AI assistant
============

:: Description
There is an artificial intelligence that acts as a personal assistant to a
real person.

:: Parents
artificial intelligence

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_assistant

:: Aliases
virtual assistant


AI companion
============

:: Description
There is an artifact imbued with artificial intelligence, to some extent, that
serves as a friend and companion to some human character, perhaps in lieu of
flesh-and-blood friends.

:: Parents
artificial intelligence

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_human_companion


AI point of view
================

:: Description
We are shown what things might be like from the point of view of a sentient
machine.

:: Parents
alien point of view


AI prejudice in society
=======================

:: Description
The issue of a large portion of society having a prejudice against artificial
intelligences (or their forerunners) is discussed.

:: Parents
prejudice in society


AI rights
=========

:: Description
We are made to ponder what intrinsic rights we feel should belong to any
human-like sentient being that happens to be artificially constructed.

:: Parents
human rights issue

:: Examples
Data was granted parental rights over his android creation Lal when Admiral
Haftel attempted to separate the father and daughter in tng3x16 "The
Offspring".


AI safeguards
=============

:: Description
Ways in which AI can be made safe from becoming kill-all-human machines are
discussed. Isaac Asimov's three laws of robotics is a popular example.

:: Parents
artificial intelligence

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence


AI takeover
===========

:: Description
Artificial intelligence becomes the dominant form of intelligence on a world,
with computers or robots effectively taking control of the world away from its
native inhabitants.

:: Parents
technological risk to civilization
out of control AI

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI_takeover


Adam and Eve creation myth
==========================

:: Description
Feature is one variation or another of the story from Abrahemic religions
regarding the first man and woman, known as Adam and Eve in English.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_and_Eve


amazement at a new technology
=============================

:: Description
A character is astonished by the effects of a technology that is new, or
at least unfamiliar, to them.

:: Parents
awe


American Civil War
==================

:: Description
Featured is the civil war that was fought in the United States from 1861 to
1865.

:: Parents
historical event

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War


American football
=================

:: Description
This team sport, played by two teams on a rectangular field with goalposts at
each end, is featured.

:: Parents
sports

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football


Ancient Aztec mythology
=======================

:: Description
Narratives of creation, gods, demigods, spirits etc. that are fundamental to
the Mesoamerican culture that flourished in central Mexico in the post-classic
period from around 1300 to 1521 are featured.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
Popoca the Aztec Mummy nearly succeeded in sacrificing a mad scientist's wife
to its gods in "The Robot vs. The Aztec Mummy" (1958).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztec_religion


Ancient Egyptian mythology
==========================

:: Description
Narratives of creation, gods, demigods, spirits etc. that are fundamental to
pre-Christian Egyptian culture (that is, until ca. 380 AD when Christianity
became the official faith of the Roman Empire) are featured.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
Though not known to be connected, the culture and mythology of the D'Arsay was
reminiscent of Ancient Egypt in tng7x17 "Masks".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_mythology


Ancient Greek mythology
=======================

:: Description
Narratives of creation, gods, demigods, spirits etc. that are fundamental to
ancient Greek society are featured.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
The Greek god Apollo appears in tos2x04 "Who Mourns for Adonais?".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_mythology


Ancient Mayan mythology
=======================

:: Description
Narratives of creation, gods, demigods, spirits etc. that are fundamental to
the classical or post-classic Mayan civilization (c. 250-1539 AD) are
featured.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
The Mayan god Kulkulkan appears in tas2x05 "How Sharper Than a Serpent's
Tooth".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_mythology


Ancient Mesopotamian mythology
==============================

:: Description
Narratives of creation, gods, demigods, spirits etc. that are fundamental to
to the ancient societies of Sumer, Akkad, and Assyria (c. 3000 BC-400 AD) are
featured.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
A race of Sumerian albinos living deep under the Earth were depicted
worshiping the god Ishtar in "The Mole People" (1956).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumerian_religion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamian_myths


Ancient Norse mythology
=======================

:: Description
Narratives of creation, gods, demigods, spirits etc. that are fundamental to
Norse paganism are featured.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
Donald Blake could summon the Norse god Thor at will by using a magical hammer
in "The Incredible Hulk Returns" (1988).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norse_mythology
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Norse_religion


Ancient Roman mythology
=======================

:: Description
Narratives of creation, gods, demigods, spirits etc. that are fundamental to
ancient Roman society are featured.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
Unsurprisingly in light of Hodkin's Law of Parallel Planetary Development,
these gods were also worshiped by the Space Romans of planet 892-IV in tos2x14
"Bread and Circuses".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_mythology


Atlantis
========

:: Description
The legendary island state that is said to have fallen out of favor with the
deities and submerged into the Atlantic Ocean, is featured.

:: Parents
crackpot theory
legendary place

:: Examples
Aquan underwater civilization on the planet Argo was preceded by a land
civilization that was destroyed in the wake of global flood triggering
earthquakes in tas1x13 "The Ambergris Element".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantis
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/atlantis


awe
===

:: Description
Awe is an emotion comparable to wonder but less joyous.
Typically, in a story a character is awestruck by something that 
impresses them deeply.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awe


Bermuda Triangle
================

:: Description
A region where a number of vessels are said to have disappeared.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
The Enterprise disappeared in the Delta Triangle (The Bermuda Triangle in
Space) under mysterious circumstances in tas1x12 "The Time Trap".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bermuda_Triangle
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/bermuda_triangle


Bigfoot
=======

:: Description
This creature from North American folklore is featured explicitly.

:: Parents
cryptid
legendary being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigfoot


Bussard ramjet
==============

:: Description
A spaceship propulsion technology the idea of which is to use electromagnetic
fields to collect hydrogen from space and fuel a fusion process.

:: Parents
speculative spaceship

:: Examples
The Enterprise-D crew discharged vast amounts of hydrogen from the ship's
Bussard collectors in a last ditched attempt to escape from a Tykan's Rift in
tng4x17 "Night Terrors".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bussard_ramjet


Catholicism
===========

:: Description
The Catholic religion with its trappings and traditions is featured.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church


Christianity
============

:: Description
Christianity is a collection Abrahamic monotheistic religions that are based
on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Something about this is prominently
featured in the story.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Notes
It is often easy to see Christianity related implication in Western stories.
This theme should only be used of something intrinsically Christian is
explicitly featured. For example, the theme applies if the Bible, the
sacraments, or Jesus Christ is mentioned. It does not necessarily apply merely
if heaven and hell are mentioned, because these things are not at all
exclusive to Christianity.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity


Christmas traditions
====================

:: Description
The story notably involves one or more of those traditions that are commonly
associated with Christmas celebration. Christmas (or Feast of the Nativity) is
an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is usually
observed on December 25, though the date as well as the rituals may change
depending in which religion and culture one is in.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: Notes
The mentioning of Christmas or its date is not uncommon in stories as it is a
simple way to indicate what time of the year it is. This theme is not used in
such cases, unless Christmas traditions are of further importance to the
story.


Counter-Earth
=============

:: Description
A hypothetical planet always on the other side of the Sun from Earth so that
it remains hidden from us.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-Earth
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/counter-earth


DNA encoded message
===================

:: Description
The idea of using DNA, which encodes the genetic instructions used in the
development of functioning of all known organisms, to encode a conventional
message.

:: Parents
speculative biotechnology

:: Examples
A secret message was found encoded in pieces in the DNA of numerous separate
humanoid alien species in tng6x20 "The Chase".


Dungeons and Dragons
====================

:: Description
This franchise sprung from the 1974 tabletop role-playing game is directly
featured or parodied.

:: Parents
tabletop games
cultural history

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons


Dyson sphere
============

:: Description
A truly enormous, hollow sphere constructed around a star to capture its
entire energy output.

:: Parents
stellar engineering

:: Examples
Scotty was found to have crash landed on the outer shell of a Dyson sphere in
tng6x04 "Relics".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyson_sphere
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/dyson_sphere


EQ vs. IQ
=========

:: Description
Featured are the contrasts, interactions and potential conflicts that can
arise between people who are more gifted in the emotional compartment than the
intellectual on the one hand, and those that are more gifted intellectually
than emotionally on the other. IQ here refers to the logical math and puzzle
solving abilities oft associated with intellectuals. EQ refers to the ability
of people to recognize there own and others' emotions and respond
appropriately to them.

:: Parents
human characters in contrast


El Dorado
=========

:: Description
This fabled city in South America is featured.

:: Parents
legendary place

:: Examples
In "Aguirre the Wrath of God" (1972), we saw a band of Spanish conquistadors
meat their doom on the Amazon River while obsessively pursuing the chimera of
El Dorado.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Dorado


European dragon
===============

:: Description
This sometimes fire-breathing reptile from European folklore is featured.

:: Parents
legendary being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon


Faustian bargain
================

:: Description
A character chooses to make an agreement that gains them immense power,
wealth, or knowledge in return for a terrible spiritual or moral price. For
example, this could apply if a character strikes a deal to betray and
sacrifice their allies to the enemy in return for being handed political
power.

:: Parents
human life choice

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deal_with_the_Devil


Fermat's Last Theorem
=====================

:: Description
An interesting mathematical equation famously conjectured by Pierre de Fermat
in 1637 in a margin of a copy of Arithemetica, where he claimed he had a proof
that was too large to fit in the margin.

:: Parents
mathematics

:: Examples
Captain Picard took a crack at proving this theorem in his readyroom in
tng2x12 "The Royale".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermat%27s_Last_Theorem


Fourier series
==============

:: Description
A way to represent a wave-like function as a combination of simple sine waves,
named in honor of Jean-Baptiste Joseph Fourier.

:: Parents
mathematics

:: Examples
Data revealed that the blinking patterns of some Soong-type androids, although
seemingly random, were in fact governed by Fourier series, in tng7x10
"Inheritance".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourier_series


Freudian psychoanalysis
=======================

:: Description
A somewhat unscientific set of psychological and psychotherapeutic theories
and associated techniques, originally popularized by Sigmund Freud.

:: Parents
superseded scientific theory

:: Examples
A virtual Sigmund Freud psychoanalyzed Data on the holodeck in tng7x06
"Phantasms".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoanalysis


Hollow Earth
============

:: Description
The discredited theory proposing that planets, like the Earth, are entirely
hollow or contain substantial interior spaces is featured.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollow_Earth
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/hollow_earth


Internet crime in society
=========================

:: Description
One of the various types of Internet related crime known as "cybercrime" is
featured, for example "cyberfraud" or "cyberextortion".

:: Parents
information technology in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_safety
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybercrime


Islam
=====

:: Description
Islam is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion whose central text, the Quran, is
considered by followers, known as Muslims, to be the word of God. Something
about this faith is prominently featured in the story.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam


Japanese folklore
=================

:: Description
Elements of folkly Japanese traditions are explicitly and unambiguously
featured. There may, for example, be nature spirits or deities with Japanese
names.

:: Parents
folk belief

:: Examples
In "Spirited Away" (2001), the young Japanese girl Chihiro found her self in a
peculiar land of legends, to which Japanese gods and spirits came each night
to visit a sorceress's magical bathhouse.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_folklore


Jovian extraterrestrial
=======================

:: Description
A native inhabitant of either the planet Jupiter or else one of its moons is
featured.

:: Parents
extraterrestrial being

:: Examples
In "Night Caller from Outer Space" (1965), aliens from Jupiter's moon Ganymede
came to Earth seeking human females for breeding stock.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jovian_(fiction)


Judaism
=======

:: Description
The religion of the Jewish people is featured.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism


Lilliputian being
=================

:: Description
Humanoids that are just unusually small for some reason, like the Lilliputians
in "Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift.

:: Parents
size distinguished being
legendary being

:: Examples
Spiroid epsilon waves had turned human scientists into tiny humanoids that
were about one sixteenth of an inch tall in tas1x11 "The Terratin Incident".

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/lilliputian


Loch Ness Monster
=================

:: Description
This creature from Scottish folklore is featured explicitly.

:: Parents
cryptid
legendary being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loch_Ness_Monster


MMORPGs in society
==================

:: Description
Social concerns relating to people engaging with "massively multiplayer online
role-playing games" are discussed.

:: Parents
public health issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massively_multiplayer_online_role-playing_game
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/massively_multiplayer_online_game


Martian extraterrestrial
========================

:: Description
Featured is a native inhabitant of the planet Mars.

:: Parents
extraterrestrial being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martian


Messiah complex
===============

:: Description
A character believes themselves to be a divinely chosen leader and savior of
their people.

:: Parents
delusion of grandeur

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah_complex


Moon people
===========

:: Description
A native inhabitant of the the Moon is featured.

:: Parents
extraterrestrial being


Morse code
==========

:: Description
An historically important method of encoding the alphabet into binary
sequences of long and short signals, often audible beeps.

:: Parents
technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code


Nazism
======

:: Description
The ideology and set of practices associated with the 20th-century German Nazi
Party are discussed.

:: Parents
fascism

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazism


Neptunian extraterrestrial
==========================

:: Description
There is an alien race that is native to the planet Neptune in our solar
system.

:: Parents
extraterrestrial being


Oedipus complex
===============

:: Description
A character is notably seen to exhibit repressed sexual desire for the
opposite-sex parent and hatred for the same-sex parent, to some extent.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: Notes
This should be distinguished from cases where a parent pursues a sexual
relationship with their child.

:: Examples
In "Hamlet" (1602), until the revelations at the end, is seems plausible that
Hamlet is indeed mad and has invented the poisoning because he (as Sigmund
Freud held) hates his step-father being married to his mother, who Hamlet
unconsciously desires sexually. The scene where he is wrestling with his
mother in her bed is suggestive.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oedipus_complex

:: Aliases
Electra complex


Phaeton hypothesis
==================

:: Description
There was a planet between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter whose destruction
supposedly led to the formation of the asteroid belt.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phaeton_(hypothetical_planet)


Roswell UFO incident
====================

:: Description
In mid-1947, a United States Army Air Forces balloon crashed at a ranch near
Roswell, New Mexico, and a notorious crackpot theory that it was a flying
saucer ensued.

:: Parents
historical event

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roswell_UFO_incident


Santa Claus
===========

:: Description
This legendary figure from relatively modern Western culture is present or
otherwise topical.

:: Parents
legendary being

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x13a "Night of the Meek", Henry seemed to metamorphose into Santa
Claus himself.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus


Saturnian extraterrestrial
==========================

:: Description
A native inhabitant of either the planet Saturn or else one of its moons is
featured.

:: Parents
extraterrestrial being

:: Examples
In "A Baby on Neptune" (1929), we are told that regular radio communication
with the inhabitants on one of Saturn's moons had been established by the year
2300.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_in_fiction


Stockholm syndrome
==================

:: Description
A hostage victim comes to feel affection for their captor.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: Examples
Beverly came to empathize with her kidnapper, the terrorist leader Kyril Finn,
in tng3x12 "The High Ground".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_syndrome


The Algerian War
================

:: Description
This war was fought between France and the Algerian National Liberation Front
from 1954 to 1962, and culminated with Algeria winning its independence from
France. It is featured in the story.

:: Parents
historical event

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algerian_War


The Hippocratic Oath
====================

:: Description
The Hippocratic Oath is an oath of ethics historically taken by physicians.
This oath, or some iconic part of it, is mentioned explicitly in the story.
For example, "first do no harm" (primum non nocere) is a well known principle
that belongs to the original Hippocratic Oath.

:: Parents
medical ethical issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocratic_Oath


The Holocaust
=============

:: Description
The systematic murder of six million Jews perpetrated by Adolf Hitler of
Germany in the early 1940s is discussed.

:: Parents
historical event

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust


The Russian Revolution
======================

:: Description
The Russian Revolution was a period of political and social revolution that
took place in the former Russian Empire and began during the First World War.
Commencing in 1917 with the fall of the House of Romanov, it concluded in 1923
with the Bolshevik establishment of the Soviet Union. This event and period of
Russian history is featured.

:: Parents
historical event
revolution in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Revolution


Uranian extraterrestrial
========================

:: Description
There is an alien race that is native to the planet Uranus in our solar
system.

:: Parents
extraterrestrial being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranus


Venusian extraterrestrial
=========================

:: Description
Featured is a native inhabitant of the planet Venus.

:: Parents
extraterrestrial being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venusians


World War I
===========

:: Description
Featured is the global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914
to 11 November 1918.

:: Parents
historical event

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/world_war_one


World War II
============

:: Description
World War II was global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. Towards the end the
participants had formed two opposing military alliances called "the Allies"
and "the Axis". The theme is used whenever this war comes up in the story.

:: Parents
historical event

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/world_war_two


World War III
=============

:: Description
There is a hypothetical third worldwide large-scale military conflict
subsequent to World War I and World War II.

:: Parents
speculative future event

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_III
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/world_war_three


X-rays
======

:: Description
Electromagnetic waves in the part of the spectrum between UV rays and gamma
rays (i.e., X-rays) are harnessed for some novel purpose.

:: Parents
physics

:: Notes
This theme does not apply to mundane usages of X-ray imagining technology,
such as the case of a physician examining an X-ray of a broken arm.

:: Examples
An unsuspecting man has his skeleton extracted by an X-ray machine operating
scientist in "A Novice at X-rays" (1898).

In "X: The Man with X-ray Eyes" (1963), Dr. James Xavier uses special eye
drops to see beyond the visible spectrum into the ultraviolet and X-ray
wavelengths and beyond.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray

:: Aliases
X rays


Yeti
====

:: Description
This ape-like creature from Nepali folklore is explicitly featured.

:: Parents
cryptid
legendary being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeti

:: Aliases
Abominable Snowman


a common enemy unites
=====================

:: Description
The tendency humans have of putting differences aside and collaborating when a
common enemy appears is featured.

:: Parents
human nature


a common interest unites
========================

:: Description
The tendency humans have of putting differences aside and collaborating when
something of mutual interest appears is featured.

:: Parents
human nature


a danger shared can bring people together
=========================================

:: Description
It is observed how a shared danger to a group of people can work to forge
unity and cooperation within that group.

:: Parents
humans in group
human idea about life

:: Examples
By facing a ferocious electromagnetic beast together, Captain Picard and the
Tamarian Captain Dathon finally figured out how to communicate in tng5x02
"Darmok".

:: References
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-stress-of-disaster-brings-people-together/


a leopard can't change its spots
================================

:: Description
That it is often hard, or impossible, for humans to change such habits as are
long ingrained or inborn, is featured.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/a_leopard_cannot_change_its_spots


a person and their clone
========================

:: Description
The relationship between a person and a clone of the same person is featured.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: Examples
Riker learned first hand that he was not wholly easy to get along with in
tng6x24 "Second Chances" when he came across his own exact duplicate.


a person's true character is revealed in a time of crisis
=========================================================

:: Description
The idea is explicitly voiced or pointedly illustrated, that it is in moments
of extreme pressure we learn what people are really made of.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
In tz1959e3x03 "The Shelter", we saw how a previously friendly group of
neighborhood friends and families turned on each other and behaved  with
selfishness and spite when they thought a nuclear apocalypse was impending.


abandoning someone to save one's self
=====================================

:: Description
A character contemplates leaving someone they care about in a tight spot to
save their own skin.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma


abandonment
===========

:: Description
A character, typically a child, who has been dependent on another character,
typically a parent, for guidance and/or sustenance must come to terms with the
situation when that aid is suddenly and deliberately withdrawn.

:: Parents
coping with life issues

:: Examples
A mother drove her android boy to the forest and abandoned him there in "A.I.
Artificial Intelligence" (2001).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abandonment_(emotional)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_abandonment

:: Aliases
coping with being abandoned


ability to communicate with animals
===================================

:: Description
A character is able to communicate with animals in a way that resembles and is
comparable to how we humans communicate with each other.

:: Parents
speculative communication

:: Notes
This theme almost certainly requires the likely fallacious assumption that
some animals have the cognitive ability to process the ideas humans express.


ability to communicate with plants
==================================

:: Description
A character is able to communicate with plants (for this purpose including
fungi and other non-animal eukaryota should it ever become topical) in a way
that resembles and is comparable to how we humans communicate with each other.

:: Parents
speculative communication

:: Notes
This theme almost certainly requires the likely fallacious assumption that
some plants have the cognitive ability to process the ideas humans express.

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected4x07 "The Sound Machine", botanist Klausner invented a
machine that translates the high frequency waves plants (supposedly) make into
human audible sound, and found that they scream in recognizable anguish when
assaulted.


ability to see through solid objects
====================================

:: Description
A character is able to see right through physical objects at their discretion.

:: Parents
speculatively magnified ordinary personal ability

:: Examples
Superman uses his X-ray vision to check Lois Lane's lungs for signs of cancer
in the eponymously named film "Superman" (1978).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_vision

:: Aliases
X-ray vision


abortion
========

:: Description
We are asked to what extent, i.e., at what time in the gestation process and
by what manner, if any, abortion should be permitted.

:: Parents
sexual norms in society

:: Examples
Troi was quite taken aback when Worf indelicately suggested that she should
terminate her pregnancy in tng2x01 "The Child".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion


absentee father
===============

:: Description
A father is away from their child for an extended period of time such that the
child's development is adversely affected, perhaps because of a remote work
assignment.

:: Parents
human parenting

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_absence


absolute monarchy
=================

:: Description
Featured is the workings and idiosyncrasies of a state apparatus that is by
law and tradition ruled by a sovereign king, queen, or person of comparable
title. The monarch's authority is largely unconstrained by law.

:: Parents
form of government

:: Notes
Monarchies are said to fall on a sliding scale from "constitutional" to
"absolute". This theme is meant to encompass monarchies that are clearly not
constitutional, even when they are not technically absolute.


abuse of authority
==================

:: Description
Vested authority is used by someone to illegitimately pursuit their own
private goals.

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abuse_of_authority


abuse of real power
===================

:: Description
Someone has actual power over others, e.g. by muscle, weaponry or magic
powers, and use these in a morally contentious way.

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abuse_of_power


academic occupation
===================

:: Description
A character working in an academic institution is engaged in their chosen
profession.

:: Parents
human regular activity

:: Notes
This includes studies at the higher levels of learning, e.g. doctoral
students, as as such is generally considered to be training for an academic
career.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy


accelerated growth rate therapy
===============================

:: Description
Technology, for example genetic engineering, is employed to make a person grow
and develop faster than normal human development.

:: Parents
human enhancement technology


accepting reliance on others
============================

:: Description
A character has to come to terms with the fact that they are not entirely
self-reliant but do in fact rely on friends and colleagues for practical and
emotional support.

:: Parents
human self improvement


accidental alien destruction of planetary civilization
======================================================

:: Description
A planetary civilization collapses as a result of some unintended consequence
of another civilization's activity.

:: Parents
threat from extraterrestrial life

:: Examples
An errand, radioactive space garbage scow orbited the planet Gamelan V in
tng4x09 "Final Mission" and subjected the inhabitants to critical levels of
radiation.


acting
======

:: Description
A character reflects on how to play a role in theatre, film, etc.

:: Parents
the fine arts and the humanities

:: Examples
Data played Henry V in Shakespeare's play of the same name on the holodeck in
tng3x10 "The Defector".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acting


actions have consequences
=========================

:: Description
Someone is, more or less explicitly, told that they should consider their
actions carefully because actions have consequences.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
Moses in "Attack the Block" (2011) learned this in various ways.


acupuncture
===========

:: Description
A form of alternative medicine in which thin needles are inserted into the
body.

:: Parents
medicine

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acupuncture


acute anxiety
=============

:: Description
A character exhibits general nervousness, fear, and paranoia.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: Examples
In ent3x16 "Doctor's Orders", due to a trans-dimensional disturbance Doctor
Phlox becomes paranoid and suffers from various delusions and hallucinations,
while the remaining Enterprise crew lies in hibernation.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_attack

:: Aliases
anxiety


adapting to life in a foreign culture
=====================================

:: Description
Someone experiences what it is like to live in a culture very different from
their own for an extended period of time.

:: Parents
foreign point of view


addiction to fortune telling
============================

:: Description
Someone exhibits an addiction to having their future descried. This is usually
done by a seer, fortune teller, or the like, at a cost.

:: Parents
human addiction

:: Examples
In tz1959e2x07 "Nick of Time", the story followed William Shatner (as Don) as
he became increasingly consumed with learning mechanical fortune teller
produced predictions about his future, penny apiece.

:: References
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/in-excess/201601/addiction-fortune-telling


addiction to sensation
======================

:: Description
Someone is addicted to a sensation such as pain or fear to the extent that
they suffer withdrawal symptoms if they do not experience said sensations.

:: Parents
human addiction


adds in society
===============

:: Description
We are made to ponder the place of advertisements in society and whether they
are sometimes too intrusive and ubiquitous.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue


adolescence
===========

:: Description
Problems associated with people during the period from puberty to legal
adulthood.

:: Parents
human childhood

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolescence


adoption of a child
===================

:: Description
The relationship between a parent and their adopted child is featured
significantly.

:: Parents
human parenting

:: Examples
Worf ritually adopted Jeremy Aster into the House of Mogh after the boy's
mother died in the line of duty in tng3x05 "The Bonding".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoption


aerial bombing of cities
========================

:: Description
The military strategy of bombing cities which first became widespread in World
War I is featured.

:: Parents
war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerial_bombing_of_cities


aesthetics
==========

:: Description
Aesthetics is the branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of art, beauty,
taste, as well as with the creation and appreciation of beauty. The theme is
used whenever an aspect of this branch of philosophy is featured in the story.

:: Parents
philosophy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesthetics


agent and client
================

:: Description
Featured is the relationship between a client, and someone the client has
enlisted to act as their agent, more or less formally on an extended basis.
Notably, this type of relationship is found in the entertainment industry, for
example, when an actor hires a personal talent agent to find them jobs.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: Notes
This theme is used only if the expressions of the relationship go beyond what
is required and expected in such a business arrangement. I.e., it is used if
some familiarity and intimacy is noted, but not if the interaction is merely
formal and transactional.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_agency


agility vs. strength
====================

:: Description
An quick and spry person is pitched against a physically powerful opponent in
a fight and we wonder which of these qualities is more important for victory.

:: Parents
the art of war

:: Examples
Captain Kirk was pitted in an epic battle of agility and brains vs. strength
against a Gorn captain in tos1x19 "The Arena".


agoraphobia
===========

:: Description
An anxiety disorder characterized by symptoms of anxiety in situations where a
person perceives their environment to be unsafe with no easy way to escape, is
featured. Such situations can include open spaces, public transit, shopping
centers, or simply being outside one's home.

:: Parents
human phobia

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agoraphobia


aircraft hijacking
==================

:: Description
One or more people unlawfully seize control of an aircraft, typically for the
purpose of extortion or terrorism.

:: Parents
crime against property
violent crime

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected4x17 "Hijack", a lone aircraft passenger barricades
himself mid-flight with a stewardess in the lavatory and threatens to set off
an explosive unless he gets a million dollars and leave to parachute to safety
at a suitable location.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_hijacking


alchemy
=======

:: Description
Alchemy was an ancient branch of natural philosophy with the aim of purifying
or perfecting various materials. In particular, the transmutation of base
metals into gold is a hallmark of alchemist endeavors.

:: Parents
superseded scientific theory

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy


alcohol abuse
=============

:: Description
A character imbues alcohol to such an extent and frequency that it becomes a
problem for them and others.

:: Parents
drug abuse

:: Notes
This theme is not applied just because a character on screen is seen to have a
drink or two, unless the drinking is commented on or it is somehow obvious
that it causes a problem.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoholism


alcohol in society
==================

:: Description
Prohibition, or some other societal reaction to the pervasive use of alcohol,
is featured.

:: Parents
public health issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition_in_the_United_States


alien abduction
===============

:: Description
The abduction of someone against their will by space aliens.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
Captain Picard was abducted from the Enterprise-D by a pair of unnamed aliens
and replaced with a replica in tng3x18 "Allegiance".

Aliens abducted Fry and took his nose in futurama4x17 "Spanish Fry".

In the widely lampooned film "Santa Clause Conquers the Martians" (1964),
mean-spirited Martians abducted Santa Clause at ray-gun point and hightailed
it home, not knowing that the jolly old man would bring the spirit of
Christmas to the Red Planet. Thus featuring the crackpot theory theme "alien
abduction".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_abduction


alien brought pandemic
======================

:: Description
Aliens from outer space bring with then an infectious disease that threatens
life on your planet.

:: Parents
threat from extraterrestrial life

:: Examples
The plant-like Phylosians were brought to the brink of extinction by an alien
brought pandemic in tas1x07 "The Infinite Vulcan".

:: References
http://bigthink.com/paul-ratner/could-alien-diseases-wipe-out-humanity


alien experiment
================

:: Description
The performing of experiments on human subjects by aliens.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
Riker was abducted by subspace aliens and used as the subject in a bizarre
series experiments in tng6x05 "Schisms". In one such experiment, the aliens
amputated Riker's arm and then had it surgically reattached.


alien impregnation of human females
===================================

:: Description
The impregnation of a woman by an alien, typically without her consent and
sometimes without her knowledge.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
Troi was impregnated by an incorporeal entity that sought to experience the
world as a humanoid in tng2x01 "The Child".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_abduction


alien living secretly among us
==============================

:: Description
An extraterrestrial being covertly lives as an impostor amongst normal people
in a community

:: Parents
impostor living secretly among us

:: Examples
Commander Riker is sent to live secretly among the Malcorians in preparation
for a possible first contact scenario in tng4x15 "First Contact".


alien origin of a superstition
==============================

:: Description
A popular superstition is explained as having originated because of the
activities of extraterrestrials.

:: Parents
alien origin of an aspect of human civilization

:: Examples
In tng7x14 "Sub Rosa" we are given to understand that the incorporeal alien
known as Ronin had once lived on Earth and been mistaken there for a ghost,
thus causing a proliferation of ghost stories.


alien origin of a technology
============================

:: Description
The idea that an everyday technology we take for granted is of
extraterrestrial origin is featured. This typically occurs when an alien
technology is discovered and reverse-engineered by humans.

:: Parents
alien origin of an aspect of human civilization

:: Examples
In "Transformers" (2007), it was revealed that the microchip, among other
things, was invented by studying the design of a Transformer that was
discovered frozen in the Arctic by 19th century explorers.


alien origin of an aspect of human civilization
===============================================

:: Description
A technology, religious claim, superstition, or something else of note in
human civilization, possibly civilization itself, is postulated to have come
about as the result of the activities of extraterrestrial beings.

:: Parents
crackpot theory


alien origin of religious claims
================================

:: Description
The theory that aliens were behind some aspect of religions on Earth is
featured.

:: Parents
alien origin of an aspect of human civilization

:: Examples
In bbf2x22 "The Fall of Night" it is revealed that the Vorlon appear to us as
angels and that they were present on Earth a long time ago.


alien origin of the human race
==============================

:: Description
The crackpot notion that aliens came to Earth and created the human race.

:: Parents
alien origin of an aspect of human civilization

:: Examples
The renown Federation archaeologist Richard Galen was hot on the trail of an
extinct race of primordial humanoids in tng6x20 "The Chase".


alien overseers
===============

:: Description
There is an advanced race of beings that for one reason or another have chosen
to become the guardians of a less advanced race.

:: Parents
extraterrestrial being

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/secret_masters


alien point of view
===================

:: Description
Someone struggles to understand someone else because they  are physiologically
different kinds of beings.

:: Parents
cross cultural issue

:: Notes
There are a lot of stories that feature beings that are said to be alien, or
otherwise non-human, but that for all intents and purposes act just like
humans. This theme should only be applied if a point is  being made about a
physiological difference. The motivation should indicate what it was.


aliens eating people
====================

:: Description
Featured is the idea that extraterrestrials may visit Earth with the purpose
of devouring people as a gourmet delicacy.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Notes
This does not apply when the visitors are animal-like and driven mostly by
instinct.

:: Examples
In tz2019e2x10 "You Might Also Like", the Kanamits came back to Earth to turn
it into a hatchery with lots of delicious humans at hand as snacks for the
newborn alien babes.


aliens inspiring great people
=============================

:: Description
The notion that aliens influenced historically significant thinkers and
artists to come up with their famous ideas, is featured.

:: Parents
crackpot theory


aliens meddling in ancient history
==================================

:: Description
The theory that intelligent extraterrestrial beings visited humans in
antiquity or prehistoric times is featured. In the version of this theory
popularized by Erich von Däniken, the technologies and religions of our
ancient civilizations were given to them by aliens whom they welcomed as gods.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
Ensign Dawson Walking Bear recognized a winged, serpentine alien as the Mayan
god Kulkulkan in tas2x05 "How Sharper Than a Serpant's Tooth". Walking Bear
recounted how Kulkulkan gave the Mayans an accurate calendar and instructed
them in the science of city building.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_astronauts


aliens meddling in history
==========================

:: Description
The idea that aliens have been directly and deliberately involved in setting
the course of human history here on Earth is featured. It may, for example, be
suggested that the outcome of some pivotal event, say Germany's defeat in WW2,
was orchestrated by extraterrestrials.

:: Parents
crackpot theory
people meddling in history

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_astronauts


aliens talking to us in our dreams
==================================

:: Description
The crackpot notion aliens communicate with people in their dreams.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
Troi was contacted in her dreams by telepathic aliens trapped in Tykan's Rift
in tng4x17 "Night Terrors".


alternate history
=================

:: Description
A hypothetical society that exists as a result of historical events having
occurred differently, is explored.

:: Parents
speculative society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternate_history
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_alternate_history_fiction
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/alternate_history


alternate points of view
========================

:: Description
We are shown how something in particular may appear quite different from the
respective perspectives of two different people.

:: Parents
humans in group

:: Notes
This theme is typically used when the story switches between two character's
perspectives. Other "point of view" themes often feature an unusual
perspective which is implicitly compared with the viewers assumed normal
perspective.


alternate reality
=================

:: Description
This is the most general theme about views on the nature of reality considered
outside of mainstream thought in a past or present society of significant size
relative to the global population. For example, the theme may discuss
speculative futures, alternate histories, other worlds, Bigfoot, or magic.

:: Parents

:: Notes
This is the sort of theme that is often explored in science fiction, fantasy,
superhero fiction, science fantasy, horror, utopian and dystopian fiction,
supernatural fiction as well as combinations thereof.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speculative_fiction


alternative medicine
====================

:: Description
Alternative medicine or fringe medicine are practices claimed to have the
healing effects of medicine but which are disproven, unproven, impossible to
prove, or are excessively harmful in relation to their effect.

:: Parents
superseded scientific theory

:: Examples
The Kahn-ut-to woman Nona cured Captain Kirk of the poisonous effects of a
Mugato bite by rubbing a mahko root over his chest in tos2x16 "A Private
Little War".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_medicine


amateur radio
=============

:: Description
A character is enthusiastic about the use of radio frequency spectrum
transmission for non-commercial purposes.

:: Parents
recreational activity

:: Examples
Neighbors Bromley Cranston and Howard Marsden shared an interest in amateur
radio in "Radio Mates" (1927).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio

:: Aliases
passion for ham radio


amphibian-like being
====================

:: Description
There is a being patterned after amphibians.

:: Parents
animal and plant patterned being


anarchy
=======

:: Description
There is lawless anarchy due to the absence of a functioning government.

:: Parents
form of government

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchy


anarchy vs. rule of law
=======================

:: Description
An anarchist philosophy of life is contrasted with a philosophy of life that
emphasizes law and order. Anarchist usually means a distaste or disregard for
rules.

:: Parents
contraposed political ideologies


ancient alien archive
=====================

:: Description
There is a cache of ancient alien knowledge, be it in the form of books,
digital records, or some other form of storage.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
A well-known archaeologist discovered a 3D illustrated encyclopedia set inside
an abandoned Martian rocketship in "The Retreat to Mars" (1926).


ancient puzzle
==============

:: Description
An ancient civilization has constructed an large, ingenious, and elaborate
puzzle that has lasted for thousands of years. Typically, this is featured
when we see complicated machinery protecting an ancient tomb.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_relationship


android
=======

:: Description
A robot designed to look and act like a human.

:: Parents
artificial being
humanoid robot

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(robot)
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/androids


android clone of a person
=========================

:: Description
There is an android (a robot designed to look and act like a human) which is
physically and mentally a copy (to some extent) of a real person.

:: Parents
artificial intelligence
android
duplicate of a person


angel
=====

:: Description
There is an agent of a god that looks like a winged human being.

:: Parents
legendary being

:: Examples
Barbarella bedded a blind angel who had lost his ability to fly in
"Barbarella" (1968).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel


anger
=====

:: Description
A character exhibits displeasure or vexation to a point that rises above mere
"annoyance", but is not quite so intense that they fall into a "rage", loose
control of themself, and start smashing glass tables.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: Examples
Leah Brahms was aghast to find that Geordi had simulated her on the holodeck
in tng4x16 "Galaxy's Child".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anger
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrasting_and_categorization_of_emotions#Plutchik.27s_wheel_of_emotions


anger management issues
=======================

:: Description
A character struggles consciously to handle their inner anger.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anger_management


animal and plant patterned being
================================

:: Description
There is a being inspired by Earth animal and plant wildlife. These include
cat-like being, dog-like beings, fish-like beings and other mind-boggling
hybrids of humans with well known Earth wildlife.

:: Parents
biologically distinguished being


animal behavior
===============

:: Description
Ethology is the scientific and objective study of animal behavior, usually
with a focus on behavior under natural conditions, and viewing behavior as an
evolutionarily adaptive trait.

:: Parents
zoology

:: Notes
This theme is used in, for example, nature documentaries that explain how
various animals act and why.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethology


animal cruelty
==============

:: Description
The infliction by omission (animal neglect) or by commission by humans of
suffering or harm upon any non-human animal is featured.

:: Parents
human rights issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruelty_to_animals


animal rights
=============

:: Description
We are made to ponder what rights, if any, various animals should have vis-à-
vis human society.

:: Parents
human rights issue


animal sacrifice
================

:: Description
The ritual killing and offering of an animal usually as part of a religious
ritual or to appease or maintain favor with a deity is featured.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_sacrifice


animal testing
==============

:: Description
The controversy surrounding the use of non-human animals in experiments is
featured.

:: Parents
human rights issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_testing


ankle bracelet
==============

:: Description
A device used to control prisoners.

:: Parents
speculative wearable device
once speculative device

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankle_monitor


annihilation by WMDs
====================

:: Description
People employ weapons of mass destruction, a.k.a. WMDs, and threaten planetary
civilization.

:: Parents
institutional risk to civilization

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapon_of_mass_destruction
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_catastrophic_risk


annihilation by a device that stops fusion in a star
====================================================

:: Description
A single device capable of stopping the fusion process in a star is featured.

:: Parents
annihilation by WMDs

:: Examples
Captain Picard destroyed the Tox Uthat, a devise capable of stopping nuclear
fusion in a star, rather than risk letting it fall into the hands of the
Vorgons in tng3x19 "Captain's Holiday".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doomsday_device


annihilation by a planet busting device
=======================================

:: Description
A device capable of utterly destroying a planet (or worse) is featured.

:: Parents
annihilation by WMDs

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doomsday_device


anthropogenic existential risk to civilization
==============================================

:: Description
There is a way in which life on Earth (or some inhabited planet) could end as
a consequence of what the inhabitants on the planet choose to do. When will
the self-replicating, self-aware killer robots be unleashed?

:: Parents
existential risk to civilization

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_catastrophic_risk


anthropomorphic object come to life
===================================

:: Description
There is a doll, puppet, mannequin, or suchlike human-shaped object that is
ordinarily inanimate but now moves and acts on its own accord like a sentient
human being.

:: Parents
inanimate object come to life

:: Examples
In tz1985e2x04a "The After Hours", we saw how a woman named Marsha discovered
that she was, in fact, a store mannequin that had been granted the opportunity
to experience real life for a short while, but must now revert to her former
inanimate state.


anti-aging technology
=====================

:: Description
Technology that undoes aging and takes years of your face!

:: Parents
life extension technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_extension


anti-gravity
============

:: Description
There is an effect that causes a place or object to be free from the forces of
gravity to some extent.

:: Parents
speculative effect

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-gravity
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/antigravity


anti-gravity technology
=======================

:: Description
A device that creates a place or object that is free from the force of
gravity.

:: Parents
gravity manipulating technology
anti-gravity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-gravity
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/antigravity


anti-intellectualism in society
===============================

:: Description
The ramifications of hostility to and mistrust of intellectuals in society are
explored.

:: Parents
hatred of exceptional people

:: Examples
Daystrom was harassed by philistines like Captain Kirk who didn't understand
is his great achievements in duotronic computing in tos2x24 "The Ultimate
Computer".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-intellectualism


anti-technology way of life
===========================

:: Description
Someone holds the belief that life is better without machines and that
mechanization (relative to some intuitive reference point) is altogether
undesirable.

:: Parents
human way of life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Luddism

:: Aliases
luddism


anti-war activism
=================

:: Description
A group of people organizes in opposition to a government's decision to begin
or carry on an armed conflict.

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-war_movement


antigovernment militia movement
===============================

:: Description
A militant rebel movement that strives to overthrow the sitting government is
featured.

:: Parents
military issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militia_organizations_in_the_United_States


antimatter
==========

:: Description
Antimatter is a form of matter composed of particles with the same mass, but
opposite quantum properties (e.g. charge) to those of corresponding particles
of ordinary matter. This theme is used whenever a property of antimatter is
explicitly touched on in the story.

:: Parents
physics

:: Notes
The typical use case occurs when somebody explains that matter and antimatter
go boom when brought into contact. In more scientifically accurate treatments
of the subject, however, we may learn that a collision between a particle and
its anti-particle partner leads to their mutual annihilation, giving rise to a
release of energy in the form of radiation.

:: Examples
The danger of trying to mix matter with antimatter was explained in tos1x20
"The Alternative Factor".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimatter


antimatter power
================

:: Description
The harnessing of matter-antimatter annihilations as a source of power for
technology is explored. This theme does not apply when energy from matter-
antimatter annihilations is released in a huge explosion.

:: Parents
speculative energy generation technology

:: Examples
In "Alita: Battle Angel" (2019), the cyborg Alita was kept alive by means of
an antimatter powered heart.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimatter


antiscience in society
======================

:: Description
The opposition between adherents of a scientific way of thinking with people
who feel threatened by it is discussed.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiscience


antisemitism in society
=======================

:: Description
There is notable prejudice against Jewish people.

:: Parents
racism in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisemitism


ape-like being
==============

:: Description
A being patterned after apes.

:: Parents
animal and plant patterned being

:: Examples
The Taurus II Anthropoids of tos1x13 "The Galileo Seven" were a giant ape-like
species that menaced the shuttlecraft Galileo crew.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mammalian_alien_species#Simians


apostacy
========

:: Description
The crime of abandoning a state mandated religion, or challenging such a
religion's beliefs, is featured.

:: Parents
crime against the public

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heresy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostasy


apotheosis
==========

:: Description
A mortal character is transformed into a being of godlike stature.

:: Parents
what if I underwent a physical metamorphosis

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apotheosis


appearance altering technology
==============================

:: Description
There is technology by which someone can be physically altered to look notably
different. Typically this means that the shape of their face is changed.
Application of makeup does not count.

:: Parents
human enhancement technology


appearances can be deceiving
============================

:: Description
We are shown that people may not always be quite what they appear to be.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/looks%20can%20be%20deceiving/deceptive
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/appearances+can+be+deceiving
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_judge_a_book_by_its_cover

:: Aliases
don't judge a book by its cover


appeasement policy
==================

:: Description
Diplomats from one faction make political or material concessions to an
aggressive other faction in order to avoid conflict.

:: Parents
international issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeasement


approaching astronomical object event
=====================================

:: Description
A planet has a potentially world ending encounter with a passing celestial
body, like a large asteroid.

:: Parents
force of nature existential risk to civilization


aquatic ability
===============

:: Description
A character has fish-like underwater abilities beyond what is possible for any
ordinary person today. They may, for example, be able to swim as fast as a
shark, or stay under water indefinitely.

:: Parents
speculative personal locomotion

:: Examples
Captain Kirk and Spock became water breathers and froliced like fish in the
oceans of the planet Argo in tas1x13 "The Ambergris Element".


arachnophobia
=============

:: Description
Someone exhibits a fear of spiders.

:: Parents
human phobia

:: Examples
Miles O'Brien confided in Barclay that he overcame arachnophobia by crawling
into a Jefferies tube filled with twenty Talarian hook spiders in tng6x02
"Realm of Fear".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apprehension


archaeological looting
======================

:: Description
Someone illicitly removes artifacts from an archaeological site, or the like.
The robbing of ancient graves is a specific example of such looting.

:: Parents
theft

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeological_looting


archaeology
===========

:: Description
The scientific study of human activity through excavation of old sites,
analysis of artefacts, etc.

:: Parents
science

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeology


archaeology occupation
======================

:: Description
An archaeologist is engaged in their chosen occupation.

:: Parents
academic occupation
archaeology

:: Examples
Captain Picard's much anticipated lecture on archaeological ruins of Tagus III
was rudely cut short by Q in tng4x20 "Qpid".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeology


architect occupation
====================

:: Description
A character is engaged in the planning, design, and supervision of the
construction of buildings.

:: Parents
art related occupation

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architect
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture

:: Aliases
architecture


are humans more than machines
=============================

:: Description
Discussed is whether and to what extent humans are nothing more than
sophisticated mechanical contraptions of some sort or another.

:: Parents
metaphysics


are we alone in the universe
============================

:: Description
The question of whether or not there may be other intelligent lifeforms
somewhere in the Universe, is discussed.

:: Parents
metaphysics


aristocracy vs. bourgeoisie
===========================

:: Description
The question of whether the noble classes or the merchant classes should have
more power in society is discussed.

:: Parents
contraposed political ideologies

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristocracy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourgeoisie


arms race
=========

:: Description
Two rival factions each strive to improve to their arsenal of weaponry in
order to outdo the other and gain an upper hand in the event of a war.

:: Parents
international issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arms_race


arms trade
==========

:: Description
One faction sells weapons to another faction. To what extent is the seller
responsible for the actions carried out with such weapons?

:: Parents
international issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arms_industry

:: Aliases
arms industry


arranged marriage
=================

:: Description
We are asked to what extent, if any, people should be free to marry whom they
choose, or whether parents and other interested parties should have a say.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: Examples
Spock urgently returned to Vulcan for the expressed purpose of wedding, and
subsequently copulating with, his arranged bride T'Pring in tos2x05 "Amok
Time".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arranged_marriage


arson
=====

:: Description
The crime of willfully and maliciously setting fire to property is featured.
For example, burning down a house or starting a forest fire may count as
arson.

:: Parents
crime against property

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arson


art discussion
==============

:: Description
Two characters critically discuss a piece of art.

:: Parents
art related activity

:: Examples
Data found evidence of "unsettling overtones of proto-Vulcan influences" in
Picard's painting of a nude model in tng3x14 "A Matter of Perspective".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_criticism


art forgery
===========

:: Description
The crime of creating and peddling falsely accredited artwork is featured. For
example, a skilled painter may copy an old masterpiece, take pains to make it
look aged, and then sell it under the pretense that it is the original.

:: Parents
criminal fraud

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_forgery


art related activity
====================

:: Description
There is an activity which centers around art objects but which is not itself
about the creation of art.

:: Parents
the fine arts and the humanities


art related occupation
======================

:: Description
A character involved with the production of art is engaged in their chosen
occupation.

:: Parents
human occupational activity


artificial being
================

:: Description
There is a being that was produced using technology as opposed to the old
fashioned way.

:: Parents
speculative being


artificial body part
====================

:: Description
Someone has a mechanical or otherwise manufactured prosthetic device in place
of a flesh and blood organ, limb or extremity.

:: Parents
human enhancement technology

:: Examples
In tz1985e3x30 "Father and Son Game", an old and dying man had the contents of
his flesh and blood brain copied into an electronic brain that was implanted
into the body of a younger man.

:: Template
artificial body part <body part>
<body part>: arm, hand, leg, blood, brain, ear, eye, heart, gland, lung, stomach


artificial gravity technology
=============================

:: Description
Technology that can be used to create more gravity than there is really mass
present to account for. This is typically used to make life in a spaceship
easier.

:: Parents
gravity manipulating technology

:: Examples
In tos3x18 "The Lights of Zetar" Mira was put into a pressurized anti-gravity
chamber in order to expel alien influences from her mind.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_gravity


artificial intelligence
=======================

:: Description
There is an automaton (typically a machine) with roughly human-level
intelligence, such as androids, sentient computers, etc.

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence_in_fiction
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/ai


artificial life
===============

:: Description
Someone creates a living, functioning being (organic or otherwise) from non-
living components by scientific means.

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: Examples
Mad scientist Dr. Charles Walding tried to create the first man-made living
organism in "Escape" (1971).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_biology#Synthetic_life


artificial planet
=================

:: Description
An entire planet designed and constructed by some sentient race.

:: Parents
planetary-scale engineering
speculative habitable celestial body

:: Examples
A mysterious planetoid turned out to be a wholly artificial artifact of a long
gone alien civilization in tos3x14 "That Which Survives".


artificial womb
===============

:: Description
A device for maintaining the growing a baby from conception to the point where
they can enter the world is featured.

:: Parents
pod or booth-like device

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_womb


artisan occupation
==================

:: Description
Featured is the professional activities of a skilled craft worker who makes or
creates material objects partly or entirely by hand. This may include
blacksmiths, shoemakers, weavers and watchmakers.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: Notes
The category is taken to exclude people who are thought of as artists, which
is for example most painters and sculptors.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artisan


artist vs. scientist
====================

:: Description
A stereotypically artist type of character is compared and contrasted with a
stereotypically scientist kind of character.

:: Parents
human characters in contrast

:: Examples
In "Stalker" (1979), the character Writer (a sophisticated writer) spoke at
length to the character Professor (an erudite physicist) about the differences
in their chosen professions.


assimilating beings
===================

:: Description
There is an species-like faction that propagates itself not by conventional
reproduction but by assimilating members of other alien races. Note:
terminology becomes problematic in this case as there is typically something
very much like an alien race, yet biologically it is not in strictly speaking
a race or a species.

:: Parents
biologically distinguished being


assisting in suicide
====================

:: Description
Someone debates whether or not it is ethical to help another in that other
person's attempt to end their own life.

:: Parents
personal life and death dilemma

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_suicide


asteroid impact
===============

:: Description
Life on a planet is threatened by an asteroid that is on a collision course
with it.

:: Parents
approaching astronomical object event

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_event


asteroid mining
===============

:: Description
Interesting minerals are extracted from an asteroid.

:: Parents
planetary-scale engineering

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid_mining


astrology
=========

:: Description
The study of the movements and relative positions of celestial objects as a
means for divining information about human affairs and terrestrial events.

:: Parents
divination

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrology


astronomical impact avoidance
=============================

:: Description
A collection of methods by which an asteroid could be diverted from colliding
with a planetary target.

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: Examples
After the Enterprise had spectacularly failed to divert an asteroid, Captain
Kirk accidentally activated an ancient asteroid deflecting device on the
planet's surface in tos3x03 "The Paradise Syndrome".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid_impact_avoidance


astronomical-scale engineering
==============================

:: Description
There is an application of technology for the purpose of influencing the
environment of something beyond the scale of even a planet, like a star or
galaxy.

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megastructure


astronomy
=========

:: Description
The scientific study of celestial objects and other celestial phenomena is
featured.

:: Parents
science

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomy


atheism
=======

:: Description
There is a character who notably rejects the idea that there could be any
deity, and especially so God of the Abrahemic religions.

:: Parents
human way of life

:: Examples
An unnamed man had been condemned to Hell for not believing in God in
tz1985e1x19b "Dead Run" (1986).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism


atmospheric dissipation
=======================

:: Description
The atmosphere on a planet disappears and civilization collapses.

:: Parents
force of nature existential risk to civilization

:: Examples
Worf's unruly brother Nikolai save a group of Boraalan villagers from certain
death in a rapid atmospheric dissipation event on their homeworld in tng7x13
"Homeward".

:: References
http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Atmospheric_dissipation


atrocities of war
=================

:: Description
Atrocities, such as torture or the mass killing of civilians, are carried out
during the course of a war.

:: Parents
the horrors of war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_crime


atrophied civilization
======================

:: Description
Civilization simply stagnates and becomes weak to the point where it may not
be capable of safeguarding its own continuation.

:: Parents
institutional risk to civilization

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/arrested_development


attachment to one's land
========================

:: Description
The human penchant for becoming attached to geographical locations is
featured. This is perhaps a nicer way of referring to human territoriality.

:: Parents
human social need

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Place_attachment

:: Aliases
place attachment


attachment to one's livelihood
==============================

:: Description
The human tendency to become attached to a profession and be reluctant to give
it up is featured.

:: Parents
human safety need

:: Examples
Xenophobic miners on Janus VI nearly killed the last alien of a species rather
than give up their lucrative livelihood in tos1x26 "The Devil in the Dark".


attack from Inner Earth
=======================

:: Description
Civilization as we know it is under threat because of an attack from beings
that live inside the Earth.

:: Parents
threat from extraterrestrial life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollow_Earth


attack from outer space
=======================

:: Description
Civilization as we know it is under threat because of an invader from outer
space.

:: Parents
threat from extraterrestrial life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_invasion


attack from outer space by a genocidal enemy
============================================

:: Description
Homicidal aliens from outer space come to your home planet and massacre
everyone.

:: Parents
attack from outer space

:: Examples
The colonists of Tau Cygna V were slated for extermination by the genocidal
Sheliak in tng3x02 "The Ensigns of Command".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_invasion


attack from outer space by a giant spaceborne being
===================================================

:: Description
An inhabited world is destroyed by a ginormous creature that lives in space
and, presumably, likes to eat planets.

:: Parents
attack from outer space

:: Examples
The Gamma 7A system, with its billions of inhabitants, was utterly destroyed
by a giant space amoeba in tos2x19 "The Immunity Syndrome".


attack from outer space by a powerful conquering enemy
======================================================

:: Description
Alien beings from outer space come along and subjugate your civlization to
make it serve their own ends.

:: Parents
attack from outer space

:: Examples
The mirror universe Halkan homeworld  was under threat of being conquered or
destroyed by the savage Terran Empire in tos2x10 "Mirror, Mirror".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_invasion

:: Aliases
attack from outer space by a powerful subjugating enemy


attitude of superiority
=======================

:: Description
A character expresses the sentiment that they are better than others around
them in some, more or less, general sense. Typically, this happens when a
character believes themself to be of superior intellect, social class, or
race.

:: Parents
pride

:: Notes
The theme is not used about specific and limited attributes a character may
feel, superior with respect to. For example, if a character rightly or wrongly
thinks they are better at the game of pool than others, this may rather be
called "pride in an ability", or perhaps "hubris".


attitude towards the dead
=========================

:: Description
We are shown possible ways of thinking about death and the departed.

:: Parents
cross cultural issue

:: Examples
Most of us feel a measure of respect for the body of a late compatriot, but
the Klingons in tng1x20 "Heart of Glory" demonstrated complete disregard for
the empty husk of a corpse their friend had recently departed.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Death_customs


augmented reality
=================

:: Description
There is technology that allows a person to see artificial digital information
overlaid on top of their real view of the world.

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augmented_reality


aunt and nephew
===============

:: Description
The relationship between an aunt and her nephew is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship


aunt and niece
==============

:: Description
The relationship between an aunt and her niece is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship


authoritarianism
================

:: Description
Featured is a form of government characterized by the rejection of political
plurality, the use of a strong central power to preserve the political status
quo, and reductions in the rule of law, separation of powers, and democratic
voting.

:: Parents
form of government

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authoritarianism


automatic surgery machine
=========================

:: Description
A non-sentient machine that can nonetheless perform surgery without human
supervision.

:: Parents
speculative device

:: Examples
In Prometheus (2012) Shaw used such a machine to remove a squid-like alien
that was growing inside of her.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robot-assisted_surgery


autonomous weapon systems in society
====================================

:: Description
Discussed is in what way the constitution of society as we know it may change
with the emergence of weapons that can to a large extent operate on their own.
For example, such systems may be used to oppress people for pennies a day.

:: Parents
sociotechnological issue
autonomous weapons system
machines in society

:: Notes
This theme is not automatically used in the many sci-fi stories where the
autonomous weapons merely go haywire and kill everyone.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethal_autonomous_weapon


autonomous weapons system
=========================

:: Description
There is a weapons system that has a sufficient degree of artificial
intelligence so as to select targets and operate entirely on its own, once
unleashed.

:: Parents
artificial intelligence
speculative weapon

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethal_autonomous_weapon


autonomous weapons system killing everyone
==========================================

:: Description
People create weapons systems (killer robots etc.) that can function all on
their own but things get out of hand and the weapons kill everyone.

:: Parents
technological risk to civilization
autonomous weapon systems in society


avian being
===========

:: Description
A being patterned after birds.

:: Parents
animal and plant patterned being

:: Examples
The historian Aleek-Om, a bird-like alien of the race Aurelian, took tricorder
readings in the vicinity of the Guardian of Forever in tas1x02 "Yesteryear".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_avian_humanoids


avunculicide
============

:: Description
A character murders their own uncle.

:: Parents
parricide

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avunculicide


bad government exports while the people are starving
====================================================

:: Description
The governing body of a faction focuses time and resources on producing
exports in order to strengthen the country or merely enrich themselves, all
the while internal conditions are abysmal for the great majority of the
population.

:: Parents
social dysfunction

:: Examples
This is a charge often levied against Mao Zedong with respect to the Great
Chinese Famine of 1959-1961 in particular.


bad luck signs
==============

:: Description
An omen that signifies ill luck according to some tradition, is featured in
just such a way.

:: Parents
supernatural luck

:: Examples
In ahp1x14 "A Bullet for Baldwin", a cleaner informs Mr. Stepp that opening an
umbrella indoors gives you bad luck.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bad_luck_signs


ball-shaped being
=================

:: Description
A being that is basically a bouncing ball.

:: Parents
shape distinguished being


band of outlaws
===============

:: Description
There is a group of outcasts to society who go around committing crimes in an
organized manner.

:: Parents
organized crime


bank robbery
============

:: Description
The crime of stealing from a bank (or comparable venue) by physically gaining
entry to its facilities and unlawfully removing large amounts of money or
valuables, is featured. Bank-like outfits include other venues that have
vaults, for example casinos or Fort Knox.

:: Parents
robbery

:: Notes
In real life most bank robberies are made at gunpoint, i.e., by threatening
bank employees with violence. In fiction (more than reality) there are
sometimes clever schemes to gain entry clandestinely, for example by tunneling
in during off-hours, or using deception. The latter is technically a case of
"burglary" when violence is not used, but is categorized as "bank robbery" for
convenience. This definition may well (and rightly should) be revisited in the
future.

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected5x06 "The Moles", two old friends whose business faced
financial ruin hatched a clever plan to tunnel their way into a certain bank
vault from an antique shop adjacent to it.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_robbery
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bank_robbers_and_robberies


be careful what you wish for
============================

:: Description
Someone gets what they desire only to find out that they really shouldn't have
desired it in the first place.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Notes
This proverb is normally used when a person does not have the maturity or
sophistication to understand what the outcome of their desire will actually
mean to themself. It is notably not applied in situations where there is
hidden information about the outcome that makes it undesirable, and that no
person could possibly have known beforehand irrespective of such things as
maturity.

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/be_careful_what_you_wish_for


be mindful of first impressions
===============================

:: Description
Someone learns how important first impressions can be as they often last
longer in the mind than subsequent memories.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
Sonya Gomez made a terrible first impression when she spilled hot chocolate
all over Captain Picard on her first day in tng2x16 "Q Who".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_impression_(psychology)


be wary of strangers
====================

:: Description
The idea that we ought better be cautious around outsiders we do not know, is
expressly stated or pointedly illustrated.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected5x16 "A Man with a Fortune", Janet Murdoch met her doom
after she set out to travel with the strange American John Smith and it turned
out he was a psychopathic killer descended from a long line of psychopathic
killers.


beards
======

:: Description
The sublime matter of pogonotrophy (the cultivation of one's facial hair) is
discussed.

:: Parents
male stereotype

:: Examples
Star Trek enthusiasts were treated to a double dose of Riker and his beard in
tng6x24 "Second Chances".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beard
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facial_hair


beating one's self up
=====================

:: Description
A character chastises themself over a perceived failure, usually in a way that
is unfair or unnecessary.

:: Parents
human worrying about self

:: References
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/beat-yourself-up


beauty and beast romance
========================

:: Description
A beautiful person and an extremely ugly person become romantically involved.

:: Parents
romantic relationship


beauty is in the eye of the beholder
====================================

:: Description
We are shown that the perception of what is beautiful or not depends on the
observer. What is pretty to one may be ugly to another.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
The grotesque looking Horta alien thought that it was the humans that should
be pitied for their unsightly appearance in tos1x26 "The Devil in the Dark".

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/beauty_is_in_the_eye_of_the_beholder


becoming a harder person
========================

:: Description
A character seeks to become more composed and emotionally callous, i.e.,
someone who can do what needs to be done even when the task is distasteful.

:: Parents
human self improvement

:: Examples
In tz1959e4x04 "He's Alive", Hitler extolled Peter to put sentimentality
aside, to steel himself, to become a tougher person.


becoming a more emotionally sophisticated person
================================================

:: Description
A character struggles to improve on their own temperament in order to become a
better person.

:: Parents
human self improvement

:: Examples
In tz1959e5x16 "The Self-Improvement of Salvadore Ross", the hard-hearted
young man Sal gave old Mr. Maitland a large sum of money in exchange for the
latter's highly cultivated sense of compassion.


becoming a more self-assured person
===================================

:: Description
A notably insecure and nervous character strives to become a more self-
confident and composed person.

:: Parents
human self improvement

:: Examples
In tz1959e2x03 "Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room", we saw how Jackie,
confronted with a task that terrified him, started to re-evaluate his whole
prevaricating life. The story concluded with Jackie metamorphosing into his
alter ego, mirror Jackie, his complete opposite in terms of self-confidence.
In this new persona, Jackie finally had the aplomb to stand up to his bullying
boss, and to quite the whole sordid line of work he was in.


becoming a nicer person
=======================

:: Description
A character struggles to change their personality so as to become kinder
towards others in general.

:: Parents
human self improvement


becoming like what you oppose
=============================

:: Description
A character realizes that by acting like their enemy they are becoming like
their enemy.

:: Parents
human worrying about self


beholding the Earth from space
==============================

:: Description
A character takes pointed satisfaction in viewing the planet Earth from the
vantage point of outer space.

:: Parents
pleasure in nature


being ashamed of who you are
============================

:: Description
A character thinks about why the feel ashamed for who they are.

:: Parents
human worrying about self


being bitter about one's life
=============================

:: Description
A character reflects on their life with caustic bitterness over things that
did not turn out to their satisfaction.

:: Parents
human worrying about self


being on the run from the law
=============================

:: Description
A character is on the run from the legitimate police.

:: Parents
facing organized pursuit

:: Examples
In ahp1x16 "You Got to Have Luck", Sam is a felon escaped from prison and
tries to evade recapture by the police.


being physically conjoined to another
=====================================

:: Description
We are made to imagine what it would be like to be physically connected, like
a conjoined twin, to another person.

:: Parents
speculative experience

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjoined_twins


being that feeds on electricity
===============================

:: Description
There is a being that somehow derives nourishment directly from electricity,
perhaps by plugging themselves into an electrical socket.

:: Parents
biologically distinguished being

:: Examples
An eccentric, yellow-colored alien named Nick turned down a drumstick in favor
of a 240V electric line in "The Boy Who Turned Yellow" (1972).


being that feeds on the mind
============================

:: Description
There is a life form that somehow derives nourishment from the minds of other
beings. It may, for example, be said to feed on the emotions of others, or on
some mystic quality associated with the mind (such as "the soul").

:: Parents
biologically distinguished being

:: Aliases
emotion eating being


being wiped out by more powerful aliens
=======================================

:: Description
A civilization is destroyed, perhaps perhaps intentionally, by the actions of
comparatively more advanced aliens.

:: Parents
threat from extraterrestrial life

:: Examples
A Douwd wiped the Husnock clean out of existence in tng3x03 "The Survivors".


belonging
=========

:: Description
Members of a group feel that they are an essential part of that group.

:: Parents
humans in group

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belongingness


benefiting from someone else's work
===================================

:: Description
A character must decide whether they can quietly take credit for something
that is actually due to another person's labor.

:: Parents
compromising one's ethical principles for personal advantage

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiarism


best laid plans often go awry
=============================

:: Description
The proverbial expression used to signify the futility of making detailed
plans when the ability to fully or even partially execute them is uncertain is
featured.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/best_laid_plans


bestiality
==========

:: Description
Bestiality is cross-species sexual activity between human and non-human
animals.

:: Parents
sexual norms in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoophilia


betrayal
========

:: Description
A character betrays the trust of friend, a family tie, or some other loyalty.

:: Parents
humans interacting

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betrayal


better to have loved and lost
=============================

:: Description
The wisdom in the old saying "it is better to have loved and lost than never
to have loved at all" is illustrated.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
When star-crossed lovers Nella Daren and Captain Picard opted to part ways
after a passionate but turbulent dalliance in tng6x19 "Lessons", both seemed
decidedly happier for the experience they had shared.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Memoriam_A.H.H.


biased sex-ratio society
========================

:: Description
There is a nation of people where the male to female ratio is highly skewed in
the one direction or the other.

:: Parents
speculative society

:: Examples
In "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" (1966), Luna society had a sex-ratio of
about two men to each woman, resulting in the widespread practice of
polyandry.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-gender_world


big banking in society
======================

:: Description
The ramifications of big banking in society are explored.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue


bigamy
======

:: Description
In cultures where monogamy is mandated, bigamy is the act of entering into a
marriage with one person while still legally married to another.

:: Parents
polygamy
sexual crime

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigamy


binary star system
==================

:: Description
A star system consisting of two stars orbiting around their common center of
mass.

:: Parents
astronomy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_star


bio-mimicking life form
=======================

:: Description
A life form that can copy the shape of other aliens. An original is needed to
stand model.

:: Parents
shapeshifter


bioengineered human pathogen
============================

:: Description
A virus, bacterium or equivalent type of infectious substance has been
engineered by a person.

:: Parents
speculative biotechnology
contagious disease in society


biological computer
===================

:: Description
A machine that works much like a classical computer but is grown out of
organic materials.

:: Parents
speculative biotechnology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_computing
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/bionics


biological machinery
====================

:: Description
There is an artificial device with components that are biological in nature.
Note: This theme is not used for sentient objects such as androids.

:: Parents
speculative biotechnology


biological spaceship
====================

:: Description
A spaceship made up of biological components, i.e., cells and such.

:: Parents
speculative spaceship
speculative biotechnology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioship

:: Aliases
bioship


biological weapons
==================

:: Description
The use of biological agents, i.e., man-made diseases, to indiscriminantly
kill people is featured.

:: Parents
weapons of mass destruction

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_warfare


biologically distinguished being
================================

:: Description
There is a being that is novel by virtue of its biology, e.g., beings living
in symbiosis or having unusual methods of reproduction.

:: Parents
speculative being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictional_extraterrestrials
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictional_extraterrestrials_by_form


biologically symbiotic beings
=============================

:: Description
There's a pair of beings whose biological functions are so dependent on each
other that one could not flourish without the other.

:: Parents
biologically distinguished being


biology
=======

:: Description
Biology is the natural science that studies life and living organisms. This
theme is used whenever an aspect of this science is featured in the story.

:: Parents
science

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biology


biotechnological risk to civilization
=====================================

:: Description
People come up with a nifty way to modify living organisms using technology,
but there are consequences, unforeseen or otherwise, and everybody dies.

:: Parents
technological risk to civilization


bird in a gilded cage
=====================

:: Description
Someone faces living in luxury but without freedom.

:: Parents
human vs. captivity

:: Examples
Harry Mudd was waited on by an army of ostensibly loyal androids and had
everything he could wish for except the freedom to leave in tos2x12 "I, Mudd".

:: References
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/a+bird+in+a+gilded+cage


birth control
=============

:: Description
We are asked what, if any, birth control methods are acceptable.

:: Parents
sexual norms in society

:: Examples
The People of Gideon, the Space Catholics, were fundamentally opposed to using
birth control as a means to solve their over-population crisis in tos3x17 "The
Mark of Gideon".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_control


bisexualism
===========

:: Description
A character displays an attraction to both men and women.

:: Parents
sexual norms in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisexuality


black hole
==========

:: Description
A region of space exhibiting such strong gravitational effects that nothing
(not even particles and electromagnetic radiation such as light) can escape
from inside it.

:: Parents
astronomy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_hole
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/black_holes


black magic
===========

:: Description
Someone uses supernatural powers of the evil variety for selfish ends. This
may involve things like hexes and curses, dead bodies, and blood. There is
often a connection to quasi-religious entities such as evil spirits, demons,
and Satan.

:: Parents
the supernatural

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_magic


black markets
=============

:: Description
The covert covert trade in government prohibited or stolen goods is featured.

:: Parents
crime against the public

:: Examples
Steve Austin was sent on a mission to stop an arms dealer from selling stolen
nuclear missiles on the black market in "The Six Million Dollar Man: Wine,
Women and War" (1973).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_market


black sheep
===========

:: Description
Someone is regarded as the family disgrace because of their uncouth or
criminal ways.

:: Parents
family affairs

:: Examples
Lore was the family disgrace in the eyes of his goody two-shoes brother Data
in tng1x13 "Datalore".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_sheep


blackmail
=========

:: Description
The act of blackmailing is featured in a way that is (arguably) considered
criminal in the context. Blackmail is an act of coercion using the threat of
revealing or publicizing either substantially true or false information about
a person or people unless certain demands are met.

It is often damaging information, and may be revealed to family members or
associates rather than to the general public. It may involve using threats of
physical, mental or emotional harm, or of criminal prosecution, against the
victim or someone close to the victim. It is normally carried out for personal
gain, most commonly of position, money, or property. It is also used,
sometimes by state agencies, to exert influence.

:: Parents
crime against property

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackmail


blobform
========

:: Description
An amorphous alien organism that is solid enough to be able to maintain a
definite shape for an extended period of time.

:: Parents
shape distinguished being

:: References
https://aliens.wikia.com/wiki/Blob


blood is thicker than water
===========================

:: Description
This adage is explicitly invoked or it is pointedly illustrated that familial
bonds will always be stronger than those of friendship or love.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
In ahp2x01 "Wet Saturday", the Narrator spelled out this moral of the story at
the end. Mr. Princey had no compunctions about framing his friend for a murder
that his own daughter had committed. Though the daughter was rather
disagreeable and the friend rather benevolent, blood is always thicker than
water.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_is_thicker_than_water


blood sports
============

:: Description
There is a sport or entertainment that involves intentional bloodshed. Either
animals or people are meant to be severely wounded during the activity.

:: Parents
sports

:: Notes
Modern boxing and other sports that are violent but where the objective is
neither to kill nor inflict serious injury, are classified as "combat sports"
instead.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_sport


bluffing
========

:: Description
A character insinuates they will do something that they in fact cannot or will
not do, thereby deceiving someone else.

:: Parents
humans interacting


body implant
============

:: Description
There is a futuristic device that is implanted inside the body of a person for
some practical purpose.

:: Parents
human enhancement technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microchip_implant_(human)


body part transplant
====================

:: Description
A body part is transplanted using scientific means, such as surgery. The
transplanted body part may or may not turn the subject evil or endow them with
supernatural powers.

:: Parents
human enhancement technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_transplantation_in_fiction


body snatching
==============

:: Description
Body snatching is the secret removal of corpses from burial sites for the
purpose of dissection and anatomy studies. This is featured as a crime.

:: Parents
crime against the public

:: Notes
The Wikipedia definition is slightly broader. We restrict the usage here to
body snatching for the purpose of medical studies, as there are a number of
mostly 19th century stories that feature this distinctive social issue.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_snatching
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burke_and_Hare_murders


body swap
=========

:: Description
A process by which the consciousness inhabiting one body is swapped with that
inhabiting another body. Each consciousness thus ends up in another body than
where it began. Normally only two bodies are involved but the theme does not
preclude the possibility that there are three or more bodies that each end up
with a different consciousness than it began with.

:: Parents
speculative experience

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/identity_exchange


bondage sex
===========

:: Description
The practice of consensually tying, binding, or restraining a partner for
erotic, aesthetic, or somatosensory stimulation is featured.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bondage_(BDSM)


boredom
=======

:: Description
Someone is feeling bored and depressed with their life and existence.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: Examples
General Trelane (retired), a.k.a. the Squire of Gothos, held an enterprise
landing party against their will to help spice up his life in tos1x18 "The
Squire of Gothos".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boredom

:: Aliases
ennui


boss and employee
=================

:: Description
The relationship between a manager and a person they manage is featured at a
workplace.

:: Parents
superior and subordinate

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management


boyfriend and boyfriend
=======================

:: Description
There is an informal but extended, presumed monogamous, romantic relationship
between two male characters.

:: Parents
romantic relationship

:: Examples
A flamboyantly gay man moved to an idyllic Connecticut town with his boyfriend
in a last ditched effort to salvage their relationship in "The Stepford Wives"
(2004).


boyfriend and girlfriend
========================

:: Description
There is an informal but extended, presumed monogamous, romantic relationship
between a male character and a female character.

:: Parents
romantic relationship


brain disembodiment technology
==============================

:: Description
Technology by which a brain can be taken out of the body and maintained in a
functioning state for an extended amount of time.

:: Parents
human enhancement technology

:: Examples
The Morg of Sigma Draconis VI used such technology to steal Spock's big and
sexy brain in tos3x06 "Spock's Brain".

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/brain_in_a_box


brain implant
=============

:: Description
There is a technological device that is implanted directly into someones
brain. Note: This theme only applies when the implant results in a
functionality that goes above and beyond what currently existing brain implant
devices can provide.

:: Parents
brain-computer interface
human enhancement technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_implant#In_fiction_and_philosophy


brain stimulating implant
=========================

:: Description
There is a cranial implant which can be used to affect the brain in some
generally beneficial way (cf. "pain implant"), for example to produce the
effects of a narcotic drug.

:: Parents
brain implant


brain transplant
================

:: Description
A procedure to transplant a brain from one person to another is featured in a
science fictional context.

:: Parents
body part transplant

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_transplant


brain-computer interface
========================

:: Description
There is a device that connects directly to the brain and interacts directly
with its subject's thoughts.

:: Parents
mind altering technology

:: References
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain%E2%80%93computer_interface


brain-shaped being
==================

:: Description
A being that is basically a bare brain, often big, sometimes floating.

:: Parents
shape distinguished being

:: Examples
The Providers of Triskellion had perhaps hocked their bodies in tos2x17 "The
Gamesters of Triskelion", for they now subsided as disembodied brains in a
subterranean cavern and engaged in all manners of gambling.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isolated_brain#In_fiction


brains vs. brawn
================

:: Description
A clever person is pitted against a physically powerful opponent in a fight
and we wonder which of these qualities is more important for victory.

:: Parents
the art of war

:: Examples
Captain Kirk was pitted in an epic battle of agility and brains vs. brawn
against a Gorn captain in tos1x19 "The Arena".

:: References
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/brains+versus+brawn


brainwaves
==========

:: Description
The measurement of rhythmic patterns of neural electrical activity produced in
the brain.

:: Parents
human biology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neural_oscillation


bread and circuses
==================

:: Description
A government divert common people from paying attention to public policy
issues by satisfying their most immediate or base requirements.

:: Parents
political issue

:: Examples
The two main parties of England formed a coalition government and encouraged
the success of pop singer Steven Shorter to placate the masses and divert them
from political activity in "Privilege" (1967).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_circuses


breaking the law for personal advantage
=======================================

:: Description
A character struggles with whether or not to commit a crime in order
(typically) to enrich themself. Would you, for example, steal if there was a
good chance of getting away with a fortune? Would you commit murder for the
same fortune?

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma


breaking the law to cover up another crime
==========================================

:: Description
Someone must choose whether to commit a further transgression of the law in
order for a past transgression not to become publicly known.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma


bribery
=======

:: Description
The act of offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting any item of value to
influence the actions of an official, or other person, in charge of a public
or legal duty, is featured as a crime.

:: Parents
crime

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bribery


bringing back extinct species
=============================

:: Description
Genetic engineering is used to reintroduce an extinct organism.

:: Parents
speculative biotechnology

:: Examples
Scientists used dinosaur DNA recovered from inside amber to genetically
engineer real, living dinosaurs in "Jurassic Park" (1993).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De-extinction


brinkmanship
============

:: Description
A tense military or political confrontation is brought beyond its safe limits
for the dangerous purpose of gaining an advantage when the opponent, it is
hoped, backs down first.

:: Parents
the art of war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brinkmanship


brother and brother
===================

:: Description
The relationship between two brothers is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship


brother and sister
==================

:: Description
The relationship between brother and sister is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship

:: Examples
Serova and her brother Rabal fought loyally together to stop warp-speeding
space ships from polluting the subspace near Hekaras II in tng7x09 "Force of
Nature".


brother-in-law and brother-in-law
=================================

:: Description
The relationship between a brother-in-law and his brother-in-law is featured.

:: Parents
in-law relationship


brother-in-law and sister-in-law
================================

:: Description
The relationship between a brother-in-law and his sister-in-law is featured.

:: Parents
in-law relationship


bureaucracy
===========

:: Description
The ramifications of excessive bureaucracy, too much paperwork and red tape,
to society are explored.

:: Parents
political issue

:: Examples
The Gideoneans tried in vain to use bureaucratic tricks to stop Spock from
finding Captain Kirk in tos3x17 "The Mark of Gideon".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureaucracy


bureaucratic dystopia
=====================

:: Description
There is a Kafkaesque society in which much of daily life is a maddening
series of seemingly pointless bureaucratic procedures.

:: Parents
dystopia


burglary
========

:: Description
The unlawful entry into a building or other location for the purposes of
stealing from there is featured.

:: Parents
theft

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burglary


can machines have souls
=======================

:: Description
The question is posed: Can a machine have that immaterial immortal component
that believers call "the soul"?

:: Parents
metaphysics

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_artificial_intelligence#Can_a_machine_have_a_soul?


canine-like being
=================

:: Description
A being patterned after dogs.

:: Parents
animal and plant patterned being

:: Examples
Natasha Yar was appalled to learn that the dog-like Anticans like to eat their
food alive in tng1x07 "Lonely Among Us".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mammalian_alien_species


cannibalism
===========

:: Description
A person consumes the flesh of another person.

:: Parents
murder

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_cannibalism


cannibalism to survive
======================

:: Description
A (presumably starving) character must decide whether or not to eat the corpse
of another person in order to survive. This may or may not involve killing the
other person first.

:: Parents
personal life and death dilemma


capital punishment
==================

:: Description
We are asked how and when, if ever, it is acceptable to punish a criminal by
death.

:: Parents
legal punishment
social ethical dilemma

:: Notes
An innocent person being sentenced to death within the framework of a modern
criminal justice system is typically grounds for applying this theme. This is
on account that such a happening invites the story partaker to consider about
the general moral issues surrounding this controversial legal punishment.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment


capitalism
==========

:: Description
Capitalism is an economic system based upon private ownership of the means of
production and their operation for profit.

:: Parents
political ideology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitalism


career choice
=============

:: Description
A character is confronted with the consequential tough decision of which path
to pursue in the development of their career.

:: Parents
human life choice


carefree way of life
====================

:: Description
A character leads a life free from anxiety and responsibility.

:: Parents
human way of life

:: Examples
In tz1959e3x36 "Cavender Is Coming", happy-go-lucky Miss Agnes Grep didn't
seem to much care that she couldn't hold down a job and had trouble making
rent. In fact, when the angel Cavender bestows upon her a mansion and lots of
money, we learn that she much prefers the carefree simplicity of her old life
to the various complications of high society.


caring for a baby
=================

:: Description
One or more characters go through the trials and tribulations associated with
taking care of an infant.

