Michael Dorn as the Klingon Worf, were a regular in all of The Next Generation, and joined Deep Space 9 in season 4.
Casey Biggs who played Damar in Deep Space 9 brought some pictures that Nana Visitor (Major Kira) had signed, and being a fan of her, I had to get me one of those!
Vaughn Armstrong, in all the roles he’ve played on Star Trek, so far it’ve been 14!! The most for a single actor.
Robert O’Reilly was the man behind the Klingon “Gowron” in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Deep Space Nine.
Patrick Kilpatrick have had at least three different roles in both Star Trek: Voyager and Deep Space Nine.
Nana Visitor, the actor who portrayed Kira in Star Trek: Deep Space nine.
J. G. Hertzler is the Klingon Martok in Star Trek: Deep Space nine.
The Ferengi Family Hour, is a show preformed by three actors from Deep Space Nine, and a member of the staff (Lolita Fatjo).
Chase Masterson who played Leeta in Deep Space Nine. This is the cover from a CD she have released.
Mark Allen Shepherd plays the character Morn on Deep Space Nine.
The Auction
They had an auction where it was possible to bid on different items, from signed pictures of the whole cast of The Original Series, to a few props that had been used on the show, like Captain Janeway’s communicator (which was very expensive!). I managed to get two items on the auction, one was a autographed picture of J.G. Hertzler as the Klingon Martokin Deep Space Nine. Unfortunately it didn’t scan very well, so I can’t put it up here for you to look at.
The second item I acquired was a synopsis to the Deep Space Nine episode Shadowplay. It contains a two page description of the episode, and a sheet with three pictures from it as well. One of the pictures is signed by Cirroc Lofton, across the character he played on the show (Jake Sisko). Again you can click on the image to view a larger version.
Page one of the synopsis.
Page two of the synopsis.
Pictures from the episode.
This is the picture that was in the package with the synopsis to the Deep Space Nine episode Shadowplay, that I bought on the auction at the convention.
If you move the cursor over the three pictures, you can read a more detailed description about them. And notice that the top right photo is signed my the actor Cirroc Lofton.
Season 6, Episode 13
Stardate Unknown (2374) and September 1953
Episode 136 of 173 Released in Deep Space Nine
Episode 135 of 173 Released in Deep Space Nine
Production Number: 40510-538
Original airdate: February 11, 1998
Directed by Avery Brooks
Story by Marc Scott Zicree
Teleplay by Ira Steven Behr & Hans Beimler
Benny continues to fight for his beliefs through most of the story, but towards the end, after he had written six more DS9 stories that featured the black captain, his colleagues suggest to him that self publishing with a small press would be a way to get his work out there. He doesn’t like the idea, and someone else suggests that he might as well write the story on the sidewalk in chalk. “More people would read it that way.”
While he ponders this, it is also suggested that he make the story end with the revelation that the whole thing was a dream. That way it’s not real. (Kind of reminds me of Newhart or that great episode of NewsRadio in which the whole radio station—and all the people in it—turned out to be a daydream of Mr. James.) Of course, this implies that the dream of blacks in America to be treated as equals with others is not worthwhile. Benny can see this and doesn’t like the idea of selling out, but when asked what he ultimately thinks, he replies, “I think it’s better than chalk on a sidewalk.”
So he makes the story a dream and Pabst agrees to run it. Benny goes out with Cassie (Penny Johnson—Kassidy Yates) to celebrate, but is harshly reminded of his place in society when he is brutaly beaten by white police officers when he confronts them for killing a black teenager who he knew (Cirroc Lofton—Jake Sisko). It takes him weeks to recover enough to leave home.
Finally, on the day the publication was to be picked up from the printers, Benny makes a trip to the office. Unfortunately, Pabst comes back empty-handed, informing everyone that the publisher had the whole run pulped and that there will be no issue for the month. Even worse, Benny is fired. Knowing that the publisher’s racist views are the reason the issue was scrapped, Benny goes into a tirade:
“I am a human being,” he says. “You can deny me all you want, but you cannot deny Ben Sisko. He exists. That future, that space station, all of those people, they exist, in my mind. I created it.
“You can pulp a story, but you cannot destroy an idea. Don’t you understand? That’s ancient knowledge. You cannot destroy an idea.”
And with that outburst of emotion, he collapses. Benny had become so confused as to whether he was Benny Russell or Benjamin Sisko, and so stressed over his fight to be seen as simply a person, not just a “black” person, that his body could take no more.
