Star Trek vs. Star Wars: An Analysis of Story and Ships

Star Trek vs. Star Wars. An endless debate, and one I have posted on in the past. Now, however, I put all my points in a single post. I will start with analyzing the differences in story then proceed to the spaceship technologies of the two.

Story

Ever do people make comparisons between the ships and technologies of Star Trek and Star Wars, yet I now make a different comparison – one which explains why I prefer the former over the latter. I can hear you saying: "What? But Star Trek is pure sci-fi, which you avoid almost as rule, while Star Wars is almost a Fantasy in space given the never ending battle between the Jedi and the dark side of the Force." 
A very good point, and I do like Star Wars very much as it is an exemplary tale, a true coming of age story and hero's journey complete with brilliantly complex characters both good and evil. Even mythologist Joseph Campbell acknowledged it as such; indeed, George Lucas credited Campbell's work as influencing his own. Who could forget the revelations and inner conflicts regarding and within Anakin and Luke Skywalker? The wisdom of their mutual mentors Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda (who are cultural icons on and above the level of most characters in literature, on par with Gandalf and Dumbledore)? Han Solo wrestling with self-identification, caught between his roguish past and his relationship with Luke and Princess Leia? As said, a stellar tale by all definitions and, better yet, the Force brings a spiritual element seldom seen in Sci-Fi and on a level rare even in many Fantasies. It is no secret that Masters Kenobi and Yoda (and the Jedi in general) are based off the ancient Samurai and their Zen spiritualism.
Which again begs the question, why do I prefer Trek to Wars. The answer is in their names, added by a famous quote from one Ben Kenobi: "For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire." In short, and as of the pitiful Sequel Trilogy, Star Wars amounts to a near-pessimistic tale as the Jedi are always on the verge of being wiped out by the dark side. All the wisdom and power of people like Yoda and Luke amounting to just barely enough to keep hope for better future alive while the Sith terrorize the Galaxy. Not exactly a cheerful, nor hopeful, story.

Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek, however, is a different kettle of fish. Purely Sci-Fi and set in our own future and Milky Way Galaxy rather than a long time ago in one far far away, it is not about war but rather exploration. About searching out the wonders of the universe even while trying to prevent interstellar wars and other similar catastrophes. About showing what humanity might develop into if it would learn from the lessons of the past, most specifically by ending violence; an ideal epitomized in the United Federation of Planets that, in the words of Captain James T. Kirk, is "a dream that became a reality and spread throughout the stars." A reality that, unlike the Jedi Order, is not constantly on the verge of total collapse. And when the Federation is threatened, namely by the Borg and the Dominion, while war does admittedly become the focus, the characters – namely Captain Sisko and the crew of Deep Space Nine – take great pains not to fall victim to the phrase "war makes monsters of us all." Also, critically, and unlike the Jedi Order, the Federation not only wins but remains more or less intact.

This may sound simple, and it is, yet this is the key as to why I prefer Trek over Wars. Not only does Trek offer greater variety, as is natural being a TV series as opposed to movies, it explores themes Wars never touches. Lieutenant Commander Data is not beloved for his superhuman abilities that come with being an android so much as because he is Pinocchio: totally benign and desiring nothing so much as understand humanity, to be human. As Captain Picard once said of him, "In his quest to be more like us, he helped us to see what it means to be Human... his wonder, his curiosity about every facet of Human nature, allowed all of us to see the best parts of ourselves. He evolved, he embraced change because he always wanted to be better than he was." Frankly I could keep going, not just about Data but about basically everyone, and not just Next Generation but Deep Space Nine and Voyager too. So I will be brief and just add that wise sages are not lacking even if Jedi-style spiritualism is, as wisdom is often just a solid and true moral compass built of deep compassion and practical experience. As to mysticism, characters like Guinan fill that need quite nicely.

In sum, while Star Wars may have more Tolkienesque elements, Star Trek truly follows the Spirit of Tolkien because it not only embraces, but empowers and delivers on hopes for betterment on an interpersonal as well as intergalactic scale. In Star Trek, the most powerful, most thought-provoking, most memorable moments often have nothing to do with war and, when it does, it is trying to prevent one from starting.

Ships

Ever do people make comparisons between the ships and technologies of Star Trek and Star Wars, namely a hypothetical battle between the Millennium Falcon vs. the USS Enterprise, so now I shall. And I will begin by saying that I deem the comparison silly beyond belief. Why? Well, let us delve into broader technological differences between the 24th century Milky Way and those in a galaxy far far away.

