(Also available from Starland mirror site)
First, some comments from previous columns . . .
Ryan Whitney: I think that some of the cross-overs mentioned have become silly. For example, it is logical to assume that if a character from one television show appears on another television show (e.g. Law & Order/Homicide), then the two shows are in the same universe. However, it is not logical to extend this to "actors" appearing on several shows. There is no way that any creator or producer of Frasier and Star Trek intended Kelsey Grammer to tie the two universes together simply because the actor appeared in a ST:TNG episode and stars on Frasier. He played two different characters! That is what actors do! If Kelsey Grammer had played Frasier Crane in an episode of ST:TNG, that would be different.
I'm just waiting for someone to tie every TV and movie universe together through the "Cannonball Run" movies.
Phil: That would be fun! ;-) Honestly, we're just having a little fun here! I doubt anyone takes this too seriously.
John Bibb: I just thought I'd add my little plot twist to the crossovers. There was an episode of a kids sitcom called Webster that had the title character (a 20th century black kid who lived with white foster parents) beamed onto the Enterprise-D and meet Lt.. Worf (trough some time-transporter accident or other). At the end, it seemed like a dream, except that his video game joystick had a repair tag from NCC-1701-D on it!
Pamala Knowlton: Not a question, just a comment or two.
I haven't been keeping up with all the debate on crossovers, but reading a few comments from fans reminded me of my favorite crossover to date: On the series "The A-Team", Dirk Benedict walks past a robot creature from "Battlestar Galactica", pauses like he recognizes it, then shakes his head and keeps going. (It's been a long time, I think it was supposed to be on a movie lot.)
The crossover I would most like to see would be Star Trek (any series) and Dr. Who. :-)
Mike Deeds: If anyone contacts you about the XF crossover links, here is an alphabetical list. If no one cares, you can just ignore this list. The list includes the shows mentioned in previous columns. The shows with a ? indicate that they are only possible links. Here is the list:
The Bob Newhart Show
Can't Hurry Love
Caroline in the City
Cheers
Chicago Hope
Coach
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Drew Carey Show
Early Edition
Ellen
The Famous Teddy Z
Frasier
Friends
Grace Under Fire
High Society
Home Improvement
Homicide
I Dream of Jeannie (?)
Ink
The John Larroquette Show
Law & Order
Love and War
Mad About You
Man of the People
Millennium
Murphy Brown
My Three Sons (?)
The Nanny
Newhart
Picket Fences
Seinfeld
The Single Guy
Soul Man
St. Elsewhere
Strange Luck
The Tortellis
The Visitor (?)
The White Shadow
Wings
Johanna Sundberg: Concerning Matthew Pattersons comment in the 5/15/08 column: Excelsior does mean "always upward" or, in a more verbatim translation, "higher"; it's the comparative of the Latin word "excelsus", high - from which "excel" comes, by the way. :-) So Excelsior is indeed a fitting name for a starship - and it follows the Trek tradition of making references to the classical languages.
Joe Griffin: Here's part one of the list (I wanted to get something in, but the last two weeks have been sufficiently hectic that I haven't been able to finish the list); I'll update it as I have more time. I'm sure I've missed a bunch.
Caveat: The following asterisk system is not intended to be offensive to anyone, but is rather an attempt to cover all possible bases insofar as I don't wish to suggest reading material which could potentially cause consternation on the part of the reader without warning them first. And since what I deem objectionable has in the past been much different from what others would deem objectionable, I figure I'd best play it safe. Therefore:
Works with an asterisk may contain objectionable material such as language, sexual situations or historically appropriate but politically incorrect depictions of certain races, genders or religions or the prevailing attitudes towards them.
Authors: (check these guys out in general)
Ray Bradbury
Isaac Asimov
Harlan Ellison
Edgar Allan Poe
H.G. Wells
Jules Verne
Works:
I second the Science Fiction Hall of Fame collection--it’s excellent and will give you a great look at a broad range of classic SF, which is, after all, what this list is about.
“Where do we go from here?” --a collection of short stories edited by Asimov. You’ll have to look hard to find this, but it’s great. Asimov includes a short discussion of each story at the end, talking about how accurate the science is, what was known about the story’s main subject at the time it was written, and explaining some of the basic physics or math behind it...which would seem to be a Nitpicker’s dream. Includes such classic tales as “A Martian Odyessy,” “Night,” “A Subway Named Mobius,” and “The Holes Around Mars.”
The Forever War--Joe Haldeman (*--sexual situations, violence)
Ender’s Game and Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card--more modern, but cool nonetheless. (*-sexual situations, genocide)
Ray Bradbury, “There Will Come Soft Rains” --I first heard this story narrated by Leonard Nimoy on a record I checked out of the library when I was eight. It’s an early example of the “after we’re gone, the machines we’ve invented to do our work for us will remain” storyline, which is taken to a chilling extreme in “Night.” (see above)
Heinlein, _Stranger in a Strange Land_ and _Starship Troopers_. (*sexual situations, violence. Heinlein’s writings have been criticized as being degrading to women)
Aldous Huxley, _Brave New World._ (*sexual situations, drug use, violence)
Larry Niven, _All The Myriad Ways_. A collection of short stories and essays that examine some topics that are central to SF. What are matter transporters and how might they work? Why can’t Superman and Lois Lane get together? The title story is the definitive analysis of the parallel universes/multiple branches model, which we’ve seen in Trek, and of course gave us the new “What-if-I-missed-the-train” movie starring Gwyneth Paltrow. (*--frank discussion of the reproductive process in the Superman story, suicide)
Edgar Rice Burroughs--His Martian adventure stories. (*--violence)
Works, Non-SF:
Aeschylus, _The Orestian Trilogy_ --three plays which trace the action following the Trojan War, starting with Agamemnon’s return and ending with the trial of Clytemnestra. (*--murder, sacrifice of children, the Greek system of justice is constructed to heavily favor the rights of men over women.)
Kurt Vonnegut, Cat’s Cradle -- I prefer this one to Slaughterhouse Five, which is generally thought of as the quintissential Vonnegut book. Mother Night (also a movie starring Nick Nolte) is excellent as well. (*--sexual situations, violent war scenes, harsh language, makes fun of Hoosiers and midgets[okay, sorry. I can't be serious ALL the time])
Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, “Inherit the Wind” -- actually a play. Based on the famous Scopes trial earlier in this century, where a schoolteacher was put on trial for teaching evolution in school. Not only an important bit of American history, this play also has really killer dialogue. (*--some criticism of the Bible, discussion of sex)
Bram Stoker, _Dracula_. Well, you know. (*--violence)
Mary Wollestonecraft Shelley, _Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus_. Ditto. (*--violence)
Aeschylus, _Prometheus Bound_. So you’ll know what Mary Shelley’s title means.
Bullfinch’s _Mythology._ Not fiction, but it never hurts to be up on your world mythology.
At least one of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels (preferably _The Spy Who Loved Me_ or _Live and Let Die_, so you know what the character was actually like before Sean Connery redefined him forever. (*--violence, Bond was a heavy drinker and womanizer long before Connery)
Joseph Campbell, _Hero With a Thousand Faces_. Again, not fiction, but helps tie all those myths together and lets you recognize common themes in storytelling.
Mark Twin, _A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court_. Or _Huckleberry Finn_. (*--Historically accurate portrayal of attitudes toward African Americans, as well as use of the “N” word has placed _Huck Finn_ on many “banned book” lists and caused it to be removed from school libraries)
William Shakespeare, “Richard III.” Happens to be my favorite at the moment, with “Hamlet” a close second. Read as much Shakespeare as possible, but realize the comedies are basically sitcoms with flowery language. (*--most Shakespeare contains violence and sexual situations.)
Henry David Thoreau, _Walden_. Just try not to think of Don Henley while you read it and you’ll be okay. (*--former Eagle and perpetrator of “The Boys of Summer” Don Henley is now indelibly associated with this book)
Robert Louis Stevenson, _Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde_, _Treasure Island_. (*--violence)
Jack Kerouac, _On the Road_.
Camus, _The Stranger_.
Jean-Paul Sartre, _Nausea_.
