How is the android Data like Shakespeare's character Hamlet? Is the vengeful Khan (original series episode "Space Seed" and the film ) an echo of Captain Ahab in The links between and literature are vast: themes and characters that reflect those in classic literature; characters that quote literature in their dialog; and an enormous body of nonfiction books, novels, articles that have grown from the saga. Finally, like literature, seeks to help in the human endeavor of understanding the world and its place in the universe. This book explores all of those connections. 's Captain Picard frequently quotes Shakespeare. Captain Janeway from reenacts literature in holodeck novels. Jake Sisko, son of 's Commander Benjamin Sisko, becomes an award-winning writer. Beginning with Captain James T. Kirk's first appearance in the original series, then continuing through four subsequent series and ten movies, this book draws parallels between stories and literary classics such as , and the New Testament, and works by the likes of Booker T. Washington, Edgar Allan Poe and William Shakespeare. Appendices list the literary works discussed and the episodes and movies mentioned, each giving the chapters where references can be found.