We are then taken to a view of a barely conscious Sisko being rushed to the hospital, accompanied by a preacher (Brock Peters—Joseph Sisko) who he had encountered several times earlier. And here the entire episode is summed up in one brief exchange:
“Tell me please,” said Benny/Sisko, “who am I?”
“Don’t you know?” replied the preacher. “You are the dreamer—and the dream.”
Had the episode ended there, it would have been perfect. What an ending. But the writers took it a step farther and used Benny/Sisko’s experience to make us question who we all are—not limited just to the plight of black’s in America. Talking to his father back on the station, peering out of the porthole, Sisko ponders:
“But I have to wonder, What if it wasn’t a dream? What if this life we’re leading—all of this—you and me, everything—what if this is the illusion? Maybe we are nothing more than figments of his imagination. For all we know, at this very moment, somewhere far beyond all those distant stars, Benny Russell is dreaming of us.”
Strengths
“Far Beyond the Stars” is without a doubt one of Star Trek’s finest moments. The story itself is so strong and so well put-together that it works on a whole other level. It’s one of those stories that essentially transcends Star Trek—much like “The Visitor” (DS9) and “The Inner Light” (TNG)—though in this case it probably couldn’t work without the Trek elements due to the Sisko tie-in. An added bonus—and delicate touch—that we get in this episode are the many lines sprinkled here and there, delivered by the preacher, that connect this vision that Sisko is having with his role as the Emissary of the Prophets.
The message is so well presented, without the concern for ruffling feathers by using terms or situations considered taboo in our politically correct society of today. “Far Beyond the Stars” is refreshing. The decision to hand the director’s job to Avery Brooks, despite the fact that he is in every scene, lends to the story a certain identifiable connection with the reality of racism that could have been lost had direction gone to the hands of someone without the real life experience.
Additionally, the fact that the story takes us through the hardships, hopes, and search for identity of blacks in America but then goes beyond that to address the search for identity that we all struggle with as living beings provides the added dimension that makes “Far Beyond the Stars” more than just another commentary on racism, but a commentary on the feeling of insiginificance humanity faces as we learn how vast the universe really is.
Flaws
None really. Avery Brooks said in the Deep Space Nine Companion that this should have been a two-parter. I tend to agree that they could have done even greater things with this story, but it is great as it is. For a little more detail, pick up a copy of the novelization by Steven Barnes, which is also excellent.
Additional Thoughts
One of the things that makes Deep Space Nine such a special part of the Star Trek universe is the way in which the ideas that it explores is so much larger than what we get in the other series. Certainly all of the Star Trek series have addressed racism in various ways, but I don’t believe any episode delivers as poignant a message as this one. Not only that, but—as DS9 so often does—the bigger picture is always in play here as well. We see Benny’s colleagues and Sisko’s crew shift in and out of realities at key moments, and even Sisko’s role within the Bajoran religion is not lost on the streets of 1953 New York. And, as we will see later in the series, this little excursion to the past will play a role in the resolution of the larger DS9 story.
Memorable Quotes
“Wishing never changed a damn thing.” —Benny
“The Lord, God of the spirit of the Prophets that sent an angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” —The preacher to Benny, further mixing one reality with another.
“Ewww! She’s got a worm in her belly. That’s disgusting! That’s interesting; but disgusting.”
—Pabst’s secretary Darlene, who is the basis for Dax in Benny’s DS9 stories.
“Calm down dear boy. We’re writers, not Vikings.” —Julius to his agitated colleagues.
“This is only the beginning of your journey, not the end.” —Words of wisdom from the preacher to Benny.
“It’s not about what’s right, it’s about what is.” —Pabst to Benny when telling him that the publisher no longer requires Benny’s services.
“Rest easy, Brother Benny. You have walked in the path of the Prophets. There is no greater glory.”
—The preacher to Benny as he is being rushed to the hospital after his breakdown.
“You are the dreamer—and the dream.” —Preacher to Benny
Remember
Benny Russell. It’s not the last time we’ll see him.
Final Word
“Far Beyond the Stars” is one of Star Trek’s finest moments. It makes a strong statement in an elegant way. Avery Brooks does a fantastic job both directing and acting, and it is wonderful to see the DS9 cast out of makeup. The entire thread of the story is superbly crafted, weaving delicately between 1950s New York and the 24th century. Without a doubt one of a small handful of Trek episodes that everyone—fan or not—must see.