Joe Griffin: [Concerning Orwell's 1984 qualification as science fiction,] I don't want to get into a real big discussion of what is and what isn't SF, although some folks would prefer the title "Speculative Fiction" rather than "Science Fiction" to avoid questions like this. However, I do have to object in that it shouldn't matter that the technology exists _now_; the point is it didn't exist _then_. Much of what SF writers predicted in the early parts of this century is now commonplace--nuclear submarines, videophones, the internet, space flight, talking computers, artificial intelligence, moon landings, genetic engineering...That doesn't mean that _20,000 Leagues Under the Sea_ or _Island of Dr. Moreau_ or _2001_ or _I, Robot_ or _Destination Moon_ suddenly stop being science fiction. The science-fiction elements of Star Trek:TOS included the communicator (modern celphones are smaller), tricorder (sorta like a laptop computer), desktop computers with information stored on small square pieces of plastic (Mac Classics and floppy disks) and automatic sliding doors (been to the grocery store lately?). Does this diminish the science-fiction-ness of Star Trek? I don't think so.
Enough of my yakking.
Jennifer Pope: I decided I might as well throw in my two centimes on this reading list stuff. Unfortunately, I find myself much closer to the sci-fi-TV-viewer-but-novice-reader category than otherwise. This is for two reasons; much of the science fiction I've read has been offensive enough to discourage further exploration, which is why this list idea is a godsend. Second, I'm more interested in classical literature anyway. Evidence of this will be the length and content of my two lists =)
Sci-fi:
Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra - C. S. Lewis
The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court - Mark Twain
Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
Other:
The Complete Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; footnote here. Sir Doyle also wrote a book of science fiction, called "The Lost World and Other Stories". I'm enjoying it; I recommend it to any other fans of his that also like sci-fi.
A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
The Complete Chronicles of Narnia - C. S. Lewis
The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
The Illiad, The Odyssey - Homer
The Divine Comedy - Dante Aligheri (sp?)
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Vanity Fair - William Thackery
Watership Down - Richard Adams
The Complete Works of Sophocles (about seven plays) - Sophocles
Any Shakespeare you can get your hands on - if I really had to narrow it down: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Julius Caesar, and A Midsummer Night's Dream
Last but by no means least, I have to say: The Bible - even if you don't believe, it has beautiful poetry and prose, adventure stories, war, peace, love, hate, everything that makes the books I have already mentioned above classics. Don't dismiss it!
So there's my take on the whole deal. I know I've left out a bunch of great books, but I didn't want to use up the entire Ask the Chief column =)
John Bibb: Personally, I STRONGLY agree that 1984 should be included on the list, especially for Star Trek fans. It is easy to see comparisons between Cardassia and Oceana (the country in 1984 where the main character lives). For instance:
1. The Obsidian Order is (was) a lot like the Thought Police, and they use surveillance devices like the Thought Police do
2. Torture / interrogation techniques are similar. Under torture, the main character of 1984 had to tell his captor that he was holding up 5 fingers, when in fact he was only holding up 4 ("There are FOUR lights!!!" -- Jean-Luc Picard)
I'm sure there are other similarities, so read the book, fellow nitpickers, and tell me!!!
Terry Hulett: Patrick Sweeney writes about O'Brien's rank and questions whether he attended the Academy. In today's US military it is not neccessary to attend a service academy to be an officer. You can go in through ROTC programs at other schools or have a field promotion (in fact they have a specific nickname for someone who came up through the ranks but I can not recall it right now). In fact, I'm not even sure the majority of officer go through academies. Well, probably they do, but I guess I mean the others are a signifanct minority - not a rare 1 percent or something like that.
So, extending that analogy to Starfleet, I don't think any questions about whether he attended the academy are relavent to discussions of his rank.
Terry Hulett: Got to say that the way I understand the military structure of today (and I'm no expert) and assuming Starfleet follows that: Nog could immediatly assume command of the ship as soon as he came on board. Acting ranks do not supercede actual ranks.
Even though the Captain left a Cadet in command, that does not mean he retains command over newly arrived established officers. Would you think Admiral X could not assume command because the Captain left it to him? Nope, all he says as a duly authorized officer is I assume command and he's got it. Nog could have done the same. In face, he should be up on Court Martial charges for not having done so...
Jim Elek: With regard to Nog and the cadets on the Valiant. I wasn't going to write in, because I thought others would answer the question. However, of the responses you posted this week, none of them are correct!
When Nog first meets Captain Watters, he hesitantly calls Watters, "Sir". Watter then says, "That is correct. I was given a battlefield promotion to captain and then used that rank to give others battlefield promotions." I am not a military man or all that familiar with military protocol. However, it seems to me that once someone is given a battlefield promotion, it can only be taken away by a person of higher (or possibly equal) rank. Therefore, since Nog is only an ensign, he cannot pull rank.
BTW, Corey Hines brings up a good point that, with the exception of Nog and the crew of the Valiant, we never see cadets on field duty. I think that it can be explained on Voyager, since its mission was specifically to find the Maquis instead of the general exploration missions of the Enterprises.
Jim Elek: Aron Kay brings up the question of why we don't see knives or any other Starfleet issue hand-to-hand weapons. I wondered this myself a year or so ago when the Klingons attacked DS9. Here were all these Klingons running around with Bat'laths (sp?) and the Starfleet people using only phaser rifles (except for Worf, Dax, and few other who picked up Bat'laths.) I would be surprised if Starfleet issued bladed weapons, but one would think that they would have something like a police "night stick" or combat baton that they could use in situations like that. There's also the Bajorans. It is reasonable to assumet that they used all kinds of hand-to-hand combat weapons while fighting the Cardassians.
Terry Hulett: David D. Porter comments that 'big name' SF authors do not write Star Trek. Gene Roddenberry is well acknowledged, I think, as deliberately searching out noted authors for the original series. Both to add legitimacy to ST in the SF world, and for good stories.
But now there is a built in barrier to use of noted authors. They have to submit stories that will certainly be re-written. And, unless dedicated fans themselves, will not be able to really use any creative concepts or charactors in the ST universe. I believe I have seen it written that a established author could make more money doing original screen plays for TV or movies. Add all this up, and it is quite a dis-incentive to write for ST.
Phil: Yes it is! And frankly, even if I personally was a successful fiction author, I doubt I would write for Trek--even knowing all I do. Hearing Harlan Ellison talk is enough to sour any author on ruinations of Hollywood! ;-)
(Note from Phil: I'll let everyone have their say and then try to address all the questions in a summary statement at the end of this column.
Amber Heinzel: Phil, Phil, Phil. Bad news is putting it mildly. I have always been the type of person to act when no one else will. Just ask my old high school principal. Anyway, you know the first thing that we all see when we go to your website? "UNITED WE NITPICK!" And united we are. The nitpickers Guild is behind you, and we are going to be there for you. Keep the site going and keep us posted. I have a feeling that there are going to be a lot of upset nitpickers out there who are willing to do something where Dell is not. Good luck. . .;-)
Laurel Iverson: I was very sad after reading about your Star Wars book being pulled by
your publisher. I am a big fan of yours, and through the website have
almost felt like you're someone I know. In fact, when I talk about
something that Phil has said or done, my husband knows that I mean Phil
Farrand and not our toddler son, Phillip (who was not named for you; I'm
*not* that big of a fan
It did not take long, however, for me to go from feeling sad to feeling
mad. Recently when Oprah won the lawsuit that the cattle industry had
brought against her, I heard her say something like, "Freedom of speech
not only lives, it ROCKS!" It appears that in the publishing industry,
of all places, that this is not true. I guess that no matter what
freedoms we believe we are granted in this country, it still comes down
to whomever has the gold makes the rules. So what can we as fans do?
Mike Gurwitz: I'm very sorry to hear about the end of your published nitpicking
career. Paramount, to my mind, has acted like an arrogant, immature
bully, first with the websites, and now with you. They obviously
overlook the fact that all publicity is good publicity; I have a friend
who's a copyright attorney, and he can attest to the fact that
copyrights, and their concurrent freedom of speech issues, are
controlled more than ever by the wealthy and powerful. As a lawyer, I
agree with your conclusion that fighting Paramount would wipe you out
financially, even if you won in the end.
Well, you've made your mark, you run a terrific website, and they can't
take that away from you. I wish you the best of luck in your future
endeavors, including your non-Trek fiction writing.
