INTERVIEW: Larry Nemecek's Origin Story

·46 min·4 clips

How did Larry Nemecek discover Star Trek and what's his reaction to the TNG cast getting a Lifetime Achievement Award?

The episode is an interview with Larry Nemecek, known as Dr. Trek, conducted by host T. Rick Jones for Daily Star Trek News. Nemecek begins by describing how he first encountered Star Trek as a freshman in high school when his science teacher and classmates had blue dots on their foreheads, referencing the Halkins from the Mirror Mirror episode. He initially watched the animated series before the live-action show. Nemecek explains that his early fandom was atypical, focusing on technical manuals, blueprints, and background details rather than fanfiction, placing him in a minority among fans. He discusses accidentally getting the contract to write the Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion after years of self-publishing annual concordances that were used by the show's writers and assistants to maintain continuity. Nemecek details the challenges of creating the companion book, including a tight deadline and issues with image approvals involving Leonard Nimoy. He also talks about his work on stellar cartography, building on earlier efforts by Franz Joseph and Jeff Mandel to map Star Trek's universe. Nemecek describes his Portal 47 project, which aims to preserve and share insights from behind-the-scenes creatives often overlooked in favor of actors. He reflects on his career blending journalism, theater training, and fandom to professionally document Star Trek. The interview concludes with Nemecek's thoughts on the TNG cast receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award, acknowledging their impact on the genre and television industry.

As heard by us

Larry Nemechek looks back on the difficult, oddly timed path to The Next Generation Companion.

Larry Nemechek's memories of creating The Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion turn a familiar reference book into a story about timing, access, and the awkward machinery around television production.

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Why you'd press play

You get a behind-the-scenes Star Trek story where access, interviews, and Leonard Nimoy's image-approval dispute all shape the making of a TNG companion book.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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