The Questor Tapes

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The Questor Tapes was a television pilot developed by Gene Roddenberry, which starred Robert Foxworth and Mike Farrell.

[edit] Introduction

The initial concept of an android with incomplete memory tapes who searches for his creator was created by Gene Roddenberry. The android in the series is a direct antecedent of Lt. Commander Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

The script is credited to both Gene Roddenberry and Gene L. Coon - Coon died before the television movie was aired on January 23rd, 1974. A novelization, written by D. C. Fontana was released by Ballantine Books in 1974 (ISBN 034524236X)and was dedicated to Coon. The music for The Questor Tapes was scored by Gil Mellé; the first strains of the Night Gallery theme can be heard at the beginning of Questor.

On the LP 'Star Trek Lives', released in September of 1976, Roddenberry discussed the production of the made-for-television movie/pilot on track 7, in an interview entitled "Questor Affair". The contents of this LP was later in 1999 by Columbia as a part of the two-CD 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture 20th Anniversary Collector's Edition'. In the interview, Roddenberry discusses that the android being sexually 'fully functional' caused consternation among the network brass and Questor's seduction of a human female in the initial script was all but removed from the finished product.

The Questor Tapes was originally intended as a pilot episode for a television series. An initial 13-episode go-ahead was given for the series before the television movie was aired and the initial series bible can still be found. Conflict between Roddenberry and both Universal and NBC over the content of the proposed series cause the cancellation of the project because the network wanted to severely retool the show by removing the revelation of the end of the pilot and the character of Jerry Robinson (Mike Farrell).

There have been attempts to resurrect the project as recently as 2003, when Herbert Wright (who had worked with Roddenberry on the attempted series) appeared several science fiction conventions on a promotional tour.

[edit] Cast

[edit] The Show

This page may contain spoilers! You have been warned that reading this page may lead you to having the show spoiled for you.

Dr. Emil Vaslovik developed plans to build a superhuman android and then abruptly disappeared. 'Project Questor' is to completed by a team of the experts in a variety of fields, who are supposed to assemble components created by Vaslovik according to Vaslovik's instructions. None of the team members understand the components they are assembling and they erase half of the programming tape left by Vaslovik while attempting to decode it. In the interest of security, Geoffrey Darro (John Vernon) orders the team to install new programming. Jerry Robinson (Mike Farrell), the only team member who had worked with Vaslovik, objects and is removed from the project.

The altered programming tape is loaded at the android's completion, resulting in failure. Robinson persuades Darro to install the damaged programming from Vaslovik, but there is no response. Darro believes there is no future for the project and cancels it.

Abandoned in the lab, the android activates itself and transforms it's appearance from a near-featureless mannequin to what could easily pass as a human being. It escapes the lab and visits Vaslovik's old office. When confronted by Vaslovik's secretary, he identifies himself as "...part of Project Questor."

Driven by what remains of his initial programming, Questor forces Robinson to accompany him in a search for Vaslovik. Their only initial clue is that Vaslovik is connected with an "aquatic vehicle" - a boat. Fearing his creation would be misused, Vaslovik programmed a failsafe - if Questor does not find him before the deadline, Questor's internal nuclear-furnace will melt down and explode. Darro, both fearful of Questor and wanting to use him as a military weapon, gives chase.

After a number of adventures, Questor deduces the true identity of his programmed destination while on a children's playground, but is shot and incapacitated before he can act on the information. Questor and Robinson are returned to the lab. Robinson convinces Darro that they must follow Questor's programmed imperative to the end - Darro agrees, but only if Robinson will install a homing beacon on Questor while repairing him. They are released and fly to their destination . . . Mount Ararat, the fabled resting place of the boat identified by Questor's programming, Noah's Ark.

Questor finds Vaslovik (Lew Ayres), who defuses the fail-safe device. Vaslovik, like Questor, is an android in a series that date back to "the dawn of this world," who were created by "Masters" to serve and protect Mankind. Questor is to be the last of his kind and will either see humanity through to victory or to self-annihilation. Vaslovik asks Robinson to help Questor augment his flawed programming and learn about humanity. Vaslovik had been damaged by the unexpected, rapid advent of nuclear physics and harmful technologies and dies in peace, knowing the he leaves Questor to complete his mission.

Darro comes out of hiding, telling Questor and Robinson that he has heard everything and now believes that humanity's future will rely on Questor. However, he has ordered the military to perform a strike on the transmitter in an attempt to destroy Questor. Darro takes the transmitter from Questor and flies away in their plane, turning on the transmitter as he leaves. The plane is destroyed, the military believes Questor and Robinson are dead, and they are free to continue their work.

[edit] Awards

The Questor Tapes was nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation in 1975.

[edit] Fandom

Among the fandoms represented in fanzines during the mid 1980s.(Fanzines - Timelines)

[edit] Fandom Size

This section needs more information.

[edit] Fanzines

  • Vaslovik Archives
  • Vaslovik Archives: The Devil's War (Vasolvik Archives 1-4 collected)

[edit] Fan fiction

  • The Devil's War 1: "Vengeance Times Two", by Peter David, Vaslovik Archives
  • The Devil's War 2: "The Devil’s War, Part I: Imperative Override" by Peter David, Vaslovik Archives, 1977
  • The Devil's War 3: "The Devil’s War, Part II" by Peter David, Vaslovik Archives, 1980
  • The Devil's War 4: "The Devil’s War, Part III" by Peter David, Vaslovik Archives
  • "Profession Of Diminishing Returns" by Susan M. Garrett, The Karenina Continuity Chronicles 5 - The Power of Gold, 1992.

[edit] External Links

[edit] Sources

Below is a partial list of articles and academic sources to help you continue to learn about this community: This section needs more information.

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