As the poet once said, don't let the b****rds get you down.
Terry Mitchell Hulett: So sorry to hear about work on any guides being stopped. I'm afraid
this is an example of how things work in theory versus fact. We would
like to think that unjust lawsuits could quickly be dealt with, but in
practice money talks.
Shane Tourtellotte: I am stunned by the legal news you revealed to us in your last column.
It's one thing to talk idly about lawyers devouring people's
livelihoods, but quite another to have it hit so close.
Before the shock settles in too deeply, allow me to suggest one possible
strategy to save your nascent Star Wars guide. You may think me
slightly nuts, but hear me out.
Three words: write George Lucas.
Relate to him the work you have done on previous Guides, and what you
plan(or had planned) to do with his Star Wars universe. Request his
explicit permission to go forward with the Guide. Request it very
nicely, of course, but that will be no problem for you.
The worst that can happen is a "No", or silence. All you lose is 32
cents. The best that can happen is that you get the blessing of the man
who created Star Wars. I can't see any lawyer reasonably contending
that *his* word won't suffice.
It's a long shot, but I think it's worth a shot to salvage the work
you've already put into this project. Who knows, perhaps you can reach
similar accommodations with a couple other creative persons. (I wouldn't
hold my breath, but I wouldn't give up, either.)
Whatever happens, I wish you the best of luck in all your future
endeavors.
And of course, keep on 'picking. (It's good brain exercise!)
Jim Elek: Wow. That's quite a shocker!
I can't say that I'm sorry that the Star Wars Guide in particular is being
discontinued. You may recall that I was against that guide from the early
going.
However, I am saddened to see your livelyhood taken away like that. It is
a shame to see such a personable and dedicated author such as yourself get
shut out by some hopelessly fuzzy legalese.
Good luck in your future endeavors whatever they may be!
Stephen Mendenhall: It's too bad what Paramount's doing to you and others. Maybe things
will change back in a few years when the current crop of Paramount
lawyers retires...that's wishful thinking!
And wait a minute...if they're so worried about copyright infringement,
why don't they sue TV Guide magazine for listing the series?? and for
commenting on it??
That would be pretty ridiculous but it looks like they forbid ANY
mention of it. So why don't they sue newspaper columnists...and are they going to sue MAD
TV and Saturday Night Live? And isn't there a legal principle that if
you didn't sue them ten years ago then you've waited too long?
I have some things I wanted to post to the internet, parodies, and now I
wonder if it's too late.
Somewhere I've read that allowing fanzines and other things to survive
actually allows and encourages interest in Trek to remain alive. They've
gotten millions from Trek so far, despite the existence of all that
other stuff.
Tom Elmore: I just read your announcement. I s there anyway can speed up the time/space
continuim so we can move more quickly into the era Q talked about in Encounter
at Farport, where all the lawyers are dead? I had heard about Paramont's
attacks on web sites, but 22 million against a small publishing firm? That
falls in the "get a life catagory!"
As for Dell, have they done any DNA testing to see if this attorney is
actually a shark? While I realize he is hired to protect their intrests, I
think he could loosen up A LOT! To my knowledge, Lucas has no where been as
critical or protective about Star Wars as Paramont has been with Star Trek. In
other words, he lets fans play in his playground, provided they don't
excessivly break the copyright, and I have never heard of him going after a
web site!
If writing Dell would help, let me know, I would be more than happy to send
them, or any other potential publisher a letter on your behalf. If there is
anything I can do, please feel free to let me know. In the meantime, good luck
with your ventures etc.
Stephen Mendenhall: I wrote you two notes but I don't remember if I sent one of them.
It's too bad, and sad, that Paramount is being such a bully. Allowing
these publications encourages interest in Trek.
I remember the guy who made a Star Wars parody, Hardware Wars, got a
letter from Lucas' lawyers warning him about copyright infringement, and
he sent them a letter saying, "your boss liked it", and he included a
copy of a letter from George Lucas saying how much he liked the parody.
He never heard from the lawyers again. Did Roddenberry say anything
about this stuff?
Scott Padulsky: I am so sorry to hear that news. I have bought and read every guide you
have written and I loved them all. I was so looking forward to that
Star Wars Guide and the inevitable (or so I thought) follow up to your
first X-files guide. Don't these companies know that they are biting
the hand that feeds them? I was only a casual X-Files fan until reading
your guide encouraged me to track down older episodes. And it was
reading your Trek guides that made watching those same episodes over and
over again so much fun. Well I hope you keep up the web site. I have
learned a lot from you about the publishing world and I just want to say
thanks. I am a wanna-be author who is trying to break in, and hearing
from someone "in the trenches" was informative and fun. Well, it been
fun reading your work and I am ashamed that Dell has no courage. Life
isn't fair I suppose and sometimes that just stinks.
Good luck in any future projects you may undertake.
Oh . . . and the reason the
holders of Godzilla's Trademark sued the unauthorized writers is because
they themselves were putting out a guide and they didn't want the
competition. Since Paramount or the makers of the X-files have no
Nitpicker's Guides or any plans to do so what happened in the Godzilla
case really doesn't apply to yours. I know that makes no difference but
it makes *me* feel worse.
It also leads me to a question: Why not submit a proposal to the powers
that be for *authroized* Nitpickers Guides. Paramount has shown little
restraint throwing the Star Trek name on anything. Why not something
quality like your guides. The people at Lucasfilm my like the idea of
your Guide (esp. since you have done much of the work on it already)
because it would generate interest in re-watching the movies and perhaps
going out and buying the books the reader of the guide may have missed.
And finally, you could show the people at the x-files the sales figures
for the first Guide so they could sign off on the sequel. This is not
without precedent. A writer (i forget his name) wrote a book "I really
need to know I learned from Star Trek." The book was published under
someone other than Paramount, unauthorized, but sold so well that
Paramount (actually Pocket Books) allowed the guy to write an
*authroized* follow-up. Maybe you could do something similar?
I know I'm grasping at straws but I want the Guides to continue.
Jennifer Pope: No more Nitpicker's Guides, eh? Well, all
good things... I'll just start praying that your fiction gets a publisher;
I'm really looking forward to reading it someday.
John Latchem: I'm really sorry to see the news about the copyright decision. I know there
are many fans out there, myself included, who really enjoyed the guides. They
were a new way to look at our favorite franchises; new insights into an
already well-analyzed series. I am saddened by the news that there would be
no Star Wars guide. That might have been my favorite of them all. I was
really looking forward to it. But as you say, life goes on.
However, I am happy to see the website will continue. I was wondering if it
wouldn't be too much trouble to post the summaries and nits for the SW
material you've already done. I know many are interested in the insights
you've gathered from that galaxy far, far away.
And, by the way. . .any idea what you would have called it?
Clay: Does your inability to produce more guides affect your doing the page? I hope
not. The page is really fun.....I understand if you have to shut it down but
I hope not.
Chris Marks: I've been reading one of the movie web-sites regularly
(http://corona.bc.ca/films/ in case you're interested), and they've been
reporting on the producers of Godzilla getting very upset about any
information being made public, especially on what the creature's going
to look like, so I guess that's the main cause of the legal case (and as
for Paramount suing someone for 22 million dollars, I don't think you'd
let me say what I think).
I take it your novel's now off the cards as well.
Matt Nelson: Well, by now, I'm sure you've already been inundated with tons of
Email messages from concerned fans of the Nitpicker's Guides, and by
association, yourself. I'm not going to pretend that this letter is
anything else; my gut sank when I read of the recent decisions
regarding your Guides. But first and foremost, let me say that I wish
you and your family all the best, and I'll definitely be praying for
you. Please, keep us all informed on how you're doing!! There are a
million questions running through my head right now, so I'll try to
get some of them down. Already I can feel them all slipping away;
it's too bad all of us couldn't get you on a live chat somewhere!
Then we could talk to you as we think of things! Like I said before, I
was extremely disappointed to hear of the cancellation of any further
Guides. I was looking forward to the Star Wars Guide for sure! And
then a DS9 Volume II, and a Voyager Guide, and the X-Philes II, ad
infinitum. I mean, heck, one of the most treasured items in my book
collection is the DS9 guide my dad asked you to autograph two
Christmases ago. (I think. It's interesting. Time is... fleeting.)