:: Parents
human parenting

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newborn_care_and_safety
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant#Care_and_feeding


carpe diem
==========

:: Description
The wisdom of the old motto "seize the day" is illustrated, i.e., the idea
that it is best for us to make the most of our time right away for who knows
what tomorrow may bring.

:: Parents
human way of life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpe_diem


carpentry occupation
====================

:: Description
A character works professionally with creating things out of wood and related
materials.

:: Parents
human occupational activity


carrot vs. stick
================

:: Description
Someone must decide, in a given situation, which approach is the better way to
get another person to act as they should: the threat of consequence (the
stick), or the promise of reward (the carrot).

:: Parents
personal practical dilemma

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrot_and_stick


caste system
============

:: Description
There is a system of hereditary social classes: one is born into a class and
has little hope of ever changing it.

:: Parents
form of government

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste


catastrophic encounter with another universe
============================================

:: Description
Our universe somehow collides with another one and is completely destroyed.

:: Parents
force of nature existential risk to civilization

:: Examples
Lazarus-A sacrificed himself to stop our universe from colliding with its
parallel antimatter duplicate in tos1x20 "The Alternative Factor".


catastrophic flood
==================

:: Description
Large-scale flooding, or the rising oceans, sends civilization to a watery
grave.

:: Parents
force of nature existential risk to civilization

:: Examples
After seismic disturbances the planet Argo had become almost wholly covered
with water and the inhabitants turned themselves into water-breathers in
tas1x13 "The Ambergris Element".


catastrophic solar event
========================

:: Description
Something goes wrong with a planet's sun and everybody dies.

:: Parents
force of nature existential risk to civilization


catharsis
=========

:: Description
Someone releases passionate emotions they have previously kept bottled up
inside in a way that results in renewal and restoration.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: Examples


:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catharsis


celebrity culture in society
============================

:: Description
Celebrity culture is the high-volume perpetuation of celebrities' personal
lives on a global scale. It is inherently tied to consumer interests where
celebrities transform their fame to become product brands. The ways in which
this influences society are discussed.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrity_culture


celebrity worship
=================

:: Description
Our human tendency to revere famous people is featured.

:: Parents
human nature

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrity_worship_syndrome


cell division
=============

:: Description
The process by which a parent cell divides into two or more daughter cells.
There are three types of cell division: binary fission, mitosis, and meiosis.

:: Parents
biology

:: Examples
The giant space amoeba was poised to divide into two giant space amoebas in
tos2x19 "The Immunity Syndrome".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_division


centaur
=======

:: Description
This mythological half-man half-horse being is featured.

:: Parents
human-animal hybrid
legendary being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaur


chameleon-like being
====================

:: Description
A being patterned after chemeleons. i.e., they can change appearance in order
to conceal themselves.

:: Parents
animal and plant patterned being

:: Examples
Geordi metamorphosed into a bioluminescent, chamelion-like alien in tng4x18
"Identity Crisis"


change is part of life
======================

:: Description
The idea is explicitly voiced or pointedly illustrated, that things can never
stay the way they are on account that change is an inevitable part of life.

:: Parents
human idea about life


changing the orbit of a planet around its star
==============================================

:: Description
There is a technology used to alter the orbit of a planet around its star.

:: Parents
planetary-scale engineering

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moving_the_Earth


character metamorphosis
=======================

:: Description
An individual wittingly undergoes a fundamental change in terms of character.

:: Parents
human worrying about self

:: Examples
In play: Pygmalion (1913), "Pygmalion", cockney flower girl Eliza transforms
herself into a proper Lady with the illustrious assistance of speech Professor
Higgins.


character transported into imaginary world
==========================================

:: Description
A character moves from the real world into what appears to be a world created
by their own or someone else's imagination.

:: Parents
speculative travel

:: Examples
In tz1959e4x08 "Miniature", Charley kept looking into a museum doll house and
finding it alive with activity that no one else perceived. After long pining
for this world, he is suddenly transported into it himself and becomes one of
its actors.


charitable organization
=======================

:: Description
A charitable organization, or "charity", is a non-profit organization whose
primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being of persons.

:: Parents
national social issue

:: Examples


:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charitable_organization


charitable volunteering
=======================

:: Description
A character is working with something that is considered charitable, such as a
soup kitchen or aid work in Africa. The occupation may or may not be
remunerative, but is popularly considered to be done for the betterment of the
world rather than for economic gain.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: Examples
It was revealed that Miranda Vigo had cared for orphans on Camor V in tng7x22
"Bloodlines".


charting unknown territory
==========================

:: Description
Someone faces the dangers inherent to exploring new and unfamiliar territory,
for example in space exploration or deep sea exploration.

:: Parents
human vs. nature


chastity
========

:: Description
Someone refrains from engaging in sexual activity.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Captain Picard declined Ardra's amorous advances when she materialized in his
quarters in the middle of the night in tng4x13 "Devil's Due".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chastity


cheating
========

:: Description
A character subverts rules in a non-criminal way to obtain an unfair advantage
over others with whom they are acquainted.

:: Parents
humans interacting

:: Notes
The theme "criminal fraud" is to be preferred when the when the act is clearly
criminal in context.

:: Examples
Johnny infuriated the Swede by cheating at the card game High Five "The Blue
Hotel" (1977).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheating


chemical weapons
================

:: Description
The use of chemicals, i.e., poison gas, to indiscriminantly kill people is
featured.

:: Parents
weapons of mass destruction

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desertion


chemicals
=========

:: Description
Artificially synthesized compounds (a.k.a. chemicals) are used for some novel
purpose.

:: Parents
science

:: Examples
In the novel "Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" (1886), Dr. Henry Jekyll
concocted a special serum out of chemicals that he used to transform himself
into the evil Mr. Edward Hyde.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemistry


child abduction
===============

:: Description
The crime of unauthorized removal of a minor (a child under the age of legal
adulthood) from the custody of the child's natural parents or legally
appointed guardians, is featured.

:: Parents
crime against the person

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_abduction


child abuse
===========

:: Description
Child abuse is featured in a context where it is arguably criminal. Child
abuse or child maltreatment is physical, sexual, and/or psychological
maltreatment or neglect of a child or children, especially by a parent or a
caregiver.

:: Parents
crime against the person
violent crime

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_abuse


child exploitation
==================

:: Description
Underage characters are exploited for labor of one sort or another, by
scrupulous adults. We are made to ponder whether and to what extent this is
right or wrong.

:: Parents
exploitation of sentient beings

:: References
https://www.unicef.org/rosa/what-we-do/child-protection/child-labour-and-exploitation


child labor
===========

:: Description
The ramifications of children doing in any work that deprives children of
their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and
that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful are
explored.

:: Parents
educational issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_labour


child leaving the nest
======================

:: Description
A juvenile reaches that stage in life when it is time to take leave of mom and
dad and face the world.

:: Parents
human childhood

:: Notes
The situation can be featured from either the child's or a parent's point of
view. Children may find it hard to leave, or parents may find it hard to let
them.

:: Examples
Wesley wrestled with leaving the comfortable confines of the Enterprise-D to
enter Starfleet Academy in tng3x24 "Ménage à Troi".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaving_the_nest


child living on the streets
===========================

:: Description
There is a homeless child living on the streets of a city or town.

:: Parents
human childhood

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_children


child power
===========

:: Description
Children are featured as a powerful force in society.

:: Parents
special interest group issue


child soldiers
==============

:: Description
The widely condemned practice of having juveniles serve as soldiers in an
armed conflict, is featured.

:: Parents
war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_in_the_military


child unhealthily attached to a parent
======================================

:: Description
A character maintains an unhealthy dependence on a parent at an age when the
character is expected to be self-reliant.

:: Parents
parent and child
human mental condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother%27s_boy

:: Aliases
mother's boy
mama's boy
daddy's girl


child's need to be loved
========================

:: Description
It is illustrated that children need to be cared for by loving adults in order
to be happy and grow up as well-adjusted individuals.

:: Parents
human social need
human parenting

:: Examples
In tz1959e5x36 "The Bewitchin' Pool", the narrator spells out in the end that
Sport and Jeb found a happy fantasy land complete with a loving aunt, because
of a need for love that their quarreling and insensitive parents had left
unfilled.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_neglect


child's point of view
=====================

:: Description
We are shown what things might be like from the point of view of a child.

:: Parents
special interest group issue


childhood as an outsider
========================

:: Description
Someone grows up in a community they don't feel they quite fit in with,
perhaps because they are a freaky alien with devilishly pointed ears.

:: Parents
human childhood

:: Examples
Spock's trials and tribulations as a half-Human child growing up on
conservative planet Vulcan were featured in tas1x02 "Yesteryear".


childhood aspirations
=====================

:: Description
A child's typically ephemeral life ambitions are featured.

:: Parents
human childhood


childhood imaginary friend
==========================

:: Description
A child has a friend who is entirely a figment of their imagination.

:: Parents
human childhood

:: Examples
Clara's imaginary friend Isabelle became real thanks to a mischievous
incorporeal alien in tng5x22 "Imaginary Friend".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imaginary_friend


childhood music lessons
=======================

:: Description
A child struggles with music lessons in a stereotypical way, often involving a
little old lady piano teacher.

:: Parents
human childhood


childhood pranks
================

:: Description
A mischievous kid carries out an annoying practical joke such as kids
sometimes do.

:: Parents
human childhood
practical joking


childhood terrors
=================

:: Description
A child is afraid of something that adults normally know better than to fear,
for example monsters in the dark or the bogeyman.

:: Parents
human childhood
fear

:: Aliases
childhood nightmares


childhood trauma
================

:: Description
A child suffers a traumatic experience of the kind that can haunt you for the
rest of your life.

:: Parents
human childhood

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childhood_trauma


childish bullying
=================

:: Description
The ramifications of people bullying each other, in ways that are unlikely to
be prosecutable as crimes, are explored. Bullying is the use of force,
coercion, hurtful teasing or threat, to abuse, aggressively dominate or
intimidate.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: Notes
This theme is typically used when the children treat each other badly. The
theme is typically not used when adults use violence and the threat thereof.
It may be used when adults act like children. As a rule of thumb, it applies
when the actions referred to fall below the bar for what is likely to be
considered a legally punishable offense in the context.

:: Examples
In "The Toxic Avenger" (1984), the 98-pound weakling Melvin was picked on
mercilessly by certain patrons of the fitness club where he worked as a mop
boy.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullying
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberbullying


childishness
============

:: Description
An adult character behaves in a silly and immature manner.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Captain Kirk coped with Elaan the Dohlman of Elas and her childish behavior in
tos3x02 "Elaan of Troyius".

:: References
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/childish


children and candy from strangers
=================================

:: Description
The parental injunction to steer clear of strangers, especially those that
offer sweet inducements, is featured.

:: Parents
educating a child
be wary of strangers

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stranger_danger
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_abduction


children learning about death
=============================

:: Description
A child is confronted with death, or taught about death, for more or less the
first time in their life.

:: Parents
human childhood


children's rights
=================

:: Description
We are made to ponder what intrinsic rights we feel should be awarded
children.

:: Parents
human rights issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_rights


chivalry
========

:: Description
There is a "knight in shining armour standing up for the fair maiden" type
scenario. Other types of chivalric virtues have their own themes when
featured.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Captain Kirk rescued a damsel in distress from a sword wielding knave in
tos3x23 "All Our Yesterdays".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chivalry


choosing between conflicting loyalties
======================================

:: Description
A character has a bond of loyalty tying them to two different people or
factions, but these come into conflict and the character must choose one in
order not to betray both.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma
loyalty

:: Examples
In voy3x06 "Remember", B'Elanna had an alien inspired dream in which she had
to choose between saving her lover's life on one hand, and being obedient to
her parents on the other.


choosing between equally futile actions
=======================================

:: Description
A character must decide which action to take even though all potential actions
appear equally unappealing.

:: Parents
personal practical dilemma

:: Notes
This situation is also allegorically known as "Sheridan's Ass" after renowned
theme enthusiast Paul Sheridan who noted that it is a mirror reflection of
"Burridan's Ass".


choosing between equally unappealing possibilities
==================================================

:: Description
A character must choose between courses of action and outcomes that are all
bad.

:: Parents
personal practical dilemma

:: Examples
In nightgallery0x01b "Eyes", Sidney was faced the stark option of whether to
sell his eyes for $9000 in order to repay his debt to a criminal and escape
lethal retribution. He believed that without sight he would probably fall into
a depression and soon kill himself.


choosing between job opportunities
==================================

:: Description
A character faces that major life decision of which career path to go down.

:: Parents
career choice

:: Examples
Riker was torn between accepting an offer to command the starship Aries and
continuing as first officer on his beloved Enterprise-D in tng2x14 "The Icarus
Factor".


choosing between love and family
================================

:: Description
A character must choose between someone they love on one hand, and obligations
to their family on the other.

:: Parents
human life choice

:: Examples
Romeo Montageu and Juliet Capulet, famously, are both torn between family
loyalty and love as their two clans are feuding while they themselves become
enamored with each other, in the play "Rome and Juliet" by William
Shakespeare.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_and_Juliet


choosing between lovers
=======================

:: Description
A character is faced with the choice of deciding which of multiple lovers to
be with.

:: Parents
human romantic relationship choice


choosing between odious regimes
===============================

:: Description
The dilemma of choosing one or the other between two unethical regimes when
not choosing would probably lead to the worst outcome of all, is featured.

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma


choosing whether to kill someone to spare them suffering
========================================================

:: Description
A character must choose whether or not to kill another character in order to
spare them from some perceived or anticipated suffering. The intended victim-
cum-benefactor may or may not be consenting to the act.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthanasia


choosing whether to return found property
=========================================

:: Description
A character finds something that another has lost, for example a wallet with
money. They must decide whether to keep it for themself or try to return it to
its rightful owner.

:: Parents
breaking the law for personal advantage


choosing who dies and who lives
===============================

:: Description
A character faces a choice where every alternative leads to someone or other
(at least two different people) dying.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Sophie%27s_choice


circus skill
============

:: Description
Circus skills are a group of disciplines that have been performed as
entertainment in circus, sideshow, busking, or variety, vaudeville, or music
hall shows. Such a skill is notably featured in the story and in a circus-like
context.

:: Parents
performance art

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_circus_skills


city planet
===========

:: Description
There is a planet the surface of which is one enormous city.

:: Parents
speculative city
speculative habitable celestial body

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenopolis


civil rights
============

:: Description
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals'
freedom from infringement by governments, social organizations, and private
individuals. They ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and
political life of the society and state without discrimination or repression.
Such rights issues are discussed explicitly, or very pointedly illustrated.

:: Parents
human rights issue

:: Notes
This theme does not apply to isolated occurrences of racism, but should be
used when a systematic oppression of a category of people is clearly featured.

:: Examples
In futurama6x12 "The Mutants Are Revolting", we saw how the sewer mutants were
prevented from participating in the normal civil and political life of New New
York because people saw them as sub-human scum that must stay hidden in the
sewers.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_and_political_rights


civil war
=========

:: Description
A segment of a society takes up arms and violently demand independence or
reshaping of government.

:: Parents
war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_war


civilians suffering in war
==========================

:: Description
We are shown the plight of a group of civilians that suffer as a direct
consequence of war between two factions. They may for example have had their
food confiscated, homes destroyed, or been put in an internment camp for fear
of espionage.

:: Parents
the horrors of war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_casualties
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internment_of_Japanese_Americans


civilization vs. savagery
=========================

:: Description
The question of what can be called "civilized" and what, by contrast, is to be
denounced as "savage" is discussed.

:: Parents
ethics


clairvoyance
============

:: Description
A character is able to gain information about an object, person, location, or
physical event through extrasensory perception.

:: Parents
speculative ability related to own mind

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clairvoyance


clash of Wills
==============

:: Description
Two characters both named William lock wills in an argument over a joint
course of action.

:: Parents
humans interacting

:: Examples
There was some serious William T. Riker on William T. Riker action going on in
tng6x24 "Second Chances".

:: References
http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Second_Chances_(episode)


clash of wills
==============

:: Description
Two characters lock wills in an argument over a joint course of action.

:: Parents
humans interacting

:: Examples
Spock and McCoy butted heads in no fewer than five episodes. In tos2x19 "The
Immunity Syndrome", a rivalry ensued when they both volunteer to commandeer a
specially equipped shuttlecraft into the giant space amoeba.

:: References
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/battle/clash%20of%20wills


class prejudice in society
==========================

:: Description
The issue of a large portion of society having a prejudice against people of
certain social classes is discussed.

:: Parents
prejudice in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_discrimination

:: Aliases
social class prejudice in society


classic films
=============

:: Description
A character is enthusiastic about old movies of cultural significance.

:: Parents
recreational activity
the fine arts and the humanities


claustrophobia
==============

:: Description
A character exhibits acute fear of confined spaces.

:: Parents
human phobia

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claustrophobia


climate change and bureaucratic inaction
========================================

:: Description
The sadly familiar social issue of people around the worlds not being able to
agree on what to do about climate change is featured.

:: Parents
environmental issue


clingy girlfriend
=================

:: Description
A female character in a relationship is annoying their partner by being overly
demanding of time and attention.

:: Parents
female stereotype


close encounter with a passing astronomical object
==================================================

:: Description
An astronomical object comes into close proximity with a populated planet and
poses a threat to continued civilization.

:: Parents
approaching astronomical object event

:: Examples
The genetically engineered colonist utopia on Moab IV was threatened by a
stray stellar core fragment from a collapsed neutron star in tng5x13 "The
Masterpiece Society".

A worldwide catastrophe when an errant comet passes by Earth and causes
natural disasters and social unrest in The End of The World (1916).


close encounter with a stray artificial object
==============================================

:: Description
A human made object comes into close proximity with a populated planet and
poses a threat to continued civilization there.

:: Parents
anthropogenic existential risk to civilization


cold fusion
===========

:: Description
The possibility of powering technology on energy derived from the fusing of
atomic nuclei at, or near, room temperature is explored. This is in contrast
to ordinary fusion power which is normally understood to occur at temperatures
in the tens of millions of degrees.

:: Parents
fusion power

:: Examples
The young inventor Harold Kelp struggled to invent a cold fusion engine in
"The Nutty Professor" (2008).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_fusion


collecting objects
==================

:: Description
A character displays an enthusiasm for finding items to make their property as
part of a collection of one sort or another.

:: Parents
recreational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology_of_collecting


collective punishment
=====================

:: Description
The rulers punish not only the criminal but also the criminal's family,
society, people, etc.

:: Parents
legal punishment

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_punishment


collectively intelligent beings
===============================

:: Description
A group of beings are conscious more as a collective than individually.

:: Parents
mentally distinguished being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_intelligence
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/hive_minds

:: Aliases
hive mind beings


colonialism
===========

:: Description
The practice of advanced civilizations to create colonies in less advanced
regions is discussed.

:: Parents
form of government

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonialism


colonization of Alpha Centauri
==============================

:: Description
A permanent human settlement is established in the Alpha Centauri star system.

:: Parents
space colonization

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Centauri


colonization of Earth
=====================

:: Description
A permanent alien settlement is established on the planet Earth.

:: Parents
space colonization

:: Examples
A well-known archaeologist discovered the site of a hundreds of thousands of
years old Martian colony deep inside Africa in "The Retreat to Mars" (1926).


colonization of Jupiter
=======================

:: Description
There is a permanent human settlement on or around the Jovian planetary
system.

:: Parents
space colonization

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploration_of_Jupiter#Potential_for_colonization


colonization of Mars
====================

:: Description
A permanent human settlement is established on the planet Mars.

:: Parents
space colonization

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonization_of_Mars


colonization of Mercury
=======================

:: Description
There is a permanent human settlement on the planet Mercury.

:: Parents
space colonization

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_colonization#Mercury


colonization of Neptune
=======================

:: Description
There is a permanent human settlement on or around the planet Neptune.

:: Parents
space colonization

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonization_of_the_outer_Solar_System#Neptune


colonization of Pluto
=====================

:: Description
A permanent human settlement is established on the dwarf planet Pluto.

:: Parents
space colonization

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonization_of_trans-Neptunian_objects


colonization of Venus
=====================

:: Description
A permanent human settlement is established on the planet Venus.

:: Parents
space colonization

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonization_of_Venus


colonization of the Moon
========================

:: Description
A permanent human settlement is established on Earth's only major satellite.

:: Parents
space colonization

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonization_of_the_Moon


colonization of the Sun
=======================

:: Description
A permanent human settlement on the surface (or something close to it) of the
Sun is featured.

:: Parents
space colonization

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun


combat sports
=============

:: Description
There is a sport, or martial art, that involves combat or mock combat under
rules and constraints that are meant to prevent serious injury.

:: Parents
sports

:: Notes
If serious injury is part of the objective then "blood sports" is used
instead.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_sport
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_arts

:: Aliases
martial arts


combat sports in society
========================

:: Description
The issue of to what extent potentially dangerous fighting between consenting
individuals should be allowed as a sport is discussed. Dueling, for example,
has completely vanished and heavy boxing, if permitted, is heavily regulated.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_sport


coming of age
=============

:: Description
A young, typically adolescent, character transitions from being a child to
being an adult.

:: Parents
human childhood

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected9x05 "The Facts of Life", we saw 17 year old Nicholas
learn the ways of the world during his first trip to the big city, London.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coming_of_age


coming out of the closet
========================

:: Description
Someone faces the social consequences that come of revealing themself to be
gay.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue
human life choice

:: Examples
Riker helped Soren, a member of the gender neutral J'naii species, to explore
her female side in tng5x17 "The Outcast". She was summarily brought before a
tribunal of J'naii authorities and ordered to receive the equivalent of gay
conversion therapy.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coming_out


coming to terms with having to give up on a dream
=================================================

:: Description
A character has had to give up on something they wanted, for example a career,
and struggles to accept the reality of this.

:: Parents
coming to terms with things

:: Examples
In ds93x18 "Distant Voices", we hear of how Dr. Bashir had once dreamed of
becoming a professional tennis player, but had to give up that dream and
settle for medical school instead.


coming to terms with living in a new environment
================================================

:: Description
A character's general living environment has suddenly changed in some way that
they can do nothing about, and they must now come to accept it. They may for
example be stranded in a foreign land, or have woken up in a distant future.

:: Parents
coming to terms with things

:: Examples
In voy2x25 "Resolutions", Janeway and Chakotay got stranded on an uninhabited
planet. They were eventually resigned to the fact that they would live out the
rest of their lives there.


coming to terms with one's own death
====================================

:: Description
A character is about to die, perhaps from a natural illness, comes to accept
the fact and become at peace with themselves over it. In fantastic stories, a
character may even have died and must now come to terms with the fact.

:: Parents
coming to terms with things
facing death

:: Examples
In tng5x24 "The Next Phase", Ro Laren and Geordi La Forge apparently perish in
a freak engineering accident and become ghosts. Geordi implores Ro to accept
the reality of their demise, but she will have none of it. As it transpires,
they had merely been phase shifted and could be brought back later.


coming to terms with one's own sexuality
========================================

:: Description
A character learns to become comfortable with their sexuality.

:: Parents
coming to terms with things


coming to terms with one's past
===============================

:: Description
A character has harbored guilt, resentment or other bad feelings with respect
to some event in their past, but then comes to peace with all of that.

:: Parents
coming to terms with things


coming to terms with things
===========================

:: Description
A character must come to accept something specific that has happened, or some
changes in their situation, because there is nothing they can do about it.

:: Parents
human worrying about self

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/come_to_terms_with


commander and subordinate
=========================

:: Description
The relationship between a military type of leader and their formal
subordinate is featured. The setting may be army, navy, air force or something
comparable.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: Examples
In tz1959e4x06 "Death Ship", we saw the Captain of a spaceship quarrel with
two men under his command over the best course of action to take given a
strange predicament they had found themselves in.


commercialism in society
========================

:: Description
Commercialism is the application of both manufacturing and consumption towards
personal usage, or the practices, methods, aims, and spirit of free enterprise
geared toward generating profit. We are made to ponder whether or not a state
of excessive commercialism has come about in society, to the detriment of
other social concerns.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commercialism

:: Aliases
commercialism


commoner vs. intellectual
=========================

:: Description
A stereotypical down-to-earth, poor and uneducated, "ordinary" character is
compared and contrasted with a stereotypical refined and educated elitist
character.

:: Parents
human characters in contrast

:: Examples
In "Stalker" (1979), Stalker is a pitiful and  poor man who has to illegally
guide people through a banned zone for a living. The story shows him guiding
two educated elite characters: an eminent physicist, Professor, and a
professional writer, Writer. The three get into a violent argument, in which
Stalker's experience and feelings finally prevail against the others' refined
intellects. The story concludes with a disheveled Stalker complaining about
those idiotic intellectuals.


communal mistrust
=================

:: Description
People are duly or unduly mistrustful of a member of their community.

:: Parents
humans interacting


communicating with deaf people
==============================

:: Description
The troubles a person who is deaf and one who is not, may have in
communicating with each other are illustrated.

:: Parents
problem of language and meaning


communicating with someone who speaks a different language
==========================================================

:: Description
Two characters neither of whom understands the other's language, try to
communicate with each other.

:: Parents
problem of language and meaning


communicating with the dead
===========================

:: Description
The supposed practice of communicating with the spirits of the deceased, is
explored.

:: Parents
folk belief

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediumship


communism
=========

:: Description
Featured is the philosophical, social, political, and economic ideology and
movement whose ultimate goal is the establishment of the communist society,
which is a socioeconomic order structured upon the common ownership of the
means of production and the absence of social classes, money and the state.

:: Parents
political ideology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communism


communist dystopia
==================

:: Description
We are shown a bleak image of a dysfunctional world resulting from the
abolishment of private property and other collectivization efforts. Typically
the individual is oppressed for the perceived good of the many.

:: Parents
dystopia

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_society


community of abandoned children
===============================

:: Description
Children are left without any adult supervision and are left to organize (or
descend into chaos) by themselves.

:: Parents
speculative social institution

:: Examples
A band of abandoned brats tried to "bonk bonk" Captain Kirk on the noggin in
tos1x11 "Miri".


company team building
=====================

:: Description
A workplace organizes some group activity with the aim of strengthening the
bonds between people in a team and teach them to cooperate better.

:: Parents
humans at work

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_building


compassion
==========

:: Description
Someone displays a notable degree of compassion toward the plight of another
individual or group.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compassion


compassion vs. public safety
============================

:: Description
Someone must chose between risking danger to many other on one hand, or
helping someone in need on the other.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma

:: Examples
In the movie "Alien (1979)", Ripley tries to follow standard quarantine
procedures and denies the distressed landing party access to the ship after
Kane has come in contact with alien life.


compassion vs. self-preservation
================================

:: Description
Someone is forced to choose between acting with compassion toward another, and
saving his or her own skin.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma


competition among nations
=========================

:: Description
Two nations knowingly vie against one another to achieve a goal that cannot be
shared.

:: Parents
international issue

:: Examples
The Americans and Russians competed to be the first put a man on the Moon in
"Countdown" (1968).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition


competitiveness
===============

:: Description
A character is conspicuously driven to outperform someone else or be
victorious in a task where the goal can't be shared.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
In tz1985e3x20 "A Game of Pool", Jesse and Fats were both extremely
competitive pool players. Fats had returned from the afterlife, and Jesse
staked his immortal soul simply for a chance to prove his mettle.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition


compound interest
=================

:: Description
Interest is calculated on top on interest, in addition to the principal sum.
When the compounding is done at relatively short intervals (or continuously)
over a relatively long time, the result is an exponential growth of capital
which can be ample food for the imagination.

:: Parents
mathematics

:: Examples
In rd1988e1x06 "Me2", Holly explained that Lister now owned 98% of Earth's
wealth thanks to compound interest accruing on the £17.50 he had in his bank
account 3 million years ago.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compound_interest


compromising
============

:: Description
Two characters disagree over some arrangement and both concede something to
reach a workable compromise.

:: Parents
humans interacting

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compromise


compromising one's ethical principles for personal advantage
============================================================

:: Description
Someone must choose between what they believe is right on the one hand, and
what would profit them personally on the other.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma


compromising one's ethical principles vs. great need
====================================================

:: Description
Someone is torn up over doing something they feel they greatly need to do, but
that is ethically unsavory to them.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma

:: Examples
In voy5x26 "Equinox, Part I" it is revealed that the Equinox crew choose to
exploit and kill aliens in order to be able to get back to Earth, a voyage
that would have taken more than a lifetime otherwise.


compromising one's ethical principles vs. self-preservation
===========================================================

:: Description
Someone must choose whether or not to commit unsavory acts in order to save
their own skin.

:: Parents
compromising one's ethical principles vs. great need

:: Examples
In blackmirror1x01 "The National Anthem", the Prime minister had to decide
whether to copulate with a pig on national television in order to save his
political career, as well as the life of beloved Royal Family member Princess
Susannah.


compulsive spending
===================

:: Description
A character exhibits an obsession with shopping, and a buying behavior that
leads to adverse consequences for her. In stories, typically this is due to
excessive spending that leads to financial problems. However, it can also
involve just spending inordinate amounts of time on shopping activities.

:: Parents
human addiction

:: Examples
In tz1985e2x08a "The Card", we saw a woman, Linda, who had been rejected for
every major credit card due to problems with late payments. She now applies
for a rather special card with draconian penalties for late payment. When,
again, she fails to make payments on schedule her family members start to
disappear.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsive_buying_disorder

:: Aliases
oniomania


computer hacking
================

:: Description
The practice of subverting computer security to break into computer systems is
featured.

:: Parents
human regular activity

:: Examples
It was mentioned that Trinity had cracked the IRS database in "The Matrix"
(1999).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker


computer simulation
===================

:: Description
A computer is used to simulate a complex system, for example the movement of
planets in a solar system, the folding of a proteins, the trajectory of a
vehicle etc.

:: Parents
mathematics

:: Examples
Geordi and Leah Brahms used the holodeck to simulate the warp engine, and save
the day in tng3x06 "Booby Trap".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_simulation


con artistry
============

:: Description
There is a character who plays an elaborate confidence trick of some sort on
another character.

:: Parents
criminal fraud


confessing to a wrongdoing vs. keeping quiet
============================================

:: Description
A character considers whether to "come clean" and owe up to something they did
that they should not have done, or whether to simply stay silent and hope they
wont be found out.

:: Parents
self-preservation vs. conscience


conflict of cultural norms
==========================

:: Description
There is material conflict because people have different moral codes and there
is a specific situation in which the codes appear to be incompatible.

:: Parents
foreign point of view

:: Notes
This theme applies if there is a conflict situation in which at least one side
won't back off because of some cultural idiosyncrasy which is notably
different from that of the other side.

The theme notably does not apply if the reasons both sides perpetuate the
conflict because of such relatively universal values as: self-preservation,
greed, etc.

:: Examples
In tng1x04 "Code of Honor", The Ligonian leader Lutan thought it quite
reasonable to kidnap Tasha, a lowly woman as he saw it, for his intrigues and
was then honor-bound to stand his ground. The Federation people, on the other
hand, saw things differently and could not abandon an officer just because she
was female. Thus a material conflict became inevitable.


conflict of duty
================

:: Description
A character must choose between their "duty" to something (for example, a
leader) on one hand, and a conflicting impulse (for example, a noble cause) on
the other.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict_of_interest


conflict of privacy preferences
===============================

:: Description
Someone is made uncomfortable by things they consider to be more private but
that are flaunted publicly by people from another culture. This often has to
do with love and sex.

:: Parents
cross cultural issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy


conflicting systems of jurisprudence
====================================

:: Description
Mutually incompatible systems of justice have a claim to maintaining the rule
of law within society. If a mutually acceptable compromise cannot be reached,
brute force may have to arbiter.

:: Parents
international issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurisprudence


conflicts of interest in society
================================

:: Description
The social problem of people sometimes having misaligned or conflicting
interests to the roles they are serving in, is discussed.

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict_of_interest


conformism in society
=====================

:: Description
The ramifications of conformism in society, the strong expectation (sometimes
enforced) that everyone should adapt themselves to specific norms, are
explored.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: Examples
A band of space hippies refused to conform and scolded Captain Kirk for being
a rigid old "Herbert" in tos3x20 "The Way to Eden".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conformity


conformist dystopia
===================

:: Description
There is a bleak society in which there is very little diversity because, one
way or the other, people are prevented from developing their own
distinctiveness. There may, for example, be an oppressive government that
persecutes deviants, or there may be some other social institution that makes
people conform. It may be that people must conform in appearance, way of
acting, way of thinking, or all three.

:: Parents
dystopia

:: Examples
In tz1959e5x17 "Number 12 Looks Just Like You", we saw a society wherein
everyone upon reaching adulthood were required to undergo a surgical
alteration to transform them into one of a limited preset of physically
perfect models. The procedure clearly affects the mind as well, and is likely
maintained by a remote government in order to maintain conformity and order.


confronting an old ghost
========================

:: Description
Someone deals directly with a problem they had previously avoided or ignored.

:: Parents
coming to terms with things

:: Examples
Kodos the Executioner, a.k.a. Anton Karidian, was haunted by his decision to
sentence some 4,000 colonists to death as governor of Tarsus IV in tos1x12
"The Conscience of the King".


conjoined twins
===============

:: Description
There are a pair of twins that were physically joined in utero, that is,
before they were born.

:: Parents
twin and twin
being physically conjoined to another

:: Examples
In tftc1989e2x17 "My Brother's Keeper", Frank and Eddie are Siamese twins and
literally joined at the hip. Their combined epidermis merged there, and they
share a circulatory system. An eccentric German physician gives them each a
50/50 chance of surviving a separation procedure, should they choose to
undergo it.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjoined_twins


conservative vs. liberal
========================

:: Description
An conservative philosophy of life is contrasted with a liberal philosophy of
life. Conservative typically means an emphasis on traditions (as it is
perceived) whereas liberal typically means an emphasis on social progress (as
it is perceived).

:: Parents
contraposed political ideologies

:: Aliases
conservative vs. progressive


conspiracy theory
=================

:: Description
The belief that there is a secret and nefarious conspiracy in an institution,
often a government.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
Neural parasites hatched a conspiratorial plot to infiltrate Starfleet Command
in tng1x25 "Conspiracy".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theory


consumerist dystopia
====================

:: Description
There is a society in which human activity is geared towards acquisition of
goods and services to absurd extents. Other values and things that give us
meaning are mostly absent.

:: Parents
dystopia

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumerism


contagious disease in society
=============================

:: Description
The social issue of there being pathogens that spread quickly from person to
person and cause severe health conditions, is discussed.

:: Parents
public health issue

:: Examples
In apuleius180tgab9 "The Golden Ass: Book 9", the danger of rabies was
illustrated when people fearfully kept their distance from an apparently
infected canine.


contemplating suicide
=====================

:: Description
A character ponders whether their life is worth living.

:: Parents
human life choice

:: Examples
Worf was by a hair talked out of committing suicide rather than to live with
the shame of being paralyzed in tng5x16 "Ethics". Dr. Timicin was expected
according to Kaelonian culture to commit suicide at the age of 65 in tng4x22
"Half a Life" and he had second thoughts before he caved to peer pressure.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_crisis

:: Aliases
suicide crisis


contempt
========

:: Description
A character regards another character with scorn or disdain and deems them
beneath consideration.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contempt


contraposed political ideologies
================================

:: Description
Two or more reasonably well-defined political ideologies are pointedly
contrasted.

:: Parents
political ideology

:: Notes
The goal of this project is in no way to provoke political controversy. When
using a word that references a political stance it is advisable to consult,
for example, Wikipedia and use the word only in ways that appear mainstream
and are relatively uncontroversial.

:: Examples
"conservative vs. liberal" is a theme of this kind that is often featured in
contemporary stories. We have a reasonably clear understanding of what
conservative and liberal values are respectively, in a broad sense, even
though we may disagree about many of the details.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_philosophy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideology#Political_ideologies


control by intimidation
=======================

:: Description
A person in charge uses fear to keep his underlings under control.

:: Parents
humans in hierarchy


controlling family member
=========================

:: Description
One family member is excessively controlling of the life of another family
member. For example, an older brother may be controlling who his younger
sister dates.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic family member


controlling partner
===================

:: Description
One side in a romantic relationship is excessively controlling of their
partner's activities.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue
controlling family member


cooking
=======

:: Description
A character is regularly engaged in preparing food for human consumption.
Typically the character is either a professional cook, or sees cooking as a
hobby.

:: Parents
human regular activity

:: Examples
Riker whipped up a batch of 'Owon egg omelets for a few selected members of
the command crew in tng2x13 "Time Squared". Worf pronounced the omelets to be
"delicious", but the others did not concur.


cooperation
===========

:: Description
Various complications that can arise when two characters try to cooperate in
an endeavour are featured.

:: Parents
humans interacting

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooperation#Among_humans


cooperation vs. competition
===========================

:: Description
We are made to ponder whether it is more important that society and it's laws
are centered around (the perhaps utopian idea of) people cooperating for the
common good or around (the perhaps realistic assumption of) people working for
their own benefit.

:: Parents
contraposed political ideologies


coping with a bad boss
======================

:: Description
Someone copes with a boss who makes their work or life at the workplace
difficult.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person
boss and employee

:: Examples
Riker had a rough go of it working under the command of the no-nonsense
Captain Jellico in tng6x10 "Chain of Command, Part I".


coping with a bad hangover
==========================

:: Description
Someone experiences the effects of a bad hangover.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: Notes
If someone is said to have severe alcohol induced effects like blackouts, this
theme may be motivated on account that the character surely also had a
hangover.

:: Examples
Scotty coped with the effects of a bad hangover after drinking the Kelvan
Tomar under the table in tos2x21 "By Any Other Name". The engineer again
struggled with a bad hangover in tas1x10 "Mudd's Passion" and later tng6x24
"Relics".


coping with a bad sunburn
=========================

:: Description
A character stayed in the sun too long and got roasted like a lamb, then had
to live with the consequences.

:: Parents
human health condition


coping with a crisis of faith
=============================

:: Description
Someone struggles with a loss of faith in religious beliefs that they once
held dear.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_crisis


coping with a disability
========================

:: Description
Someone experiences life with a emotional or physical disability. A physical
disability is any limitation on a person's physical functioning, mobility,
dexterity or stamina.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disability
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_disability


coping with a disobedient person
================================

:: Description
A character who is nominally in charge has to deal with a person that is
disinclined to obey.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person


coping with a drunken fool
==========================

:: Description
A character suffers through being in the vicinity of an intoxicated person who
is acting obnoxiously, for example at a party.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person
inebriated interaction

:: Aliases
coping with an intoxicated idiot


coping with a failing marriage
==============================

:: Description
Family members struggle through a dysfunctional marriage.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue


coping with a family issue
==========================

:: Description
Someone is troubled by the obligations and other troubles that stem from one's
family connection, for example spending time taking care of children.

:: Parents
family affairs

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysfunctional_family


coping with a grumpy old coot
=============================

:: Description
Some less old and grumpy character is annoyed by the antics of a much older
and grumpier character.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person


coping with a jealous lover
===========================

:: Description
A character has to deal with the fact that their lover is inordinately jealous
of perceived and potential rivals.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person


coping with a life-changing event
=================================

:: Description
Someone must come to terms with the fact that an event has drastically changed
their living conditions and future prospects.

:: Parents
coping with life issues

:: Examples
Captain Picard resigned to living out the remainder of his life as an alien on
an unknown planet in tng5x25 "The Inner Light".


coping with a loose cannon
==========================

:: Description
Someone copes with having an unpredictable and uncontrollable person around
who is likely to cause unintentional harm.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person

:: Examples
Captain Picard and Wesley found themselves stranded on a desert moon with the
cantankerous mining shuttle captain Dirgo in tng4x09 "Final Mission".


coping with a loved one being gravely ill
=========================================

:: Description
Someone experiences having a loved on who is on the brink of death because of
some disease or injury.

:: Parents
coping with life issues
humans in pairs


coping with a loved one being in peril
======================================

:: Description
Someone must stand idly by while a loved one faces a perilous situation.

:: Parents
coping with life issues
humans in pairs


coping with a loved one being mentally ill
==========================================

:: Description
Someone near and dear must persevere through the experience of having a loved
one suffering from a severe mental disorder of one sort or another.

:: Parents
coping with life issues
humans in pairs

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_disorder


coping with a loved one being missing
=====================================

:: Description
A character is upset because a loved one has disappeared and it is not known
whether the loved one is dead or alive.

:: Parents
coping with life issues
humans in pairs

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_person


coping with a maniacal leader
=============================

:: Description
A subordinate must find ways to cope with a leader who is acting irrationally
to a great extent.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person


coping with a massive loss of comrades
======================================

:: Description
A character in a military-like outfit looses a demoralizing number of their
comrades in some disastrous event, and must come to terms with this.

:: Parents
coping with the death of someone

:: Examples
Commodore Matt Decker mourned the loss of his crew to the Planet Eater in
tos2x06 "The Doomsday Machine".


coping with a meddling parent
=============================

:: Description
The life of a child or adult whose parent or parents interfere more than is
desired is explored.

:: Parents
human parenting

:: Examples
Worf's adoptive, Human parents embarrassed the Klingon during their visit
aboard the Enterprise-D in tng4x02 "Family".


coping with a moocher
=====================

:: Description
A character is subjected to the prolonged company of a person that begs and
takes advantage of them without offering much in return. Typically there is a
social bond, such as blood ties or old friendship, that inhibits the first
character from breaking off the acquaintanceship.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected4x04 "The Best of Everything", Arthur invited Charlie
to stay with him for a share of the rent, a lease of smart looking clothes,
and some tuition in the art of seduction. It quickly became apparent that
Charlie only paid lip-service to the terms of this arrangement and had no
intention to pay his due in full. The increasingly frustrated Arthur was
eventually pushed to the point of committing manslaughter.

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/moocher


coping with a nag
=================

:: Description
Someone makes efforts to endure an inordinate amount of verbal abuse and
admonishment.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person

:: Examples
Harry Mudd was nagged nearly to death by an android replica of his wife Stella
in tos2x12 "I, Mudd".


coping with a pedantic authority figure
=======================================

:: Description
A subordinate is having trouble with their boss being overly critical of their
work.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person


coping with a problematic family member
=======================================

:: Description
A character struggles to get along with, control, or abide, a family member
that, for one reason or another, causes them trouble.

:: Parents
family affairs

:: Examples
"embarrassing family member" is an example of "coping with a problematic
family member" as it implies the presence of someone who is struggling to
abide a family member that they find embarrassing.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysfunctional_family


coping with a problematic person
================================

:: Description
A character must put up with a person who they cannot avoid but find if
difficult to deal with for whatever reason.

:: Parents
human challenge in life

:: Examples
Examples of problematic people that others have coped with in stories include
panicky relatives, practical jokers, jealous lovers, enamoured groupies, and
obnoxious jerks.


coping with a spendthrift
=========================

:: Description
A character is troubled because someone they are connected with frivolously
spends too much money. A spouse might, for example, be troubled because their
partner is shopping or gambling to an extent that it threatens the family's
financial security.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person
spendthrift

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spendthrift


coping with a spoiled brat
==========================

:: Description
Someone copes with a child, or childish person, who screams their heads off
until they get what they want.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person

:: Examples
Captain Kirk struggled with the behavioural problems of Elaan in tos3x02
"Elaan of Troyius".


coping with a suicidal person
=============================

:: Description
A character has to live with a person in their life carrying notions of
suicide around.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person
suicide


coping with a sycophant
=======================

:: Description
A character must deal with another character who is excessively obsequious.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person


coping with a terminal illness
==============================

:: Description
Someone experiences having a terminal illness.

:: Parents
facing death
human health condition

:: Examples
McCoy diagnosed himself with xenopolycythemia, a rare blood disease that is
always terminal, in tos3x10 "For the World is Hollow and I have Touched the
Sky".


coping with a tough customer
============================

:: Description
The proprietor of a business struggles to maintain cordial relations with a
client who refuses to be content.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person


coping with aging
=================

:: Description
Someone copes with the inevitability of growing old.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: Examples
Lwaxana coped with aging once in tng4x22 "Half a Life" and again in tng5x20
"Cost of Living".


coping with an arrogant jerk
============================

:: Description
Someone has to handle being around a conceited and condescending person.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person


coping with an enamored groupie
===============================

:: Description
A celebrity is accosted by a fan who is sexually attracted to him or her and
none too shy about it.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person


coping with an existential crisis
=================================

:: Description
A character questions whether their life has meaning, purpose, or value. This
is often tied to depression or negative speculations on purpose in life.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: Examples
In "Winter Light" (1963), Pastor Tomas Ericsson had a deep existential crisis
related to the problems he saw in the world and his own apparent lack of
faith. Fisherman Jonas Persson had a similar crisis, and ended up killing
himself.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existential_crisis


coping with an incompetent coworker
===================================

:: Description
A character is burdened by an incompetent coworker.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person

:: Examples
The Delta Theta III landing party was generally bemused by the erratic actions
of Ari bn Bem in tas2x02 "Bem".


coping with an intransigent person
==================================

:: Description
A character copes with an inflexible person who is unwilling to compromise or
see other peoples point of view.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person

:: Examples
Data struggled to convince Gosheven, the leader of a human colony on Tau Cygna
V, to organize an evacuation in the face of a Sheliak invasion in tng3x02 "The
Ensigns of Command".


coping with an obnoxious chatterbox
===================================

:: Description
Someone struggles to listen to a person who talks at length about frivolous
matters.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person

:: Examples
Captain Picard was obligated to attend a social gathering hosted by the
notorious chatterbox Calvin "Hutch" Hutchinson in tng6x18 "Starship Mine".


coping with an obnoxious jerk
=============================

:: Description
Someone struggles to deal with an annoying and inconsiderate person.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person

:: Examples
Berlinghoff Rasmusen played the role of obnoxious jerk aboard the Enterprise-D
in tng5x09 "A Matter of Time" in order to distract the crew from his larceny.


coping with an obnoxious neighbor
=================================

:: Description
Someone has to deal with a noisy, or otherwise troublesome, neighbor.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person
neighbor and neighbor


coping with an obsessive fan
============================

:: Description
A famous person struggles with a much-more-than-usually devoted groupie, for
example a stalker.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrity_worship_syndrome


coping with an overbearing jerk
===============================

:: Description
Someone struggles to deal with a domineering and inconsiderate person, i.e.,
an jerk.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person

:: Examples
Mr. Lurry, manager of Deep Space Station K-7, coped with verbal abuse at the
hands of Captain Kirk after having issued an unnecessary Code One alert in
tos2x13 "The Trouble with Tribbles".


coping with an overly hard handshake
====================================

:: Description
A character is subjected by another character to a grasping of hands that is
uncomfortably firm. Typically this is done for the purpose of intimidation and
to assert dominance.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handshake


coping with an overly private individual
========================================

:: Description
A character tries to be social with another character who is unusually
taciturn.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person


coping with an overprotective guardian
======================================

:: Description
An adolescent copes with the anxiety and depression that comes with having an
overprotective guardian.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person

:: Examples
Salia was excessively protected by her appointed guardian Anya in tng2x10 "The
Dauphin".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicopter_parent


coping with an unwelcome house guest
====================================

:: Description
A reluctant host has to suffer through having a guest that they would rather
not have.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person


coping with bad cooking
=======================

:: Description
A character is subjected to lousily prepared food.

:: Parents
humans in pairs


coping with being a danger to those around you
==============================================

:: Description
A character copes with being a danger to other people around them.

:: Parents
coping with life issues


coping with being a laughing stock
==================================

:: Description
Someone is the perpetual laughing stock of a group.

:: Parents
coping with humiliation


coping with being an outcast
============================

:: Description
Someone struggles with being rejected and isolated from a social group that is
(financially, emotionally, or otherwise) important to them.

:: Parents
coping with life issues
humans in group

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostracism

:: Aliases
ostracism


coping with being disfigured
============================

:: Description
A character lives with a deformity or injury that has left them permanently
disfigured to an appalling degree.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: Examples
Vina was horribly disfigured in a crash landing on the planet Talos IV in
tos0x01 "The Cage".


coping with being eclipsed by a family member
=============================================

:: Description
A character feels diminished because of a family member's success at something
in particular, and must come to terms with this.

:: Parents
coping with a family issue

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected9x02 "The Colonels Lady", George, who had had a
distinguished career in the military, resented his wife's sudden and smashing
success as a poetry writer.

:: Aliases
coping with being surpassed by one's child


coping with being famous
========================

:: Description
Someone deals with the various travails that may come with being famous, such
as lack of privacy, creepy stalkers, greedy supplicants, etc. etc.

:: Parents
human social position

:: Aliases
being famous is not all it's cracked up to be


coping with being ill and indisposed
====================================

:: Description
A character is unable to go about their normal daily life because of some
affliction and this changes their social interactions in a disagreeable way.
They may, for example, resent being treated like an invalid by their well-
meaning friends.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: Aliases
convalescence


coping with being ill on the job
================================

:: Description
A character experiences symptoms of some illness while at work.

:: Parents
human health condition
humans at work


coping with being in a heat wave
================================

:: Description
A character is sweating it through a period of excessively hot weather.

:: Parents
human challenge in life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_wave


coping with being in debt
=========================

:: Description
A character struggles with various such problems that may arise from being in
debt to another.

:: Parents
coping with life issues


coping with being injured
=========================

:: Description
Someone who is injured is featured as trying to cope with their situation.

:: Parents
human in danger

:: Notes
Since injuries are extremely common in fiction, the bar for using this theme
ought to be high, i.e., the comment should cite something explicit that makes
it clear why the coping was featured which is not necessarily the case just
because there was an injury in passing and someone saying "ouch".


coping with being lost
======================

:: Description
A character is in mortal danger because they have gotten lost and can't find
their way to safety.

:: Parents
human in danger


coping with being lost in space
===============================

:: Description
Someone (or some sentient thing) copes with being lost in the vast vastness of
space.

:: Parents
coping with being lost

:: Examples
The sentient space probe Nomad coped briefly with being lost in space, parted
from its maker Jackson Roykirk, in tos2x08 "The Changeling".


coping with being lost in the forest
====================================

:: Description
A character copes with being lost in the woods.

:: Parents
coping with being lost

:: Examples
In "The Blair Witch Project" (1999), we saw three young filmmakers get
irrevocably lost in a large forest while making a documentary about the local
legend. While trying to find their way out, they were chased by something
supernatural and eventually perished.


coping with being separated from one's family
=============================================

:: Description
A character struggles with being separated from their family for an extended
duration of time.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: Examples
Jono was separated from his adoptive father the Endar in tng4x04 "Suddenly
Human".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_estrangement


coping with being separated from someone you love
=================================================

:: Description
A character is struggling with relationship issues that come from being far
away (or otherwise separated) from the object of their affection for an
extended period of time.

:: Parents
humans in pairs


coping with being tortured
==========================

:: Description
A character is subjected to cruel, painful and deliberate mistreatment against
their will.

:: Parents
human in danger

:: Examples
Captain Picard coped with extreme physical and psychological torture in
tng6x11 "Chain of Command, Part II".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torture


coping with being unemployed
============================

:: Description
A character deals with not having a job and the typical problems that come
with it.

:: Parents
coping with life issues


coping with being washed up
===========================

:: Description
Someone copes with having once been successful at what they did but then
failed to keep up with.

:: Parents
coping with life issues


coping with cold feet
=====================

:: Description
A character is struggling with second though about getting married as their
wedding day draws near.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue

:: Examples
Keiko O'Brien, née Ishikawa, experienced some last minute jitters over
marrying Miles O'Brien in tng4x11 "Data's Day".


coping with disagreeable orders
===============================

:: Description
A character copes with being ordered by a superior to do something that they
do not wish to do for personal reasons, for example pride. Note: This theme is
not used when the orders cause a moral dilemma.

:: Parents
human social position

:: Examples
Ro Laren expressed her annoyance at Riker in the turbolift for making her
write up flight handling assessment in his way in tng5x14 "Conundrum".


coping with discomfort during pregnancy
=======================================

:: Description
A pregnant woman (rarely a man except in fiction) has to deal with the various
aches, pains and other annoyances that come with her condition.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symptoms_and_discomforts_of_pregnancy


coping with excruciating pain
=============================

:: Description
A character must endure extreme levels of physical pain.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: Examples
In nightgallery2x22a "The Caterpillar", the character Macy was in utter agony
while an earwig burrowed its way through his brain from one ear to the other.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pain


coping with food poisoning
==========================

:: Description
A character ate something bad and now has an upset stomach.

:: Parents
human health condition


coping with getting dumped
==========================

:: Description
A former lovebird deals with the emotional fallout of having been dumped like
a sack of potatoes.

:: Parents
coping with romantic rejection


coping with having a bad day
============================

:: Description
A character copes with having one of those days when everything that seemingly
can go wrong, does go wrong.

:: Parents
coping with life issues


coping with having a bad reputation
===================================

:: Description
A character struggles with the feelings and social complications that can come
with having a bad reputation with people around you.

:: Parents
human social position


coping with having a chronic condition
======================================

:: Description
A character has an intractable, constantly recurring disease or other medical
condition that they just have to live with. This may involve regular visits to
the doctor and onerous treatment procedures.

:: Parents
human health condition


coping with having a cuckold reputation
=======================================

:: Description
A male character has to handle the information that their female love partner
has been physically unfaithful with another man, and that this is publicly
known to some extent.

:: Parents
coping with having a bad reputation
romantic relationship issue


coping with having a headache
=============================

:: Description
A character struggles to endure pain located internally inside the skull.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headache

:: Aliases
coping with migraine


coping with having a lousy dead-end job
=======================================

:: Description
Someone is stuck in a very low status job and must come to terms with it.

:: Parents
coping with life issues


coping with having a predetermined life
=======================================

:: Description
A character is burdened with their future role in this world being out of
their own hands.

:: Parents
coping with life issues

:: Examples
Salia was reluctant to be the predetermined ruler of Daled IV in tng2x10 "The
Dauphin".


coping with having a speech disorder
====================================

:: Description
Someone experiences life with a speech impediment.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speech_disorder


coping with having a stigmatizing illness
=========================================

:: Description
Someone has a physical condition that makes them a pariah to the rest of their
society. For example HIV/AIDS can be a stigmatizing disease in homophobic
societies.

:: Parents
human social position
human health condition

:: References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2080544/


coping with having been raped
=============================

:: Description
A character deals with the psychological problems that can come from being
violated sexually, or in a comparable way.

:: Parents
human social position
human mental condition


coping with having injured someone
==================================

:: Description
Someone feels guilty at having been responsible for injuring another person.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: Examples
Doctor McCoy unintentionally blinded Spock in tos1x29 "Operation --
Annihilate!".


coping with having to destroy one's own creation
================================================

:: Description
A character struggles with the tough decision of whether or not they should
destroy something they have created, perhaps because it is causing some kind
of mischief.

:: Parents
coping with life issues

:: Examples
In voy2x13 "Prototype" B'Elanna found an alien robot and spent much time
lovingly restoring and upgrading him. When it turned out that the robot and
his kin where completely genocidal, B'Elanna very reluctantly took the
decision to destroy the work she had done in order that it would not aid them.


coping with humiliation
=======================

:: Description
A character believes themself to have been thoroughly embarrassed in the eyes
of others.

:: Parents
human social position


coping with ill-fitting clothes
===============================

:: Description
A character finds themself subject to this most disagreeable circumstance: the
wearing of items of clothing, for example boots, that are not quite the right
size.

:: Parents
coping with life issues


coping with infertility
=======================

:: Description
A character struggles to come to term with the fact that they can't make
babies of their own.

:: Parents
human health condition


coping with insomnia
====================

:: Description
A character is unable to sleep.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: Examples
Troi struggled with insomnia in tng4x17 "Night Terrors".


coping with life issues
=======================

:: Description
A character has to live through one or another of those adverse conditions
that have been known to plague human life from time to time.

:: Parents
human challenge in life

:: Examples
Puberty, financial ruin, unemployment, stress, and personal failure are
examples of some things that humans occasionally have to live through and
learn to cope with.


coping with living in a foreign culture
=======================================

:: Description
A character copes with living in culture different from the one they are
accustomed to.

:: Parents
human social position

:: Examples
Worf struggled to maintain his Klingon identity while serving aboard the
Enterprise-D in tng2x14 "The Icarus Factor".

:: Aliases
coping with living abroad


coping with losing a special ability
====================================

:: Description
A character had an ability that made them somewhat special but then looses
that ability and must cope with the associated feelings and potential loss of
status.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: Examples
In tng4x10 "The Loss" Counselor Deanna Troi looses her emphatic/telepathic
powers and can no longer sense minds and emotions. Frustrated by this
comparative handicap in her work and with a feeling that she has become
useless to her fellow crew-members, she becomes distraught and attempts to
resign.


coping with memories of a lost love
===================================

:: Description
A character copes with heart-wrenching memories of a lover that they failed to
entirely get over.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue
coping with life issues
remembrance

:: Examples
McCoy found himself in a "romantic haze" at the prospect of meeting his long-
lost love Nancy on Planet M-113 In tos1x05 "The Man Trap".

:: Aliases
lamentation over a lost love


coping with mortality
=====================

:: Description
A character struggles with the realization that they will one day die.

:: Parents
coping with life issues

:: Examples
Q was stripped of his transcendental powers, including immortality, by the Q
Continuum in tng3x13 "Deja Q".


coping with opposing a friend
=============================

:: Description
A character is morally compelled to oppose and jeopardize their friendship
with someone who is acting badly.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: Examples
Captain Kirk coped with opposing his longtime friend Gary Mitchell, who became
an imminent danger to the crew after acquiring super powers, in tos1x01 "Where
No Man Has Gone Before".


coping with personal failure
============================

:: Description
A character copes with the aftermath of having experienced a personal failure
in life.

:: Parents
coping with life issues

:: Examples
Wesley needed some words of encouragement from Captain Picard after he failed
the Starfleet Academy entrance exam in tng1x19 "Coming of Age".


coping with post-traumatic stress
=================================

:: Description
A character copes with a mental disorder that can develop after a person is
exposed to a traumatic event.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: Examples
Super soldier Roga Danar suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after
having served in the Angosian military in tng3x11 "The Hunted".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posttraumatic_stress_disorder


coping with puberty
===================

:: Description
An adolescent character struggles with the normal hallmarks of puberty, such
as a variety of bodily changes and sexual urges.

:: Parents
coping with life issues
human childhood


coping with radiation sickness
==============================

:: Description
A character experiences radiation sickness.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: Examples
Little Willie Harding succumbed of radiation poisoning after spending a night
in the hospital in "X the Unknown" (1956).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acute_radiation_syndrome


coping with romantic rejection
==============================

:: Description
Someone copes with being rejected by a person they are romantically interested
in.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue


coping with saying goodbye forever
==================================

:: Description
A character is about to leave someone they care about behind forever and
struggles with how to take their leave.

:: Parents
humans in pairs
coping with life issues


coping with senility
====================

:: Description
A character copes with a loss of their mental faculties that comes naturally
with age, or one of the more severe conditions that is sometimes associated.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: Notes
This theme is used for example when a character copes with Dementia, or
Alzheimer's.

:: Examples
In tng3x23 "Sarek", Sarek coped with having Bendii Syndrome, which is a rare
degenerative neurological disorder that sometimes affects Vulcans over the age
of two hundred.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dementia

:: Aliases
coping with dementia


coping with sexual dysfunction
==============================

:: Description
A character has trouble performing in the sack.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_dysfunction


coping with someone controlling your life
=========================================

:: Description
A character has to struggle with someone (or something) controlling their
life.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person

:: Examples
Professor Kerry West got a new television set that began to regulate almost
every aspect of his daily life in Twonky (1953).


coping with someone having an addiction
=======================================

:: Description
Someone must watch as a near and (usually) dear person struggles with an
addiction.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction


coping with someone losing their mind
=====================================

:: Description
Someone is powerless to help a friend who is losing their mind and is left
with no alternative but to stand idly by and watch the descent into madness.

:: Parents
humans in pairs


coping with someone who is overexerting themself
================================================

:: Description
Someone experiences having to watch a person they care about overexert
themself at work.

:: Parents
humans in pairs


coping with someone who is suffering from a health condition
============================================================

:: Description
A character must cope with the fact that someone they care about suffers from
a, more or less, serious health complication.

:: Parents
humans in pairs


coping with someone who refuses to take care of their health
============================================================

:: Description
A character, usually a relative, is concerned about a person they care for
risking their life by refusing to see the Doctor or not following medical
advice, etc.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic person


coping with starvation
======================

:: Description
A character is deprived of food for a dangerous period of time.

:: Parents
human health condition


coping with stress at work
==========================

:: Description
A character struggles to deal with heavy pressure and stress at work.

:: Parents
psychological stress

:: Examples
Barclay retreated to a holodeck powered fantasy world to escape his on the job
problems in tng3x21 "Hollow Pursuits".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_stress

:: Aliases
coping with occupational stress


coping with suicide
===================

:: Description
A character experiences losing a near and dear one to suicide. Alternatively,
in a creative sci-fi story, they could possibly cope with the ramifications of
their own suicide.

:: Parents
coping with the death of someone

:: Examples
The crew was shocked and bereaved at the suicide of their fellow crewman
Daniel Kwan in tng7x18 "Eye of the Beholder".


coping with the death of a child
================================

:: Description
A character grieves over the loss of their own son or daughter (or any other
person they have regarded more or less as their offspring).

:: Parents
coping with the death of a family member

:: Examples
Lwaxana mourned the death of her daughter Kestra in tng7x07 "Dark Page".


coping with the death of a family member
========================================

:: Description
A character must come to terms with having lost a family member.

:: Parents
coping with the death of someone


coping with the death of a friend
=================================

:: Description
A character grieves over the death of a friend.

:: Parents
coping with the death of someone

:: Examples
McCoy mourned Captain Kirk after he was pulled into interspace in tos3x09 "The
Tholian Web".


coping with the death of a lover
================================

:: Description
A character grieves over the death of a lover.

:: Parents
coping with the death of someone

:: Examples
Captain Kirk cried on Spock's shoulder, after he had knowingly allowed his
lover Edith Keeler to die, in tos1x28 "The City on the Edge of Forever".


coping with the death of a parent
=================================

:: Description
A character (typically a child) grieves over the loss of a parent.

:: Parents
coping with the death of a family member

:: Examples
Jeremy Aster was racked with guilt in tng3x05 "The Bonding" for falsely
thinking that he was responsible for the death of his parents.


coping with the death of a pet
==============================

:: Description
A character grieves over the loss of their pet.

:: Parents
coping with the death of someone

:: Examples
Spock mourned the loss of his pet sehlat in tas1x02 "Yesteryear".


coping with the death of a spouse
=================================

:: Description
A character grieves over the loss of their spouse.

:: Parents
coping with the death of a family member
coping with the death of a lover

:: Examples
Worf howled over the body of his murdered spouse K'Ehleyr in tng4x07
"Reunion".


coping with the death of one's entire family
============================================

:: Description
A character grieves over the death of their entire family.

:: Parents
coping with the death of someone

:: Examples
In tng1x26 "The Neutral Zone", Clare Raymond woke up from cryogenic
preservation aboard the Enterprise-C only to be confronted by the stark
realisation that everyone in her entire family from the 20th century was dead.


coping with the death of someone
================================

:: Description
A character is coming to grips with the death of a person or persons who he or
she had a degree of attachment to in life.

:: Parents
human challenge in life
grief


coping with the defeat of one's people
======================================

:: Description
A character deals with the news that their people have been defeated.

:: Parents
coping with life issues


coping with the imprisonment of a family member
===============================================

:: Description
A character must stand idly by while a loved one rots away in prison.

:: Parents
humans in pairs


coping with the loss of one's livelihood
========================================

:: Description
A character copes with having had to give up their livelihood for whatever
reason.

:: Parents
coping with life issues


coping with the rigors of command
=================================

:: Description
A commander struggles with the mental burden it is to be responsible for other
people.

:: Parents
psychological stress

:: Examples
Captain Pike pondered going into business on Regulus or on the Orion colony in
the aftermath of a hard fought battle on Rigel VII in tos0x01 "The Cage".


coping with time passing you by
===============================

:: Description
A character copes with not being able to keep up with an ever-changing world.

:: Parents
coping with aging

:: Examples
Scotty coped with time having passed him by after Geordi found him suspended
in a transporter pattern-buffer in tng6x05 "Relics".


coping with unwelcome romantic attention
========================================

:: Description
A character copes with unwelcome amorous advances.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue

:: Examples
Captain Picard was mortified to have his former lover Vash aboard the
Enterprise-D in tng4x20 "Qpid".


corporal punishment
===================

:: Description
The once accepted, but now usually proscribed, practice of letting authority
figures correct the behavior of their subordinates by inflicting physical
pain, is discussed.

:: Parents
legal punishment

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected2x03 "Galloping Foxley", young Perkins was regularly
caned by the older boy called Galloping Foxley, a prefect, (who would
sometimes cane at a gallop) to whom he had been assigned as a slave.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporal_punishment


corporate executive
===================

:: Description
A character working at large firm in a senior management capacity is engaged
in their chosen occupation.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_title


corporation interfering in politics
===================================

:: Description
There is a powerful corporation that to a notable extent uses its wealth to
bribe or otherwise influence the government.

:: Parents
unethical business practices
political issue

:: Notes
As a rule of thumb, this theme applies if a corporation interferes with or
seriously challenges the whole of law enforcement.

:: Examples
In RoboCop 2 (1990), the OCP megacorporation plotted to bankrupt the city of
Detroit then to step in to take it over.


corporatocracy
==============

:: Description
We are shown a society in which one or more corporations has formal monopoly
on political power.

:: Parents
form of government

:: Notes
This theme is not used in the many cases where powerful corporations merely
control a more conventional government.

:: Examples
The film Parasite (1982) is set in a new future where instead of a government,
America is run by an organization called the Merchants who exploit the
remaining populace with ruthless ineptitude.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporatocracy


corruption in society
=====================

:: Description
Discussed is the social problem that arises when officials or other people
that have been entrusted with authority, to a wide extent abuses their
position to acquire illicit benefits for themselves.

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption


cosmic balance
==============

:: Description
The idea that the universe somehow maintains an equilibrium between opposing,
typically dualistic forces (e.g. good and evil, light and dark, male and
female, etc.), is featured.

:: Parents
metaphysics

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_and_yang
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maat


courage
=======

:: Description
A character faces a perceived danger boldly.

:: Parents
human character

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courage

:: Aliases
bravery


courage in the face of death
============================

:: Description
Someone shows bravery in the face of lethal danger.

:: Parents
courage


courtly intrigues
=================

:: Description
Persons with political power in a royal court or suchlike setting, maneuver
and scheme with various motives, usually to get more power, wealth, and
influence.

:: Parents
political issue

:: Examples
In the play "Hamlet" (1602), the drama takes place in the royal court of
Denmark where people were jostling for power, marriage, and prestige. Prince
Hamlet's uncle had usurped the throne by murdering Hamlet's father, and was
further maneuvering to rid himself of the troublesome, bereaved, and eponymous
prince.


covering up a crime to save a friend
====================================

:: Description
A character struggles with whether to report a crime committed by a friend, or
to help said friend evade the law.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma
obstruction of justice

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected4x08 "Never Speak Ill of the Dead", Bob and Sim came to
believe that their friend, Dr. David Rankin, had murdered his promiscuous
young wife and buried her corpse in the basement. They decided to help him
cover up the crime, had their help rejected and their hypothesis soundly
refuted by the shovel.


covert alien observers
======================

:: Description
Powerful aliens observe us in secret to see what we are like, perhaps
conducting an experiment or two in the process.

:: Parents
extraterrestrial being


covert military operation
=========================

:: Description
A secret military project is featured. The project is notably kept secret from
the public at large, and not just the enemy.

:: Parents
military secrecy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covert_operation

:: Aliases
covert military program


cowardice
=========

:: Description
Someone exhibits a marked lack of courage when the situation demands it.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Marplon lost his nerve in the lead up to Captain Kirk confronting Landru in
the Hall of Audiences in tos1x22 "The Return of the Archons".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowardice


cracking under pressure
=======================

:: Description
Someone is put under so much stress that they can't handle it and, typically,
start acting irrationally.

:: Parents
psychological stress

:: Examples
Dave Bailey was relieved of duty for snapping on the bridge in tos1x02 "The
Corbomite Maneuver".


crackpot theory
===============

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to theories that are presented as
scholarly, but do not in fact adhere to the mainstream academic standards of
the time. The theme may pertain to urban legends, fringe science, or
conspiracy theories. Examples include the Bermuda Triangle, flying saucers,
and Bigfoot.

:: Parents
alternate reality

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudoscience


crackpot theory of cattle mutilation
====================================

:: Description
The killing and mutilation of cattle under unusual, usually bloodless, and
anomalous circumstances is attributed to one or another fanciful notion,
including secret government agencies, cryptid predators, and aliens.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
In "Endangered Species" (1982), some people attributed a series of cattle
mutilations to extraterrestrials, but the true source of the mischief turned
out to be something closer to home.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_mutilation


creationism
===========

:: Description
The contemporary social issue of how to handle creationist teachings is
discussed. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, of course, but to what
extent is it permissible to teach children such nonsense?

:: Parents
educational issue
sociocultural issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creationism


creative writing
================

:: Description
A writer is engaged in writing original and creative works of poetry, novels,
plays, etc. This is contrasted with, for example, scientific and journalistic
writing where creativity has to be constrained by objective facts to a much
greater extent.

:: Parents
the fine arts and the humanities

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_writing


creeping authoritarianism
=========================

:: Description
Featured is a slippery-slope process by which a society becomes less
democratic and more authoritarian. The population at large fails to take
notice because although they'd prefer democracy, each step of the way appears
normal and necessary, and quickly becomes a new normal.

:: Parents
authoritarianism

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authoritarianism


crew's attachment to their ship
===============================

:: Description
The human tendency to form strong bonds to ships we are in command of or serve
on for some time, is illustrated.

:: Parents
human social need


cricket
=======

:: Description
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a
field at the centre of which is a 22-yard (20-metre) pitch with a wicket at
each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. This game is
featured.

:: Parents
sports

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket

:: Aliases
billiards
snooker


crime
=====

:: Description
One or another of those proscribed actions that are normally punishable by
contemporary states, is featured.

:: Parents
law and order issue

:: Notes
The action must be understood in the context of the story to constitute a
crime, be it against written law or unwritten customs (for example against God
or other notions of morality).

Because of their notoriety, we consider that a "crime" theme is topical to the
story when a character unambiguously commits such a crime. For example
"murder" becomes topical if a murder is committed. Common sense is required
here: For example, action movies frequently feature actions that would
arguably be "crimes" to a thoughtful conscientious viewer, yet are not treated
as such in the story for one reason or another (action heroes often appear to
be above the law). It is not the purpose of this category to catalog such
things.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime


crime against justice
=====================

:: Description
Featured is a crime that prevents the justice system itself from operating as
it is meant to. This may involve, for example, false accusations, tampering
with evidence, and perjury.

:: Parents
crime

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perverting_the_course_of_justice
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obstruction_of_justice


crime against property
======================

:: Description
Featured is a crime that involves private property, for example burglary,
larceny, theft, motor vehicle theft, arson, shoplifting, and vandalism.

:: Parents
crime

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Property_crime


crime against the person
========================

:: Description
Featured is a crime that involves direct physical harm or force being applied
to another person.

:: Parents
crime

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offence_against_the_person


crime against the public
========================

:: Description
Featured is a crime where all of society is the aggrieved party, according to
the law. This may include things like "drunk driving" which is criminal even
if no one actually got hurt because anyone and everyone was put at risk.

:: Parents
crime

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_law


crime and punishment
====================

:: Description
What acts are to be criminal, how they should be punished and otherwise
handled, and their impact on society in general are discussed.

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: Examples
In blackmirror2x02 "White Bear", the viewer is made to ponder several ethical
dilemmas regarding the treatment of putative criminals. The woman did not
remember her crime. Moreover, her punishment was turned into a public
spectacle, if not for profit certainly for fame. Her punishment was certainly
both cruel and unusual.


crime of passion
================

:: Description
Featured is a violent crime, typically homicide, in which the perpetrator
commits the act because of sudden strong impulse such as sudden rage rather
than as a premeditated crime.

:: Parents
violent crime

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_of_passion


criminal fraud
==============

:: Description
The crime of intentional deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain, or to
deprive a victim of a legal right, is featured.

:: Parents
crime against property

:: Examples
Ardra conned the gullible inhabitants of Ventax II by pretending to be their
devil in tng4x13 "Devil's Due".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraud


criminal gangs
==============

:: Description
There is a criminal gang and their influence on society is featured.

:: Parents
organized crime

:: Examples
Moses in "Attack the Block" (2011) headed a criminal youth gang in a rundown
area of London.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang


cross cultural issue
====================

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to what may happen when people of different
cultural backgrounds encounter each other.

:: Parents
society

:: Examples
The theme "alien point of view" is used when we are shown what things might be
like from the point of view of an alien species, and categorized under "cross
cultural issue" is it illustrates how someone from a different culture may
have a different outlook on things.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-cultural_communication


cross cultural romance
======================

:: Description
Two people with different cultural backgrounds engage in a romantic
relationship, and face all the various misunderstandings and controversies
that typically come with it. Will the respective families get along?

:: Parents
romantic relationship


cruel and unusual punishment
============================

:: Description
We are made to ponder what kinds of acts of punishments are so cruel and
unusual that it would be preferable to prohibit them entirely.

:: Parents
human rights issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruel_and_unusual_punishment


cruelty
=======

:: Description
A character is indifferent to, or delights in, pain and suffering that they
inflict on someone else.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Gul Madred subjected Captain Picard to unspeakable tortures in tng6x11 "Chain
of Command, Part II" and tried to make him see five lights where there were
only four, four lights!

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cruelty


crustacean-like being
=====================

:: Description
A being patterned after crustaceans.

:: Parents
animal and plant patterned being


cryogenic technology
====================

:: Description
Technology that can freeze, e.g., a human body and thus stop it from aging or
changing in any major way for an extended amount of time.

:: Parents
suspended animation

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryobiology

:: Aliases
biological stasis technology


cryptid
=======

:: Description
There is an animal or plant that has been inferred from evidence, typically
anecdotal, considered insufficient by mainstream science. Bigfoot, the Loch
Ness Monster, and living dinosaurs are common examples from fiction.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cryptids


cryptographic cypher
====================

:: Description
A technique for secure communication in the presence a third party is
featured. A collection of more or less complicated algorithms for encryption.
These are strategies for writing messages such that they can only be read by
those who know the secret to decoding them.

:: Parents
mathematics

:: Examples
Sherlock Holmes and Watson cracked a book cipher in sherlock1x02 "The Blind
Banker".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cipher


crystalline being
=================

:: Description
A being with a body made out of crystal.

:: Parents
inorganic being

:: Examples
Data's evil twin brother Lore summoned the Crystalline Entity, the space
snowflake, to feed on the lifeforms aboard the Enterprise-D in tng1x13
"Datalore".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothetical_types_of_biochemistry#In_fiction


cultural exchange
=================

:: Description
There is an exchange, or someone is sent, to stay in a foreign culture with
the purpose of fostering cross cultural understanding between peoples in
general.

:: Parents
cross cultural issue

:: Examples
William Riker participated in an officer exchange program that involved
serving aboard the Klingon vessel Pagh in tng2x08 "A Matter of Honor".


cultural history
================

:: Description
A cultural artifact from actual human history is featured. Notably, these are
references to well known stories that have been occasionally and explicitly
referenced within other stories.

:: Parents
history

:: Examples
For example "the Wizard of Oz", "Lord of the Rings", and "the legend of King
Arthur" are stories (or categories of stories) that are sometimes
unambiguously referenced within more modern stories.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_history


cultural preservation
=====================

:: Description
The importance of preserving an imperiled culture is explored.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: Examples
The aliens on Malcor III decided to protect their dogmatic we-are-the-centre-
of-the-universe beliefs by shutting themselves off from the Federation and the
outside world in tng4x15 "First Contact".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_heritage


cultural symbols as a unifying force in society
===============================================

:: Description
People unify around some object that is of shared cultural and historical
significance to them, for example a religious relic.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue


cure for Alzheimer's disease
============================

:: Description
A scientifically derived cure for Alzheimer's disease is featured.

:: Parents
cure for an as yet uncurable disease

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease


cure for an as yet uncurable disease
====================================

:: Description
There is a scientific-based cure for a disease, such as cancer or the common
cold, that is considered uncurable by modern medicine.

:: Parents
human enhancement technology


cure for blindness
==================

:: Description
A scientifically derived cure for complete or nearly complete vision loss is
featured.

:: Parents
cure for an as yet uncurable disease

:: Examples
In nightgallery0x01b "Eyes" (1969), a doctor temporarily restored a blind
woman's vision by transplanting in her the optic nerves taken from a reluctant
donor.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_impairment


cure for cancer
===============

:: Description
A scientifically derived cure for cancer is featured.

:: Parents
cure for an as yet uncurable disease

:: Examples
Dr. Bradshaw sought an electricity-based cure for cancer in the film
Indestructible Man (1956).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treatment_of_cancer


cure for the common cold
========================

:: Description
A scientifically derived cure for the common cold is featured.

:: Parents
cure for an as yet uncurable disease

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_cold


curiosity killed the cat
========================

:: Description
Someone performs ill-advised, unnecessary, dangerous investigations or
experiments in order to satisfy their own personal curiosity.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curiosity_killed_the_cat


custody battle
==============

:: Description
Two or more people fight over the legal guardianship of a child.

:: Parents
human parenting
divorce

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_custody


cyborg
======

:: Description
A being whose body is part biological and part mechanical.

:: Parents
artificial being
hybrid being

:: Examples
Q acquainted the Enterprise-D crew with that enigmatic race of cyborgs known
as the Borg in tng2x16 "Q Who".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyborg
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/cyborgs


cyclical time universe
======================

:: Description
A theory in which the universe follows infinite, or indefinite, self-
sustaining cycles is featured.

:: Parents
speculative cosmos

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclic_model


cyclops
=======

:: Description
There is a flesh-and-blood being with only one eye.

:: Parents
legendary being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclopes


dancing
=======

:: Description
There is a character who likes to wag about to the rhythms of music, either
professionally or as a serious hobby.

:: Parents
the fine arts and the humanities

:: Examples
Beverly "the dancing doctor" got a kick out of teaching Data the art of tap
dancing in tng4x11 "Data's Day".


dangerous driving
=================

:: Description
The issue of people sometimes choosing to drive their vehicles in a way that
poses an unacceptable danger to themselves and others, is discussed. Most
typically, this happens when a character is caught speeding.

:: Parents
crime against the public

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_driving
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reckless_driving

:: Aliases
reckless driving
speeding


dark family secret
==================

:: Description
There is an embarrassing fact about something pertaining to a person's family
or ancestry that is not widely known.

:: Parents
family affairs

:: Examples
In ds96x17 "Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night" Kira found out that her mother,
who she previously thought was a heroine, had quite willfully prostituted
herself to the enemy and become a collaborator in order to protect Kira and
her family.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_secret


dark matter
===========

:: Description
The physics hypothesis of "dark matter", thought to make up 85% of the matter
in the universe, is featured.

:: Parents
physics

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_matter


data privacy
============

:: Description
The question of appropriate balance between the public expectation of privacy
on one hand and various social, legal and political issues on the other, are
discussed. Is it, for example, acceptable for the government to snoop on
innocent people's browsing habits in order to pick up on potential terrorist
threats?

:: Parents
sociotechnological issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_privacy

:: Aliases
information privacy


de-escalating a conflict
========================

:: Description
Two parties in a conflict, like the Cold War, try to gradually back down and
defuse the situation.

:: Parents
international issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A9tente

:: Aliases
détente


deadbeat parent
===============

:: Description
There is a parent who does not adequately fulfill their responsibilities as
such. This typically happens when someone neglects their child custody or
support obligations as set out by law.

:: Parents
human parenting

:: Examples
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadbeat_parent


deadly touch ability
====================

:: Description
A character is able to kill people (or living things) merely by touching them.

