CANON

Those of you who’ve been on this runaway train with me for some years know that I used to have a fairly involved idea about canon, and took the time to exactingly (some might say excruciatingly) detail what was and wasn’t canonical for Star Trek: Liberty.

Well … surprise!

I’ve decided that entire line of effort isn’t worth it. Thus, this is my new rule:

· If you saw it on screen, it’s canon. I don’t need to have particularly liked it, mind you. For example, I think a bit of TOS, some of TNG and DS9, much of Voyager and most of Enterprise is unadulterated crap. Still, refined metal can’t be made without a little dross, so … you take the good with the bad.

There is, of course, an exception to this rule:

· If you saw it on screen, but it’s unforgivably freakin’ stupid, it’s not canon. While the phrase “unforgivably freakin’ stupid” may seem a somewhat pedestrian and vulgar term, it possesses a certain … visceral quality I think is appropriate—especially as relates to certain Trek abominations we’ve seen over the years. For example, you will never convince me that crossing the warp ten barrier will cause you to metamorphose into a reptilian form. Thus, as you may have guessed, large elements of the Voyager episode “Threshold” are not part of Liberty’s canon.

As to novels (including the Deep Space Nine and Voyager [supposed] “Relaunches”), tapes, rides, video games, anthologies, encyclopedias and other “official” offerings, well … assume they’re not canon for Liberty unless I make a specific reference to one or more … and then, only that part I employ. For example, I mention Mackenzie Calhoun and Excalibur somewhere along the line. This does not by any means constitute acknowledging the entirety of New Frontier—a series which I find to be, at different times, engrossing, exciting, involving, insipid, asinine … and, especially, irritating.

Fan fiction holds a special place in my heart [I’m sure you’d have never guessed that], and I’ve had occasion to write crossovers with some fairly talented authors. Note, though, that for the most part I accept only the stories in which Liberty characters appeared as canonical for my own material … and sometimes even less than that. Other writers can’t be expected to accept and acknowledge every twist and turn in the labyrinth of my brain; the reverse is obviously true.

If you’re interested (and God help you as another obsessive if you are), please feel free to inquire about specifics.

I’m toying with the idea of a Recommended Reading section/page. It would consist of those stories, both pro and fan fiction, which so impressed me that I consider them at least semi-canonical for Liberty. My definition of “semi-canonical,” by the way, is a simple one: Material possessing historicity within the Liberty universe, unless it somehow conflicts with either established canon or one of my more entrenched facts. If so, that particular part of said story should be ignored, or consigned to nebulousness/shifted from your left brain into a darkened corner of the right.

If any or all of this confuses you …

…well, then, my work here is done.