Undoubtedly, you have files upon files upon files of nits and
information we'll never see in print. Will there be any way we can
see these? Perhaps as newsletters? Also, there was that Morn script.
Will we ever see it? (Maybe if you change all the names? ^_^) You
also mentioned that you'd be keeping the website up... "for now". Am
I right in thinking that you have plans to deconstruct in the
forseeable future? If it's because of time constraints as you prepare
to move on to a more "9 to 5" job, well.. I guess all we can do is
wave it goodbye. If, however, this is due to the publishing decisions,
I really hope you won't take it offline. I can only speak for myself,
but I'm sure others would agree that we all *love* Nit Central. It's
great to have such a nicely regulated forum where we can discuss,
sensibly and in great fun, the foibles that permeate Star Trek, and
for that matter all other shows. Like I said, if it's a matter of
sheer caution... I just hope nothing happens too quickly. Your site
is one I really enjoy. If you *do* take the site down, what would you
think of others continuing the Nitpicker tradition on a similar site?
I only propose this hypothetically; I don't want to suggest that
people infringe on the Guide name. Blast. I'm actually choking up
here. I'm just gonna miss this really, really bad, Phil. Take care
of yourself, and I hope the communication between the nitpicking
hordes of the world isn't silenced forever. Here's hoping I see some
of your *fiction* in print soon.
Murray Leeder: Oh Phil, I'm so sorry about the whole situation. This is quite unfair.
And it doesn't make any sense either. I'd argue that your books are a
long way from those other unauthorized Trek books, which aren't exactly
criticism (and really just give information that, to some extent, the
official guides do). You're not even in competition with the official
guides. By extension, does this mean that Roger Ebert's movie guides are
now illegal? I don't think so.
I've gotta wonder, though. With regards to writing, doesn't the fact
that you're established stand for something. I mean, if I were to write
a novel (and I am in the process of so doing) and try to publish it, my
odds would be worse than yours, since I'm joe shmo nobody. But your name
is out there. Doesn't that count for something.
In any event, the best of luck in all of your endeavours, and my
sincerest condolenses.
Omer Belsky: I was very sorry to hear about the end of the guides. I'm sorry for you,
and as sorry for myself and many other fans who were eagerly waiting to
read your other Nitpicker's guides. Watching my favorite TV shows became
more fun due to the guides, and my English sure has imoroved(English isn't
my first languige, and I bought the TNG guide when I was 14 or so...). I
sure hope you'll keep on the site and find a publisher for your own Fiction.
Vicki Strzembosz: I am so sorry to hear about Dell dropping their arrangement
with you. I hope they had already given you a great big advance, so you
have some sort of pay to show for the research you've already been
doing. You might want to check with whoever publishes the authorized
Star Wars novels. After all, Paramount has nothing to do with the Star
Wars universe, and if the other publisher is interested in making money,
this way they can make money off the novels and the errors. Anyway I
know that a talented person like you will be able to succeed in whatever
you end up doing...but I sure do regret that I won't be reading a
Voyager Nitpickers Guide. Good luck to you and your
family.
Kelly Kirkland: I have just read your heartbreaking story of defeat to the minions of
pablum. It really is a terrible shame that the so-called legal
profession attracts those who can't think for themselves.
As I understand it, Paramount hasn't made any comments at all, legal or
otherwise, to Dell. It is just that Dell's newest legal beagle has
decided that your work might potentially perhaps may cause some
potential discomfort. I could understand the situation if your foray
into the Trek universe had potential injury or loss of profits to
Paramount. But I feel that work such as yours, and the massive
following it has in fandom, actually adds to the value of their work.
If it does nothing else, the Nitpicker's Guild motivates its members to
watch every episode very closely, even reruns.
I don't even know whom to complain to. It wouldn't help to bombard
Paramount with letters, email, and phone calls, because they are not the
instigaters. (Or perhaps it would. Do you think that Dell would change
their minds if Paramount explicitly stated that the Nitpicker's Guides
do not violate their copyright?) On the other hand, maybe Dell is the
culprit. Perhaps if enough people stopped buying their products, and
told Dell the reason why, then they might decide to find another lawyer.
Unfortunately, I have had similar experiences to yours. It seems that
there are two kinds of lawyers in the U.S. today. First, there is the
type that wins $1 million judgements from toothpaste companies because
their clients cross-thread the cap on a tube of toothpaste. Second,
there is the type that advises their client not to get out of bed
because they might step on a burgular who then would sue them for lots
of money.
The miracle in this country today is that anything gets accomplished at
all. One measure of our decline is the production of attorneys relative
to engineers and scientists. There is a beacon of hope, however. And
it comes from the Trek universe! Specifically, in the pilot episode of
ST:TNG (Encounter at Farpoint) Picard mentions during the 'trial'
before Q that all the attorneys were killed on Earth. Maybe it would
not have to come to that, if only people would come their senses. There
is still time.
Anyway, don't lose your hope. And don't let the b**tards win. You have
a rare talent to amuse and enlighten people. I wish you all the best.
David D. Porter: I was appalled to read about the First Amendment to the Consitution of
the United States being trampled. Your bully analogy seems to be right on
the mark. *22 MILLION dollars?!?* That's absolutely ludicrous. Perhaps
we need to start looking at boycott action. I can't think of any Paramount
movies I was planning to see this summer, but *they* don't know that!
John Myers: Bad luck again. First you cannot get your novel published and then they
kill the Nitpickers Guides. I hope that you get a good programming job.
I would say more but it would only be a rant about heavy handed lawyers,
and how fan activities led to the success of Trek in the first place.
Francis Landaiche: I hope I speak for the rest of the Nitpickers out there when I say that
we hate what Dell's done to you. If the Guides are legal then they
should have no problems with your work, which I and many others have
found to be quite entertaining over the past few years. Anyway. here's
the best of luck to you and the hopes that we'll see more of your work
in the future, be it Nitpicker guides or your novels.
Lisa Shock: I read your posting regarding Dell, and I am greatly saddened.
So, does this mean that film critics and book reviewers are in
trouble? If the only commentary permitted is officially sanctioned
commentary, won't our world be a lesser place? Where's that little
First Amendment in all of this?
I still think you could make money by throwing a convention for
the guild...
Johanna Sundberg: I was first shocked, then outraged when I read the last part of the AtC column. I'm not
going to waste words on trying to tell you what I think about it (my knowledge of English is
fairly limited when it comes to the kind of language I would need to use - and apart from
that, I don't use that kind of language) - I just want you to know that I'm praying for you
and your family.
Jason L Barnes: Well, Phil, I'm sorry to hear about the SW Guide not going
through. I was acutally kind of looking forward to it since I'm kind of
lacking the the Nitpickdom area lately (no Star Trek can be seen because
of work and I just can't get into the X-Files enough.)
I'm actually kind of shocked to hear about that court case too.
That REALLY puts a gigantic hole into the publishing world. But you
know, there IS a way that you could still do a Star Wars Guide and that
is contact LucasArts and ask the man himself, George Lucas and get it
authorized. I'm told that Lucas has a good sense of humor.
If this goes into the unauthorized Nitpicker Guides, this will
probably float into other areas. No more will I see an "unauthorized
guide to fighting games" or "the Unofficial Guide to this game." I
guess it would mean if the creators of the game don't want a stradegy
guide made, there won't be one ever. This will probably flow into the
Internet next. Sites like the "Happy Puppy" website that offer gaming
hints and codes and secrets will have to shut down out of fear of being
sued.
Deb Hayes: In regards to your comments about ParaBorg, Dell and the Nitpicker's Guides:
It just stuns me that even the implied threat of a lawsuit would bring to
end something I've truly enjoyed for over a year now. You would think that
Paramount would logically assume that the Guides (and other books like it)
= publicity = more viewers = money for the advertisers and more profits
from merchandising. I'm just a silly fan though... what would I know?