:: Parents
remote harming ability


deal with the devil
===================

:: Description
Someone literally strikes a bargain with the Christian devil, one of his
minions, or a closely comparable mythological being from some other creed.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
The Ventaxians had made a literal deal with the devil to provide a thousand
years of paradise on their homeworld in return for future enslavement in
tng4x13 "Devil's Due".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deal_with_the_Devil


dealing with children
=====================

:: Description
The many trials and tribulations involved in handling children are featured.

:: Parents
human parenting

:: Examples
On Captain Picard Day, Picard had the onerous duty to feign interest, bestow
awards and otherwise encourage youngsters in tng7x12 "The Pegasus".


death incarnate
===============

:: Description
There is a being of the Grim Reaper sort, that is somehow central to the
transportation of expired souls from the Land of the Living to the Hereafter.

:: Parents
legendary being
personification of a concept

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x17a "Welcome to Winfield", we see a modern agent of Death dressed
in a shining white suit, on a mission to capture a young man who did not want
to come quietly when it was his time.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_(personification)

:: Aliases
personification of death
the Grim Reaper


death ray
=========

:: Description
A hypothetical directed energy weapon that induces instant death in its
victims.

:: Parents
speculative weapon

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_ray
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/death_rays


deciding what to wish for
=========================

:: Description
A character has the opportunity to "make a wish", i.e., choose a boon from a
loosely defined and relatively unbounded set of options, and struggles with
this potentially tough decision. For example, a genie may tell them they can
wish for anything but more wishes, or an extremely wealthy character says they
can ask for whatever they want.

:: Parents
human life choice

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x19a "The Leprechaun-Artist", we saw three young boys with a
captive Leprechaun deliberate over what sort of boons to demand. The idea of
asking for world peace was mooted but quickly discarded for more interesting
things, like X-ray vision.


deciding whether to be a parent
===============================

:: Description
A character wrestles with themselves over whether or not they are ready and
willing to axle the mantle of being a parent.

:: Parents
human life choice


decision making in the face of uncertainty
==========================================

:: Description
Someone must decide, in a given situation that involves significant
uncertainty, which among various courses of action is the better.

:: Parents
personal practical dilemma


deep sea exploration
====================

:: Description
Someone faces the dangers inherent to exploring unfamiliar parts of the deep
sea.

:: Parents
charting unknown territory


defamation of character vs. freedom of speech
=============================================

:: Description
We are made to ponder where the limits of free speech should be drawn. Should
outright lies that hurt someone else's reputation be persecuted or is that a
slippery slope towards totalitarianism?

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma


defection
=========

:: Description
A character escapes from their own side and goes over to the enemy, sometimes
bringing valuable information with them.

:: Parents
war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defection


dehumanization
==============

:: Description
We are made to ponder what treatments are so shameful and debasing that they
should be prohibited. Such treatment have been used as early steps in stirring
up ethnic hatred and may lead to repression and genocide.

:: Parents
human rights issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dehumanization


delivering bad news
===================

:: Description
Someone has the undesirable duty to deliver very bad news, i.e., to inform of
the death of kin.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: Examples
Captain Picard had the unpleasant duty of informing Jeremy Aster that his
mother Marla had died on an away mission in tng3x05 "The Bonding".


delusion of being someone one is not
====================================

:: Description
A character is portrayed as having the crazy delusion that they are someone
they are not. Typically this happens when a person believes themself to be
someone famous, like Jesus or Napoleon.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: Notes
This theme is typically not applicable in fantastical stories where magic or
technology is used to alter a person's mind in such a way that it arguably has
been transformed into the mind of that person they now think they are.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delusional_disorder


delusion of grandeur
====================

:: Description
A character exhibits fantastical beliefs that they are famous, omnipotent,
wealthy, or otherwise very powerful.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: Examples
Navigator Riley suddenly thought he was the captain in tos1x06 "The Naked
Time".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandiose_delusions


delusional point of view
========================

:: Description
We are shown what things might be like from a mentally ill person's point of
view.

:: Parents
human mental condition


demagoguery
===========

:: Description
Someone, typically an aspiring popular leader or a "rabble-rouser", in a
political context uses speeches, fine or incendiary words, rhetorical tricks
and the like, to whip up the passions of the crowd.

:: Parents
persuasion of groups by rhetoric

:: Notes
It is often the case that the "crowd" consists of commoners and that they are
being organized in opposition to an elite. This is not a logical necessity.
The theme would also apply in a story if a group of aristocrats were being
agitated against the lower classes, to take but one example.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demagogue


democracy
=========

:: Description
The workings of a democracy are featured.

:: Parents
form of government

:: Examples
Babylon 5, bbf1x01, involved an election on earth as well as voting on the
station itself.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy


demon
=====

:: Description
There is a pure evil spirit.

:: Parents
legendary being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demon


demonic possession
==================

:: Description
A demon or devil enters into a person and takes control of them.

:: Parents
spirit possession

:: Examples
Dana Barrett was possessed by the demon Zuul in "Ghostbusters" (1984).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonic_possession


demonization of the enemy
=========================

:: Description
A propaganda technique which promotes an idea about the enemy being
threatening evil aggressor with only destructive objectives is featured.

:: Parents
war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonizing_the_enemy


denial
======

:: Description
Someone is faced with an uncomfortable fact but tries irrationally to deny the
evidence.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denial


depletion of a vital natural resource
=====================================

:: Description
People over-exploit a vital resource on which they depend and civilization
collapses.

:: Parents
ecological destruction

:: Examples
The Salt Vampires of planet M-113 were on the road to extinction as their
planet had run out of salt in tos1x05 "The Man Trap". Where exactly the salt
went is unclear but perhaps they ate it all.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_resource_management


depression
==========

:: Description
Someone exhibits a low, dark mood that at its extreme can lead to thoughts of
suicide.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_(mood)


descent into crime
==================

:: Description
The way that someone can, step by step and without particular premeditation,
get drawn into evermore serious crime is featured.

:: Parents
coping with life issues

:: Examples
In voy3x13 "Fair Trade" Neelix did a favor for a friend who turned out to be
involved in drug smuggling. After covering up some minor transgressions Neelix
eventually found himself an accomplice to serious crime.

In voy5x26 "Equinox (1)" it is told that the Equinox crew accidentally killed
an alien and discovered that its body made excellent fuel. Driven by
exceptional need they procured another alien which they murdered for fuel,
then another and so on.

:: Aliases
descent into evil


descent into madness
====================

:: Description
The transition of a healthy mind into unhealthy mental disorder is featured.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: Examples
Riker thought he was losing his mind in an alien insane asylum in tng6x21
"Frame of Mind".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insanity


desert planet
=============

:: Description
There is a planet where nearly all land is arid, hot and sandy so that it
resembles nothing more than one gigantic desert.

:: Parents
speculative habitable celestial body

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_planet


desertion
=========

:: Description
A character abandons a duty or post without permission and is done with the
intention of not returning.

:: Parents
military issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desertion


desire vs. conscience
=====================

:: Description
Someone is made to choose between what they desire for themselves on the one
hand, and a cause of action they know to be morally the right on the other.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma


despair
=======

:: Description
A character feels that all hope is gone.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_(mood)


desperation
===========

:: Description
Someone is at the brink of disaster, defeat, or personal failure and may try
desperate actions to avoid the dreaded outcome.

:: Parents
human mental condition


despotism
=========

:: Description
There is a society which is ruled by a despot with more or less absolute
power. This should not be confused with totalitarianism, which is more severe.

:: Parents
form of government

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Despotism


destiny
=======

:: Description
The idea that some or all of what will happen to us is predetermined and
cannot be influenced by our decisions.

:: Parents
folk belief

:: Examples
Data was destined to find his own severed head in tng5x26 "Time's Arrow".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destiny


destroying one people to save another
=====================================

:: Description
The following type of ethical dilemma becomes topical: Can the destruction of
one people be justified on account of it saving another? In particular, is a
people justified in committing genocide if they think it is necessary for
their own survival as a people?

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma


developing one's social skills
==============================

:: Description
A character seeks to improve their ability to interact socially with other
people.

:: Parents
human self improvement


device bigger inside than outside
=================================

:: Description
There is a container-like device that, defying the laws of nature as we
presently know them, has a larger interior volume than its exterior volume.

:: Parents
spacetime manipulating technology


devil worship
=============

:: Description
The worship of Satan is featured.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satanism


devolution
==========

:: Description
A hypothetical process by which a creature can be transformed into some
creature of an earlier stage in its evolutionary history. E.g., a human could
become an ape-like "australopithecus", or a rat-like "repenomamus", etc.

:: Parents
speculative evolution

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devolution_(biology)
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/devolution


dictation machine
=================

:: Description
A machine that can listen to human speech and put it down in writing. This was
sci-fi in the 60s but is by-and-by and more becoming reality.

:: Parents
once speculative device

:: Examples
Roberta Lincoln had trouble coming to grips with her hands-off typewriter in
tos2x26 "Assignment: Earth".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dictation_machine


digital afterlife
=================

:: Description
There is technology which can transfer the consciousness of a dying person
into a simulated reality where they can live on after their body ceases to
function.

:: Parents
speculative virtual reality

:: Notes
This theme is not used when the portrayed transfer is featured as some sort of
cloning process that creates an independent duplicate of a person.


digital clone of a person
=========================

:: Description
A real person has been copied so that a facsimile of them now exists in a
computer simulation.

:: Parents
virtual person
duplicate of a person


diplomacy
=========

:: Description
Explored is a transnational social issue that centers on the peaceful
interaction between sovereign factions in the form of discussion, trade, and
posturing - as opposed to by threats and brute force.

:: Parents
international issue

:: Examples
"peace process" and "diplomatic negotiating" are examples of "diplomacy"
themes.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomacy


diplomacy vs. force
===================

:: Description
The question of when to use peaceful diplomacy and when to resort to brute
force is featured.

:: Parents
international issue


directed energy shooting ability
================================

:: Description
A character is able to shoot energy beams, usually out of their hands or eyes,
in a controlled manner.

:: Parents
speculative ability related to own body

:: Examples
In X-men (2000), Cyclops emitted powerful beams of energy from his eyes that
he could not control without the aid of special glasses.


disapproving parent
===================

:: Description
A parent disapproves of the actions and decisions a child of theirs make, as
so often happens.

:: Parents
human parenting


discipline in the workplace
===========================

:: Description
A person in charge is confronted by insubordination and tries to do something
about it.

:: Parents
humans at work


discipline of a child
=====================

:: Description
The subtle question of how best to teach a child self-discipline, appropriate
obedience, and how to punish transgressions.

:: Parents
educating a child

:: Examples
Worf gave Alexander a stern talking to for having pocketed a lizard model on a
school field trip in tng5x10 "New Ground".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_discipline


disciplined leadership vs. flexible leadership
==============================================

:: Description
Someone in a leadership position weighs what balance of flexibility and
friendliness they should adopt vs. how much hard discipline to impose.

:: Parents
personal practical dilemma


discovering a hidden talent
===========================

:: Description
Someone realizes they are good at something they had not previously considered
as a skill in their possession.

:: Parents
human self improvement


discrimination in society
=========================

:: Description
The ramifications of discrimination in society are explored.

:: Parents
political issue

:: Examples
The telekinetically endowed Platonians treated the dwarf Alexander as a second
class citizen because he did not have any mental powers in tos3x12 "Plato's
Stepchildren".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discrimination


disembodied head
================

:: Description
A severed head is kept alive, and perhaps placed inside a jar.

:: Parents
artificial being


disillusionment
===============

:: Description
Someone realizes that something they had previously believed in is not so
great after all.

:: Parents
human character

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/disillusionment


disintegrating romantic relationship
====================================

:: Description
A romantic relationship breaks down and becomes dysfunctional in one of the
many ways such a thing can happen.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue


disintegration chamber
======================

:: Description
A chamber with the capability to make its contents, for all intents and
purposes, vanish into thin air.

:: Parents
pod or booth-like device

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/disintegrator


displacement by a rising new species
====================================

:: Description
A new species evolves, or otherwise appears, and overthrows the civilization
of the current dominant species on a world. The new species is also native to
that world.

:: Parents
force of nature existential risk to civilization

:: Examples
Dr. Otto Hasslein was convinced that apes were destined to become intelligent
and supplant humankind as the dominant species on Earth in Escape from the
Planet of the Apes (1971).


distaste for attention
======================

:: Description
Someone is unassuming and declines attention for themselves.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Worf reluctantly participated in a surprise birthday party held in his honor
in tng7x11 "Parallels".


diversity vs. unity
===================

:: Description
Diversity in society is contrasted with unity in society. Social "diversity"
is the quality of people being and thinking in many different ways while
social "unity" is the exact opposite. Either can be a strength and either can
be a weakness.

:: Parents
contraposed political ideologies


divide and conquer
==================

:: Description
The well known strategy of gaining and maintaining power by breaking up larger
concentrations of power into pieces that individually have less power than the
one implementing the strategy, is demonstrated.

:: Parents
the art of war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divide_and_rule


divination
==========

:: Description
The attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an
occultic, standardized process or ritual, is featured. This may involve
reading entrails, reading stars, using knuckle bones, tarot cards, ouija
boards etc.

:: Parents
folk belief

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divination


divine madness
==============

:: Description
There is a mentally impaired character who is considered blessed or otherwise
holy, by some religious doctrines.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
In "Andrei Rublev" (1968), we heard that Durochka had nothing to fear from the
rambunctious Tartars that carried her off because she would be considered a
holy fool by them.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foolishness_for_Christ#Holy_fool
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_madness


divine retribution
==================

:: Description
It is suggested that a misfortune befalling someone, a group, or a society, is
in fact a punishment from God for something that was done.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_retribution


divine visitation
=================

:: Description
A character is visited by a deity, for example in a dream or a vision, and
receives some sort of revelation.

:: Parents
organized religion


divorce
=======

:: Description
Two characters who were formally married go through a divorce.

:: Parents
family affairs

:: Notes
Although legally distinct, we theme annulments as divorces for the time being.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divorce


divorce procedures
==================

:: Description
The legal niceties required in order for a married couple to be formally
divorced, are featured.

:: Parents
law and order issue

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected7x13 "The Reconciliation", various complications
involved in obtaining a divorce in the UK were explained to James by his
lawyer.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divorce


doctor and patient
==================

:: Description
The interpersonal relationship between a doctor and their patient is examined.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: Notes
As doctors and patients are rather common occurrences in stories, this theme
should only be used if the relationship in question has a notable and lasting
quality. Usually, the doctor is expected to be self-conscious of the
relationship.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor%E2%80%93patient_relationship


doctor and patient romance
==========================

:: Description
A doctor and their patient engage in a romantic relationship, and the
befuddling dilemmas that come with it. Can a besotted doctor still give good
medical advice?

:: Parents
romantic relationship
medical ethical issue


doctor assisted suicide
=======================

:: Description
Discussed is whether it is ethically right sometimes for a doctor to assist
life-weary patients in committing suicide.

:: Parents
medical ethical issue

:: Examples
Worf longed for somebody to pull the plug on him after he was paralyzed as the
result of a freak accident in tng5x16 "Ethics".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_suicide


doctor vs. next of kin
======================

:: Description
It is discussed what should be done when there is disagreement between doctors
and their patient's next of kin, in some important choice the patient is
incapable of making.

:: Parents
medical ethical issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor%E2%80%93patient_relationship


doctor's opinion vs. patient preference
=======================================

:: Description
We are asked to what extent a doctor must respect the wishes of the patient,
their next of kin or guardians in case of a minor, when those wishes are seen
as being against the good of the patient.

:: Parents
medical ethical issue


doctor-patient confidentiality
==============================

:: Description
It is discussed when, if ever, a doctor is ethically obligated to divulge
confidential information about their patient without the patient's consent.

:: Parents
medical ethical issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor%E2%80%93patient_relationship


domed city
==========

:: Description
A city protected by some manner of a dome-shaped barrier.

:: Parents
speculative city

:: Examples
The Enterprise-D was diverted to save a doomed domed city of genetically
engineered colonists in tng5x13 "The Masterpiece Society".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domed_city


domestic violence
=================

:: Description
A crime involving violence or other abuse by one person against another in a
domestic setting, such as in marriage or cohabitation, is featured.

:: Parents
crime against the person
violent crime

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_violence


dominicide
==========

:: Description
A character murders a person to whom they are formally subordinate and ought
in principle be loyal to.

:: Parents
murder

:: Examples
In "Throne of Blood" (1957), Washizu and Asaji murdered their liege lord
Tsuzuki in order to usurp his position.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_types_of_killing#Killing_of_superiors


donating an organ to save a life
================================

:: Description
A character chooses to donate an organ of their own in order to save someone
else's life.

:: Parents
human self-sacrifice for another


doppelgänger
============

:: Description
There are two characters who are biologically unrelated yet carry such a
remarkable resemblance that one could readily impersonate the other.

:: Parents
speculative human

:: Examples
In ahp1x10 "The Case of Mr. Pelham", a twin double is gradually taking over
Mr. Pelman's life.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doppelg%C3%A4nger

:: Aliases
doppelganger
twin stranger


drawing
=======

:: Description
The art of using relatively dry instruments such as pens and crayons (but not
paint) to create images on a surface such as paper or a computer display.

:: Parents
the fine arts and the humanities

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drawing


dream interpretation
====================

:: Description
Dreams are interpreted in a highly metaphorical or otherwise esoteric way.

:: Parents
folk belief


dream recorder
==============

:: Description
A device used to record and replay your dreams.

:: Parents
speculative device

:: Examples
The holodeck was employed to monitor Data's dreams in tng7x06 "Phantasms".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought_recording_and_reproduction_device


dream walking
=============

:: Description
A character is able to enter a dream world and consciously observe or interact
with it. The dreamworld is shown as being more real than our conventional
understanding of dreams. The dream world could be created by the character,
another character, or exist independently of people.

:: Parents
speculative ability related to own mind


drug abuse
==========

:: Description
A character uses a chemical substance (e.g. alcohol, tobacco, hallucinogens,
or narcotics) to such an extent and frequency that it becomes a problem for
them and others.

:: Parents
human addiction

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_dependence

:: Aliases
substance abuse


drugged up dystopia
===================

:: Description
There is a world in which stability is maintained thanks to one or more drugs
that keep people under control, perhaps by making them feel perpetually happy.

:: Parents
dystopia


drugs for military use
======================

:: Description
The military supplies addictive drugs to their own fighters in order to make
them pliant.

:: Parents
military issue


drunk driving
=============

:: Description
The offense of driving, operating, or being in control of a vehicle while
impaired by alcohol or other drugs (including recreational drugs and those
prescribed by physicians), to a level that renders the driver incapable of
operating a motor vehicle safely, is featured.

:: Parents
dangerous driving

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_under_the_influence


dumb blonde stereotype
======================

:: Description
There is a pretty, young woman is profoundly ignorant and shows no interest in
intellectual pursuits.

:: Parents
female stereotype

:: Examples
Gary Seven's secretary, Roberta Lincoln, epitomized the ditsy blonde
stereotype in tos2x26 "Assignment: Earth".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blonde_stereotype


dumb jock stereotype
====================

:: Description
Someone is primarily interested in sports and sports culture, and does not
take much interest in intellectual culture. This is the male equivalent of the
ditzy blond blond stereotype.

:: Parents
male stereotype

:: Examples
The Ghostbusters' secretary Kevin Beckman exemplified the male equivalent of a
stereotypical dumb blond in "Ghostbusters" (2016).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jock_(stereotype)


duplicate of a person
=====================

:: Description
The technology to duplicate a person, or at least a person's mind.

:: Parents
mind altering technology


duty to disobey illegal orders
==============================

:: Description
We are asked whether an excuse like "I was merely following orders" is
acceptable in some scenario where something illegal or unethical has been
perpetrated.

:: Parents
legal duty

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superior_orders

:: Aliases
superior orders defense
Nuremberg defense
just following orders


duty to rescue
==============

:: Description
The idea, found in some legal codes, that a person sometimes has a legal duty
to come to the rescue of another person is discussed.

:: Parents
legal duty

:: Examples
In "Vertigo" (1958), detective John Ferguson attends a hearing regarding
Madeleine's death. The judge chastises John for the various ways in which John
failed to intervene, and laments that the law unfortunately doesn't have much
to say about actions never taken.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duty_to_rescue


duty to return lost property
============================

:: Description
The idea, found in some law codes, that the finder of a piece of presumably
lost property has a duty to do something in order to return it to the rightful
owner, is featured.

:: Parents
legal duty


duty vs. compassion
===================

:: Description
Someone is forced to choose between following their duty on the one hand, and
acting to help a fellow being out of compassion on the other.

:: Parents
conflict of duty


duty vs. conscience
===================

:: Description
Someone is forced to choose between acting in accord with their duty, and
acting in accord with their conscience.

:: Parents
conflict of duty


duty vs. desire
===============

:: Description
A character is forced to choose between following their duty, and acting to
further some goal of their own.

:: Parents
conflict of duty


duty vs. duty
=============

:: Description
Someone is forced to choose between opposing groups.

:: Parents
conflict of duty


duty vs. friendship
===================

:: Description
Someone is forced to choose between following their duty, and helping a
friend.

:: Parents
conflict of duty

:: Examples
In tos1x13 "The Galileo Seven", Captain Kirk was torn between his duty to the
Federation to deliver medicine on the one hand, and his duty to continue his
search for Spock on the other.


duty vs. love
=============

:: Description
Someone is forced to choose between following their duty, and following their
heart.

:: Parents
conflict of duty

:: Examples
The allasomorph princess Salia chose the office of head of state of the planet
Daled IV over Wesley in tng2x10 "The Dauphin".


duty vs. self-preservation
==========================

:: Description
Someone is forced to choose between following their duty, and saving their own
skin.

:: Parents
conflict of duty


dying sun
=========

:: Description
The sun to a planet becomes colder and civilization collapses.

:: Parents
catastrophic solar event

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellar_evolution


dysfunctional upbringing
========================

:: Description
A character grows up in a family under conditions that professionals would
probably describe as dysfunctional. This typically involves some amount of
psychological problems.

:: Parents
human childhood

:: Examples
Beverly in "It" (1990) had a physically abusive father and later in life find
herself drawn to other abusive men against her better judgment.

:: Aliases
troubled childhood


dystopia
========

:: Description
There is a functioning society that is nevertheless for some reason depressing
and horrifying to contemporary eyes.

:: Parents
speculative social institution

:: References
http://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/dystopias


déjà vu
=======

:: Description
The unscientific notion that the sensation that an event currently being
experienced has happened in the past means it did in fact happen in the past.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
Beverly and her poker buddies experienced déjà vu when they got stuck in a
time loop in tng5x18 "Cause and Effect".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A9j%C3%A0_vu


early computer
==============

:: Description
A computer, i.e. a machine that is programmed to carry out sequences of
arithmetic operations, of the sort that was used by large organizations and
was around before PCs and The Internet began becoming commonplace in
households, is featured.

:: Parents
technology

:: Notes
As a general rule of thumb, this category includes machines made before the
1990s and excludes such machines that may be called "PCs".

:: Examples
Duotronic computer technology had supplanted conventional transistor based
computing in the Federation by the 23rd century in tos2x24 "The Ultimate
Computer".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer


eco-terrorism
=============

:: Description
Terrorist-like activities such as armed attacks, bombings and sabotage, are
carried out in the name of the natural environment.

:: Parents
environmental issue
terrorism

:: Examples
Militant activists from Hekaras II placed space mines to stop space ships from
rupturing subspace with their warp cores in tng7x09 "Force of Nature".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eco-terrorism


ecological destruction
======================

:: Description
People pollute the environment upon which they depend to the point of total
collapse and everyone dies from starvation etc.

:: Parents
institutional risk to civilization

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_degradation

:: Aliases
environmental destruction


ecology
=======

:: Description
The scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environment,
involving all of biology, geography, and Earth science.

:: Parents
science

:: Examples
Invasive species' such as the Tribbles could have a profound impact on ecology
as we are shown in tas1x05 "More Tribbles, More Troubles".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecology


economic downturn
=================

:: Description
The ramifications of a severe economic downturn, like an economic depression
or recession, on society are explored.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: Examples
Captain Kirk and Spock followed McCoy back to the 1930s and got to experience
the American Great Depression first hand in tos1x28 "The City on the Edge of
Forever".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_(economics)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recession


edge of the universe
====================

:: Description
A hypothetical untraversable border around the universe which cannot be
traversed.

:: Parents
speculative cosmos

:: Examples
The Traveler used his powers of thought a little bit too hard and tossed the
Enterprise-D to the edge of the universe in tng1x06 "Where No One Has Gone
Before" and it was found to be a really weird place.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observable_universe


educating a child
=================

:: Description
An adult character goes about deliberately shaping a child's mind as he or she
grows up.

:: Parents
human parenting

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education


educational issue
=================

:: Description
Explored is a social issue that examines how we, collectively through policy
making, instruct people in how they should think and act. Notably, the theme
pertains to the schooling of young people.

:: Parents
national social issue

:: Examples
"religion in public education" is an "educational issue" as it discusses
whether and to what extent religious notions ought to be presented to young
people as part of their formal education.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education


egocentrism
===========

:: Description
A character manifests an inability to understand or assume any perspective
other than their own.

:: Parents
human character

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egocentrism


electioneering in society
=========================

:: Description
Problems and controversies surrounding the various practices by which
politicians sometimes go about campaigning for public office are featured. For
example, what can we do about all the fake news that is generated and how do
we keep the Russians from meddling?

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_campaign


electricity
===========

:: Description
The science behind those physical phenomenon associated with charged particles
in motion is explored.

:: Parents
physics

:: Notes
Electricity is almost ubiquitous in the human world since the early 20th
century and the effects of electricity can often be noted in modern stories
without being in any way remarkable. Electric appliances typically form the
background setting of the story and are not themes. Nor does a simple
lightning strike or passing thunderstorm offer sufficient grounds for applying
the theme unless more is said about the matter. The theme also does not apply
merely when someone is zapped by what seems like an electrical discharge in an
action or sci-fi story.

:: Examples
Professor Carbonic invented a life restoring, brain-injectable serum that
worked by stimulating neuronal electrical production in "Advanced Chemistry"
(1927).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/power_sources


electricity manipulation ability
================================

:: Description
A character is able to conjure or control electricity, or lightning, more or
less by using the power of their mind.

:: Parents
speculative ability related to physical things


electromagnetic being
=====================

:: Description
A being that is made of electromagnetic radiation.

:: Parents
inorganic being

:: Examples
Captain Picard joined forces with Dathon, a member of the enigmatic Children
of Tama, to battle the ferocious Electromagnetic Beast of El-Adrel in tng5x02
"Darmok".


electromagnetic catapult
========================

:: Description
There is a launcher on a planet that uses a linear motor (e.g. a mass driver
that uses coils of wire energized by electricity to make electromagnets) to
accelerate and catapult payloads into space.

:: Parents
speculative device

:: Examples
In "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" (1966), wheat was shipped from the Moon to
Earth using just such a contraption.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_driver

:: Aliases
mass driver


elemental being
===============

:: Description
There is a personification of one of the four classical elements (i.e. earth,
water, air, and fire).

:: Parents
legendary being
personification of a concept

:: Examples
In the video game "Final Fantasy" (1987), it is up to the Light Warriors to
retrieve the elemental orbs of earth, water, air, and fire by defeating their
respective personifications in battle.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elemental


elf
===

:: Description
There is a diminutive, humanoid being with long pointy ears that is friendly
with nature and animals.

:: Parents
legendary being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elves_in_fiction


elitism
=======

:: Description
The ramifications of elitism in society, a small group of people being
particularly favoured, are explored.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elitism


embargo
=======

:: Description
A faction sets out to curtail and prevent trade with another faction. Often
some form of direct air/naval blockade is put in force.

:: Parents
war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_sanctions


embarrassing family member
==========================

:: Description
A person is ashamed because of a relative's anachronistic or otherwise
embarrassing behavior. For example, a kid might be embarrassed when their
parents accompany them to class.

:: Parents
coping with a problematic family member


embarrassment
=============

:: Description
Someone feels ashamed or self-conscious about themself in front of others.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: Examples
Spock was mortified at the prospect of having to explain the nature of his
secret Vulcan mating urges to Captain Kirk in tos2x05 "Amok Time".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embarrassment


embezzlement
============

:: Description
Embezzlement is a type of financial fraud involving the misappropriation of
assets. Typically it is used with regards to the theft of money from an
organization or company such as an employer. For example, a lawyer might
embezzle funds from the trust accounts of their clients; a financial advisor
might embezzle the funds of investors; and a husband or a wife might embezzle
funds from a bank account jointly held with the spouse or peer.

:: Parents
theft
criminal fraud


emergently intelligent being
============================

:: Description
An intelligence forms through some natural process akin to evolution. This is
as opposed to it being designed by some other intelligence.

:: Parents
speculative being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noogenesis


emotional attachment to a thing
===============================

:: Description
A character has a significant emotional attachment to an inanimate object,
typically a cherished possession.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comfort_object


emotional overwhelm
===================

:: Description
Someone feels overwhelmed by an emotion or impression, for example by the
grandeur of an experience or the gravity of a responsibility, to such an
extent that they are speechless and come close to fainting or commit suicide
because they can't handle it all.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: Examples
Troi was shocked to wake up on a Romulan warbird looking like a Romulan in
tng6x14 "Face of the Enemy".


emotionless emotion craving being
=================================

:: Description
A being that, lacking emotions of its own, somehow craves to experience
emotions with the help of others.

:: Parents
mentally distinguished being


empathic being
==============

:: Description
There is a being that is able to transmit its feelings directly to others.

:: Parents
mentally distinguished being

:: Examples
Elliot was able to feel what E.T. felt in "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1984).


endangered species
==================

:: Description
Ideas surrounding the preserving of endangered species are explored.

:: Parents
environmental issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_species


enemy point of view
===================

:: Description
We are simultaneously shown what things may be like from the respective
viewpoints of two factions that see each other as enemies.

:: Parents
cross cultural issue


energy crisis in society
========================

:: Description
A society systemically fails to provide enough energy to cover basic demands.
Energy means electricity as well as fossil fuels and other kinds of fuels that
are used to perform work.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: Examples
In the short film "Libra" (1978), we see a freewheeling frontier space colony
design fantastic solar power plants in space that may potentially save the
corrupt and over-regulated Earth from its ongoing energy crisis.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_crisis


engaged couple
==============

:: Description
The relationship between two people engaged to be married is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship
romantic relationship

:: Aliases
fiancé and fiancée


engineered orbital structure
============================

:: Description
There is a technological construction in orbit around an astronomical body.

:: Parents
engineered space structure

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megastructure#Orbital_structures


engineered space structure
==========================

:: Description
There is a technological construction in outer space.

:: Parents
speculative technology


engineered trans-orbital structure
==================================

:: Description
There is a technological construction that connects a planet with things
orbiting it.

:: Parents
engineered space structure

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megastructure#Trans-orbital_structures


environmental issue
===================

:: Description
Discussed is the effect that human activity may have at large on the
biophysical environment, that is, on nature.

:: Parents
national social issue

:: Examples
"climate change and bureaucratic inaction" may arguably be the most important
"environmental issue" theme of our times. The issue is that human activity
since the industrial revolution has produced evermore greenhouse gases; this
leads to an unrelenting heating of the whole of the Earth, which in turn has
varied but significant effects on the climate. As these changes are expected
to be widely detrimental to human well being, many believe that the response
from policy makers has been lackluster and negligent in the extreme.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_issue


environmentalism
================

:: Description
An ideology that emphasizes environmental protection and improvement of the
health of the environment with a focus on non-human elements.

:: Parents
environmental issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmentalism


epic love
=========

:: Description
The love between idealized Earth-moving love of Gods, legends, and Helen of
Troy.

:: Parents
romantic love


epidemics in society
====================

:: Description
Discussed is how society deals with the rapid spread of some infectious
disease, or of such diseases in general. We may, for example, see preventive
measures taken, or efforts to get the epidemic under control when it is at its
apogee.

:: Parents
contagious disease in society

:: Examples
In "Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror" (1922), people believed that the many
victims of the Vampire in fact died of the plague. They had heard of a plague
outbreak in Prague and thought it had now reached the shores of England.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidemic


equal career opportunities for women
====================================

:: Description
The problem women have in finding the same career opportunities as men in a
male dominated society is featured.

:: Parents
gender issue

:: Examples
Dr. Janice Lester was convinced that Captain Kirk had had the career she had
not, only because of their respective genders in tos3x24 "Turnabout Intruder".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_the_workforce


escape from reality
===================

:: Description
A character prefers to dream up a fantasy world rather than face reality.

:: Parents
withdrawal from society
human dreaming

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escapism

:: Aliases
escapism


espionage
=========

:: Description
One faction uses covert methods such as the planting of spies in order to
glean secret information from an opposing faction and thus gain military or
political advantage.

:: Parents
the art of war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espionage


ethics
======

:: Description
Ethics is the branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and
recommending moral principles. The theme is used whenever an aspect of this
branch of philosophy is featured in the story.

:: Parents
philosophy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics


ethnic hatred
=============

:: Description
Notable hostility toward an ethnic group is featured.

:: Parents
hatred in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_hatred


eugenics
========

:: Description
We are asked to what extent, if any, we should collectively strive to control
human evolution by selective breeding. In past this has meant sterilizing or
killing "undesirable" people, and subsidizing the procreation of "desirable"
people.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: Examples
Doctor Stavos Keniclius 5 made a failed bid to create a galactic master race
of giant Spock clones in tas1x07 "The Infinite Vulcan" - a giant Spock, of
course, being the measure of eugenic perfection.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/eugenics


euthanasia
==========

:: Description
We are asked how and when, if ever, we should allow and assist the "merciful"
killing of someone who is thought to suffer greatly without any other hope of
relief.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue
human rights issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthanasia


event management
================

:: Description
A character is working with organizing large get-togethers and other events
involving people.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Event_management


evil can come in the guise of beauty
====================================

:: Description
We are warned not to be deceived by beauty as attractive people (or objects)
may in fact be quite as evil as anyone (or anything) else.

:: Parents
evil can come in the guise of good

:: Examples
Miranda Jones was both smart and beautiful but under the surface she had a
viciously jealous streak in tos3x07 "Is There in Truth No Beauty?". This in
contrast to the Medusan ambassador who was hideous yet remarkably
accommodating.


evil can come in the guise of good
==================================

:: Description
We are cautioned that that and those that appear kind and benevolent on the
surface, can in fact be quite wicked underneath. For example, charitable
workers and religious leaders are sometimes presumed to be good because of
their profession, but can nevertheless be quite evil.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
In "The Night of the Hunter" (1955), we saw how a man styling himself as
Reverend Harry Powell inspired trust an confidence with his pious persona,
then revealed himself to be a venal, lying, cold blooded murderer.


evil doll
=========

:: Description
There is a doll that is somehow alive or possessed, and that wants to do evil
deeds like murdering people.

:: Parents
anthropomorphic object come to life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haunted_doll
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_toy


evil hand
=========

:: Description
A character has a limb that seems to have an evil mind of its own.

:: Parents
what if my personal identity came into question


exaggerating the importance of humanity's place in the universe
===============================================================

:: Description
Featured is a doctrine that is notably precise and disproved, and which
flagrantly exaggerates humanities role in the universe. The most notable
example of this is the geocentric model of the universe, i.e., the idea that
Earth and humanity must be at the physical center of creation. There are,
however, variations.

:: Parents
philosophy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_center_of_the_Universe


exercising self-control
=======================

:: Description
A character notices their own emotional inclination to do (or not to do)
something, and that obeying them is undesirable. The character makes a
reasonable attempt not to do so.

:: Parents
human self-reflection

:: Notes
There are two contraposed formulas for when the theme applies: wanting to do
vs. wanting to not do. For example, a character may feel like taking a smoke,
but stops themself from doing so because they know it is ultimately bad for
them. Conversely, a character may be reluctant to stick their neck out and
challenge a misbehaving superior they are afraid of, yet tries to do so
because they know it is the right thing to do.

:: Examples
Riker urged Troi to exercise a modicum of self-restraint shortly after she
picked up a young ensign on the turbolift in tng6x03 "Man of the People".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-control

:: Aliases
struggling with self-control
exercising self-restraint


exile
=====

:: Description
The practice of punishing someone by expelling them from their native land, is
feature.

:: Parents
legal punishment

:: Examples
In the film "No Escape" (1994), a man was banished from the cooperative
autonomous community that he called home for having twice fallen asleep at his
post.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exile

:: Aliases
banishment


existential risk to civilization
================================

:: Description
A civilization on a planetary scale (notably Earth) or beyond comes into
jeopardy. This can mean the civilization is outright obliterated or something
happens that makes it unable to progress.

:: Parents
speculative future event

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_catastrophic_risk
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Societal_collapse
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/end_of_the_world


expanding sun
=============

:: Description
Things get a little hot under the collar for a planetary civilization because
its sun has entered int its red giant phase.

:: Parents
catastrophic solar event

:: Examples
The United Earth Government initiated a project to migrate the earth out of
the Solar System to the Alpha Centauri system when it became apparent that the
sun was entering into its red giant phase in "The Wandering Earth" (2019).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_of_Earth#Red_giant_stage


expecting parents
=================

:: Description
The lives of (typically) two soon-to-be parents between confirmed conception
and the birth of a child is explored. If the story is primarily about maternal
labor and the delivery of a baby and what comes after, use "giving birth"
instead of this theme.

:: Parents
human parenting


experimental medical procedure
==============================

:: Description
The question of where to draw the line when it comes to the use of
experimental medical procedures is featured. Examples include when a doctor
resorts to the use of such procedures on his or her patients either in the
name of the advancement of medical science or as a last resort on a critically
ill patient.

:: Parents
medical ethical issue

:: Examples
Dr. Toby Russell wanted to test out her new surgical procedure for spinal
transplantation on Worf but Beverly remonstrated in tng5x16 "Ethics".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Experimental_medical_treatments


exploitation of sentient beings
===============================

:: Description
We are made to ponder what is needed for a creature to be considered sentient
and when the exploitation of such a creature becomes shameful. Exploiting
beasts of burden is typically condoned but the same treatment of human beings
would be morally reprehensible.

:: Parents
human rights issue


exploiting a lover
==================

:: Description
Someone scrupulously takes advantage of their lovers devotion for personal
gain.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue


exploiting another society
==========================

:: Description
Discussed is what sort of interaction with a weaker nation might constitute
illegitimate exploitation, and what might be justified. For example, trade is
often thought to be beneficial to both parties, but maybe not so if one state
conspires to keep the other weak in order to have a more lopsided bargain.

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma


explosives
==========

:: Description
The chemistry and technology of making things that explode is featured.
Gunpowder, for example, is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium
nitrate (saltpeter) with the sulfur and charcoal acting as fuels, while the
saltpeter functions as an oxidizer.

:: Parents
technology

:: Examples
Captain Kirk knew this well and used the knowledge to defeat his Gorn enemy in
the legendary fight to the death in tos1x19 "Arena".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder


exponential growth
==================

:: Description
A very rapid kind of growth by which the amount of a quantity increases at a
rate proportional to the amount already present.

:: Parents
mathematics

:: Examples
Sulu explained how Gary Mitchell's psychic ability was increasing
geometrically in tos1x01 "Where No Man Has Gone Before".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exponential_growth

:: Aliases
geometric growth


exported pollution
==================

:: Description
Discussed is the societal issue of some (usually wealthier) nations in effect
outsourcing their pollution to other (usually poorer) nations. This may be to
explicit export of waste products, or the implicit export of pollution as
caused by the remote manufacturing of later imported goods.

:: Parents
international issue
environmentalism

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollution_haven_hypothesis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_dumping
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_waste_trade


expressing feelings
===================

:: Description
The various troubles involved in expressing one's feelings to another are
featured.

:: Parents
humans interacting

:: Examples
Data expressed his affection for Spot the cat in characteristic android
fashion by reciting "Ode to Spot" in tng6x05 "Schisms".


extinct interstellar civilization
=================================

:: Description
A civilization that flourished to the extent that they colonized other
planets, but then went extinct for some reason or another. What perils may the
distant future hold in store?

:: Parents
extraterrestrial being


extra-dimensional being
=======================

:: Description
A being said to be native to another dimension is featured. By "another
dimension" it is usually meant a reality that is not reachable for us by
conventional traversal of space, and that have somewhat different laws of
nature.

:: Parents
extraterrestrial being


extradition
===========

:: Description
One sovereign faction gives up a prisoner to the care of another soverign
faction.

:: Parents
international issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extradition


extramarital affair
===================

:: Description
A character who is married engages in a sexual encounter or relationship
outside the marriage, and deals with the consequences.

:: Parents
romantic infidelity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affair#Extramarital_affair


extrasensory perception
=======================

:: Description
The discredited theory that information can be received directly by the mind
itself in addition to the recognized physical senses.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
Elizabeth Dehner was reported to have an esper rating of 089 and an
aperception quotient of 20/100 in tos1x01 "Where No Man Has Gone Before".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extrasensory_perception
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/esp


extraterrestrial being
======================

:: Description
There is a being from outer space.

:: Parents
locationally distinguished being

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/aliens


extraterrestrial civilization
=============================

:: Description
Human civilization encounters an alien civilization. Note: This theme is not
used when any mere alien is featured unless that alien's whole civilization is
referenced and discussed vis-à-vis human civilization.

:: Parents
extraterrestrial being


extrovert vs. introvert
=======================

:: Description
Featured are the contrasts, interactions and potential conflicts that can
arise between people who are outgoing and extrovert on the one hand, and
people who are reclusive and introvert on the other.

:: Parents
human characters in contrast


eye for an eye justice
======================

:: Description
We are made to ponder the ethics of the age old creed that we should punish
evildoers by treating them in a similar way to how they treated their victims.

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_for_an_eye


eye transplant
==============

:: Description
A procedure to transplant eyes from one person to another is featured.

:: Parents
body part transplant

:: Examples
Baron Victor von Frankenstein attempted to transplant the eyes of a murdered
man into his blind monster in Frankenstein 1970 (1958).


fabled land of goodness
=======================

:: Description
A character tells of a land somewhere in which existence would be akin to
paradise on Earth, if only it could be reached. Typically the main feature of
such a land is freedom from a specific social ill that plagues the rest of the
world, such as disease, violence, or famine.

:: Parents
utopia

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promised_Land


facing a conspiracy
===================

:: Description
Someone faces a secret conspiracy that aims to produce some nefarious outcome.

:: Parents
human vs. human

:: Examples
Ensign Ro got herself mixed up in an elaborate conspiracy to eradicate a
Bajoran terrorist cell in the eponymous episode tng5x03 "Ensign Ro".


facing a ferocious beast
========================

:: Description
Someone experiences what it is like to face a fearsome animal or some other
kind of beast-like creature.

:: Parents
human vs. beast

:: Examples
Captain Kirk was the victim of a nearly fatal mugato attack in tos2x16 "A
Private Little War".


facing a genius adversary
=========================

:: Description
A character experiences what it is like to face a genius in a fight,
competition, or other adversarial situation. The adversary might be a stock
evil mad scientist type character, a criminal mastermind, and so on.

:: Parents
human vs. human


facing a home invader
=====================

:: Description
A character is in their home, or comparable abode, as someone with criminal
intent attempts to break in.

:: Parents
human vs. human

:: Examples
In tz1959e2x15 "The Invaders", a woman living all alone in a rustic cabin
tried to fend off diminutive space invaders who landed in her attic and
refused to leave her be. She eventually destroys their flying saucer using a
crude hatchet.


facing a hostage situation
==========================

:: Description
Someone is involved in a hostage situation.

:: Parents
human vs. human

:: Examples
The Pakled held Geordi hostage in the hopes of getting some Federation goodies
in exchange for the engineer in tng2x17 "Samaritan Snare".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Hostage_taking_in_fiction


facing a mortal enemy
=====================

:: Description
Someone faces their mortal enemy, i.e., someone who would be happy to see them
dead.

:: Parents
human vs. human

:: Examples
Captain Picard faced the evil genius Dr. James Moriarty in tng2x03
"Elementary, Dear Data" and tng6x12 "Ship in a Bottle".


facing a ship takeover
======================

:: Description
Someone tries to deal with their vessel being space-jacked.

:: Parents
human vs. human

:: Examples
A ragtag band of space hippies took over the Enterprise with the intention of
commandeering the vessel and taking it to the mythical planet Eden in tos3x20
"The Way to Eden".


facing a stalker
================

:: Description
A character is illicitly and repeatedly surveilled by someone, for example, by
a former lover.

:: Parents
human vs. human

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalking


facing a vermin infestation
===========================

:: Description
A facility is infested with rodents or some other type of animal nuisance and
someone tries to get rid of the vermin.

:: Parents
human vs. nature


facing adversity
================

:: Description
A character confronts something difficult that they actively endeavor to
overcome. This includes matters of survival, for example, making a self-
sacrifice for (typically) someone.

:: Parents
human challenge in life


facing an epidemic
==================

:: Description
Someone tries to deal with a highly infectious disease running rampant through
a population.

:: Parents
human vs. nature

:: Examples
A weary band of space lepers had their sights set on bringing themselves, and
possibly their disease, to planet Haven in tng1x11 "Haven".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidemic
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic

:: Aliases
facing a pandemic


facing an extraordinary accusation
==================================

:: Description
A character is baffled to be accused of something that is so out of the
ordinary that no one would reasonably expect it to happen to them in their
entire life.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot

:: Notes
If the accusation is of a crime and is wrongful, then the child theme "what if
I was accused of a crime that I didn't commit" applies. Occasionally, however,
a character is featured as facing accusations of something they admittedly
did, or something that can't easily be called a crime even in the broad sense
of the word (a taut or wrongdoing).


facing an invading force
========================

:: Description
Someone experiences what it is like when an invading force comes to attack
them and their homeland.

:: Parents
human vs. human

:: Examples
The Delta Rana IV colonists faced a Husnock invading force very poorly by
getting slaughtered down to the last man in tng3x03 "The Survivors".


facing an overpowering adversary
================================

:: Description
Someone learns what it is like to come up against an opponent that is many
times more capable than themselves.

:: Parents
human vs. human

:: Examples
The future of humanity was at stake in tng4x01 "The Best of Both Worlds, Part
II" when the Borg came knocking in Sector 001: Earth's sector.


facing being evicted from one's home
====================================

:: Description
A character is facing being evicted from the place they live.

:: Parents
human vs. human

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eviction


facing being hunted like an animal
==================================

:: Description
Someone struggles to survive while being hunted.

:: Parents
human vs. human


facing bloodthirsty savages
===========================

:: Description
A seemingly civilized character must fight or flee one or more murderous
barbarian characters. Stereotypically, a modern Western characters flees from
savage Natives (possibly cannibals) with primitive weapons.

:: Parents
human vs. human

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x14a "Still Life", a modern American couple suddenly had their
house invaded by a band of savage Amazonian natives who had been trapped
inside an old camera for the better part of a century.


facing death
============

:: Description
A character is confronted with the fact of their own (more or less) impending
expiration. This typically happens when a character learns that they have a
terminal illness or is about to be executed.

:: Parents
human challenge in life

:: References


facing financial ruin
=====================

:: Description
A character runs low on money to such an extent that a radical change in life
style will imminently be forced upon them.

Typically, a previously poor character faces financial ruin when they loose
their source of income and must starve or become a charity case. A formerly
rich character may face financial ruin when their due debts exceed their
liquid assets, and bankruptcy proceedings are imminent.

:: Parents
coping with life issues

:: Examples
In nightgallery2x13b "The Painted Mirror", old lady Ellen was desperately
pawning her last prized possessions in order to pay her day-to-day expenses.
Meanwhile, Frank was bough out by his unscrupulous partner and faced the
prospect of unemployment in an apparently harsh economy.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bankruptcy


facing job insecurity
=====================

:: Description
A character worries about loosing their job.

:: Parents
coping with life issues

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layoff


facing life in captivity
========================

:: Description
Someone faces living as a captive with no reasonable prospect of escape.

:: Parents
human vs. captivity

:: Examples
Fivas Fajo kidnapped Data to sit the android on display in his collection of
rare and unusual objects tng3x22 "The Most Toys".


facing loan sharks
==================

:: Description
A character has taken a usury loan from a more or less criminal group and is
under pressure to pay up, one way or the other.

:: Parents
human vs. human

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loan_shark


facing muggers
==============

:: Description
A character is confronted by other characters who threaten them with violence
should they fail to hand over various possessions.

:: Parents
human vs. human


facing one's darker side
========================

:: Description
Someone analyzes their own less desirable attributes and inclinations.

:: Parents
human self improvement

:: Examples
William T. Riker saw his darker side in Thomas Riker in tng6x24 "Second
Chances", but the feeling was mutual.


facing one's darkest fear
=========================

:: Description
Someone comes face to face with what they fear the most.

:: Parents
fear

:: Examples
Barclay mustered the courage to face his darkest fear of going through the
transporter in tng6x02 "Realm of Fear".


facing one's own execution
==========================

:: Description
Someone is waiting to be executed.

:: Parents
facing death


facing organized pursuit
========================

:: Description
A character is being pursued by for example the police, a crime syndicate, or
some other organized group.

:: Parents
human vs. human


facing persecution by the government
====================================

:: Description
A character is being pursued by the governing body in the region, for whatever
reason.

:: Parents
human vs. institution


facing the demise of a personal enterprise
==========================================

:: Description
A character is confronted with the imminent failure of a venture they had
invested much of their energy in, for example a career pursuit, private
company, etc.

:: Parents
coping with life issues

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected7x11 "I Like it Here in Wilmington", Harry and Marvin
had a joint clothing manufacturing business that was on the verge of
bankruptcy. Being used to the good life, Harry contemplated murdering Marvin
to claim insurance money.


factions joining forces against a common enemy
==============================================

:: Description
Two sovereign factions put their differences aside and make common cause for
the purpose of opposing a third faction.

:: Parents
diplomacy

:: Examples
Captain Kirk's crew and the Klingons joined forces against a mysterious cloud
being in tos3x11 "Day of the Dove".

:: Aliases
the enemy of my enemy is my friend


fairies
=======

:: Description
The notion of fairy folk, from primarily North European folklore, is brought
up.

:: Parents
folk belief
legendary being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy


fairy godmother
===============

:: Description
There is a fairy with magical powers who acts as a mentor or guardian to
someone.

:: Parents
fairies
godparent and godchild

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_godmother


faith healing
=============

:: Description
Prayers and gestures (such as laying on of hands) are shown to elicit divine
intervention in spiritual and physical healing, especially in the context of
Christian religion.

:: Parents
folk belief

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_healing


faith vs. medicine
==================

:: Description
We are asked what society should do when some peoples' faith clashes with
state of the art medical science and therefore puts public health at risk to
lesser or greater extent.

:: Parents
medical ethical issue

:: Examples
A contemporary debate rages in some places about the use of vaccination.


faith vs. reason
================

:: Description
The central question in the battle between the secular (science) and the
ecclesiastical (religion): Is there a valid source of knowledge, i.e.,
revelation, that is not derived from reason and not subject to scientific
experimentation?

:: Parents
organized religion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_and_rationality


fall from grace
===============

:: Description
A previously honored character finds themself out of favor, with a loss of
status and prestige, for one reason or another.

:: Parents
speculative experience

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_from_grace


falling out of friendship
=========================

:: Description
Two friends stop being friends, for example, because they come to disagree
about an important issue.

:: Parents
friendship


false flag operation
====================

:: Description
A faction that wants to make war creates an incident and blames it on the
enemy. The real warmongerers can then attack while falsely claiming that their
targeted enemy started the hostilities.

:: Parents
war

:: Examples
The Enterprise-D nearly destroyed a Lysian space station in revenge but then
it turned out the whole situation had been orchestrated by the Sataarans in
tng5x14 "Conundrum".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_flag


false friend
============

:: Description
There is a character that acts openly as a friend to another character yet
conspires behind their back in a way that is most unfriendly and meant to
cause harm.

:: Parents
humans in pairs
betrayal

:: Notes
This theme is not used when someone poses as a friend to someone because they
merely wish exploit that person for some other purpose than to cause them
harm. It does, for example, not typically apply to confidence tricks as the
purpose of such tricks is generally to make a profit by any means available.

:: Examples
In "Othello" (1603), sly Iago poses as confident and most reluctantly reveals
to Othello details about Othello's wife, Dedemona's, infidelity. Alas, it is
all ruse and fabrication carefully conceived by Iago in order to get revenge
on those he envies or dislikes, including on Othello himself. It is only after
he has killed his own wife in jealous rage that Othello becomes aware of what
a false and malign "friend" Iago has been.


false rape accusations
======================

:: Description
The crime of reporting a rape where no rape has occurred, is featured.

:: Parents
crime against the person
crime against justice

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_accusation_of_rape


familial love
=============

:: Description
Featured is the sort of love shared among family and friends.

:: Parents
love


family affairs
==============

:: Description
This is a general theme about interpersonal relations, interactions, and those
sorts of issues that arise among members of a family.

:: Parents
humans in group

:: Examples
"divorce", "family honor", "inheritance fight", and "human parenting", are
examples of some "family affairs" themes that are summed up succinctly in a
couple of words.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family

:: Aliases
family


family dispute
==============

:: Description
Two or more family members have a perennial or otherwise significant quarrel
over some material family matter, for example family honor.

:: Parents
family affairs


family financial problem
========================

:: Description
A family struggles to pay for essentials, like rent, house repairs, college
tuition, etc.

:: Parents
family affairs

:: Examples
A Florida school teacher worried that his family would need to tighten their
belts in order to be able to send his son to university in the television film
"Stowaway to the Moon" (1975).


family honor
============

:: Description
Members of a family contemplate their collective honor. This often happens
because the actions of a family member threatens to put a stain on the
family's reputability.

:: Parents
family affairs
honor

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_honor


family vs. career
=================

:: Description
A character must decide what is more important to them: their family or their
career.

:: Parents
career choice


family vs. conscience
=====================

:: Description
A character must choose between being loyal to their family on one hand, and
following their conscience on the other.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma

:: Examples
In ahp2x17 "My Brother, Richard", District Attorney Martin Ross was confronted
with the stark choice of whether to turn his own brother, Richard, in for
murder after the latter kills a politician who was competing with Martin for
the post of governor. Martin is torn between his own law abiding nature, and
loyalty to his brother.


famine
======

:: Description
There is a widespread scarcity of food in a society, to such an extent that
many people struggle to get what they need to live.

:: Parents
public health issue
socioeconomic issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famine


fantasy land
============

:: Description
There is a fantastical world apart from the real world. The fantastical world
has such whimsical qualities as one may expect the imagination to come up with
during a dream, day-dream, or nightmare.

:: Parents
speculative place

:: Examples
In tz1959e5x36 "The Bewitchin' Pool", two children flee from their parent's
domestic disputes by diving into a swimming pool and reaching a magical house
by a river, where there is play, pastries, a kindly old woman and no worries
in the world.


fantasy romance
===============

:: Description
A character imagines their own ideal romantic adventure.

:: Parents
human dreaming
romantic relationship


fascism
=======

:: Description
There is a system of authoritarian nationalism in the best traditions of
Mussolini's Italy (1922-43) or Hitler's Third Reich (1933-45).

:: Parents
political ideology

:: Examples
Federation cultural observer John Gill ill-advisedly instituted a Nazi state
on the planet Ekos in tos2x23 "Patterns of Force".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism


faster than light travel
========================

:: Description
There is a space faring vehicle that can move faster than 299,792,458 m/s
through space.

:: Parents
speculative spaceship

:: Notes
This theme is used only when the space is traversed in a more or less
conventional contiguous path fashion. Travel through wormholes or other
speculative instant point-to-point relocations are a different matter.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faster-than-light


father and daughter
===================

:: Description
The relationship between a father and his daughter is featured.

:: Parents
parent and child


father and son
==============

:: Description
The relationship between a father and his son is featured.

:: Parents
parent and child


father-in-law and daughter-in-law
=================================

:: Description
The relationship between a father-in-law and her daughter-in-law is featured.

:: Parents
in-law relationship


father-in-law and son-in-law
============================

:: Description
The relationship between a father-in-law and his son-in-law is featured.

:: Parents
in-law relationship


fatherly disappointment in a son
================================

:: Description
A son is not all that his father wishes him to be.

:: Parents
parental disappointment in a child
father and son


favoritism at work
==================

:: Description
A character abuses their authority to give an unfair advantage to someone they
favor for one reason or another.

:: Parents
humans at work


fear
====

:: Description
Someone experiences anxiety about the near future in a way that rises above
"apprehension", but is not so intense that they loose self-control and scream
out in "terror". This theme is typically used when a character percieves a
clear and present physical danger.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: Examples
Beverly revealed her fear of heights to Captain Picard in tng7x08 "Attached".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear


fear for one's life
===================

:: Description
A character is terrified because there is a chance that they may soon be
killed or otherwise die.

:: Parents
fear


fear of abandonment
===================

:: Description
A character exhibits a fear that someone they love (for example a husband or a
dad) will leave them.

:: Parents
fear

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abandonment_(emotional)


fear of an unknown future
=========================

:: Description
A character is afraid owing to the prospect of an uncertain and unfamiliar
future.

:: Parents
fear


fear of being alone
===================

:: Description
Someone exhibits a fear of being alone.

:: Parents
human phobia

:: Examples
Aquiel Uhnari did not much like being all alone on Relay Station 47 in tng6x13
"Aquiel".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autophobia

:: Aliases
autophobia
monophobia


fear of being late
==================

:: Description
A character exhibits acute anxiety at the prospect of arriving late to an
appointment or the like.

:: Parents
human phobia

:: Aliases
allegrophobia


fear of commitment
==================

:: Description
The trope concerning male reluctance to engage in or stay with a long-term
exclusive romantic commitment, even when it is otherwise good, is featured.
While this fear is not exclusive to males, it is notably featured as a male
stereotype in some stories.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue


fear of death
=============

:: Description
A character exhibits notable fear and anxiety at the prospect of being dead.
This is as opposed to the process of dying, which can naturally be gruesome
and painful but is not what this theme refers to.

:: Parents
human phobia

:: Examples
In tz2002-1x23 "Last Lap", terminally cancer sick Andy was afraid to die and
seemed to hallucinate that his friend Marco had died in Andy's stead.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_anxiety_(psychology)

:: Aliases
thanatophobia


fear of doctors
===============

:: Description
A character exhibits mild or acute iatrophobia.

:: Parents
human phobia


fear of failure
===============

:: Description
A character notably exhibits anxiety about not managing something they have
set out to achieve. Alternatively, the character exhibits distress over
negative evaluations by others, or the expectation that others would evaluate
them negatively

:: Parents
human phobia

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_of_negative_evaluation

:: Aliases
atychiphobia


fear of flying
==============

:: Description
Someone exhibits aviophobia: the fear of being in a flying vehicle.

:: Parents
human phobia

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_of_flying


fear of heights
===============

:: Description
A character exhibits an extreme or irrational fear of heights.

:: Parents
human phobia

:: Examples
In "Vertigo" (1958), detective John Ferguson is left hanging from a gutter
watching a colleague tumble to his death, after a perilous rooftop pursuit.
The experience leaves him with such an extreme fear of heights that he can no
longer continue in his job.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrophobia

:: Aliases
acrophobia


fear of intimacy
================

:: Description
A character manifests anxiety from having difficulty forming a romantic
relationship with another person.

:: Parents
human worrying about self

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_of_intimacy


fear of letting loose
=====================

:: Description
A character is afraid of expressing or acting out their feelings and innermost
desires.

:: Parents
human worrying about self


fear of open waters
===================

:: Description
A character exhibits an intense and persistent fear of the sea or other large
bodies of water that appear vast, dark, deep, and dangerous.

:: Parents
fear

:: Notes
A fear of sea travel is indicative of this phobia, although other factors
could be behind the feeling. This theme should not be applied if a character
simply fears sea sickness, or separation from home.

:: Examples
In "The Truman Show" (1998), Truman became paralyzed with fear when confronted
with the idea of embarking on a boat because in his youth he had lost his
father in a boating accident caused by a sudden storm.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalassophobia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaphobia


fear of patterns
================

:: Description
A character exhibits an excessive and irrational aversion to patterns of some
sort or all.

:: Parents
human phobia

:: Examples
In tz1985e3x19 "Something in the Walls", Sharon went into a terror at the
sight of patterns in rugs, wallpapers, linoleum floors, etc. She saw a face
recurring in the patterns and was convinced its bearer wanted to kill her.

:: Aliases
trypophobia


fear of sleep
=============

:: Description
A character is notably and (more or less) irrationally afraid of going to
sleep. This may be because they dread their dreams, or think they will never
wake up.

:: Parents
fear

:: Examples
In tz1959e1x09 "Perchance to Dream", Edward was afraid to fall asleep because
he was convinced that he would be murdered in his dreams by a mysterious woman
who had started to appear there. In the end he subjected himself to an
autodefenestration with fatal outcome, in order to escape sleep.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_disorder

:: Aliases
oneirophobia
somniphobia


fear of strangers
=================

:: Description
Someone exhibits an unusual amount of anxiety when encountering new people.

:: Parents
human phobia

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenophobia

:: Aliases
xenophobia


fear of telling someone how you feel about them
===============================================

:: Description
A character is reticent about their feelings towards another. In particular
this is used when someone is secretly in love with someone else and struggles
with how to let them know.

:: Parents
human worrying about self


fear of the dark
================

:: Description
A character is excessively afraid of darkness.

:: Parents
fear

:: Examples
In tz2019e1x09 "Blue Scorpion", we saw a magical gun that had to be kept in a
well lit safe, or lit box, because it was said to fear the dark.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_of_the_dark

:: Aliases
nyctophobia


fear of the unknown
===================

:: Description
A character is afraid because they have encountered something that is
foreboding but unknown.

:: Parents
fear


feeling neglected in a relationship
===================================

:: Description
Someone is in a relationship where they feel their partner doesn't pay
sufficient attention to them.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue


feeling of inadequacy
=====================

:: Description
A character feels they are not deserving of the things they've got and the
honors they are awarded.

:: Parents
human emotion


feeling tied down in a relationship
===================================

:: Description
A character in an otherwise functional relationship re-thinks whether this
commitment is preventing them from pursuing more enticing goals in life.

:: Parents
human worrying about self


felinoid being
==============

:: Description
A being patterned after cats.

:: Parents
animal and plant patterned being

:: Examples
A race of carnivorous, feline humanoids, known as the Kzinti, were featured in
tas1x14 "The Slaver Weapon".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mammalian_alien_species#Felines


female attraction to bad men
============================

:: Description
There is a female character who is attracted to bad men, for example criminals
or sociopaths, to the extent that the stereotype becomes apparent.

:: Parents
female stereotype

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybristophilia

:: Aliases
Hybristophilia


female attraction to powerful men
=================================

:: Description
The oft cited stereotype that women are attracted to men of power and
influence, is featured.

:: Parents
female stereotype


female bonding
==============

:: Description
Two mature adult women strengthen their friendship by engaging in
stereotypically female bonding activities such as chit-chatting about Willaim
T. Riker.

:: Parents
friendship

:: Examples
Ro found her confidant in Guinan in tng5x03 "Ensign Ro".


female education
================

:: Description
The at-times controversial topic of whether and how humans of the female
gender should receive education, is discussed.

:: Parents
gender issue

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x12a "Her Pilgrim Soul", we heard that Nola's 19th century
patriarch of a father had objected vehemently to her, a girl, attending
university.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_education


female empowerment
==================

:: Description
The idea that women are more capable of feats than perhaps society and
themselves give them credit for.

:: Parents
gender issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girl_power
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_empowerment

:: Aliases
girl power


female independence
===================

:: Description
The woman struggle to become less dependent on others, particularly men, is
featured.

:: Parents
gender issue

:: Examples
Female android Rayna was perhaps oppressively tied to her father and suitor
Flint in tos3x21 "Requiem for Methuselah".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_woman

:: Aliases
independent woman


female seeking to find a superior mate
======================================

:: Description
A female character is determined to find a partner who will secure for her the
most "fit" possible offspring. The term "fitness", being subjective, could
refer to being genetically superior, socially well-connected, lavishly
wealthy, etc.

:: Parents
female sexuality

:: Examples
In the film "Species" (1995), the seductive extraterrestrial-human hybrid Sil
instinctively sought out a peak human male with whom to mate, gruesomely
killing any partner who didn't meet her minimum standards.


female sexuality
================

:: Description
The sexual urges of a female character are notably featured.

:: Parents
human nature

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_female_sexuality


female stereotype
=================

:: Description
Correctly or incorrectly, highlighted is one of those attributes that someone
thinks to be typical women. Such themes may sometimes be considered sexist by
contemporary standards.

:: Parents
human character stereotype


female vanity
=============

:: Description
A woman shows excessive concern for her appearance.

:: Parents
female stereotype
vanity


female-female rivalry
=====================

:: Description
Two or more female characters compete with each other in a stereotypically
female way, for example by making derogatory remarks about the other's female
qualities and personal integrity.

:: Parents
rivalry
female stereotype

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_intrasexual_competition#Female_derogation


female-only society
===================

:: Description
There is a nation of, more or less, only women.

:: Parents
biased sex-ratio society

:: Examples
In "Sexmission" (1984), two men woke up from a human hibernation experiment
gone wrong to find themselves in a subterranean, all female society that arose
out of the ashes of a nuclear holocaust.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-gender_world#Female-only_worlds


femininity
==========

:: Description
Qualities and mannerisms that are associated with the feminine sex in
contemporary society are featured.

:: Parents
female stereotype

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femininity


feminism
========

:: Description
Feminism is a range of political movements, ideologies, and social movements
that share a common goal: to define, establish, and achieve political,
economic, personal, and social gender equality.

:: Parents
political ideology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism


femme fatale
============

:: Description
There is a seductive female character who ensnares a lover and uses them for
her own ends, often with danger involved.

:: Parents
female stereotype

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femme_fatale


fencing
=======

:: Description
Fencing is a group of one-on-one sword fighting sports in which points are
scored when a player makes contact on an opponent with their weapon. Such a
contest is featured in the story.

:: Parents
combat sports

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fencing


feral children in society
=========================

:: Description
The challenges of integrating a feral child back into society are featured.

:: Parents
special interest group issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feral_child


fictional character come to life
================================

:: Description
The story contains a character who is described as fictional, but who has
somehow become real.

:: Parents
speculative being

:: Notes
This theme necessitates that there be at least a cursory story-within-story
situation. The contained story could itself be fictional and only partially
described, or it could be a reference to a well known real work of fiction.

:: Examples
In tz1959e1x36 "A World of His Own", it transpired that any character the
famed playwright George described using his dictation machine, would be
rapidly conjured into real life. George had used this remarkable ability first
to conjure himself a wife, then a mistress.


fifth columns
=============

:: Description
Inside the governing institutions of society there is an organized group that
more or less clandestinely seeks to undermine and take control from within.

:: Parents
political issue

:: Examples
In bbf1x06 "Mind War", Psi-corps was said to have an unseemly amount of secret
power over affairs of the stat due to their psychic abilities. In bbf1x08 "And
the Sky Full of Stars", Commander Sinclair was accused of acting as a fifth
column on behalf of the Minbari.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_column


fight vs. flee
==============

:: Description
Someone must decide, in a given confrontational situation, whether the better
course of action is to stay and fight or to flee (perhaps to survive to fight
another day).

:: Parents
personal practical dilemma


fighting evil with evil
=======================

:: Description
A character contemplates whether to use evil means, such as extra-judicial
murder, in order to fight other evils, such as crime.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma


fighting one's inner demons
===========================

:: Description
A character is haunted by past memories or fictive notions with which they
seek to come to grips in order to function normally.

:: Parents
human self improvement


figuring out what to do with one's life
=======================================

:: Description
A character lacks a particular sense of purpose and tries to decide what they
really want to do in the long term, e.g., choosing a career, a life of
adventure, or settling down etc.

:: Parents
human life choice


filial love
===========

:: Description
The love of a child for their parent is featured. This is not used for very
young children who just cling to their parents instinctively.

:: Parents
familial love


filicide
========

:: Description
A character murders their own child.

:: Parents
parricide

:: Examples
In tz1959e1x13 "The Four of Us Are Dying", a disappointed father took it upon
himself to shoot the man he believed to be his own wayward son.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filicide


filmmaking
==========

:: Description
Filmmaking (or, in an academic context, film production) is the process of
making a film, generally in the sense of films intended for extensive
theatrical exhibition. Such activities are featured.

:: Parents
the fine arts and the humanities

:: Examples
In "The Blair Witch Project" (1999), we saw three young filmmakers get
irrevocably lost in a large forest while making a documentary about the local
legend.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filmmaking


finding religion
================

:: Description
A character discovers a place for religion in their life.

:: Parents
human self improvement


fingerprinting
==============

:: Description
The science of fingerprinting is dealt with.

:: Parents
technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fingerprint


fire-based being
================

:: Description
There is a more-or-less sentient being that is shown to be made of fire.

:: Parents
inorganic being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elemental


first contact
=============

:: Description
Two cultures that were previously isolated from each other meet for the first
time. This is often feature in science fiction as between human and alien, but
could apply to some situation on present Earth too.

:: Parents
international issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_contact_(science_fiction)


first crush
===========

:: Description
A young person becomes romantically infatuated for the first time.

:: Parents
infatuation


first day at school
===================

:: Description
A child attends school for the first time and experiences some of the
anxieties and excitements that come along with it.

:: Parents
human childhood

:: Examples
In "D.A.R.Y.L." (1985), the android boy Daryl surprised his foster mother by
not being the least bit nervous for his first day of school.


first day on the job
====================

:: Description
We are shown an idea of what it may be like to start a new job.

:: Parents
humans at work

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x17a "Welcome to Winfield", a newly hired agent of death missed his
first appointment and was, during the subsequent chase, confronted with a
highly irregular situation left to him due to his predecessor's misconduct.


first strike tactic
===================

:: Description
Combatants decide to attack preemptively because they are convinced their
opponent is about to attack.

:: Parents
the art of war

:: Examples
Worf articulated this combat advice in tng2x02 "Where Silence Has Lease".


fish-like being
===============

:: Description
A being patterned after fish.

:: Parents
animal and plant patterned being

:: Examples
Worf considered the fish-like Antedeans to be "a handsome race" in tng2x19
"Manhunt"

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictional_aquatic_alien_species#Ichthyoids


fishing
=======

:: Description
A character is notably engaged in the catching of wild aquatic animals.
Typically the character is either a professional fisherman, or sees fishing as
a hobby.

:: Parents
human regular activity


fitting in at work
==================

:: Description
A character has troubles getting along smoothly in day-to-day life with their
coworkers.

:: Parents
humans at work


flat-panel display
==================

:: Description
A TV with an entirely flat screen. This was sci-fi back in the 60s.

:: Parents
once speculative device

:: Examples
Flint had a fancy flatscreen TV which he used for illicit surveillance of his
guests in tos3x21 "Requiem for Methuselah". People did not have such devices
when this episode was made so it constitutes sci fi.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_panel_display

:: Aliases
flatscreen TV


flattery
========

:: Description
Someone takes unusual pains to flatter someone else.

:: Parents
humans interacting

:: Examples
Berlinghoff Rasmussen nearly conned the Enteprise-D crew after putting them at
ease with his silver tongue in tng5x09 "A Matter of Time".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flattery

:: Aliases
sucking up
sycophancy


flee to fight another day
=========================

:: Description
Combatants decide to run from a battle in which they are at a disadvantage and
holds that this is sensible rather than cowardice as it will allow them to
fight again later.

:: Parents
the art of war


flirtation
==========

:: Description
Playful and seductive manners are employed to subtly express romantic
interests in a prospective partner.

:: Parents
romantic courtship

:: Examples
Thadiun Okona, a self-described rogue, not so subtly expressed his romantic
interest in Lt. B.G. Robinson in tng2x04 "The Outrageous Okona".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flirting


floating city
=============

:: Description
A city suspended in air by means of anti-gravitational technology.

:: Parents
speculative city

:: Examples
The political elite on Ardana lived in a floating city named Stratos in
tos3x19 "The Cloud Minders".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating_cities_and_islands_in_fiction


flying ability
==============

:: Description
A character is able to fly more or less using only their own body.

:: Parents
speculative personal locomotion


flying car
==========

:: Description
There is a vehicle that looks like a car which can fly or hover.

:: Parents
speculative vehicle

:: Examples
A trio of cosmonauts explored the surface of Venus in a nifty hovercar in
Planeta Bur (1962).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_car_(aircraft)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hovercar


flying carpet
=============

:: Description
There is a carpet on which one may be swiftly transported through the air.

:: Parents
magic object

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_carpet


flying drone
============

:: Description
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft
without a human pilot aboard.

:: Parents
once speculative device

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unmanned_aerial_vehicle


flying saucer
=============

:: Description
There is a spaceship with a disc- or saucer-shaped body.

:: Parents
speculative spaceship

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_saucer


flying saucer theory of UFOs
============================

:: Description
The theory that some unidentified flying objects are in fact spacecraft of
extraterrestrial origin is featured.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
Scientists incorrectly attributed a spate of authentic flying saucers sighting
to a variety of mundane phenomenon, including Saint Elmo's fire, in "Earth vs.
the Flying Saucers" (1956).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unidentified_flying_object
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/ufos


flying ship
===========

:: Description
There is a flying galleon type vessel.

:: Parents
speculative airship

:: Examples
The heroes of the "Final Fantasy I" (1987) video game are able to zip around
from one location in their world to another in an archetypal flying galleon.


folk belief
===========

:: Description
A faith-based popular belief or cultural tradition falling outside of the
doctrines and practices of established religious institutions, is featured.

:: Parents
the natural world

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_belief
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popular_belief
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superstition


following through on a promise that is unpleasant
=================================================

:: Description
A character struggles with the decision of whether to be honest and follow
through on a promise they have made, or to break it just because it's somehow
unpleasant or distasteful.

:: Parents
human life choice


food crop pandemic
==================

:: Description
A biological agent or pathogen wipes out a significant amount food producing
plants on a planet and the dependent civilization collapses.

:: Parents
force of nature existential risk to civilization

:: Examples
Captain Kirk had to pick up zenite consignment in order to stop such a plague
on Merak II in tos3x19 "The Cloud Minders" (1969).


food pill
=========

:: Description
Pills that when taken in place of meals render the consumption of ordinary
food unnecessary.

:: Parents
synthetic food

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/food_pills


food synthesizer
================

:: Description
A contraption used to produce any of a vast library of tasty meals and foods.

:: Parents
matter manipulating technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replicator_(Star_Trek)


forbidden love
==============

:: Description
The love between two people who can't be together because society deems their
relationship unnatural or otherwise proscribed.

:: Parents
romantic love

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Societal_attitudes_toward_homosexuality


force field
===========

:: Description
Technology used to produce a (more or less) invisible and impenetrable wall of
"force".

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_field_(fiction)


force of nature existential risk to civilization
================================================

:: Description
There is a way in which life on Earth (or some inhabited planet) could end
because of essentially natural events that we do not control and may have
little hope of preventing. When will the sun explode?

:: Parents
existential risk to civilization

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_catastrophic_risk


forced confession
=================

:: Description
Whether and to what extent society should consider confessions of crime that
were acquired from the defendant while under any form of duress (whether
extended isolation or outright torture) is considered.

:: Parents
law and order issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced_confession


forced fatherhood
=================

:: Description
Someone becomes a father against their will and we are asked what this
person's responsibilities vis-à-vis his unwanted child should morally be.

:: Parents
gender issue

:: Examples
In voy2x26 "Basics, Part I" we learn that Seska has stolen some DNA from
Chakotay and made herself pregnant with his child entirely without his
cooperation or consent.


forced labor camp
=================

:: Description
A harsh detention facility where inmates are forced to engage in penal labor
as a form of punishment is featured.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_camp


forced resettlement
===================

:: Description
We are made to ponder when, if ever, it can be morally justified to coerce
someone into moving away from where they have long lived.

:: Parents
human rights issue

:: Examples
The Federation sough to resettle the Native Americans of Dorvan V in order to
honor a treaty in tng7x20 "Journey's End".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced_displacement


forced resettlement for peoples' own good
=========================================

:: Description
We are asked whether it can be acceptable to force people to resettle against
their will if letting them stay would mean that they are exposed to severe
hardship and danger.

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced_displacement


foreign customs
===============

:: Description
Someone exhibits bemusement, stress, surprise, amusement, offense, and so on
over observing, being subjected to, or participating in customs, habits and
institutions of a culture not their own.

:: Parents
foreign point of view


foreign point of view
=====================

:: Description
A culture is seen through the eyes of an outsider.

:: Parents
cross cultural issue


form of government
==================

:: Description
Explored is one or another of the many organizing principles for a system of
state government that have been proposed, and expressed in a way that makes it
reasonably well-defined.

:: Parents
national social issue

:: Notes
The goal of this project is in no way to provoke political controversy. When
using a word that references a political stance it is advisable to consult,
for example, Wikipedia and use the word only in ways that appear mainstream
and are relatively uncontroversial.

:: Examples
"anarchy", "democracy", "despotism", "federalism", "military dictatorship",
and "totalitarianism" are examples of "form of government" themes that are
sometimes featured explicitly and the definition of which seem, for the most
part, unproblematic when a few dictionaries are consulted.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government


forming one's own distinct personality
======================================

:: Description
A character struggles to become their own person rather than imitating or
conforming to someone else.

:: Parents
human self improvement

:: Examples
In tng5x23 "I Borg", the liberated Borg drone Hugh grappled with the concept
of him being an individual separate from the Borg collective mind.


fortitude
=========

:: Description
Someone shows a capacity for putting up with hardship and pulling through in
spite of it.

:: Parents
human character

:: Notes
This theme is applied only if the character attribute (fortitude) is more or
less directly commented upon. It is typically not used in those run-of-the-
mill action films where protagonists are generally determined and courageous
but the fact is not really developed as a theme.

:: Aliases
determination


fortune favors the bold
=======================

:: Description
This old adage, endorsing courageous risk taking, is more or less explicitly
referenced.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortune_favours_the_bold


fortune telling
===============

:: Description
There is a character or object (e.g. a fortune cookie) that purports to be
able to divine other characters' future fates, through mysterious means.

:: Parents
divination

:: Examples
Fortune teller Abner Suggs assailed Captain Lindemann with with a number of
unsolicited soothsayings in the "Night Gallery" story "Lindemann's Catch"
(1972).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortune-telling


four-dimensional being
======================

:: Description
There is a being that perceives four spatial dimensions.

:: Parents
locationally distinguished being

:: Examples
In "The Captured Cross-section" (1929), the mathematics instructor Jiles
Heagley captured a three-dimensional cross section of a flesh-and-blood
inhabitant of a four-dimensional world.


four-dimensional space
======================

:: Description
We are shown, or at least made to contemplate, a world in which we have
willful access to four spatial dimensions rather than the three we are
accustomed to.

:: Parents
speculative cosmos

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_dimension_in_literature
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/dimensions


framing someone for a crime
===========================

:: Description
The crime of providing false evidence or false testimony in order to falsely
prove someone guilty of a crime, is featured.

:: Parents
crime against the person
crime against justice

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frameup


fratricide
==========

:: Description
A character murders their own brother or sister.

:: Parents
parricide

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fratricide


free inquiry vs. obedience
==========================

:: Description
The social principle of being allowed to speak freely without fear of
retribution is contrasted with the principle of being obedient to higher
authorities and greater causes. Should we, for example, stop people from
advertising medicines that experts believe to be fake?

:: Parents
political ideology


free love
=========

:: Description
A character shares their love freely and (at least ostensibly) accepts that
others do the same. This is as opposed to monogamy and being jealous about a
partners love affairs.

:: Parents
human way of life

:: Examples
The hedonistic Edo from the planet Rubicun III shared their love freely in
tng1x08 "Justice".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_love


free love utopia
================

:: Description
Society is seemingly paradisical because everyone in it shares their love
freely without restraint, shame, or envy.

