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• Star Trek inspired by Tolkien

  badlands > May 5th, 2023, 04:14 PM

  Did Tolkien inspired Star Trek writers? Instead of orcs, they were replaced by Klingons. Instead of elves, Vulcans. Instead of Dark elves, Romulans. Instead of hobbits, Tribbles.

• RE: Star Trek inspired by Tolkien

  Michael > May 6th, 2023, 01:05 AM

  I've seen people speculate as much (although the connection between hobbits and tribbles is new to me). I'm not aware of any real confessions of such influences by the writers.
  
  Certainly Gene Roddenberry wasn't influenced by Tolkien. He was more into westerns, police dramas, and Shakespearean "morality plays".
  
  That said, the original series employed some of the top science fiction writers in the field (of that time). I'd be amazed if none of them had read The Lord of the Rings by the 2nd season (if not the 1st).
  
  I don't think an indirect Tolkien influence can be ruled out but I've never come across a thorough attempt to draw a connection between Tolkien and Trek.

• RE: Star Trek inspired by Tolkien

  Alvin Eriol > May 12th, 2023, 04:03 PM

  IMO, Trek and Tolkien are two media milieus that both draw on some stock 'types' and themes to make up their plotlines and casts of characters. One can certainly draw some suggestive parallels between, say, the Vulcans and the Quendi, the Orcs and the Klingons. They stand as IMO samples of very idealized, or very debased and almost irredeemable (at least so far as ToS Klingons are concerned) 'humane' races with whom to compare and contrast ordinary folks (which would include Hobbits).
  
  IMO that's mainly because JRRT, and in many cases the Trek writers, all drew on relatable and often familiar models.
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