Is there anything we could do to try and convince Dell otherwise? To think
that there's no hope for more Guides saddens me greatly. (I've been holding
out hope for a Voyager Guide, despite what you've said in the past. ;))
Regardless of what you decide to do, I wish you luck in any future career
path you choose to take. I hope you continue to try and get your novels
published... I'd really like to read them from what you've described on the
website. And please do keep on with the site if at all possible. No more
Nitcentral would be too much for this fan of yours to take. :)
Mike Deeds: I was sorry to hear that there will be no more Nitpicker's
Guides. As something who bought all five of your Guides, I will be sure to
buy your fiction if you ever get a publisher. I wish you all the best.
Gareth Wilson: I'm sorry to hear about Dell cancelling the Nitpicker's Guide series. My
only suggestion is maybe the producers of Star Wars, or Paramount, would
be interested in official Nitpicker's Guides, thereby short-circuting
the legal worries. Good luck with your fiction writing.
Christopher Pope: In the midst of the great outpouring of sympathy you're no doubt
receiving this week, here are some positive thoughts to consider:
Besides "getting five books out the door," you've established an
organization with thousands of members, filling a huge void in the Star Trek
fan community (and beyond). I'm confident that even if, at some point, time
or money forces you "resign" as chief, the Guild will continue.
You were able to leave your regular career for several years for what
many would consider to be a "dream job" that consisted largely of watching
television, writing down summaries and mistakes, and getting paid for it
(not to mention becoming a man of no small renown.)
You demonstrated to the world that a Bible-believing Christian can
still have fun, be productive, and enjoy science fiction.
As you join the rest of us amateur nitpickers, your five-year run may
open some doors for you in other areas. You have an established relationsip
with Dell that could prove helpful if you come up with a similarly brilliant
publishing idea in the future. Perhaps a future science fiction endeavor
will need a "technical consultant" or advisor to nitpick their ideas before
they hit the screen. You could even become the next Mike Okuda. Who knows?
The point is, nothing comes without a purpose, and from our standpoint,
none of us can know just how the events of this week and of the last five
years will affect your life or the history of the universe in general. At
least one thing is certain: We should not be weighed down by regret and
feelings of futility. Looking back on his life and seeing loose threads, one
of our great captains noted, "when I began to pull on those threads, it
unravelled the tapestry of my life."
You're in our prayers, chief. But be assured, your life has been woven
well.
Andrew Corcoran: Usually I comment on how good this week's Ask The Chief column is, but
to be honest I didn't get to read it all since I was drawn into what you
wrote at the end.
I expect that many of your fellow Inter-Nitpickers are e-mailing you on
the same subject, so I don't expect any of my comments to be included in
the next Ask The Chief column, since I have not really a good idea of
how all the legalities work over in the USA. From what you wrote I
deciphered that even though what you published was highly innocent, the
type of material you write was brought under question by the large
companies such as Paramount (very indirectly, of course) and therefore
scared your publishers, Dell, and therefore probably many other
publishing companies. I am very sorry to hear that.
Although there is the chance that this could be turned around, and all
could be fine and dandy again, I will assume to make it easy in this
e-mail that your writing career has been completely terminated.
During your 5 or 6 year nitpick career, I am sure you would agree that
you weren't the *greatest* writer there ever was (although you had a
style that I really liked), but what made you successful was the idea
you had - it was so unique! This idea sold the books. Who could have
thought you could get enjoyment out of finding mistakes in programs that
people work so hard to get right. But as you say, everybody is human.
You weren't famous, I don't think, when you began nitpicking. In fact,
from what I can tell from you, you were a normal religious family man
who put your family before yourself, and still do, hence why you seek a
new form of employment. I can accept that. I am not going to be selfish
and whine about the fact that there will be no more guides, even if I
did feel like that at first! I felt last night, when I was reading the
column, that one of my interests in life had dissolved, and in fact I
was quite angry that I wouldn't be able to flick through any more guides
to find some top class nits on whatever series and episode you have
nit-picked. But I have accepted the fact that it had to end sometime, in
some way. It was inevitable.
I first came across one of your books in 1995. It was your Classic Trek
guide, which was sitting there in this book shop. I read one of your
nits - one about how the scene flicked from day to night. This was the
first nit I read. I then bought the NextGen II Guide a few months later,
and was hooked. I made sure I had the rest of the guides, and all the
newsletters, so I had as many nits as possible. I soon downloaded most
of the files from this website for off-line reading. So I have
everything, now! I feel I can be called an official "nitpicker," or at
least "one-who-reads-nits-written-by-Phil-Farrand-and-company."
You say that you will keep the web site running, which I am glad to
hear. I understand it can't get much bigger, and I don't expect you to
fill it to bursting point. I feel, though, that you should allow
nitpicking to continue. You have created a new interest and a new angle
at enjoying science fiction, which I think you should allow now to
evolve. You, to use a really poor simile, were the one who saw the
nitpick-mobile broken down, gave it a good strong push, and drove it on
its way. It has now gone down a road full of speed bumps at 100
kilometres per hour. Although it will survive the time at the moment, it
will still be at bit dented underneath. You, seeing that during and
after the speed bumps there wasn't much hope in any more "income," dived
out of the nitpick-mobile just before the speed bumps were hit, and
although it is under control during this time, you have gone into hiding
on the Internet - no more books to be published! But I understand it
isn't your fault.
I'd better stop now - I expect you will have many more to read on the
same subject this week!
Happy, erm, seeking a new career and nitpicking!
Jason Haase: Say it ain't so! I feel so betrayed by your publisher! Here I was
already planning a year in advance to purchase the Nitpicker's Guide to
Star Wars and now I can't! You mentioned that your friends were saying
how well you were taking this, I'm sure I'm not the only member of the
Guild who isn't taking this well. I'm close to depressed over the whole
thing!
I feel like there must be something we can do! How about writing to
your publisher and letting them know how disappointed we all are in
them. Maybe if enough Nitpickers write they will see how much your
books mean to us. Their address is on the inside of each of your books.
Maybe we could all write to George Lucas and beg him to authorize your
book and tell him it's not meant to be mean spirited, it's just our way
of enjoying his wonderful creation. Then the publisher would have no
reason not to release your book. The offical Star Wars Fan Club will
forward mail to him. Their address is Star Wars Insider, P.O. Box
111000, Aurora, CO 80042.
I must be in denial or something, I just can't believe this could be
the end of the Nitpicker's Guides! I was hoping to fill a bookshelf
with a whole bunch of them someday. Please try to at least keep the
Guild going. I finally got a computer so I could achieve the next level
of nitpicking, and now it seems like the end is near.
I do have a question as well. I've been reading through the back
issues of Ask The Chief and I remember someone saying something about
the Deep Space Nine book not doing very well in sales. I was just
wondering how well did each of the books do and was the DS9 book that
much of a disappointment? I personally enjoyed it as much as all of the
rest.
I want you to know that I will be thinking of you and I hope that
something can be done to correct this mistake on the part of your
publisher.
Jason Liu: I just read the latest Ask the Chief and heard the shocking
news. I guess doctors and writers have a common enemy - the lawyer! ;) Anyway, all
kidding aside, I just wanted to say that I truly enjoyed reading the Guides and am sorry to
hear that you won't be writing anymore. Best of luck to you. Well, we'll keep on
nitpicking everything in sight. I look forward to the continuing voyages of NitCentral.
Dave Andrews: I'm very sorry to hear that events have gone so badly pear-shaped. Maybe
Paramounts lawyers have been hanging around with Disney, I don't know.
Don't hang up your writing shingle altogether though; enough people bought
your books (and write to you!) that you should know that we've enjoyed your
style and humour.
Anyway, best of luck with finding new employment. I hope it works out for
you in the future.
Matthew Patterson: I must say, you certainly are taking this thing with Dell awfully well.
If it were me, I would have been calling eevery lawyer in the phone book
trying to drum up a lawsuit or something. You truly have an enlightened
viewpoint.
I wish you the best of luck for the future.
Brian Henley: I got a bunch of lawyer jokes for you if you're in the mood.
But not now. I just wanted to let you know that both Mike and I are very
disappointed with the leagal big shots who can't stand the thought of a few
people having a bit of good clean fun. Shakespere once said that the first
thing we'll have to do is kill all the lawyers. A bit extreme, perhaps. But
the benefits of such a measure might be something to ponder ......
I, personally am a big fan of copyright laws, and I think that
individual thinkers, writers and inventors should have protection of what I
call "brain pirates". Brain pirates take the intellectual fruits of other's
labors and use them for themselves. Theives in every sense of the word.
