However, that perception has changed over the years—mutated even—to the point where representatives of Gene Roddenberry now make efforts to distance televised Star Trek from anything else that could taint the purity of the program. “Not Gene” = “Sucky.” In other words, the perception that I held as a snot-nosed kid is now, in many instances, policy.

Richard Arnold, who for years was Roddenberry’s public face, repeatedly made a distinction between Star Trek fact and Star Trek fiction, prompting fans to observe, “God, and they tell us to get a life!”

Although Arnold’s involvement with the television series was minimal, he had major sway for several years over the licensed Star Trek novels and comics. On the one hand stating that such published fare was not official Star Trek (despite the hefty licensing fees paid to ensure that “official” designation), and had no bearing on Star Trek fact. Arnold would, on the other hand, pore over the manuscripts to make sure that they met with his standards. Standards that included such fiats as that Kirk was no longer interested in pursuing romantic relationships (despite his long sexually active history); that the words “Terran” and “civilian” could not be used (although they were in the “Next Generation” series); and my personal favorite, the ludicrously self-contradicting, “This proposed storyline is like a combination of several other Star Trek episodes; it’s not at all like Star Trek.”

Why the novels and comics are required absolutely to toe the line (a line which keeps moving) when, according to Arnold, they have no relevance to real Star Trek, well…we’ve never gotten an adequate explanation on that.

Arnold, before Paramount canned him, pursuant to Roddenberry’s death, never ever copped to any opinions and declarations coming from him, swearing instead they all originated with Gene Roddenberry who, Arnold maintained, read every manuscript that came in. This was a patently ludicrous assertion that was persistently denied by all other concerned parties, including Paramount officials.

The reason all of this is germane is that Arnold made some public comments about “City” in an extensive interview. His first comments were about novelists, but he could just as easily be discussing “City”…and then he goes on to do so: