizational Issues on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine--Organizational Dissent and the Maquis 142 Audience/Artifact Relationship with Star Trek: Enterprise--Reception Theory 145 Summary 149 Conclusion 150 Expanding the Universe 150 Trek Tech 151 The True Legacy 153 "The sky's the limit" 154 Appendix A: List of Star Trek: The Next Generation Episodes 157 Appendix B: Research Instrument for Star Trek Survey 160 Chapter Notes 163 Bibliography 169 Index 185.