Millennium Falcon

It begins with speed. In Star Wars the Galactic Republic/Empire is just that, galactic, spanning basically the entire galaxy. On a routine basis across all the films ships – be they Star Destroyers, Queen Amidala's royal starship, to one-man ships like Luke's X-Wing – traverse half the galaxy and back again in a matter of days or less. Which makes sense, as how else can a galaxy-spanning political entity keep together? 

USS Voyager

In Star Trek, however, it is completely different. The entire series Star Trek: Voyager was the USS Voyager getting thrown over 70,000 light years away from the Federation, across the Milky Way, and having to seek out new technologies to shorten what would at Maximum Warp be a 75 year journey home. And the same can be seen in Next Generation, each episode often referencing in the Captain's Log and through dialogue how many days it would take to reach Point A to Point B. For example, it would take a Starship traveling at Warp 9.975  one month to traverse 132 light years. A month. Now Star Wars does not get into the intricacies of tech as much as Star Trek, but, again, I point to the fact that Star Wars ships travel across galaxy and back in a matter of days. Luke's X-Wing, much less the Millennium Falcon, would have seen the USS Voyager's 70,000 light years journey as nothing to sneeze at; an average flight. In short, Star Wars hyperdrive engines are worlds superior to Star Trek Warp Drives.

Death Star

Now onto weapons. In Episode IV: A New Hope when Obi-Wan Kenobi says that Alderaan was destroyed by the Empire Han Solo replies "the entire star fleet couldn't destroy a whole planet, it'd take a thousand ships and more fire power than I've seen in a..." though a Tie Fighter interrupted him, the Captain of the Millennium Falcon told us all we need to know. Namely how many imperial ships – all armed with the best weapons, mind – it would take to destroy a planet. In short, in Star Wars it takes nothing less than a fully operational Death Star to do the job.

USS Defiant

Now on to Star Trek, which is where the irony comes in since the Federation loathes war and Starfleet is not strictly a military organization. Ironic because Federation weapons leave Galactic Republic/Imperial ones in the dust, the proof lying in the fact that there are several episodes where the USS Enterprise uses its phasers to drill into planets, and the Deep Space Nine episode the Broken Link Worf catches Garak attempting to gain control the USS Defiant's phasers and quantum torpedoes to destroy the Founders' homeworld; as Garak puts it, "we have enough fire power on this ship to turn that planet into a smoking cinder." Granted that the USS Defiant is one of the most heavily armed ships in the Federation, but it is also one of the physically smallest. Bottom line: basically a single Federation Starship can do what, in Star Wars, only the moon-sized Death Star can.

So, to recap, Star Wars hyperdrive engines wipe the floor with Star Trek Warp Drives in the speed contest, yet Federation phasers make Galactic Republic/Imperial laser cannons looks like outdated pistols. Again, let us appreciate the irony that something called Star WARS actually has the weaker weapons.

USS Enterprise-D

Which brings us back to the age-old Sci-Fi question of: Who would win, the Millennium Falcon or the USS Enterprise? Like I said before, it is a silly question – and the reason why should by now be clear. In an even battle the Enterprise would blow the Falcon to pieces without breathing hard, yet the Falcon would not give it the opportunity since it could outrun it as easily as a regular falcon would a robin. Indeed, even in Star Wars how often does the Millennium Falcon truly fight? Usually only when trying to escape; since speed is the ship's claim to fame, the whole purpose behind it is that the Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewbacca can outrun the Imperials; indeed, it is made very plain that Millennium Falcon cannot best even a single Imperial Star Destroyer. The USS Enterprise, however, is an utterly different animal: the flagship of a vast interstellar power and home to over a thousand people, it was designed to hold its own in a fight against the best the enemies of the Federation had to offer. Whereas the the Millennium Falcon is a freighter; the faster freighter in the galaxy and capable of taking out several one-person attack ships, but a freighter still.

Imperial Star Destroyer

Hence my belief that the whole Millennium Falcon vs. the USS Enterprise debate is silly because, to employ an aphorism, it is comparing apples and oranges. The two ships are so utterly different, both in technology, size, and purpose, and if the two ever did cross swords it would end  as I described above: with the Falcon either in pieces or leaving the Enterprise literally half a galaxy behind. Indeed, it would be the same between the Enterprise and its nearest Star Wars analogue, a Star Destroyer. Given the overwhelming superiority of Federation weapons, a Starship could fry a Star Destroyer easily, leaving the Imperial ship no option but to employ its overwhelming superior hyperdrive engine to escape.