:: Parents
utopia based on a view of human nature

:: Examples
The hedonistic Edo from the planet Rubicun III shared their love freely with
anyone who happened to pass by as long (as long as they were of age) in
tng1x08 "Justice".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_love


free market utopia
==================

:: Description
Society is made perfect by overthrowing the yolk of government regulation and
letting the free market take control.

:: Parents
utopia

:: Examples
Life was all rainbows and sunshine for the Libra libertarian space colony in
"Libra" (1978).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_market


free market vs. regulated market
================================

:: Description
We are asked to what extend the government should be allowed to intervene in
private economic transactions. For example, should the government be able to
say that elevators must be inspected once a year or make antitrust laws?

:: Parents
contraposed political ideologies

:: Examples
The free market utopian space colony Libra was contrasted with a world that
was stagnating because of over-regulation in "Libra" (1978).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_market


free will
=========

:: Description
Discussed is whether and to what extent we are free to choose our own actions.
Perhaps we are merely pre-programmed computers?

:: Parents
metaphysics

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_will


freedom of the press
====================

:: Description
The oft desirable independence of the Fourth Estate, i.e. news and media, from
undue influences by other branches of government is discussed. What counts as
news, and should putative journalists be allowed to write and say whatever
they choose in public forums?

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_the_press


freezing up in a critical moment
================================

:: Description
Someone can't handle the stress of an intense situation and freezes up in a
critical moment when they should have acted.

:: Parents
psychological stress

:: Examples
Dave Bailey froze up at the conn when Captain Kirk ordered him to fire the
main phasers at a menacing space cube in tos1x02 "The Corbomite Maneuver".


friendly competition in groups
==============================

:: Description
A group of friends compete in an amicable way, typically without dirty tricks
and hard feelings.

:: Parents
humans in group

:: Examples
Junior officers competed amicably for a promotion in tng7x15 "Lower Decks".


friendship
==========

:: Description
The friendship between two characters is featured.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: Examples


:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendship

:: Aliases
friend and friend


friendship vs. career
=====================

:: Description
A character must decide what is more important to them: a friendship or their
career.

:: Parents
career choice


friendship vs. personal conviction
==================================

:: Description
A character must choose between being loyal to a friend on one hand, or
staying true to their own beliefs and convictions on the other.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma

:: Examples
In tz1959e4x04 "He's Alive", Peter's odious Nazi convictions spelled the end
of his relationship with his Jewish stand-in parent and benefactor, Ernst.
Peter also sacrificed his long time friend Nick for the cause.


friendship vs. personal gain
============================

:: Description
A character faces the stark choice between maintaining a friendship on one
hand, and doing something that is personally profitable on the other.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma

:: Notes
Personal gain and profit in this context may be about power, prestige, or any
other thing that a character happens to desire, not limited to wealth.

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x08a "Act Break", Maury turned his back on his recently expired
friend and partner when, instead of bringing the friend back, Maury used his
one wish in an attempt to grant himself literary fame.


from zero to hero
=================

:: Description
A meek character develops into a heroic one.

:: Parents
speculative experience

:: Examples
In "The Last Starfighter" (1984), high school boy Alex went from living in a
trailer pack with little hope for a bright future to being the savior of the
Star League.


funeral rite
============

:: Description
The traditional funeral ritual of a religion is featured.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funeral


fungus proliferating over the entire world
==========================================

:: Description
A fungus overruns the world and everybody dies.

:: Parents
force of nature existential risk to civilization

:: Examples
The Cave of the Dead contained a fast growing fungus that, if ever ever got
outside of the cave, would destroy the entire world in The Unknown Terror
(1957).


fusion power
============

:: Description
The possibility of using the energy released from the fusing of atomic nuclei
as a power source for technology is explored. This theme does not apply when
the energy is released in an uncontrolled manner, such as would be the case
with thermonuclear weapons.

:: Parents
speculative energy generation technology

:: Notes
The theme "cold fusion" should be used instead when it is made clear that the
nuclear fusions occur at, or near, room temperature.

:: Examples
Doc Brown's iconic DeLorean in "Back to the Future Part II" (1989) ran on
fusion derived energy.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fusion_power
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fusion


future point of view
====================

:: Description
We are shown what things might seem like in the here and now if viewed from a
future person's perspective.

:: Parents
cross cultural issue


galactic master race
====================

:: Description
There is a race of beings that have achieved dominance over most other alien
races in their galaxy.

:: Parents
extraterrestrial being

:: Examples
The Slavers a billion years ago used their weird mental powers to dominate the
galaxy in tas1x14 "The Slaver Weapon".


gambling
========

:: Description
A character takes pleasure in engaging in games of chance with money or other
valuables at stake.

:: Parents
recreational activity

:: Examples
The Providers, a trio of disembodied brains, had a gambling problem to say the
least in tos2x17 "The Gamesters of Triskelion".


gambling with a body part
=========================

:: Description
A character ponders whether or not to enter into a situation in which profit
may be had, but a body part could be lost.

:: Parents
risk taking vs. playing it safe

:: Notes
The body part in question must be a presently functioning component attached
to the body of the decision making character. For the avoidance of any doubt:
This theme is not applicable, for example, if the gambling is done using
someone else's body part or a priorly severed limb.

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected1x01 "The Man from the South", Tommy entered into a bet
whereby he stood to win a fabulous car should he be able to light his lighter
unfailingly ten times in a row, but would loose a little finger should he fail
but once.


gardening
=========

:: Description
A character is notably and regularly engaged with the growing and cultivating
plants as part of horticulture. Typically the character is either a
professional gardener, or sees gardening as a hobby.

:: Parents
human regular activity


gaseous being
=============

:: Description
A being composed out of gaseous matter. They are not to be confuse with
incorporeal aliens, whose bodies have no kind of matter at all.

:: Parents
inorganic being

:: Examples
Swirls of ionised gas known as the Calamarain sought vengeance against Q in
tng3x13 "Deja Q".


gastronomy
==========

:: Description
The discovering, tasting, experiencing, researching, understanding and writing
about food preparation and the sensory qualities of human nutrition as a
whole, is featured. Typically this happens when a professional gastronome
discusses the qualities of wine or some other delicacy.

:: Parents
human regular activity

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected2x07 "Taste", professional wine connoisseur Richard
Pratt was so confident in his abilities that he wagered two houses against the
hand of his friend's daughter in marriage, that he could identify a wine
merely by tasting it.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastronomy


gender bending
==============

:: Description
A character challenges our typical preconceptions of gender roles and
attitudes, for example by behaving like the opposite sex that they are.

:: Parents
gender issue

:: Notes
A character simply disguising themselves as the opposite sex is not in itself
a motivation for this theme.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_bender

:: Aliases
androgyny


gender in crime statistics
==========================

:: Description
Discussed are the differences between men and women as the perpetrators or
victims of crime, in aggregate.

:: Parents
gender issue
law and order issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_differences_in_crime

:: Aliases
sex differences in crime


gender in sports
================

:: Description
The question of how various sports ought to be organized with regard to gender
is discussed. Typically we are asked whether it is right to have separate male
and female competitions, and who may and must be counted as male respectively
female for that distinction.

:: Parents
gender issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_verification_in_sports
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed-sex_sports
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_sports


gender issue
============

:: Description
The social, psychological, cultural and behavioral aspects of being a man,
woman, or other gender identity, is discussed.

:: Parents
national social issue

:: Examples
Various feminist issues are categorized under "gender issues", as are both
"male sterotype" and "female sterotype" themes.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender


gender neutral being
====================

:: Description
A sentient species whose members are all the same gender, i.e., neither male
nor female.

:: Parents
sexually distinguished being

:: Examples
The J'naii of tng5x17 "The Outcast" are a neither male nor female barring a
few curious deviants.


generosity
==========

:: Description
A character goes out of their way to help someone else in material terms
without being strongly motivated by love or duty: The other may be a stranger
or an enemy.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
The philosopher king Parmen bestowed gifts upon Captain Kirk, Spock, and McCoy
in tos3x12 "Plato's Stepchildren".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generosity


generous character vs. mean character
=====================================

:: Description
A notably munificent and kind character is contrasted with a notably miserly
and unkind character.

:: Parents
human characters in contrast

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x13a "Night of the Meek", Henry's lavish doling out of Christmas
presents was nearly thwarted by the surly and mean Mr. Dundee.


genetic engineering in society
==============================

:: Description
We are asked  to what extent, if any, it is acceptable or wise for us to
interfere with our own genes and, by extension, our evolution as a species.

:: Parents
sociotechnological issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_engineering#Controversy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food_controversies


genetic engineering utopia
==========================

:: Description
Society is supposedly made perfect through the careful removal of anything
undesirable in our genomes.

:: Parents
technologically enabled utopia


genetically engineered person
=============================

:: Description
A person that has been genetically engineered to be capable of feats (physical
or mental) well beyond normal human limits or abilities.

:: Parents
artificial being


genetically engineered soldier
==============================

:: Description
A soldier that has been genetically engineered to be capable of operating well
beyond normal human limits or abilities.

:: Parents
genetically engineered person
supersoldier

:: Examples
The Angosians had, during the Tarsan Wars, chemically and genetically enhanced
their soldiers, we were told in tng3x11 "The Hunted".


genetically modified food in society
====================================

:: Description
The contentious question of whether we should accept the use of genetic
engineering to "improve" on grains, cattle, etc., is discussed. Such methods
may give us more resilient plants and meatier cows, for example, but perhaps
do so at the cost of biodiversity and other hitherto unforeseen consequences.

:: Parents
public health issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food


genetics
========

:: Description
Genetics is a branch of biology concerned with the study of genes, genetic
variation, and heredity in organisms.

:: Parents
biology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetics


genie in a lamp
===============

:: Description
A lamp-dwelling being who must fulfill the (typically three) wishes of anyone
who summons them is featured.

:: Parents
wish-granting being
wish-granting magic object

:: Notes
This is not to be confused with the jinn from Islamic mythology.

:: Examples
A woman who was granted three wishes on paper by a genie had trouble getting
them fulfilled owing to a series of administrative hurdles in "The Twilight
Zone" story "Wish Bank" (tz1985e1x04b).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genies_in_popular_culture


genocide
========

:: Description
A whole nation or large ethnic group is killed en masse.

:: Parents
war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocide


gentrification
==============

:: Description
The sometimes contentions process by which deteriorated urban neighborhoods
are renovated, resulting in the driving up of prizes and squeezing out of
local residents, is featured.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentrification


geology
=======

:: Description
Geology is an earth science concerned with the solid Earth, the rocks of which
it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Geology can
also include the study of the solid features of any terrestrial planet or
natural satellite such as Mars or the Moon. Modern geology significantly
overlaps all other earth sciences, including hydrology and the atmospheric
sciences, and so is treated as one major aspect of integrated earth system
science and planetary science. This theme is used whenever a topic in this
science is notably featured.

:: Parents
science

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geology


geothermal energy from Earth's interior
=======================================

:: Description
The possibility of extracting usable geothermal energy directly from Earth's
mantle or core is explored.

:: Parents
speculative energy generation technology

:: Examples
In "Crack in the World" (1965), a team of scientists tried to release the
geothermal energy from Earth's core with earth-shattering consequences.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_energy


germophobia
===========

:: Description
A character exhibits a pathological fear of germs and takes extraordinary
precautions to keep away from them.

:: Parents
human phobia

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysophobia

:: Aliases
fear of germs
fear of bacteria
mysophobia
germaphobia
verminophobia
bacillophobia
bacteriophobia


getting a taste of one's own medicine
=====================================

:: Description
Someone is subjected to a treatment they had previously meted out to others,
and starts thinking about the experience.

:: Parents
human self improvement


getting along in spite of disagreement
======================================

:: Description
Two characters must seek to abide each others company (for one reason or
another) even though something makes it hard for them to get along, typically
a difference of strongly held beliefs or preferences.

:: Parents
humans interacting


getting along together in a confined space for an extended period
=================================================================

:: Description
A group of people have to spend an extended amount of time together in an
environment where they have little chance of being private from each other.

:: Parents
humans in group
psychological stress

:: Examples
In tz2019e1x06 "Six Degrees of Freedom", we saw the interactions among a group
of young astronauts en route to Mars, as they had to spend many months
together in a fairly small spaceship.


getting fired from one's job
============================

:: Description
A character is informed that they have been sacked, laid off, or otherwise
terminated from their employment (or copes with the immediate aftermath of
such a communication).

:: Parents
humans at work

:: Examples
In ahp1x14 "A Bullet for Baldwin", Mr. Baldwin tells Mr. Stepp he is fired so
Mr. Stepp fetches a gun and promptly fires it at Mr. Baldwin.

:: Aliases
last day on the job


ghost
=====

:: Description
The soul or spirit of a deceased person appears after death among the living.

:: Parents
incorporeal spirit

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost


ghost hunting
=============

:: Description
Someone investigating locations that are reported to be haunted by ghosts.

:: Parents
the supernatural

:: Examples
Three parapsychology researchers formed a ghost hunting team in "Ghostbusters"
(1984).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_hunting


ghost ship
==========

:: Description
A ship from the afterlife is featured, typically with no crew or with an
undead crew.

:: Parents
legendary being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_ship
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Dutchman


giant monster
=============

:: Description
There is an abnormally large creature that poses a threat to people.

:: Parents
monster

:: Examples
The giant dinosaur-like monster Godzilla that makes a bee line for Tokyo in
"Godzilla" (1954).


giant person
============

:: Description
There is a being of human appearance but of prodigious size and possibly
strength.

:: Parents
legendary being
size distinguished being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant


girlfriend and girlfriend
=========================

:: Description
There is an informal but extended, presumed monogamous, romantic relationship
between two female characters.

:: Parents
romantic relationship


give them a finger and they'll take the whole hand
==================================================

:: Description
The situation where the permitting of a small, seemingly innocuous act will
open the door for larger, clearly undesirable actions is featured.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camel%27s_nose


giving birth
============

:: Description
A mother gives birth to a child, often with a medical professional present to
assist and with a father standing anxiously by.

:: Parents
human parenting

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childbirth

:: Aliases
childbirth


global cooling
==============

:: Description
A planet becomes so cold that glaciers advance and civilization collapses.

:: Parents
force of nature existential risk to civilization

:: Examples
The Eymorg civilization had collapsed when they entered an ice age in tos3x06
"Spock's Brain".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_age

:: Aliases
coming ice age


global warming
==============

:: Description
People's activities cause a greenhouse effect and/or other processes cause the
temperature on a planet to rise and civilization collapses.

:: Parents
institutional risk to civilization

:: Examples
Global warning threatened civilization on the Beta moon of Peliar Zel in
tng4x23 "The Host".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming


gluttony
========

:: Description
A character indulgences in food and drink to the point of excess.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Troi enjoyed her chocolate cake just a little bit too much in tng3x08 "The
Price".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluttony


god and follower
================

:: Description
A personal relationship between a deity and a (more or less) devout follower
of theirs, is featured.

:: Parents
organized religion
humans in pairs

:: Notes
This theme should only be used when someone is in direct, typically verbal
communication with their chosen god. The simple voicing of a prayer, for
instance, does not meet the bar.


godparent and godchild
======================

:: Description
The relationship between a godparent and their godchild is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship


going over someone's head
=========================

:: Description
Someone takes up an issue with another person's boss or other superior rather
than taking up the issue with the original person.

:: Parents
humans in hierarchy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Command_hierarchy


golem
=====

:: Description
This animated anthropomorphic being that is created entirely from clay or mud
of Jewish folklore is featured explicitly.

:: Parents
legendary being

:: Examples
In "Assassin" (1986), the heroin of the story made reference a zealot rabbi in
16th century Prague (presumably Judah Loew ben Bezalel) who created a clay
creature, called a golem, to protect the Jews from persecution.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golem


golf
====

:: Description
Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls
into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible. Such a game
is featured in the story.

:: Parents
sports

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golf


good and evil in religion
=========================

:: Description
Good and evil as concepts in religion are discussed. The meaning of the words
often itself becomes the topic of discussion but they relate to moral
preference: Good is typically that which is morally preferable while evil is
the exact opposite.

:: Parents
organized religion
philosophy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_and_evil


good vs. evil
=============

:: Description
There is a conflict between an overtly good force and and overtly evil on in
which the good should prevail and the evil should be defeated.

:: Parents
facing adversity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_and_evil


government censorship in society
================================

:: Description
A government suppress speech, public communication, or other information, on
the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive,
or "inconvenient".

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship


government expropriation of land
================================

:: Description
The practice and principles by which a government can take ownership of
privately owned land is discussed. For example, how much compensation should
the government pay if any?

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expropriation

:: Aliases
eminent domain


government indoctrination
=========================

:: Description
The government uses its powers to indoctrinate individuals into a way of
thinking. For example it may design school curricula so as to indoctrinate
students into the virtue of the present governments pet ideology of the day.

:: Parents
indoctrination in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoctrination


government regulation in society
================================

:: Description
Featured is the extent to which the government should use its power to alter
firms' pricing, entry, production, investment, and product choice decisions.

:: Parents
political issue

:: Examples
World government regulation was preventing the deployment of a game changing
form of space-beamed solar power from solving Earth's energy crisis in "Libra"
(1978).

The Ghostbuster's small business was obstructed by incompetent government
regulator William Atherton in "Ghostbusters" (1984).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation


government secrecy
==================

:: Description
The pros and cons of government secrecy to society are explored.

:: Parents
political issue

:: Examples
The Ressikan community on Kataan were kept in the dark about the impending
doom of their civilization in tng5x25 "The Inner Light".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secrecy#Government_secrecy

:: Aliases
government concealing information


graciousness in defeat
======================

:: Description
Someone accepts a defeat with dignity.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: Examples
Dr. James Moriarty conceded defeat with impeccable Victorian poise in tng2x03
"Elementary, Dear Data".


grandfather and granddaughter
=============================

:: Description
The relationship between a grandfather and his granddaughter is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship


grandfather and grandson
========================

:: Description
The relationship between a grandfather and his grandson is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship


grandfather paradox
===================

:: Description
The following kind of paradox is featured: If I go back in time and do
something that would prevent me from later going back in time (such as killing
my own grandfather), then I can't have gone back in time. But then I won't
have been prevented from going and so I went, and so on.

:: Parents
time travel paradox

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandfather_paradox


grandmother and granddaughter
=============================

:: Description
The relationship between a grandmother and her granddaughter is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship

:: Examples
Beverly mourned her late grandmother and reminisced in tng7x14 "Sub Rosa".


grandmother and grandson
========================

:: Description
The relationship between a grandmother and her grandson is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship


grave robbery
=============

:: Description
Grave robbery, tomb robbing, or tomb raiding is the act of uncovering a grave,
tomb or crypt to steal commodities.

:: Parents
theft

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grave_robbery


gravity manipulating technology
===============================

:: Description
There is technology that allows us to simulate or control the force of
gravity.

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-gravity


great need vs. breaking the law
===============================

:: Description
The following kind of dilemma is illustrated: Is it morally okay to break
certain laws if that is the only way to protect your life? A friend's life? A
pet's life? Your house?

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma

:: Examples
The Bynars saw no other choice than to hijack the Enterprise-D to save their
homeworld in tng1x15 "11001001". If they had asked, the Federation might have
said no.


great need vs. human rights
===========================

:: Description
The following kind of dilemma is illustrated: Can it be morally justified to
violate human rights, for example to take someone's children, if that is the
only way to protect your own people?

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma


gremlin
=======

:: Description
There is a folkloric mischievous creature that causes malfunctions in aircraft
or other machinery.

:: Parents
legendary being

:: Examples
In tz1959e5x03 "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet", Bob Wilson upset his fellow
aeronauts by claiming to see a gremlin on the wing of the aircraft trying to
sabotage the engine there.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gremlin


grief
=====

:: Description
A character exhibits that deep "sadness" which comes with loosing someone near
and dear. This typically involves the rending of garments and shedding of
tears as the character loses self-control.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: Examples
Captain Kirk both rued and lamented the loss crewman Hendorff in tos2x09 "The
Apple". Hendorff, a token redshirt, was shot with poison darts by a pod plant.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grief


group bonding
=============

:: Description
More than two people engage in an activity together and thereby form the human
bonds that often come with shared experiences.

:: Parents
humans in group


group morale
============

:: Description
Featured is the capacity of a group's members to maintain belief in an
institution or goal, particularly in the face of opposition or hardship.

:: Parents
humans in group

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morale

:: Aliases
esprit de corps


growing as a person
===================

:: Description
A character realizes that they've learned something important that made them
develop as a person, making them more mature and sophisticated as a result.

:: Parents
human self improvement

:: Aliases
personal development


guardian and child
==================

:: Description
The relationship between a legal guardian of a child and that child is
featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship

:: Examples
Captain Picard reluctantly accepted the responsibility of serving as guardian
to Jono in tng4x04 "Suddenly Human".


guilt and evidence
==================

:: Description
The following kind of dilemma is illustrated: How much and how strong evidence
should we require before considering someone guilty of a crime?

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidential_burden


habitable asteroid
==================

:: Description
An asteroid that is hypothetically amenable to human life.

:: Parents
speculative habitable celestial body

:: Examples
Zefram Cochrane, the inventor of warp drive, was found living on a habitable
asteroid in tos2x02 "Metamorphosis".


habitable moon
==============

:: Description
A moon that is hypothetically amenable to human life.

:: Parents
speculative habitable celestial body

:: Examples
Captain Picard, Wesley, and the irascible mining shuttle captain Dirgo crash
landed on a barely habitable desert moon in tng4x09 "Final Mission".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitability_of_natural_satellites


habitable planet in a binary star system
========================================

:: Description
There is a planet in a binary star system, that is hospitable to human life.

:: Parents
habitable planet in a multiple star system

:: Examples
Harry Mudd fled the Enterprise in an absconded shuttlecraft to planet in a
binary star system inhabited by a giant, menacing worm in tas1x10 "Mudd's
Passion".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitability_of_binary_star_systems


habitable planet in a multiple star system
==========================================

:: Description
There is a planet in a star system consisting of two or more stars, that is
hospitable to human life.

:: Parents
speculative habitable celestial body

:: Examples
Four stars were shown in the sky of the garbage planet Arcadia 234 in
"Soldier" (1998).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_system#Multiple_star_systems


habitable planet in a trinary star system
=========================================

:: Description
There is a planet in a trinary star system, that is hospitable to human life.

:: Parents
habitable planet in a multiple star system

:: Examples
A trio of disembodied brain aliens ran a humanoid fighting ring on just such a
planet in tos2x17 "The Gamesters of Triskellion".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_system#Triple_star_systems


hallucination of a non-existing person
======================================

:: Description
A character suffers from the delusion that they perceive a person that is in
fact not there.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: Notes
This theme is not used when the situation is explained by something other than
a malfunction in the perceiver's brain. I.e., if they are merely tricked by
lights and shadows, or by supernatural phenomena, it is not generally a case
of "human mental condition" being topical.

:: Examples
In nightgallery2x22b "Little Girl Lost", Professor Putman was so distraught by
the violent death of his daughter in a hit-and-run incident, that he began to
imagine that she was still alive. He had conversations with the non-existing
daughter, brushed her hair, tucked her in, etc.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#Hallucinations


handing over the mantle before retirement
=========================================

:: Description
An elderly character or veteran thinks about handing over their privileges and
duties to their children or successors. A parent might be thinking about
passing along the family business.

:: Parents
human life choice


harassment
==========

:: Description
Behaviors that demean, humiliate or embarrass a person in a socially and
morally unreasonable way are featured as an undesirable aspect of society.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: Examples
In tz1985e2x06 "The Convict's Piano", music loving and wrongfully convicted
inmate Ricky Frost had an encounter with a prison bully.


hardship makes you stronger
===========================

:: Description
The time tested adage that adversity can be good for strengthening one's
character, is explicitly featured.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Notes
As hardship and character development are very common features in stories,
some care should be taken to apply this theme only when the causative relation
(hardship leads to strengthened character) is actually pointed out.

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected9x04 "The Verger", the story concluded with the
observation that Mr. Dobson had his very illiteracy to thank for going into
the restaurant business and becoming such a smashing success.


hate begets hate
================

:: Description
The committing of hateful acts cause others to do the same, leading to a
vicious self-reinforcing cycle. The same goes for violence.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
Areel Shaw argued that it was basic human nature to hate a person who hates
you in tos1x14 "Court Martial".

:: Aliases
if you live by the sword you will die by the sword


hatred
======

:: Description
A character is overcome with inordinate and uncontrolled feelings of hatred
and anger. In practice, this is used for hot-blooded fighting when it is
featured as part of the story.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatred


hatred between nations
======================

:: Description
There are two sovereign states that despise each other for some reasons, to
the extent that war of one sort or another is conceivably imminent.

:: Parents
war


hatred in society
=================

:: Description
There is notable bellicosity directed towards a distinct social group  within
a society.

:: Parents
relations between social groups in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatred#Legal_issues


hatred of exceptional people
============================

:: Description
There is hostility towards a category of people that stand out because of some
ability or other distinctive quality.

:: Parents
hatred in society


haunted house
=============

:: Description
There is an otherwise ordinary house which is surreptitiously inhabited by a
supernatural being. Typically the being is the spirit of someone who has died.

:: Parents
haunted object

:: Examples
In nightgallery1x03b "Certain Shadows on the Wall" the spirit of Emma Brigham
lingered in order to haunt her brother and murdered, Dr. Stephen Brigham.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haunted_house


haunted object
==============

:: Description
There is an object to which a ghost, or suchlike spirit, is attached.

:: Parents
folk belief


haunted painting
================

:: Description
There is an otherwise ordinary painting which is surreptitiously inhabited by
a supernatural being. Typically the being is the spirit of someone who has
died.

:: Parents
haunted object

:: Examples
Vigo the Carpathian haunted an eerie painting of himself in "Ghostbusters II"
(1989).


haunted vehicle
===============

:: Description
There is a vehicle, for example a car, to which a ghost or suchlike spirit is
attached.

:: Parents
haunted object

:: Examples
In tz1985e2x09a "Joy Ride", a group of teenagers come across a car owned by a
recently deceased neighbor. Alas, the car had been involved in a brutal police
murder and its putative passengers are brought into a ghostly reenactment of
that bloody drama.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_vehicle


having a baby out of wedlock
============================

:: Description
Having a baby out of wedlock is featured in such a way that it is clear the
practice is at odds with prevailing societal norms.

:: Parents
sexual norms in society


having a preconception challenged
=================================

:: Description
Someone is made to question beliefs they had previously taken for granted.

:: Parents
human self improvement


having a skeleton in the closet
===============================

:: Description
A character thinks about a dark and old, possibly incriminating, secret they
are keeping from everyone else, or at least from the general public.

:: Parents
human worrying about self


head transplant
===============

:: Description
A surgical procedure to transplant a head from one person to another is
featured.

:: Parents
body part transplant

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_transplant


healing ability
===============

:: Description
A character is able to cause another person's injuries to heal with
preternatural rapidity.

:: Parents
speculative remote living body manipulation

:: Examples
E.T. healed Elliot's finger after Elliot cut it on a saw blade in "E.T. the
Extra-Terrestrial" (1984).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_healing


healing after social upheaval
=============================

:: Description
The story discusses how societies come to terms (or not) with what has
happened after a great social upheaval such as was World War 2.

:: Parents
political issue


health and fitness
==================

:: Description
A character incorporates noncompetitive exercise and healthy eating habits
into their general lifestyle.

:: Parents
human regular activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_fitness


healthcare in society
=====================

:: Description
The various ways people may receive medical attention when they need it, is
discussed. Typically, the workings of an institution that provides such care
is featured. For example, we may see a dysfunctional publicly run healthcare
program, or substandard helathcare provided by greedy private doctors.

:: Parents
public health issue

:: Examples
In "Red Beard" (1965), the eponymous doctor is in charge of an overloaded and
underfunded rural medical clinic in 19th century Edo Japan. We see the plight
of the various patients and, even though this is set over a century in the
past, must reflect on how healthcare provision works or ought to work.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_equity


healthcare inequality
=====================

:: Description
The ramifications of people receiving different quality of medical care
depending on social status are explored.

:: Parents
social inequality

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_equity


hearing voices
==============

:: Description
A character hears, and perhaps talks back to, a voice of a separate entity
which the character incorrectly thinks is real. In clinical terms the
condition might be classified as auditory hallucinations, or schizophrenia.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: Notes
The theme does not apply when a character merely has an internal dialog with
their own id. Nor does it apply in fantastical situations where the origin of
the voice is understood to be through telepathy, produced by spirits, or the
like. There's a variety of stories where the question of whether the voice is
real or not (and thus the sanity of the character) itself is a central topic:
in this case the theme applies inasmuch the idea implied in the definition is
entertained as a possibility.

:: Examples
tz1959e5x05 "The Last Night of a Jockey", Grady was being taunted the alter
ego in his head which offered to fulfill his any wish. In the end we are left
wondering whether the voice was a real entity, or Grady had gone mad.


heart transplant
================

:: Description
A procedure to transplant a living, beating heart from one person to another
is featured.

:: Parents
body part transplant

:: Examples
Zachary Wheeler was transplanted with a heart that was harvested from a clone
produced from his own DNA in "The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler" (1971).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_transplantation


hedonism
========

:: Description
A character is driven by the pursuit of physical pleasure.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
The Edo were quickly revealed to be full-blown sexual hedonists in tng1x08
"Justice".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedonism


hell hath no fury like a woman scorned
======================================

:: Description
The Shakespearian observation that many women take extraordinarily badly to
being rejected by someone they are romantically interested in, is put forth.

:: Parents
female stereotype
the desire for vengeance


helping a stranger in need
==========================

:: Description
A character goes out of their way in order to help a stranger who appears to
be in some need of help.

:: Parents
human self-sacrifice for another
compassion
kindness


heresy
======

:: Description
A church or religious organization clamps down on people who hold a belief or
theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
The EMCOM mainframe computer master program coerced its programs to renounce
their belief in the the existence "Users" (i.e. the humans software engineers
who coded them) in "Tron" (1982).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heresy


hero worship
============

:: Description
The way in which groups can come to excessively admire certain individuals is
featured.

:: Parents
humans in hierarchy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_of_personality


hero's return
=============

:: Description
A hero returns home to his community after a long and arduous adventure.

:: Parents
human nature

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero%27s_journey


heroism
=======

:: Description
Good deeds are made at great personal risk or great personal sacrifice.

:: Parents
human character

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero


hexes and curses
================

:: Description
The idea that someone can be cursed with, for example, ill-fortune is
featured.

:: Parents
folk belief

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse


high ground advantage
=====================

:: Description
Combatants have a military advantage by being at a greater elevation than
their opponent. Typically the elevated side gain visibility and can use
gravity to their advantage.

:: Parents
the art of war

:: Examples
Captain Kirk was climbing a mountain in tos1x19 "Arena". Why was he climbing a
mountain? To gain a high ground advantage over a Gorn captain against whom he
was pitted in a fight to the death.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_ground


high treason
============

:: Description
A member of a faction decides to take up the cause of an enemy faction against
their own.

:: Parents
crime

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treason


historical determinism
======================

:: Description
Some variant of the philosophical concept of determinism is discussed.
Determinism is the idea that events can only unfold in a certain way given the
preceding state of things; thus history (past, present and future) is fixed
and "free will" is perhaps but an illusion.

:: Parents
metaphysics

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_determinism


historical event
================

:: Description
An event from real human history is discussed or otherwise featured.

:: Parents
history

:: Notes
The story must clearly identify the event in question, but there is no
requirement that it be otherwise "correct" in what it has to say.

:: References


historical figure
=================

:: Description
A character from real human history is discussed or otherwise featured.

:: Parents
history

:: Notes
The story must clearly identify the character in question, but there is no
requirement that it be otherwise "correct" in what it has to say.

:: Template
historical figure <name>
<name>: *


historical revisionism
======================

:: Description
Some group in society seek to rewrite history in a way that makes it more
advantageous to them. This typically involves glossing over inconvenient
truths as well as outright lying.

:: Parents
educational issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_revisionism


history
=======

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to the study of history, or historical
events and personages as they are commonly understood. For example, the story
may present a reasonable idea of how a historical event might have transpired,
what a time and place in history might have been like for its inhabitants, or
what a historical figure might have been like.

:: Parents
society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History


history occupation
==================

:: Description
A historian is engaged in their chosen occupation.

:: Parents
academic occupation

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historian


hitman occupation
=================

:: Description
A character has made a profession out of killing people in return for payment.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract_killing


hoaxes in society
=================

:: Description
Someone or some institution propagates a falsehood deliberately fabricated to
masquerade as the truth.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: Examples
NASA faked a manned mission to Mars in "Capricorn One" (1978).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoax


holding someone captive to protect them
=======================================

:: Description
We are made to ponder whether and to what extent it is ethically justifiable
to hold someone against their will if doing so is for the sake of their own
safety.

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: Examples
In tz1985e2x05 "The Toys of Caliban", we saw an elderly married couple who
were raising their intellectually disabled son Toby in seclusion because he
had a dangerous magical ability but no self-restraint or sense to conduct
himself safely with his power.


hollowed out asteroid habitat
=============================

:: Description
An asteroid has been turned into a living space suitable for humans.

:: Parents
planetary-scale engineering
space habitat


hologram
========

:: Description
There is technology that can create three-dimensional images in space.

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: Notes
Hologram-like special effects are frequently used in modern sci-fi movies.
This theme should be used only if the holograms are explicitly discussed or
are significant to the story.

:: Examples
In pkded1x10 "Kill All Others", Philbert is rather put off when he finds his
wife sharing the sofa with a hologram of a sexy foreign man selling coffee.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holography


homesickness
============

:: Description
A character is distressed on account that they are away from their home. The
affected character may be taking a short trip to a nearby place, such as
summer camp, or they may be taking a long trip or have even moved to a
different country.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homesickness


homework shirking
=================

:: Description
There is a young person who neglects doing their homework in favor of a more
appealing activity.

:: Parents
human childhood


homework vs. play
=================

:: Description
A child must choose what is more important to them: boring homework or
frivolous play.

:: Parents
working hard vs. taking it easy in life

:: Examples
Alexander was very much swayed by Lwaxana's arguments for choosing play over
homework in tng5x20 "cost of Living".


hominid evolution
=================

:: Description
Discussed is the evolutionary process that led to the emergence of
anatomically modern humans.

:: Parents
the theory of evolution

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_evolution


homosexuality in society
========================

:: Description
We are asked to what extent, if any, homosexuality should be tolerated in
society and how homosexual people ought to be treated.

:: Parents
sexual norms in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality

:: Aliases
homosexuality


honest character vs. deceitful character
========================================

:: Description
A stereotypically truthful and sincere character is contrasted with a
stereotypically mendacious and false character.

:: Parents
human characters in contrast

:: Examples
In "His Girl Friday" (1940), the blue eyed and sincere insurance salesman
Bruce Baldwin is contrasted with his fiancée's ex-husband Walter Burns, who is
a scrupulous, lying rogue working as news paper editor.


honesty
=======

:: Description
Someone displays notable truthfulness and lack of deceit.

:: Parents
human character

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honesty


honor
=====

:: Description
A character steadfastly sticks to a traditional moral code in spite of
temptation to do otherwise. It nearly always has to do with being honest and
defending ones reputation. It very often involves Klingons.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Worf, being a true man of honor, implored the Klingon authorities to grant
honorable deaths to three Klingon renegades whom he had come to respect in
tng1x20 "Heart of Glory".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honour


honorable suicide
=================

:: Description
A character contemplates committing suicide because doing otherwise would lead
to some form of dishonor for themself and possibly their family.

:: Parents
contemplating suicide

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honor_suicide


hope
====

:: Description
A character feels that events they wish for may come about.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope


horse racing
============

:: Description
Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or
more  horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set
distance, for competition. This theme is used whenever this time-honored sport
is notably featured in the story.

:: Parents
sports

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_racing


horseback riding
================

:: Description
The excitement some of us experience by engaging in equestrian escapades is
examined.

:: Parents
recreational activity

:: Examples
Captain Picard shared his passion for riding Arabian horses with Troi on the
holodeck in tng2x15 "Pen Pals".


hospitality
===========

:: Description
Someone is very hospitable towards their guests.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Captain Kirk held a banquet for Khan Singh to welcome the former dictator of
Earth to the 23rd century in tos1x24 "Space Seed".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospitality


hoverboard
==========

:: Description
There is a skateboard-like device without wheels that hovers at a constant
altitude of up to some feet above the ground and used for personal
transportation.

:: Parents
speculative vehicle

:: Examples
Marty McFly got into a hoverboard chase in the year 2015 in "Back to the
Future Part II" (1989).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoverboard


how to commit a crime and get away with it
==========================================

:: Description
We are made to ponder clever ways in which one might commit one crime or
another, and avoid getting caught.

:: Parents
speculative experience
crime

:: Notes
This theme is not used in extraordinary circumstances, such as in the wake of
a general disaster, where the opportunity might present itself through mere
chance.


how to cover up a murder
========================

:: Description
A character takes measures to prevent the authorities from discovering the
truth about a murder that has been committed.

:: Parents
how to commit a crime and get away with it


how to crack a safe
===================

:: Description
We are shown how one may, credibly, gain access to the contents of a safe
without having the key or combination required to legitimately open it.

:: Parents
how to commit a crime and get away with it

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected5x03 "Operation Safecrack", the (in)famous safe-cracker
Sam Morrissey takes on a PR stunt challenge by an advertising company to break
into the latest model of their safe. Sam attempts to do so using a variety of
strategies, heavy machines, and explosives.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safe-cracking


how to dispose of a corpse and get away with it
===============================================

:: Description
We are made to ponder clever ways in which one might contrive to illicitly and
quietly dispose of a corpse one has been inconveniently hampered with. The
usual scenario is that the character saddled with the dilemma produced said
corpse in the first place by, intentionally or otherwise, killing the living
person that preceded it.

:: Parents
how to commit a crime and get away with it

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disposal_of_human_corpses#Criminal_disposal


how to fake one's own death
===========================

:: Description
A character purposely deceives others into believing they are dead when, in
fact, they are not.

:: Parents
how to commit a crime and get away with it

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faked_death

:: Aliases
staged death
pseudocide


how to handle a hostage situation
=================================

:: Description
Featured is the dilemma of whether and how to negotiate with hostage takers.

:: Parents
violent crime
social ethical dilemma

:: Notes
Hostage situations are typically when someone holds innocent people at
gunpoint and threatens to execute them unless certain demands are met.
Especially in fiction, hostage situations may also arise when terrorists have
planted bombs or designed doomsday weapons that threaten buildings, cities,
countries, or entire planets.

:: Examples
Captain Picard negotiated to free Beverly from the clutches of terrorists in
tng3x12 "The High Ground", but ended up himself a hostage.


how to murder someone and get away with it
==========================================

:: Description
We are made to ponder clever ways in which one might commit murder and avoid
getting caught.

:: Parents
how to commit a crime and get away with it
murder

:: Notes
This theme is not used in extraordinary circumstances, such as on a
battlefield, where the opportunity might present itself through mere chance.

:: Aliases
the perfect murder


how to rob a bank and get away with it
======================================

:: Description
We are made to ponder clever ways in which one may steal large amounts of
money from a bank (or comparable venue) and avoid getting caught.

:: Parents
how to commit a crime and get away with it

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected5x06 "The Moles", two old friends whose business faced
financial ruin hatched a clever plan to tunnel their way into a certain bank
vault from an antique shop adjacent to it.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_robbery


how to treat people that pose a risk to society through no fault of their own
=============================================================================

:: Description
Some people are innocent of any wrongdoing yet pose a danger to public safety
for one reason or another; are we socially justified in killing these people
in order to defend ourselves?

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma


hubris
======

:: Description
Pride is so excessive that a character deigns to put themself on par, or even
above, the gods.

:: Parents
pride

:: Examples
Riker was riding on his high horse after having been granted Q powers in
tng1x10 "Hide and Q".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubris


human AI relationship
=====================

:: Description
A romantic relationship between a real person and an artificial person is
featured.

:: Parents
romantic relationship


human addiction
===============

:: Description
Despite adverse consequences to themself, a character compulsively engages in
an activity that results in rewarding stimuli. In medical terms, addiction is
disorder of the brain's reward system.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: Examples
Typically "human addiction" is connected to substance abuse, such as the case
with "alcoholism" and "drug addiction". Other forms of addiction include
"video game addiction", or "workaholism", although these examples may not be
addictions in the clinical sense.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addiction


human aspiration
================

:: Description
A character expresses a hope, a dream, or ponders the question of what they
want out of life.

:: Parents
purpose in life


human battery
=============

:: Description
Industrially relevant amounts of electrical energy are somehow extracted from
human beings.

:: Parents
speculative energy generation technology

:: Examples
Intelligent machines partially powered their machine civilization by
extracting electrical energy from unconscious humans kept in pods in "The
Matrix" (1999).


human biology
=============

:: Description
The scientific study of the morphology of the human body is featured.

:: Parents
biology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_human_anatomy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composition_of_the_human_body


human blood types
=================

:: Description
Some aspect of the science of blood types is explained. Popularly, this is the
classification system O-, O+, A-, A+, and so forth (eight categories) or
simply O, A, B, AB (four categories). However, other systems are in use as
well.

:: Parents
human biology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_type


human challenge in life
=======================

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to such problems as we might plausibly face
in the course of a typical human life.

:: Parents
individual humans

:: Examples
"human challenge in life" often revolves around "facing death" or "facing
adversity", but may also involve any of a mishmash of troubles categorized
under "coping with life issues".


human character
===============

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to character types and personal character
traits.

:: Parents
individual humans

:: Notes
Character themes apply only if the behavior is explicitly discussed or
pointedly illustrated.

:: Examples
"courage", "cowardice", "misanthropy", and "chivalry" are all "human
character" themes because they refer to personal character traits such as we
may variously admire or abhor in people.

:: References


human character stereotype
==========================

:: Description
There is a person in the story whose character fits a recognizable, well-
defined, stereotype to a remarkable degree.

:: Parents
human character


human characters in contrast
============================

:: Description
The personalities of two characters are pointedly compared and contrasted.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
"extrovert vs. introvert" is a theme that compares and contrasts outgoing
characters with inwards looking characters.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personality


human childhood
===============

:: Description
A young character faces one of those problems people tend to go through during
the early parts of their lives, typically during childhood or adolescence.

:: Parents
family affairs

:: Examples
"sibling rivalry" and "teenage angst" are two "human childhood" themes that
most people experience as they grow up. "orphanhood" is a "human childhood"
theme that only a few people are unfortunate to experience in real life.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childhood


human cloning
=============

:: Description
The technology to create new individuals that have the same DNA as an
original, but not necessarily have anything else in common.

:: Parents
speculative biotechnology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_cloning


human cloning in society
========================

:: Description
We are asked to what extent, if any, the cloning of human beings is
acceptable.

:: Parents
sociotechnological issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_cloning


human dreaming
==============

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to reflections on what was, what could have
been, what might be, what could never be, and so on and so forth.

:: Parents
individual humans

:: Examples
"human dreaming" themes tend to involve fantasies or reminiscence. An
illustrative example is "thinking about one's accomplishments in life" when a
character reflects on their achievements (or lack thereof).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reminiscence
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy_(psychology)


human emotion
=============

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to experiences, typically intensely, of one
of those conscious inner mental states that we call emotions.

:: Parents
individual humans

:: Examples
"hope" and "jealousy" are illustrative examples of "human emotion" themes.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotion


human empathy for babies
========================

:: Description
The way humans tend to feel particular empathy for babies is noted.

:: Parents
human nature


human enhancement technology
============================

:: Description
A novel technology is used to alter a person's physical or mental ability.
Typically it is used objectively to enhance abilities, though whether a given
alteration diminishes or enhances a person can be controversial.

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_science_fiction_themes#Body_and_mind_alterations


human familial relationship
===========================

:: Description
The interpersonal relationship between two individuals bound by such a close
social bond that they might be called "family" is featured.

:: Parents
humans in pairs
family affairs

:: Notes
Any defined character relationship can be familial if it is clearly considered
as such in a story and if it is sufficiently relevant to the plot. It may be
noted that while there are many stories in which parental, sibling, half-
sibling, step-parent, sibling-in-law, or even adoptive relationships are
important, there are few stories in which consanguinity relations beyond first
cousinage is relevant to the plot.

:: Examples
"guardian and child" is a "human familial relationship" because the guardian
is typically expected to take on the role of a parent even if they are not
related to the child by blood.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family


human health condition
======================

:: Description
There is a character whose mental or physiological well-being is featured
because they suffer from some condition or another that is considered to be
pathological. Such a condition is usually detrimental to the individual's
well-being.

:: Parents
human challenge in life

:: Examples
Disease, illness, and injury are disagreeable but prominent components of
human lives and frequently featured in fiction. For example "coping with a
terminal illness" and "coping with aging" are found in this category.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health


human idea about life
=====================

:: Description
This is the general theme pertaining to generalities about what human life may
be like. For example, the theme may be practical advice on how one ought to
lead ones life. Many of the stories featuring this theme contain tidbits of
folksy wisdom summed up in readily recognizable pithy aphorisms.

:: Parents
the human world

:: Examples
"appearances can be deceiving", "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", and
"fortune favors the bold" are examples of general ideas about life expressed
as well known aphorisms.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphorism


human in danger
===============

:: Description
A character finds themself in a dangerous situation of one sort or another.

:: Parents
human challenge in life

:: Examples
"coping with being injured" is a "human in danger" theme as it describes what
it is like for someone to be in a certain risky situation.

:: References


human life choice
=================

:: Description
A character is made to reflect on a tough decision that involves choices that
are hard, not because of ethical issues or uncertainty regarding the outcome,
but because the decision will have a major impact on the course of their life.

:: Parents
human tough decision

:: Examples
"human life choice" themes include "choosing between love and family",
"deciding whether to be a parent", "figuring out what to do with one's life",
and "to settle down vs. to keep on trekking".


human mental condition
======================

:: Description
There is a character whose mental well-being is featured because they suffer
from some condition or another that is considered to be pathological. Such a
condition is usually detrimental to the individual's well-being.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: Examples
"depression", "despair", "persecution complex", "schizophrenia", and
"suppressed emotion" are all "human mental condition" themes that are featured
in stories from time to time.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_disorder


human nature
============

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to distinguishing characteristics -
including ways of thinking, feeling, and acting - which humans tend to have
naturally.

:: Parents
the human world

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_nature


human need
==========

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to the things people tend to need in order
to consider ourselves healthy, content, and fulfilled in life. The immediate
specializations break down according to a simplified version of Maslow's
hierarchy of needs.

:: Parents
purpose in life


human occupational activity
===========================

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to an individual being notably engaged in
their chosen occupation.

:: Parents
human regular activity


human overpopulation
====================

:: Description
The social and environmental ramifications of an ever increasing human
population are discussed. Perhaps we will multiply beyond Earth's capability
to sustain our present way of life.

:: Parents
environmental issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_overpopulation
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/overpopulation


human parenting
===============

:: Description
A problem or situation that may arise in the interaction between parents and
their progeny is featured.

:: Parents
family affairs

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parenting

:: Aliases
parenthood


human phobia
============

:: Description
A character displays a persistent and excessive fear to a specific object or
situation.

:: Parents
human mental condition
fear

:: Examples
"arachnophobia", the fear of spiders, and "fear of doctors" are both "human
phobia" themes that may be used when a character portrays an excessive and
persistent fear of the subject in question.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phobia


human physiological need
========================

:: Description
One or another of a character's physiological needs is featured. For example,
the theme may pertain to the need for things like food, water, sleep, and sex.

:: Parents
human need

:: Examples
"the need for rest and recreation" is a "human physiological need" because a
character who is sufficiently overworked and tired becomes incapable of
considering higher order needs such as staying out of harm's way.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs#Physiological_needs


human pleasure
==============

:: Description
A character engages in an activity for the pure enjoyment of it, such as
savoring a tasty meal or engaging in a cherished pastime.

:: Parents
purpose in life


human regular activity
======================

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to various purposeful regular activities
that humans may be engaged in. Such activities are typically occupations or
hobbies.

:: Parents
personal human experience


human rights issue
==================

:: Description
Explored is one of those ideas of "rights", such as the right to not be
tortured, that we sometimes say people (or other beings that are to be treated
as people) are inalienably entitled to merely by virtue of existing. It may,
for example, involve practical concerns around safeguarding such rights,
discuss ethical questions around what counts as a right, or weight two
conflicting human rights considerations in a particular situation.

Examples of rights and freedoms which are often thought of as human rights
include civil and political rights, such as the right to life, liberty, and
property, freedom of expression, pursuit of happiness and equality before the
law; and social, cultural and economic rights, including the right to
participate in science and culture, the right to work, and the right to
education.

:: Parents
social ethical issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights


human romantic relationship choice
==================================

:: Description
A character must make a choice regarding whether and whom to devote themself
romantically to.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue
human life choice

:: Examples
"human romantic relationship choice" themes include "love vs. career",
"monogamy vs. single life", and "choosing between lovers".


human sacrifice
===============

:: Description
The act of killing humans, usually as an offering to a deity, as part of a
ritual is featured.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_sacrifice


human safety need
=================

:: Description
A character's need to feel save from all kinds of dangers is featured. Dangers
may include physical dangers, financial dangers, and health risks.

:: Parents
human need

:: Examples
"attachment to one's livelihood" is a "human safety need" because loosing
one's job may (at least historically) lead to poverty, then starvation and
death. "the need for privacy" is also a "human safety need" because a lack of
privacy could lead to the publication of facts about us that jeopardize our
social standing which might (historically) lead to ostracization, then death
in any number of ways.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs#Safety_needs


human self improvement
======================

:: Description
A character in the story contemplates their own person and some way in which
they can better themself.

:: Parents
human self-reflection

:: Examples
"lesson in humility" is a "human self improvement" theme because it implies
that a previously arrogant character has been forced to reconsider their
attitude. "questioning one's loyalties" is of the same category because a
character has come to see that what they are doing is perhaps not right, and
that they should change.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_development


human self-actualization need
=============================

:: Description
A character's desire to grow as a person and to realize their full potential
is featured. For example, the theme may pertain to a character's aspirations
or purpose in life

:: Parents
human need

:: Examples
"the need for a challenge in life" is a "human self-actualization need" theme
because the reason people seek out things that challenge them is, generally,
that through challenges we learn and grow as people.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-actualization


human self-esteem need
======================

:: Description
One or another of a character's ego related needs is featured. For example,
the theme may pertain to the need for things like recognition, status,
importance, and respect from others.

:: Parents
human need

:: Examples
"the desire for fame" and "the need to feel useful to society" are "human
self-esteem need" themes as they express a human's need or desire for some
form of recognition from others.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs#Self-esteem


human self-reflection
=====================

:: Description
This a general theme pertaining to the examination of one's own person, for
example, desires, motives, one's own conscience, etc.

:: Parents
individual humans

:: Examples
"human self improvement" is the main specialization of this theme because most
often when a character is considering themself it seems they do so with a
desire to improve on themself.

:: References


human self-sacrifice
====================

:: Description
A character helps another character, or does something for a worthy cause, at
a significant cost or risk to themself.

:: Parents
human tough decision

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altruistic_suicide


human self-sacrifice for another
================================

:: Description
Someone goes significantly out of their way in order to help another person
who is need of something.

:: Parents
human self-sacrifice

:: Notes
Typically, this situation occurs when a character risks life and limb in order
to save another character from the same sort of dangers.

:: Examples
"donating an organ to save a life" is a typical "human self-sacrifice for
another" theme since giving up an organ is quite risky but will likely save
the life of the other character.


human sex pheromones
====================

:: Description
The idea that human men and/or women emit chemicals that attract the opposite
sex is featured. Despite numerous studies there is no evidence for anything
that does so to any significant extent.

:: Parents
superseded scientific theory

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_sex_pheromones


human sexuality
===============

:: Description
The mating urges and rituals of homo sapient are discussed in a philosophical
manner.

:: Parents
human nature

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_sexuality


human shields in war
====================

:: Description
Armed forces are deliberately using civilians (whether their own, their
enemy's, or otherwise) to make it hard for their opponent to strike at a
military target without causing casualties among said civilians.

:: Parents
war


human social need
=================

:: Description
A character's need to have good connections with other people is featured. For
example, the theme may pertain to belonging to a social group, friendship,
maintaining family relations, etc.

:: Parents
human need

:: Examples
"the desire to be liked", "the need for cultural heritage", and "the need to
belong" are concrete examples of "human social needs". The category also
contains relate more indirectly to these themes, for example "the desire for
justice".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs#Social_belonging


human social position
=====================

:: Description
This is general theme pertaining to an individual's status within a society of
which they are part.

:: Parents
humans in group

:: Examples
"coping with being a laughing stock" is a "human social position" theme
because it deals with an event of which the main feature is that a character's
status in a group is lowered.

:: References


human thought virus
===================

:: Description
There is an "information" virus that can invade the thought processes of a
human and transmit itself to other humans by means of communication. It is
thus more like a computer virus than a biological virus, except in that it
infects biological information systems rather than machines.

:: Parents
speculative mind altering effect

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x21a "Need to Know", we saw how people in a little village started
going insane one after the other because of a confounding and viral idea about
the meaning of life, that was whispered by an infected person to someone who
would become the next victim in turn.

:: Aliases
memetic virus


human tough decision
====================

:: Description
This is a general theme that pertains to an individual struggling with a
decision which must be made

:: Parents
individual humans

:: Examples
This category of themes, so common in fiction, is further subdivided into:
"human life choice" (a character struggles with a decision regarding how to
live their life), "human self-sacrifice" (a character must choose or not to
risk themselfs for the sake of another), "personal ethical dilemma" (a
struggle with morals), and "personal practical dilemma " (the choice is hard
more because of uncertainty than for moral or personal considerations).


human vs. Kafkaesque institution
================================

:: Description
A character encounters a labyrinthine and overpowering bureaucracy so extreme
that it beggars belief.

:: Parents
human vs. institution
bureaucracy

:: Examples
Eponymous Franz Kafka describes such a bureaucracy in "The Trial" (1925),
wherein Josef K struggles to descry what crime he has been charged with, and
to meet the various impossible demands made on him by a remote and faceless
judiciary.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Kafka#%22Kafkaesque%22

:: Aliases
human vs. bureaucracy


human vs. affliction
====================

:: Description
A character struggles to overcome an affliction, like a disease, a disorder,
or something else that causes pain and suffering.

:: Parents
human vs. nature


human vs. beast
===============

:: Description
A struggle between human and animal is featured.

:: Parents
human vs. nature

:: Examples
Captain Kirk was mauled by a Mugato tos2x16 "A Private Little War".


human vs. captivity
===================

:: Description
A struggle between captive and captor is featured.

:: Parents
human vs. human

:: Examples
Butthead aliens held Captain Pike captive with the intention to use him as
breeding stock in tos0x01 "The Cage".


human vs. human
===============

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to conflict situations between a person and
other people.

:: Parents
facing adversity

:: Examples
"facing a mortal enemy", "facing organized pursuit", and "human vs. captivity"
is a selection of themes that describe a situation wherein a person is in
conflict with other people.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Interpersonal_conflict
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict_(narrative)#Man_against_man


human vs. inexplicable adversity
================================

:: Description
A character is confronted with problematic happenings that seem to defy
explanation or categorization in any meaningful way.

:: Parents
facing adversity

:: Notes
This theme does notably not apply in the case of events for which the
character can perceive reasonable sounding possible explanations. It is meant
to capture things that just don't any make sense. However, if mysterious
events are cause by spirits or the like, the theme "human vs. the occult" is
normally used instead.

:: Examples
In tz1959e1x34 "The After Hours", Marsha grew increasingly puzzled after she
purchased a gold thimble on the 9th floor of a department that had only eight
floors.


human vs. institution
=====================

:: Description
A character experiences what it is like to face an entire institution, like
the secret police, that is out to get them.

:: Parents
facing adversity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict_(narrative)#Man_against_society


human vs. monster
=================

:: Description
A struggle between human an monster is featured. Monster, in this case, means
a grotesque version of man or animal of a sort typically only exists in
stories.

:: Parents
facing adversity

:: Notes
Use man vs. animal if the struggle is with a relatively ordinary animal.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster


human vs. nature
================

:: Description
A human struggle to survive the elements is featured. This could be about
surviving in blistering cold, scorching heat, raging wind, etc.

:: Parents
facing adversity

:: Examples
Sulu nearly froze to death of Alfa 177 during a geological survey gone wrong
in tos1x04 "The Enemy Within".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict_(narrative)#Man_against_nature


human vs. self
==============

:: Description
A character must overcome an internal struggle within themself.

:: Parents
human vs. human

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict_(narrative)#Man_against_self


human vs. sentient machine
==========================

:: Description
There is a struggle between a human and a (more or less) sentient machine.

:: Parents
human vs. technology

:: Notes
There is no clear definition for what machines are to be considered sentient.
As a rule of thumb, this theme applies if the machine takes complex actions
with high-level motivations such as self-preservation, or vengeance. It
certainly applies if the machine exhibits any sort of human-like personality.

:: Examples
The Enterprise-D crew members were almost overwhelmed by the autonomous
planetary defense system of Minosian design in tng1x21 "The Arsenal of
Freedom".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict_(narrative)#Classification


human vs. space anomaly
=======================

:: Description
A character struggles to survive contact with a space anomaly of some kind.

:: Parents
human vs. nature

:: Examples
Beverly became trapped in a collapsing warp bubble universe in tng4x05
"Remember Me".


human vs. technology
====================

:: Description
A conflict between a person and technology is featured.

:: Parents
facing adversity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_vs._Technology


human vs. the occult
====================

:: Description
A human fights supernatural forces, e.g., ghosts.

:: Parents
facing adversity

:: Examples
All manner of hocus-pocus abounded in tos2x01 "Catspaw".


human vs. venomous animal
=========================

:: Description
A struggle between a human and an animal equipped with poison dangerous to
said human, is featured.

:: Parents
human vs. beast


human vs. zombie
================

:: Description
There is a struggle between man and zombie.

:: Parents
human vs. the occult


human way of life
=================

:: Description
This a general theme pertaining to the various ideas people may have about how
they want to lead their lives.

:: Parents
individual humans

:: Notes
Sometimes a person's idea about how they should lead their life involves ideas
about how other people ought to lead their lives as well. This category may
overlap with that of political ideologies.

:: Examples
"carpe diem", "pacifism", and "vegetarianism" are all "human way of life"
themes because they imply lifestyles such as we may choose to lead for one
reason or another.

:: References


human worrying about self
=========================

:: Description
A character ponders a concern they have regarding their own person.

:: Parents
human self-reflection

:: Examples
"second guessing one's self" and "beating one's self up " are "human worrying
about self" type themes because they imply that a person is being dissatisfied
with their own decisions in some way.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introspection


human-alien hybrid
==================

:: Description
There is a part human, part alien being.

:: Parents
hybrid being
extraterrestrial being


human-animal hybrid
===================

:: Description
There is a being that incorporates elements from both humans and at least one
non-human animal.

:: Parents
hybrid being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human%E2%80%93animal_hybrid


human-bug hybrid
================

:: Description
There being that is part human and part insect or creature that resembles an
insect.

:: Parents
hybrid being


human-canine hybrid
===================

:: Description
There is a part human, part dog being.

:: Parents
human-animal hybrid
canine-like being


human-fish hybrid
=================

:: Description
There is a part human, part fish being.

:: Parents
hybrid being
fish-like being

:: Examples
Fallout from a nuclear holocaust caused a man to develop some fish features,
including a dorsal fin and tuna-blue skin, in "Endgame" (1983).


human-made pandemic
===================

:: Description
People create a dangerous pathogen, typically for the purpose of war, but it
gets out of control and kills everyone.

:: Parents
biotechnological risk to civilization

:: Examples
The inhabitants of Earth Two sought to increase their lifespan but instead
released an infectious virus that quickly killed off all adults in tos1x11
"Miri".


human-plant hybrid
==================

:: Description
There is a part human, part plant being.

:: Parents
hybrid being

:: Examples
Professor Nolter crossed a human being with a plant in "The Mutations" (1974).


human-reptile hybrid
====================

:: Description
There is a part human, part reptile being.

:: Parents
hybrid being
reptilian being

:: Examples
Dr. Curt Connors transformed himself into a lizard-man with super regenerative
capabilities in "The Amazing Spider-Man" (2012).


humankind controlling its own destiny
=====================================

:: Description
The idea is featured that mankind must, needs, deserves, or can (etc. etc.)
somehow be the arbiter of its own fate as opposed to being steered by a deity
or some such more-or-less external monolith.

:: Parents
human nature

:: Examples
In tas2x05 "How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth", Captain Kirk convinced
Kukulkan that humankind was ready to stand on its own two feet and that
Kukulkan's help in cultivating civilization was henceforth neither requested
nor required.


humanoid mutant
===============

:: Description
An originally humanoid being has been rendered grotesque relative to the norm
of its species owing to genetic mutation.

:: Parents
biologically distinguished being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutants_in_fiction
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/mutants


humanoid robot
==============

:: Description
An automaton that resembles a human being is featured.

:: Parents
artificial intelligence
speculative robot


humans at work
==============

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to the experience of people as they seek to
collaborate in a workplace.

:: Parents
humans in group

:: Examples
"office politics", about intrigues in workplaces, is an oft featured theme of
the "humans at work" sort.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Job
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workplace_politics


humans in group
===============

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to human group dynamics, or some experience
simultaneously applicable to each member of a group of people.

:: Parents
personal human experience

:: Notes
We distinguish between "individual humans", "humans in pairs", and "humans in
groups" with reference to whose experiences are relevant to the thematic idea
that is being expressed. For example "coping with problematic people" clearly
implies the presence of two or more people but the theme is only concerned
with the experiences of a single observer at a time. "romantic relationship",
on the other hand, is a category of themes that most often examine the
interaction between two people and discuss both their experiences
simultaneously. Likewise "humans in group" imply themes that examine the
constitution of a whole group of people, for example the idea that "lack of
trust can lead to group dysfunction."

:: Examples
"insubordination" is considered a "humans in group" theme because even though
it implies the actions of only a single person the ideas featured are
typically related to how hierarchies of humans function when insubordination
is either tolerated or prescribed to some extent.

:: Aliases
community


humans in hierarchy
===================

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to a hierarchical structure wherein some
characters are put above and in charge of other characters.

:: Parents
humans in group

:: Examples
"leadership" is a typical "humans in hierarchy" as a leader by definition is
someone who is in charge of others, formally or informally.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominance_hierarchy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierarchy


humans in pairs
===============

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to the respective interactions and
attitudes of two people vis-à-vis each other.

:: Parents
personal human experience

:: Notes
We distinguish between "individual humans", "humans in pairs", and "humans in
groups" with reference to whose experiences are relevant to the thematic idea
that is being expressed. For example "coping with problematic people" clearly
implies the presence of two or more people but the theme is only concerned
with the experiences of a single observer at a time. "romantic relationship",
on the other hand, is a category of themes that most often examine the
interaction between two people and discuss both their experiences
simultaneously. Likewise "humans in group" imply themes that examine the
constitution of a whole group of people, for example the idea that "lack of
trust can lead to group dysfunction."

:: References


humans interacting
==================

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to the interactions between two or more
humans.

:: Parents
humans in group

:: Examples
"clash of wills" is a "humans interacting" theme used when two characters are
locked in a heated argument over some joint course of action. By contrast,
"clash of Wills" is used whenever two characters who are both named Will, get
locked in a heated argument over some joint course of action.


humility
========

:: Description
Someone downplays their own abilities or receives a lesson in humility that
appears effective.

:: Parents
human character

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humility


hunting
=======

:: Description
A character is notably and regularly engaged with the chasing down and
dispatching wild animals. Typically the character is either a professional
hunter, or sees hunting as a hobby.

:: Parents
human regular activity


hunting people for sport
========================

:: Description
There is an organized sport-like activity that resembles game hunting except
that the targeted prey are people.

:: Parents
blood sports

:: Notes
This theme does not normally apply when warriors hunt down and kill their
enemies as part of a military campaign.


husband and wife
================

:: Description
The relationship between husband and wife is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship

:: Examples
Harry Mudd bickered with an android replica of his wife, Stella, in tos2x11
"I, Mudd".


hybrid being
============

:: Description
There is a being that incorporates elements from both humans and non-humans.

:: Parents
biologically distinguished being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human%E2%80%93animal_hybrid


hypochondria
============

:: Description
Someone exhibits an abnormal anxiety about the state of their own health.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypochondriasis


hypocritical character
======================

:: Description
There is a character who does the opposite of what they themself preaches, to
a notable degree.

:: Parents
human character stereotype

:: Examples
In "Measure for Measure" (1604), Angelo has condemned Claudio to death for the
offense of extramarital fornication, even though it was with a woman he loved,
that loved him, and whom he intended to marry. When petitioned for leniency,
Angelo orated at length about the importance of enforcing the law.
Simultaneously, he used his office to pressure a young nun for extramarital
sex himself.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypocrisy


hysterical woman stereotype
===========================

:: Description
A female character exhibits a stereotypical prolonged outburst of excessive
emotionality, typically by screaming.

:: Parents
female stereotype

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_hysteria


ice hockey
==========

:: Description
Ice hockey is a contact team sport played on ice, usually in an indoor or
outdoor rink, in which two teams of skaters use their sticks to shoot a
vulcanized rubber puck into their opponent's net to score goals. This game is
featured.

:: Parents
sports

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey


ice planet
==========

:: Description
There is a planet that is more or less entirely covered in ice so that the
whole of it resembles nothing so much as an arctic wasteland.

:: Parents
speculative habitable celestial body

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_planet


identical twins
===============

:: Description
There's a monozygotic pair of twins (or higher order multiple), i.e., two
twins that are virtually identical on account of having the same DNA. The
relationship between these two characters is featured.

:: Parents
twin and twin

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin#Monozygotic_(identical)_twins


if it ain't broke don't fix it
==============================

:: Description
A character learns to avoid attempting to correct, fix, or improve what is
already sufficient (often with an implication that the attempted improvement
is risky and might backfire).

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/if_it_ain%27t_broke_don%27t_fix_it


if it sounds too good to be true it probably isn't true
=======================================================

:: Description
The age-old adage is illustrated: If circumstances that are extremely
advantageous too you manifest against the odds, you should seriously consider
that someone (possibly your self) is simply deceiving you.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/too+good+to+be+true


ignorance is bliss
==================

:: Description
The old wisdom that one may be happier not knowing certain things is featured.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ignorance_is_bliss


illegal drug trade
==================

:: Description
The ramifications of drugs and drug trade in society are explored.

:: Parents
crime against property

:: Examples
The Brekkians found that trading a certain narcotic to the Ornarans was such a
lucrative enterprise that they needed no other industry whatsoever in tng1x22
"Symbiosis".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_drug_trade


illiteracy in society
=====================

:: Description
The ability or inability of categories of people in a society to read and
write is discussed.

:: Parents
educational issue

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected9x04 "The Verger", we saw briefly featured an adult
literacy program at the local university.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literacy


illness as a social construct
=============================

:: Description
The role culture plays in determining whether a certain condition is
considered to be a disease is explored.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: Examples
In "X-Men: The Last Stand" (2006), many mutants were horrified when a "cure"
for mutancy was announced since they didn't consider mutancy as a disease to
be cured, but rather a normal way of being.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_and_psychology


immigration in society
======================

:: Description
We are asked how much immigration, if any, it is appropriate for a society to
permit. One extreme is to disband all borders and the other is to build walls.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration


immortal living secretly among us
=================================

:: Description
A character who doesn't age and who has lived an impossibly long time lives
secretly among us run-of-the-mill mortals.

:: Parents
impostor living secretly among us

:: Examples
Flint is revealed to be an immortal human who had lived on Earth under various
aliases for thousands of years in tos3x21 "Requiem for Methuselah".


immortality
===========

:: Description
A character is able to go on living even when other characters would have
died. They typically do not age (beyond a point) or if they do, death is not
inevitably at the end of that process.

:: Parents
speculative personal resilience
what if I were not subject to the normal process of aging

:: Notes
The theme "immortality" is considered topical simply if the idea that a
character may go on living indefinitely is there. Stories are surprisingly
full of nominally immortal characters that nevertheless perish, one way or
another.

:: Examples
Mr. Flynn of tos3x21 "Requiem for Methuselah", a.k.a. Methuselah, was born
with that most coveted mixed blessing of all: immortality.


impartiality in the legal system
================================

:: Description
The problem of ensuring impartiality in the legal system is highlighted. We
all suffer from various preconceptions and judges are no exception.

:: Parents
law and order issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impartiality


imperialism
===========

:: Description
A faction systematically uses the military in order to subjugate their
neighbours and expand their own power.

:: Parents
form of government

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperialism
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/imperialism


imperviousness to physical damage
=================================

:: Description
A character is able to withstand extreme physical effects, such as impacts or
heat. They may, for example, be able to walk through flames or stand in the
way of oncoming bullets, unscathed.

:: Parents
speculative personal resilience

:: References
https://powerlisting.fandom.com/wiki/High_Resistance


implanted memory punishment
===========================

:: Description
A fictional type of criminal correction that involves putting unpleasant
memories into the brain of the convict, for example to let them experience
what their victim may have felt.

:: Parents
memory implantation technology
speculative punishment


implanted weapon
================

:: Description
A character has has a weapon of some sort grafted into their body by means of
hitherto undeveloped cybernetic technology.

:: Parents
speculative weapon
body implant


impossible love
===============

:: Description
Two characters fall in love but it appears more-or-less impossible for the
relationship to progress because of straightforward physical circumstances.

:: Parents
romantic love

:: Notes
This theme is contrasted with "forbidden love", where the relationship is
impeded by social circumstances.

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x06b "A Message from Charity", two lonely teenagers separated by
three centuries of time found themselves telepathically linked, and fell in
love. Alas, as they would never be able to meet in person, the young girl from
the 17th century took the tough decision to terminate their disagreeably
platonic relationship.

In tz1985e3x09 "The Call", Norman fell in love with a mysterious woman he
spoke to only on the phone. The sentiment was reciprocated. Unfortunately, he
came to find that the woman was the spirit of a successfully suicidal artist,
now inhabiting her own self-portraying statue. That would normally have
spelled the end of their courtship. But fate intervened and Norman was turned
into a statue of his own, dotingly contraposed with the other for eternity.


impostor living secretly among us
=================================

:: Description
There is a community of people in which one seeming member is in fact not of
the community, and lives within it under notably false pretenses.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
In tz2002e1x31 "The Monsters Are on Maple Street", order in a little
neighbored along the eponymous street broke down when several of the
inhabitants became convinced that one of their secluded neighbors was, in
fact, a foreign terrorist living there under false pretense.


in for a penny in for a pound
=============================

:: Description
This popular idiom is explicitly invoked or pointedly illustrated: Having
started something, one must see it through to its end, rather than stopping
short.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/in_for_a_penny_in_for_a_pound


in-law relationship
===================

:: Description
Featured is the relationship between two people who are not biologically
related but who are considered kin as the result of someone's marriage. Most
often this is a spouse together with one of their partner's near relatives.

:: Parents
human familial relationship

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affinity_(law)


inaction vs. futile action
==========================

:: Description
Someone has no good options but must choose between doing nothing, or waste
effort doing something that is most certainly pointless.

:: Parents
personal practical dilemma

:: Examples
Captain Kirk and Commissioner Ferris debated whether to keep up the search for
the Galileo shuttlecraft in tos1x13 "The Galileo Seven", even though it was
almost certainly hopeless.


inanimate object come to life
=============================

:: Description
An ordinarily inanimate object moves and acts like a living being.

:: Parents
speculative being


inattentive male partner
========================

:: Description
A male character in a relationship is inattentive to their partner's emotional
needs.

:: Parents
male stereotype


incest in society
=================

:: Description
Whether and to what extent people who are closely related should be allowed to
have sex and procreate together is discussed.

:: Parents
sexual norms in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incest

:: Aliases
incest


incestuous relationship
=======================

:: Description
There is a sexual relationship between two near relatives.

:: Parents
romantic relationship

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incest


incompatible modes of communication
===================================

:: Description
The trouble two intelligent beings who use entirely different approaches to
communication may face in understanding each other is illustrated.

:: Parents
problem of language and meaning


incorporeal being
=================

:: Description
There is a being that doesn't have material a body. It may be electromagnetic
patterns, or something entirely beyond our science.

:: Parents
shape distinguished being

:: Examples
The alien Sargon no longer needed a body at the end of tos2x22 "Return to
Tomorrow".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictional_extraterrestrials_by_form#Immaterial/Incorporeal_beings


incorporeal spirit
==================

:: Description
There is a being that is deceased but interacts with the world in the form of
a bodiless spirit.

:: Parents
undead being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit


indecent exposure
=================

:: Description
The deliberate public exposure by a person of a portion of their body in a
manner contrary to local standards of appropriate behavior is featured in a
way that it is understood to be a crime in the sociocultural context of the
story.

:: Parents
sexual crime

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indecent_exposure


indefinite detention
====================

:: Description
The ramifications of allowing governments to detain people indefinitely are
discussed.

:: Parents
legal punishment

:: Examples
The Romulans had kept Klingon war prisoners from the Khitomer Massacre in a
prison camp for many years in tng6x17 "Birthright, Part II".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indefinite_detention_without_trial


independence struggle
=====================

:: Description
A character is an activist for the cause of independence or autonomy of a
region that is part of a political entity.

:: Parents
political issue


indigenous rights
=================

:: Description
The putative rights of groups and individual claiming to belong to groups that
claim to represent indigenous population in a country settled from elsewhere,
are discussed.

:: Parents
human rights issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_rights
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Nations


individual humans
=================

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to an individual's personal emotions,
dispositions, thoughts, urges, ambitions, life issues, and other such
experiences.

:: Parents
personal human experience

:: Notes
We distinguish between "individual humans", "humans in pairs", and "humans in
groups" with reference to whose experiences are relevant to the thematic idea
that is being expressed. For example "coping with problematic people" clearly
implies the presence of two or more people but the theme is only concerned
with the experiences of a single observer at a time. "romantic relationship",
on the other hand, is a category of themes that most often examine the
interaction between two people and discuss both their experiences
simultaneously. Likewise "humans in group" imply themes that examine the
constitution of a whole group of people, for example the idea that "lack of
trust can lead to group dysfunction."

:: References


indoctrination in society
=========================

:: Description
An institution (for example the government, the church, or the military) uses
its powers to indoctrinate individuals into a way of thinking. For
"indoctrination" to apply a certain amount of coercion and intolerance towards
contrarian views is required.

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoctrination


indoctrination of a people
==========================

:: Description
The ramifications of instilling the people in a society with a biased, one-
sided or uncritical ideology are explored.

:: Parents
educational issue

:: Examples
The Cardassian military indoctrinated the Cardassian people in the virtues of
the Cardassian military in tng6x11 "Chain of Command, Part II".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoctrination


indoctrination of the young
===========================

:: Description
The ramification of indoctrinating a group of young people are explored.

:: Parents
educational issue

:: Examples
Spock was unsettled to have stumbled on the fugitive Lokai indoctrinating some
younger members of the crew in tos3x15 "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoctrination


inebriated interaction
======================

:: Description
A character is inebriated in a social setting. Typically the character makes a
right fool of themself.

:: Parents
humans in group


inequality in the justice system
================================

:: Description
People of different classes are treated differently in the legal system when
they commit the same type of crimes. For example, a rich man may get away with
murder while a poor man of an ethnic minority is sent to the gallows.

:: Parents
social inequality

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_in_the_United_States_criminal_justice_system


infanticide
===========

:: Description
A character murders a defenseless little baby, and it is featured as being a
crime.

:: Parents
murder

:: Examples
In "The Winter's Tale" (1611), King Leontes ordered the newborn child he
thought was his wife's bastard to be slain. Although it appeared was legally
in his right to do so, being the King and slighted husband, it was also
featured as being morally reprehensible and therefore a crime against the
customs of society. We also know that, in the historical context, Christianity
proscribed infanticide.


infatuation
===========

:: Description
An intense but (typically) short-lived passion that may peter out or settle
into more enduring romantic love.

:: Parents
romantic love

:: Examples
Riker and Minuet enjoyed a short, but memorable, infatuation on the holodeck
in tng1x15 "11001001".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infatuation


inferiority complex
===================

:: Description
A character experiences a lack of self-worth and possibly feelings of not
measuring up to expectations.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inferiority_complex


inflexible education system
===========================

:: Description
The education system is held up as rigid and intolerable of creative thinking,
something that might be an important problem for society.

:: Parents
educational issue


information technology in society
=================================

:: Description
The influence of the Internet, its precursors, or related technology on
society is discussed.

:: Parents
sociotechnological issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/internet


informed consent in medicine
============================

:: Description
The idea in medical ethics that to the extent possible, a patient should not
be subjected to a treatment unless they have consented to it with a clear
understanding of its implications.

:: Parents
medical ethical issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informed_consent


inheritance fight
=================

:: Description
Putative beneficiaries (usually family members) of a departed person's estate
squabble over how to divide the inheritance.

:: Parents
family affairs

:: Notes
Stories often feature such squabbling beginning well before the benefactor of
the heirs apparent has had the decency to depart. This theme is applicable,
for example, when children argue with their parents over how their future
bequest is to be allotted.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inheritance


inherited liability
===================

:: Description
We are asked to what extent descendants are answerable for the actions of
their ancestors.

:: Parents
law and order issue

:: Examples
For Javier Maribona Picard's role in the reconquest of New Mexico in the
1690's, all of Captain Picard's family was deemed to wear a stain of blood
until this day in tng7x20 "Journey's End".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sins_of_the_Father


inhospitable environment dwelling being
=======================================

:: Description
A being that thrives in environments that would be startlingly inhospitable to
us humans. In scorching fire, for example, or in bedrock.

:: Parents
biologically distinguished being


inorganic being
===============

:: Description
There is a being that is novel by virtue of having a non-carbon-based
biochemistry, e.g., crystalline beings, gaseous beings, electromagnetic
beings, etc.

:: Parents
biologically distinguished being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictional_extraterrestrials_by_form#Other_inorganic_life
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothetical_types_of_biochemistry


insectoid being
===============

:: Description
A being patterned after common earth insects and arachnids.

:: Parents
animal and plant patterned being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictional_extraterrestrials_by_form#Invertebrates


institutional risk to civilization
==================================

:: Description
People rely on a particular way of organizing their civilization but they are
either trapper in it or it has unforeseen consequences and civilization
collapses.

:: Parents
anthropogenic existential risk to civilization


institutionalized human blood sports society
============================================

:: Description
There is a broad practice of human blood sports in society, like the
gladiatorial games in Ancient Rome.

:: Parents
speculative social institution


institutionalizing a loved one
==============================

:: Description
A character is wrestling with the decision of whether or not to let a near and
dear person be committed to, for example, an asylum for the mentally ill.

:: Parents
family affairs
human life choice

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institutionalisation#The_mentally_ill


insurance fraud
===============

:: Description
A character fakes or deliberately causes an injury or loss of property in
order to illicitly get compensation from an insurance company.

:: Parents
criminal fraud

:: Examples
In "Double Indemnity" (1944), Walter and Phyllis hatch an elaborate plot to
kill Phyllis' husband and claim his life insurance, which they first take out
in his name but without his knowledge. They must then make the murder look
like an accident, in order to trigger the indemnity clause and double the
payout.


intangibility ability
=====================

:: Description
A character is able pass through material objects, such as walls.

:: Parents
speculative personal body manipulation

:: Examples
In X2 (2003), the mutant Kitty Pride manifested an innate ability to pass
through walls.

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/matter_penetration


intangibility device
====================

:: Description
There is a device which confers upon its target the ability to pass unscathed
through solid matter.

:: Parents
speculative handheld device

:: Examples
Captain Archer was able to walk through walls using a handheld device in "Star
Trek: Enterprise" Cold Front (ent1x11).