The idear of the Para-mounties lumping you into the same field as the
brain pirates really grosses me out. You didn't steal anyone's idea, you
presented your own ideas on the shows. People bought your books curious as to
what you thought the nits in each episode were. The didn't buy them for the
results of the Star Trek creator's labors, they bought them for your hard work
and research in nitpicking the episodes. Oooooooh, these guys make me mad. I
think the possibility of suing Dell over these nitpicker guides is something
that goes against everything good and decent that the Copright laws, and the
First Amendment stands for.
As Picard said in "Justice" ... "The Prime Directive was never intended for
that"
Ya know, Phil, one of the things I enjoy the most about your guides is
that they're very humorous. The woodsy, down home kind of launguage, coupled
with the adversion to using those colorfull metaphors, is a credit to your
writing style. A breath of fresh air in this current world of sleaze and in-
your-face.
In your future endevours, I'd love to see you follow you're own Secondary
Directive, for it has real value in the real world. I know you will, given the
light-heartedness with which you approach your work. I think a credo of
"lightheartednes and good cheer" is something that is the utmost
importantance. That and faith are the things that keep us going when we live
in a world of lawyers who seem to have little clue as to why the law was
written. It kept Picard and Sisko going when everyone in Starfleet command
made all the wrong decisions. It keeps Tuvock going when he has no competant
security guards on Voyager and aliens are waiting in line, patiently waiting
their turns to invade Voyager,
And of course, it keeps the creators and directors going when they
try to produce a series that's loaded with nits.
A final note of gratitude, Phil. Thanks. Thanks for showing us how to have a
little fun with our favorite shows. Nitpicking just a delightfull toy, Thanks
for showing us how to play with it.
Anomaly: I was saddened to learn of your current situation and I'd just like to
drop you a line and say that I wish you the best, whatever that may be.
I've been in an in-between employment situation for some time and it
isn't easy. Although my circumstances are very different from yours,
maybe you can take some comfort in the reassurance that others are going
through tough times too and you are mentioned in their prayers.
Todd Felton: Very sorry to hear about what has happened with Dell, copyright
infringement, and all that jazz. I've enjoyed all your Trek Nitpicker
guides, beginning with the first Next Gen guide. I was probably one of
the first members of the Nitpicker's Guild, and have had some of my nits
included in the Next Gen II Guide, DS9 Guide, numerous newsletters, and
of course the web page. The world works in mysterious, and often
stupid, ways sometimes, and it's really quite a shame that you're being
forced out of the Nitpicking guides. I hope you get some headway with
your fiction books soon, I'm looking forward to reading them. So what
I'm trying to say is thank you for your writing and producing of the
Guides, and for enabling Star Trek fans like myself to contribute. (It's
a big thrill to show my friends--"See! That nit is mine! I'm in a Star
Trek book!!) Good luck in whatever you decide to do. And Keep on
Trekking :)
Howard Durdle: After reading the Nitpicker's Guide to the Next Gen, I eagerly awaited the
next book, and the next and the next. It's a good job I bought them as soon
as I saw them given Paramount's recent actions.
I just wanted to let you know that your writings both published and on the
web have been appreciated by many. Your writing conveys such a great sense
of humour that through the books and nitcentral I feel I know you - and that
Paramount have stomped on you aswell is appauling.
Question: once the books are out of print will they be republished? Or will
the current copies be the only ones in existence? If they do runout would
you consider putting the manuscripts on the web? In whatever format you
created them? I ask, because that's the only thing I miss about the books -
I can't search them properly!
Sincere thanks for the joy your books bring - I'll look forward to updates
to nitcentral (I guess it's the only way we'll see the Nitpicker's Guide to
Voyager).
Sara Greenblatt: I just read the current Ask The Chief.... Although I'm just a recent
member of the Guild (due to the Internet) I've enjoyed all your Trek
Nitpicker Guides since they first came out, and have caught up on all
your posted Voyagers and newsletters since I got on the Net several
months ago (they've all been downloaded them to my
c:\....StarTrek\Nits subdirectory.)
I'm sorry that your publishing career has stalled out; maybe Dell will
hire yet another new lawyer some day -- who'll be more concerned with
the rights of the reading public than the monopoly of some "schoolyard
bullies." I certainly hope you *do* continue the NCIEO website.
Thanks for the great job so far!
Vince Hamilton: I was so terribly sad to learn that you could no longer produce nitpicker guides. I'm currently in the middle of the X-Phile guide, and plan to slow down my reading pace (to make
it last!).
My question is, what do you plan to do with all of the past Voyager reflections, atc colums,
etc? Are you going to put them on the web site? Anyhow, best of wishes on the job search.
Sean Corcoran: First off, sorry to hear about the guides. I was really looking forward
to the Star Wars guide. I might make a suggestion, though. Joe
Straczynski, creator of Babylon 5, has always been extremely friendly
toward fans, their websites, and their clubs. Perhaps now might be the
time to look into doing an authorized Nitpicker's Guide to Babylon 5.
They might just let you do it. I don't know, just a thought.
Reid Joiner: First of all, let me say that I'm sorry about this unfortunate
occurance. I love the Nitpicker's Guide's; I couldn't wait for the Star
Wars guide. Ah well. Will you still attempt to publish your two
novels?
I was curious: do you have a copy of the "Godzilla ruling" that you
could email me, or do you know where on the 'Net I could find a copy of
the ruling? I would like to see the monster that's killing your Guides.
Again, I am truly sorry. I hope things work out for you. I'm sure they
will.
Alex Smith: I had no idea. You know, maybe you should mention this critical piece of
news at the TOP of the column, and even on the main web page.
I'm real sorry for you. What I can't believe is that you're taking it so
easily, as if you were expecting it to happen. You just lost your job!
And it was because of some even unrelated to you. I would be pretty
angry.
I was a bit fuzzy about the freedom of speech paragraph and copyrighted
material. Could you explain it furthur, perhaps in another statement?
What will happen to the nitpicker's guild?
Trevor Ruppe: I just read Friday's Ask the Chief column and I have to say I am stunned
and deeply saddened by the news. I, too, have had bad experiences in
writing/publishing endeavors, and I know exactly how you feel.
As someone who once wanted to have several books published, I'm proud of
you for accomplishing all that you did. (Five books is nothing to sneeze
at!) As a writer, just knowing that you were able to take your words and
convince someone else to bind them together and distribute them across the
country/world *has* to be satisfying.
I know you're in the process of looking for a "real" job, but I hope you
don't give up on your novel-writing (if you could at least do it in your
spare time...? Even a chapter a week is better than nothing.) Your quick
"nitpicking" of television plots demonstrates your ability to handle
dramatic structure, and I was greatly looking forward to the two novels
you've told us about.
(I'm still waiting for something like this to happen to me, actually. I
have a few web pages devoted to my guilty pleasure--"Buffy the Vampire
Slayer" TV series--and so far there have been no repercussions from the
studio, while several people's quite innocent "X-Files" home pages have
been threatened with lawsuits from Fox if the sites aren't deleted!)
Two questions, please:
1) Any chance you could post the Star Wars nits you had found so far?
2) Any chance you could, if it unfortunately looks like you can't find a
publisher for your novels, post a summary of their plots? (Risky, I know,
but I believe you would still hold the copyrights on these works even if
you did give some descriptions of them on the net. I'm pretty sure I
remember a ruling that web pages *ARE* considered copyrighted, published
materials. That would mean every word that's ever appeared on the
NITCENTRAL.COM site is considered copyrighted by you already.)
Just wanted to let you know that we're all thinking of you and that this
news in no way diminishes the incredible and entertaining things you've
accomplished so far!
I look forward to seeing your name on the cover of a new book someday!!
Ed Watson: I have just read your current column and am terribly saddened to hear
the news about Dell and your writing career. Let me just say that while
I have never had the opportunity to read your fiction(my loss) I have
always been impressed with your ability to put things in writing that
were consise, clear, and usually hilarious. I am reminded in particular
of your brash reflection for "Before and After". I tried for hours to
put my problems about the "Kes jumps around in time" show, but never got
it correct to my satisfaction. Then I read your two paragraphs and
thought, "Yes! That's what I was trying to say." That happened a lot,
but that one really stuck with me.