Ravens Don't Tell

"Among other things, the raven is an ancient symbol of prophecy and insight, creation and transformation, knowledge and prestige, associated with ancient wisdom and intelligence." - Me (What? Am I not aloud to quote myself?)

Like comfort books, we all have comfort music and it should come as no surprise that mine tells a tale. What is surprising is that it is a relatively new song, the debut single of Finnish indie folk band Aeldfire. A song that tells, like the old Bards, a dark fairy tale of forbidden love and mysterious magic. It – story, lyrics, and the very sound the singer's voice – continues to draw me back to this glade of ravens.

"All that I have seen and all that I've known
I, the Raven Queen, swear on the bloodstone
To honor and protect the righteous minds,
Ravens don't tell and ravens don't lie."

Quote of the month

"It's an odd and wonderful thing, to barely dare to hope you might be tolerated as you are, only to find out the real you is beloved the way the false you never was." - Sophie Gonzales

I started The Last Dragon of the East by Katrina Kwan

I have started The Last Dragon of the East by Katrina Kwan.

While Romantasy is not my typical cup of tea, I recently noted that the sub-genre is often wedded to Asian-inspired Fantasy and that I have a special fondness for those featuring the Red Thread of Fate. Hence how I could I resist a book where the Red Thread is a key element, features a bold quest for a lost Dragon amidst a terrible war, and was highly recommended to me by my sister? Spoilers, I did not. And while this single-standing book may be tiny compared to the series I am used to, the same could be said for Axie Oh's The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea which introduced me to both Asian-inspired Fantasy and the Red Thread, so I am fully expecting a wild ride and beautifully unique fantasy.

Luck to you, Sai, for I have a feeling your greying, fraying thread may lead you better than any map to this Dragon. (And my Dragon-related instincts are usually good.)

I have finished Ava Richardson's The First Dragon Rider Trilogy

I have finished Dragon Mage, the third and final book of Ava Richardson's The First Dragon Rider Trilogy.

Thus ends the age of the Draconis Monks, their Dragon God, and the bloody evils their tyranny both open and subtle, physical and arcane, wrought upon all Three Kingdoms but most especially the Middle. Now begins the age of the Dragon Riders of what is effectively the Kingdom of Torvald, where only brigands and would-be tyrants need fear dragonfire. All because Neill Torvald & Char Nefrette, two bastard-born children sent unwillingly to the Monastery, dared to dream and do what nobody else had even considered in an age, and fight for a better future against the crazed, the corrupt, and even their own kin. To be the people they were meant to be or, and Paxala puts it, to fly free and not judge themselves through the eyes of others.

Fare and fly well to Neill & Char, Dorf, Jodreth, Lila, Sigrid, Terrence, and all the Dragons of the crater on Mount Hammal!

Is this the last Ava Richardson book I will read? Let us just say that I may one day want to find out what happened to, and see the final dispersion of, the Darkening.

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE FRSL

One often hears about J.R.R. Tolkien's tour of duty in the First World War and how it impacted him, and of course all the countless ways The Lord of the Rings founded and continues to shape the Fantasy genre, and whose works continue to be published so many years after his death. Goodness knows I wax poetic about the man often enough and I mean to re-post some of my older ones simply because they are too good not to do otherwise.

Anyway, it occurred to me today that one thing people hear less of are the official honors Tolkien received for his colossal achievements. Let me correct that now. He was John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE FRSL. CBE stands for Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, an English Order of chivalry rewarding prominent national/regional achievements across disciplines. The rank of Commander, which Tolkien held, being the highest rank short of knighthood within the Order. 

Point of order (no pun intended), I am of the unshakable opinion that had he been so honored today he would have received a full knighthood. A conclusion based on the fact that other British Fantasy authors have been so honored since, namely Sir Philip Pullman and Sir Terry Pratchett, within the Order of the British Empire. Indeed, J.K. Rowling was offered a damehood (a female knighthood) as well as a seat in the House of Lords, yet turned both down for "entirely personal reasons", stating "I’ve never wanted a title". Though she is an OBE, Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, which is the rank below Commander.

Meanwhile, FRSL stands for Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, which naturally recognizes an individual’s exceptional contribution to literature.

I do not pretend to understand all the intricacies regarding British titles, for Sir Terry Pratchett was never made a FRSL, yet they are interesting, for a certainty.