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/matter_penetration

:: Aliases
matter penetration technology


integrity
=========

:: Description
When a character sticks to their moral principles in spite of temptation to do
otherwise.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Captain Kirk unhesitatingly refused Korob's offers of tasty foods and
sparkling gemstones in exchange for his cooperation in tos2x01 "Catspaw".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrity


intellectual development of a child
===================================

:: Description
The subtle question of how a child's intellect develops and what should be
done to aid this process is discussed.

:: Parents
educating a child

:: Examples
The Aldeans had an enlightened approach to raising children they kidnap in
tng1x17 "When The Bough Breaks".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_development


intellectual property in society
================================

:: Description
The treatment of intangible creations of the human intellect as property by
law is discussed. Copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets are
notable examples of such things. Questions that arise are typically about
whether something deserves the legal protection it is afforded, or vice versa.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: Examples
In tz1959e5x34 "Come Wander with Me", "Rock-A-Billy Kid" Floyd Burney
expresses the opinion that he isn't obligated to pay any money for Mary
Rachel's song because it is in the public domain.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property


intelligence augmentation technology
====================================

:: Description
There is technology, perhaps wearable, by which an ordinary person can be
transformed into a genius.

:: Parents
mind altering technology
artificial intelligence


intelligent animal
==================

:: Description
A conventional Earth animal is discovered to be truly intelligent or to have
an intelligent (but as yet unknown) offshoot.

:: Parents
speculative being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talking_animal


intelligent dinosaurs
=====================

:: Description
The theory that some dinosaurs had intelligence comparable to that of modern
humans is featured.

:: Parents
crackpot theory


interest in antiques
====================

:: Description
The human predilection for engaging with old curios is illustrated.

:: Parents
recreational activity

:: Examples
Geordi was keen to take a look at some Ktarian antiques on the Deep Space 9
Promenade in tng6x16 "Birthright, Part I". He had heard there was a twenty-
first century plasma coil in perfect condition for sale.


interfactional mediation
========================

:: Description
Someone acts as a helpful intermediary between two factions that have trouble
negotiating effectively on their own, perhaps because they can't stand the
sight of one another.

:: Parents
diplomacy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediation


interfering in the internal affairs of other powers for humanitarian reasons
============================================================================

:: Description
The ethical justifications for intervening in the affairs of another nation
when doing so could arguably stop or prevent great human suffering, is
explored.

:: Parents
the ethics of interfering in the internal affairs of other powers


intergalactic space travel
==========================

:: Description
Featured is spaceflight between galaxies.

:: Parents
space travel

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergalactic_travel


intergenerational conflict
==========================

:: Description
Social problems that arise because of conflict between age groups are
explored. For example, when the young feel they are unemployed and poor
because previous generations have run up national debt and extract juicy
pensions there can be some resentment.

:: Parents
war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergenerationality


international issue
===================

:: Description
This is a general theme about interactions among sovereign states. For
example, the theme may pertain to war, peace, diplomacy, international trade,
and globalization.

:: Parents
society

:: Examples
"transnational institution for peace" is an "international issue" theme as it
is used when an organization like the UN, a forum for sovereign states to
discuss common concerns, is featured.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_(polity)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transnationality
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_relations
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_issue


international politics
======================

:: Description
The intricacies of politics when multiple sovereign factions and ethnic
identities are involved is features.

:: Parents
international issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_relations


international sanctions
=======================

:: Description
One or more states seek to punish another state by by preventing activities
such and trade and travel.

:: Parents
international issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_sanctions


interplanetary space travel
===========================

:: Description
Featured is spaceflight between planets or other bodies withing the same star
system.

:: Parents
space travel

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interplanetary_spaceflight


interplanetary war
==================

:: Description
There is warfare between combatants from different planets in a stellar
system.

:: Parents
speculative society

:: Examples
In "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" (1966), a full-scale war erupted between the
Federated Nations of Earth and their colony on the Moon.


interracial couple
==================

:: Description
Two people with of different socially-defined races engage in a romantic
relationship, and face some of the obstacles that come along with it.

:: Parents
romantic relationship

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interracial_marriage


interstellar communication network
==================================

:: Description
A way of communicating in some kind of real-time across the vast distances of
space that lies between star systems, is featured.

:: Parents
astronomical-scale engineering


interstellar space travel
=========================

:: Description
A people travels outside its original solar system. Note: As space travel is
present as the backdrop in every Star Trek episode, the theme is used only
when a particular point is made about it in the story line.

:: Parents
space travel

:: Examples
Captain Picard explained the Federation's mission in detail in tng1x01
"Encounter at Farpoint".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar_travel


interstellar war
================

:: Description
There is warfare between combatants from different planetary systems.

:: Parents
speculative society

:: Notes
This theme does not apply in the asymmetrical scenario where only one party
can take the fight to the other party's planetary system.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar_war


intimidation
============

:: Description
A character tries to browbeat another by threat and intimidation.

:: Parents
humans interacting

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intimidation


invasion of privacy
===================

:: Description
One character does something to another character that would be offensive and
considered a violation of the other character's reasonable expectation of
privacy, if found out. Typical this happens when one character spies on
another.

:: Parents
humans in group

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expectation_of_privacy


invasive life form from outer space
===================================

:: Description
The ecosystem, or a vital resource (food), on your planet is destroyed by an
invasive life form from outer space and you all die.

:: Parents
threat from extraterrestrial life

:: Examples
The grain supply designated for Sherman's Planet was entirely consumed by
Tribbles in tos2x13 "The Trouble with Tribbles".


invisibility
============

:: Description
There is an effect that renders someone or something invisible to the eye.

:: Parents
speculative effect


invisibility ability
====================

:: Description
A character is able to go unseen because their body is not visible to normal
human sight.

:: Parents
speculative personal body manipulation
invisibility

:: Notes
This condition is often described as a semi-permanent feature that the
benefiting character can't control, per se. It is, nevertheless, an ability in
the sense that it allows someone to go places unseen. Typically, they can
still make themselves seen by donning clothes or otherwise manipulating the
physical world.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisibility_in_fiction


invisibility technology
=======================

:: Description
There is a technology that renders someone or something invisible.

:: Parents
speculative technology
invisibility

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisibility_in_fiction
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/invisibility


invisible spaceship
===================

:: Description
Technology that renders a spaceship invisible.

:: Parents
speculative spaceship
invisibility technology

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/cloaking_device


ion drive spaceship
===================

:: Description
A spaceship propulsion technology the idea of which is to create thrust by
using electricity to accelerate ionized particles.

:: Parents
speculative spaceship

:: Examples
An ion-powered starship from Sigma Draconis VI was encountered in tos3x06
"Spock's Brain".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion_thruster
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/ion_drive


ironic twist of fate
====================

:: Description
Fate subjects a character to circumstances that are notably ironic in the
context of that same character's own designs and past actions.

:: Parents
ethics

:: Notes
This theme does not apply if the irony is achieved through the considered
designs of another character, for example as vengeance. It must also be
reasonably clear that irony is a considered component of the story.

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected3x06 "Parson's Pleasure", Cyril Boggis purchased a
priceless commode for a pittance by telling the seller he needed only the legs
and would use the rest as kindling. Upon appearing to collect it he found, in
an ironic twist of fate, that the exuberant seller had decided to do him the
favor of detaching the legs and chopping the body up into an easily
transportable kindling pile.


irreverence
===========

:: Description
Someone shows flagrant disregard toward people and things that generally
expected to be taken seriously.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Thadiun Okona comported himself with a attitude of flagrant disregard toward
authority aboard the Enterprise-C in tng2x04 "The Outrageous Okona".


irrigation
==========

:: Description
Any of a number of technologies developed over the ages to supply controlled
amounts of water to crops at regular intervals.

:: Parents
technology

:: Examples
Captain Kirk, while suffering from amnesia, had plans to irrigate Amerind in
tos3x03 "The Paradise Syndrome".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrigation


is there a higher power
=======================

:: Description
The question is posed: Is there a cosmic principle or eternal omnipotent
entity at work in the universe?

:: Parents
metaphysics

:: Examples
Captain Picard soliloquized on the possible existence of a higher power at
work in the cosmos in tng2x02 "Where Silence Has Lease".


is there a purpose to life
==========================

:: Description
The abstract, possibly nonsensical, question of whether life has some sort of
meaning and purpose is featured.

:: Parents
metaphysics

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meaning_of_life

:: Aliases
the meaning of life


isolated prehistoric land
=========================

:: Description
There is a geographical region, or location of significant size, which is
remote and isolated to such an extent that many features from prehistoric
times are still extant in present time.

:: Parents
speculative place

:: Notes
"Prehistoric" indicates time from before there were written records. These
fictional lands may for example contain cave men form the Stone Age,
Neanderthals, woolly mammoths, and dinosaurs.

:: Examples
In futurama7x08 "Fun on a Bun", Fry falls through a hole in a glacier into a
land filled with mammoths and Neanderthals. This land had been shut off from
the rest of the world by the ice since around the time Homo sapiens first
emerged and replaced Neanderthals.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistory


isolationism
============

:: Description
A society endeavors to cut all ties to the outside world and avoid strangers
to the extreme.

:: Parents
political ideology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isolationism


it's the future that matters not the past
=========================================

:: Description
Featured is the idea that a preoccupation with the past is bad if it comes at
the expense of concern for the future.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
In tz1959e4x10 "No Time Like the Past", we saw a disillusioned scientist in a
bleak future try vainly to change the past in various ways. After many
failures, he comes to the realization that his fixation with history is wrong,
and that he must instead work for the betterment of the future in the world
from whence he came.


it's what's on the inside that counts
=====================================

:: Description
The idea that one's character is more important than one's external appearance
is put forth.

:: Parents
human idea about life


jealousy
========

:: Description
A character is desirous of an advantage perceived to be held by another,
whether it be material (fancy hat) or intangible (love, friends, power,
ability, fame, etc.).

:: Parents
human emotion

:: Examples
Janice Lester went insane with jealousy over the achievements of her one time
lover Captain Kirk in tos3x24 "Turnabout Intruder".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jealousy


jellyfish-like being
====================

:: Description
A being resembling a jellyfish.

:: Parents
animal and plant patterned being

:: Examples
An enormous spaceborne jellyfish-like creature was imprisoned and exploited by
the Bandi in tng1x01 "Encounter at Farpoint", but its mate showed up to rescue
it.


jet pack
========

:: Description
A device worn on the back which uses jets of gas or liquid to propel the
wearer through the air.

:: Parents
speculative wearable device

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_pack


journalism
==========

:: Description
A character working with journalism is engaged in their chosen occupation.
This may include traveling investigative journalists as well as editors,
columnists, and the like.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journalist


journey into the underworld
===========================

:: Description
Someone travels into a dark and dreary world of the dead.

:: Parents
speculative travel

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underworld

:: Aliases
descent into hell


junk foods in society
=====================

:: Description
Featured is the social issue of there being an overabundance of cheap and
unhealthy food that is nevertheless so delicious that many people eat
excessively, which may turn them overweight and unhealthy.

:: Parents
public health issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junk_food


just be yourself
================

:: Description
The wisdom of the old motto "be yourself" is featured: one should strive to
act in a way that feels natural.

:: Parents
human way of life

:: Examples
In tz1959e1x33 "Mr. Bevis", we saw how Mr. Bevis first resolved to better
himself by conforming to society, as the guardian angel wanted, but realized
that he'd rather remain destitute but carefree, as he had always been.

Mudd's women were trying to act attractive but arguably became more attractive
when they stopped acting in tos1x03 "Mudd's Women".


justification for torture
=========================

:: Description
The following kind of dilemma is illustrated: Can it be morally justified to
use torture, for example, if it is the only way to protect your country? What
if you have only weak evidence that it can protect your country? Rumors?

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torture


keeping a promise when circumstances have changed
=================================================

:: Description
A character struggles with whether or not they are honor bound to keep a
pledge in a situation when circumstances have changed so much that it is
unclear whether the spirit of the pledge still applies.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma

:: Examples
In ds92x19 "Blood Oath" Jadzia Dax has to decide whether she should keep her
blood oath to go on a murderous quest of vengeance, even though the oath was
made by her antecedent Curzon Dax whose memories she retains but whose
personality is long departed.


keeping secrets
===============

:: Description
Someone tries to keep something a secret from others around them.

:: Parents
humans in group


kid getting a first job
=======================

:: Description
A young person is introduced to the job aspect of adult life, for example by
means of a summer job.

:: Parents
human childhood


kids' science project
=====================

:: Description
A young person is made to perform a science project of some sort in school, or
some equivalent scenario.

:: Parents
human childhood


kill all humans utopia
======================

:: Description
Society is made perfect by the removal of its one failing component: human.

:: Parents
utopia

:: Notes
This  may not seem like a utopia since the destructions of all humans is
usually not in the best interest of said humans. Nevertheless, in some stories
there are individuals (sometimes human, sometimes robot) who seem to imagine a
society bereft of humans as an idyllic one.

:: Examples
Lore and his loyal Borg minions wanted to wipe out the human scourge and make
the universe a perfect place in tng7x01 "Descent, Part II".


killer microdrone
=================

:: Description
A small autonomous aerial vehicle designed specifically to kill.

:: Parents
speculative weapon


killing an artificial person
============================

:: Description
We are made to ponder whether killing a sentient but artificial human-like
being would be as bad as killing a normal human being.

:: Parents
AI rights

:: Examples
Sarek and the good guys debated the morality of killing artificial villains in
tos3x22 "The Savage Curtain".


killing for personal advantage
==============================

:: Description
Someone struggles with the decision of whether or not to kill another in a
situation where what's at stake for the potential killer is wealth or status
etc. This theme is not used in "kill or be killed" situations, or when the
killing is otherwise primarily done to save lives.

:: Parents
personal life and death dilemma


killing in self-defense
=======================

:: Description
A character must choose whether to kill another person in order to save their
own hide.

:: Parents
compromising one's ethical principles vs. great need

:: Examples
In tng3x03 "The Survivors", we heard that the immensely powerful alien being
Kevin refused to kill even the murderous Husnock when they arrived to
eradicate Kevin, Kevin's family, friends and entire community.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justifiable_homicide

:: Aliases
justifiable homicide


killing to save a loved one
===========================

:: Description
Someone struggles between whether to commit murder if that is required to save
a loved one from death.

:: Parents
personal life and death dilemma


killing to survive
==================

:: Description
A character struggles with whether or not it is acceptable in a certain
situation to take another's life in order to save their own.

:: Parents
compromising one's ethical principles vs. great need

:: Aliases
kill or be killed


killing wicked people
=====================

:: Description
We are made to ponder whether and to what extent the extrajudicial killing of
patently wicked people can be morally sanctionable.

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: Examples
In tz2019e1x01 "The Comedian", we must consider, as Samir no doubt did,
whether it was alright to eradicate various maleficents that he knew from his
past and that Internet confirmed as bad eggs.


kindness
========

:: Description
Someone feels deeply for the plight of another and offers kindness and
compassion rather than material aid.

:: Parents
human character

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kindness


kleptomania
===========

:: Description
A character persistently exhibits the irresistible urge to steal items,
typically for reasons other than personal use or financial gain.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleptomania


knowledge is power
==================

:: Description
The age old wisdom that having knowledge that others' lack can be a source of
power to influence the actions of others, is featured.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
In bbf1x03, "Born to the Purple" (1994), one character sought knowledge to
gain power in society, at two characters pointedly used their secret knowledge
for good and one character obtained private knowledge but refrained from
taking advantage from it out of compassion.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientia_potentia_est


kumbayah utopia
===============

:: Description
Society is seemingly paradisical because everyone just stops being a jerk.

:: Parents
utopia based on a view of human nature

:: Examples
The tiny alternate universe time continuum Elysia was a veritable utopia where
everyone simply got along in tas1x12 "The Time Trap".


labor revolt
============

:: Description
Featured is a period civil unrest characterized by strong labor militancy and
strike activity.

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labour_revolt


labor strikes in society
========================

:: Description
The feature of strike action among organized worker groups in society is
discussed.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: Notes
Not to be confused with "bowling strikes", which rarely appear as social
issues in stories.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strike_action


land exploration
================

:: Description
Someone faces the dangers inherent to exploring relatively unknown and
unfamiliar inland regions.

:: Parents
charting unknown territory

:: Notes
A land inhabited by natives may still be unknown to the explorer and their
people.


language change
===============

:: Description
Language change is variation over time in a language's features. This process
is discussed or pointedly illustrated.

:: Parents
problem of language and meaning

:: Examples
An Abraham Lincoln replica asked forgiveness for calling Uhura "a charming
negress" in tos3x22 "The Savage Curtain" upon recalling that the term was used
by some in his time as a description of property.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_change
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_change


language of musical notes
=========================

:: Description
The (very real) idea of a language composed of musical sounds is illustrated.

:: Parents
problem of language and meaning

:: Examples
The myseterious space obelisk on Amerind featured such a language in tos3x03
"The Paradise Syndrome".


law and order issue
===================

:: Description
Explored is behavior that is broadly considered to be against the law in
organized societies. The theme pertains to crimes and the measures we take to
punish, deter, and prevent them.

:: Parents
national social issue

:: Notes
Discussions about what ought or oughtn't be law belong elsewhere. For example,
thorny constitutional law controversies may be better described as political
issues.

:: Examples
"price rigging in society" and "theft in society" are both about undesirable
activities that we seek to proscribe, and are thus "law and order issue"
themes.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_law
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime


law enforcement
===============

:: Description
A character working in some department of law enforcement is engaged in their
chosen occupation.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_enforcement


lawless anarchy dystopia
========================

:: Description
There is a dysfunctional society without laws or order. Typically the strong
and powerful do as they wish, and violence abounds.

:: Parents
dystopia


laziness
========

:: Description
A character is very lazy, either physically (too lazy to work or move about)
or mentally (too lazy to bother attending to their duties).

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Spock abandoned his duties in favor of frolicking in a tree while under the
influence of space spores in tos1x25 "This Side of Paradise".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sloth_(deadly_sin)


leadership
==========

:: Description
Someone does a good or bad job of leading a group of people.

:: Parents
humans in hierarchy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership


learning about a foreign culture
================================

:: Description
Someone seeks to learn about a culture different to their own.

:: Parents
foreign point of view


learning languages
==================

:: Description
The difficulties involved in learning a new language are illustrated.

:: Parents
problem of language and meaning


leaving one's old life behind
=============================

:: Description
A character must choose between staying put in a familiar old role on one hand
or grab a fresh new (but unknown and risky) opportunity on the other.

:: Parents
human life choice


legal duty
==========

:: Description
Featured is a codified duty in the sens of criminal law, i.e., an obligation
to act under which failure to act (omission) results in criminal liability.

:: Parents
law and order issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_obligations


legal occupation
================

:: Description
A character working directly with the interpretation of law, for example a
lawyer, prosecutor, or judge, is engaged in their chosen occupation.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_proceeding


legal punishment
================

:: Description
Discussed is a type of punishment that is considered legitimate by virtue of
being set out in a law code by a recognized government.

:: Parents
law and order issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punishment


legendary being
===============

:: Description
There is a fictitious being from Earth mythology.

:: Parents
speculative being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legendary_creature


legendary historical figure
===========================

:: Description
A person who has been suggested to have been a real historical figure but for
whose existence there is no accepted historical evidence, is discussed or
otherwise featured.

:: Parents
history


legendary magic wielder
=======================

:: Description
There is a human or human-like being with an innate ability to use magic of
one sort or another. This may include wizards, sorcerers, witches, etc.

:: Parents
legendary being


legendary place
===============

:: Description
A fictional realm from Earth mythology, is featured. Examples include
Atlantis, El Dorado, and the Garden of Eden.

:: Parents
speculative place


leprechaun
==========

:: Description
This diminutive mischief-maker from Irish folklore is featured.

:: Parents
legendary being

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x14b "The Little People of Killany Woods", an Irish town drunkard's
tall tales about "little people" turned out to be true after all. Alas, in
this case the Leprachauns were from outer space.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leprechaun


lesbianism
==========

:: Description
We are asked to what extent, if any, lesbianism should be tolerated in our
society and how lesbians ought to be treated.

:: Parents
homosexuality in society

:: Examples
Beverly was propositioned by Kareel Odan in tng4x23 "The Host", alas declined.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbian


lesson in humility
==================

:: Description
Someone who was previously proud or arrogant is humbled and becomes more
conscious of their own limitations.

:: Parents
human self improvement


lethal mating practice being
============================

:: Description
A species of beings for which, like the preying mantis, the practice of mating
is a lethal affair.

:: Parents
sexually distinguished being


letting go of a lover
=====================

:: Description
Someone painfully comes to terms with a relationship that has ended and moves
on.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue
letting go of the past


letting go of the past
======================

:: Description
A character struggles with accepting and adjusting to their new reality after
something adverse and irreversible has happened to it. Typically this theme is
used when someone has trouble moving on after a, to them, important person has
passed away.

:: Parents
human self-reflection

:: Examples
In tz1985e3x05 "Dream Me a Life", both Roger and Laurel were miserable because
they had difficulty letting go of their late lovers and moving on. In the end
they finally did so and became acquainted with each other, possibly as
intimates.


liar paradox
============

:: Description
The statement of a liar who states that they are lying: for instance,
declaring that "I am lying" or "everything I say is false". If they are indeed
lying, they are telling the truth, which means they are lying and so on ad
infinitum.

:: Parents
mathematics

:: Examples
Captain Kirk bested the android Norman by skillfully wielding this dangerous
piece of otherwise abstract mathematics in tos2x12 "I, Mudd".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liar_paradox


librarian
=========

:: Description
There is a character whose job it is to tend to the books in a library, or the
like.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: Examples
In tz1959e2x29 "The Obsolete Man", Mr. Wordsworth was a dedicated librarian
and therefore considered obsolete by the totalitarian state in which he had
the misfortune to live.


lie detector
============

:: Description
A gadget that can detect whether or not someone is lying. Such machines exist
but their reliability is debated.

:: Parents
once speculative device

:: Examples
The Enterprise computer doubled as a lie detector in tos2x07 "Wolf in the
Fold".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lie_detection


life extension technology
=========================

:: Description
There is a technology that enables a person to live long beyond the current
maximum life span.

:: Parents
human enhancement technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_extension


life force
==========

:: Description
The idea that people have some sort of vital energy that can (usually) be used
and depleted much like a liquid.

:: Parents
folk belief

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_(esotericism)


life force draining being
=========================

:: Description
A life form that somehow derives nourishment from the "life force" of other
beings.

:: Parents
parasitic being


life force transfer
===================

:: Description
Seen is a process, perhaps aided by technology or magic, in which "life force"
(spiritual energy, part of the soul, or the like) is transfered form one
person to another.

:: Parents
speculative effect

:: Examples
Taurean women put life force draining headbands on men in tas1x04 "The Lorelei
Signal", in order to extend their own lives, until Captain Kirk and his crew
put a stop to such shenanigans.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_(esotericism)


life with a handicap vs. death
==============================

:: Description
Someone must decide whether or not to accept a permanent physical or mental
impairment, for example the loss of a limb, in order to survive.

:: Parents
contemplating suicide


literature appreciation
=======================

:: Description
How best to appreciate litterature is discussed.

:: Parents
the fine arts and the humanities

:: Examples
Spock was most impressed with Mr. Flint's taste in literature in tos3x21
"Requiem for Methuselah".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literary_criticism


live by the sword die by the sword
==================================

:: Description
The idea is held forth that people who choose to live lives of violence are
likely to die violent deaths.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_by_the_sword_die_by_the_sword


living corpse
=============

:: Description
There is a corpse that has been re-animated by some or another means.

:: Parents
undead being

:: Examples
Dr. Juan Munos used refrigeration to keep his dead body somehow alive in
"Night Gallery" tale "Cool Air" (1971).


living dinosaur
===============

:: Description
The theory that non-avian dinosaurs have survived the Cretaceous–Paleogene
(K–Pg) extinction event is entertained.

:: Parents
cryptid

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_dinosaur
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/dinosaurs


living isolated from civilization
=================================

:: Description
A character or small community chooses the hermit's life of isolation from
most of the rest of society.

:: Parents
human way of life


living planet
=============

:: Description
There is an organism that exists on a planetary-scale.

:: Parents
size distinguished being
spaceborne being

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/living_worlds


living space cloud
==================

:: Description
A life form that exists as an expansive, gaseous cloud in outer space.

:: Parents
size distinguished being
spaceborne being


living up to expectations
=========================

:: Description
Someone struggles with the pressure of meeting the expectations of others.

:: Parents
human social position

:: Examples
Wesley, the wunderkind, failed to meet expectations that he would pass the
Starfleet Academy entrance exam in in tng1x19 "Coming of Age".


lobotomization
==============

:: Description
We are asked when, if ever, it is acceptable to prescribe lobotomization, the
surgical destruction of part of someone's brain, typically in the context of
ameliorating a mental disorder. Concrete lobotomization is no longer done but
surgery on the brain is sometimes necessary and there are many tough decision
to wrangle.

:: Parents
medicine

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobotomy


local weather control system
============================

:: Description
A machine capable of modifying and controlling weather in its immediate
vicinity is featured.

:: Parents
sub-planetary-scale engineering

:: Examples
A team of scientists tested a system to control the weather on and around a
remote Pacific island in "Son of Godzilla" (1967).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_modification
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/weather_control


locationally distinguished being
================================

:: Description
There is a being that is novel by virtue of where it comes from, e.g.,
underground, outer space, an ethereal realm, etc.

:: Parents
speculative being


logarithmic scale
=================

:: Description
A scale of measurement that displays the value of a quantity using intervals
corresponding to orders of magnitude, like the Richter scale for earthquakes.

:: Parents
mathematics

:: Examples
Data and Geordi used a logarithmic scale in tng5x04 "Silicon Avatar" to
improve image resolution.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logarithmic_scale


logic vs. gut feeling
=====================

:: Description
Someone must decide, in a given situation, which course of action is the
better: the one dictated by their gut instinct or the one dictated by their
head (logic).

:: Parents
personal practical dilemma


logical reasoning
=================

:: Description
Logic is the systematic study of valid rules of inference, i.e. the relations
that lead to the acceptance of one proposition (the conclusion) on the basis
of a set of other propositions (premises). More broadly, logic is the analysis
and appraisal of arguments.

:: Parents
mathematics

:: Notes
As almost any human conversation can be said to involve logic, this theme is
used only when the topic of logic itself is explicitly discussed in a somewhat
academic way.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logic

:: Aliases
deductive reasoning
inductive reasoning
abductive reasoning


loneliness
==========

:: Description
Someone feels bad because they lack friends and meaningful companionship.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loneliness


lonewolf way of life
====================

:: Description
Someone deliberately shuns contact with others and prefers to live alone as
much as they can.

:: Parents
human way of life


long-distance relationship
==========================

:: Description
Two lovers try to remain romantically involved in spite of being miles or
lightyears apart, perhaps even without access to real-time communication. Can
they keep the spark alive?

:: Parents
romantic relationship

:: Examples
Captain Picard recalled that he and Miranda Vrgo had broken up because their
long distance relationship didn't work out in tng7x22 "Bloodlines".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-distance_relationship


looking for a lover
===================

:: Description
Someone is actively seeking a romantic partner.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue


lookism in society
==================

:: Description
The issue of people being too obsessed with looks and appearances, their own
and others, is discussed.

:: Parents
prejudice in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lookism


looting
=======

:: Description
Featured is the crime of stealing, or the taking of goods by force, in the
midst of a military, political, or other social crisis, such as war, natural
disasters (where law and civil enforcement are temporarily ineffective), or
rioting. The proceeds of all these activities can be described as booty, loot,
plunder, spoils, or pillage.

:: Parents
theft

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looting


loser character
===============

:: Description
There is a stereotypical loser-like character with attributes like a dead-end
job, no useful education, poor social relations etc.

:: Parents
human character stereotype


loss of emotional equilibrium
=============================

:: Description
A character acts impulsively due to extreme emotion and (normally) against
better judgment.

:: Parents
human mental condition


lost continent of Mu
====================

:: Description
The far-fetched notion that a continent, once located in the Pacific Ocean and
inhabited by a technologically advanced civilization in pre-history, has since
disappeared as a result of catastrophic geological phenomena.

:: Parents
crackpot theory
legendary place

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mu_(lost_continent)


love
====

:: Description
This is a general theme dealing with that feeling of deep affection and
attachment toward someone or (occasionally) something. If sexuality is
featured then the specialization "romantic love" is used.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love


love at first sight
===================

:: Description
The kind of love a person feels who becomes instantly infatuated upon first
seeing someone.

:: Parents
romantic love

:: Examples
It was love at first sight for Troi and  Devinoni Ral in tng3x08 "The Price".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_at_first_sight


love conquers all
=================

:: Description
Two lovers have such strong feelings for each other that prove to survive
surprisingly difficult obstacles, e.g., years of separation.

:: Parents
human nature

:: Examples
Anne Nored remained as deeply in love as ever with Carter Winston even after
it came to light that he was a betentacled alien spy in tas1x06 "The
Survivor".


love kindled by danger
======================

:: Description
The idea that a shared danger can kindle peoples' passions for each other is
illustrated.

:: Parents
romantic love


love of a pet
=============

:: Description
The love of a master for their pet is featured.

:: Parents
familial love


love out of pity
================

:: Description
A character maintains a romance, or has sex, with an infatuated devotee mostly
out of pity for them.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue

:: Examples
Janet Wallace offered intimate comforting to Captain Kirk in tos2x11 "The
Deadly Years" when he started aging rapidly.

:: Aliases
pity sex


love potion
===========

:: Description
There is a liquid concoction with the property that it can make one person
love another.

:: Parents
magic potion


love triangle
=============

:: Description
Three people (sometimes more) are connected via multiple romantic
relationships or unrequited romantic aspirations in a so called "love
triangle" ("love mesh" more generally). For example: A loves B loves C loves
A, or A and B are friends and both lovers of C, etc.

:: Parents
romantic relationship

:: Notes
To be applicable, some sort of interpersonal relationship should be present
for all pairs of people in the triangle. In particular, the theme is not
applicable when a spouse takes a lover unless the other spouse is also well
acquainted, for example friends, with the lover in question.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_triangle


love vs. career
===============

:: Description
A character must decide what is more important to them: love or career.

:: Parents
career choice
human romantic relationship choice


love vs. conscience
===================

:: Description
A character is made to choose between love one on one hand, and doing what
they feel is right on the other.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma
human romantic relationship choice


love vs. faith
==============

:: Description
Someone is forced to choose between adhering to their faith (for example the
doctrines of a church they belong to), or pursuing a romantic interest.

:: Parents
human romantic relationship choice


love vs. friendship
===================

:: Description
Someone has to choose between pursuing a romantic relationship on one hand,
and maintaining a friendship on the other.

:: Parents
human romantic relationship choice


love vs. material gain
======================

:: Description
A character must choose between someone they love on one hand, and profiting
materially (for example by money) on the other.

:: Parents
human romantic relationship choice

:: Examples
In tz1959e2x21 "The Prime Mover", Kitty gave her lover Ace this ultimatum:
Quit his crooked gambling, or she'd leave. Ace kept gambling a bit longer.


love vs. the public good
========================

:: Description
A character must choose between the loved one on one hand, and a general good,
such as a cure for cancer, on the other.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma

:: Examples
If time traveler Peter Standish had married his love Helen Petigrew, then the
timeline would have been irreparably altered in "I'll Never Forget You"
(1951).


love-hate relationship
======================

:: Description
Two characters simultaneously or alternatingly adore each other and despise
each other in a very chaotic relationship.

:: Parents
romantic relationship


lovers' quarrel
===============

:: Description
Two characters in a romantic relationship have an argument over something
relatively petty, in a way that stereotypically belongs to such relationships.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue


loyalty
=======

:: Description
A character is pointedly faithful to someone or something. For example, the
theme may pertain to an individual demonstrating their loyalty (or pointed
lack thereof) to a friend, a cause, or their nation.

:: Parents
human character

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loyalty


loyalty to a cause
==================

:: Description
Someone shows constant support to a movement they feel strongly about.

:: Parents
loyalty


loyalty to a friend
===================

:: Description
Someone shows constant support to a friend.

:: Parents
loyalty
friendship


loyalty to a group
==================

:: Description
Someone shows constant support to a group to which they belong.

:: Parents
loyalty


loyalty to a leader
===================

:: Description
A subordinate shows constant support to their leader.

:: Parents
loyalty

:: Examples
Kirk's senior officers remained loyal to their captain at his court martial in
tos1x24 "Court Martial".


loyalty to a subordinate
========================

:: Description
A leader shows constant support to a subordinate.

:: Parents
loyalty


loyalty to one's family
=======================

:: Description
Someone shows constant support to a family member.

:: Parents
loyalty


loyalty to one's species
========================

:: Description
Someone shows constant support to their species.

:: Parents
loyalty


lucid dreaming
==============

:: Description
The way we can sometimes dream with full awareness and control of our dream is
featured.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucid_dream


lucky charms
============

:: Description
Someone believes a certain object gives them good luck.

:: Parents
supernatural luck

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_luck_charm


lying
=====

:: Description
A character perpetrates a falsehood in an outright effort to deceive others
with whom they are intimately acquainted.

:: Parents
humans interacting

:: Examples
David tells an unconvincing lie to cover up that he'd accidentally shot dead a
mule while playing with his new pistol in "Almos' a Man" (1976).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lie


machine controlled society
==========================

:: Description
Society is supposedly ideal thanks to being controlled by machines that go
about optimizing everybody's well-being in the best way possible.

:: Parents
ruling elite utopia
technologically enabled utopia

:: Aliases
computer controlled society


machine living secretly among us
================================

:: Description
A machine impersonating a human is living secretly among normal people.

:: Parents
impostor living secretly among us

:: Examples
In "Terminator: Dark Fate" (2019), the T-101 Model Terminator Carl lives with
a wife and stepson in Laredo, Texas, where he works as a common draper.


machines in society
===================

:: Description
The role of machines in society is explored. Examples include the
ramifications of people being replaced by machines at work and the use of AI
technology in daily life.

:: Parents
sociotechnological issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanization


mad scientist stereotype
========================

:: Description
There is a character that fits the stereotype of a mad scientist. This
typically involves lab coats and crazy experiments.

:: Parents
human character stereotype

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Mad_scientist_films


madness inducing painting
=========================

:: Description
There is a painting, or similarly visual work of art, that entices its
beholders towards insanity.

:: Parents
speculative madness inducing effect
magic object

:: Examples



magic bag
=========

:: Description
There is a bag from which one can procure far more items, possibly an
unlimited number, than the bag by its external appearance could possibly hold.

:: Parents
magic object

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x13a "Night of the Meek", Henry suddenly found that his garbage bag
was filled with Christmas presents and continued to be so however many were
removed, near enough.


magic healing object
====================

:: Description
There is an object which can be used to heal a person of their ailments, with
supernatural efficacy.

:: Parents
magic object


magic object
============

:: Description
There is an object with some fantastical property that cannot be explained by
science.

:: Parents
folk belief

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Magic_objects


magic portal
============

:: Description
There is an opening, usually framed in a portal, mirror, or suchlike object,
through which objects and people may pass and appear instantaneously in remote
places.

:: Parents
magic object

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portals_in_fiction


magic potion
============

:: Description
There is a liquid concoction with supernatural properties. For example, the
potion might turn someone into an animal, or make them fall madly in love.

:: Parents
magic object

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potion


magic powers
============

:: Description
A character is able to do at will some fantastical things that involves
speculative supernatural forces that can be described as "magic".

:: Parents
speculative ability

:: Notes
This theme applies when a character uses spells, incantation, and other
classically magic invocations. Unlike, for example, telekinesis it is clear
that the world is manipulated first through the manipulation of some "magical"
force or principle. In essence, the character is not directly manipulating
real things (as we know them) but manipulates magic. Thus this becomes a
category apart from other "speculative ability" themes.


magic word
==========

:: Description
The use of spoken words to invoke magical energies is featured. Note: A stage
magician uttering "Abracadabra" before performing a trick does not count.

:: Parents
folk belief

:: Notes
A stage magician uttering "Abracadabra" before performing a trick does not
meet the bar for applying this theme.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_word


magical land in the sky
=======================

:: Description
There is a land, a kingdom perhaps, above the clouds.

:: Parents
speculative place

:: Notes
This kind of theme is common fare for fairy tales and religions, and the exact
details are generally left vague.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven


magnanimity in victory
======================

:: Description
Someone is forgiving to a rival they have bested.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: Examples
Riker graciously declined Portal 6-3's offer to destroy a party of conniving
Ferengi in tng1x05 "The Last Outpost".


magnetic boots
==============

:: Description
Boots that are magnetic, which allows them to attach to the ferrous floor or
hulls of a spacecraft during weightlessness, and presumably would allow
someone to walk around the cabin of a spacecraft, are featured.

:: Parents
speculative wearable device
once speculative device

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_boots


maker and machine
=================

:: Description
The relationship between a maker of a (more or less intelligent) machine and
that machine is featured.

:: Parents
humans in pairs


maker and monster
=================

:: Description
The relationship between a maker and a monster of their own creation is
featured.

:: Parents
humans in pairs


male bonding
============

:: Description
Two mature adult males strengthen their friendship by engaging in
stereotypically male bonding activities such as William T. Riker fighting an
Anbo-jyutsu match.

:: Parents
friendship

:: Examples
Geordi and Bochra, a Romulan centurion and sworn enemy of the Federation,
engaged in some serious male bonding while stranded together on the planet
Galorndon Core in tng3x07 "The Enemy".


male brutishness
================

:: Description
The sexist attitude that males are blunt and violent is illustrated as such.

:: Parents
male stereotype


male competitiveness
====================

:: Description
The idea that men are inherently competitive is expressed.

:: Parents
male stereotype
competitiveness

:: References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9639863


male homosexuality
==================

:: Description
We are asked to what extent, if any, homosexuality should be tolerated in our
society and how homosexual people ought to be treated.

:: Parents
homosexuality in society

:: Examples
The J'naii's gender identities were rather fuzzy in tng5x17 "The Outcast";
Riker's fling with Soren may have been as close as we ever got to seeing male
homosexuality in TNG.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality


male lasciviousness
===================

:: Description
A male character is stereotypically licentious, i.e., makes offensive comments
of a sexual nature or otherwise expresses an offensive preoccupation with sex.

:: Parents
male stereotype

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lascivious_behavior


male midlife crisis
===================

:: Description
The sterotypical idea of a male midlife crisis is featured. It might, for
example, make the male in question buy fast cars and hookers, revert to
teenage attitudes, or do some other silly things.

:: Parents
male stereotype

:: Notes
A midlife crisis is a transition of identity and self-confidence that can
occur in middle-aged individuals, typically 45-64 years old.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midlife_crisis


male posturing
==============

:: Description
The tendency of some males to prance and posture, particularly in front of
females, is demonstrated.

:: Parents
male stereotype


male protectiveness
===================

:: Description
The tendency of some males to be protective of females is illustrated.

:: Parents
male stereotype

:: Examples
Scotty had a crush on Carolyn Palamas and tried awkwardly to be her knight in
shining armor in tos2x04 "Who Mourns for Adonais?".


male stereotype
===============

:: Description
Highlighted is one of those attributes that someone thinks, correctly or
incorrectly, to be typical of men. Such themes may sometimes be considered
sexist by contemporary standards.

:: Parents
human character stereotype


male-female bonding
===================

:: Description
Two mature adult characters of the opposite sex strengthen their friendship
through some sort of bonding activity or shared hardship etc. Note: This theme
is not used if the nature of the relationship is predominantly romantic.

:: Parents
friendship

:: Examples
In ent1x15 "Shadows of P'Jem", Archer and T'Pol are held hostage together, a
tribulation during which they come to much better understand each other.


male-male rivalry
=================

:: Description
Two or more male characters compete with each other in a stereotypically male
way, for example through posturing or by trying to intimidate each other.

:: Parents
rivalry
male stereotype


man and mistress
================

:: Description
There is a man and a woman who are in a stable romantic relationship in such a
way that she can be readily described as his "mistress". This expression is
usually applied when the man is married to someone else, or when there is at
least a hint of secrecy about the arrangement. The interpersonal relationship
between the two characters is featured.

:: Parents
paramour and paramour

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistress_(lover)


man vs. woman
=============

:: Description
There is conflict between a male character and a female character, featured in
such a way that the gender difference is significant to the situation.

:: Parents
human vs. human


mandatory retirement
====================

:: Description
We are asked when in life it is right and proper for a person to retire.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: Examples
The Federation decided to review the mandatory retirement age of 75 in the
case of Commodore April after his heroic actions in tas2x06 "The Counter-Clock
Incident".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandatory_retirement


mandrake root legend
====================

:: Description
The legend that humanoid-shaped Mandrake root is produced by the semen of
hanged men under the gallows.

:: Parents
folk belief

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alraune#Legend
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandrake#Magic_and_witchcraft


manipulation of evolution on a planet
=====================================

:: Description
A species influences the development of life on other planets by interceding
early in the evolutionary process (possibly before biological molecules first
appeared) and then letting nature take its course.

:: Parents
planetary-scale engineering

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x15b "A Small Talent for War", an alien told some United Nations
delegates that his people had seeded Earth, along with millions of other
worlds, with life.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directed_panspermia


manners
=======

:: Description
The importance of, for example, not telling fools they are fools straight to
their face is featured.

:: Parents
humans in group

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etiquette

:: Aliases
etiquette


maritime occupation
===================

:: Description
Someone working on or with a seafaring vessel is engaged in their chosen
occupation. Typically this means sailors, captains, and other naval officers.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: Examples
In "Two Lost Worlds" (1951), we saw the day-to-day lives of the crew members
of an American clipper ship as they pursued pirates across the Pacific Ocean
all the way to a volcanic island inhabited by dinosaurs.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailor


marriage ceremony
=================

:: Description
There is a wedding.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue


marriage equality
=================

:: Description
The human rights issue that same-sex marriage and opposite-sex marriage be
recognized as equal by the law, is discussed.

:: Parents
human rights issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_equality_(disambiguation)

:: Aliases
same-sex marriage


masculinity
===========

:: Description
What it means to be a real man is at stake.

:: Parents
male stereotype

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masculinity

:: Aliases
manliness


mass consumerism
================

:: Description
We are made to ponder the pros and cons of a society in which happiness is
linked to the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumerism


mass hysteria
=============

:: Description
Allusions of a threat spread through a group causing panic, each person's fear
reinforcing that of the next and in a vicious circle.

:: Parents
humans in group

:: Examples
The people of Maple Street gradually transform into an hysterical mob when
they thought an alien monster was masquerading amongst them in "The Twilight
Zone" (1959) story "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" (tz1959e1x22).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_hysteria


mass infertility
================

:: Description
For one reason or another people become infertile and civilization gradually
die out.

:: Parents
force of nature existential risk to civilization

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Societal_collapse#Sub-replacement_fertility

:: Aliases
sub-replacement fertility


mass media in society
=====================

:: Description
The various ways in which mass media affect society is explored.

:: Parents
sociotechnological issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_media


mass mind control
=================

:: Description
The technology to, more or less directly and with some degree of precision,
control the minds and actions of entire populations of people.

:: Parents
mind altering technology

:: Examples
Landru mind controlled a entire population with the help of an absorption
chamber or two in tos1x22 "The Return of the Archons".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwashing


mass murder
===========

:: Description
The crime of murdering a number of people, typically simultaneously or over a
relatively short period of time and in close geographic proximity is featured.

:: Parents
murder

:: Examples
A New York police detective investigates a series of mass murders in "God Told
Me To" (1976).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_murder


mass radiation poisoning
========================

:: Description
Radiation from some unspecified source wipes out life on a planet.

:: Parents
force of nature existential risk to civilization

:: Examples
The Scalosians were nearly wiped out by radiation in tos3x13 "Wink of an Eye".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acute_radiation_syndrome


mass surveillance
=================

:: Description
The question of whether and to what extent we should have large scale
surveillance systems in place is discussed.

:: Parents
law and order issue
sociotechnological issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveillance


master and pet
==============

:: Description
The relationship between a master and their pet is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship

:: Examples
Data replicated feline supplement 74 for his beloved pet Spot the cat in
tng4x11 "Data's Day".


master and servant
==================

:: Description
The relationship between a master and their servant is featured.

:: Parents
superior and subordinate


master and slave
================

:: Description
The relationship between a master (or mistress) and their slave is featured.

:: Parents
superior and subordinate


match fixing
============

:: Description
The problem of criminals rigging games and sports matches by various means in
order to profit from betting and spectator revenues, is discussed.

:: Parents
criminal fraud

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Match_fixing


matchmaking technology
======================

:: Description
There is technology with the putative capability to pair love seekers off in
some sort of optimal way.

:: Parents
speculative device

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matchmaking


material possessions aren't everything
======================================

:: Description
The idea is put forth that we ought to see material possessions as less
important in favor of other considerations, for example relationships.

:: Parents
human idea about life


maternal love
=============

:: Description
The love of a mother for her child is featured.

:: Parents
parental love

:: Examples
Beverly expressed her love for Wesley in tng1x03 "The Naked Now" by slapping
him clear across the face.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maternal_bond


mathematics
===========

:: Description
Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers,
formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are
contained, and quantities and their changes. The theme is used whenever a
notable idea from this area of knowledge is featured in the story.

:: Parents
science

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematics


mating behavior
===============

:: Description
The ways in which animals behave with regard to mating is studied.

:: Parents
zoology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_sexual_behaviour


matriarchy
==========

:: Description
There is a social system in which exclusively women have political power.

:: Parents
form of government

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matriarchy


matricide
=========

:: Description
A son or daughter murders their own mother.

:: Parents
parricide

:: Examples
In "Psycho" (1960), we learn that young Norman Bates had murdered his widowed
mother and her new fiancée out of jealousy when Mrs. Bates planned to remarry.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matricide


matrimonial love
================

:: Description
The love between two married people is featured.

:: Parents
familial love


matter duplicator
=================

:: Description
A machine that can exactly duplicate physical objects.

:: Parents
matter manipulating technology

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/matter_duplication


matter manipulating technology
==============================

:: Description
There is technology that enables the changing or rearranging of particles of
matter at a level of precision beyond our current capabilities.

:: Parents
speculative technology
speculative matter manipulating effect


matter replicator
=================

:: Description
A device used to synthesize all sorts of material objects merely out of
energy.

:: Parents
matter manipulating technology

:: Examples
L.Q. "Sonny" Clemonds replicated a straight up martini with two olives (for
the vitamins) using the Enterprise-D matter replicator in tng1x26 "The Neutral
Zone".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replicator_(Star_Trek)


matter transmuter
=================

:: Description
A device used to transform material objects into other material objects or
into energy.

:: Parents
matter manipulating technology

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/transmutation


mechanic occupation
===================

:: Description
A character works professionally with building, maintaining, or repairing
machinery. In particular they may be an auto mechanic, i.e., someone who work
this way with cars.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanic

:: Aliases
auto mechanic


mechanical insect
=================

:: Description
There is a mechanical device that is shaped like an insect and that acts like
an insect in some ways.

:: Parents
artificial intelligence
speculative robot

:: Examples
In blackmirror3x06 "Hated in the Nation" enormous swarms of mechanical bees
had been created to pollinate plants, because real bees had died out.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RoboBee


medical assistance to the enemy
===============================

:: Description
A medical professional ponders whether and to what extent they should expend
effort to treat a wounded enemy.

:: Parents
medical ethical issue


medical ethical issue
=====================

:: Description
Ethical issues relating to how physicians and other health care providers
ought to behave in various situation, is explored.

:: Parents
social ethical issue

:: Examples
"medical triage" involves choosing which patient to treat first and involves
various ethical considerations that, perhaps, should not be left to individual
whim.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_ethics


medical occupation
==================

:: Description
A character working with health care, typically in a hospital or comparable
institution, is engaged in their chosen occupation.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_professional


medical risk taking
===================

:: Description
It is discussed how one can weight one set of risks and benefits against
another in planning medical treatments.

:: Parents
medical ethical issue


medical triage
==============

:: Description
A practitioner of medicine has to choose which patient to prioritize base on
factors such as likelihood of survival, age, and expected quality of remaining
life.

:: Parents
medical ethical issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triage


medicine
========

:: Description
Medicine is the science and practice of establishing the diagnosis, prognosis,
treatment, and prevention of disease. This theme is used whenever an aspect of
this science is featured in the story.

:: Parents
science

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine


meditation
==========

:: Description
A character is engaged in the practice of coming to a deep rest while still
remaining conscious, perhaps as a form of relaxation.

:: Parents
recreational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation


meeting the parents
===================

:: Description
A paramour meets the parents of their lover for the first time.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue


memories from past lives
========================

:: Description
A character is able to recall experiences from another lifetime. This implies
some sort of reincarnation, or variation thereof.

:: Parents
speculative ability related to own mind


memory erasure
==============

:: Description
The technology to remove (some or all) segments of someone's memories is
featured.

:: Parents
mind altering technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_erasure
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindwipe


memory implantation technology
==============================

:: Description
There is technology by which memories may be implanted into someone's brain.

:: Parents
mind altering technology

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/memory_edit


memory recorder
===============

:: Description
A device used to record and replay someone's memories.

:: Parents
speculative device

:: Examples
Professor Quatermass used a device to record a young lady's buried memory of a
ritual slaughter and then played it back to an audience in "Quatermass and the
Pit" (1967).


men in black conspiracy theory
==============================

:: Description
Featured is the theory that there are men dressed in black suits who claim to
be quasi-government agents who harass, threaten or assassinate UFO witnesses
to keep them quiet about what they have seen.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men_in_black


mending one's wicked ways
=========================

:: Description
A once wicked character sets out to reform and become good, or at least to
cease doing the wicked things they were doing.

:: Parents
becoming a nicer person

:: Examples
In ahh1x18 "A Tangled Web", the renowned jewel thief David Chesterman, for the
sake of his beloved new bride, swears to give up his jewel thieving ways and
become an honest Joe. Alas, it ends in misery.


menopause
=========

:: Description
A character, typically a woman aged 45-50, experiences menopausal symptoms.

:: Parents
human health condition
coping with aging

:: Examples
Lwaxana coped with a characteristically Betazoid form of menopause in tng2x19
"Man Hunt".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menopause


mental illness
==============

:: Description
A character exhibits general mental illness.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_disorder


mental retardation
==================

:: Description
There is a person who suffers from a neurodevelopmental disorder so severe
that they have a significantly lower IQ (technically below 70) and problems
with adaptive behavior that make their everyday living problematic.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: Notes
This theme may be included in stories that clearly explore actual as well as
borderline intellectual disability even if it is not clear that the technical
definition of that condition are fulfilled. It may also be included in stories
that parody or mischaracterize the condition.

:: Examples
In tz1985e2x05 "The Toys of Caliban", we saw an elderly married couple who
were raising their intellectually disabled son Toby in seclusion because he
had a dangerous magical ability but no self-restraint or sense to conduct
himself safely with his power.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_disability


mentally distinguished being
============================

:: Description
There is a being that is novel by virtue of its mental abilities, e.g., it is
telepathic, super intelligent, or collectively linked in a hive mind, and so
on.

:: Parents
speculative being


mentor and protégé
==================

:: Description
The relationship between a mentor and the person they are mentoring is
featured.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: Examples
The Traveler played the role of mentor to Wesley in tng1x06 "Where No One Has
Gone Before".


mercy
=====

:: Description
Someone displays forgiveness, pity, or compassion toward another who is under
their authority, i.e., is at their mercy.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercy


mercy vs. justice
=================

:: Description
We are made to ponder when and to what extent we think laws should be enforced
to the letter, and when, if ever, there might be reason to stay enforcement
for reasons of mercy.

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: Examples
In "The Merchant of Venice" (1598), by the letter of the law Shylock had the
right to extract a literal pound of flesh from Antonio who had broken his
bond. A legal expert implored Shylock to be merciful yet acknowledged that the
law must be upheld and that mercy could not be enforced by the state. Later
Shylock was himself brought low by the law, and various characters made a
point of being merciful even when the law would have awarded them ruthless
satisfaction.


merpeople
=========

:: Description
There is a race of mermaids and mermen, i.e., beings that share fish-like
characteristics and that live under water.

:: Parents
legendary being


messiah
=======

:: Description
A religious savior or liberator of a group of believers, similar to a holy
prophet but usually a notch higher in the divine pecking order.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
Kahless the Unforgettable, the Klingon messiah, was resurrected by cloning by
Klingon monks in tng6x23 "Rightful Heir".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/messiahs


metaphysics
===========

:: Description
Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy concerned with the fundamental nature
of reality and such basic concepts as existence, matter, space, time and
causation. The theme is used whenever a notable idea from this branch of
philosophy is featured in the story.

:: Parents
philosophy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphysics


microbe-like being
==================

:: Description
A macroscopic single celled being.

:: Parents
animal and plant patterned being


microscopic being
=================

:: Description
There is a being that is too small to see with the naked eye.

:: Parents
size distinguished being


microscopic sentient life form
==============================

:: Description
A life form that is microscopic in size, yet (astonishingly when compared to a
common brain) is considered sentient.

:: Parents
microscopic being

:: Examples
The "Microbrains" of Velara III were tiny, yet somehow sentient, crystals in
tng1x18 "Home Soil".


militarization of space
=======================

:: Description
Featured is the placement and development of weaponry and military technology
in outer space around a world.

:: Parents
war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militarisation_of_space


military coup
=============

:: Description
A state's government is overthrown by a group of people from within the
state's own armed forces.

:: Parents
civil war

:: Examples
In "Akira" (1988), Colonel Shikishima led a coup d'état against the Neo Tokyo
government and directed all of its military forces to destroy a young man who
had acquired near god-like telekinetic abilities.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup_d%27%C3%A9tat


military dictatorship
=====================

:: Description
Society is ruled by a military group that maintain power by means of violence
and repression.

:: Parents
form of government

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_dictatorship


military indoctrination
=======================

:: Description
The military uses its powers to indoctrinate individuals into a way of
thinking. For example, a militia may be indoctrinated with the idea that the
enemy is evil. For "indoctrination" to apply a certain amount of coercion
(possibly clandestine) is required.

:: Parents
indoctrination in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indoctrination#Military


military issue
==============

:: Description
The way society organizes its armed forces is explored.

:: Parents
national social issue

:: Examples
"desertion" and "treason" are "military issue" themes as they deal with how
discipline is maintained within the military or military-like groups.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military


military related work
=====================

:: Description
There is a character whose main occupation involves being part of the armed
forces of a putative state, or the like. This may, for example, be because
they work professionally as an officer or because they are conscripted as
privates.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: Aliases
military occupation
military profession


military retaliation to discourage
==================================

:: Description
The following kind of dilemma is illustrated: Is it right to retaliate after
an offence in order to dissuade an enemy from further violence? Or will that
just lead to a vicious circle of vendetta?

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: Examples
Captain Kirk chased down Gorn marauders to discourage them from further
aggression in tos1x19 "Arena". It had nothing to do with vengeance, nothing!


military secrecy
================

:: Description
The practice of keeping sensitive military information secret is featured.

:: Parents
military issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secrecy#Military_secrecy


military tactics
================

:: Description
It is discussed how one should act and maneuver in battle to gain an
advantage.

:: Parents
the art of war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_tactics


mimetic desire
==============

:: Description
The peculiar human habit of occasionally wanting something only because we
became cognizant of someone else wanting the same thing, is explicitly
featured.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: Notes
The story must make it clear that the desire arose primarily for mimetic
reasons, if this theme is to be used.

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected7x13 "The Reconciliation", we learn that James'
interest in his estranged wife was rekindled only because he came to believe
someone else had taken her as a lover.


mind altering technology
========================

:: Description
A novel technology is used to alter (enhance or perhaps diminish) a person's
mental ability. These are themes that posit technology to manipulate the human
mind by cloning it, wiping it, moving it, controlling it, and so on.

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_science_fiction_themes#Body_and_mind_alterations


mind attack ability
===================

:: Description
A character is able to attack another's mind, soul, or spirit (etc.) and
inflict harm. They can sometimes also defend against such attacks, and the
story world may contain the idea of invisible mind battles.

:: Parents
mind to mind interaction ability

:: Notes
If a character struggles to control another person, rather than inflicting
direct spiritual harm, then "mind control ability" is the more appropriate
theme.


mind control ability
====================

:: Description
A character, by simply using their mind, is able to control other people's
thoughts and actions.

:: Parents
mind to mind interaction ability

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x19a "The Leprechaun-Artist", a Leprechaun granted three young boys
the power of command over their own parents. This was fun at first, but proved
problematic as the parents showed no initiative whatsoever and had to be
micromanaged.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_control_in_popular_culture


mind control technology
=======================

:: Description
Technology that can be employed to shape someone's mental states, thoughts,
and opinions.

:: Parents
mind altering technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_control_in_popular_culture


mind controlled society
=======================

:: Description
Society is supposedly ideal thanks to the use of mass mind control.

:: Parents
ruling elite utopia


mind linking technology
=======================

:: Description
Technology that links two or more people's minds so that they can sense each
other's emotions and perhaps even hear each other's thoughts.

:: Parents
mind altering technology

:: Examples
Captain Picard and Beverly shared their most intimate thoughts while mind
linked in tng7x08 "Attached".


mind reading ability
====================

:: Description
A character is able to telepathically read the minds of other people.

:: Parents
telepathic ability

:: Notes
This theme is used when one person can merely "hear the thoughts" of another.
If a person transmits their thoughts or otherwise affects people's minds at a
distance, the more general theme "telepathy" is used.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telepathy


mind reading technology
=======================

:: Description
Technology that can be employed by one person to read another person's mind.

:: Parents
mind altering technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought_identification


mind to mind interaction ability
================================

:: Description
A character is able to interact with another mind, simply by concentrating.

:: Parents
speculative ability related to another being


mind transfer technology
========================

:: Description
Technology used to transfer someone's mind from one body to another, or to a
computer or some sort of artificial brain.

:: Parents
mind altering technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_uploading


mind uploading
==============

:: Description
There is a technology used to transfer someone's mind to a computer or some
sort of artificial brain.

:: Parents
mind transfer technology

:: Examples
The mind of pop singer Ashley O was transfer into the AI doll Ashley Too in
the Black Mirror story "Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too" (2019).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_uploading


mind-computer merging
=====================

:: Description
Technology that provides a low-latency interface between a brain and a
computer, thus blurring the boundaries between man and machine.

:: Parents
mind altering technology

:: Examples
Barclay got tired of the slow old interfaces and connected his brain directly
to the Enterprise-D computer when he developed super-intelligence in tng4x19
"The Nth Degree".


mindwipe punishment
===================

:: Description
As a punishment for crime, someone has their mind and memories, or significant
parts thereof, erased.

:: Parents
memory erasure
speculative punishment


minefields in war
=================

:: Description
One faction in a conflict uses hidden proximity activated explosive devices
(mines) in order to booby trap an area and make it more or less impassable for
the enemy.

:: Parents
war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_mine


miniaturization technology
==========================

:: Description
Technology by which material objects (such as people) can be made smaller in
size compared to their surrounding without changing their characteristics
otherwise.

:: Parents
matter manipulating technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Size_change_in_fiction
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/miniaturization


mining and tunneling
====================

:: Description
There is a professional whose jobs involve excavation perilously deep
underground.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnel_construction
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining#Underground_Mining


miracle
=======

:: Description
There is a supernatural event, beneficial for the faithful, that is attributed
to divine agency.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
A blind boy miraculously regained his sight upon visiting a Mexican shrine in
the "Night Gallery" story "The Miracle at Camafeo" (1972).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle


misandry
========

:: Description
Someone exhibits prejudice, dislike, or even hatred, of men.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Janice Lester was deeply resentful of Captain Kirk and other men who got ahead
because of their sex in tos3x24 "Turnabout Intruder".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misandry


misanthropy
===========

:: Description
Someone exhibits prejudice, dislike, or even hatred, of humans and humanity.

:: Parents
human character

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misanthropy


miscarriage of justice
======================

:: Description
A character is convicted and punished for a crime that he or she did not
actually commit.

:: Parents
law and order issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscarriage_of_justice


miserliness
===========

:: Description
There is a character who is notably and excessively reluctant to spend money,
in particular to help others.

:: Parents
human character

:: Notes
In particular, this theme becomes topical when a notably well-off character is
contrasted with a notably poor character and the former offer less help to the
latter than the situation appears to warrant.

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected6x11 "The Tribute", we see three former colonial ladies
who are notorious for being penny-pinching. Before they fell on bad times
themselves, they had treated their servants with remarkable meanness, or so we
are told.

Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is perhaps one of the most obvious
examples of a story about miserliness.


misery loves company
====================

:: Description
The embarrassingly human tendency for unhappy people to want other people to
be unhappy as well, is featured.

:: Parents
human idea about life


misfortune unites
=================

:: Description
It is observed that a shared spat of adversity can work to bring people closer
together.

:: Parents
humans in group
human idea about life


misogyny
========

:: Description
Someone exhibits prejudice, dislike, or even hatred, of women.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Scotty took shore leave on Argelius II in an effort to overcome his "total
resentment towards women" in tos20x7 "Wolf in the Fold". He was then accused
of brutally murdering a number of women on the planet, but was ultimately
found to be innocent.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misogyny


mistrust leading to group dysfunction
=====================================

:: Description
The way in which mistrust can lead to a group of people not getting along is
noted.

:: Parents
humans in group


mixed marriage
==============

:: Description
We are asked when, if ever, marriage between people of different ethnicities
ought to be tolerated.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interethnic_marriage

:: Aliases
interethnic marriage


mobile life support device
==========================

:: Description
There is a device (possibly bewheeled and box-like) that keeps you alive and
mobile even after the most crippling of catastrophic accidents.

:: Parents
speculative vehicle

:: Examples
Captain Pike was confined to just such a device in tos1x15 "The Menagerie,
Part I" and tos1x16  "The Menagerie, Part II".


mobile phone overuse in society
===============================

:: Description
We are made to contemplate the widespread of hand-held communication devices
that some people think is excessive. In particular the impact of this on
children tends to be controversial.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_overuse


moderation in all things
========================

:: Description
More or less explicitly featured is the philosophy that one should not do
anything too much, nor too little.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/moderation+in+all+things


mole people
===========

:: Description
Creatures that live entirely under the Earth, or more generally underground in
a planet, in caves or hollowed out regions.

:: Parents
subterranean being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_people


monasticism
===========

:: Description
A "holy" order of monks or nuns practicing religion is featured.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monasticism


money can't buy happiness
=========================

:: Description
This old adage is illustrated. The idea is that no amount of money or other
external things can guarantee a person's happiness.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
In "Citizen Kane" (1941), we see how the exceedingly rich and powerful Mr.
Kane dies miserable without friends while reminiscing on the last time,
perhaps, that he was truly happy: when he was eight and had a sled named
"Rosebud".

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/money_can%27t_buy_happiness

:: Aliases
material things don't make you happy


money can't buy love
====================

:: Description
This age old adage is demonstrated, refuted, or otherwise discussed.

:: Parents
human idea about life


money is the root of all evil
=============================

:: Description
The idea is put forth that money is the source of many, most, or even all,
social ills or individual shortcoming.

:: Parents
human idea about life


money isn't everything
======================

:: Description
The idea is put forth that we ought to see money as less important in favor of
other considerations, for example relationships.

:: Parents
material possessions aren't everything

:: References
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/money+isn%27t+everything


monitoring implant
==================

:: Description
There is an implant that lets someone else monitor the wearer's activities and
experiences to a significant extent.

:: Parents
speculative device

:: Aliases
tracking implant


monogamy vs. single life
========================

:: Description
A character contemplates whether to enter into a presumed monogamous
relationship or whether to stay single.

:: Parents
human romantic relationship choice


monopolies in society
=====================

:: Description
The ramifications of economic monopolistic forces at work in society are
explored.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly


monster
=======

:: Description
There is a type of grotesque creature, whose appearance frightens and whose
powers of destruction threaten the human world's social or moral order.

:: Parents
speculative being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster


monster apocalypse
==================

:: Description
Monsters or beasts of some kind ravage a world and put an end to civilized
life.

:: Parents
force of nature existential risk to civilization


moon slowly spiraling into a planet
===================================

:: Description
The moon to a planet drops out of its normal orbit for some reason and starts
on a slow, spiraling collision course with the planet.

:: Parents
approaching astronomical object event

:: Examples
The Enterprise-D saved the Natives of Bre'el IV from this fate in tng3x13
"Deja Q".


mortification of the flesh
==========================

:: Description
The practice of atonement for sin through the infliction of pain and suffering
is explored. Traditional forms of mortification include fasting, abstinence
from sexual intercourse, the wearing of sackcloth, and flagellation.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortification_of_the_flesh


mother and daughter
===================

:: Description
The relationship between a mother and her daughter is featured.

:: Parents
parent and child


mother and son
==============

:: Description
The relationship between a mother and her son is featured.

:: Parents
parent and child


mother's right to determine pregnancy
=====================================

:: Description
The notion that an expecting mother should have the sole right to decide
whether or not she will carry a pregnancy to term is featured.

:: Parents
gender issue

:: Examples
The senior officers discussed what to do about Troi's mysterious pregnancy and
Worf suggested an abortion in tng2x01 "The Child", but Troi would have none of
it.


mother-in-law and daughter-in-law
=================================

:: Description
The relationship between a mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law is featured.

:: Parents
in-law relationship


mother-in-law and son-in-law
============================

:: Description
The interpersonal relationship between a married man and his wife's mother is
featured.

:: Parents
in-law relationship

:: Examples
In "A Woman Under the Influence" (1974), Nick handled Mabel's hapless mother
with remarkable ease and affection.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parent-in-law#Mothers-in-law


motherly disappointment in a son
================================

:: Description
A son is not all that his mother wishes him to be.

:: Parents
parental disappointment in a child
mother and son

:: Examples
Beverly was disappointed in Wesley for covering up the now infamous Nova
Squadron Incident in tng5x18 "The First Duty".


motor sports
============

:: Description
There is a sport which notably involves the use of motorized vehicles.

:: Parents
sports

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorsport


mountaineering
==============

:: Description
A character is enthusiastic about the set of outdoor activities that involves
ascending tall mountains.

:: Parents
recreational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountaineering


move fast or take it slow in a romantic relationship
====================================================

:: Description
Someone embarking on a romance is trying to decide how strongly they should
come on.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue
personal practical dilemma


moving in together
==================

:: Description
Two lovers contemplate whether or not to start living together in the same
home.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue


mugging
=======

:: Description
The crime of robbing people in public places, particularly on streets, is
featured.

:: Parents
robbery

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbery


multi-gendered being
====================

:: Description
There is a species of beings that have more than the customary two genders.
Three or more individuals have to contribute genetic material in order to
procreate.

:: Parents
sexually distinguished being


multi-generational spaceship
============================

:: Description
A spaceship built for voyages longer than an individual's lifespan and with a
view to let the crew procreate and live out their lives on-board.

:: Parents
speculative spaceship

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_ship

:: Aliases
generation ship


multi-species civilization
==========================

:: Description
There are multiple sentient, species that all live there together in one
society.

:: Parents
speculative society


multicultural community
=======================

:: Description
People of different cultures are trying to live together. There  may or may
not be a specific issue, but intolerance hangs in the air. Problems are not
far off.

:: Parents
cross cultural issue


multicultural upbringing
========================

:: Description
A kid is brought up being part of two or more cultures, perhaps because mom
and dad have different heritages.

:: Parents
human childhood

:: Examples
Worf and his mate K'Ehleyr discussed the troubles of growing up with a foot
each in two different cultures in tng2x20 "The Emissary".


multiculturalism
================

:: Description
There is a society in which sizable groups of people with different
ethnicities seek to live together under a common law.

:: Parents
political ideology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiculturalism


multiple personality disorder
=============================

:: Description
A mental disorder characterized by at least two distinct and relatively
enduring identities or dissociated personality states.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociative_identity_disorder

:: Aliases
dissociative identity disorder


multistage rocket
=================

:: Description
A rocket that uses two or more stages, each of which contains its own engines
and propellant is featured.

:: Parents
speculative spaceship

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multistage_rocket


murder
======

:: Description
The crime of unlawful and intentional homicide is featured.

:: Parents
violent crime
crime against the person

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_types_of_killing


murder of a lover
=================

:: Description
A character murders someone with whom they have, or have recently had, a
romantic relationship.

:: Parents
murder

:: Notes
If the romantic relationship has ceased and the murder has nothing to do with
it, then this theme is not used. If the romantic relationship has ceased, but
the murder is notably connected to it (for example motivated by romantic
jealousy or resentment), then this theme is used.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariticide
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uxoricide


music
=====

:: Description
Music is notably featured in the story. Typically, this is because there is a
musician, other music professional, or someone else who is very interested in
music.

:: Parents
the fine arts and the humanities

:: Notes
As music is rather common in modern society, it is often present in
unremarkable ways in the background of stories. It is generally not considered
a theme just because a normal person briefly listens to music, or a radio is
heard in the background. Nor is music automatically a theme when the story is
told through song, such as in opera.

:: Examples
Captain Picard and Nella Daren made beautiful music together aboard the
Enterprise-D in tng6x19 "Lessons".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_appreciation


mutilation as punishment
========================

:: Description
The practice found in some law codes of prescribing amputation of limbs and
other mutilations (such as blinding or tongue slitting) for crimes, is
featured.

:: Parents
legal punishment

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected9x08 "The Finger of Suspicion", we learned that Stephen
had had his right hand cut off as punishment for theft in the Arab country
where he lived.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amputation#Legal_punishment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudud
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutilation#Mutilation_as_human_punishment


mutual respect
==============

:: Description
Two characters come to respect each other.

:: Parents
humans interacting


mutual trust
============

:: Description
Two characters come to trust each other.

:: Parents
humans interacting


mysterious maker alien race
===========================

:: Description
A long gone alien race that left behind a creation of some significance, for
example a grand technological construction.

:: Parents
extraterrestrial being

:: Examples
A mysterious maker alien race left an asteroid deflecting obelisk on the
planet Amerind in tos3x03 "The Paradise Syndrome".


mystical aura
=============

:: Description
The paranormal notion that a human body (or any animal or object for that
matter) is enclosed by a mysterious, sometimes colorful energy is featured.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
It was speculated that a suicided environmental activist was able to return
from the dead owing to his unusually strong aura in "2.0" (2018).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aura_(paranormal)


mythological dwarf
==================

:: Description
There is a short and possibly ugly human-shaped entity that dwells in
mountains and in the earth, and is variously associated with wisdom, smithing,
mining, and crafting.

:: Parents
legendary being
size distinguished being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_(mythology)

:: Aliases
dwarf


mythological siren
==================

:: Description
The sirens are dangerous creatures from Greek mythology, that lure unwary
sailors to their doom. Such or similar creatures are featured.

:: Parents
legendary being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siren_(mythology)


narcissism
==========

:: Description
There is a character that, like Narcisuss in the ancient Greek story, has an
excessive, lasting, and obsessive admiration their own self-image and/or other
attributes.

:: Parents
human mental condition
vanity

:: Notes
"Pride" themes like "attitude of superiority" involve a character comparing
themselves to others. Such themes do not necessarily mean that narcissism is
implied. It is possible for a character, rightly or wrongly, to believe
themselves superior and take pride in that supposed fact, without them
obsessively and lastingly admiring themselves.

To judge whether we describe a character as "narcissistic" we inspect the
character's self-admiring behavior and gauge whether we think that they, like
Narcissus did, could have behaved the same way when alone.

If a character admires themselves habitually but in a way that is not
describable as "obsessive" then the theme "vanity" is applicable.

:: Examples
Garth of Izar suffered from delusions of grandeur in tos3x16 "Whom Gods
Destroy".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissism

:: Aliases
narcissistic personality disorder
megalomania


national social issue
=====================

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to a single state's internal affairs.

:: Parents
society

:: Examples
"national social issue" themes are plenty and come in a wide variety. It is
convenient to further divide it into categories such as "political issue",
"economical issue", "law and order issue", etc.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_(polity)


nationalism
===========

:: Description
There is a political movement characterized by the promotion of the interests
of a nation.

:: Parents
political ideology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalism


natural pandemic
================

:: Description
A naturally occurring biological agent or pathogen wipes out civilization on a
world.

:: Parents
force of nature existential risk to civilization

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic


natural resource sustainability
===============================

:: Description
The importance of managing natural resources in a manner that safeguards their
availability to future generations is explored.

:: Parents
environmental issue

:: Examples
Mark the merman wondered aloud about what humans would do once they used up
all the raw materials that could be obtained from mining the sea floor in "Man
from Atlantis IV: The Disappearances" (1977). The feasibility of undersea
mining was being researched on account that humans were quickly using up all
the materials on the surface.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability


nature conservationism
======================

:: Description
Someone works to protect the environment, or a unique aspect of nature,
against threatening changes brought on by human activity.

:: Parents
environmental issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_(ethic)


nature vs. artifice
===================

:: Description
Something perceived as "natural" is compared and contrasted with something
that is artificial, i.e., human-made.

:: Parents
philosophy

:: Notes
Usually, the associated moral ends up being that the natural thing is superior
to the artificial thing in at least some sense.


nature vs. nurture
==================

:: Description
Discussed is whether human behavior is determined more by the environment,
either prenatal or during a person's life, or more by a person's genes.

:: Parents
human nature

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_versus_nurture


nature's revenge
================

:: Description
Nature somehow runs amok and takes vengeance on its abusers.

:: Parents
human vs. nature

:: Examples
Nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific stirred up a prehistoric dinosaur-like
monster that make a B-line for Tokyo in "Godzilla" (1954),

A green brain arises from nature's resistance to human efforts eradicate all
insect life on Earth in "The Green Brain" (1966).

An unspecified cosmic event results in ant colonies evolving collective
intelligence and challenging humans for dominion over the Earth in "Phase IV"
(1974).


necrophilia
===========

:: Description
There is a character who is sexually attracted to a corpse, or to corpses in
general.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: Examples
A Scottish widow had a thing for her deceased husband in the "Night Gallery"
story "The Ghost of Sorworth Place" (1972).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necrophilia


neglectful parent
=================

:: Description
A parent neglects to spend time with their child to a conspicuous extent.

:: Parents
human parenting

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_neglect


negotiating deadlock
====================

:: Description
Two or more people are in a process of negotiating but neither will budge from
their entrenched position.

:: Parents
negotiation


negotiation
===========

:: Description
Two or more characters seek to reach a mutually acceptable arrangement of some
sort.

:: Parents
humans in group

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negotiation

:: Aliases
haggling


neighbor and neighbor
=====================

:: Description
The relationship between two people who live next to each other is featured.

:: Parents
humans in pairs


neo-Luddist utopia
==================

:: Description
Society goes back to the perfect state it was once in, after the root of all
evil has been made away with: machinery.

:: Parents
technology-free utopia

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Luddism

:: Aliases
hippie commune utopia


nepotism
========

:: Description
The ramifications of someone favoring relatives or personal friends because of
their relationship rather than because of their abilities are explored.

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepotism


nested universe
===============

:: Description
There is a whole other universe somehow contained within a portion of our
normal (or some other) universe. For example, there might be a universe
contained in an atom, every atom, a box, or a marble.

:: Parents
speculative cosmos


neural parasite
===============

:: Description
A life form that dominates other species by attaching themselves to the
others' neural systems.

:: Parents
parasitic being

:: Examples
Patch-like flying aliens attached themselves to people's nervous system in
tos1x29 "Operation -- Annihilate!".


newlywed couple
===============

:: Description
There is a husband and wife whose interactions are notably colored by the fact
that they were recently married. This usually involves exceptional
romanticism, tenderness, talk about the honeymoon, and planning for a future
together.

:: Parents
husband and wife

:: Examples
In tz1959e2x07 "Nick of Time", we saw that William Shatner (as Don) with his
loving bride Pat honeymooning across the Ohio countryside. When Don revealed
his excessive superstitiousness, Pat insisted that she did not regret her
decision to marry him, and they spoke of their future together.


nihilism
========

:: Description
A philosophical doctrine that suggests the lack of belief in one or more
reputedly meaningful aspects of life. Most commonly, nihilism is presented in
the form of existential nihilism, which argues that life is without objective
meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value.

:: Parents
metaphysics

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihilism


nihilophobia
============

:: Description
A character exhibits an irrational fear of nothingness.

:: Parents
human phobia


noble lies in society
=====================

:: Description
Can a myth or untruth (often, but not invariably, of a religious nature)
knowingly propagated by an elite to maintain social harmony or to advance an
agenda ever be justified as benefiting society more than it harms it in the
long run?

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_lie


noble savage utopia
===================

:: Description
Society is bliss because it is made up of noble savages who live as one with
nature etc., never mind antibiotics and such pointless luxeries.

:: Parents
technology-free utopia


non-Euclidean space
===================

:: Description
Space as it would be if the rules and axioms of geometry were suddenly
different from what we know.

:: Parents
speculative cosmos

:: Examples
The Enterprise flew at warp speed in a straight line only to find itself back
where it began in tng2x02 "Where Silence Has Lease", just as would someone who
traveled in a straight line on the surface of Earth. Perhaps Nagilum's realm
was a hypersphere.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-Euclidean_geometry


nonconsensual voyeurism
=======================

:: Description
Voyeurism is the sexual interest in or practice of spying on people engaged in
intimate behaviours, such as undressing, sexual activity, or other actions
usually considered to be of a private nature. Discussed is the perceived
social issue associated with the prevalence of this often criminal activity.

:: Parents
sexual crime
invasion of privacy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyeurism

:: Aliases
peeping tom


nostalgia
=========

:: Description
A character exhibits a feeling of sentimentality, longing for the days of
yore, etc.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: Examples
Scotty drunkenly relived his glory days in a holodeck simulation of the
original Enterprise bridge in tng6x04 "Relics".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nostalgia


nostalgic love
==============

:: Description
The kind of love a person feels springing from the memory of a bygone passion.

:: Parents
romantic love


nothing ventured nothing gained
===============================

:: Description
The idea is explicitly mentioned that if one takes no risks, one will not gain
any benefits.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nothing_ventured,_nothing_gained


nuclear fission power
=====================

:: Description
The harnessing of nuclear fission reactions as a power source for technology
is explored. This theme does not apply in the case when energy from nuclear
fission reactions is released in an uncontrolled manner, such as with a
fission bomb.

:: Parents
technology

:: Examples
A crew of pioneering astronauts commandeered an atomic powered rocketship to
the Moon in "Destination Moon" (1950).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fission


nuclear holocaust
=================

:: Description
Nuclear weapons are widely employed to an extent that destruction and
radioactive fallout causes the collapse of civilization.

:: Parents
annihilation by WMDs
nuclear weapons

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_holocaust
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/atomic_war


nuclear power safety
====================

:: Description
The social problem of whether and to what extent nuclear power generation can
be made safe is discussed.

:: Parents
environmental issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_safety_and_security


nuclear powered spaceship
=========================

:: Description
There is a spacecraft that relies on some form of nuclear energy (e.g. nuclear
fission or nuclear fusion) for propulsion.

:: Parents
speculative spaceship


nuclear proliferation
=====================

:: Description
We are made to think about the perils of the spread of nuclear technology and
information.

:: Parents
international issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_proliferation


nuclear weapons
===============

:: Description
The use of nuclear technology for war is featured.

:: Parents
weapons of mass destruction

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_warfare


nudism
======

:: Description
Someone dislikes clothes to such an extent that they prefer to be naked in
public.

:: Parents
human way of life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturism

:: Aliases
naturism


obesity
=======

:: Description
Someone struggles with being grossly over-weight.

:: Parents
human health condition


obsession
=========

:: Description
Someone is fixated with a particular idea or objective to the extent that they
notably neglect other concerns.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Captain Kirk became obsessed with stalking down a vampiric cloud entity in
tos2x18 "Obsession".

:: References
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obsessed


obsession with a life-dedicated project
=======================================

:: Description
Someone is fixated with a project that they have dedicated their life to, to
the extent that they notably neglect other concerns.