I'm glad you're ok with all this, but I certainly am NOT! I bought my
1st Nitpickers Guide in Feb. 1994, and within a few weeks was sending
off my first letter. I've been a proud member of the guild ever since,
and am not looking forward to seeing it end. Do you have an idea on how
long the website will last? However long that is, I have a request for
when it does have to end. Could you put together a mailing list of
nitpickers who regularly send nits to the NCIEO? Anyone who would be
willing to submit their address would get the list of everyone else's
email address. At least we could send our nits to each other. It's just
a suggestion. Perhaps you could throw it out to the guild and see what
everyone thinks. Maybe we could all find a chat room or something.
Well, I guess that's all for now. I could go on, but I need to let all
this sink in for a while.
Good luck on the "new" career, although I don't think you'll need it.
Alex Otis: I am truly sorry that the Souless Minions of Orthodoxy
have won again. I know that the publishers won't stand up to them, even
though they should.
Now to the point of this post. Since there will no longer be any
more DS9 guides, are you going to start posting nits for the DS9 eps.
Even if you do not for the remaining episodes of this season, I think
you should for next season. It will be the last season.
Callie Sullivan: Well, what can I say. I'm shocked to read the news of the discontinuation
of the Nitpicker's Guides. No doubt you're being bombarded with mail on the
subject, so I won't rant about something which you can't change, but all I'd
like to say is:
*****THANK YOU!*****
I still remember sitting up all night reading the first Next Gen guide back
in 1994 and creasing up with laughter at 4 in the morning despite being so
tired that I could barely keep my eyes open - all because I just couldn't
put it down.
And I equally enjoyed the DS9 and Classic guides.
And I finally (after much fruitless searching around various shops and
publishers in the London, England area) got hold of the Next Gen II Guide
only last week (had to order it through Amazon in the end), have read about
2/3rds of it so far and have laughed out loud more times than I can
remember, thinking to myself on more than one occasion, "I've *missed* this
guy!"
Phil, you're a treasure - there may well be "thousands of people who write
better than" you, but very *very* few of them have made me laugh as much as
you have, or given me such enjoyment, and the ability to go back to an
episode of a programme which I've already seen four times and enjoy it all
over again by watching it with new eyes.
Thanks for everything *so far* - I'm sure there's much more to come. And
long may the Guild continue!
Jason Haase: I don't know why I can't think of these things all at one sitting. I
can't believe your publisher would drop you after you wrote five books
for them! I think to make up for this they should publish your first
novel you have completed. I can't remember the name right off hand.
What do you think? We could add this to the letter writing I had
mentioned previously.
Chris McKnerney: I'm sure you're getting a lot of this, but I just wanted to throw
in my two cents. I just read what happened to the Star Wars and future
guides and I'm stunned. I really love your books and check the website
every week (although I only submitted my first nit this morning). I
can't tell you how sorry I am about this. Sure, anyone can find
mistakes in tv shows, but your style of writing and approach to the
subject make for some really enjoyable reading. You do far more than
simply list the mistakes. You make it fun, you never take yourself or
the show too seriously. To me, that's what separates you from all the
wacko Trekies out there, and I think that's important for people like
me who like the shows without going overboard. That there will be no
more books is a tragedy of sorts, although I'm sure a talented person
like yourself will do fine. I hope that someday you'll try to get back
to this. I know nitpicking isn't your aspired career goal, but you did
a wonderful job with the books. I was really looking forward to that
second DS9 guide and maybe even one for Voyager. Good luck. I hope you
find something you love doing. Thanks for the reading.
PS On a side note, I'd like to thank you for bringing the nitpicking
to my attention in the first place. I'm a college student and
prospective filmmaker. These books have made me pay far more attention
to detail and continuity than I ever would have without them. Who
knows, maybe someday someone will beat the bullies and you'll be
nitpicking my movies or tv shows. I'd gladly give whatever legal
nonsense you'd need.
Murray Leeder: Here's a thought. You've discussed doing a movie nitpicker's guide.
Isn't that still permissible? The other ones are dead because they are
unauthorized guides to select shows, Godzilla, Trek, X-Files, etc. But a
movie guide wouldn't be select. I can't think of any qualitative way
it's any different from Roger Ebert and Pauline Kael's books.
Harvey & Elizabeth Kitzman: I was saddened when I read about the situation with Dell and
the NItpicker's Guides. I truly enjoy them, before I watched an episode
I read the nits and actively look for them. What does the future hold?
I would hate for the Nitpicker's Guild and web site to fold. Is there
any way we can help? Is there anyone we can write to? If I may be so
bold as to speak for the Guild, I think that we would all give you a
hand if you asked. I am really getting sick of the heavy-handed manner
with which Paramount is treating the fans. They constantly show
contempt for us, yet they don't realize that without us, the franchise
is nothing.
Also, by any chance are you going to post the nits for DS9 covering
the episodes not in the DS9 guide? I realize that this would take a
great deal of time, but it would mean a great deal to us.
Andrew Love: Sorry to hear that the "Star Wars" nitguide is cancelled - your novel
is, I hope, unaffected by this legal unpleasantness.
Francis Lalumiere: I know you must have received thousands of emails just like mine,
but I had to write.
I've just stumbled upon last week's "Ask the Chief" column, and I'm
devastated. I never thought all your work and effort would come to such
a screeching halt - and as a side effect, I find Paramout even more
disgusting than I ever did (and that's quite a lot, believe me). So I
know this won't change anything, but I needed to tell you I think this
is a shame and that we (the Trek community) have lost one of our best
Trek Men ever.
You'll be truly, sorely, missed. I know we still have the Web page, but
not to be able to expect any new guide from you is quite a shock. I
can't even begin to truly understand what a shock it must be to you.
So I hope (hope's free, right?) that you'll find a new publisher for the
guides. And if this doesn't happen, I sincerely wish for you to get an
interesting and fulfilling new career.
Take care, Phil, and keep us informed!
Nina Culver: I just read about you publisher troubles and I must say I'm just
devestated. Every time I watch an episode, I wonder what you'll say
about it. It's not just your nits, it's your comments thrown in. Anyway,
on to my question. Since this stuff won't be published, will you be
starting a brash reflections site for Deep Space Nine? There are tons of
nits there as well and since you can't publish them....If you ever get a
new publisher lined up, I'll be first in line for the book.
Sarah Perkins: Wow. I just got on your web page and heard the news. A bit of a
slap-a-the-face, huh? I can see their point of view, but still....
I am so sorry. I was looking forward to more Nitpicker's Guides. I'm
glad the web page will continue for now. I assume the Guild still
exsists( I hope so! It's the only fan club I could afford to join,
besides being so much fun).
I pray that you will be able to continue your writing or at least find a
job that will leave you some time for it. I write too, so I can see how
it might feel to be able to write for your living and then have to quit.
I hope to see your novels in print someday.
Gary Holmes: I'm sorry about the news of your next guide. Keep the
research, you never know what the future might bring.
Dustin Westfall: Whoa. I've been busy getting ready for finals, and just heard about your
situation with Dell. Very Sorry to hear about this. It seems to me Dell
is being OVERLY cautious (Yes, I understand why, but still...). The Star
Wars guide would probably have little or no problem, since Lucas and Co.
seem to be rather generous compared to Paramount when it comes to
copyright issues. I would also like to complain to Dell personally about
this issue. Can you give me/us an address to write to, as well as all
the info you have about the ruling, so I/we sound like I/we know what
we're talking about? Also, since you seem to have it on good authority
that Paramount understands that the Nitpicker's Guides are perfectly
legal, I wonder why this solution hasn't been suggested (or has it?) Why
not simply have an informal meeting with the Paramount execs, and
discuss the issues involved. And, if Dell was still a little antsy about
the deal, how about getting in writing Paramount's position about this.
True, Paramount could still turn around and sue them, but the letter
would likely undercut any argument they could make. And, I think the
laws have changed so that the loser pays the winner's legal bills (at
least in some states).
This all assumes you still want to do this. If you decide to return to
programming, then this won't do much. I just find it unfortunate that
they have pulled the rug out from under you, and wish to rectify that.
Thanks.