The Golden Oakleaf - RIP John Flanagan

RIP John Flanagan

Back in 2006, when I was in Middle School, my family was visiting one of my Uncles and Aunts and naturally we found ourselves in a bookstore. There I was, perusing the Fantasy section with my father, when we came across a book.

Neither of us had ever read it, though of course our first thought was of Aragorn son of Arathorn, the Ranger whom in the town of Bree is known as Strider. Yet this new series, called Ranger’s Apprentice, seemed to be only about Rangers and it caught our interest enough to buy it. Now back then I was new to the genre, and though I had Tolkien and a few other great works such as Christopher Paolini's The Inheritance Cycle and Garth Nix The Abhorsen Series under my belt, they had, to a book, been recommended to me either by my friends or my father. Ranger’s Apprentice had no such personal accolades and in consequence it sad unread yet often considered on my shelf for several months before I started it...

...Beginning an Age of my life. I was hooked. Riveted. Falling so utterly in love with the story that I suggested it to my father and sister, who took it up and were similarly enchanted. But that does not describe how much we would go for the books. Being an Australian author, back then (before the series achieved internationally bestselling stardom) new Ranger’s Apprentice books came out in Australia many months before being released in the United States. Yet we were not content to wait. When Book 4, titled The Battle for Skandia, first came out in America I had already read it months prior under its true title and original cover: Oakleaf Bearers. How? Buying books from overseas has never been an issue for my father, and Oakleaf Bearers was but one of many new Ranger’s Apprentice books I read and had on my shelves long before they first graced American bookstores. Original Australian editions I still have, sitting on the exact same shelf. And let me tell you, I watched the Book Trailer for Erak's Ransom at least two dozen times. Watching it still rekindles that feeling of excited anticipation of epic adventure, if naturally tinted by nostalgia.

One time I finished reading the series up the last currently out book... and I picked up Book 1 again and started over. Something I have, to this day, NEVER done before or since.

Then on on January 3, 2014 – two years before I started Stars Uncounted – I wrote the following post on Facebook:

John Flanagan...Thank you so much. Thank you for teaching me how to wield a bow, move silently, throw a knife, and track a foe. Never did drink coffee though, so, sorry about that. Thank you for writing the Ranger’s Apprentice series and giving me 8 years of joy and laughs. You proved that Fantasy need not have magic to be phenomenal

Farewell Will Treaty, Sir Horace, Halt, Evanlyn (Cassandra), Erak, Alyss, Gilan, Tug, Crowley, Gundar, Selethen, Baron Arald, King Duncan, and Maddie.

I have just finished The Royal Ranger, the last book of John Flanagan's Ranger’s Apprentice Series. An Age of my life has ended.

I was devastated to be done, yet understood why John Flanagan was finishing because one could hardly expect him to write a whole other series with with Maddie as the Apprentice and Will the Master, right?

Haha. Right. Famous last words. Because on Saturday December 1, 2018 – two years after I started this mostly humble blog – I go to the bookstore and find The Red Fox Clan, book #2 of the new Ranger's Apprentice: The Royal Ranger series which was nothing less that an entire sequel series follow-up to the now-old book #12 of the main Ranger's Apprentice series! Of course, my full reaction was rather more complicated, humorous and aggravating in equal measure, but the fact remained that it was not the end! Merely a new beginning, and Flanagan had already been, and continued to, write The Brotherband Chronicles (which I have never read yet now just might). Nor, in fact, have I finished The Royal Ranger series since shelf space is far more limited than Flanagan's pen. But now I think I will finish, for while the literary world has lost a titan with John Flanagan's passing, he left us with over two dozen Fantasy masterworks without magic that teach strategy over strength and that physical height is overrated and often a hindrance to heroics. But humor is where he really strikes gold, because there is something about Halt's scowling face that brings and special light to all ours days

"Sarcasm isn't the lowest form of wit. It's not even wit at all." – Halt

“Once you best a man, never gloat. Be generous and find something in his actions to praise. He won't enjoy being bested, but he'll make a good face of it. Show him you appreciate it. Praise can win you a friend. Gloating will only ever make enemies.” – Halt

“I forgot how much fun it is having an apprentice.” – Halt

“People will think what they want to...Never take too much notice of it.” – Halt

"Sometimes we tend to expect a little too much of Ranger horses. After all, they are only human."  – Halt

Last but not least, there is the matter of the long tradition of Rangers which Flanagan continued. For that, read my Rangers: From Merry Men to Dúnedain (and beyond) post.