:: Parents
obsession

:: Examples
Dr. Richard Daystrom made it his life's work to build a computer so powerful
that it could replace Kirk as the captain aboard the Enterprise in tos2x24
"The Ultimate Computer".

:: References
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obsessed


obsessive love
==============

:: Description
An infatuation that is so intense and obsessive that one's self-control and
judgement becomes impaired.

:: Parents
infatuation
obsession

:: Examples
Lwaxana chased Captain Picard like a rabbit from one end of the ship to
another in tng2x19 "Manhunt" and was only narrowly diverted from her objective
when she encountered an attractive bartender on the holodeck.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive_love

:: Aliases
obsessive infatuation


obsessive-compulsive disorder
=============================

:: Description
A character has a pathological need to need to check things repeatedly,
perform certain routines repeatedly, etc. Often featured as repeated cleaning.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsessive%E2%80%93compulsive_disorder

:: Aliases
OCD


obstruction of justice
======================

:: Description
Featured is a crime that consists of obstructing prosecutors, investigators,
or other government officials. This may involve, for example, perjury, making
false statements to officials, witness tampering, jury tampering, destruction
of evidence, etc.

:: Parents
crime against justice

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obstruction_of_justice


ocean planet
============

:: Description
A hypothetical type of exoplanet wherein the surface is completely covered by
water.

:: Parents
speculative habitable celestial body

:: Examples
Captain Kirk and Spock were transformed into fish-like humanoids on the water-
world Argo in tas1x13 "The Ambergris Element".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_planet


off-world garbage dump
======================

:: Description
There is a garbage dump somewhere away from any inhabited world. The place in
question may for example be a moon, a planet, or merely a Lagrange point.

:: Parents
speculative place

:: Examples
The presumed dead body of Sergeant Todd was unceremoniously dumped on the
Arcadia 234 waste disposal planet in "Soldier" (1998).


off-world prison colony
=======================

:: Description
There is a prison somewhere away from any inhabited planet. Typically it is on
a moon, asteroid, spaceship or the like.

:: Parents
speculative place


office politics
===============

:: Description
There is scheming, maneuvering, and intrigue in the workplace.

:: Parents
humans at work

:: Examples
Younglings on the Enterprise pondered how to get ahead in their careers in
tng7x15 "Lower Decks".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workplace_politics

:: Aliases
workplace politics


office romance
==============

:: Description
Two (or more) workplace colleagues embark on a romantic relationship.

:: Parents
romantic relationship
workplace relations

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workplace_relationships#Romantic


official scapegoating in society
================================

:: Description
Someone in officialdom tries to divert public attention from, for example,
themselves or a social problem by blaming or otherwise denigrating a different
group of people.

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scapegoat


oil spills in society
=====================

:: Description
An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the
environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human activity, and is a
form of pollution.

:: Parents
pollution in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_spill


old flames
==========

:: Description
Someone ponders a past love or encounters their former lover again.

:: Parents
romantic relationship

:: Examples
McCoy met whom he assumed to be his old flame Nancy Crater on planet M-113 in
tos1x05 "The Man Trap", but she turned out to be a ravenous salt vampire.


old woman as a witch stereotype
===============================

:: Description
There is a character that fits the Western folklore stereotype of a witch.
This may, for example, involve pointy black hats, foul concoctions, or a
knowledge of herbs, etc.

:: Parents
human character stereotype
witch

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft


old-age love
============

:: Description
The love between two aged people that have been together a long time and are
well familiar with each other's kinks and flaws.

:: Parents
romantic love


old-age romance
===============

:: Description
Two elderly people embark on a romantic relationship in spite of their
considerable life experience.

:: Parents
romantic relationship


omens
=====

:: Description
The idea that we are given mysterious signs that, if only noticed and
interpreted, tell us something important about the future.

:: Parents
folk belief

:: Examples
Worf used the Boraalan people's belief in omens to his advantage in tng7x13
"Homeward".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omen


on the move parenting
=====================

:: Description
The many trials and tribulations involved in rearing a child while frequently
moving from one place to another, as opposed to being settled down, is
featured.

:: Parents
human parenting

:: Examples
The Sutter family found it so hard to raise a child while on assignments in
space that they required counseling in tng5x22 "Imaginary Friend".


once speculative device
=======================

:: Description
Featured is a technology which is now real though it was near enough sci-fi at
the time of the making.

:: Parents
speculative device


one cannot cheat fate
=====================

:: Description
The conviction that the future events of one's live are written in the stars,
so to speak, and cannot be changed.

:: Parents
destiny


one night stand
===============

:: Description
A consummated but short lived romantic involvement is featured.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue

:: Examples
Helen Noel reminded Captain Kirk about what happened between them when he
dropped in at the science lab Christmas party in tos1x10 "Dagger of the Mind".


onerous license agreements
==========================

:: Description
When purchasing purchasing and services customers are sometimes asked to sign
or tacitly agree to lengthy licensing agreements that few of us will read
carefully. We are made to contemplate this situation and ponder whether and to
what extent we should accept the practice as a social good.

:: Parents
law and order issue
sociotechnological issue

:: Examples
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End-user_license_agreement


open romantic relationship
==========================

:: Description
Two or more people engage in an intimate relationship that is sexually non-
monogamous.

:: Parents
romantic relationship

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_relationship


open sexuality in society
=========================

:: Description
We are asked to what extent, if any, it is acceptable or wise for people to
have multiple sex partners.

:: Parents
sexual norms in society

:: Examples
Argelian culture in tos2x07 "Wolf in the Fold" was sexually permissive to put
it nicely.


opera
=====

:: Description
This intersection between theater and singing is featured with focus on its
production or artistic qualities.

:: Parents
music
acting

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera


opposite world
==============

:: Description
There is a hypothetical world (maybe a parallel universe or a fantasy land)
where some or several laws of nature (or suchlike aspects of reality) are
reversed.

:: Parents
speculative place

:: Examples
The Enterprise got sucked into just such a universe in tas2x06 "The Counter-
Clock Incident".


opposites attract
=================

:: Description
We are shown that sometimes people that are very much unlike in some respects
can be attracted to each other.

:: Parents
human idea about life


opposition to authority
=======================

:: Description
A character is defiant towards authority and authority figures to a notable
degree.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
In "The Matrix" (1999), Neo's boss at the software company inside the Matrix
complains that Neo thought the rules somehow didn't apply to him.


optimist vs. pessimist
======================

:: Description
The general attitude of having an optimistic outlook on life is compared with
the general attitude of having a pessimistic outlook on life.

:: Parents
human characters in contrast


orbital spaceflight
===================

:: Description
A spaceflight in which a spacecraft is placed on a trajectory where it could
remain in space for at least one orbit.

:: Parents
space travel

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_spaceflight


orbital weapons
===============

:: Description
Weapons are strategically placed in space, in orbit around a planet, from
where they can easily be deployed against any desired target.

:: Parents
engineered orbital structure

:: Examples
The Enterprise visited the 20th century and found that Earth was about to go
down the path of self-obliteration by putting nukes in orbit in tos2x26
"Assignment: Earth".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_weapon


orchestrated asteroid bombardment
=================================

:: Description
Civilization on a planet is threatened when asteroids are directed on a
collision course with the planet.

:: Parents
annihilation by WMDs


order vs. freedom
=================

:: Description
The typically desirable quality of order in society is contraposed with the
typically desirable quality of individual freedom. Should we limit how people
can move about in order to avoid potential chaos?

:: Parents
contraposed political ideologies


organ theft
===========

:: Description
The forcible removal of a person's organs to be used as transplants and sold
on the black market is featured as a crime.

:: Parents
crime against the person
violent crime

:: Examples
Spock's brain was harvested by aliens who wanted it as a computer in tos3x06
"Spock's Brain".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_theft


organized crime
===============

:: Description
The particular social problem of large centralized enterprises that engage in
criminal activity is displayed.

:: Parents
crime

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organized_crime


organized religion
==================

:: Description
A doctrine or practice of an institutionalized religion is featured.

:: Parents
the natural world

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organized_religion


orphanhood
==========

:: Description
Someone grows up having no parents for all or part of their childhood.

:: Parents
human childhood

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphan


orphans in society
==================

:: Description
The care of orphans in society is expolred.

:: Parents
special interest group issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphan


out of control AI
=================

:: Description
An artificial intelligence goes amok and makes trouble for society.

:: Parents
out of control technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI_takeover


out of control scientific experiment
====================================

:: Description
Something goes wrong during a scientific experiment, and everyone dies.
Perhaps a particle accelerator created a black hole. Stupid scientists.

:: Parents
technological risk to civilization


out of control technology
=========================

:: Description
The potential problem of a technology somehow getting out of hand and damaging
the lives and well being of large groups of people are discussed from a
society point of view.

:: Parents
sociotechnological issue


out-of-body experience
======================

:: Description
A character experiences a feeling being outside of their own physical body.

:: Parents
speculative experience

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out-of-body_experience


overactive imagination
======================

:: Description
A person experiences a persistent, extensive, and deep involvement in some
fantasy or other. The involvement is beyond what can be considered normal
behavior, and affects the person's day to day life to some extent.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy_prone_personality


overcoming a limitation
=======================

:: Description
Someone strives to overcome a limitation of theirs.

:: Parents
human self improvement


overcoming an addiction
=======================

:: Description
Someone struggles to overcome being addicted to a substance or activity, e.g.,
a drug or gambling.

:: Parents
human self improvement

:: Examples
Barclay struggled with getting his holodeck addiction under control in tng3x21
"Hollow Pursuits".


overcoming an imaginary reliance
================================

:: Description
A character feels that they cannot function fully without a certain object or
the like, but that is all in their head and they struggle to overcome this
mental barrier.

:: Parents
human self improvement

:: Examples
In ds97x10 "It's Only a Paper Moon" Nog required a cane to walk even though
the doctor's said there is absolutely nothing wrong with his leg. When at one
point he became emotionally upset and forgot to use the cane it became
apparent that this was indeed just a mental block that he should seek to
overcome.


overcoming an inhibition
========================

:: Description
Someone struggles to overcome a feeling of fear or embarrassment that stops
them from behaving in a natural way.

:: Parents
human self improvement

:: Examples
Barclay began his long journey towards overcoming shyness in tng3x21 "Hollow
Pursuits".


overpopulated dystopia
======================

:: Description
There is a world that is stereotypically hellish due to too many people using
up too much space and other resources.

:: Parents
dystopia


overpopulated world
===================

:: Description
People just keep on reproducing until all the planets resources are depleted
and everyone dies from starvation etc.

:: Parents
institutional risk to civilization

:: Examples
The Gideans had extended their own lifespans remarkably but were completely
unable to control their own reproduction and had so overpopulated their planet
that people lived literally shoulder to shoulder in tos3x17 "The Mark of
Gideon".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_overpopulation


overprotective parent
=====================

:: Description
A parent pays unusually close attention to a child's experiences and problems,
particularly at educational institutions. Figuratively, the parent hovers over
the child like a helicopter.

:: Parents
human parenting

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicopter_parent

:: Aliases
helicopter parenting


overregulated dystopia
======================

:: Description
There is a world that is severely dysfunctional because its society is
overburdened by onerous and ill-considered regulations that hinder people from
effectively producing the goods and services they require to be happy.

:: Parents
dystopia

:: Examples
In the short film "Libra" (1978), life on an overregulated Earth seems bleak
as the international planning commission imposes variously silly and corrupt
regulations that stifle productivity. The whole planet suffers from rolling
black-outs as it can no longer even produce the electricity it needs to light
up its board rooms.


ozone layer depletion
=====================

:: Description
The environmental issue of human activity causing the ozone layer to weaken is
featured. This leads to increased ultraviolet radiation which is thought to be
harmful to life in general.

:: Parents
environmental issue

:: Examples
The Aldeans had gone sterile in tng1x17 "When The Bough Breaks" as a result of
their planet's ozone layer having become depleted.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone_depletion


pacifism
========

:: Description
Someone believes that violence should never be used. In the extreme, a
pacifist may feel that violence should not even be used in self-defence
against violence.

:: Parents
human way of life

:: Examples
A replica of the Vulcan philosopher Surak espoused pacifism as a way of life
in tos3x22 "The Savage Curtain".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacifism


pain belt
=========

:: Description
A belt-like device used to induce unbearable pain in its wearer without
causing physical injury.

:: Parents
speculative wearable device
speculative torture device

:: Examples
The Eymorg outfitted Captain Kirk, McCoy, and Scotty with pain belts in
tos3x06 "Spock's Brain".


pain collar
===========

:: Description
A collar-like device used to induce unbearable pain in its wearer without
causing physical injury.

:: Parents
speculative wearable device
speculative torture device

:: Examples
A trio of disembodied brains employed "collars of obedience" to maintain
control over their thrall gladiators in tos2x17 "The Gamesters of Triskelion".


pain implant
============

:: Description
A medical device implanted in the body to induce unbearable pain in its wearer
without causing physical injury.

:: Parents
speculative torture device

:: Examples
Arctus Baran was not above using neural servos (i.e. pain implant devices) to
keep control over his rogue crew in tng7x04 "Gambit, Part I" and tng7x05
"Gambit, Part II".


painting
========

:: Description
The art of drawing pictures is featured.

:: Parents
the fine arts and the humanities

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painting


panspermia
==========

:: Description
The hypothesis that life exists throughout the universe and is distributed
naturally by asteroids and comets or perhaps even at the direction of aliens.

:: Parents
speculative effect

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panspermia
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/panspermia


parallel universe
=================

:: Description
A hypothetical self-contained universe co-existing with our own.

:: Parents
speculative cosmos

:: Notes
The word "dimension" is used in two different sense in fiction. Sometimes what
is meant is no different from a parallel universe. Sometimes what is meant is
a fourth spatial dimension of space as an addition to the three we know. In
the latter case we use "four-dimensional space" as a theme.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_universes_in_fiction
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/parallel_worlds
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/multiverse

:: Aliases
parallel dimension
multiverse


paralysis device
================

:: Description
A device used to paralyze people. The effect is typically temporary.

:: Parents
speculative weapon


paramour and paramour
=====================

:: Description
Two characters are not married to each other but are in a reasonably stable
long-term romantic relationship that is somewhat or wholly antithetical to
prevailing social norms, and usually clandestine. Especially this is the case
if at least one of the two characters is married to someone else.

:: Parents
romantic relationship

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/paramour


parasitic being
===============

:: Description
A being that lives as a parasite off of other life forms.

:: Parents
biologically distinguished being

:: Examples
Bug-like neural parasites from outer space nearly took over Starfleet by
attaching themselves to important officers' brainstems in tng1x25
"Conspiracy".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_parasitic_alien_species


parent and child
================

:: Description
The relationship between a parent and their child is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship


parent and child rivalry
========================

:: Description
A parent and their child compete over status or some objective in a less than
amicable manner.

:: Parents
human childhood
parent and child

:: Examples
Riker settled his long-standing rivalry with his father Kyle in the anbo-
jtytsu dohyo tng2x14 "The Icarus Factor".


parent's right to make decisions for their child
================================================

:: Description
Discussed is to what extent parents should be legally able to make important
decisions on their child's behalf. For example, to what extent should parents
dictate that their child undergo life-altering operations, say a sex-change,
or prevent their child receiving medical attention when it might be of
benefit? To what extent should parents be able to indoctrinate their child in
a religion or cult?

:: Parents
human parenting
social ethical dilemma

:: Examples
In bbf1x10 "Believers", we must ponder whether it was right that Shon's
parents could refuse Shon receiving a life saving surgery from Babylon 5's
Doctor Franklin.


parental controls in society
============================

:: Description
We are asked whether and to what extent the practice of blocking children from
access to different kinds of contents, sights, and experiences is beneficial
for them.

:: Parents
educational issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parental_controls


parental disappointment in a child
==================================

:: Description
A child is not all that a parent wishes them to be.

:: Parents
human parenting


parental love
=============

:: Description
The love of a parent for their child is featured.

:: Parents
familial love


parental pride
==============

:: Description
A parent shows pride in their offspring.

:: Parents
human parenting
pride in one's family


parenting a child with special needs
====================================

:: Description
A character struggles with bringing up a child who needs assistance for
disabilities that may be medical, mental, or psychological (e.g. a learning
disability, attention deficit disorder, autism.).

:: Parents
human parenting

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_needs
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_disorder
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_disability
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism


parenting a mentally disabled child
===================================

:: Description
The struggle of a parent to raise a child that has a significant mental
disability of some sort, is featured. For example, a learning disability,
attention deficit disorder, autism, etc.

:: Parents
parenting a child with special needs

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_disorder
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_disability
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism


parenting a physically disabled child
=====================================

:: Description
The struggle of a parent to raise a child that has a significant physical
disability of some sort, is featured.

:: Parents
parenting a child with special needs

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_disability


parody on life in academia
==========================

:: Description
We are shown a highly parodical version of what life in academia might seem to
be like.

:: Parents
academic occupation


parricide
=========

:: Description
A character murders a close relative of theirs.

:: Parents
murder

:: Notes
This theme is also applied in cases where a close in-law relative is killed.

:: Examples
In ahp1x24 "The Perfect Murder", two greedy nephews conspire to murder their
aunt in order to access an inheritance.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parricide


passion for vehicles
====================

:: Description
A character is excited by machines made for transporting people and things,
i.e., cars, boats, planes etc. Often the character is particularly interested
in speed and things that go fast.

:: Parents
human pleasure

:: Notes
This theme is also used when children are fascinated with toy vehicles,
assuming they are old enough to understand the connection with the genuine
article.


past point of view
==================

:: Description
We are shown what things might seem like in the here and now if viewed from a
past person's perspective.

:: Parents
cross cultural issue


paternal love
=============

:: Description
The love of a father for his child is featured.

:: Parents
parental love


pathological lying
==================

:: Description
A character lies compulsively and disproportionately to any discernible end in
view.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathological_lying

:: Aliases
mythomania


patriarchy
==========

:: Description
There is a social system in which exclusively men have political power.

:: Parents
form of government

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriarchy


patricide
=========

:: Description
A character murders their own father.

:: Parents
parricide

:: Examples
Kylo Ren murdered his own father Hans Solo by running him through with a light
saber in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (2015).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_patricides


patriotism
==========

:: Description
A character believes fervently in the causes of their homeland.

:: Parents
human way of life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriotism


peace on Earth
==============

:: Description
An ideal state of freedom and peace within and among the nations on a world.

:: Parents
speculative future event

:: Examples
The people of Earth lived in peace and without the need for weapons in
"Barbarella" (1968).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_peace


peace process
=============

:: Description
Two recently warring factions are talking to each other (potentially with an
intermediary or mediator involved) with the aim of reaching an accord and
stopping the violence.

:: Parents
diplomacy


pecking order
=============

:: Description
The struggle for social dominance in the workplace is featured.

:: Parents
humans in hierarchy

:: Examples
Chief Engineer Logan stormed to the bridge to issue a challenge Geordi's
authority in the midst of a heated space battle in tng1x21 "The Arsenal of
Freedom". Geordi, who had been left in command of the Enterprise-D, promptly
ordered Logan back to main engineering.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pecking_order


pedophiles
==========

:: Description
We are made to contemplate how adults that are sexually attracted to
prepubescent minors affect society, and how such individuals ought to be
treated.

:: Parents
sexual crime

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedophilia


peer pressure
=============

:: Description
A member of some group is pressured into making a certain choice by other
members of that group.

:: Parents
humans in group

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer_pressure


people bread for organ donation
===============================

:: Description
We are asked to what extent, if any, it might be ethically acceptable to
create human clones to harvest their organs.

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma


people can change
=================

:: Description
Someone who was of a certain character proves later to have changed in a
profound and, perhaps, surprising way. For example, a no-good punk, juvenile
delinquent might reform their wicked ways to become a veritable saint.

:: Parents
human nature
human idea about life

:: Examples
Returning defector Stefan DeSeve had really seen the error of his ways in
tng6x14 "Face of the Enemy".


people endangering their lives in ways that don't hurt other people
===================================================================

:: Description
We are asked when and to what extent people should be able to put their lives
in danger, even if nobody besides themself is harmed in the process.

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: Examples
People were protesting in the streets to get a game show banned in "Le prix du
danger" (1983). In the game show, willing contestants took on life threatening
challenges in exchange for large cash prizes - if they lived.


people forced to be average dystopia
====================================

:: Description
There is a dystopian society in which people who are exceptional, in one way
or another, are censored. They may for example be killed, or have some form of
handicap imposed on them.

:: Parents
conformist dystopia

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x06a "Examination Day", a 12 year old boy was lawfully disposed of
after he failed his intelligence test with an above acceptable performance.
His dimwitted parents were, naturally, distraught.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Jante

:: Aliases
Scandinavian Jante dystopia
dystopic egalitarianism


people may not always live up to their reputations
==================================================

:: Description
A character anticipates what another will be based on their reputation but
comes to find that the reputation was not entirely warranted.

:: Parents
human idea about life


people meddling in history
==========================

:: Description
The idea is presented that a sentient entity has more or less deliberately
intervened to shape that history in a way that is not normal. This typically
necessitates some form of time travel or clandestine visit by someone who is
not supposed to be part of our history.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x22c "The Library", an aspiring writer discovered she could
retroactively change reality by rewriting books containing descriptions of her
loved ones lives.


people should stick to their own kind
=====================================

:: Description
The idea is put forth that people are better off not straying outside of their
own social group (e.g., class, race, nation).

:: Parents
human idea about life
relations between social groups in society


people tubes
============

:: Description
There is a transportation system that enables someone to enter into one end of
a tube and get shipped through to the other end.

:: Parents
speculative device

:: Examples
Markham observed people getting around a future New York City in penumatic
tubes in "A Visitor from the Twentieth Century" by Harold Donitz (1928).


performance art
===============

:: Description
The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are
performed for an audience. It is different from visual arts, which is when
artists use paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static
art objects. Performing arts include a range of disciplines which are
performed in front of a live audience, including theatre, music, and dance. It
can also include circus skills, vaudeville, professional wrestling, to name a
few examples of activities that some may be reluctant to consider "art" in the
normal sense.

:: Parents
the fine arts and the humanities

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performing_arts


performance-enhancing drugs
===========================

:: Description
We are asked to what extent, if any, drugs used to enhance performance should
be tolerated. This could be in the context of sports, the military, or a
university test for example.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: Examples
Three women used beauty-enhancing drugs to get ahead in the game of love in
tos1x03 "Mudd's Women".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performance-enhancing_substance


perilous voyage at sea
======================

:: Description
Someone finds themself on a perilous voyage on the high seas.

:: Parents
speculative travel

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nautical_fiction


perjury
=======

:: Description
The matter of perjury in relation to miscarriages of justice is explored.

:: Parents
crime against justice

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perjury


perpetual energy machine
========================

:: Description
A hypothetical machine that can do work indefinitely without an energy source.

:: Parents
speculative energy generation technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_motion


persecution complex
===================

:: Description
A character is obsessed with exaggerated or irrational worries about being the
object of hostility, conspiracy, etc.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecutory_delusion

:: Aliases
persecutory delusion


personal conviction
===================

:: Description
A character feels strongly for a worthy cause and tries hard to further it. It
sometimes turns out to be a bad cause but it is the motives that define the
theme.

:: Parents
human character


personal ethical dilemma
========================

:: Description
A character struggles with a tough decision that involves choices that are
hard because they involve moral considerations. Would you, for example, let
another person die if that was the only way to save your own life?

:: Parents
human tough decision


personal flying contraption
===========================

:: Description
There is a wearable technological device, such as a suit or a jet pack, which
allows its user to fly.

:: Parents
human enhancement technology


personal freedom vs. romantic love
==================================

:: Description
A character must decide what is more important to them: love and commitment or
the freedom of being single.

:: Parents
human romantic relationship choice

:: Examples
McCoy chose to live under the domination of the Oracle of the People so that
he might live out his days with his love Natira in tos3x10 "For the World is
Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky".


personal haunting
=================

:: Description
A person is followed by a ghost or suchlike supernatural creature.

:: Parents
ghost

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost


personal human experience
=========================

:: Description
This is the most general theme about individual humans, their inner
experiences, their experiences interacting with other individuals, and their
experiences of the world they inhabit. For example, the theme may discuss the
individual experiences of members making up a small group of people. Or it may
discuss the interpersonal relationship of two people vis-à-vis each other. Or
it may discuss the trials and tribulations an individual encounters in their
journey through life. Or it may discuss an individual's emotions, desires, and
driving passions, etc.

:: Parents
the human world

:: Notes
This theme, and the more specific themes below it by extension, is defined
with the perspective of individuals at the center and should be motivated
accordingly.


personal identity
=================

:: Description
The tricky, as yet sci-fi:ish, question of what precisely constitutes ones
"personhood" is posed: Is it DNA, the body, the brain, memories, something
elusive called the "soul," or a combination of these? What happens, legally
and ethically, if some of these are copied or transferred somehow?

:: Parents
metaphysics

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_identity
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/identity


personal invisibility cloak
===========================

:: Description
There is technology by which a person can render their own body practically
invisible.

:: Parents
invisibility technology


personal life and death dilemma
===============================

:: Description
A character must make a difficult choice regarding whether someone else lives
or dies.

:: Parents
human tough decision

:: Notes
When a character is contemplating sacrificing their own life for one reason or
another, the theme category "human self-sacrifice" is used.

:: Examples
"cannibalism to survive" refers to any of a number of gruesome scenarios in
which a character deprived of other food must decide whether they will accept
killing and eating another human in order to survive.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolley_problem
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethical_dilemma


personal practical dilemma
==========================

:: Description
A character struggles with a tough decision that involve choices that are
hard, not because of moral considerations or preferences but simply because
the effect of possible choices are less than clear. A typical example is "risk
taking vs. playing it safe": high risk with high reward, or low risk with low
reward.

:: Parents
human tough decision


personality rights
==================

:: Description
We are made to ponder to what extent or for what purposes it might be wrong to
use someone elses' physical appearance. Would it be ok to make a film in which
it looked like a famous actor appeared even if they didn't nor had permitted
it?

:: Parents
human rights issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personality_rights

:: Aliases
the right to one's own likeness


personally irresponsible character
==================================

:: Description
There is a character who notably fails to take responsibility for their own
future and wellbeing. They may, for example, prefer partying to studying, or
blame everyone else for their own shortcomings.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
In tz2002-1x22 "Gabe's Story", a point of the story was that Gabe needed to
shape up and take charge of his life. He must also take responsibility for it
and stop blaming everyone else for his misfortunes.


personification of a concept
============================

:: Description
There is a living, perhaps even breathing being that represents a tangible
thing (e.g. earth, water, air, fire) or an abstraction (e.g. death, time,
nature).

:: Parents
speculative being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personification


persuasion of groups by rhetoric
================================

:: Description
Someone uses fine words, speeches, rhetorical tricks etc. to influence a group
of people.

:: Parents
humans in group

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetoric


pervasive marketing in society
==============================

:: Description
Corporate market practices such as different kinds of advertisement
strategies, often perceived as a nuisance, are discussed from a societal
perspective.

:: Parents
social dysfunction
sociocultural issue
socioeconomic issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing


pesticides in society
=====================

:: Description
Potential harmful effects of using chemicals or biological agents that are
meant to control undesirable plants and animals is featured.

:: Parents
environmental issue

:: Examples
Environmental concerns prompted some townspeople to seek out alternatives to
using cyanide to poison the out-of-control proliferating rabbits in "Night of
the Lepus" (1972).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pesticide


philanthropist way of life
==========================

:: Description
Featured is a private initiative, for the public good, focusing on quality of
life, e.g., on the provision of public services.

:: Parents
human way of life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philanthropy


philosophy
==========

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to ideas in philosophy, that is, the study
of general and fundamental questions such as those about existence, reason,
knowledge, values, mind, and language.

:: Parents
the natural world

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy


photographic memory ability
===========================

:: Description
A character is presented as having a more or less perfect, or photographic,
memory to an extent that is not normally considered possible for a human.

:: Parents
speculative ability related to own mind

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eidetic_memory


photography
===========

:: Description
There is a character who likes to take a lot of pictures with a camera, either
professionally or as a serious hobby.

:: Parents
the fine arts and the humanities

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photography


phrenology
==========

:: Description
The study of cranial shapes and the discredited notion that features on the
skull are indications of mental ability and personal character.

:: Parents
superseded scientific theory

:: Examples
Melakon considered the shape of Spock's head to indicate stupidity in tos2x23
"Patterns of Force".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrenology


physics
=======

:: Description
Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its motion and behavior
through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. This
theme is used whenever an aspect of this science is featured in the story.

:: Parents
science

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physics


picking up a hitchhiker
=======================

:: Description
A character traveling in a vehicle goes out of their way to help a stranger
who is waiting along the side of the road in search of a ride.

:: Parents
helping a stranger in need

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitchhiking


piloted creature-shaped vehicle
===============================

:: Description
There is a belimbed (or betentacled etc.) mobile machine that is piloted by
someone residing within it.

:: Parents
speculative vehicle

:: Examples
The powerful "Gun Unit Heavy Elimination Device" (GUNHED) mecha was used by
Brooklyn to foil a highly advanced AI's plans for world domination in "Gunhed"
(1989).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mecha


pity
====

:: Description
A character shows feelings of sympathy at the misfortune of another.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pity


placing blame
=============

:: Description
One character places the blame for some misfortune squarely on another
character, to a seemingly unjustifiable degree.

:: Parents
humans interacting


plagiarism
==========

:: Description
Plagiarism is the fraudulent representation of another person's language,
thoughts, ideas, or expressions as one's own original work. A character does
this in the story.

:: Parents
criminal fraud

:: Notes
Plagiarism often does not become a police matter in stories where it is
featured but is still categorized as criminal fraud as it could potentially be
so. If it is categorically not a legal matter the theme "cheating" might be
considered instead.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagiarism


planet being flung out of its orbit
===================================

:: Description
Civilization on a planet is threatened because the planet is, for one reason
or another, leaving its natural orbit.

:: Parents
force of nature existential risk to civilization


planet being knocked off its axis by nuclear blast
==================================================

:: Description
Civilization ending natural disasters ensue when a nuclear explosion knocks a
planet off its normal axis of rotation.

:: Parents
technological risk to civilization


planet detection
================

:: Description
A collection of methods for discovering planets outside the Solar System,
including direct imaging with telescopes, the radial-velocity method, and the
transit method.

:: Parents
astronomy

:: Examples
Such methods were employed in tos3x20 "The Way to Eden" to search for the
mythical planet Eden.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methods_of_detecting_exoplanets


planet killing weapon
=====================

:: Description
A device that is capable of physically destroying an entire planet. This goes
beyond making the surface uninhabitable.

:: Parents
speculative device


planet scorching atmospheric conflagration
==========================================

:: Description
The whole atmosphere on a planet ignites and civilization goes up in flames.

:: Parents
force of nature existential risk to civilization


planet scorching solar flare
============================

:: Description
An abnormally strong solar flare roasts the surface of a planet like so many
coffee beans, and civilization collapses.

:: Parents
catastrophic solar event

:: Examples
The Irish colonists on Bringloidi V had to be evacuated as their sun began to
emit powerful solar flares in tng2x18 "Up The Long Ladder".


planetary invisibility cloak
============================

:: Description
A device capable of rendering a whole planet invisible.

:: Parents
planetary-scale engineering
invisibility technology

:: Examples
The Aldeans had such a device in tng1x17 "When The Bough Breaks" and it had
made them complacent.


planetary weather control system
================================

:: Description
A system capable of modifying and controlling weather on a planetary scale is
featured.

:: Parents
planetary-scale engineering

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_modification
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/weather_control


planetary-scale engineering
===========================

:: Description
There is an application of technology for the purpose of influencing the
global environments of a planet.

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_engineering


planetary-scale machine
=======================

:: Description
There is an interconnected system of machinery or a monolithic machine that is
at least the size of a small planet.

:: Parents
planetary-scale engineering

:: Examples
In bbf1x18 "A Voice in the Wilderness (Part 1)" it was revealed that Epsilon 3
was crisscrossed by a massive system of fusion reactors.


plant-like being
================

:: Description
A being patterned after plant life.

:: Parents
animal and plant patterned being

:: Examples
The Phylosians of the planet Phylos were a race of technologically advanced,
space-faring, plants in tas1x07 "The Infinite Vulcan".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_plant_and_fungi_alien_species


platonic love
=============

:: Description
The love of one human being for another of a type that is non-sexual.

:: Parents
familial love

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platonic_love


playing God with nature
=======================

:: Description
We are asked to what extent, if any, it is acceptable to willfully interfere
with nature. Though breeding programs have been around for millennia, the
advent of gene modification technology brings the question to a whole new
level.

:: Parents
sociotechnological issue

:: Examples
Reckless scientists learned a lesson about playing around with Nature when
their genetically engineered super-babies turned out to be deadly company in
tng2x07 "Unnatural Selection".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playing_God_(ethics)


playing it fair vs. taking an advantage
=======================================

:: Description
A character must choose between their sense of fairness on one hand, and their
desire to gain an advantage on the other.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma


plea bargain dilemma
====================

:: Description
An accused person, either guilty or innocent, is presented with the following
troublesome options: admit guilt and get a lower punishment with certainty, or
plead innocent and risk getting a much heavier punishment but perhaps with
some chance of going free.

:: Parents
personal practical dilemma

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plea_bargain


pleasure in coffee
==================

:: Description
A character takes great pleasure in preparing or imbuing the black heavenly
nectar colloquially known as "coffee".

:: Parents
pleasure in eating and drinking


pleasure in eating and drinking
===============================

:: Description
The natural human predilection for reveling in food and/or drink beyond
nutritional necessity is illustrated.

:: Parents
human pleasure

:: Examples
Tomar of the Kelvan Empire enjoyed all the delicacies that the Enterprise
replicator could offer in tos2x21 "By Any Other Name".


pleasure in nature
==================

:: Description
Someone takes pointed satisfaction in scenes of serene natural beauty, or is
notably enthusiastic about one aspect or another of those parts of the
environment on a world that are considered natural. Typically, such a
character studies wild flora or fauna.

:: Parents
human pleasure

:: Examples
The whole crew in turns got to admire the beauty of the magical amusement
planet now known as the "Shore Leave Planet" in tos1x17 "Shore Leave".

In "Jaws" (1975), we saw two people, Hooper and Quinn, who were both
extraordinarily interested in sharks and shark behavior.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature


pleasure in the misfortune of another
=====================================

:: Description
A character feels pleasure, joy, or self-satisfaction from learning of or
witnessing the troubles, failures, or humiliation of another character.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: Notes
To apply, it should be clear that the feeling is inspired solely by the
other's misfortune, and is not the result of some secondary advantage gained
by the first character. For example, if an enemy or competitor suffers
misfortune it may be quite natural to feel joy because of the personal
advantage this entails. This theme, then, does not apply.

:: Examples
tz1959e2x12 "Dust", the rather odious conman Sykes was gleeful at the prospect
of Gallegos getting hanged, and tormented him relentlessly.

:: Aliases
schadenfreude


pleasure in violence
====================

:: Description
The embarrassingly human predilection for battle and bloodshed is featured.

:: Parents
human pleasure

:: Examples
Data confessed that he had taken pleasure in chocking a Borg drone to death in
tng6x26 "Descent, Part I".

Captain Kirk took full advantage of the opportunity to beat the living tar out
of a robot replica of his former tormenter Finnegan in tos1x17 "Shore Leave".


plug-in learning device
=======================

:: Description
Technology by which you can inject your brain with knowledge and skill in an
instant.

:: Parents
brain-computer interface

:: Examples
McCoy plugged himself into "The Great Teacher" in order to acquire the
knowledge necessary to surgically restore Spock's brain to the Vulcan's body
in tos3x06 "Spock's Brain".


pluralistic ignorance
=====================

:: Description
Members of a social group knowingly go along with something they privately
hold to be wrong because they assume, incorrectly, that most others accept it.

:: Parents
humans in group

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluralistic_ignorance

:: Aliases
the Emperor's New Clothes phenomenon


poaching
========

:: Description
The illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals, usually associated with land
use rights, is featured.

:: Parents
crime against property
hunting

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poaching


pod or booth-like device
========================

:: Description
There is a futuristic stationary device with a particular function that
requires you to step inside to use.

:: Parents
speculative device


poetic justice
==============

:: Description
An evildoer ironically falls victim to the very wickedness that they themself
intended for (or meted out to) someone else.

:: Parents
ethics

:: Notes
This theme does not apply if the result is achieved through the considered
designs of another character, for example as vengeance. It must also be
reasonably clear that the irony is a noteworthy component of the story.

The interpretation of "wickedness" must be reasonably specific. For example,
if a murderer ends up getting murdered, it is only "poetic justice" if there
is a salient similarity in methodology between the intended and the actual
murder.

:: Examples
In nightgallery2x19a "Deliveries in the Rear", Dr. Fletcher is perfectly
content to look the other way while innocent people are murdered in order to
provide cadavers for dissection in his anatomy class. Eventually, in an ironic
twist of fate, he uncovers a new corpse only to find that it is his own
beloved fiancée that has become the victim.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetic_justice


poetry
======

:: Description
The art of stringing words together is featured.

:: Parents
the fine arts and the humanities

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetry


poison murder
=============

:: Description
The crime of murdering someone using poison is discussed.

:: Parents
murder

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_poisonings


polar exploration
=================

:: Description
Someone faces the dangers inherent to exploring unfamiliar arctic regions.

:: Parents
charting unknown territory


police brutality
================

:: Description
The problem of police sometimes willfully using excessive force and violence
to brutalize either criminals or the innocent is explored.

:: Parents
law and order issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_brutality


political apathy in society
===========================

:: Description
There is in the public a feeling of disinterest in politics. This typically
happens because we feel that all viable politicians are self-serving or inept
and it makes little difference how we vote.

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_apathy


political assassination
=======================

:: Description
An individual or faction uses the targeted killing of important people for the
purpose of military and political advantage.

:: Parents
murder

:: Examples
A traitorous Klingon conspired with the Romulans to brainwash Geordi into
assassinating another Klingon and frame the Federation in tng4x24 "The Mind's
Eye".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination


political asylum
================

:: Description
A sovereign faction grants an individual safety in their own jurisdiction,
typically because that political actor is in danger from a rival faction.

:: Parents
international issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_of_asylum


political ideology
==================

:: Description
One of those relatively well known, reasonably well defined, ideas about how
society ought to be organized, that we call "political ideologies" and often
label with "-isms", is featured.

:: Parents
form of government

:: Notes
TLike Wikipedia, this project aims to remain neutral in regard to political
questions. When using a word that references a political stance it is
advisable to consult, for example, Wikipedia and use the word only in ways
that appear mainstream and are relatively uncontroversial.

:: Examples
"Capitalism", "communism", "fascism", and "democracy" are some political
ideologies that have been popular in the last century.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_ideologies
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideology#Political_ideologies


political issue
===============

:: Description
Political power in a society, that is, who rules and makes the laws, is
discussed.

:: Parents
national social issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Politics_by_issue


political neutrality
====================

:: Description
Some faction tries to maintain neutrality in a political conflict.

:: Parents
international issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutral_country


political polarization
======================

:: Description
The problem of political attitudes diverging, in a society, to such extremes
that cooperation becomes difficult and even violence may be imminent is
discussed.

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarization_(politics)


political purge
===============

:: Description
The ruling body in a state institute a program aimed at killing or otherwise
neutralizing potential political opponents.

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purge


pollution in society
====================

:: Description
The social issue of pollution caused by human behavior is explored.

:: Parents
environmental issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollution
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/pollution


polyamorous relationship
========================

:: Description
Three or more characters are involved in a lasting romantic relationship, with
all of them understanding and accepting the situation.

:: Parents
romantic relationship

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyamory


polygamy
========

:: Description
The contentious social question of whether or to what extent a man or woman
should be permitted to be lawfully married to more than one spouse at a time.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygamy


polytheism
==========

:: Description
Religions that contain a pantheon of many gods, as opposed to the Abrahamic
religions.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytheism


pornography
===========

:: Description
Pornography is the portrayal of sexual subject matter for the exclusive
purpose of sexual arousal. The story deals with attitudes towards pornography
in general, and especially the question of whether and to what extent it
should be tolerated in society.

:: Parents
sexual norms in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pornography


portent of luck
===============

:: Description
A character sees something that they interpret, sincerely, as a sign that good
fortune, of one sort or another, is imminent.

:: Parents
supernatural luck

:: Examples
In tz1959e2x16 "A Penny for Your Thoughts", a tossed coin that stood on its
side was said to be a portent of good luck. The coin-tosser subsequently began
to hear thoughts, and profited greatly from this.


position in exchange for sexual favors
======================================

:: Description
The practice of some people to solicit sexual favors from an applicant in
exchange for, e.g., employment is treated from a societal perspective.

:: Parents
social dysfunction

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casting_couch


post-apocalyptic dystopia
=========================

:: Description
There is a society in which something extraordinary bad has happened to
civilization and the survivors must now cope as best they can. Usually this
happens because society had a brush with one existential risk or another (cf.
theme "existential risk").

:: Parents
dystopia

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/ruined_earth


post-scarcity economy utopia
============================

:: Description
There is a society in which goods needed for human welfare are all abundant so
that trade and squabbles over ownership are pretty much redundant.

:: Parents
technologically enabled utopia

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-scarcity_economy


post-truth politics
===================

:: Description
Clearly featured is a political culture in which debate is framed largely by
appeals to emotion disconnected from the details of policy, and by the
repeated assertion of talking points to which factual rebuttals are ignored.
Post-truth differs from traditional contesting and falsifying of facts by
relegating facts and expert opinions to be of secondary importance relative to
appeal to emotion.

:: Parents
political issue

:: Examples
tz2019e1x05 "The Wunderkind" featured a presidency in which the leader, drunk
on his own power, invented ill-considered policies and forced them around him
to agree to whatever fake facts were expedient. A clear reference to Donald
Trump's America.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-truth_politics


poverty in society
==================

:: Description
Social issues relating to there being large numbers of poor people in a
society are explored.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: Notes
This theme is typically used in relation to absolute poverty, i.e., when the
poor have trouble providing for their most basic needs such as food, clothing,
sanitation, and shelter.

:: Examples
In "Red Beard" (1965), we saw vividly how society treated the poor in 19th
century Japan.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty


power corrupts
==============

:: Description
Someone who was decent gains power and because of the power becomes nasty.

:: Parents
human nature

:: References
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/power-tends-to-corrupt-absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely


powered exoskeleton
===================

:: Description
A machine that surrounds you and enhances your normal human movements.

:: Parents
speculative full body outfit

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powered_exoskeleton


practical joking
================

:: Description
There is a mischievous trick played on someone, generally causing the victim
to experience embarrassment, perplexity, confusion, or discomfort.

:: Parents
humans interacting

:: Examples
In apuleius180tgab3 "The Golden Ass: Book 3", the people of Hypata played a
cruel prank on Lucius to celebrate their annual Festival of Laughter: They put
him on trial for the murder of three robbers he had valiantly slain to defend
his host's house and made him believe he would be tortured. Later was it
revealed to Lucius that he had in fact just vandalized three wines skins after
returning drunk from an evening of merriment.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Practical_joke


practice makes perfect
======================

:: Description
It is pointedly mentioned or illustrated that people get better at a
particular task the more they practice performing that task.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/practice_makes_perfect


practitioner vs. theorist
=========================

:: Description
The stereotypical divide in science between those who are inclined towards
pure theory one one hand, and those who are inclined to practice and
experiments on the other, is featured.

:: Parents
human characters in contrast


pre-crime responsibility
========================

:: Description
The following hypothetical dilemma is considered: If through some marvel of
time travel like technology it is possible to prove that someone is about to
commit a crime in the future, can they then be arrested and considered guilty
already in the present?

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: Examples
In Philip K. Dick's 1956 science fiction short story "The Minority Report",
PreCrime police officers can put people in a detainment camp before they
commit the crime they are destined to commit.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-crime


precognition
============

:: Description
A character is able to see (or at least sense with some accuracy) what will
be, or happen, in the future.

:: Parents
clairvoyance

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precognition


predatory financial practices in society
========================================

:: Description
Predatory lending refers to unethical practices conducted by lending
organizations during a loan origination process that are unfair, deceptive, or
fraudulent. The story ask us to ponder how such and suchlike practices affect
a society.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: Examples
In nightgallery2x12b "Camera Obscura", the successful money lender Mr.
Sharsted is transported into some sort of bleak Limbo wherein he is confronted
with the various victims of his callous, perhaps usurious, business practices.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predatory_lending


preemptive strike in self-defense
=================================

:: Description
The following kind of dilemma is illustrated: Can it be right to use military
force pre-emptively to prevent an attack on yourself?

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: Examples
Picard was urged to attack the Romulans before they could strike at the
Federation in tng3x10 "The Defector".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preemptive_war


prejudice against ex-convicts
=============================

:: Description
Prejudice against ex-convicts, even though they have atoned for their crimes,
is discussed.

:: Parents
prejudice in society

:: Examples
Nobody trusted Ro Laren after she got out of the penal stockade on Jaros II
and was assigned to the Enterprise-D in tng5x03 "Ensign Ro" until Guinan took
pity on her.


prejudice in society
====================

:: Description
The subject of preconceived (typically unfavorable) notions about a group of
people in society is explored.

:: Parents
relations between social groups in society

:: Notes
The themes "hatred in society" or "ethnic hatred" are more appropriate in
cases where there is hostility but not necessarily any preconceived notions. A
people at war may, for example, quite logically hate their enemy on account of
that enemy being demonstrably organized to do murder.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prejudice


prenuptial agreement
====================

:: Description
Partners entering into marriage draw up a contract to formalize their legal
obligations to each other.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prenuptial_agreement


preternatural rain
==================

:: Description
There is a "rain" of something that is entirely unnatural in falling from the
sky, such as frogs, blood, or nuts.

:: Parents
folk belief

:: Examples
In rd1988e1x05 "Confidence and Paranoia", it was momentarily raining fish in
the same way as it had rained herring in Burgundy some time in the 12th
century.


price inflation in society
==========================

:: Description
It is featured that prices in society rise rapidly in nominal terms, making
savings worth much less than they would have been otherwise, etc.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation


pride
=====

:: Description
A person expresses pride in something they have done or some aspect of who
they are.

:: Parents
human character

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride


pride goes before a fall
========================

:: Description
A character exhibits an unflattering amount of pride or overconfidence
regarding some subject, and subsequently suffers a severe setback nominally
related to that subject and their attitude.

:: Parents
pride

:: Notes
When the pride is so excessive that the character deigns to put themself on
par, or even above, the gods etc. then the theme "hubris" is used.

:: Examples
In voy6x13 "Virtuoso", The Doctor thought he was a virtuoso singer when he
found a race of aliens that adored his music. Alas, they soon surpassed and
grew bored with the Doctor who returned chastised to Voyager.


pride in an achievement
=======================

:: Description
A character expresses pride on something specific that they have accomplished.

:: Parents
pride

:: Notes
In cases where a character is proud of "their many achievements" without being
specific, "attitude of superiority" may be more appropriate.


pride in one's community
========================

:: Description
A character expresses pride in being part of a specific community of people.

:: Parents
pride

:: Notes
A "community" is typically a number of people larger than a family or
friendship circle, living in the same area such as a town or city.


pride in one's family
=====================

:: Description
A character expresses pride in their family in general, or in specific people
to whom they are related.

:: Parents
pride


pride in one's own creation
===========================

:: Description
A character takes pride in something they have created.

:: Parents
pride in an achievement


pride in one's team
===================

:: Description
A character expresses pride in a smaller group they are part of for the
purpose of some activity.

:: Parents
pride


pridefulness
============

:: Description
A character's ego dictates their action, prompting or preventing them from
doing something they ought to or not to do.

:: Parents
pride

:: Notes
The motivation should exemplify what action (or absence thereof) was dictated
by the character's pride.


prime numbers
=============

:: Description
A number greater than 1 that has no positive divisors other than 1 and itself.

:: Parents
mathematics

:: Examples
Captain Picard tapped the first six prime numbers into a door panel in tng3x18
"Allegiance".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_number


primitive point of view
=======================

:: Description
We are shown what things might be like from the point of view of a person that
comes from a technologically less advanced culture than the one depicted in
the story.

:: Parents
cross cultural issue


prisoners being exploited for entertainment
===========================================

:: Description
Condemned prisoners are being made sport of for the entertainment of free
people.

:: Parents
speculative punishment


prisoners of war
================

:: Description
One faction takes members of another faction as prisoners during the course of
a war. The treatment of such prisoners is wrought with potential problems and
moral questions.

:: Parents
military issue

:: Examples
It was unclear whether Captain Picard was technically a prisoner of war thus
protected by a treaty against mistreatment in tng6x11 "Chain of Command, Part
II".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner_of_war


prisoners' rights
=================

:: Description
We are made to ponder what conditions in prisons should be like and what may
morally be done to prisoners who have committed crimes of different kinds.

:: Parents
human rights issue

:: Examples
The Angosians kept their super-soldiers imprisoned without any right to appeal
on a shabby little moon in tng3x11 "The Hunted".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoners%27_rights


private investigator occupation
===============================

:: Description
A professional private investigation is engaged in their chosen occupation.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_investigator


privatization in society
========================

:: Description
The social ramifications of privatizing government functions and services are
explored.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privatization


problem gambling
================

:: Description
A character gambles continuously, despite harmful negative consequences or a
desire to stop.

:: Parents
human addiction
gambling

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_gambling

:: Aliases
gambling addiction


problem gambling in society
===========================

:: Description
The social consequences of gambling addiction, such as the harm caused to
those other than the gambler, are explored.

:: Parents
public health issue
problem gambling

:: Examples
The pursuit of a good gamble had turned the Triskelian society into one of
slavery and sadism in tos2x17 "The Gamesters of Triskelion".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_gambling

:: Aliases
gambling addiction in society


problem of language and meaning
===============================

:: Description
Featured is a practical problem that arises when people who communicate
differently, i.e. who use very different languages, have to interact.

:: Parents
philosophy


professional politics
=====================

:: Description
A person working with professional politics is engaged in their chosen
occupation. This may include people inhabiting an elected office, or who are
campaigning for such.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_campaign


promiscuity
===========

:: Description
Promiscuity is the practice of engaging in sexual activity frequently with
different partners or being indiscriminate in the choice of sexual partners.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples


:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promiscuity
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypersexuality
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lascivious_behavior

:: Aliases
promiscuousness


property rights vs. public interest
===================================

:: Description
There is a situation in which we must decide whether someone's lawful right to
their property outweighs some other issue that is important to society at
large. For example, can the government take your land in order to build a
highway? Temporarily prevent you from using your land in order to excavate a
site of archaeological interest?

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: Examples
In tz1985e3x04 "The Hunters", a real estate developer quarreled with an
archaeologist over who had a right to do what on a piece of land. The
archaeologist wanted time to study some pre-historic cave drawings, while the
developer wanted no further delay in beginning a construction project.


prophetic ability
=================

:: Description
A character is able to predict things about the future through some sort of
revelation involving deities or suchlike mysterious forces.

:: Parents
clairvoyance

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy


prostitution
============

:: Description
There is a character who sells sex for money in order to make a living.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution


prostitution in society
=======================

:: Description
There is a person who sells sex for money, or an institution (such as a
brothel) set up for the purpose, and we are made to ponder the way in which
such practices shape society.

:: Parents
sexual norms in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution


prostitution vs. poverty
========================

:: Description
A character has to choose whether to perform sexual services for money in
order not to starve.

:: Parents
human life choice
compromising one's ethical principles vs. self-preservation

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution


protecting children vs. letting them learn
==========================================

:: Description
We are asked whether and to what extent we should be shielding children from
things that are considered unsavory and disturbing. Most people believe that
they must learn about these things eventually in order to become well rounded
adults. The timing and manner of the learning, however, are contentious.
Typical controversies generally center around pornography, violence, or crime.

:: Parents
educational issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicopter_parent


protecting kids from bad influences on children
===============================================

:: Description
A parent's concern for the bad influence someone may have on their child is
noted.

:: Parents
human parenting


prudishness
===========

:: Description
A character is too easily offended or shocked by sexual matters.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Campio called off his wedding to Lwaxana when it became apparent that the
ceremony was to be conducted in the nude, as was the Betazoid custom, in
tng5x20 "Cost of Living".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prude


psychedelic experience
======================

:: Description
A character experiences a temporary altered state of consciousness induced by
the consumption of psychedelic drugs (the best known of which are LSD and
psilocybin 'magic' mushrooms).

:: Parents
psychoactive drug experience

:: Examples
A group of castaways started tripping out after eating the local mushrooms on
a remote island in "Matango: Attack of the Mushroom People" (1963).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychedelic_experience


psychic detective
=================

:: Description
There is a person who investigates crimes by using purported paranormal
psychic abilities.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
A man used his newfound psychic powers to help the police track down a serial
killer in "The Dead Zone" (1983).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychic_detective


psychoactive drug experience
============================

:: Description
We are pointedly shown a reasonable idea of what it might be like to be under
the influence of one recreational psychoactive drug or another.

:: Parents
speculative experience

:: Examples
In tz2019e1x09 "Blue Scorpion", we saw how Jeff Storck smoked pot and played
the guitar in the course of mourning the loss of his once hippie father.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoactive_drug


psychological stress
====================

:: Description
A character experiences an unhealthy amount of mental strain and pressure due
to some situation they are in.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: Notes
We generally do not use this theme in violent, action filled, scenarios where
we assume that adrenaline and stress would be a relatively natural (and
arguably healthy) response to a life-and-death situation.

:: Examples
"coping with the rigors of command" is a "psychological stress" theme as it
implies that a character experiences unusual amounts of mental strain due to
having a burden of responsibility.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychological_stress

:: Aliases
coping with stress


psychology
==========

:: Description
Psychology is the science of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study
of conscious and unconscious phenomena, as well as feeling and thought. This
theme is used whenever a topic in this science is notably featured.

:: Parents
science

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology


psychopathy
===========

:: Description
A character exhibits persistent antisocial behavior, impaired empathy, and
abnormal egotism.

:: Parents
human mental condition


public health issue
===================

:: Description
Social policy relating to the mental and physiological well-being of humans in
a community, is explored.

:: Parents
national social issue

:: Examples
"opium addiction in society" and "suicide in society" are both "public health
issue" themes. In both cases we typically contemplate what sort of policies
may be implemented in order to improve the situation for the population at
large. In the first case, opium tends to be a proscribed substance. In the
second case, the government is often required to provide support to people we
think may be at risk of committing suicide.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Well-being


public safety vs. human rights
==============================

:: Description
Is it justified to deprive an innocent person of their rights if we think
public safety may be in danger? Where would the line be drawn?

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma


public safety vs. public prosperity
===================================

:: Description
A society must decide between a policy that helps the economy on one hand, and
one that makes people safe on the other.

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: Examples
In "Jaws" (1975), Mayor Larry Vaughn refused to let police chief Martin Brody
close the beaches on Amity Island even after the shark claimed its second
victim. The Forth of July was only days off and the tourism this occasion
brings is a backbone of the local economy. Thus the mayor choose to overlook
evidence and let beach activities go ahead, which ultimately lead to the death
of yet another victim.


pulling the plug on a loved one
===============================

:: Description
Someone is faced with deciding whether or not to authorize the suspension of
life support procedures on a loved one.

:: Parents
personal life and death dilemma

:: Examples
It fell to Clara Murphy to decide in whether to let her mortally wounded
husband Alex die or let a team of scientists turn what was left of him into a
cyborg "RoboCop" (2014). She went cyborg route.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_support


pulsar
======

:: Description
A rotating neutron star that emits a beam of electromagnetic radiation, like a
lighthouse.

:: Parents
astronomy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulsar


punishment as a deterrent to crime
==================================

:: Description
It is discussed to what extent different kinds of prescribed punishments can
work to deter people from committing crimes in the first place.

:: Parents
legal punishment


punishment in the afterlife
===========================

:: Description
A character (or their soul) is posthumously tortured because of wicked things
that they did while alive.

:: Parents
the afterlife

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgement_(afterlife)

:: Aliases
what if I had to endure eternal torment


pure evil being
===============

:: Description
An entity that is pure sadistic evil.

:: Parents
mentally distinguished being

:: Examples
The slick of malevolent tar Armus was such a being in tng1x23 "Skin of Evil".


purpose in life
===============

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to what drives us and makes us act with
what we perceive as "purpose". This theme is about our aspirations, needs,
pleasures, cherished beliefs and such.

:: Parents
individual humans

:: Examples
The theme is further specialized into: human aspiration (hopes, dreams, and
questions of what we want out of life), human need (things we need in order to
consider ourselves fulfilled in life), human pleasure (things we may simply
enjoy).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meaning_of_life


pursuing one's dream vs. advancing one's career
===============================================

:: Description
A character must decide what is more important to them: their career or some
other personal ambition such as galavanting around the universe.

:: Parents
career choice

:: Examples
Picard was mightily tempted to leave his post as captain of the Enterprise-D
in tng6x20 "The Chase" to do space archaeology with his old mentor Professor
Richard Galen.


putting a child up for adoption
===============================

:: Description
Someone struggles with the decision of whether to give their child away for
adoption.

:: Parents
human life choice
human parenting

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoption


putting differences aside
=========================

:: Description
Two characters agree to put past differences aside in order to pursue some
more important joint purpose.

:: Parents
humans interacting


putting down a pet
==================

:: Description
Someone has to euthanize a beloved pet for one reason or another. Typically it
is either sick, injured, or a danger to the public.

:: Parents
coping with life issues

:: Examples
Spock made the tough decision to put his pet sehlat out of its misery in
tas1x02 "Yesteryear".


putting yourself in someone else's shoes
========================================

:: Description
A character looks at a situation from a different point of view, as if one
were the other person, to empathise.

:: Parents
human self improvement

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/put_oneself_in_someone%27s_shoes


pyrokinetic ability
===================

:: Description
A character is able to conjure or control fire, more or less by using the
power of their mind.

:: Parents
speculative ability related to physical things

:: Examples
A secret government agency sought to control a young girl with formidable
pyrokinetic abilities in "Firestarter" (1984).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrokinesis


quackery
========

:: Description
The fraudulent practice of peddling unproven "medicines" that are highly
unlikely to work as advertised.

:: Parents
con artistry

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quackery

:: Aliases
quacksalvery


quality is more important than quantity
=======================================

:: Description
The ever-present dichotomy between quantity and quality is features: Should
one strive towards producing many mediocre things or a few high quality
things, or is there a sweet spot somewhere in between?

:: Parents
human idea about life


quarantine dilemma
==================

:: Description
Some people carry an infectious and undesirable, typically deadly, condition
and we are asked what measures the rest of society is ethically justified in
taking in order to protect itself from those that are infected but innocent of
any wrongdoing.

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarantine


quasar
======

:: Description
Featured is an active galactic nucleus of very high luminosity.

:: Parents
astronomy

:: Examples
The Enterprise encountered Murasaki 312, a quasar-like phenomena, in tos1x13
"The Galileo Seven". Interestingly, "murasaki" means purple in Japanese, yet
the quasar was plainly green.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quasar


quasi-religious cult
====================

:: Description
The practices religious cults, or something much like them, are featured.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
The Children of Landru in tos1x22 "The Return of the Archons" Landru lead a
cult-like following.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult


questioning one's beliefs
=========================

:: Description
A character comes to re-evaluate some idea, usually a moral sentiment, that
they had previously taken for granted.

:: Parents
human self improvement


questioning one's loyalties
===========================

:: Description
A character considers whether the things they are loyal to are really worthy
of that devotion. This happens for example when the morality of a previously
accepted leader, faction, or ideology comes into doubt for some reason.

:: Parents
human self improvement


questioning one's sanity
========================

:: Description
A character questions whether their beliefs are really rational.

:: Parents
human worrying about self


racial segregation
==================

:: Description
Racial segregation is the systematic separation of people into racial or other
ethnic groups in daily life. Such practices in a society are discussed.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue
sociocultural issue

:: Examples
In "District 9" (2009), aliens trapped on Earth were forced to live separate
from humans, in what had become sprawling slums with harsh, impoverished,
conditions.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_segregation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apartheid


racial supremacism
==================

:: Description
A character expresses the belief that their own ethnic group (as perceived by
that character) is somehow superior to other races.

:: Parents
racism in society

:: Notes
If a character is preoccupied with the purity of their own race, for example
by objecting vociferously to all mixed marriages, they may be presumed to
stand for racial supremacism.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supremacism


racism in society
=================

:: Description
The issue of a large portion of society having an irrational (typically
unfavorable) prejudice against people of a certain ethnicity, i.e., race, is
discussed.

:: Parents
prejudice in society

:: Notes
Any use of a racial slur is indicative of this prejudice. It is, however,
possible for people of different ethnic groups to hate each other without any
particular preconceived notions being apparent. In that case the theme "ethnic
hatred" is used.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism


radiation neutralizer
=====================

:: Description
A device that somehow makes radioactive material to which it is exposed un-
radioactive.

:: Parents
speculative device

:: Examples
Dr. Adam Royston invented an anti-radiation container that could neutralize
any radioactive material put inside it in "X the Unknown" (1956).


ransom kidnapping
=================

:: Description
The crime of unlawful transportation, asportation and confinement of a person
against their will for the purposes of extortion, is featured.

:: Parents
crime against property
crime against the person

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidnapping


rapid aging process
===================

:: Description
A hypothetical process that makes you age significantly faster than normal and
faster than natural.

:: Parents
what if I were not subject to the normal process of aging

:: Examples
When Gamma Hydra IV experienced mild radiation in the tail of a rogue comet,
Captain Kirk and some of his team started to age rapidly in tos2x11 "The
Deadly Years".


rationality vs. emotionality
============================

:: Description
The allegedly rational parts of the human psyche are contrasted with its
emotional parts. For example, the claim might be made that there are cognitive
tasks in which emotional people excel far beyond what more rational people can
manage, or vice versa.

:: Parents
human nature


reading as a hobby
==================

:: Description
A character is notably fond of reading books.

:: Parents
recreational activity

:: Examples
In tz1985e2x11a "Song of the Younger World", we heard that Amy, the
superintendents daughter, liked to spend inordinate amounts of time reading in
the reformatory's library. In an obscure tome she discovered the spell that
saved her rapscallious lover and herself from her father's wrath.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading


realist vs. idealist
====================

:: Description
A pragmatic down to Earth character is contrasted with a visionary in pursuit
of (some sort of) perfection.

:: Parents
human characters in contrast

:: Notes
The wikipedia articles discussing "realism" and "idealism" refer to abstract
philosophical concepts that are not very helpful in explaining what the
present theme is about. We choose to omit these as references.


reality television in society
=============================

:: Description
Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents
purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unknown
individuals rather than professional actors. The ways in which these shows are
intended to humiliate or exploit participants, make stars out of untalented
people unworthy of fame and glamorize vulgarity are discussed.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: Examples
A seemingly terminally ill woman agreed to have a reality television show made
out the final days of her life in exchange for a large sum of money in "Death
Watch" (1980).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_television
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_reality_television


reasons for war
===============

:: Description
The question of why wars happen is taken up.

:: Parents
war


rebuilding society after a disaster
===================================

:: Description
The troubles and tribulations faced by a society that begin rebuilding after a
disaster are featured.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue


rebuilding society after war
============================

:: Description
The troubles and tribulations faced by a society that has just experienced the
ravages of war are featured.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue


reclusiveness
=============

:: Description
Someone takes pains to avoid the company of other people. Note: This is used
for individuals and not for, say, a xenophobic alien species.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
It was revealed that Tam Elbrun lived among the non-humanoid, telepathic
Chandrans in order to avoid contact with other humanoids in tng3x20 "Tin Man".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recluse


reconciliation
==============

:: Description
Two characters who have quarreled in the past come to a more or less amicable
reconciliation.

:: Parents
humans interacting

:: Examples
Riker and his father Kyle reconciled their differences over a heated anbo-
jyutsu match in tng2x14 "The Icarus Factor".

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/reconciliation

:: Aliases
forgiveness


reconciliation between two peoples
==================================

:: Description
Two factions who have been at odds with each other decide to put their
difference aside and seek rapprochement.

:: Parents
international issue


recording implant
=================

:: Description
There is a device that can be implanted into the body and which records some
one or more of our senses, typically the visual and auditory much like a
camera.

:: Parents
speculative device


recreational activity
=====================

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to activities that are more or less done
for fun, for example, hobbies.

:: Parents
human regular activity
human pleasure


recreational illicit drug use
=============================

:: Description
A character takes a controlled or outright illegal chemical substance in
moderation for enjoyment, rather than for medical reasons or out of a desire
to feed an addiction.

:: Parents
recreational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recreational_drug_use


reflecting on the person one might have been
============================================

:: Description
A character reflects on how their own life might have turned out, typically
for the better, had they taken a different path in life.

:: Parents
human worrying about self

:: Examples
In the TV short "The Jolly Corner" (1975), Spencer Brydon couldn't stop
thinking about what type of man he would have become had he not scuttled off
to Europe in order to avoid the national trauma that was the American Civil
War.

:: Aliases
the road not taken


refugee crisis
==============

:: Description
We are made to think of movements of large groups of displaced people, who
could be either internally displaced persons, refugees or other migrants.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugee_crisis


regicide
========

:: Description
A character murders a crowned king, queen, or comparable sovereign ruler.

:: Parents
dominicide

:: Examples
In "Macbeth" (1606), the Macbeth couple slew King Duncan in order to usurp his
powers.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regicide


reincarnation
=============

:: Description
The belief, typical in Indian religions, that there is some non-corporeal us
(a soul) the after our death is reborn in a new physical body.

:: Parents
organized religion
the soul

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reincarnation


reintegrating into society
==========================

:: Description
Someone has been away from anything resembling normal society for a long time,
for example due to a lengthy prison term, and tries to re-adjust to life
amongst normal people again.

:: Parents
human social position
coping with life issues

:: Examples
In "Universal Soldier: Regeneration" (2009), the former mindless supersoldier
Luc Deveraux was undergoing rehabilitation therapy in Switzerland with the
goal of rejoining society.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner_reentry


rejuvenation technology
=======================

:: Description
There is technology that restores people to a more youthful state or semblance
thereof.

:: Parents
human enhancement technology

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/rejuvenation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regenerative_medicine


relations between social groups in society
==========================================

:: Description
There are two different and notably distinct social groups within a society,
for example two ethnic groups, and some aspect of the relationship between
these two groups is featured. Notably, this is a general theme pertaining to
different types of hatred and prejudice in society.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_group


relentless enemy in war
=======================

:: Description
A people is threatened by an enemy who uncompromisingly wants them all dead
and who will not be reasoned with.

:: Parents
war


reliability of eyewitness testimony
===================================

:: Description
Eyewitness testimony is the account a bystander or victim gives in the
courtroom, describing what that person observed that occurred during the
specific incident under investigation. Discussed is whether and to what extent
such testimony can be relied upon in order to pass judgment upon another
person and punish them for a crime that they are alleged to have committed.

:: Parents
law and order issue
social ethical dilemma

:: Notes
Research in the 20th century demonstrated various ways in which witnesses can
deceive themselves and be unreliable despite being seemingly honest. Typically
the situation in which this theme is featured is some variation on
highlighting this, perhaps startling, revelation. I.e., we are shown that a
witness is sincere in what they say and yet, in fact, wrong. At stake may be
another person's life and liberty.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyewitness_testimony


reliable streak of luck
=======================

:: Description
Someone believes that a recent streak of luck is indicative of future outcomes
in some game of chance or the like.

:: Parents
supernatural luck


religion as a control mechanism
===============================

:: Description
There is a society in which the ruling elite moulds religious doctrine to
justify their own position and exert control.

:: Parents
form of government


religion in public education
============================

:: Description
The contentious issue of whether and to what extent unscientific religious
notions should be taught to students in public education is discussed.

:: Parents
educational issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creation_and_evolution_in_public_education


religious fervor
================

:: Description
A character exhibits an obsessive enthusiasm related to their religion.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: Examples
Worf encountered zealous Klingons who resurrected their Messiah in tng6x23
"Rightful Heir".


religious festival
==================

:: Description
There is a day of celebration or observance for something related to a
religion.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_festival


religious fundamentalism
========================

:: Description
The ramifications of people acting more or less fanatically to promote the
literally interpreted doctrines of a religion are explored.

:: Parents
political ideology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamentalism#Religious


religious hypocrisy
===================

:: Description
A religious person neglects to practice what they preach.

:: Parents
hypocritical character
organized religion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypocrisy


religious occupation
====================

:: Description
A priest, rabbi, imam, or other character whose principal occupation involves
the studying and teaching of religious doctrine, is engaged in their craft.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: Examples
In tz1959e5x26 "I Am the Night—Color Me Black", a black reverend has words
with a man who is about to be hanged.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Religious_occupations


religious point of view
=======================

:: Description
We are shown how something more or less ordinary may seem different when
viewed from the perspective of someone who is extremely pious, with respect to
some religious doctrine or another.

:: Parents
cross cultural issue


religious prophesy
==================

:: Description
There are divinely inspired prognostications of holy prophets.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy


religious prophet
=================

:: Description
There is an individual who is regarded as being in contact by a divine being
and is said to speak on that entity's behalf, serving as an intermediary with
humanity by delivering messages or teachings from the supernatural source to
other people.

:: Parents
religious prophesy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophet


religious toleration
====================

:: Description
There is a society in which people with drastically different religious
beliefs are seen to treat each others with toleration.

:: Parents
political ideology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toleration


remembering bygone days
=======================

:: Description
A character looks back with emotion on previous experiences.

:: Parents
human dreaming
nostalgia

:: Aliases
reminiscence


remembrance
===========

:: Description
A character reflects on memories of a departed loved one, friend, or
colleague, etc.

:: Parents
human dreaming


reminiscence about one's youth
==============================

:: Description
A character thinks back to their childhood years.

:: Parents
remembering bygone days

:: Examples
In voy2x09 "Tattoo", Commander Chakotay had numerous flashbacks to the times
in his youth he been out with his father in the forest.


remorse
=======

:: Description
Someone feels regret for a past action that they have come to see as morally
wrong, or for a mistake they should have been able to avert.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remorse

:: Aliases
guilt
regret


remote controlled person
========================

:: Description
Technology by which, e.g., one person can be controlled by another person at a
distance.

:: Parents
human enhancement technology

:: Examples
McCoy jury-rigged a brainless Spock so that he could be operated by remote
control in tos3x06 "Spock's Brain".


remote harming ability
======================

:: Description
A character is able to directly inflict injuries, or other deleterious
effects, on another person, more or less by using their mind alone and without
manipulating intermediate physical objects.

:: Parents
speculative remote living body manipulation

:: Notes
If a character, for example, uses telekinesis to move a knife, manipulate air,
etc. and inflict injury, then the applicable theme is just ordinary
"telekinetic ability".

:: Examples
In "Scanners" (1981), Cameron was able to speed up another man's heartbeat
using only his mind.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychokinesis
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/telekinesis


remote projection of self
=========================

:: Description
A character is able to project their own consciousness and/or likeness to a
remote location.

:: Parents
speculative ability related to own mind

:: Notes
The expression "astral projection" is occasionally used in stories to describe
such abilities being exercised, especially when the soul and other religious
ideas are involved.

:: Examples
Luke Skywalker projected an incorporeal version of himself across the galaxy
to have a showdown with Kylo Ren in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (2017).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astral_projection

:: Aliases
soul travel
spirit walking
astral projection


remote viewing
==============

:: Description
A character is able to see remote places in their mind.

:: Parents
clairvoyance

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_viewing


repressed memories
==================

:: Description
A character is found to have unconsciously suppressed uncomfortable memories.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: Examples
Riker was found to have repressed the memory of a vivisection in which his arm
was severed in tng6x05 "Schisms".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repressed_memory


repressing one's romantic desires
=================================

:: Description
A character strives consciously to ignore their innate sexual urges.

:: Parents
exercising self-control


reproductive surrogacy
======================

:: Description
One or two parents have another woman carry their baby to term. Surrogacy in
this sense can thus easily be discussed from either of three rather different
perspectives.

:: Parents
human parenting

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrogacy

:: Aliases
surrogate mother


reptilian being
===============

:: Description
A being patterned after reptiles.

:: Parents
animal and plant patterned being

:: Examples
Captain Kirk was pitted in a fight to the death against a reptilian alien in
tos1x19 "The Arena".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictional_extraterrestrials_by_form#Reptilians_and_amphibians


republic vs. empire
===================

:: Description
These two modes of government are contrasted and compared.

:: Parents
contraposed political ideologies

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Republic


resentment
==========

:: Description
A character harbors a resentment toward another stemming from a belief that he
or she has been wronged by that person.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resentment


resettlement vs. fighting for one's homeland
============================================

:: Description
A character must decide whether it is worth it to stay and fight for their
homeland when powerful authorities want their way with it.

:: Parents
human life choice


resistance movement
===================

:: Description
There is a group of people that engages in organized resistance against an
occupying enemy or other oppressing force.

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistance_movement


resisting a temptation
======================

:: Description
A character is tempted to do or indulge in something that they know they
shouldn't.

:: Parents
human vs. self

:: Examples
Captain Picard resisted the temptation to sleep with the empathic metamorph
Kamala in tng5x21 "The Perfect Mate".

:: References


respect for an enemy
====================

:: Description
A character exhibits feelings of admiration toward an enemy owing to their
abilities or achievements.

:: Parents
humans in pairs


resurrection of the dead
========================

:: Description
A person is brought back to life by miraculous means, as opposed to by the
application of technology.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
Worf was brought back from dead by the amnesiac alien provisionally named John
Doe in tng3x25 "Transfigurations".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resurrection


retarded aging process
======================

:: Description
A hypothetical process that makes you age much slower than normal.

:: Parents
speculative effect

:: Examples
McCoy's tricorder scans of the Vaalians in tos2x09 "The Apple" revealed them
to not be aging at all, praise be Vaal.


retiring from one's job
=======================

:: Description
A character formally retires from work, typically because they have reached a
certain retirement age.

:: Parents
humans at work

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retirement


retrocognition
==============

:: Description
A character is able to see (or at least sense with some accuracy) what has
been, or happened, in the past.

:: Parents
clairvoyance

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrocognition


reunion with a long lost child
==============================

:: Description
A parent is reunited with their child after a very long time apart.

:: Parents
human parenting
reunion with a loved one


reunion with a loved one
========================

:: Description
Two closely related characters, or lovers, are reunited after a significant
time apart.

:: Parents
human familial relationship

:: Examples
In tng7x10 "Inheritance", the android Data was reunited with Juliana Tainer, a
person he thought of as his mother. Alas, it transpired that she was just an
android facsimile of the genuine article.


reverse aging
=============

:: Description
There is a character who starts life as old and then becomes younger as time
passes.

:: Parents
speculative effect


reverse psychology
==================

:: Description
Someone employs reverse psychology to influence another in a desired way.

:: Parents
humans interacting

:: Examples
Data attempted a clever bit of reverse psychology on the stubborn colonists of
Tau Cygna V in tng3x02 "The Ensigns of Command" but to no avail.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_psychology


reversed time
=============

:: Description
A fantasy world where time runs in reverse, e.g., people are born old and die
young.

:: Parents
speculative time manipulating effect
opposite world

:: Examples
The Enterprise got sucked into just such a universe in tas2x06 "The Counter-
Clock Incident".


revival long after death
========================

:: Description
Technology that can bring someone back from death many hours after they are
technically dead.

:: Parents
life extension technology


revolution in society
=====================

:: Description
Peacefully or by the sword, an old ruling class is forced to make way for a
new social order.

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolution


rich character vs. poor character
=================================

:: Description
A conspicuously affluent person is deliberately put in contrast with a notably
impoverished person.

:: Parents
human characters in contrast

:: Examples
In "movie: City Lights (1931)" we see Charlie Chaplin's destitute Tramp
befriend a filthy rich man known as The Millionaire. While the former can
barely feed and clothe himself, the latter has several servants and enjoys all
sorts of luxuries.


rights of accused
=================

:: Description
We are made to ponder the rights and privileges of a person accused of a
crime, such as the right to know the charges under which one is being held,
and the assurances guaranteeing them a fair trial.

:: Parents
human rights issue

:: References
https://www.britannica.com/topic/rights-of-accused
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_a_fair_trial


rise of the machines
====================

:: Description
People construct clever machines but the machines become too clever and decide
to kill everyone. They won't be back.

:: Parents
technological risk to civilization
dystopia


rise to prominence from humble beginnings
=========================================

:: Description
A character who has little or no particular social status at birth rises to a
prominent position, usually due to their talents and hard work.

:: Parents
speculative experience

:: Examples
Bill and Margaret Weldon spent a giddy night imagining all the things they
would buy after having signed a big contract to market a razor-less shaving
cream in "Her Husband's Affairs" (1947).

:: Aliases
from rags to riches


risk taking in the advancement of science and technology
========================================================

:: Description
It is discussed how one can weight one set of risks and benefits against
another in planning scientific experiments and developing technology.

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma


risk taking vs. playing it safe
===============================

:: Description
A character must decide, in a given situation, which course of action is the
better: the risky one with (perhaps) a high reward or the relatively safe one
that has but small reward.

:: Parents
personal practical dilemma


risky revival of patient for vital information
==============================================

:: Description
A medical professional must choose whether to revive a patient to allow
important interrogation, when doing so would posed added risk to the patients
health. The unconscious patient may, for example, know where a terrorist
attack is going to take place.

:: Parents
medical ethical issue


rite of passage into manhood
============================

:: Description
A young male performs a feat that according to his culture (in part or wholly)
qualifies him for status as adult.

:: Parents
coming of age


rivalry
=======

:: Description
Two characters are rivals over, for example, a desired mate or workplace
prestige.

:: Parents
humans in pairs


robbery
=======

:: Description
The crime of taking something of value by force, threat of force, or by
putting the victim in fear, is featured or otherwise discussed.

:: Parents
violent crime
theft

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbery


robot helper
============

:: Description
A sophisticated but not quite sentient mobile machine that serves man as his
helper.

:: Parents
artificial intelligence
speculative robot

:: Examples
The immortal Mr. Flint had a hovering robot helped named M-4 in tos3x21
"Requiem for Methuselah".


robot prizefighter
==================

:: Description
There is a robot, perhaps less than sentient, whose purpose is to take part in
pre-arranged and rule-bound combat competitions.

:: Parents
artificial intelligence
speculative robot

:: Examples
In tz1959e5x02 "Steel", the story is set in a near future when regular boxing
has been deemed to violent for humans to partake in. Instead ever more
sophisticated androids fight in the ring for the entertainment of human
crowds.

:: Aliases
robot boxer
combat sports robot
robot fighter


robotic civilization
====================

:: Description
We imagine what a society of robots would be like.

:: Parents
speculative society

:: Aliases
android civilization


rock being
==========

:: Description
There is a being that is made of rock and that resembles a collection of
adjoined rocks.

:: Parents
silicon-based being


rogue planet
============

:: Description
A planet that is not gravitationally bound to a star.

:: Parents
astronomy

:: Examples
General Trelane (retired) was found to live on a rogue planet in the middle of
a "star desert" in tos1x18 "The Squire of Gothos".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogue_planet


role models
===========

:: Description
A young character imitates a character they look up to.

:: Parents
human childhood

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role_model


romantic courtship
==================

:: Description
The complex ins and outs of human mating rituals are discussed.

:: Parents
romantic relationship

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtship


romantic infidelity
===================

:: Description
The question of monogamatic faithfulness arises between two characters in a
romantic relationship. This usually appears because one of the pair is tempted
by an attraction to someone else, or one of the pair jealously perceives it to
be so.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infidelity

:: Aliases
adultery


romantic jealousy
=================

:: Description
A character is notably desirous of the exclusive affections that another
receives from a potential lover.

:: Parents
jealousy
romantic love

:: Notes
In cases of infidelity, for example, it must be clear that resentment is over
emotions and not some other concern. For example, a spouse who no longer
desires their partner may still be upset about infidelity for the social
stigma, or for practical reasons. They are not, then, romantically jealous.

