Star Trek has inspired a devoted following since it first aired in 1966. Why does it have such a colossal appeal? Each richly nuanced episode calls to us on numerous levels simultaneously. The series was the first sci-fi show to treat the adventure of space exploration as a serious matter, going far beyond the earlier kids shows. Like the best sci-fi novels, it brought together dramatic action, exciting predictions of breakthroughs in science and technology, and social concerns as well.