1. My Favorite Ships
Sci-Fi Ships
Treklanta
Significance• Not a list of the Best ships in Science Fiction
• Not a ship vs. ship battle discussion
• I think all of these ships are cool looking and very sexy
• A perspective on the character of the ship and how it’s form
and function effect the universe/show
• I am not a published writer or studio representative
• I am a simple sci-fi geek looking to talk about sci-fi geek stuff
• I expect this to be an interactive discussion
• I have a list of 10 ships, but I am not obligated to talk about all
10
3. U.S.S Enterprise-A
Federation Heavy Cruiser
Star Trek: First Generation Movies
Specs
Function: Exploration/Transport/Warship
Length: 305 m
Width: 142 m
Height: 71 m
Mass: 210,000 metric tons
Crew: 450
FTL Drive: Matter/Antimatter engines allow the
Enterprise to travel betweenWarp 1-9
4. U.S.S Enterprise-A
Federation Heavy Cruiser
Star Trek: First Generation Movies
Significance• Smooth organic curves project a friendly feel. I also love the
Original and the D version.
• The clean smooth lines and comfortable interior suggest a
clean and comfortable future.
• Designed for exploration but able to defend itself. Weapons
systems not obvious.
• Set apart by diversity of crew unseen onTV
• Used space as a means of social commentary
• The ship represents America and through cooperation we
could achieve great things
• The science & technology of the ship is very important and
many of the ships capabilities are talked about
• Today, we enjoy a lot technolgy inspired by this ship/Universe.
5. Klingon Bird of Prey
Klingon Scout Class Vessel
Star Trek
Crew
6. Klingon Bird of Prey
Klingon Scout Class Vessel
Star Trek
Specs
Function:Warship/Transport
Length: 110 m
Height: 20 m
Mass: 30,000 metric tons
Crew: 6-12
Cloaking device
FTL Drive: Matter/Antimatter engines travel
betweenWarp 1-8
7. Klingon Bird of Prey
Klingon Scout Class Vessel
Star Trek
Significance• This is a warship. Not designed for comfort
• Weapons are obvious. Wings have an attack configuration to
project aggression and intimidate the enemy
• Influenced by primal attitudes and competition
• Uses a cloaking device (stealth) to stalk and pounce on its prey
• Multiple Birds of Prey in an area signify a battle operation
9. Romulan Warbird
D’deridex Class
Star Trek
Specs
Function: Battleship
Length: 1042 m
Height: 285 m
Mass: 4,320,000 metric tons
Cloaking device
Crew: 1500
FTL Drive: Quantum Singularity engines allow the
Warbird to travel betweenWarp 1-9
10. Romulan Warbird
D’deridex Class
Star Trek
Significance• A warship to project power of Romulan Empire
• Shows the evolution of the Romulan Empire. On TOS the
Romulan ships were slow and small.
• Romulan cloaking device creates a surface ship vs. submarine
reinforcing the deception that we associate with Romulans
• ONTNG this is the ship that reintroduced us to the Romulans
• Deceptively large.There is a lot of open space in the middle
• Alsohasacleanandcomfortableinteriortoshowcivilityofthe
Romulan culture
12. Imperial Star Destroyer
Victory Class
Star Wars
Specs
Function: Battleship/Carrier
Length: 1,600 m
Width: 1,015 m
Mass: 892,000 metric tons
Crew: 9,200 Officers; 28,000 Enlisted; 9,700
Stormtroopers
72Tie fighters; 20 AT-AT; 15TroopTransports; 8
Assault Gunboats
FTL Drive: Hyperdrive
13. Imperial Star Destroyer
Victory Class
Star Wars
Significance• This is a warship that projects the power of the Empire
• Uses size and numbers to project Imperial influence
• It’s angular and rigid design project inhuman attitude
• Angular shapes vs. smooth organic curves of rebel ships
• It’s clean and open interior projects a sterile attitude
• Manned by soldiers not explorers. Stormtroopers and officers
are faceless minions of the Empire
• It’s name informs us that it is a threat that should be avoided
at all costs
15. X-Wing Fighter
Space Fighter
Star Wars
Specs
Function: Starfighter
Length: 12.5 m
Laser Cannons: 4
ProtonTorpedos: 2
Mass: 10 tons
Crew: 1 + droid
FTL Drive: Hyperdrive
16. X-Wing Fighter
Space Fighter
Star Wars
Significance• X-wings have burn marks and scars. Individual markings
making them as individual as their pilots
• The hyperdrive gives them the freedom to journey on their
own. Yet they stay with the fleet because they are loyal and
commited to the Rebel cause
• The attack configuation projects it’s change in attitude. Like an
animal opening it’s mouth to bite, we see it’s fangs
• Huge blasters convey that it is a powerful weapon (has a really
nasty bite)
• The long fuselage projects forward like the snout of an animal.
