Why is science fiction so afraid of the future?
When details about Star Trek: Discovery first emerged, fans and critics alike paused for a moment to scratch their heads. The series — the first new Trek show since Enterprise concluded in 2005 — promised a stunning reimagining of the existing Trek universe. From sleek CG and intricate costumes to a complete makeover of one of Trek’s core races, Discovery was supposed to bring the 51-year-old utopian franchise fully into our glittering technological present. The two-hour premiere delivered on that promise, but there was one problem: the events of Discovery are supposed to take place less than a decade before the original series begins. Apart from Enterprise, which imagined a pre-Federation Starfleet, Discovery is a prequel to everything...