A look at the short stories, films, and true-life events that may have shaped or inspired a few of the classic Star Trek episodes.
We'll also take a look at stories or films quite similar to some of the episodes, and at published short stories which got their start as rejected Star Trek episode outlines. We're happy to entertain any ideas readers may have! Contact us at randy@orionpressfanzines.com

General Influences on Star Trek: Forbidden Planet, 12 to the Moon, First Spaceship on Venus.

"The Girls from Earth"
a short story by Frank M. Robinson
first published in the January 1952 issue of Galaxy
review primarily based on the X-Minus One radio play
adapted by George Lefferts, aired January 16, 1957

"The Enemy Below"
a 1957 film based on the novel by D.A. Rayner
the precursor to "Balance of Terror"

"Five Came Back"
a 1939 film based on a screen story by Richard Carroll
the precursor to "The Galileo Seven"

"Arena"
a short story by Fredric Brown
first published in the June 1944 issue of Astounding Science Fiction
the precursor to "Arena"

Adolf Kodos Is Alive
the origins of "The Conscience of The King"

"Broomstick Ride"
a short story by Robert Bloch
first published in the December 1957 issue of Super Science Fiction
the precursor to "Catspaw"

"One Way Street"
a short story by Jerome Bixby
first published in the December 1953/January 1954 issue of Amazing Stories
the precursor to "Mirror, Mirror"

Flat Cats
from the 1952 Robert Heinlein novel The Rolling Stones
the probable origin of tribbles from "The Trouble with Tribbles"

"With Folded Hands"
a short story by Jack Williamson
first published in the July 1947 issue of Astounding Science Fiction
expanded into the novel, The Humanoids, in 1949
the precursor to "I, Mudd"

"What Friday's Child Is This?"
the origin of the title of the script, "Friday's Child"
written by D.C. Fontana

"Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper"
look at the short story and various adaptations of “Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper”
written by Robert Bloch

"The Pueblo Incident"
the real-life incident which led to "The Enterprise Incident"

"The Tempest"
a play by William Shakespeare
first produced in the winter of 1612-1613
an inspiration for "Requiem for Methuselah"

"The Shadow of Space"
a short story by Philip Jose Farmer
a rejected outline which was restructured as an original short story
has some interesting similarities to "Is There in Truth, No Beauty?"
Published in the November 1967 issue of Worlds of If

"Sketches Among The Ruins of My Mind"
a short story by Philip Jose Farmer
a rejected outline which was restructured as an original short story
Published in the Harry Harrison-edited anthology, Nova 3, 1973

"The Borderland of Sol"
a short story by Larry Niven
a rejected TAS outline which was restructured as an original short story
Published in the January 1975 issue of Analog

"The Soft Weapon"
a short story by Larry Niven
basis of the TAS episode "The Slaver Weapon"
first published in the February 1967 issue of Worlds of If

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