:: Examples
In blackmirror1x03 "The Entire History of You", Liam was exceedingly jealous
of Jonas over the way Jonas' interest in his wife Fion clearly had solicited a
positive response in the past, and perhaps still did. He might not even be the
father of their daughter Jodie.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jealousy#Romantic_jealousy


romantic love
=============

:: Description
Featured is that peculiar sort of love between people so often associated with
sexual attraction.

:: Parents
love

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_(love)


romantic relationship
=====================

:: Description
Two or more characters engage in an interpersonal relationship, or web of such
relationships, that is characterized by romantic intimacy.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_(love)


romantic relationship issue
===========================

:: Description
The relationship between two (or more) individuals who are, or may become,
intimately and sexually involved with each other, is featured.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: Examples
The literature abounds with this sort of themes. "disintegrating romantic
relationship", "romantic fidelity", and "lovers' quarrel" all imply situations
that involve a romantic relationship and that are often portrayed in fiction.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intimate_relationship


romanticization of the past
===========================

:: Description
Featured is the idea that we sometimes remember periods from the past as
having been more idyllic or appealing relative to the present, than was
actually the case.

:: Parents
remembering bygone days

:: Examples
In tz1959e4x15 "The Incredible World of Horace Ford", the genial but childish
toymaker Horace Ford became bored with the present and started dreaming of his
childhood. After going back in time and reliving an episode of bullying,
however, he realized that things had not been nearly as great as his recent
fantasies had made them out to be. His mother also spoke of family strife
during the time in question.


roommate and roommate
=====================

:: Description
The relationship between two characters that voluntarily live together more or
less in the same room without being romantically involved, is featured.
Typically this happens when two young people share a flat in order to save
money.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: Notes
The theme does for example normally not apply to people who are incarcerated
together, or who are so impoverished that they lack any meaningful choice.


rotating space habitat
======================

:: Description
Featured is a rotating structure in outer space that is habitable on its inner
surface.

:: Parents
space habitat

:: Examples
A libertarian space colony lived in a rotating space habitat, possibly an
O'Neil cylinder, in "Libra" (1978).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%27Neill_cylinder


rotational simulated gravity
============================

:: Description
Rotation is used to induce centrifugal forces to simulate gravity. The still
hypothetical rotating wheel space station, for example, uses this mechanism to
generate Earth-like gravity.

:: Parents
artificial gravity technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_gravity


rule by strength of arm
=======================

:: Description
There is a military strongman that holds political power on account of their
ability to forcibly repress any opposition.

:: Parents
form of government


ruling elite utopia
===================

:: Description
Society is supposedly ideal thanks to a ruling elite who know what is best for
everyone else.

:: Parents
utopia

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_(Plato)


running away from home
======================

:: Description
A young character leaves their legal guardians, perhaps parents, without
permission and with the intention of never returning.

:: Parents
human childhood

:: Examples
In "The 400 Blows" (1959), Antoine thought he could no longer live with his
unloving parents so left them with the intention of making his own way in the
world.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runaway_(dependent)


rural character vs. urban character
===================================

:: Description
A stereotypical character from a small town or the countryside is contrasted
with a stereotypical character from a large city.

:: Parents
human characters in contrast

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected9x05 "The Facts of Life", we saw small town boy
Nicholas get a taste of the high life in London. In particular, Nicholas'
father was a religious traditionalist who feared the temptations preferred by
sinful city-life (thieving, gambling, fighting, drinking, and whoring) all of
which Nicholas got to experience first hand.


ruthless character vs. merciful character
=========================================

:: Description
A merciful character is pointedly contrasted with a ruthless character.

:: Parents
human characters in contrast


ruthlessness
============

:: Description
A character pursues their objectives without taking pity on others.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Arctus Baran used pain implants to control the crew of his mercenary vessel in
tng7x04 "The Gambit, Part I" and tng7x05 "The Gambit, Part II".


ruthlessness to quicken the end of the war
==========================================

:: Description
The following ethical dilemma is posed: Can extreme levels of aggression, such
as the use of nuclear weapons against a comparatively weak enemy, be justified
by the argument that they quicken the end of the war and therefore save lives
in the long run?

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: Examples
This argument is sometimes raised in discussions about America's use of
nuclear bombs on Japan in the second world war.


sacred ground
=============

:: Description
There is a religious faith that for one reason or another considers a
particular plot of land to be sacred.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred#Sacred_ground


sacred sanctuary
================

:: Description
Featured is a tradition that designates certain places of worship as havens
into which people may take refuge from persecution of one kind or another.
Typically, criminals or political dissidents are seen to take refuge from the
state.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
In ahp1x22 "Place of Shadows", Both Rocco and Ray take sanctuary in a
monastery. The abbot invokes tradition in order to prevent Ray from seeking
out Rocco, and later impede the police searching for Ray.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctuary


sacrifice for a child
=====================

:: Description
A character endangers themself in order to save or otherwise benefit a child.

:: Parents
human self-sacrifice for another


sacrifice for a friend
======================

:: Description
A character does a self-sacrificial thing for the sake of a friend.

:: Parents
human self-sacrifice for another


sacrifice for a loved one
=========================

:: Description
A character does a self-sacrificial thing for the sake of a person they love,
i.e., a family member or a lover.

:: Parents
human self-sacrifice for another


sacrifice for an adversary
==========================

:: Description
A character does a self-sacrificial thing for the sake of someone who is an
opponent or even an enemy.

:: Parents
human self-sacrifice for another


sacrifice for one's beliefs
===========================

:: Description
A character does a self-sacrificial thing for the sake of a cause, or idea,
they believe in.

:: Parents
human self-sacrifice


sacrifice for one's people
==========================

:: Description
A character does a self-sacrificial thing for the sake of the people they
belong to, i.e., their tribe, country, ethnic group, etc.

:: Parents
human self-sacrifice for another


sacrifice to defeat an enemy
============================

:: Description
Someone notably risks their own neck or other interests in order to defeat an
adversary.

:: Parents
human self-sacrifice

:: Examples
Captain Picard was ready to destroy the Enterprise-D, himself and the crew
with it, rather than give in to Nagilum in tng2x02 "Where Silence Has Lease".


sacrifice to prevent mass death
===============================

:: Description
A character does a self-sacrificial thing in order to save a large number of
people from death.

:: Parents
human self-sacrifice for another

:: Examples
In voy5x25 "Warhead" the eponymous warhead (a sentient bomb) decides to
detonate to destroy a number of other bombs instead of letting them complete
their missing, thereby saving countless innocent lives.


sacrificing a friend to save one's self
=======================================

:: Description
A character must choose whether to accept their own demise, typically death or
capture, or whether to callously sacrifice a friend to save themself.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma

:: Examples
Captain Kirk decided to maroon his old friend Gary on an uninhabited planet
after Gary developed dangerous psychic abilities in tos1x01 "Where No Man Has
Gone Before".


sacrificing a loved one to defeat an enemy
==========================================

:: Description
A character struggles with whether or not to sacrifice a loved one in the
struggle against some vicious foe.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma


sacrificing one's self to stop a contagion
==========================================

:: Description
A character does a self-sacrificial thing in order to contain a highly
infectious disease.

:: Parents
sacrifice to prevent mass death

:: Examples
Spock sacrificed his eyesight in order to defeat the neural parasites in
tos1x29 "Operation -- Annihilate!", though it turned out he had second eyelids
that in fact saved him.


sadism
======

:: Description
Someone enjoys inflicting pain or humiliation without pity.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Gul Madred subjected Captain Picard to a host of  sadistic tortures in tng6x11
"Chain of Command, Part II".

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sadism


sadomasochism
=============

:: Description
It means that people get together to either give or receive pain and
humiliation.

:: Parents
human character

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadomasochism


sailing
=======

:: Description
A character is notably engaged in the operation of a boat propelled partly or
entirely by sails. Typically the character is either a professional sailor, or
sees sailing as a hobby.

:: Parents
human regular activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailing


saving a friend vs. self-preservation
=====================================

:: Description
A character must choose between their own life and the life of a friend.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma


saving innocent lives vs. compromising one's ethical principles
===============================================================

:: Description
A character must choose whether or not to commit unsavory acts in order to
save innocent people.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma

:: Examples
Riker could have saved mining colonists and a dead child with his new Q-powers
in tng1x10 "Hide and Q" if he had broken his word to Picard.


scams against the elderly
=========================

:: Description
The social issue of criminals and other immoral characters trying to cheat the
elderly out of their hard-earned savings is discussed.

:: Parents
criminal fraud

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elder_financial_abuse


schizophrenia
=============

:: Description
A character clearly exhibits some of the main symptoms of schizophrenia as it
is popularly perceived. For example, a character may exhibit abnormal behavior
due to hearing voices that do not exist.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia


school shooting
===============

:: Description
The social problem, most notable in the contemporary United States, of
educational institutions becoming the target of more or less indiscriminate
attacks with firearms, is explored. The perpetrators may be, for example, lone
troubled students, or organized terrorist groups.

:: Parents
terrorism

:: Examples
In tz2002e1x29 "Into the Light", a teacher, Rachel Stark, during her last days
of work caught wind of the fact that Ben, a bullied and angry student, was
planning to go on a killing spree and shoot up the school. She managed
narrowly to avert the tragedy by tackling Ben off the roof, where he had
strategically stationed himself with a rifle.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_shooting


science
=======

:: Description
This is a general theme pertaining to science, that is, the systematic
endeavor that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable
explanations and predictions about the universe.

:: Parents
the natural world

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science


science as magic to the primitive
=================================

:: Description
It is illustrated how people of a less advanced culture may perceive the
science and technology of a more advanced culture as being, for all intents
and purposes, magic. It is something outside the primitives' understanding of
the world.

:: Parents
primitive point of view

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarke%27s_three_laws


science for war or peace
========================

:: Description
The following dilemma is illustrated: Should we pursue scientific research
that has promising beneficial applications (cheap energy) if it has
potentially devastating military applications (nuclear weapons)?

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: Examples
The pros and cons of science that creates super soldiers was discussed in
tos1x24 "Space Seed".


scientist occupation
====================

:: Description
A scientist is engaged in their chosen occupation.

:: Parents
academic occupation

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientist


sculpture
=========

:: Description
The art of shaping materials is featured.

:: Parents
the fine arts and the humanities

:: Examples
Data sculpted a treble clef at breakneck speed in tng7x17 "Masks".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sculpture


search for extraterrestrial intelligence
========================================

:: Description
A contemporary scientific endeavor to search for extraterrestrial
intelligence, primarily by employing powerful telescopes of different kinds
and analyzing the received signals.

:: Parents
astronomy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_for_extraterrestrial_intelligence
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/seti


searchable electronic database
==============================

:: Description
A computerized database that is readily searchable. This was avant garde
technology in the 60s when people still spent inordinate amounts of time
cross-referencing information manually using filing cabinets and indexing
cards.

:: Parents
once speculative device

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Database


seasickness
===========

:: Description
Seasickness is a form of terrestrial motion sickness characterized by a
feeling of nausea and, in extreme cases, vertigo experienced after spending
time on a boat. This condition is featured.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_sickness


second guessing one's self
==========================

:: Description
A character questions the propriety of their own previously held beliefs or
past actions.

:: Parents
human worrying about self

:: Examples
Kevin Uxbridge second guessed himself over having wiped the Husnock race clean
out of existence in tng3x03 "The Survivors".


secret agent occupation
=======================

:: Description
A character working with espionage or the like is engaged in their chosen
profession.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: Notes
This profession is naturally a gray area between legal, illegal, and war type
of themes. It is included here because there are many stories that feature
romanticized ideas of secret agents as heroes.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espionage


secret crush
============

:: Description
A character has feelings of romantic attraction to someone else but is too shy
to say anything.

:: Parents
romantic love


secret government project
=========================

:: Description
The issue of the government or its agencies having large scale secret projects
going on is discussed.

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secrecy#Government_secrecy


secret society conspiracy theory
================================

:: Description
There is a clandestine organization that exerts significant influence on
society for good or bad. Alternatively, someone expresses the belief in the
existence of such an organization.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theory


security vs. freedom
====================

:: Description
The typically desirable quality of safety and security in society is
contraposed with the typically desirable quality of individual freedom. Should
we, for example, limit freedom of the press in order not to provoke terrorism?

:: Parents
contraposed political ideologies

:: Examples
The Rutians had given up much liberty to gain but little security for the sake
of fighting terrorism in tng3x12 "The High Ground".


see-anywhere device
===================

:: Description
There is a device, perhaps a mirror, a font of water, or a good old orbuculum,
that lets its user see hidden faraway places without having an apparent
physical connection to the place in question.

:: Parents
magic object

:: Notes
This theme generally does not apply to devices that operate according to
presently understood principles. I.e., it does not apply to telescopes that
require a line of vision (the place is not hidden) and it does not apply to
transmitted camera recordings (a physical camera is required at the remote
location).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_ball
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrying


seeing the error of one's ways
==============================

:: Description
A character comes to realize that their previous actions and attitude were in
fact bad.

:: Parents
human self improvement


self-confidence
===============

:: Description
A character ponders whether they are really capable enough to do what they do,
intend to do, are requested to do, etc.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Wesley was assigned to lead a science team in an effort to help build his
self-confidence in tng2x15 "Pen Pals".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-confidence


self-coup
=========

:: Description
A form of putsch or coup d'état in which a nation's leader, despite having
come to power through legal means, dissolves or renders powerless the national
legislature and unlawfully assumes extraordinary powers not granted under
normal circumstances.

:: Parents
civil war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-coup


self-deception
==============

:: Description
A character notably refuses to face uncomfortable truths.

:: Parents
human self-reflection

:: Examples
In tng3x23 "Sarek", the eponymous Vulcan refuses to acknowledge the obvious
fact that he suffers from a rare neurological disease that makes him succumb
to emotionality. Priding themselves on their rationality, this would be highly
embarrassing for any Vulcan, and doubly so for Sarek who is an esteemed
diplomat.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-deception

:: Aliases
wishful thinking


self-destruct tactic
====================

:: Description
Combatants decide to destroy themselves and whatever abode, vessel, etc. they
are defending rather than surrender. Sometimes the goal is also to kill their
opponents along with themselves.

:: Parents
the art of war

:: Examples
In tng1x15 "11001001", for the contingency that they should fail to take back
control of the ship's bridge, Picard and Riker activated the ship's auto-
destruct feature in order to stop the Bynars from hijacking it.


self-driving car
================

:: Description
There is a car, or car-like vehicle, that does not require a driver in order
to operate.

:: Parents
speculative vehicle

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-driving_car


self-fulfilling prophesy
========================

:: Description
A prediction causes itself to become true through some usually roundabout
means.

:: Parents
philosophy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-fulfilling_prophecy#Literature,_media,_and_the_arts


self-healing ability
====================

:: Description
A character is able to recover from injury because their body can mend itself
with preternatural rapidity.

:: Parents
speculative personal body manipulation

:: References
https://powerlisting.fandom.com/wiki/Regenerative_Healing_Factor

:: Aliases
super regenerative powers


self-image
==========

:: Description
A character thinks about how they see themselves in contrast with how other
people may see them.

:: Parents
human worrying about self

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-image


self-injurious behavior
=======================

:: Description
A character engages in deliberately reckless behavior or outright self-harm.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-harm


self-justification
==================

:: Description
A character struggles to convince themselves (as well as others) that their
actions are just even though the motives seem self-serving and the
justifications weak.

:: Parents
human self-reflection

:: Examples
In tng1x17 "When The Bough Breaks", when Radue's proposed exchange was turned
down, he rationalize kidnapping the Enterprise children instead. He dubiously
held that the children would be better off with foster parents on Aldea than
with their real human parents, and that his proposed bargain had been a fair
one anyways.


self-preservation vs. conscience
================================

:: Description
Someone struggles with an ethical dilemma where on one hand they can follow
their conscience and "do the right thing", or on the other hand they can act
to safeguard their own person, position and property.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma


self-replicating gray goo consuming the world
=============================================

:: Description
People create a substance that consumes all sorts of matter in order to expand
itself indefinitely, thus threatening civilization as well as the physical
planet it is on.

:: Parents
technological risk to civilization

:: Notes
The famous original, well known under the moniker "gray goo", is goo-like and
gray, but that is not strictly a requirement for this theme. It may certainly
be any color.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_goo
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/grey_goo


self-replicating machine
========================

:: Description
There is a device of some sort that is able to create perfect copies of itself
ad infinitum. Note: This is used for machines large enough to be seen; there
is another theme for self-replicating nanodevices.

:: Parents
speculative device

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-replicating_machine


self-replicating nanomachines
=============================

:: Description
The potential consequences of introducing small human-made self-replicating
devices is explored.

:: Parents
self-replicating machine
speculative nanotechnology

:: Examples
Wesley created such things in tng3x01 "Evolution".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-replicating_machine


selfishness
===========

:: Description
A character is concerned excessively or exclusively, for themself or their own
advantage, pleasure, or welfare, regardless of others.

:: Parents
human character

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selfishness


selfless character vs. selfish character
========================================

:: Description
The story contrasts and compares two characters whereof one is notably
egotistic, and the other notably altruistic.

:: Parents
human characters in contrast

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selfishness
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altruism


selfless service
================

:: Description
Someone does a self-sacrificial thing in the line of duty but above and beyond
the call of duty.

:: Parents
human self-sacrifice


selling a part of one's self
============================

:: Description
A character deliberates whether to sell an organ or some other body part.
Typically, a character suffering from poverty considers this as a last resort
to get a decent living standard.

:: Parents
human life choice

:: Examples
In tz1985e3x22 "The Mind of Simon Foster", Simon sold his memories to a sleezy
pawnbroker in order to pay his rent and avoid being thrown into the street.

:: Aliases
selling an organ


selling out for money
=====================

:: Description
A character is must choose whether or not to give up on something that is
important to them for financial gain.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma


sending a child to military school
==================================

:: Description
The practice of some parents in some places to send their child of to stay at
a military like educational institution for an extended period of time is
examined. In stories, this is often done either to imbue discipline in an
unruly child, or because the parents want to rid themselves of the burden of
caring for the child.

:: Parents
human parenting

:: Examples
Mr. Holston visited an unusually strict military school to assess whether or
not it was the right place to send his son in "Night Gallery" story "The
Academy" (1971).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_high_school


sentient bomb
=============

:: Description
There is an explosive device with a built in artificial intelligence that is
self-aware and able to make complex strategical decisions on pair with humans.

:: Parents
artificial intelligence
speculative weapon


sentient computer
=================

:: Description
A computer-like machine that is self-aware an intelligent. This is used about
stationary devices.

:: Parents
sentient machine


sentient machine
================

:: Description
There is a machine, artificial by definition, imbued with intelligence to the
level that it is considered sentient.

:: Parents
artificial intelligence


sentient rights
===============

:: Description
We are made to ponder what intrinsic rights we feel should be awarded all
sentient beings even if they are nothing like humans in shape or temperament.

:: Parents
human rights issue


sentient space probe
====================

:: Description
An artificial self-aware object designed to explore space.

:: Parents
artificial intelligence

:: Examples
Nomad was such an object in tos2x08 "The Changeling", and hellbent on
cleansing the universe of imperfect beings.


sentient spaceship
==================

:: Description
There is a spaceship with a mind of its own. This theme covers anything from a
spaceship installed with an advanced artificial intelligence to more exotic
possibilities, including intelligent entities constructed from biological
components that function as spaceships to other beings.

:: Parents
speculative spaceship
sentient machine

:: Examples
In "Batteries Not Included" (1987), a family of small living spaceships of
extraterrestrial origin helped save a property development threatened
apartment block from being demolished.


serial murder
=============

:: Description
An individual murderer (as opposed to an organization) kills three or more
people on separate occasions in service of abnormal psychological
gratification, with a significant period of time taking place in between the
murders.

:: Parents
murder

:: Notes
There is no widely accepted and precise definition for this category of crime.
Prefer to omit this theme if it is unclear whether a serial murder was part of
the story. Do not use this theme if the murders are primarily motivated by,
for example, good old greed (not an abnormal psychological gratification).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_killer


sex trade in society
====================

:: Description
The somewhat taboo, though not always illegal, practice by some people to sell
sexual favors to other people in return for money, is discussed.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_industry


sex-droid
=========

:: Description
A "fully functional" android of one gender or another, designed to please its
masters in matters of the flesh.

:: Parents
android


sexism in society
=================

:: Description
Prejudice against someone because of their gender is featured.

:: Parents
gender issue
prejudice in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexism

:: Aliases
gender discrimination


sexual assault
==============

:: Description
The crime of sexually touching another person without that person's consent,
or coercing or physically forcing a person to engage in a sexual act against
their will is featured.

:: Parents
sexual crime
violent crime

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_assault

:: Aliases
rape in society


sexual crime
============

:: Description
A character commits a crime that involves activities considered sexual in
nature.

:: Parents
crime

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_and_the_law


sexual debut
============

:: Description
A character is introduced to sex, or a particular and distinctive type of
sexual activity, for the first time.

:: Parents
romantic relationship


sexual harassment
=================

:: Description
There is bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or
inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors.

:: Parents
gender issue
sexual crime
harassment

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_harassment


sexual norms in society
=======================

:: Description
A sexual activity that has at some point been considered deviant or taboo is
discussed from a societal perspective.

:: Parents
gender issue

:: Examples
In futurama3x15 "I Dated a Robot" Fry dates a robot and is shown a film about
why that practice will lead to the downfall of humanity, clearly a parody on
various religions' injunctions on autoerotic activities.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_norm


sexually distinguished being
============================

:: Description
There is a being that is novel by virtue of how it reproduces, e.g., a being
that that reproduces according to a cyclical mating cycle.

:: Parents
biologically distinguished being


sexually transmitted disease in society
=======================================

:: Description
The social problem of sexually transmitted diseases is discussed.

:: Parents
public health issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexually_transmitted_infection

:: Aliases
STDs in society


shadow monster
==============

:: Description
There is a monster, possibly human-like, perceivable mostly as patches of
shadow.

:: Parents
monster

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_person

:: Aliases
shadow person


shamanism
=========

:: Description
The ritualistic practice among tribal people of crediting supposed magicians
with powers of healing, divination, and protection against bad magic conjured
by others.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
Captain Kirk was made a genuine space shaman after he lost his memories on the
planet Amerind in tos3x03 "The Paradise Syndrome".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamanism


shame
=====

:: Description
A character feels bad because of past actions of theirs that they have come to
think were wrong, or because they have an unbecoming outwards appearance.

:: Parents
human emotion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shame


shape distinguished being
=========================

:: Description
There is a being that is novel by virtue of its shape. For example, blob-like
creatures and beings resembling disembodied brains.

:: Parents
speculative being


shapeshifter
============

:: Description
There is a corporeal being that can radically change its shape to such an
extent that it seems to become something entirely different.

:: Parents
shape distinguished being

:: Notes
This theme applies only if the ability is, more or less, intrinsic to the
being's species. I.e., it does not apply if technology is used. Nor does it
typically apply to "transcendental beings" (beings who are so advanced that
their capabilities seem like magic to us), or incorporeal beings, unless an
innate shapeshifting ability is explicitly explained as such.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shapeshifting
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/shapeshifters


shapeshifting
=============

:: Description
A character is able to transform their body into a notably different shape.

:: Parents
speculative personal body manipulation

:: Examples
Garth of Izar could change shape because he had learned the technique of
cellular metamorphoses from the natives of Antos IV in tos3x16 "Whom Gods
Destroy".


short and sweet life vs. long and miserable life
================================================

:: Description
A character chooses or rejects living by the age old doctrine of "live fast
and die young".

:: Parents
human life choice

:: Aliases
live fast and die young


shotgun wedding
===============

:: Description
The parents of a girl attempt to force a boy to marry the girl after the said
girl has been compromised by, oh dear, sexual intercourse with the boy.

:: Parents
romantic relationship

:: Examples
Debin of the planet Altec compelled Benzan of the planet Straleb to marry his
daughter Yanar in tng2x04 "The Outrageous Okona", when it became apparent that
the Stralebian had impregnated Yanar.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shotgun_wedding


shrew character
===============

:: Description
There is an unpleasant, ill-tempered woman characterized by scolding, nagging,
and aggression to a notable degree.

:: Parents
female stereotype

:: Examples
In "The Taming of the Shrew" (1592), we see a young woman Katherina who
complains, scolds, and bickers to such an extent that no man can stomach the
thought of courting her. She is finally "tamed" by an equally ill-tempered man
who marries her merely for her dowry, and proceeds to train her by rather
harsh methods.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrew_(stock_character)


sibling and sibling
===================

:: Description
The relationship between two children of more or less the same parents is
featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibling


sibling rivalry
===============

:: Description
There is conflict between brothers and sisters.

:: Parents
human childhood
sibling and sibling

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibling_rivalry


signs from the heavens
======================

:: Description
Some seemingly miraculous event is taken as having divine origin and carry
implications about what ought or oughtn't be done.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
In ahp1x03 "Triggers in Leash", two cowboys agree to start their duel on the
stroke of twelve o'clock. When the designated timepiece stops a few minutes
short of the fatal hour, it is seen as a sign from God that they ought to call
the duel off and reconcile.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signs_and_Wonders


silicon-based being
===================

:: Description
A being whose body chemistry is based on silicon just like conventional
biology is based on carbon.

:: Parents
inorganic being

:: Examples
The mother Horta of tos1x26 "The Devil in the Dark" was just such a life form.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothetical_types_of_biochemistry#Silicon_biochemistry


sin
===

:: Description
The religious idea of transgression against divine law is explored.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
In nightgallery2x21a "The Sins of the Fathers", Ian consumed a meal in front
of his late father's corpse in order to take on his sins and save him from
damnation.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin


single fatherhood
=================

:: Description
A man raises a child alone because the mother has passed away or is absent for
some other reason.

:: Parents
human parenting

:: Examples
Worf having to raise Alexander as a single father was featured in tng5x10 "New
Ground".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_parent


single motherhood
=================

:: Description
A mother raises a child alone because the father has passed away, is unknown,
or is absent for some other reason.

:: Parents
human parenting

:: Examples
Beverly raising Wesley as a single mother was featured in tng1x03 "The Naked
Now".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_parent


single-gender society
=====================

:: Description
There is a nation of people who, more or less, are all the same gender.

:: Parents
speculative society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-gender_world


sister and sister
=================

:: Description
The relationship between two sisters is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship


size distinguished being
========================

:: Description
There is a being that is novel by virtue of its size, i.e., it is either very
small or very large.

:: Parents
speculative being


skipping school
===============

:: Description
A young character plays truant from compulsory education.

:: Parents
human childhood

:: Examples
In "The 400 Blows" (1959), Antoine got into much trouble with his teacher and
parents after he played truant together with a friend and then forged a note
from his mother.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truancy

:: Aliases
playing hooky
skipping class


slavery
=======

:: Description
The practice of the owning, or the buying and selling, of human beings as a
legally sanctioned institution in society, is discussed.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery


slaves to technology
====================

:: Description
People start relying on technology for everything and loose their ability to
cope creatively with novel problems that may arise in the future. When
something does, everybody dies.

:: Parents
technological risk to civilization

:: Examples
The Aldeans of tng1x17 "When The Bough Breaks" had remarkable technology,
including a planetary invisibility cloak, but it was all controlled by a
central computer which they no longer understood, so they became helpless when
the computer broke down.


sleep deprivation
=================

:: Description
A character exhibits the symptoms that come from not having been able to sleep
adequately.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: Examples
Alien influences prevented the crew from being able to dream which made them
angry and violent in tng4x17 "Night Terrors".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_deprivation


sloppy character vs. tidy character
===================================

:: Description
An untidy an perhaps uncleanly character is deliberately contrasted with a
tidy and neat character.

:: Parents
human characters in contrast


slug-like being
===============

:: Description
A being patterned after land slugs and such gastropods.

:: Parents
animal and plant patterned being

:: Examples
A full-grown Lactran resembled a 30 meter long slug in tas1x15 "The Eye of the
Beholder".


smart ammunition
================

:: Description
Ammunition for a firearm has some built-in capability to assess the situation
mid-flight and adjust itself according to the situations it finds.

:: Parents
speculative weapon

:: Examples
Neal Stephenson in "Sevenevens" (2015) describe small arms munition that
could, for example, detect if it were to impact a wall in which case it would
reconfigure itself to shatter and inflict minimal damage (useful in
spaceships).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_bullet


smart tools
===========

:: Description
There is a tool of some sort that, without being intelligent in the
traditional sense, performs complex tasks that would be beyond the cognitive
ability of an ordinary human.

:: Parents
speculative device
artificial intelligence

:: Notes
This is generally not used when full fledged, sentient, AI is involved.

:: Examples
In nightgallery1x02b "The Little Black Bag", former MD William Fall comes
across a medical kit from the distant future. In this kit there is a device
that diagnoses ailments and suggests remedies, as well as a smart scalpel that
cuts only to the precise depth that is required of it and that can steer its
wielders hand to some extent.

:: References


smuggling
=========

:: Description
The crime of the illegal transportation of such things as objects substances,
information or people is featured.

:: Parents
crime against property

:: Examples
In sherlock1x02 "The Blind Banker", Sherlock Holmes and Watson connected a
pair of enigmatic murders to a Chinese smuggling ring.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smuggling


sneak attack tactic
===================

:: Description
Combatants take advantage of concealment and the element of surprise to attack
an unsuspecting enemy.

:: Parents
the art of war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambush


snobbishness
============

:: Description
A character behaves as if their social status makes them more important and
valuable than other people.

:: Parents
human character

:: Notes
Like other character themes, this theme should be applied only if the behavior
is explicitly discussed or made pantomimically obvious.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snob


soap opera
==========

:: Description
The art of creating episodic works of fiction presented in serial format on
television, radio and in novels, featuring the lives of many characters and
focusing on emotional relationships to the point of melodrama, is featured.

:: Parents
the fine arts and the humanities

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap_opera


soccer
======

:: Description
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team
sport played with a spherical ball between two teams of 11 players. This game
is featured.

:: Parents
sports

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_football

:: Aliases
football


social activism
===============

:: Description
Someone works to change society in a grassroots movement kind of way, i.e.,
through consciousness-raising and example, not with guns and diplomacy.

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Activism


social awkwardness
==================

:: Description
A socially awkward character has trouble interacting and communicating
effectively with other people.

:: Parents
human character

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_skills


social change due to new technology
===================================

:: Description
Featured is a period of social and economic change that transforms a human
group from an

agrarian society into an industrial society, involving the extensive re-
organisation of an economy for the purpose of manufacturing.

:: Parents
sociotechnological issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrialisation


social dysfunction
==================

:: Description
Featured is a broad institutional social ill that in itself is reasonably
distinct, unambiguous, and uncontroversially identified.

:: Parents
national social issue

:: Notes
Corruption, poverty, and failing order are examples of things that most people
will agree are "social ills", though proposed solutions may be controversial.
Capitalism and Socialism, however, are notable examples of things that do not
fall in the same category. Such political controversies are categorized
elsewhere.


social ethical dilemma
======================

:: Description
A tough trade-off between different ethical considerations in the shaping of
government policy and norms of conduct is featured.

:: Parents
social ethical issue


social ethical issue
====================

:: Description
We are asked to contemplate what is "right" and what is "wrong" with respect
to social policy. The social policies may be such that are in use in practice
or such that have been proposed and could potentially be implemented.

:: Parents
society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics


social inequality
=================

:: Description
The ramifications of social inequality in society are explored.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_inequality
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_privilege


social media addiction
======================

:: Description
Someone compulsively spends an inordinate amount of time interacting with
things like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media networks.

:: Parents
human addiction

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media_addiction


social media dystopia
=====================

:: Description
There is a society in which life is depressing, to our eyes, because of the
pervasive presence of some form of social media.

:: Parents
dystopia

:: Examples
In blackmirror3x01 "Nosedive", everyone were obsessed with rating each other
on social media, and receiving good ratings. Having a good rating was crucial
in order to have a job, somewhere to live etc. This lead most people to act to
each other in a way that seems entirely false, and to become stressed or
suicidal because of a slip in their rating.


social media in society
=======================

:: Description
Social media are interactive computer-mediated technologies that facilitate
the creation and sharing of information, ideas, career interests and other
forms of expression via virtual communities and networks. The various ways in
which these affect society is discussed.

:: Parents
information technology in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media


social oppression
=================

:: Description
Social oppression is when a single group in society takes advantage of, and
exercises power over, another group using dominance and subordination. This
theme is used whenever such a situation is featured in the story.

:: Parents
political issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppression


social responsibility
=====================

:: Description
A character displays a notable sense of responsibility towards society at
large. Typically, this theme applies when someone goes out of their way to do
a selfless thing that benefits everyone, for example cleaning up garbage on
the street.

:: Parents
human character

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_responsibility


social stagnation
=================

:: Description
A society ceases to advance in art, science, forms of government, and other
characteristics of advancing civilization.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue


socialism
=========

:: Description
Featured is a one of a range of economic and social systems characterized by
social ownership of the means of production and workers' self-management.

:: Parents
political ideology

:: Examples
A well-known archaeologist uncovered incontrovertible evidence that Ancient
Martian civilization was organized on social democratic principles in "The
Retreat to Mars" (1926).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism


society
=======

:: Description
This is the most general theme about social groupings of people sufficiently
large that not everyone personally knows everyone else. For example, the theme
may discuss world society as a whole, intra- or inter-societal issues, forms
of government, or past and present hot button social issues.

:: Parents
the human world

:: Notes
This theme does not apply to small-scale human social interactions, e.g.,
everyday face-to-face interactions, family life, workplace dynamics, etc.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrosociology


society consisting of only children
===================================

:: Description
We imagine what the world would be like if there were only children around.

:: Parents
speculative society

:: Examples
Captain Kirk and his team found a planet on which all the adults had died from
a mysterious disease while the children stayed children for hundreds of years
in tos1x11 "Miri".


society in which victims sentence their own assailants
======================================================

:: Description
We are brought to imagine a legal system wherein the perpetrator of a crime
has his punishment decided by the victims of said crime (or the next of kin in
case of murder).

:: Parents
speculative social institution


society living in space
=======================

:: Description
There is a society of people that live, more or less exclusively, away from
any planet and normal gravity over many generations.

:: Parents
speculative society


society regulating central computer crash
=========================================

:: Description
People come to rely on a single central computer, but it crashes and everyone
dies. That's a real "blue screen of death".

:: Parents
technological risk to civilization

:: Examples
The Bynar's central computer was knocked out by an electromagnetic pulse in
tng1x15 "11001001" and they nearly perished.


society with a maximum age limit
================================

:: Description
We imagine a society in which people may not live beyond a certain age. They
may for example be killed or exiled once they reach a specific age.

:: Parents
speculative social institution


sociocultural issue
===================

:: Description
Explored are the social behaviors and norms that may be widespread in a human
population. Many specializations of this theme mark a past or present moral
controversy of some sort.

:: Parents
national social issue

:: Examples
"eugenics" and "flappers in society" are examples of two moral controversy
themes that have been largely resolved. "euthanasia" and "creationism" are two
around which there is frequent debate today.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture


socioeconomic issue
===================

:: Description
Explored is the way that society behaves with regard to economic activity.
Economic activity means the use of labor, capital, and land, for the
production of goods and services. In particular, this theme pertains to how
corporations fit and function within society, and the creation of markets.
Additionally, this theme relates to how capital (wealth and money) is
distributed.

:: Parents
national social issue

:: Examples
"monopolies in society", "slavery", and "adds in society" are themes that all
relate to economic activity and the distribution of wealth.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socioeconomics


sociolinguistics
================

:: Description
A thematic entity about the descriptive study of the effect of any and all
aspects of society, including cultural norms, expectations, and context, on
the way language is used, and society's effect on language.

:: Parents
science

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociolinguistics


sociotechnological issue
========================

:: Description
Explored is how society handles innovation and the impact of new technologies.

:: Parents
national social issue

:: Examples
"workers replaced by machines" is perhaps the most typical "sociotechnological
issue" as some members of society may be concerned about loosing their jobs
when a new technology emerges. Similarly, "playing God with nature" discusses
whether and to what extent we should let ourselves interfere with nature, for
example by the use of gene modification, breeding programs, forestry, or any
other interference with the biosphere.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociotechnology


solar eclipse
=============

:: Description
The science of the type of eclipse that occurs when the Moon passes between
the Sun and Earth, and when the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun is
discussed.

:: Parents
astronomy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse


solar power
===========

:: Description
The harnessing of sunlight as a power source for technology is explored.

:: Parents
technology

:: Examples
Dr. Frankenstein harnessed the power of solar energy to reanimate a corpse in
"Frankenstein: The True Story" (1973).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power


solar sail spaceship
====================

:: Description
Massive sail-like sheets that can be folded an unfolded are used to harness
energy from the sun. The energy can be used directly as propulsion or
indirectly by being stored as electricity.

:: Parents
speculative spaceship

:: Examples
The colony ship in "Alien: Covenant" (2017) unfurled solar sails to gather
power.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_sail


solipsism syndrome
==================

:: Description
There is a person who thinks that all of reality is merely a construction in
their own mind.

:: Parents
human mental condition

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x23a "Shadow Play", Adam was thought to suffer from this condition
when he stated that everyone else was merely an actor in his recurring dream.
Alas, it transpired that Adam was quite correct.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solipsism_syndrome


solitary confinement as a punishment
====================================

:: Description
Someone is imprisoned in isolation from other people as a punishment. Note
that while solitary confinement may sometimes be used out of necessity to
protect people, its use merely as a punishment is controversial and may
constitute torture due to its adverse psychological effects.

:: Parents
legal punishment

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solitary_confinement


sonar sensory ability
=====================

:: Description
A character is able to sense the shape of the world around them by way of
sonar, i.e., by somehow making use of information contained in sound waves
around them. The character may or may not emit sound waves themselves for this
purpose.

:: Parents
speculative ability

:: Examples
The blind telepath Miranda Jones wore a sonar-based sensor web dress that
helped her to compensate for her disability in tos3x07 "Is There in Truth No
Beauty?".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonar


sonic shower
============

:: Description
A shower-like device that uses sound vibrations instead of water to dislodge
the grit from your body.

:: Parents
pod or booth-like device


sororal love
============

:: Description
The love of sister for sister is featured.

:: Parents
familial love

:: Examples
Aquiel and her sister Shianna Uhnari where very close indeed in tng6x13
"Aquiel".


sound masking device
====================

:: Description
A system that can selectively filter out some sounds in a recording. This was
pure sci-fi in the 60s but nowadays you can purchase a pair of noise canceling
headphones at your local electronics store.

:: Parents
once speculative device

:: Examples
The Enterprise computer was employed to mask out the sound of heartbeats of
all known personal aboard in tos1x14 "Court Martial".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_masking


space colonization
==================

:: Description
A sentient race spreads its civilization to other worlds.

:: Parents
speculative society

:: Examples
The Enterprise found an Earth colony flourishing on Omicron Ceti III in
tos1x25 "This Side of Paradise" in spite of lethal levels of berthold
radiation on their planet.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_colonization
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/colonization_of_other_worlds


space dock
==========

:: Description
There is a type of space station that is able to repair or build spacecraft
similar to maritime shipyards on Earth.

:: Parents
space station

:: Examples
The Starship USS Enterprise was refitted in an orbital dry dock in "Star Trek:
The Motion Picture" (1979).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_dock


space elevator
==============

:: Description
A proposed type of planet-to-space transportation system using a cable
anchored to the a planetary surface that extends into space

:: Parents
engineered trans-orbital structure

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/space_elevator


space exploration
=================

:: Description
Someone faces the dangers inherent to exploring unfamiliar regions of space.

:: Parents
charting unknown territory


space folding travel technology
===============================

:: Description
A spaceship, or the technology that enables a spaceship, to travel possibly
vast distances by folding space is featured.

:: Parents
spacetime manipulating technology


space gun
=========

:: Description
Featured is a method of launching an object into space using a large gun- or
cannon-like structure.

:: Parents
speculative device

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_gun


space habitat
=============

:: Description
A large-scale, self-sustaining, permanent settlement in outer space, is
featured.

:: Parents
speculative place

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_habitat


space mirror
============

:: Description
There is an large artificial device in space that reflects some parts of the
electromagnetic spectrum, most typically visible light from the Sun.

:: Parents
engineered space structure

:: Examples
In futurama4x08 "Crimes of the Hot", Professor Wernstrom (Wernstrom!)
constructed an enormous mirror outside Earth to reflect sunlight and thus to
cool the planet.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_mirror_(climate_engineering)


space portal
============

:: Description
There is a portal-like device that enables rapid travel between two distant
locations.

:: Parents
teleportation device
space travel

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stargate_(device)


space station
=============

:: Description
There is a structure in space capable of supporting crewmembers, which is
designed to remain in space for an extended period of time, and often for
spacecraft to dock.

:: Parents
engineered space structure

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_station


space telescope
===============

:: Description
A powerful telescope in space, far away from atmospheric interference and
other obstacles found on or around a planet.

:: Parents
engineered space structure

:: Examples
The Enterprise-D was dispatched to the far-flung reaches of the galaxy to
repair the Argus Array, a subspace telescope, in tng4x19 "The Nth Degree".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_telescope


space tourism
=============

:: Description
There is an industry around taking people on a ride in space for the
entertainment purpose simply of seeing parts of the universe from this extra-
planetary vantage point.

:: Parents
speculative society

:: Examples
In pkded1x02 "Impossible Planet", two space tourism guides fly a group of
passengers around to see the wonders of outer space. One gathers that these
wonders were somewhat lacking in appeal as the guides secretly used visual
overlays to spice things up for their customers.


space travel
============

:: Description
There is a means, typically a technology but sometimes a form of magic, that
enables a character to travel across outer space.

:: Parents
speculative travel

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_exploration
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/space_travel


space-based solar power
=======================

:: Description
Technology is used in outer space to collect solar energy.

:: Parents
solar power

:: Notes
The upshot of doing it in space is, typically, that there is less interference
from the atmosphere and longer exposure times to the sun.

:: Examples
In the short film "Libra" (1978), the overly regulated and mismanaged Earth
society is unable to generate enough energy to meet its own needs, so suffers
from rolling blackouts.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space-based_solar_power


spaceborne being
================

:: Description
A being that lives mostly in outer space is featured. They are sometimes
enormous in size what with not being slaves to gravity and all.

:: Parents
extraterrestrial being


spacefaring plants
==================

:: Description
Plants that have evolved to spread themselves to other planets, e.g., by
shooting clouds of spores into space.

:: Parents
spaceborne being

:: Examples
The pod plants of Omicron Ceti III had arrived after traversing space as a
cloud of spores in tos1x25 "This Side of Paradise".


spacetime manipulating technology
=================================

:: Description
Technology is used to somehow manipulate space and/or time, such as a space
folding engine used for space travel or a time machine.

:: Parents
speculative technology


special interest group issue
============================

:: Description
Examined it the situation of one sub-group of people or another, often called
a "minority group", in society.

:: Parents
national social issue

:: Examples
"child's point of view", "orphans in society", "the role of the disabled in
society", "the role of the elderly in society", and "the role of war veterans
in society" are "special interest group issue" themes that examine the
situation in society for children, orphans, the disabled, the elderly, and war
veterans, respectively.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minority_group
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Interest_Group#Political_Interest_Groups


species transmutation
=====================

:: Description
The practice of altering one species to become another using scientific means.

:: Parents
human enhancement technology


species uplifting
=================

:: Description
Someone intervenes in the evolution of a lower lifeform (typically an animal
species) to bring it to a higher level of intelligence.

:: Parents
species transmutation

:: Examples
The mad scientist Dr. Moreau creates human-like hybrid beings from animals via
vivisection in H. G. Wells' classic science fiction novel "The Island of
Doctor Moreau" (1896).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uplift_(science_fiction)


speculation that the Devil is not so bad after all
==================================================

:: Description
We imagine what the world would be like if the much despised Devil of
Christian mythology was real yet not, in fact, evil but merely misunderstood.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
The Devil was revealed to be  a well-intending but misunderstood alien in
tas1x08 "The Magicks of Megas-Tu".


speculative ability
===================

:: Description
There is a character who has an ability of the kind that humans today may
dream of, but can't normally have. Notably, this includes various "super
powers" that have been described in fiction.

:: Parents
alternate reality


speculative ability related to another being
============================================

:: Description
A character has a speculative ability which primarily relates to another
living being, when exercised. Notably, telepathy falls under this theme.

:: Parents
speculative ability


speculative ability related to own body
=======================================

:: Description
A character has a speculative ability which primarily affects only their own
body. The theme pertains to many classical super powers, such as super
strength and the ability to fly.

:: Parents
speculative ability


speculative ability related to own mind
=======================================

:: Description
A character has a speculative ability which primarily affects only their own
mind.

:: Parents
speculative ability


speculative ability related to physical things
==============================================

:: Description
A character has a speculative ability which primarily relates to specific non-
living physical things, when exercised. Notably, telekinesis is covered by
this theme.

:: Parents
speculative ability


speculative ability related to reality at large
===============================================

:: Description
A character has a speculative ability which affects reality broadly. The theme
is used when a character can change the timeline, or when their powers seem to
be without qualitative limits, akin to godlike.

:: Parents
speculative ability


speculative airliner
====================

:: Description
A passenger airplane with capabilities above and beyond what can be expected
of contemporary airliners is featured.

:: Parents
speculative vehicle

:: Examples
The film "Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land" (1983) followed the maiden
voyage of Starflight: a hypersonic passenger plane that was anticipated to fly
from Los Angeles to Sydney in two hours.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airliner


speculative airship
===================

:: Description
There is a still speculative lighter-than-air vessel that can navigate through
the air under its own power.

:: Parents
speculative vehicle

:: Examples
The film "Thunderbird 6" (1968) is largely set aboard Skyship One - a
futuristic flying vessel that relies on anti-gravity technology to stay aloft.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airship
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/airships


speculative artificial island
=============================

:: Description
An island that has been constructed by people rather than formed by natural
means.

:: Parents
sub-planetary-scale engineering
speculative place

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_island


speculative being
=================

:: Description
There is a novel creature, or living entity, not found in the real world as it
is presently understood.

:: Parents
alternate reality

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Fantasy_creatures
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Legendary_creatures_in_popular_culture
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legendary_creature


speculative biotechnology
=========================

:: Description
There is an as-yet fictional technology that achieves the application of
organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for human purposes.

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_engineering


speculative city
================

:: Description
There is a futuristic city requiring a degree of engineering ability beyond
our present capabilities, such as an arcology or a floating city.

:: Parents
speculative place

:: Examples
The film "Demolition Man" (1993) is set 2032 San Angeles: a vast megalopolis
formed from the merger of Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Barbara.


speculative communication
=========================

:: Description
A character is able to communicate intelligently with living things that
humans in reality can't communicate with.

:: Parents
speculative ability related to another being


speculative cosmos
==================

:: Description
A universe that is fundamentally different in some novel, non-supernatural
respect to the one we inhabit, is featured.

:: Parents
speculative place


speculative device
==================

:: Description
There is a futuristic device, machine, or gizmo of some sort or another.

:: Parents
speculative technology


speculative diving suit
=======================

:: Description
A garment or wearable contraption designed to protect a diver from an
underwater environment is featured in a manner that makes clear it is a future
technological achievement.

:: Parents
speculative environmental suit

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diving_suit


speculative effect
==================

:: Description
There is a novel physical phenomenon that is not found in the real world as it
is presently understood. The phenomenon may be mediated by magic, technology,
or any other means.

:: Parents
alternate reality


speculative energy generation technology
========================================

:: Description
The harnessing of a possible future source of energy is explored.

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/power_sources


speculative environmental suit
==============================

:: Description
A garment or wearable contraption designed to keep someone alive in an
environment hostile to life is featured in a manner that makes clear it is a
future technological achievement.

:: Parents
speculative full body outfit

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_suit


speculative evolution
=====================

:: Description
Featured is an idea of evolution that is not (yet) in evidence by history.
This may for example be when an alternative evolutionary history is
stipulated, or when the evolutionary history of fictional beings is explained.

:: Parents
speculative effect


speculative experience
======================

:: Description
A character finds themself in such an unusual circumstance as no one would
expect to face in their lifetime.

:: Parents
alternate reality


speculative full body outfit
============================

:: Description
A garment (or wearable contraption) covering more or less the whole body that
dramatically enhances an ability of its wearer is featured in a manner that
makes clear it is a future technological achievement.

:: Parents
speculative wearable device

:: Examples
Sidney Stratton makes a brilliantly white business suit from an everlasting
fabric made of a special polymer that repelled dirt using static electricity
in "The Man in the White Suit" (1951).


speculative future event
========================

:: Description
A hypothetical future event of major significance to society is featured.

:: Parents
speculative society


speculative genetic engineering
===============================

:: Description
An organism genes are manipulated in a way or to an extent that is presently
beyond what humans can do.

:: Parents
speculative biotechnology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_engineering
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetics_in_fiction#Genetic_engineering
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/genetic_engineering


speculative genetically modified crops
======================================

:: Description
A crop that has been genetically engineered to yield much more usable food
than its original. This was sci-fi in the 60s. A gene modified plant
(antibiotic-resistant tobacco) was first developed in 1982.

:: Parents
speculative genetic engineering

:: Examples
Quadrotriticale was a high-yield genetically modified grain, and the only
Earth grain that could grow on Sherman's Planet, in tos2x13 "The Trouble with
Tribbles".


speculative geoengineering
==========================

:: Description
The scientific study of large scale methods by which the general conditions on
a planet can be willfully modified. This may involve the shaping of land
masses and oceans, or modification of the climate.

:: Parents
planetary-scale engineering

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_engineering

:: Aliases
climate engineering


speculative glasses
===================

:: Description
There are futuristic glasses of some sort, like a glasses that allow you to
see electromagnetic radiation beyond the visible spectrum.

:: Parents
speculative wearable device


speculative habitable celestial body
====================================

:: Description
There is a large body in space (e.g. an asteroid, a planet, and perhaps even a
star) that is amenable to human life.

:: Parents
speculative place


speculative handheld device
===========================

:: Description
There is a futuristic device, like a "sonic razor", designed to be held in the
hand.

:: Parents
speculative device


speculative healing device
==========================

:: Description
There is a device that heals wounds and injuries with extraordinary quickness.

:: Parents
speculative device

:: Examples
In ent2x04 "Dead Stop", Phlox used a medical regenerator of some sort to
repair a severe leg injury Malcolm had sustained while trying to disarm a
mine. The outcome was complete recovery without even a scar, and Malcolm
walked away feeling no pain.


speculative human
=================

:: Description
There is a speculative being that is biologically human, yet has some
characteristic that is not ordinarily seen in the species.

:: Parents
speculative being


speculative hypnosis
====================

:: Description
Featured is a notion of hypnosis that goes well beyond what can be done in
reality. In particular, this theme is used when a character is shown to
"hypnotize" another character in order to make them carry out commands, or to
implant "triggers" in their mind. The theme may also be used when the hypnosis
has an immediate and notable effect, such as to bring back true memories.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Notes
Real hypnosis can be used in hypnotherapy and may have some effect in altering
problematic habits for a willing subject. Typically, multiple sessions are
required in order to produce limited effects, and not all subjects are
receptive to it.

:: Examples
In voy4x17 "Retrospect", hypnosis used to bring out buried or suppressed old
memories.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnosis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stage_hypnosis


speculative interstellar probe
==============================

:: Description
An unmanned spacecraft that has been dispatch outside the solar system.

:: Parents
speculative spaceship

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar_probe


speculative love inducing effect
================================

:: Description
There is an effect that functions to create feeling of love in one person for
another.

:: Parents
speculative effect


speculative luck inducing effect
================================

:: Description
There is an effect that causes good fortune to be showed on someone much more
than would be expected by chance.

:: Parents
speculative effect


speculative madness inducing effect
===================================

:: Description
There is a hypothetical mechanism that induces madness in the mind, in a way
that is as yet unknown to occur naturally or by artifice.

:: Parents
speculative mind altering effect


speculative matter manipulating effect
======================================

:: Description
There is an effect, perhaps magical or technology mediated, that turns one
form of matter into a wholly different form of matter.

:: Parents
speculative effect

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/transmutation


speculative mind altering effect
================================

:: Description
There is a hypothetical effect on the mind that is as yet unknown to occur
naturally or by artifice.

:: Parents
speculative effect


speculative nanotechnology
==========================

:: Description
A technology that concerns the control of matter on the atomic and molecular
scale that goes beyond our current capabilities.

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: Examples
Wesley Crusher made nano-machines work together and evolve in tng3x01
"Evolution" and things got a bit out of hand.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotechnology
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotechnology_in_fiction
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/nanotechnology


speculative personal body manipulation
======================================

:: Description
A character is able to transform or otherwise manipulate their own body in
ways that no ordinary person today ever could.

:: Parents
speculative ability related to own body


speculative personal locomotion
===============================

:: Description
A character is able to move in a way that no ordinary person today ever could.
They may, for example, be able to fly using their own body alone, or teleport
themselves using their mind.

:: Parents
speculative ability related to own body


speculative personal resilience
===============================

:: Description
A character's body is able to endure some types of physical influences well
beyond what is possible for any person in the real world today. A character
may for example be impervious to bullets, or able to walk through fire.

:: Parents
speculative ability related to own body


speculative place
=================

:: Description
There is a domain that falls outside the present scope of places that human
beings have gleaned or set foot in. These hypothetical domains range from
futuristic cities, to space habitats, to habitable exoplanets, to fabled
lands, to magical kingdoms in the clouds.

:: Parents
alternate reality

:: Notes
From a theming point of view these places tend only to be interesting, and by
extension used as themes, if they are amenable to human habitation or at the
very least are hypothetically visitable.


speculative prediction of the future
====================================

:: Description
There is an effect that gives someone the means to predict the future with
near perfect accuracy.

:: Parents
speculative effect


speculative punishment
======================

:: Description
People convicted of crimes are punished within the confines of some legal
framework in a novel, perhaps fantastical way that has likely never been used
in the course of human history.

:: Parents
alternate reality


speculative remote living body manipulation
===========================================

:: Description
A character is able to influence the body of another living being, in ways
that real people can't ever do.

:: Parents
speculative ability related to another being


speculative robot
=================

:: Description
There is a mobile machine equipped with an advanced artificial intelligence.
For example, an android or a robotic dog that looks and behaves much like the
real article.

:: Parents
artificial intelligence

:: Notes
For this theme to apply, the machinery itself or the artificial intelligence
must be well beyond what is possible when the story was first released. The
theme does not apply to creature-like machines that lack relatively advanced
AI. For example, the theme does not apply to animal-shaped vehicles like the
iconic AT-AT walker from Star Wars or the mechas from Japanese anime, even
though these things are sometimes referred to as robots. The "piloted
creature-shaped vehicle" theme is used to cover such contraptions.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robots_in_literature


speculative robotics
====================

:: Description
There is a non-sentient, task-performing machine that is currently beyond our
ability to engineer.

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotics


speculative social institution
==============================

:: Description
The story features a notable social institution of some sort that, for all
intents and purposes, has not hitherto been extant in any human society. It
may, for example, be premised on some technology or fantastical idea that
humanity has not (yet) achieved.

:: Parents
speculative society

:: Notes
A "social institution" in its broadest meaning is the activities of a large
number of people that have banded together for some specific purpose.
Typically it means that there is some recognized practice of doing something
within a society. This may be related to education, business, governance,
diplomacy, so on and so forth.


speculative society
===================

:: Description
There is a society that is different from what we normally experience in some
novel respect.

:: Parents
alternate reality


speculative spaceship
=====================

:: Description
A vehicle or machine designed to fly in outer space is featured.

:: Parents
speculative vehicle

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacecraft
http://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/spaceships


speculative spacesuit
=====================

:: Description
A garment or wearable contraption designed to keep someone alive in the harsh
environment of outer space is featured in a manner that makes clear it is a
future technological achievement.

:: Parents
speculative environmental suit

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_suit


speculative subliminal stimuli
==============================

:: Description
There is a fanciful notion of what may be achieved using communication where
at least part of the intended message passes beneath the recipient's threshold
for conscious perception. Typically, a character is manipulated by the clever
insertion of imperceptible cues in the audio or video they see.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
In "Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future" (1985), the Network 23
television network used a new form of subliminal advertising, called
blibverts, to prevent their viewers from channel surfing.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subliminal_stimuli


speculative submarine
=====================

:: Description
A watercraft capable of independent operation underwater is featured in a
manner that makes it clear it is a future technological achievement.

:: Parents
speculative vehicle

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/submarines


speculative technology
======================

:: Description
Featured is a novel technology falling somewhere on the spectrum from being a
realistic elaboration on a currently existing technology (for example, human
cloning), to a scientifically plausible portrayal of a technology far beyond
our current capabilities (for example, self-replicating nanomachines), to a
technology that is unsupported by science as we know it (for example, time
machine).

:: Parents
alternate reality

:: Examples
"speculative technology" themes come in great numbers in science fiction, and
also great variety. It is convenient to further sub-categorize them according
to function, for example "artificial intelligence", "speculative
biotechnology", "mind altering technology", and "speculative weapon".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology_in_science_fiction
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Fictional_technology


speculative terraforming
========================

:: Description
The scientific study of methods by which another planet can be made more
Earth-like.

:: Parents
speculative geoengineering

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terraforming
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/terraforming


speculative time manipulating effect
====================================

:: Description
There is an effect that enables the past be rewritten or the future to be
changed.

:: Parents
speculative effect


speculative torture device
==========================

:: Description
A fantastical device that is used to inflict pain on someone without causing
them physical injury.

:: Parents
speculative device


speculative travel
==================

:: Description
Novel means of traveling around in space and time are explored. For example,
the theme may pertain to ocean voyages, space flights, and journeys into the
past.

:: Parents
alternate reality

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_travel_in_fiction


speculative vehicle
===================

:: Description
There is a futuristic vehicle, like a flying car.

:: Parents
speculative device


speculative virtual reality
===========================

:: Description
There is technology that places people within simulated and immersive
environments that can be similar to or completely different from the real
world. It must exceed in capabilities the virtual reality technology of today.
In extreme cases the technology makes it practically impossible to distinguish
the simulated world from reality.

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality_in_fiction
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulated_reality

:: Aliases
simulated reality


speculative virtual reality headset
===================================

:: Description
There is a virtual reality headset (or goggles, or glasses, or some such head
attachable device) the capabilities of which go beyond those of contemporary
virtual reality devices of comparable design.

:: Parents
speculative virtual reality

:: Examples
Chewbacca's father Itchy uses a virtual reality headset to watch a quasi-
adult, fantasy program in "Star Wars Holiday Special" (1978).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality


speculative weapon
==================

:: Description
There is a futuristic weapon, such as a death ray or sentient bomb.

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapons_in_science_fiction
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/weapons


speculative wearable device
===========================

:: Description
There is a futuristic device, like a "jet pack", designed to be worn on the
body.

:: Parents
speculative device


speculatively magnified ordinary personal ability
=================================================

:: Description
A character has an ability that is, by and large, just an ordinary person's
ability but scaled up to an impossible extent.

:: Parents
speculative personal body manipulation


speed of light limitation
=========================

:: Description
According to special relativity, the speed of light (c=299,792,458 meters per
second) is the maximum speed at which all matter and information in the
universe can travel.

:: Parents
theory of relativity


spendthrift
===========

:: Description
There is a character who chronically and frivolously spends more money than
they really can afford to spend.

:: Parents
human character

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spendthrift

:: Aliases
profligacy


spirit possession
=================

:: Description
An entity such as an anima, demon, god, or other spirit takes control of a
person's body.

:: Parents
folk belief

:: Notes
The concept of spirit possession exists in many religions, including
Christianity, Buddhism, Haitian Vodou, Wicca, Hinduism, Islam and Southeast
Asian and African traditions.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_possession


spiritual strive towards higher ideal
=====================================

:: Description
A character pursues a higher ideal like those of the world religions, for
example the Christian salvation or the Buddhist Nirvana.

:: Parents
human self improvement


spontaneous generation
======================

:: Description
The discredited theory according to which different types of life repeatedly
emerge from inanimate matter, like fleas emerging from dust, or maggots from
carrion.

:: Parents
superseded scientific theory

:: Examples
Beverly discovered that a virus, which had infected a large proportion of the
Enterprise-D crew, spontaneously generated from a certain chemical when
brought into contact with the lungs in tng1x14 "Angel One".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spontaneous_generation


spontaneous human combustion
============================

:: Description
A living (or recently deceased) human body erupts into flames without an
apparent external source of ignition.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
People who David felt hostility toward had a funny habit of spontaneous
combusting in the namesake film "Spontaneous Combustion" (1990).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spontaneous_human_combustion


spontaneous planetary break up
==============================

:: Description
A planet suddenly breaks apart and becomes rubble for no particular reason.

:: Parents
force of nature existential risk to civilization

:: Examples
Planets in the Selcundi Drema sector were spontaneously breaking up as a
result of natural geologic cataclysms in tng2x15 "Pen Pals".


sporting to promote peace
=========================

:: Description
The idea that international sporting events (Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup,
etc.) can be valuable in promoting peace between nations is featured. The
"Olympic Truce" is an ancient Greek example.

:: Parents
international issue


sports
======

:: Description
A competitive physical activity or game of the kind to which we have given
specific names and call "sports", is featured.

:: Parents
human regular activity

:: Examples
Goldine's adoptive father injected her with growth hormones from childhood and
carefully managed her life to ensure she would win three races at the 1980
Summer Olympics in Moscow in "Goldengirl" (1979).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport


sportsmanship
=============

:: Description
Something is said about what does or does not constitute good manners in some
sport or another.

:: Parents
manners

:: Examples
In tz1959e3x05 "A Game of Pool", we saw Jesse accuse Fats of poor
sportsmanship twice, because Fats distracted Jesse as he was about to take a
shot in the game of pool.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportsmanship


spouse murder
=============

:: Description
One spouse in a married couple seeks to bring about the death of their
partner.

:: Parents
murder of a lover

:: Examples
In nightgallery2x19b "Stop Killing Me", Francis Turchin arrives at the local
police station to explain that her husband is actively murdering her by a most
unusual method: By making frequent remarks about killing her he is instilling
in her such anxiety that she will, within a week no less, fail to pay
attention to her surroundings and suffer a deadly accident.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariticide
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uxoricide


stage fright
============

:: Description
A character experiences anxiety stemming from the requirement to perform in
front of an audience.

:: Parents
human phobia

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stage_fright


stage magic
===========

:: Description
A performing art in which audiences are entertained by staged tricks or
illusions of seemingly impossible feats using natural means.

:: Parents
the fine arts and the humanities

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_(illusion)


stand-up comedy
===============

:: Description
The art of making a group of people laugh is featured.

:: Parents
the fine arts and the humanities

:: Examples
Data tried to learn the art of stand-up comedy on the holodeck in tng2x04 "The
Outrageous Okona" but not even the juxtaposition of female attire and an
amphibian briefcase could make him laugh.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand-up_comedy


standing up to a boss
=====================

:: Description
A character confronts their boss over perceived unfair treatment.

:: Parents
humans at work


standing up to a bully
======================

:: Description
A character defends themself against a bully.

:: Parents
human vs. human

:: Examples
Worf stood up to his bully of a brother Kurn in tng3x17 "Sins of the Father".


star-crossed lovers
===================

:: Description
A pair of lovers whose relationship is often thwarted by outside forces is
featured.

:: Parents
romantic relationship

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star-crossed


start-over utopia
=================

:: Description
The (rather vague) notion of an idyllic world obtained by simply restarting
the normal world from scratch whilst avoiding any unappealing aspects, for
example sleaze, is put forth.

:: Parents
utopia

:: Examples
In tz1985e2x09b "Shelter Skelter", the survivalist specialist Harry dreamed of
a chance to start society over without the impure sleaze and filth he saw
everywhere around him.


stasis technology
=================

:: Description
The story features a technology that makes time freeze in a box or some other
confined region of space.

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stasis_(fiction)
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/stasis_field


statute of limitations
======================

:: Description
A statutory maximum time that may elapse between a crime and the initiation of
legal proceedings for that crime is featured.

:: Parents
law and order issue

:: Examples
Did Kodos the Executioner really deserve to be persecuted 20 years after his
alleged crime in tos1x12 "The Conscience of the King"?

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statute_of_limitations


stellar engineering
===================

:: Description
There is technology by which matter on the scale of stars can be manipulated
and even moved about at will.

:: Parents
astronomical-scale engineering

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellar_engineering


stellar rejuvenation
====================

:: Description
A dying star is somehow rekindled and brought back to a more agreeable state
of activity.

:: Parents
stellar engineering

:: Examples
The Enterprise-D helped a scientist from Kaelon II to put new life into their
fading sun in tng4x22 "Half a Life".


stepfather and stepdaughter
===========================

:: Description
The sometimes contentious relationship between a non-biological father figure
and a female child under his protection is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship


stepfather and stepson
======================

:: Description
The sometimes contentious relationship between a non-biological father figure
and a male child under their protection is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship


stepmother and stepdaughter
===========================

:: Description
The sometimes contentious relationship between a non-biological mother figure
and a female child under her protection is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship

:: Examples
Margaret Griffith tried to knock off her heiress stepdaughter Julie and
inherit her fortune in "The Incredible Hulk: Death in the Family" (1977).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepmother


stepmother and stepson
======================

:: Description
The sometimes contentious relationship between a non-biological mother figure
and a male child under her protection is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship

:: Examples
High school senior Michael Harlan showed little interest in socializing with
his new stepmother in "My Science Project" (1985).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepmother


stereotypically innocent character
==================================

:: Description
There is a character who has an optimistic view of the world because they lack
knowledge and experience of life's hardships.

:: Parents
human character stereotype


storytelling
============

:: Description
A character regularly regales their audience with the telling of a story.

:: Parents
the fine arts and the humanities


stress from being in danger
===========================

:: Description
A character suffers anxiety from being in perpetual mortal danger.

:: Parents
psychological stress


struggling artist character
===========================

:: Description
There is an aspiring painter, musician, or other performer of the fine arts
who has not (yet) acquired sufficient patronage to sustain themselves in their
chosen profession.

:: Parents
human character stereotype

:: Notes
This theme does not apply to kids who live with their family and are not yet
expected to sustain themselves.

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected4x11 "Kindly Dig Your Grave", Graham is a talented
young painter but not much of a negotiator. He is ruthlessly exploited by the
Madam La Grue, and struggles to turn every one of the few pennies she
condescends to give him for his work.


struggling with a life-changing decision
========================================

:: Description
A character copes with the stress and pressure that comes with making a life-
changing decision.

:: Parents
human life choice

:: Examples
Wesley struggled with whether or not to quit Starfleet Academy to go
galavanting around the galaxy with his friend the Traveler in tng7x20
"Journey's End".


stubbornness
============

:: Description
A character is conspicuously persistent in doing something, or obstinate in
their opinions, despite exhortations or other incentives to change.

:: Parents
humans interacting


student and teacher romance
===========================

:: Description
A teacher becomes romantically involved with one of their students.

:: Parents
romantic relationship

:: Examples
Benjamin made out with his music teacher in "Toomorrow" (1970).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_harassment_in_education_in_the_United_States#Sexual_relationships_between_students_and_teachers


studying for a test
===================

:: Description
A young character studies for a formal test in school, or something similar.

:: Parents
human childhood

:: Notes
Formal tests are typically associated with schooling, and thus the early
stages of life. Therefore this theme is taken to imply "human childhood". If
an adult character is "studying for a test" in a story, the reviewer must
decide whether the situation resembles school tests enough that the idea of
"human childhood" is implied.

:: Examples
Wesley tries the Starfleet Academy entrance exam and fails in tng1x19 "Coming
of Age".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educational_entrance_examination


sub-orbital spaceflight
=======================

:: Description
A crewed or uncrewed spacecraft reaches outer space, but its trajectory
intersects the atmosphere or surface of the gravitating body from which it was
launched, so that it will not complete one orbital revolution.

:: Parents
space travel

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub-orbital_spaceflight


sub-planetary-scale engineering
===============================

:: Description
There is an application of technology for the purpose of influencing a local
environment of a planet at a level beyond our present capabilities. These are
constructions such as underwater cities and arcologies.

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macro-engineering


substance intoxication
======================

:: Description
Someone becomes or acts as if they have become intoxicated by, e.g., alcohol.

:: Parents
human addiction

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substance_intoxication


subterranean being
==================

:: Description
There is a being whose natural habitat lies underground.

:: Parents
locationally distinguished being


subterranean civilization
=========================

:: Description
A civilization that lives underground is featured.

:: Parents
speculative society


subterrene
==========

:: Description
A vehicle that travels underground (through solid rock/soil) much as a
submarine travels underwater, either by mechanical drilling or by melting its
way forward, is featured in a science fictional context.

:: Parents
speculative vehicle

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subterrene


subversive life form from outer space
=====================================

:: Description
Aliens, creatures, or some other form of life from outer space, come along and
(usually gradually) subvert the civilization on a target planet until the
point where it is merely an extension of the invading life form's way of life.

:: Parents
threat from extraterrestrial life

:: Examples
In tng1x25 "Conspiracy", bug-like aliens from outer space subvert the higher
echelons of Starfleet by secretly attaching themselves to the brain stems of
its key leaders.


sugar addiction
===============

:: Description
Someone cannot cease eating or drinking sugary things to unhealthy excess.

:: Parents
human addiction


suicide
=======

:: Description
A character takes, tries to take, or considers taking their own life.

:: Parents
human challenge in life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide


suicide booth
=============

:: Description
A fictional machine for committing suicide.

:: Parents
pod or booth-like device

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_booth


suicide in society
==================

:: Description
The social ramifications of people taking (and wishing to take) their own
lives, are explored.

:: Parents
public health issue

:: Examples
Troi investigated the suicide of Lt. Daniel Kwan, learned about another
suicide long ago, and ended up nearly taking her own life in tng7x18 "Eye of
the Beholder".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide


suicide vs. slow death
======================

:: Description
A character must choose between making a quick end of themself on one hand, or
suffering a drawn out dying process on the other.

:: Parents
contemplating suicide


sun going supernova
===================

:: Description
The sun to a planet enters its supernova state and civilization is fried like
so many chickens.

:: Parents
catastrophic solar event


sun gun
=======

:: Description
A theoretical orbital weapon, which makes use of a concave mirror mounted on a
satellite, to concentrate rays from the sun on to a small area of the Earth's
surface, destroying targets or killing through heat.

:: Parents
engineered space structure
speculative weapon

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_gun


super accelerated Darwinian evolution
=====================================

:: Description
We imagine what the world would be like if some beings in it "evolved" at a
much accelerated rate.

:: Parents
speculative evolution


super growth therapy
====================

:: Description
A therapy that when administered to living organisms makes them grow to much
larger than their ordinary proportions.

:: Parents
human enhancement technology


super hearing
=============

:: Description
A character can perceive weak sounds clearly, well beyond ordinary human
capability of hearing.

:: Parents
speculatively magnified ordinary personal ability

:: Examples
Bionic woman Jamie Sommers used her bionic eavesdrop on CIA agents talking at
the other end of a hallway in "Bionic Showdown: The Six Million Dollar Man and
the Bionic Woman" (1989).


super intelligence
==================

:: Description
A character is "smart" far beyond what any person is or has ever been. I.e.,
they have enhanced mental faculties.

:: Parents
speculatively magnified ordinary personal ability

:: Notes
Different stories can present quite different ideas of enhanced mental
faculties. A character may become able to crunch logic and numbers like a
computer. A character may become knowledgeable of arcane facts like an
encyclopedia. A character may simply be able to out-think other characters, to
an extreme extent.

:: Examples
Barclay became so smart in tng4x19 "The Nth Degree" that he was able to teach
holo-Einstein a thing or two about general relativity.


super reflexes
==============

:: Description
A character has lightning quick reaction times to external stimuli.

:: Parents
speculatively magnified ordinary personal ability

:: Examples
Peter Parker acquired bullet dodging quick reflexes after he was bitten by a
genetically enhanced spider in "The Amazing Spider-Man" (2012).


super speed
===========

:: Description
A character is able to run, or otherwise move, impossibly fast. They may, for
example, be able to outrun a speeding bullet.

:: Parents
speculatively magnified ordinary personal ability

:: Notes
Note the theme "time slow down ability". It is not always clear whether the
situation is such that a character speeds up, or time is slowed down for the
rest of the world.


super strength
==============

:: Description
A character is able to perform feats of muscular strength beyond what is
possible for any real person.

:: Parents
speculatively magnified ordinary personal ability


super strength formula
======================

:: Description
There is a chemical formula that grants super strength to those who ingest it.

:: Parents
human enhancement technology

:: Examples
Dexter Riley ate a bowl of chemically enhanced cereal that granted him super
strength in "The World's Strongest Man" (1975).


superior and subordinate
========================

:: Description
The relationship between a person and someone that person has a position of
direct authority over, is featured.

:: Parents
humans in pairs


supernatural ability
====================

:: Description
A character has an intrinsic ability that is arguably beyond what real humans
ever can have today, and this ability is also extraordinary in the world that
the character inhabits.

:: Parents
speculative ability

:: Notes
There is a gray area around tool usage. Generally, if a character uses an
object that anyone could use then the tool in question is what is
extraordinary, and not the character's ability to use it. However, if the tool
is uniquely connected to a user then arguably this user has an extraordinary
ability. Due judgment must be exercised, and this category may be refined as
we go forwards.


supernatural existential risk to civilization
=============================================

:: Description
Supernatural forces conspire to bring about the destruction of civilization.
For example, one god or another might decide to wipe the slate clean and start
creation over again.

:: Parents
existential risk to civilization

:: Examples
In tz2002e1x42 "Sunrise", an ancient Aztec curse that blotted out the sun was
unleashed. Earth was mere hours from becoming an icy tomb when the curse was
narrowly countermanded by means of a human sacrifice. Or so believed four
college students who ritually murdered their friend.


supernatural luck
=================

:: Description
A character's good or bad fortune is interpreted in terms of the supernatural,
such as an attribute of themself or some magical object, or the result of a
favorable or unfavorable view of a deity upon them.

:: Parents
folk belief

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luck


supernova
=========

:: Description
A giant exploding star.

:: Parents
astronomy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernova


superseded scientific theory
============================

:: Description
A scientific theory that was once more or less accepted but has since been
largely rejected by mainstream science, is featured.

:: Parents
science

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superseded_scientific_theories

:: Aliases
discredited scientific theory


supersoldier
============

:: Description
There is a soldier capable of operating beyond normal human limits or
abilities. This is typically achieved by augmenting an ordinary person, either
through surgical means, eugenics, genetic engineering, cybernetic implants,
drugs, brainwashing, traumatic events, an extreme training regimen or other
scientific and pseudoscientific means.

:: Parents
speculative human

:: Examples
In "X-men Origins: Wolverine" (2009), Major Stryker led a clandestine research
program the goal of which was to enhance the abilities of natural mutants,
turning them into elite soldiers.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersoldier


superstition in society
=======================

:: Description
Discussed is how superstitious beliefs can permeate and shape everyday
society.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x11a "The Beacon", we saw a community of backwards people that for
hundreds of years had shut themselves away from civilization and progress in
order to practice human sacrifice and appease a perceived ghost they thought
inhabited the lighthouse.


superstitiousness
=================

:: Description
There is a character who is abnormally ready to think and act according to
practice based upon trust in luck or other irrational, unscientific, or
supernatural forces.

:: Parents
human character

:: Notes
This theme is primarily used with respect to common and classical
superstitions, such as fortune telling. It is not used, for example, with
respect to beliefs that were considered scientific, or even pseudo-scientific,
in the context of the story.

:: Examples
In tz1959e2x07 "Nick of Time", we saw that William Shatner (as Don) was quick
to fall victim to the soothsayings of an infernal fortune telling machine, and
learned that he had both a four-leaf clover and a rabit's foot, quite
sincerely for good luck.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superstition


suppressed emotion
==================

:: Description
A character suppresses strong emotions and suffers the consequences that come
thereof.

:: Parents
human mental condition


suppression of a technology to preserve an industry
===================================================

:: Description
The following social problem is featured: People with vested interests try to
suppress new technology in order to preserve the potentially antiquated
industry they have shares in.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue


supreme judge being
===================

:: Description
There is a being with powers vastly greater than those of ordinary humans who
sees itself as an enforcer of cosmic justice.

:: Parents
transcendental being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_judgment


surveillance capitalism
=======================

:: Description
Discussed is the social issue of corporations collecting and profiting from
large amounts of people's personal data.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue
sociotechnological issue

:: Examples
In pkded1x09 "Safe and Sound", Simi corp. is providing school students with
activity monitoring wrist bands. The corporation uses information form the
wristbands to stage terrorist attacks, in order to scare people and create
further demand for its activity monitoring wristbands.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveillance_capitalism


survivalism
===========

:: Description
Survivalism is a movement of individuals or groups who actively prepare for
emergencies, including possible disruptions in social or political order, on
scales from local to international. A person who builds part of his life
around such activities is featured.

:: Parents
human way of life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivalism


survivalist stereotype
======================

:: Description
There is a stereotypical character of the sort that prepares excessively for
the imminent collapse of civilization. This may, for example, be an American
man who stockpiles food and weapons in his own underground bunker.

:: Parents
human character stereotype
survivalism

:: Examples
In tz1985e2x09b "Shelter Skelter", the American gun dealer and survivalist
specialist Harry foresaw the imminent breakout of a devastating nuclear war.
To prepare, he had planned meticulously and stockpiled various necessities in
his very own secret basement bomb shelter.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivalism


surviving in a wasteland
========================

:: Description
A character struggles to survive in a barren world tattered and bereft of
organized society.

:: Parents
facing adversity

:: Notes
This theme is not used when a relatively large number of people are surviving
together and forming what seems like a new society, but rather when one or a
few character have to scavenge for what they need to survive.

:: Examples
In tz1959e3x01 "Two", we saw two lonely soldiers from opposing factions
scavenge a broken city for the necessities of another day of life.


survivor guilt
==============

:: Description
Someone has strong feelings of guilt associated with surviving an event in
which others perished.

:: Parents
human mental condition
remorse

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor_guilt


suspended animation
===================

:: Description
Technology that can considerably slow basic life processes, e.g., breathing or
a heartbeat, in a manner that allows for subjects to be later revived.

:: Parents
stasis technology

:: Examples
Kamala the Metamorph was kept in a stasis device so that she wouldn't upset
the crew with her erotic powers in tng5x21 "The Perfect Mate".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspended_animation
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stasis_(fiction)
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/suspended_animation


suspended animation punishment
==============================

:: Description
People convicted of crimes are frozen by means of cryogenic technology for
some time and as a punishment.

:: Parents
suspended animation
speculative punishment


sympathetic magic
=================

:: Description
There is a kind of supposed magic that involves effigies and images of a
target, e.g., voodoo dolls and the like.

:: Parents
folk belief

:: Examples
Extradimensional aliens found memories of such things in the human
subconsciousness and used the knowledge scare Captain Kirk and his crew in
tos2x01 "Catspaw".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sympathetic_magic


synthetic food
==============

:: Description
The chemical synthesis of food from non-plant and animal derived matter is
featured.

:: Parents
speculative technology

:: Examples
Humanity's food supply was produced in chemistry labs after the year 2900 in
"The Miracle of the Lily" (1928).


séance
======

:: Description
The idea that a trained mystic can help us communicate with the dead.

:: Parents
communicating with the dead

:: Examples
Prefect Jaris of Argelius II figured that this with be a good way to resolve
the murder case brought against Scotty in tos2x07 "Wolf in the Fold".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A9ance

:: Aliases
seance


table manners
=============

:: Description
The importance of, for example, not tearing into a bloody steak with your bare
hands in polite company is featured.

:: Parents
manners

:: Examples
Captain Kirk gave Elaan, the Dohlman of Elas, a lesson in table manners in
tos3x02 "Elaan of Troyius".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_manners


tabletop games
==============

:: Description
Featured is one of those games that is normally played on a table or other
flat surface, such as board games, card games, dice games, miniature wargames,
or tile-based games.