Phil: First of all, thanks again for all of the kind words about the work. It was definitely a fun ride!
Second, while lawyers are probably the driving force in all this, we need to remember that there are good lawyers as well! Some of them are even members of the Nitpicker's Guild. ;-)
Now, let me see if I can address all the questions . . .
Just to review lest there be any confusion, no lawyer contacted Dell and charge the Nitpicker's Guides with copyright infringement. My best information states that the Nitpicker's Guides are legal and protected by the First Amendment. Dell simply freaked out over the Godzilla judgement and the current actions of Paramount.
And speaking of the Godzilla judgement, what follows is the bare essence of the situation taken from a CNN report to the CNN website on April 20:
"In an unheralded but dramatic victory Monday, Godzilla's copyright holder blocked the publication of a major book about the radioactive dinosaur and its 40-year movie career. Toho co. sued publisher William Morrow and Co,. saying its slick, 227 page compendium, 'Godzilla! The Complete Guide to Moviedom's Mighiest Monster,' violated Toho's Godzilla trademark and copyright.
"Judge Dickran Tevrizian said Toho was likely to prevail at trial and granted a court order halting publication of the Morrow book.
"'This is not some innocent book they are trying to put out,' Toho lawyer Charles Shephard says of the Morrow's book. 'They are trying to get the benefit other licensees paid for . . . . Infringers are not going to be tolerated by Toho or by the courts.'
"Tevrizian agreed, saying the Morrow book would likely hurt an authorized Godzilla book published by Random House, which paid a license fee for such rights. 'Both book are seeking to capitalize on the Godzilla marketing blitz that always accompanies a blockbuster film,' the judge's order says. "Morrow had crossed the line to the point where they are explointing Toho's copyrighted material without paying the customary price."
Okay, now, I'm sure those of you who are legal-savy are shouting, "But that's not the same thing as the Nitpicker's Guides at all!" And, I agree with you. And, the First Amendment lawyer that my agent spoke with agrees with you too! It means nothing! All that matters is that Dell's lawyer is uncomfortable with the Nitpicker's Guides and that makes Dell uncomfortable and that's the end.
You should also know that I'm a staunch proponent of the copyright law. I absolutely believe that creators deserve protection so that every Tom, Dick and Harry don't copy their stuff. I believe Toho has the right to protect it's copyright. On the other hand, I am also a believer in freedom of speech and in the case of unauthorized books, coprights and freedom of speech collided because it is inevitable in an unauthorized book about a copyrighted entity like Godzilla that the authors will mention copyrighted material.
But how much of the copyrighted material can can be mention? How much can be quoted? At what point are people only buying the book because of the copyrighted material and not because of the content that the author added?
These are the questions that much be answered to determine if the author has "infringed" on the copyright holder's material.
And, unfortunately, they are questions that can only be decided in the courts. And courts are very expensive because lawyers are very expensive and in the end, money wins . . . unfortunately.
That's the way it is.
Now . . . my agent is contacting Del Ray to see if they would like to do an authorized Nitpicker's Guide. We are also talking to another publisher about the possibility of doing a small book that only covers the movies. That's the update on the Star Wars Nitpicker's Guide.
As to the rest of the questions such as will I released information collected to the website; how long with I keep the website going; et al . . .
The short answer is: I don't know.
Here's my plan, right at the moment, subject to change without warning, in the event of a tornado or other act of God, including but not limited to flood, fire or raspberry-flavored hail . . .
Some of the leads that I have on jobs concern website development in Cold Fusion and Java. I need to learn these languages. Not coincidentally, I have a website that I'd like to continue if I could figure out how to reduce the amount of hands-on time required every week.
So, I'm thinking that I'll use the Nitpicker Central Interent Extension Office as my test bed and see if I can start automating a bunch of this stuff like the uploads. If I can do that I can actually increase the amount of properties that we can nitpick while decreasing the time I spend maintaining the site. I would mean that I would have less direct involvement with the Brash Reflections, for instance, but I would browse through them and add comments from time to time.
I'll just have to see what can be done in this wonderful web world to make my life mor efficient. And, at the same time, I'll be developing the skills that I need to get work!
Sound like a plan? ;-)
Oh, and, all of this doesn't affect my prospects for getting a novel published because they remain near zero as do the prospects for all the other would-be unpublished authors out there!
On to the questions . . .
Reed Derleth: The location index in the X-Files Nitpicker guide was a great idea. I
have a batch of borrowed videos I'm trying to index, and having that
list of locations makes it very easy (especially because I haven't seen
most of these episodes yet, and I'm trying to avoid watching them out of
order).
I've been looking on the net for any similar listings so I can index
season 5 episodes, but I haven't had any luck. Do you know of a site
where I can find an index like this? Are you maintaining one yourself
that you can post to your site?
Phil: I'm not currently maintain one. Anybody know?
Murray Leeder: Now that the Star Wars Guide has come to a hault, will you make your
research public on the web?
Phil: See above!
Jason Haase: Have you considered doing any brash reflections for this summer's
movies? I've seen Deep Impact and plan on seeing Godzilla, amongst
others. I was just thinking it would be fun to send in, and also read
other's, nitpicks on these films and all the rest to come during the
summer. Especially since DS9 and Voyager will be in reruns soon.
Phil: If I can get some automation going--parsing email messages, coalating information, uploading it--perhaps we'll do some of the blockbuster movies!
Alberto Perez Trevino: I don't know where to start! I am a Trekie 1000%, but I've been away from the US working in Mexico and I've missed all the DS9 season 97-98. I left
off where Sisko and some of his crew were forced out of DS9 by the invading
Dominion. The last I saw of them they were joining a force of
Klingon-Federation ships. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THIS, I'M DYING. After
waiting for 2 or so years to see the Klingons fight the Jemhaddar, I can't
see it!! Did they (kingons-Jemhaddar) get it on. Who's the better
warrior? What happened to the Alliance (Klingons-Federation) Did they
push out the Dominion? Are the Romulans on our side? Please, spare a
little of your time and send me some info. Anything!! What are your
thoughts about Klingons vs. Jemhaddar?
Phil: Unfortunately, I am really taxed for time this morning. I do have some leads to run down and a computer to buy. The short answer is that there was never a staged battle between the Jem'Hadar and the Klingons because Sisko had the Prophets nuked all the Jem'hadar ships before they could get out of the wormhole!
As for the Romulans, as of "In the Pale Moonlight," the have joined the war against the Dominion!
Shane Cathcart: I have recently read on Cinescape Online (www.cinescape.com if anyone is interested) that a
Film Studio was about to produce the book This Present Darkness written by Frank Peretti. It
was halted twice.
Now, I think this film would be fantastic if it was made possible, and I would like to know
what the interest level of people in the USA would be, since I'm in Australia. I really
think this is a project we should get behind, rather than some of the junk Hollywood is
pushing out now.
The film is a Christian Sci-Fi novel based on a battle between Heaven and Hell on the
streets of a small town. If you haven't read it, then you are really missing out.
Now, I have already formed a petition and am certain I could get 1000 signatures. This, I
think, would be a first step. I would like to hear your opinion, Phil, and the opinion of
others. Does anyone know anything about this project and what studio was about to produce
it?
Phil: I've read the book but I haven't heard of the movie deal. Hollywood doesn't respond to the normal tenants of logic so I wouldn't be one to offer any advice! ;-)
Brian O'Marra: I wanted to jot you this brief thank-you for another fun year at Nitcentral!!
Thanks for your kind and insightful comments on my submissions!
I look forward to the Voyager Guide this fall! I was also wondering, do you
have any plans to do a book on Lost-In-Space in the not too distant future?
Boy, talk about fertile nitpicking ground! You may need three volumes to fit
all the plot discrepencies and bloopers!
I'll continue to drop by the website to catch up on the goings on...Until the
fall....
Phil: Glad you've enjoyed the ride! But . . . um . . . you might want to read my comments at the end of the last Ask the Chief!
Have a great weekend, everybody!
If you would like to submit a question or comment, send it to: chief@nitcentral.com with "Ask the Chief" or "Question" in the Subject line. (Remember the legalese:
Everything you submit becomes mine and you grant me the right to use your
name in any future publication by me.)
Copyright 1998 by Phil Farrand. All rights reserved.