The cockpit is placed where the eyes would be
• Rebel ships possess an overall organic feel, versus Imperial
ships that are very angular and possess an overall inorganic
feel
19. Millennium Falcon
Corellian Light Freighter
Star Wars
Significance• Cool asymmetric design, yet balanced.
• Reflects asymmetric relationship between Han & Chewie
(neither speak the same language yet they understand each
other).
• Piloted by our quintessential anti-hero
• Fastest ship allows Han to outrun any problem or conflict.
• Han Solo’s attitude is described in his name. His change of
heart to help Luke is a big moment in his character arc
• Yes, He shot first.
• We meet in in Mos Eisley, where you will never find a more
wretched hive of scum & villany. We establish that he is a
scoundralsothathischangeofhearttohelptheRebelsismore
meaningful
22. Serenity
Space Freighter
Firefly
Significance• The cargo ship is the backdrop that the story takes place on
• Named after the painful loss at the Battle of SerenityValley
• Has a rickety old west feel
• Stories are not weighed down with scientific explanations.
Very little conversation about the technology of the ship. (FTL
drive type is unknown).
• Malcolm and Han Solo are on opposite journeys
25. Galactica (old)
Space Carrier/Battleship
Battlestar Galactica
Significance• The old Galactica was clean and carpeted.The clothes and the
people were always clean.The logistics of food and water were
never a problem. The main problem the fleet faced were the
Cylons and they were an external problem. The Cylons were
createdbyanotherraceofbeingsandtherobotstookoverand
proceeded to try to wipe out Humanity. No matter how bad it
got, I always believed the Galactica would survive.
• Clear definition of Heroes and Villans. Baltar’s treachery was
obvious. No racism within the fleet.
• Overall feeling Hopeful.
26. Galactica (new)
Space Carrier/Battleship
Battlestar Galactica
Significance• Military feel. The surfaces were hard and all of their problems
were internal. People were dirty and grungy and unhappy.
The logistics of food and water were a major problem. It was
very clear that day-to-day living was a challenge. Cylons were
hidden inside the fleet. The Cylons were created by Man and
they had returned seeking Revenge. The new Galactica is a
dysfunctional family fraught with mental illness.
• Raised the stakes on the Life and Death encounters and
many times I didn’t think the Galactica would make it. This
was reinforced with the death and dismemberment of main
characters.
• Blurry lines between Heroes andVillans.
• Overall feeling Hopeless.
27. Galactica (old vs. new)
Space Carrier/Battleship
Battlestar Galactica
Significance• Difference in perception of Environment
• As sci-fi fans, we are more sophisticated. We’re more
knowledgable about space and the new Galactica stepped up
and said,“Space is an unfriendly environment. And let’s make
this worse; your adopted child is trying to kill you. Oh and they
can’t die. So they are ALL IN on every hand they play!”For me,
life on the new Galactica was really scary experience.
• RonaldMooreusedtowriteforStarTrek:TNGandDS9.Heoften
complained about the inability to focus stories on conflicts
between characters.With BSG he went full-tilt internal conflict.
28. Cylon Raider (old vs. new)
Starfighter
Battlestar Galactica
Significance
• Shows an evolution of technology and Cylon culture
• The old version is piloted by 3 centurions.The new version is a
centurion
• The Cylons have put the brain in the ship and unleashed this
Frankenstien Monster on the colonies
• The large bayonets out front make it look dangerous even if it
didn’t have guns.
• The head on the new version has a similar shape to the head
of an Alien
• Smooth curves and shape give it a more organic feel. But we
know it cold and heartless
• Old version is an enemy vessel. New version is a predator
31. TARDIS
Adventure Ship
Doctor Who
Significance• TheTARDIS is an adventure ship
• Itissentientandmaynotalwaystakehimtowherehewantsto
go, but it always takes him to where he needs to be
• The TARDIS wanted to go adventuring so she kidnapped a
Time Lord
• It is a brilliant production asset. Since it is the size of a police
box, it is easy to transport to various locations for filming
• It is bigger on the inside, so the control room has plenty of
space for the production crew to work
• It doesn’t have any windows, so there is no need to composite
outside shots
• Lotsofrunningaroundandsoundeffectsgivestheimpression
of action, then he’s says they’ve landed, opens the door and
proceeds on the adventure