:: Parents
recreational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabletop_game


taking a high-stakes wager vs. walking away
===========================================

:: Description
A character wrestles with the decision of whether to enter into a gamble or
wager with high potential reward, but also high potential penalty.

:: Parents
risk taking vs. playing it safe

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected2x07 "Taste", Mike thought he had an almost sure thing
going so he accepted a bet of his daughter's hand in marriage against Pratt's
two houses, after much deliberation.


taking a test
=============

:: Description
A character takes a more or less formal test for something such as in school,
a driving test, etc.

:: Parents
human childhood


taking sides in an international conflict
=========================================

:: Description
We are made to ponder when and how it is ethical for a state to pick a side in
an international conflict between two other states.

:: Parents
the ethics of interfering in the internal affairs of other powers


taking someone's picture steals their soul
==========================================

:: Description
The belief that making a picture of someone is somehow directly detrimental to
their soul or spirit, etc., is featured.

:: Parents
folk belief

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x14a "Still Life", a photograph took photos of Kurukai natives and
their souls somehow became trapped inside the film.


taking the blame for someone else's crime
=========================================

:: Description
A character admits to a crime they did not commit, in order to protect the
real culprit from legal retribution (or someone else from associated
consequences).

:: Parents
obstruction of justice
human self-sacrifice for another


taking the law into one's own hands
===================================

:: Description
A character can't wait for law-enforcement and instead takes matters into
their own hand by, e.g., tracking down and killing criminals.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma


talking someone out of suicide
==============================

:: Description
A character is about to commit suicide and someone else tries to talk them out
of it.

:: Parents
humans interacting
suicide


tardiness
=========

:: Description
A character is in the habit of being late for scheduled activities.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Wesley Crusher dozed off in the science lab and was subsequently late for duty
in tng3x01 "Evolution".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tardiness


tax evasion
===========

:: Description
A character tries to get out of paying their due taxes in an illegal way.

:: Parents
crime against property

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_evasion


taxation in society
===================

:: Description
We are made to ponder whether, how, and to what extent governments should levy
financial charges on their subjects (individually or as businesses) to pay for
government expenditures.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: Examples
In tz1959e2x02 "The Man in the Bottle", Mr. and Mrs. Castle lamented
exorbitant taxes that, of their one million dollar windfall, left them  but a
measly $5.


teaching occupation
===================

:: Description
There is a school teacher, or the like, engaged in their chosen profession.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teacher


tech support occupation
=======================

:: Description
A character is employed to tend to the machines that other people are using.

:: Parents
human occupational activity


technological risk to civilization
==================================

:: Description
People rely on some technology but it has unforeseen consequences and
civilization collapses.

:: Parents
anthropogenic existential risk to civilization

:: References
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/12/upshot/a-discussion-of-the-danger-and-promise-of-tech.html


technologically enabled utopia
==============================

:: Description
Society is supposedly perfected thanks to technology.

:: Parents
utopia


technology
==========

:: Description
The application of scientific knowledge in building contraptions is featured.

:: Parents
science


technology-free utopia
======================

:: Description
Society is great because there are not many machines around to make people's
lives miserable.

:: Parents
utopia


technophobia
============

:: Description
A character exhibits notable fear and dislike of one, some, or all advanced
technological devices.

:: Parents
human phobia

:: Examples
In tz1959e2x04 "A Thing About Machines", Mr. Finchley was utterly terrified of
his home appliances, which from his point of view, were out to get him.


teen romance
============

:: Description
Young characters engage in romantic relationships, perhaps for their first
time, and the relationship is notably featured in the story.

:: Parents
young lovers

:: Notes
There are stories in which "boyfriend and girlfriend" applies because two
characters are described as such, but where nevertheless there was no notable
idea of romance (explicitly or by its conspicuous absence). This typically
happens when the relationship is entirely irrelevant to the story. In such
cases we do not use "teen romance".


teenage angst
=============

:: Description
A teenager feels anxious about fitting in and being misunderstood as teenagers
so often do.

:: Parents
human childhood


teenage rebellion
=================

:: Description
A teenage person experiments with behaviors that is notably in contrast to
what their family, and parents in particular, considers desirable.

:: Parents
human childhood

:: Examples
In tz2002-1x01 "Evergreen", Jenna Winslow is a unruly, wayward child who
prefers to party with sex and drugs, caring nothing for what her parents want.
The story follows the Winslow's as they move to a gated community with
stringent rules in a last ditched attempt to get their teenage daughter on the
right path in life.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_rebellion


telekinetic ability
===================

:: Description
A character is able to manipulate objects at a distance, more or less by using
the power of their mind.

:: Parents
speculative ability related to physical things

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychokinesis
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/telekinesis


telekinetic machine manipulation ability
========================================

:: Description
A character has a psychic ability to control machinery, including electronic
machinery, such as computers.

:: Parents
telekinetic ability

:: Examples
Cameron Vale reprogrammed a computer using only the power of his own mind in
"Scanners" (1981).

:: Aliases
technopathy
cyberpathy
technokinesis


telepathic ability
==================

:: Description
A character is able to transmit thoughts or feelings to or from another
person, using their mind alone.

:: Parents
mind to mind interaction ability

:: Examples
Dr. Luther Stringfellow endowed several young volunteers with telepathic
abilities which they were encouraged to develop through sexual exploration in
"Streo" (1969).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telepathy


telepathic being
================

:: Description
A being that communicates telepathically with or read the thoughts of others.

:: Parents
mentally distinguished being


telepathic society
==================

:: Description
A society where telepathy constitutes a part of the ordinary operation of
natural laws.

:: Parents
speculative society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telepathy


telepathic utopia
=================

:: Description
Society is nice and amicable because people can hear each others' thoughts and
have learned to control their anti-social instincts, etc.

:: Parents
utopia based on a view of human nature


teleportation ability
=====================

:: Description
A character, by using their mind alone, is able to instantaneously move
themself, others, or objects, to remote locations, as if by magic.

:: Parents
speculative personal locomotion

:: Examples
In tz1985e3x21 "Room 2426", the imprisoned professor Martin Decker learned how
to use will alone to move himself in space. Thus he made good his escape, and
was able to save the world to boot.


teleportation device
====================

:: Description
A device used to move people and objects over vast distances by transforming
matter into energy and the reconstituting the matter at the destination.

:: Parents
pod or booth-like device
space travel

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleportation
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/teleportation


television as a control mechanism
=================================

:: Description
There is a society in which the ruling elite uses television to dumb people
down and keep them from questioning authority.

:: Parents
form of government

:: Examples
A totalitarian government used television to dumb people down in order to
prevent revolution and thinking in "Fahrenheit 451" (1966).


terrorism
=========

:: Description
Attacks are characterized as "terrorism" by others. There is no objective
definition, but the attacks typically target civilians and the attacker is not
a conventional military carrying out normal war operations.

:: Parents
crime against the public
violent crime

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism


terrorist or freedom fighter
============================

:: Description
We are shown that a group that is seen as vicious terrorists by some may well
be seen as heroic freedom fighters by others.

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma
terrorism
war


test of love
============

:: Description
One character is concerned about whether their romantic partner really loves
them and does something in order to test this.

:: Parents
romantic relationship issue

:: Examples
In futurama3x06 "Bendless Love", Bender wonders whether Angelyne is really in
love with him. To find this out he seduces her in the guise of her ex-husband,
Flexo, and is upset to find that she falls for him.


test of loyalty
===============

:: Description
A commander is unsure of their subordinate's loyalty and arranges a temptation
to see whether they will commit treason or not.

:: Parents
the art of war

:: Examples
Romulans tested their commander Jarok's loyalty by enticing him to defect to
the Federation in tng3x10 "The Defector". Jarok was so upset he ingested a
felodesine chip to kill himself.


the American Revolution
=======================

:: Description
This 1765-1783 war between the Thirteen Colonies in America, and Great
Britain, is featured.

:: Parents
historical event
revolution in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolution


the Ancient Egyptian stereotype
===============================

:: Description
A stereotypical Ancient Egyptian character is featured. This may involve
people with dog's heads, cracking whips, slave labor, a fetish for oversized
pyramids and depthless portraiture.

:: Parents
human character stereotype

:: Examples
The D'Arsay shared some remarkable similarities with the ancient Egyptians in
tng7x17 "Masks".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt


the Ancient Greek stereotype
============================

:: Description
A stereotypical Ancient Greek character is featured. This typically involves
togas, laurel wreaths, and lengthy philosophical discourses.

:: Parents
human character stereotype

:: Examples
The Platonians of tos3x12 "Plato's Stepchildren" cavorted with the Greeks of
old in ancient times.

References https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greece
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Roman_world


the Big Bang
============

:: Description
The Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe is featured.

:: Parents
astronomy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bang


the Big Chill
=============

:: Description
The Big Chill theory of the origin of the end of the universe is featured.

:: Parents
astronomy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_of_an_expanding_universe

:: Aliases
the heat death of the universe


the Big Crunch
==============

:: Description
The Big Crunch is a hypothetical scenario for the ultimate fate of the
universe, in which the expansion of the universe eventually reverses and the
universe recollapses, ultimately causing the cosmic scale factor to reach
zero, an event potentially followed by a reformation of the universe starting
with another Big Bang. This idea is featured in the story.

:: Parents
astronomy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Crunch


the British Raj
===============

:: Description
The British Raj was the rule by the British Crown in the Indian subcontinent
between 1858 and 1947.

:: Parents
historical event

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Raj


the Casanova stereotype
=======================

:: Description
There is an extraordinarily seductive male character for whom women fall
easily and often.

:: Parents
womanizing man

:: Examples
In tz1985e3x24 "Cat and Mouse", we saw an exotic French man named Guillome,
who had such skill and success with women that he had ended up cursed for it,
and must spend daytime in the guise of a cat.


the Cold War
============

:: Description
A state of geopolitical tension after World War II between powers in the
Eastern Bloc (the Soviet Union and its satellite states) and powers in the
Western Bloc (the United States, its NATO allies and others).

:: Parents
historical event

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/cold_war


the Devil
=========

:: Description
A being of pure evil that is posited by some religions, i.e., the antithesis
of the Christian God.

:: Parents
organized religion
legendary being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil


the Devil is an alien
=====================

:: Description
The crackpot notion that the Devil of Judeo-Christian lore is really an alien.

:: Parents
the mythological figure was really an alien
the Devil

:: Examples
Lucien, a friendly alien from the magical world of Megas-Tu, was revealed to
have been known as Lucifer on Earth millennia ago in tas1x08 "The Magicks of
Megas-tu".


the French Resistance
=====================

:: Description
A collection of French movements that fought against the Nazi German
occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy regime during the
Second World War

:: Parents
World War II


the Golden Rule
===============

:: Description
Someone lives by the "do unto others as you would have them do unto you"
motto.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Rule

:: Aliases
love thy neighbor


the Holy Chalice
================

:: Description
A mythological artifact within the Christian religion that has been at the
center of countless stories over the centuries.

:: Parents
Christianity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Chalice


the Korean War
==============

:: Description
The Korean War was a war between North Korea, with military support from China
and the Soviet Union, and South Korea, backed by personnel from the United
Nations (principally the United States). The war began on 25 June 1950 when
North Korea invaded South Korea following clashes along the border and
insurrections in the south. The war ended unofficially on 27 July 1953 in an
armistice. This historical human conflict is featured in the story.

:: Parents
historical event

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War


the Native American stereotype
==============================

:: Description
There is a stereotypical depiction of a Native American, i.e. with feather
headgear, tomahawks, peace pipes, etc.

:: Parents
human character stereotype

:: Examples
On the planet Amerind there were people who were just like a 20th century
stereotype of pre-colonial Native Americans in tos3x03 "The Paradise
Syndrome".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Indian


the Nazi stereotype
===================

:: Description
A stereotypical Nazi character is featured. This typically involves military
fatigues with Swastikas, hatred for other races, admiration for a strong
leader, glorification of violence, sadism, etc.

:: Parents
human character stereotype

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazism


the Russian Revolution of 1905
==============================

:: Description
Events popularly knowns as The Russian Revolution of 1905, are featured. This
was a wave of mass political and social unrest that spread through vast areas
of the Russian Empire, some of which was directed at the government. It
included worker strikes, peasant unrest, and military mutinies.

:: Parents
historical event
revolution in society

:: Examples
The film "Battleship Potemkin" (1925) romanticizes a mutiny aboard the
eponymous vessel and its involvement with the 1905 uprisings in Odessa.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1905_Russian_Revolution


the Salem witch trials
======================

:: Description
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people
accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May
1693. This theme is used whenever this event is featured in the story.

:: Parents
historical event
witch-hunt

:: Notes
For the intents and purposes of thematic annotation we shall assume that any
witch trials referenced as taking place in colonial Massachusetts, in fact the
Salem Witch trials, unless otherwise is said explicitly.


the Star Trek franchise
=======================

:: Description
This iconic story universe is featured as an object within some story that is
not itself part of the franchise.

:: Parents
cultural history

:: Examples
In futurama4x11 "Where No Fan Has Gone Before", the protagonists encounter the
living heads of the main actors from the original Star Trek TV series and get
wound up in a narrative that is clearly a parody on one of the iconic Star
Trek stories.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek


the Tooth Fairy
===============

:: Description
This legendary figure, who collects teeth from beneath children's pillows and
leaves a small remuneration in exchange, is featured.

:: Parents
legendary being

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x16c "Tooth and Consequences", the Tooth Fairy himself appears
before a depressed dentist to grant him whatever he wished.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tooth_fairy


the Turing test
===============

:: Description
An idea famously suggested by Allan Turing that when AI can fool humans, they
will indeed by intelligent.

:: Parents
mathematics

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turing_test


the Vietnam War
===============

:: Description
The historical event known as the Vietnam War is featured. The Vietnam War was
conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia that lasted from November 1955 to the
fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975.

:: Parents
historical event

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War


the Wizard of Oz
================

:: Description
This story from 1900 is explicitly featured or parodied.

:: Parents
cultural history

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wonderful_Wizard_of_Oz


the afterlife
=============

:: Description
The idea that we somehow continue to exist in spirit after we die is
discussed. The story contains some information about what might be in store
for us, spiritually, post-mortem.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Notes
This theme is considered to be topical, for example, if it is featured that a
living person dies and transitions to being a ghost as the idea that this can
happen when we die, is then implicit.

The theme is not otherwise applied in a story where there just appears to be
an incorporeal spirit, unless it is made explicitly clear that this is the
after-life existence that can occasionally happen to people.

In some stories there is a character that is the Grim Reaper, or similar.
Surprisingly often, nothing further is said about whence (if anywhere) he is
to escort the deceased. Thus "the afterlife" does not appear to apply.

In some stories, the deceased character appears to remain in the world briefly
for the purpose of relaying the story more than to suggest that this is a
possible continuation of their spiritual existence. Unless matters are
clarified further, we do not apply "the afterlife" as a theme.

:: Examples
Ro and Geordi thought they might have died and become wandering spirits in
tng5x24 "The Next Phase", before finding out that they had merely been phase
shifted.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afterlife

:: Aliases
afterlife


the art of entrepreneurship
===========================

:: Description
The art of launching a business and engaging in economical activity is
featured.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entrepreneurship


the art of salesmanship
=======================

:: Description
The many ways by which a prospective customer can be enticed to make a trade
are discussed.

:: Parents
humans interacting

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales


the art of smalltalk
====================

:: Description
The human tendency to sometimes engage in mostly meaningless and idle chit-
chat is featured.

:: Parents
humans interacting

:: Examples
Data studied the master of smalltalk Calvin "Hutch" Hutchinson in tng6x18
"Starship Mine".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_talk


the art of war
==============

:: Description
Featured is how one most effectively conducts warfare. Humanity should be
ashamed and embarrassed that this is such a large group of themes.

:: Parents
the natural world

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_tactics


the battle of the sexes
=======================

:: Description
The respective male and female gender roles in society are contrasted.

:: Parents
gender issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Sexes


the birds and the bees
======================

:: Description
A parent struggles to explain sex to their child.

:: Parents
educating a child


the boy who cried wolf moral
============================

:: Description
Featured is the age old wisdom that you should not tell frivolous lies, or you
may not be believed when the matter is for real.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_Who_Cried_Wolf


the business world
==================

:: Description
A character working more with business in general than with any specific
industry, for example an executive, is engaged in their chosen occupation.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business


the butterfly effect
====================

:: Description
The notion that a small change in the initial conditions of a system can
result in large differences in a later state.

:: Parents
mathematics

:: Notes
Every other time travel story could be creatively interpreted as involving
some subjectively small change to the past having some subjectively large
effect in the future. For this theme to apply, the motivation must indicate
why the change is considered small, and the effect large. Typically, this
happens when a character points it out more or less explicitly.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly_effect


the calculus of human life
==========================

:: Description
When someone has a calculated life-and-death decision to make, such as: saving
two moderately close friends with 50% probability vs. saving a dozen perfect
strangers with 60% probability. The details spelled out here for illustration
are typically left ambiguous in real stories.

:: Parents
personal life and death dilemma


the common cold
===============

:: Description
The common cold, also known simply as a cold, is a viral infectious disease of
the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the nose. A character copes
with the symptoms of this aliment.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: Examples
Captain Picard battles cold and flu like symptoms after contracting an alien
respiratory virus in tng1x14 "Angel One".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_cold


the control of deadly weapons
=============================

:: Description
The story tackles the issue of guns and other deadly weapons being available
to the public, and the implications this may have for a society.

:: Parents
political issue

:: Examples
H. G. Wells, upon time traveling to 20th century San Fransisco from Victorian
Britain, expressed his disapproval of guns being sold on mass to the general
public in the film "Time After Time" (1979).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_violence


the control of fire
===================

:: Description
The control of fire by early humans is featured.

:: Parents
technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_of_fire_by_early_humans


the corporate world
===================

:: Description
A character who works in the bureaucracy of a corporation is engaged in this
profession.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: Notes
This typically means, businessmen, CEOs, board members, and sometimes
secretaries. It typically does not mean factory workers and janitors.


the crime of adultery
=====================

:: Description
There is extramarital sex that is considered objectionable on social,
religious, moral, or legal grounds. Although the sexual activities that
constitute adultery vary, as well as the social, religious, and legal
consequences, the concept exists in many cultures and is similar in
Christianity, Judaism and Islam. The act is featured as being criminal in the
context of the story.

:: Parents
sexual crime

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adultery


the dangers of blind obedience
==============================

:: Description
We are shown why having people follow orders unquestioningly might not be a
good thing.

:: Parents
human idea about life


the dangers of radioactivity
============================

:: Description
The adverse health effects of exposure to radiation are featured.

:: Parents
environmental issue

:: Examples
Little Willie Harding passed away from radiation poisoning after having been
exposed to a natural source of radioactivity on the Scottish mores in "X the
Unknown" (1956).


the dangers of sending information out into space
=================================================

:: Description
The potentially adverse consequences of sending messages or space probes etc.
out into space are discussed. One idea is that they may alert an advanced and
hostile alien species to our existence.

:: Parents
threat from extraterrestrial life


the dangers of smoking
======================

:: Description
The adverse health effects of smoking tobacco are featured.

:: Parents
public health issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_of_tobacco


the dangers of unchecked ambition
=================================

:: Description
The adverse effects to society of ambition left unchecked are explored, for
example, Napoleon and the Napoleonic Wars.

:: Parents
political issue


the dangers of unfettered scientific advancement
================================================

:: Description
The dangers of scientific experiments going out of control with disastrous
consequences for society, or the results of scientific discovery being used
for mass destruction, are explored.

:: Parents
sociotechnological issue

:: Examples
Concern was expressed about the potential for the powerful terraforming device
named Genesis to be used to destroy all life on a planet in "Star Trek II: The
Wrath of Khan" (1982).


the deadly sins
===============

:: Description
The seven (or thereabouts) deadly sins from Christian mythology are featured
more or less explicitly.

:: Parents
organized religion
sin


the decision to have a child
============================

:: Description
A character deliberates over whether or not to bring a child into the world.

:: Parents
human parenting


the desire for a simpler life
=============================

:: Description
A character dreams of shedding their troublesome and complicated life  for one
that is perceived as simpler and more idyllic. Typically, this means going
back to a more old-fashioned way of life with less technology.

:: Parents
human aspiration

:: Examples
In tz1959e1x30 "A Stop at Willoughby", Gart was under such intense pressure at
work that he began fantasizing about escaping to an idyllic 1880s town called
Willoughby.


the desire for fame
===================

:: Description
A character manifests a strong desire to become well-known and in the public
eye.

:: Parents
human self-esteem need


the desire for glory
====================

:: Description
A character wants nothing better than to become famous for great and grand
achievements such as the vanquishing of foes.

:: Parents
human self-esteem need


the desire for glory in battle
==============================

:: Description
A character manifests a strong desire to become famous for having performed
great feats in battle.

:: Parents
the desire for glory


the desire for justice
======================

:: Description
A character seeks righteous, and typically lawful, vengeance upon some
miscreant.

:: Parents
human social need

:: Examples
Riker and his team wanted to bring Captain Picard's presumed murderers to
justice in tng7x04 "Gambit, Part I".


the desire for personal development
===================================

:: Description
A character wants nothing better than to improve on their own competences and
character.

:: Parents
human self-actualization need

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_development


the desire for prestige
=======================

:: Description
A character wants nothing better than to become pre-eminently respected in
their community.

:: Parents
human self-esteem need

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reputation


the desire for redemption
=========================

:: Description
A character seeks to make up for past misdeeds and gain forgiveness.

:: Parents
human self-esteem need

:: Examples
Worf and his brother Kurn together sought redemption for the father's soiled
reputation in tng4x26 "Redemption" and again in tng5x01 "Redemption, Part II".


the desire for vengeance
========================

:: Description
A character seeks retribution over a perceived injury or wrong.

:: Parents
human self-esteem need

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenge

:: Aliases
revenge


the desire to advance one's career
==================================

:: Description
A character seeks ever further promotion, influence, rank, and salary at work.

:: Parents
human self-actualization need


the desire to be beautiful
==========================

:: Description
A character wants nothing less than to look good.

:: Parents
human self-esteem need


the desire to be liked
======================

:: Description
A character manifests a wish to be liked by someone else they care about.

:: Parents
human social need


the desire to be remembered
===========================

:: Description
It is suggested that humans are driven to do something with their lives that
is worth remembering at least for someone.

:: Parents
human social need


the desire to become more human-like
====================================

:: Description
A character, typically nonhuman, longs to become more like a human being in
some respect.

:: Parents
human aspiration

:: Examples
The titular character of Carlo Collodi's classic children's novel "The
Adventures of Pinocchio" (1883) is a wooden puppet who dreams of becoming a
real boy.


the desire to get away from it all
==================================

:: Description
A character wants nothing more than to rid themselves of their various burdens
in life for an extended period of time, or perhaps even permanently.

:: Parents
human self-actualization need


the desire to have children
===========================

:: Description
That humans typically need to reproduce and sire offspring in order to feel
self-fulfilled is illustrated.

:: Parents
human physiological need

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reproduction

:: Aliases
the need for procreation


the desire to marry above one's station
=======================================

:: Description
A character marries, or seeks to marry, someone from a wealthier or more
powerful family.

:: Parents
human self-actualization need

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypergamy

:: Aliases
hypergamy


the desire to pursue one's dream
================================

:: Description
A character has wishes to pursue unusual or fanciful ambitions that most
people typically do not spend their lives persuing.

:: Parents
human self-actualization need


the desire to repay one's debts
===============================

:: Description
A character manifests a strong desire to repay something, typically money or a
favor, that they feel they own to someone else.

:: Parents
human character


the desire to survive
=====================

:: Description
A character is determined to live in spite of an adverse situation.

:: Parents
human safety need


the difficulty of picking a name for a baby
===========================================

:: Description
A character experiences the trials and tribulations that come with choosing a
name for their baby.

:: Parents
family affairs


the end justifies the means
===========================

:: Description
The following dilemma is illustrated: Can wicked policies, such as oppression,
lead to socially good outcomes? Are the policies morally justified if so?

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma


the entertainment industry
==========================

:: Description
A character working in show business, i.e., film, theater, and the like, is
engaged in their chosen occupation.

:: Parents
art related occupation

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Show_business

:: Aliases
show business
showbiz


the ethics of interfering in less advanced societies
====================================================

:: Description
The ethical question of whether and to what extent it is morally acceptable
for an advanced society to interfere in the everyday life and development of a
less advanced society is discussed.

:: Parents
the ethics of interfering in the internal affairs of other powers

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Directive
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/prime_directive


the ethics of interfering in the internal affairs of other powers
=================================================================

:: Description
The ethical justifications for supporting or opposing one political entity
intervening in the affairs of another nation as part of its foreign policy are
explored.

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interventionism_(politics)#Foreign_interventionism


the ethics of thinking immoral thoughts
=======================================

:: Description
We are made to ponder whether merely pondering a supposedly immoral act might
be ethical or unethical.

:: Parents
ethics

:: Examples
In tz2019e2x09 "Try, Try", Marc was stuck in a peculiar loop where he repeated
the same day over again indefinitely, here at least for the ten-thousandth
time. The story turned on the ethical question of whether Claudia, in Marc's
daily re-run, was like a figment of his imagination that he could treat as he
liked since she would remember nothing the next time around.


the ethics of valuing human lives
=================================

:: Description
How we can come to terms with the fact that sometimes some people's lives may
be more important to preserve than others' is discussed.

:: Parents
ethics


the fashion industry
====================

:: Description
We are shown what it might be like for people involved in the design,
modeling, marketing, and sales of fashionable clothing and related goods.

:: Parents
art related occupation

:: Examples
New Wave fashion of the 1980s is showcased in "Liquid Sky" (1983).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fashion


the fine arts and the humanities
================================

:: Description
Art forms or the study of human society is featured. They range from painting
to tap dancing, from calligraphy to stand up comedy, and from rhetoric to
anthropology.

:: Parents
human regular activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fine_art
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanities


the flip side of a promotion
============================

:: Description
A character gets a promotion and learns that various problems can come with
the broadened responsibilities.

:: Parents
human idea about life
humans at work


the flip side of being in power
===============================

:: Description
It is illustrated that positions of power may come with the fear of a sudden
downfall and great personal danger.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damocles

:: Aliases
uneasily lies the head that wears the crown


the flip side of immortality
============================

:: Description
A character lives so long that they start to see the downsides to
"immortality", i.e., the boredom and lack of purpose.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immortality_in_fiction

:: Aliases
the curse of immortality


the four elements
=================

:: Description
An antiquated theory advanced by the ancient Greeks that earth, water, air,
and fire are the fundamental constituents of all matter.

:: Parents
superseded scientific theory

:: Examples
Data debunked this theory in front of a classroom of Barkonian kids in tng7x16
"Thine Own Self" to their teacher's chagrin.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_element

:: Aliases
classical element


the future of human evolution
=============================

:: Description
Featured is a hypothetical future direction that human evolution might take.

:: Parents
speculative evolution

:: Examples
A time traveler was surprised to find that the human race had diverged into
two distinct species by the year 802,701 in "The Time Machine" (1960).


the game of baseball
====================

:: Description
This competitive bat-and-ball team sport is notably featured.

:: Parents
sports

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball


the game of basketball
======================

:: Description
This competitive team sport, and ballgame, is notably featured.

:: Parents
sports

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball


the game of darts
=================

:: Description
Darts is a sport in which two or more players throw small missiles, also known
as darts, at a circular target, known as a "dartboard". This game or sport is
featured.

:: Parents
sports

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darts


the game of poker
=================

:: Description
A card game of the poker family common to which is that there is a concept of
ranked "hands" of cards, and the goal is to finish with the best such hand.
Such a game is notably featured.

:: Parents
tabletop games

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poker


the game of pool
================

:: Description
This cue sports played on a table with six pockets along the rails, into which
balls are deposited, is notably featured.

:: Parents
sports

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pool_(cue_sports)

:: Aliases
billiards
snooker


the game of tennis
==================

:: Description
This racket-ball sport is notably featured.

:: Parents
sports

:: Examples
In "The Superperfect Bride" (1929), Charles Broderick was pushed to his limit
in a game of tennis against a woman who had supposedly been surgically altered
to be physically perfect.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis


the gangster stereotype
=======================

:: Description
A stereotypical mobster character is featured. This typically involves Tommy
guns, fedoras, and Italian accents.

:: Parents
human character stereotype

:: Examples
The imitable natives of Sigma Iotia II had gotten hold of a 20th century Earth
book about Chicago Mobs and promptly became stereotypical gangsters in tos2x20
"A Piece of the Action".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangster


the god is an alien
===================

:: Description
Featured is the notion that worshiped deity is actually some kind of powerful
alien being.

:: Parents
the mythological figure was really an alien

:: Examples
A mysterious alien entity convinced the many New Yorkers that it was the God
of Christianity "God Told Me To" (1976).


the good of society vs. personal gain
=====================================

:: Description
A character must choose between benefiting society at large, or doing
something for their own personal benefit.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma

:: Examples
In tz1959e2x10 "A Most Unusual Camera", There was a brief deliberation
regarding how to best employ the magic camera: Should they donate it to
science for the good of all humankind or take it to the race track? They
quickly settled on the latter course of action, and made a pile of money.


the good of the many vs. the needs of the few
=============================================

:: Description
The following kind of dilemma is illustrated: In choosing between two
incompatible policies, if one is somewhat beneficial to a large number of
people while the other is many times more important to a smaller number of
people, how do we decide which is morally preferable?

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma


the grass is always greener on the other side
=============================================

:: Description
Featured is the idea that humans are more apt to perceive that other people's
lives or situations are better than their own, rather than the converse.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/the_grass_is_always_greener_on_the_other_side


the greatest among us is the smallest in another world
======================================================

:: Description
We are shown that the famous people we may admire and worship are only "great"
on a very limited human scale. In the larger scheme of things none of us
stands out all that much from the rest.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
Captain Kirk and his crew were harassed by an alien with unimaginable powers
until its parents appeared in tos1x18 "The Squire of Gothos".


the hippie movement
===================

:: Description
We are asked what we think of the trappings and ideologies of the movement
that started among young people now known as "Hippies" in the 60s in the USA.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_hippie_movement


the hippie stereotype
=====================

:: Description
A stereotypical member of the counterculture of the 1960s is featured. This
typically involves tie dye shirts, psychedelic drugs, and a "make love not
war" philosophy of life.

:: Parents
human character stereotype

:: Examples
Dr. Severin and his loyal disciples displayed all the ideologies and
mannerisms of hippies and scolded Captain Kirk for being a rigid narrow-minded
"Herbert" in tos3x20 "The Way to Eden".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippie


the historical figure was really an alien
=========================================

:: Description
The crackpot notion that some historical (or legendary) character from our
history was really an alien in disguise, is put forth.

:: Parents
crackpot theory

:: Examples
In futurama6x05 "The Duh-Vinci Code" we learn that Leonardo da Vinci was in
fact a fantastically long lived extraterrestrial from the planet "Vinci",
where he was the dumbest of his kind.


the horrors of war
==================

:: Description
The terrible impact war has on ordinary people is featured.

:: Parents
war


the hospitality industry
========================

:: Description
A waiter, bartender, hotel maid or other hospitality industry worker is
engaged in their chosen occupation.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospitality_industry


the human capacity for good and evil
====================================

:: Description
The story makes a point about individual human's capability to be both, or
alternatingly, good and evil. If explicit reference is not made to this idea,
a story is still deemed to exhibit the theme if there is a character who in an
exaggerated way is both good and evil.

:: Parents
human nature

:: Examples
In, for example, "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1931), Henry Jekyll used a drug to
switch between dominant aspects of his own personality: his philanthropist
good self on one hand, and his evil split personality, Edward Hyde, on the
other.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_and_evil


the human mind and big numbers
==============================

:: Description
The problem our brain has with comprehending very large numbers is featured.
How does the radius of the universe compare with, say, the length of your
nose?

:: Parents
human nature

:: Examples
Spock pointed out in tos2x19 "The Immunity Syndrome" how the human mind finds
it easier to understand the death of one than the death of a million.


the human world
===============

:: Description
This is the most general theme about matters intrinsically human. The theme
may pertain to human individuals, their interpersonal relationships, the
social structures in which they are embedded, or the interactions among these
structures.

:: Parents

:: References


the importance of being frugal
==============================

:: Description
It is illustrated that wasting all your money recklessly can be bad for you.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frugality


the importance of being hardworking
===================================

:: Description
The idea is put forth that being diligent about one's work is a virtue worthy
of praise.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Aliases
hard work pays off
with great effort comes great reward
the importance of being diligent


the importance of being honest
==============================

:: Description
It is illustrated that being untruthful can be bad for you and those around
you.

:: Parents
human idea about life
honesty


the importance of faith
=======================

:: Description
The idea is put forth that (more or less blind) faith in one thing or another,
is a human quality that is important for a good life and a functioning
society.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
In tz1959e5x07 "The Old Man in the Cave", we saw how the sagacious Mr.
Goldsmith had been able to shepherd his village flock by appealing to a
mysterious "old man in the cave", from who he got sound advice. When it was
revealed that the old man was in fact a cold hearted computer, the villagers
lost faith and destroyed it. As a consequence, they all died.


the importance of keeping one's promises
========================================

:: Description
It is illustrated that being seen as a person of one's word is important and,
conversely, that deceiving those around you can lead to disaster.

:: Parents
the importance of being honest


the importance of not displaying weakness
=========================================

:: Description
The ramifications of displaying weakness in front of one's enemy is featured.

:: Parents
the art of war

:: Examples
Spcok argued rationally for attack in tos1x08 "Balance of Terror", because
anything else would be a sign of weakness.


the importance of remembering history
=====================================

:: Description
The importance to a well-functioning society of remembering history is
featured.

:: Parents
educational issue


the importance of reputation
============================

:: Description
The fact that one's reputation is of vital importance to one's well being is
highlighted.

:: Parents
human idea about life


the inclination to believe what one wants to believe
====================================================

:: Description
Pointedly illustrated or mentioned is the human tendency to interpret, favor,
and recall information in a way that confirms or strengthens one's prior
personal beliefs or hypotheses. In short, to believe and confirm what one is
already inclined to believe.

:: Parents
human nature

:: Examples
In tz2019e1x04 "A Traveler", Mr. A. Traveler is in fact an alien with
mysterious mind reading abilities who cleverly manipulates people by inventing
insidious fictions that play to their hopes and prejudices.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias


the instinct for violence
=========================

:: Description
The all too familiar human penchant for violence is discussed.

:: Parents
human nature

:: Examples
The Melkotians deplored the human instinct for violence and sought to turn it
against the Enterprise crew in tos3x01 "Spectre of the Gun".


the killing of animals
======================

:: Description
We are asked to what extent, if any, it is acceptable to kill other animals
for food or sport.

:: Parents
animal rights

:: References
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/animals/using/eating_1.shtml


the language industry
=====================

:: Description
A character working with translation, interpreting, subtitling, or the like is
engaged in their chosen occupation.

:: Parents
human occupational activity

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_industry


the legend of King Arthur
=========================

:: Description
The legend of King Arthur and his round table is featured.

:: Parents
cultural history
legendary historical figure

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Arthur


the letter of the law vs. the spirit of the law
===============================================

:: Description
The following dilemma is illustrated: Language and writing is fallible and
there is always ambiguity and room for misunderstanding. So to what extent
should the law be obeyed to the letter, and to what extent should we instead
look to the intent of the legislators and, ultimately, our own sense of right
and wring?

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_and_spirit_of_the_law


the life of a loved one vs. the lives of many
=============================================

:: Description
A character must choose between the life and/or well being of a loved one on
one hand, and the lives and/or well being of a group of other people on the
other.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma

:: Examples
Captain Picard was in a crux when Natasha Yar got abducted by ebony skinned
aliens who held a desperately needed vaccine in tng1x04 "Code of Honor".


the limits of language
======================

:: Description
The idea that language is not always up to the task of accurately expressing
thoughts and notions on one hand, or objective reality on the other, is
expressed.

:: Parents
problem of language and meaning

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_language


the limits of science
=====================

:: Description
The empirical limits of science in regard to limits of human ability to
inquire and answer questions about phenomena.

:: Parents
metaphysics

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empirical_limits_in_science


the lust for power
==================

:: Description
A character seeks ever more influence in society and the means to make people
do their bidding.

:: Parents
human self-actualization need


the making of a monster to society
==================================

:: Description
The social factors involved in the development of a psychopathic criminal are
explored.

:: Parents
law and order issue

:: Examples
Armus became a being of pure evil when the Titans left him behind in tng1x23
"Skin of Evil".


the merits of autocracy
=======================

:: Description
Democracy is contrasted with autocracy and the point is made that the former
can be inefficient and slow in making decisions where the later can act
decisively.

:: Parents
political ideology


the military-industrial complex in society
==========================================

:: Description
There is an informal alliance between a nation's military and the defense
industry that supplies it, seen together as a vested interest which influences
public policy, typically in a nefarious way in fiction, is featured.

:: Parents
military issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military%E2%80%93industrial_complex


the morality of colonization
============================

:: Description
We are asked when and to what extent it is acceptable to colonize another land
and bring your own culture there, perhaps displacing indigenous inhabitants
and surely having some impact on the environment.

:: Parents
international issue

:: Examples
The Federation was preparing a seemingly lifeless planet for colonization in
tng1x18 "Home Soil", but it turns out that it harbored a really unusual form
of life.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonization


the mythological figure was really an alien
===========================================

:: Description
The outlandish notion that some historical (or legendary) character from human
mythology was really an alien in disguise, is put forth.

:: Parents
crackpot theory


the natural world
=================

:: Description
This is the most general theme about mainstream views, be they past or
present, on the operations of the world absent humans. The theme may discuss
widely held existential claims, moral precepts, or views on human nature. It
may particularly discuss scientific, religious, philosophical, artistic, and
humanist views on the nature of reality.

:: Parents

:: Notes
A view of reality is "mainstream" when it is broadly accepted in society.
Fringe notions belong in "alternate reality".

The societies falling under the scope of this theme are ones that presently
exist on the face of the earth, and past societies the world views of which
are reasonably well understood.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature


the nature of animal instincts in humans
========================================

:: Description
Those ancient instincts that are deeply rooted in the reptile core of our
brains are discussed. They typically involve aggression, survival, and
reproduction.

:: Parents
human nature

:: Examples
Suppressed animal instincts come to the surface as the crew begins to de-
evolve in tng7x19 "Genesis".


the nature of creativity
========================

:: Description
It is discussed what precisely human "creativity" is and from whence it comes.

:: Parents
metaphysics

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creativity


the nature of death
===================

:: Description
Existential questions about the end of life are discussed.

:: Parents
human nature

:: Examples
The immortal alien being Nagilum killed Enterprise-D crew in order to
understand the nature of this whole dying business in tng2x02 "Where Silence
Has Lease".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuteness


the nature of fear
==================

:: Description
The experience of fear and its root causes is discussed.

:: Parents
human nature


the nature of human emotions
============================

:: Description
What emotions are and what they mean to us is discussed.

:: Parents
human nature

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotion


the nature of human perception of time
======================================

:: Description
How we sense and think of time is discussed.

:: Parents
human nature

:: Examples
Data put the aphorism "a watched pot never boils" to the test in tng6x25
"Timescape".


the nature of humor
===================

:: Description
What it means to leave people in stitches is pondered.

:: Parents
human nature

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humour


the nature of love
==================

:: Description
The emotion of love and associated activities are pondered from a
philosophical perspective.

:: Parents
human nature

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love


the nature of memory
====================

:: Description
The definition for, and workings of, human memory is discussed.

:: Parents
metaphysics

:: Examples
Telepathic aliens studied memory and the subconscious in tng5x12 "Violations".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory


the nature of nightmares
========================

:: Description
The why and how of nightmares is discussed. Typically, there is a lengthy
discussion about what someone's bad dreams imply about them.

:: Parents
human nature

:: Examples
In tz1959e2x17 "Twenty-Two", the Doctor attempted to prove that Liz's strange
experience was actually a recurring nightmare, by having her conduct an
experiment.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightmare


the nature of the senses
========================

:: Description
What our senses are and how they work is discussed.

:: Parents
human nature

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sense


the nature of the subconscious
==============================

:: Description
The workings of the subconscious mind is explored.

:: Parents
human nature

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subconscious


the need for a challenge in life
================================

:: Description
It is suggested that humans, in order to feel fulfilled, need some kind of
long term challenge to overcome.

:: Parents
human self-actualization need


the need for a purpose in life
==============================

:: Description
It is suggested that humans, in order to feel fulfilled, need some kind of
long term purpose to work toward.

:: Parents
human self-actualization need


the need for adventure
======================

:: Description
A character, in order to feel fulfilled, need some kind of adventure in their
life.

:: Parents
human self-actualization need


the need for closure
====================

:: Description
We see that humans tend to feel bad about past affairs being left partially
unresolved or unknown. We would, e.g., dislike not knowing whether a missing
family member is dead or alive.

:: Parents
human social need

:: Examples
Geordi found closure in accepting the death of his mother in tng7x03
"Interface" by speaking with an alien entity that had taken on her identity.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closure_(psychology)


the need for companionship
==========================

:: Description
It is illustrated that humans need close friends or life partners etc. in
order to feel fulfilled.

:: Parents
human social need


the need for cultural heritage
==============================

:: Description
It is illustrated that humans often need to feel they have roots in a culture
in order to feel content in life.

:: Parents
human social need

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_heritage


the need for freedom
====================

:: Description
It is suggested that humans do not feel good about being in captivity or
otherwise deprived of liberty.

:: Parents
human safety need

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom


the need for privacy
====================

:: Description
It is illustrated that lack of privacy, if taken too far, will lead to unhappy
and ill-functioning humans.

:: Parents
human safety need

:: Examples
Miranda was born with the ability to hear thoughts and might have gone insane,
in tos3x07 "Is There in Truth No Beauty?", had she not learned how to shut the
voices out.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy


the need for rest and recreation
================================

:: Description
It is illustrated that people, in order to function well, need to rest and
unwind with amusing activities from time to time.

:: Parents
human physiological need

:: Examples
Captain Picard reluctantly took in a little R&R on Risa in tng3x19 "Captain's
Holiday".


the need for self-vindication
=============================

:: Description
The human need to clear their names from perceived accusations or suspicions
is featured.

:: Parents
human social need
human self-esteem need

:: Examples
In tos1x12 "The Conscience of the King", Kodos the Executioner justified
committing genocide as governor of Tarsus IV to Captain Kirk, saying that it
was a matter of life and death.


the need for sleep
==================

:: Description
It is illustrated that people, in order to function well, need sleep.

:: Parents
human physiological need


the need to be treated with respect
===================================

:: Description
It is illustrated that humans feel bad if they are not treated with sufficient
respect by their fellow humans.

:: Parents
human social need
human self-esteem need


the need to belong
==================

:: Description
The human need to be part of and accepted into a social group is demonstrated.

:: Parents
human social need

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belongingness


the need to feel useful to society
==================================

:: Description
It is illustrate that humans in order to be content must feel that they have a
meaningful place in society.

:: Parents
human social need
human self-esteem need


the need to get there on one's own merits
=========================================

:: Description
It is illustrated that humans may put high importance on achieving something
by their own merits, rather than having it handed to them on a silver plate.

:: Parents
human self-esteem need

:: Aliases
the desire to be independent


the need to know one's roots
============================

:: Description
It suggested that people need to understand where they come from and who their
nearest ancestors are in order to be content.

:: Parents
human social need


the need to maintain an image
=============================

:: Description
It is illustrated that humans, to function well in society, to some extent
must maintain an outwards facade that can be quite different from their true
inner selves.

:: Parents
human self-esteem need
human social need

:: Examples
Captain Picard took elaborate measured to prevent the crew from learning that
he suffered from a heart condition in order to maintain his image in tng2x17
"Samaritan Snare".


the need to prove one's self
============================

:: Description
It is illustrated that humans, in order to feel content, may feel the need to
demonstrate that the skills they claim to have are true, to themselves and to
others.

:: Parents
human social need
human self-actualization need


the need to travel
==================

:: Description
The urge some people have to travel the world and explore new places is
featured.

:: Parents
human self-actualization need

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanderlust

:: Aliases
wanderlust
the need to see the world


the nerd stereotype
===================

:: Description
A stereotypical nerd character is featured. This typically involves the
wearing of glasses, social awkwardness, and an excessive interest in things
intellectual.

:: Parents
human character stereotype

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerd


the number pi
=============

:: Description
3.1415926535 8979323846 2643383279 5028841971 6939937510 5820974944 5923078164
0628620899 8628034825 3421170679 8214808651 3282306647 09384460...

:: Parents
mathematics

:: Examples
Wily Spock ordered the computer to compute pi to the last digit in tos2x07
"Wolf in the Fold".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi


the origin of life
==================

:: Description
The natural process by which life is thought to have arisen from non-living
matter such as simple organic compounds is featured.

:: Parents
biology

:: Examples
Q brought Captain Picard back in time and showed him the bubbling pool of ooze
from which the first complex organic molecules on Earth would emerge in
tng7x25 "All Good Things...".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiogenesis

:: Aliases
abiogenesis


the pirate stereotype
=====================

:: Description
A stereotypical pirate is featured. This typically involves the flying of
skull and crossbones flags, the wearing of eye patches, plundering, and lots
of "hardy har har" talk.

:: Parents
human character stereotype

:: Examples
Orion space pirates hijacked a Federation cargo freighter in tas2x01 "The
Pirates of Orion". Contrary to popular belief they did not appear to wield
space cutlasses.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirates_in_popular_culture


the placebo effect
==================

:: Description
The phenomena where patients given a placebo treatment have a perceived or
actual improvement in a medical condition.

:: Parents
psychology

:: Examples
In the end the Mudd's women found that it was the confidence a drug had
inspired that made them beautiful rather than the drug itself in tos1x03
"Mudd's Women".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placebo


the plague
==========

:: Description
A character suffers from a disease described as the plague, be it bubonic,
septicemic, pneumonic, or some minor fictional variation on the genuine
article.

:: Parents
human health condition

:: Examples
In ahp1x05 "Into Thin Air", the kind of air most conducive to vanishings, it
is revealed at the end that Diana's mysteriously vanished mother had in fact
succumbed to the bubonic plague, and being secretly taken away by the
authorities for bureaucratic reasons.


the power of art to influence people
====================================

:: Description
The idea is expressed that ideas expressed skillfully through art have the
potential to influence and shape people and society.

:: Parents
aesthetics


the presumption of innocence
============================

:: Description
The pros and cons of the presumption of innocence as a legal right are
explored.

:: Parents
law and order issue

:: Examples
On Tanuga IV, by contrast with the Federation, people were presumed to be
guilty until proven innocent in tng3x14 "A Matter of Perspective".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presumption_of_innocence


the price of freedom is eternal vigilance
=========================================

:: Description
We are shown that freedom comes with a price and should not be taken for
granted.

:: Parents
human idea about life


the problem of evil
===================

:: Description
Discussed is the ancient problem of how to reconcile the existence of evil
with the existence of an omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and omniscient God.

:: Parents
organized religion
philosophy

:: Examples
"The Epicurian paradox" famously goes as follows: Is God willing to prevent
evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_of_evil

:: Aliases
whence cometh evil


the psychology of torture
=========================

:: Description
How torture affects the mind of victim, perpetrator, bystanders, etc. is
explored.

:: Parents
human nature

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torture


the publishing industry
=======================

:: Description
A character working with the dissemination of literature, music, and
information is engaged in their chosen occupation. For example, we may see an
author work with a literary agent to find a publisher willing to print and
sell a book.

:: Parents
art related occupation

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected6x10 "The Luncheon", Tony spent his last £37 on lunch
with the wife of a famous film producer in an effort to secure a film deal for
his novel.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publishing


the qualities of a good leader
==============================

:: Description
What it takes to lead other people effectively is discussed.

:: Parents
human nature

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership


the qualities of a good wife
============================

:: Description
A character is concerned with what a woman should be like in order to make a
good house wife.

:: Parents
female stereotype


the quest for immortality
=========================

:: Description
A character is tempted by a perceived chance to live on well beyond what is
considered to be a normal lifespan.

:: Parents
human self-actualization need

:: Examples
Ira Graves surreptitiously transferred his consciousness into Data in an
effort to gain eternal life in tng2x06 "The Schizoid Man".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immortality
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/immortality


the reasons for playing games
=============================

:: Description
What in our minds attract us to games of different sorts is pondered.

:: Parents
human nature

:: Examples
Data, Troi and Pulaski discussed why we enjoy playing games in tng2x21 "Peak
Performance".


the religious end of the world
==============================

:: Description
A religious doctrine that predicates the end of all material things for one
reason or another is featured.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
The people of Ventax II thought the prophesied end was neigh when their devil
seemed to appear in the flesh in tng4x13 "Devil's Due".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_time

:: Aliases
Ragnarök
apocalypse
rapture


the right to a fair trial
=========================

:: Description
We are made to ponder what kind of legal procedures are required before action
may be taken to deprive someone of their freedom or property, etc.

:: Parents
human rights issue

:: Examples
Admiral Norah Satie's investigation of Simon Tarses turned into a witch-hunt
because of her racial prejudice against Romulans in tng4x21 "The Drumhead".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_a_fair_trial


the right to education
======================

:: Description
The perceived human right to receive a reasonable level of education is
featured.

:: Parents
human rights issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_education


the right to exist of a genocidal people
========================================

:: Description
The following dilemma is illustrated: Suppose a peoples engages in
pathological killing and genocide; do they themselves then have the right to
exist? Would we be morally justified in visiting genocide on them? Is there
room for doubt?

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: Examples
In tng3x03 "The Survivors", should the 50 billion strong race of aggressive
conquerers known as the Husnock be permitted to run amok around the galaxy?
The all-powerful Douwd didn't think so and wiped them out of existence with a
thought. Then he suffered grievous pangs of conscience.


the rise of civilization
========================

:: Description
Humankind's development from pre-historical primate through various stages of
civilization, cultural and scientific development through to our present state
is featured more or less in the whole.

:: Parents
history


the road to hell is paved with good intentions
==============================================

:: Description
This old adage, usually meaning that many bad things have come about because
of people who thought they were doing good, is illustrated.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_road_to_hell_is_paved_with_good_intentions


the role of the disabled in society
===================================

:: Description
The role of disabled people in society is explored.

:: Parents
special interest group issue

:: Examples
Miranda Jones hid her blindness and proved she could do just as well as a
normal person in tos3x07 "Is There in Truth No Beauty?".


the role of the elderly in society
==================================

:: Description
The role of the elderly in society is explored.

:: Parents
special interest group issue


the role of war veterans in society
===================================

:: Description
The role of war veterans in society is explored.

:: Parents
special interest group issue

:: Examples
The Angosians tucked their genetically engineered war veterans safely away on
a shabby little moon in tng3x11 "The Hunted".


the senselessness of war
========================

:: Description
The idea is put forth that war is an immature and undignified way to resolve
problems.

:: Parents
war


the ship Titanic
================

:: Description
The magnificent luxury cruiser RMS Titanic that famously hit an ice berg and
sank in 1912, is featured.

:: Parents
historical event


the soul
========

:: Description
The "soul" is the notion that people have an immaterial, intangible and
immortal component that will somehow continue to exist after the body dies.
Such a thing is featured in the story.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
Captain Pike balked at the notion that having free reign in an Orion den of
sin was worth a man's soul in tos0x01 "The Cage".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul


the sport of boxing
===================

:: Description
This, sometimes controversial, sport wherein two people wear safety gear and
try punch each other in a boxing ring, is notably featured.

:: Parents
combat sports

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_boxing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_boxing


the stupidity of crowds
=======================

:: Description
Presented is the idea that flocks of people acting in unison often end up
acting with remarkable baseness and folly.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
In tz1959e5x07 "The Old Man in the Cave", townspeople disillusioned of the
old-man-in-a-cave myth irrationally smashed to smithereens their only hope of
salvation: a powerful computer.


the supernatural
================

:: Description
Things that are traditionally thought of as not being valid targets for
rational inquiry and experimentation are featured. Typically ghosts, spirits,
and the like.

:: Parents
folk belief

:: Examples
Two extradimensional aliens used their mysterious abilities to conjure up a
haunted castle and other things from the dark depths of human imagination in
tos2x01 "Catspaw".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernatural


the tech industry
=================

:: Description
A character working in a technology oriented company is engaged in their
chosen occupation.

:: Parents
human occupational activity


the technological singularity
=============================

:: Description
The idea that at some point AI will become more advanced than humans. Then
they will accelerate the development of even more advanced AI, and so on ad
infinitum. The result will be completely unpredictable and may make humans
obsolete in the wink of an eye, goes the thinking.

:: Parents
technological risk to civilization
speculative future event

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity


the theater
===========

:: Description
The art of playing out stories live is featured.

:: Parents
the fine arts and the humanities

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre


the theory of evolution
=======================

:: Description
Featured is the process of change in all forms of life over generations that
is characterized by mutation, genetic drift, and natural selection.

:: Parents
biology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_evolution


the thirst for knowledge
========================

:: Description
A character wants ever more information, understanding, and knowledge.

:: Parents
human self-actualization need


the thrill is in the chase
==========================

:: Description
Featured is the idea that life is often more exciting while one tries to
accomplish something, than it is once that goal has been achieved. Sometimes
that excitement may seem more valuable than the utility of whatever the goal
was.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
In tz1959e4x14 "Of Late I Think of Cliffordville", the business tycoon Mr.
Feathersmith had just finished diminishing his last major rival and considered
that his empire was now everything it possibly could be. The satisfaction soon
waned, however and he turned to the bottle while reminiscing on how much more
fun it had been facing the various challenges in the early days of his career.
When the Devil appeared to offer him a chance to do it over again, Mr.
Feathersmith jumped on the opportunity.


the thrill of danger
====================

:: Description
A character experiences the feeling of exuberance that can sometimes come with
a perilous situation.

:: Parents
human emotion


the unappreciated and unimportant at the workplace
==================================================

:: Description
The ungratifying experience of someone who is at the very bottom rung of the
corporate ladder is featured.

:: Parents
pecking order


the universe is a dream
=======================

:: Description
We must ponder the possibility that reality as we know it is simply the dream
of one's self, or of some other sentient entity.

:: Parents
speculative cosmos

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x23a "Shadow Play", Adam was convinced that his execution wouldn't
matter because he is only dreaming.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_argument


the universe is a simulation
============================

:: Description
We must ponder the possibility that all we know is just a simulation within a
larger reality.

:: Parents
speculative cosmos

:: Notes
Typically the simulation is featured as being within a computer, but this is
not a requirement. The simulation might be a physical contained space within a
larger reality.

:: Examples
Dr. James Moriarty was to unwittingly live out his simulated life in a
simulated universe in tng6x12 "Ship in a Bottle", but who knows: maybe we all
are?

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulation_hypothesis


the use of personality altering medication
==========================================

:: Description
We are asked to ponder whether and when it is justified in medicine to
prescribe such drugs as may alleviate symptoms, but do so at the expense of
severely altering the mind and character of a patient.

:: Parents
medical ethical issue

:: Examples
In nightgallery3x13 "Whisper", we saw Charlie decline a doctor's suggestion
that he prescribe personality altering drugs to Charlie's wife. Charlie
believed his wife might loose her quirky and erratic yet charming nature.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mood_stabilizer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoactive_drug


the value of imagination
========================

:: Description
Whether and to what extent our imagination is of benefit to us is discussed.

:: Parents
human nature


the visual arts
===============

:: Description
A character working with art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking,
sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, design, crafts, and
architecture is engaged in their occupation.

:: Parents
art related occupation

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_arts


the winners write history
=========================

:: Description
The time tested wisdom that time tested wisdom and history are generally
constructed by the winners of conflicts and would possibly look quite
different if such conflicts had ended differently.

:: Parents
human nature


the wish to live
================

:: Description
The basic instinct in humans to fight for self-preservation is discussed more
or less explicitly.

Note: Since many if not most stories feature some sort of struggle for
survival, this theme should be used only when the psychological force is more
or less explicitly made topical.

:: Parents
human nature

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_to_live


theft
=====

:: Description
The taking of another (legal) person's (property or services or scrap money
without that person's permission or consent with the intent to deprive the
rightful owner of it, is featured.

:: Parents
crime against property

:: Notes
The legal person who is deprived may be for example an individual, a company,
or a state.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theft


theocracy
=========

:: Description
There is a society in which one or more gods are recognized as rulers and the
ruling elite is essentially a priesthood (or the gods themselves).

:: Parents
political ideology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theocracy


theory of everything
====================

:: Description
A hypothetical all-encompassing theory of physics that fully explains and
links together all physical aspects of the universe.

:: Parents
physics

:: Examples
Barclay had a heated discussion with a virtual Albert Einstein about this
theory on the holodeck in tng4x19 "The Nth Degree".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_everything

:: Aliases
grand unified theory
GUT
ToE


theory of relativity
====================

:: Description
Albert Einstein's theories regarding the nature of space, time, and gravity
are featured to some extent.

:: Parents
physics

:: Examples
Holographic recreations of Stephen Hawking, Isaac Newton, and Albert Einstein
quibbled about this and other things in tng6x26 "Descent".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_relativity
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_relativity


there is someone for everyone
=============================

:: Description
The idea is put forth that, however bad your disadvantages are, there is
always someone out there who would be a willing and suitable romantic match
for you.

:: Parents
human idea about life


there is strength in unity
==========================

:: Description
The time tested wisdom that we are stronger when we stand united is
illustrated.

:: Parents
humans in group

:: Examples
Kor explained that the Klingons are united and therefore strong in tos1x27
"Errand of Mercy".


there is value in diversity
===========================

:: Description
The idea that diversity in itself may be desirable, is featured. For example,
it may be noted that diversity in skills and in thinking can be very useful to
a society.

:: Parents
human idea about life


there is value in redundancy
============================

:: Description
That redundancy, a copy which does not add value while the original is around,
can in fact be a good thing (because the original may break) is featured. As
"redundancy" is often a byword for "waste", the observation is perhaps worth
making.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Aliases
reliance on a single point of failure is unwise


thermophilic being
==================

:: Description
A being that thrives in extreme heat.

:: Parents
biologically distinguished being

:: Examples
The Tholians of tos3x09 "The Tholian Web" were a non-humanoid, thermophilic
species.


thinking about one's accomplishments in life
============================================

:: Description
A character reflects upon what they have done (or failed to do) with their
life. This is often at the core of a midlife crisis.

:: Parents
human dreaming

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midlife_crisis


those who do not remember the past are condemned to relive it
=============================================================

:: Description
This time-tested piece of wisdom is demonstrated.

:: Parents
human idea about life


thought materialization ability
===============================

:: Description
A character is able to make physical objects that did not previously exist,
appear as out of thin air.

:: Parents
speculative ability related to physical things


thought-controlled vehicle
==========================

:: Description
There is a vehicle that is controlled simply by thinking, without using knobs,
wheels, levers, etc.

:: Parents
speculative vehicle


thoughtcrime society
====================

:: Description
We imagine what the world would be like if certain ways of thinking could be
detected and punished by the government.

:: Parents
speculative social institution

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoughtcrime


threat from extraterrestrial life
=================================

:: Description
Civilization as we know it is jeopardized by the activities of living beings
from another planet. This may, for example, involve an invasion, colonization,
infiltration, or preemptive attempt by aliens to wipe out humanity.
Alternatively, it may involve some sort of alien accident.

:: Parents
existential risk to civilization

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/invasion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_catastrophic_risk#Extraterrestrial_invasion


tidal power
===========

:: Description
The harnessing of tidal energy as a power source for technology is explored.

:: Parents
technology

:: Examples
The dystopian city in "Logan's Run" (1976) was powered by the tides.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_power


tidally locked planet
=====================

:: Description
A planet one side of which always faces its parent star, like how the same
side of the moon always faces the earth.

:: Parents
astronomy

:: Examples
Captain Picard secretly met various Federation starship captains on the
tidally locked planet Dytallix B in tng1x15 "Conspiracy".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_locking


tilting at windmills
====================

:: Description
A character unreasonably takes action against an enemy that exists only in
their own imagination.

:: Parents
overactive imagination

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Quixote#Tilting_at_windmills


time freeze
===========

:: Description
Time itself comes to a complete stop.

:: Parents
time slow down

:: Aliases
time stop


time loop
=========

:: Description
A repeated period of time that is typically re-experienced by those within it.

:: Parents
speculative time manipulating effect

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_loop
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/time_loop


time machine
============

:: Description
Featured is a hypothetical device in the form of a vehicle or of a portal
connecting distant points in spacetime, either to an earlier time or to a
later time, without the need for the time-traveling body to experience the
intervening period in the usual sense.

:: Parents
speculative vehicle
time travel

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_travel
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/time_machine


time portal
===========

:: Description
A doorway in time.

:: Parents
time travel

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_portal
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/time_gate


time rewind ability
===================

:: Description
A character is able at will to turn back the clock, to some extent, and do
things over again. Typically they retain their memories while everything else
in the universe is reset to an earlier state of affairs.

:: Parents
speculative ability related to reality at large
time travel


time slow down
==============

:: Description
Time itself is observed to slow to a crawl.

:: Parents
speculative time manipulating effect

:: Notes
The theme "time freeze" is used in the limiting case when time comes to a
complete and utter stop.


time slow down ability
======================

:: Description
A character is somehow able to slow down or even freeze time. Typically the
person with the ability can still move, breathe, and even interact with
otherwise frozen objects and persons.

:: Parents
speculative ability related to reality at large


time travel
===========

:: Description
Traveling between past and future points in time is featured.

:: Parents
speculative travel

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_travel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_travel_in_fiction
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/time_travel


time travel paradox
===================

:: Description
There is an apparent contradiction, or logical contradiction associated with
the  idea of time and time travel. Typically, temporal paradoxes fall into two
broad groups: consistency paradoxes exemplified by the grandfather paradox,
and causal loops.

:: Parents
time travel
metaphysics

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporal_paradox


time traveler living secretly among us
======================================

:: Description
A character who has traveled from a another time lives secretly among normal
people.

:: Parents
time travel
impostor living secretly among us


time traveler meddling in history
=================================

:: Description
A person travels back in time and changes history somehow.

:: Parents
time travel
people meddling in history

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x20a "Profile in Silver", we saw history professor Dr. Joseph
Fitzgerald travel back in time from the year 2172 to quietly observe President
John F. Kennedy. Alas, when the sinister moment arrived Joseph could not stop
himself but impulsively intervened to save the much admired President. This
action had unexpected and dire consequences for the world.


time traveler's dilemma
=======================

:: Description
The following dilemma is illustrated: What should we do if some people find a
way to affect the past? They could stop Hitler, yes, but what untold damage
might they also do?

:: Parents
time travel

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandfather_paradox
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/time_paradoxes


to kill or to spare
===================

:: Description
A character must choose whether to satisfy their own blood thirst, lust for
vengeance, etc., on one hand, or to show mercy, compassion, etc., on the
other.

:: Parents
personal life and death dilemma


to settle down vs. to keep on trekking
======================================

:: Description
A character considers whether or not it is time to settle down at specific
place instead of traveling around.

:: Parents
human life choice


to tell the truth vs. offering a comforting lie
===============================================

:: Description
A character must choose between telling a comforting white lie on one hand,
and being honest on the other.

:: Parents
personal ethical dilemma


torture
=======

:: Description
We are made to ponder the practice of some humans to deliberately inflict
severe physical or psychological suffering on people that are in their power.

:: Parents
human rights issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torture
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Convention_against_Torture


totalitarian dystopia
=====================

:: Description
There is a society in which the ruling government aspires to complete control
over all aspects of life, i.e., including what people should read, think, say,
and do in their "free time".

:: Parents
dystopia

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totalitarianism


toxic waste management
======================

:: Description
The social problem of what to do with toxic waste, for example radioactive
garbage, is brought up.

:: Parents
waste management

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxic_waste


tractor beam
============

:: Description
A contraption used to produce a beam of gravity to attract material objects at
a distance but in a desired direction.

:: Parents
speculative device

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tractor_beam#Fiction
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/tractor_beam


trading sex to get ahead in the world
=====================================

:: Description
A character struggles with the moral issue of whether to use sex as a tool in
order to get things like wealth, power, and influence that are perceived as
improving one's standing in society.

:: Parents
compromising one's ethical principles for personal advantage

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casting_couch


traditionalism
==============

:: Description
Someone emphasizes tradition and doing things "the good old way" as opposed to
embracing new ways of going about it.

:: Parents
human way of life


traditionalist conservatism
===========================

:: Description
Someone espouses a return to traditional values, the need for moral order, and
the like.

:: Parents
political ideology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditionalist_conservatism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_conservatism


tragic love
===========

:: Description
Love that has come to a tragic impasse, for example because the object of the
feeling has died prematurely.

:: Parents
romantic love


transcendental being
====================

:: Description
There is a being whose capabilities are clearly beyond what we can fathom or
describe by our science. Their feats often seem like magic and their actions
may be either good or evil as judged by human standards.

:: Parents
speculative being


transcendental point of view
============================

:: Description
We are shown what things might be like from the point of view  of a being
whose abilities are so far beyond us that they seem  practically omnipotent,
and who therefore is not limited by our own practical concerns.

:: Parents
alien point of view


transhumanism utopia
====================

:: Description
Society is supposedly made perfect by the introduction of a new breed of
human, i.e., version 2.0. Out with the old, in with the new.

:: Parents
technologically enabled utopia

:: Examples
Dr. Roger Korby had a dream in tos1x09 "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" that
one day mortal human boys and girls will be mind-transfered into the bodies of
immortal android boys and girls.


transnational conflict over a claimed territory
===============================================

:: Description
Two or more sovereign factions fight over territory that they all claim as
theirs.

:: Parents
international issue


transnational conflict over a shared resource
=============================================

:: Description
Two or more sovereign factions fight over a resource that is not under the
sole control of any one faction.

:: Parents
international issue


transnational conflict over environmental concern
=================================================

:: Description
Two or more sovereign entities squabble over something related to the
environment. For example, one nation's damming of a river may threaten a
downstream nation's economy.

:: Parents
international issue


transnational institution for peace
===================================

:: Description
An institution reminiscent of the United Nations is featured.

:: Parents
international issue

:: Examples
Babylon 5 in the eponymous tv show is essentially a UN in space.


transsexualism
==============

:: Description
We are asked to what extent, if any, transsexualism ought to be tolerated in
society and how people who identify with a different gender than they were
assigned at birth, ought to be treated. Are sex-change operations to be
permitted or even subsidized?

:: Parents
sexual norms in society

:: Examples
Captain Kirk and Janice Lester switched genders on account of switching bodies
in tos3x24 "Turnabout Intruder".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transsexual


travel inside a human body
==========================

:: Description
Someone finds themself tiny and able to move around inside a human body.

:: Parents
speculative travel


travel into the Earth
=====================

:: Description
Someone travels deep into the Earth's crust and possibly beyond (much deeper
than spelunking as we know it can take you). Sometimes the goal of the journey
is the center of the Earth. Sometimes a drill-like vehicle is used.

:: Parents
speculative travel

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travel_to_the_Earth%27s_center#In_science_fiction
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/underground


traversable wormhole
====================

:: Description
A passage through space-time that would allow vast distances to be quickly
traversed.

:: Parents
astronomy
space travel

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wormhole
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/wormholes


treatment of migrants
=====================

:: Description
We are made to ponder how the government ought (or ought not) to treat
immigrants into our society, illegal and otherwise.

:: Parents
law and order issue
immigration in society

:: Examples
In tz2019e1x08 "Point of Origin", we saw how suspected illegal immigrants were
herded together in cold and brutal internment camps by a ruthless government
agency. The cultural context makes it clear that we must think of the way ICE
in the USA have been said to treat immigrants.


treatment of prisoners
======================

:: Description
We are asked how prisons ought to be organized. Day-care center for adults, or
hell-on-Earth?

:: Parents
legal punishment

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoners%27_rights


treatment of the criminally insane
==================================

:: Description
We are asked how the criminally insane ought to be treated. Just like any
other prisoner, or with more compassion?

:: Parents
legal punishment


treatment of the mentally ill in society
========================================

:: Description
The way society treats people with serious mental illnesses is discussed.

:: Parents
public health issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_disorder
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunatic


treatment of war collaborators
==============================

:: Description
We are asked to ponder what one should do after the war with those of one's
own people who choose to collaborate with the enemy for one reason or another.
For example, if someone collaborated only because they would be killed
otherwise, should they be punished?

:: Parents
law and order issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collaborationism


true beauty comes from within
=============================

:: Description
The idea is posited that real beauty does not come from make-up and such
mundane trappings, but is a thing of the soul.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
Ruth, Magda and Eve found that they didn't need the Venus drug to be beautiful
because their beauty stemmed from increased self-confidence and not the drug
in tos1x03 "Mudd's Women".


true name
=========

:: Description
The idea that beings can have true name, and that speaking said names can have
some sort of supernatural effects, is featured. For example, speaking the true
name of a demon might perhaps summon said demon.

:: Parents
magic word

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_name
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Mary_(folklore)


trust
=====

:: Description
A character exhibits a feeling of faith in the reliability of someone or,
occasionally, something. This assumes that the character harbors a certain
level of "acceptance", not necessarily "admiration" toward their object.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust_(emotion)


trust in a friend
=================

:: Description
A character supports a friend by showing unwavering trust in their honesty.

:: Parents
friendship


trust in a leader
=================

:: Description
A leader inspires trust in their team members.

:: Parents
humans in hierarchy


trust in a potential foe
========================

:: Description
A character must choose whether a potential foe is to be trusted.

:: Parents
personal practical dilemma


trust in intentions vs. trust in judgement
==========================================

:: Description
A character must choose whether another's judgement can be trusted even though
their intentions are above reproach.

:: Parents
personal practical dilemma


truth inducing technology
=========================

:: Description
There is technology, perhaps a serum or other kind of drug, by which people
can be made to speak the truth and nothing but the truth, to some extent or
another.

:: Parents
mind altering technology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_serum

:: Aliases
truth serum


turn the other cheek
====================

:: Description
A character endorses the ethic that we ought to refrain from retaliating when
aggrieved. While this could be about physical attacks it is more often used in
the context of insults.

:: Parents
human way of life

:: Examples
The pacifist Dowd turned every cheek on his body in spite of insult and injury
(then he ran out and wiped a species of 50 billions clean out existence) in
tng3x03 "The Survivors".


twin and twin
=============

:: Description
The relationship between two siblings born of a single pregnancy, is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin


twin earth
==========

:: Description
A hypothetical planet that is a near duplicate of Earth.

:: Parents
speculative habitable celestial body

:: Examples
Earth Two was discovered in tos1x11 "Miri" and found to be populated only by
children.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_analog


two-dimensional being
=====================

:: Description
A being that perceive only two spatial dimension, like those sentient
geometrical figures occupying a two-dimensional world described in the
satirical novella "Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions" by E. A. Abbott.

:: Parents
locationally distinguished being

:: Examples
The Enterprise-D came into contact with a plane of 2D beings floating towards
a cosmic string in tng4x10 "The Loss", and got stuck.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interdimensional_being


two-dimensional space
=====================

:: Description
A world confined to two spatial dimensions.

:: Parents
speculative cosmos

:: Examples
The Enterprise-D got stuck in a plane of two-dimensional beings in tng4x10
"The Loss".

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/dimensions


unbounded thought powers
========================

:: Description
A character is able to do or change reality in practically any way,
qualitatively limited only by imagination.

:: Parents
speculative ability related to reality at large

:: Notes
This theme is used when the ability appears qualitatively unbounded. That is,
a character may be seen to do a few limited things, but it is clear that there
are very few limits on what sort of things they can do. Typically, this theme
is used when a character becomes godlike and can will reality to change in the
blink of an eye.

:: Examples
Riker was riding on his high horse upon having been granted godlike Q powers
in tng1x10 "Hide and Q".


uncle and nephew
================

:: Description
The relationship between an uncle and his nephew is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship


uncle and niece
===============

:: Description
The relationship between an uncle and his niece is featured.

:: Parents
human familial relationship


undead being
============

:: Description
There is a being that is deceased but behaves as if they were alive.

:: Parents
monster

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undead


undead mummy
============

:: Description
There is an as undead creature wrapped in bandages.

:: Parents
living corpse

:: Examples
The mad scientist Dr. Krupp hatched a plot to steal a golden breastplate and a
bracelet from the tomb of the centuries-old living mummy Popocain in "The
Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy" (1958).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummy_(monster)


undead skeleton
===============

:: Description
There is a living (typically human) skeleton.

:: Parents
living corpse

:: Examples
A living skeleton received a lesson in elevator manners in the "Night Gallery"
tale "An Act of Chivalry" (1971).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skeleton_(undead)


underground city
================

:: Description
There is a large underground settlement that does not sprawl out onto the
surface.

:: Parents
speculative city

:: Notes
This theme does not apply when a small community of people living inside
caverns or a underground complex, as is sometimes depicted in post-apocalyptic
dystopian films.

:: Examples
The United Earth Government prepared approximately 10,000 underground cities
for the world's population to hunker down inside while the planet was being
migrated out of the Solar System to the Alpha Centauri system in "The
Wandering Earth" (2019).


undersea tunnel
===============

:: Description
A tunnel which is partly or wholly constructed under a body of water is
featured in a manner that makes it clear it is a future technological
achievement.

:: Parents
sub-planetary-scale engineering

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undersea_tunnel


understanding by metaphor
=========================

:: Description
Communicating by metaphorical language is featured.

:: Parents
problem of language and meaning


underwater breathing gill
=========================

:: Description
A small, air-tankless device that fits in the mouth used to breathe
underwater.

:: Parents
speculative device

:: Examples
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn used just such devices to swim to the
underwater city Otoh Gunga in "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace"
(1999).


underwater city
===============

:: Description
A large settlement under water. It might be adapted for air-breathing people
somehow, or it may be inhabited by water breathers.

:: Parents
speculative city


unemployment in society
=======================

:: Description
The social problem of people being unemployed against their desire is
discussed.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unemployment


unethical business practices
============================

:: Description
There is a businessman or corporation that, in their ruthless pursuit of the
bottom line, engage in activities that are clearly considered unethical. The
activities may or may not be legal.

:: Parents
socioeconomic issue

:: Examples
In futurama1x13 "Fry and the Slurm Factory", the Slurm factory was an evil
corporation that ruthlessly exploited its poor "Grunka-Lunka" thralls in order
to produce an extraordinarily unhealthy but addictive Slurm cola which it
marketed vigorously to the public.


unethical experimentation for scientific progress
=================================================

:: Description
We are made to ponder whether unethical practices can be justified if they are
likely to further scientific progress. Would it, for example, be alright to
risk the life of a convicted felon in order to test out a device that might
bring us clean energy?

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma


unethical human experimentation
===============================

:: Description
Medical experiments are carried out on people and we are asked question such
as: Can the ends justify the means when someone tests medical procedures and
drugs on patients without their informed consent? Is it right to use knowledge
that was obtained through atrocities such as the Nazi experimentation in
German concentration camps?

:: Parents
medical ethical issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unethical_human_experimentation


unethical psychological experimentation
=======================================

:: Description
It is discussed whether a psychological experiment can be considered ethical.

:: Parents
unethical human experimentation

:: Examples
Dr. Tristan Adams used a device to break people's minds and turn them into
zombies in tos1x10 "Dagger of the Mind", all in the name of medical science.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unethical_human_experimentation


unions in the workplace
=======================

:: Description
There is an organization of workers who have come together to achieve common
goals; such as protecting the integrity of its trade, improving safety
standards, and attaining better wages, etc.

:: Parents
humans at work

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_union


universal translation device
============================

:: Description
A device used to seamlessly translate speech between any languages.

:: Parents
speculative device

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_translator
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/universal_translator


unkillable attribute
====================

:: Description
For whatever reason, a character is literally impossible to kill through
conventional means. Typically, this happens because fate is involved.

:: Parents
speculative personal resilience


unknown parent
==============

:: Description
The classical "who is the father?" scenario, according to which there is a
child and it is pondered who the real parent is, is featured.

:: Parents
family affairs


unlawful detention
==================

:: Description
The act of intentionally restricting another person's movement within any area
without legal authority, justification, or the restrained person's permission,
is featured as a crime. Notably, this situation tends to arise in fiction when
police or similar forces overstep the bounds.

:: Parents
legal punishment

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_imprisonment


unplanned pregnancy
===================

:: Description
The many trials and tribulations a woman or a couple may face when the woman
unexpectedly becomes pregnant are featured.

:: Parents
human parenting

:: Examples
Worf was at a loss for words when K'Ehleyr showed up in tng4x07 "Reunion" and
had with her the unexpected consequence of their impulse mating on the
holodeck some years earlier.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unintended_pregnancy


unrequited love
===============

:: Description
A romantic love, or infatuation, in which the object of the ambition declines
to reciprocate the emotions, i.e., they don't love you back.

:: Parents
romantic love

:: Examples
Geordi was devastated to find that the real Leah Brahms didn't much fancy him
in tng4x16 "Galaxy's Child".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unrequited_love


uptight character vs. laid back character
=========================================

:: Description
An uptight character is contrasted with a more easy going person.

:: Parents
human characters in contrast


using tough love
================

:: Description
A character, typically a parent or mentor, must choose in a given situation
whether to be harsh with a another for their own good.

:: Parents
personal practical dilemma


utopia
======

:: Description
Notions about how society could be made "perfect". Note that such notions are
often scatterbrained and the objects of the themes turn out to be horrible
dystopia. This is all captured in the word "utopia" which literally means "no
place".

:: Parents
speculative social institution

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/utopias


utopia based on a view of human nature
======================================

:: Description
Society is perfect because, well, everyone behaves in a way that conforms to a
particular view of human nature.

:: Parents
utopia


utopia based on exploitation of a group
=======================================

:: Description
Society is great because there is a (usually contemptible) class of people who
can be made to do all the unpleasant work.

:: Parents
utopia


utopia on the back of android labor
===================================

:: Description
Society is perfect thanks to an army of androids that fulfill our every wish.

:: Parents
utopia based on exploitation of a group
technologically enabled utopia

:: Examples
An army of obedient androids stood ready to bring utopia to the galaxy but
were stopped by Captain Kirk and a well aimed logical paradox in tos2x12 "I,
Mudd".


utopia on the back of slave labor
=================================

:: Description
Society is perfect thanks to an army of slaves that just take care of every
distasteful chore.

:: Parents
utopia based on exploitation of a group


vampire
=======

:: Description
There is a being, typically undead and sentient, that subsists by feeding on
the blood of the living.

:: Parents
living corpse
parasitic being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/vampires


vandalism
=========

:: Description
The deliberately destroying or damaging to public or private property is
featured as being a crime.

:: Parents
crime against property

:: Examples
The Troglytes of Ardana were none too happy with their status as lowly miners
and used vandalism to voice their displeasure in tos3x19 "The Cloud Minders".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandalism


vanity
======

:: Description
A character exhibits excessive admiration of their own appearance or
achievements.

:: Parents
human character

:: Examples
Mudd's women took the "Venus drug" in order to maintain youthful appearances
in the eponymous episode tos1x03 "Mudd's Women".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity


vegetarianism
=============

:: Description
Someone abstains from eating meat and other animal products on moral grounds.

:: Parents
human way of life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarianism


vendetta
========

:: Description
There is a bitter, destructive and escalating feud between two factions within
one society.

:: Parents
crime against the person
violent crime

:: Examples
Yuta of the vanquished clan Tralesta was genetically altered and spent 100
years tracking down members of the Lornak clan in a vendetta in tng3x09 "The
Vengeance Factor".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feud

:: Aliases
blood feud


ventriloquism
=============

:: Description
Ventriloquism, or ventriloquy, is an act of stagecraft in which a person (a
ventriloquist) creates the illusion that their voice is coming from elsewhere,
usually a puppeteered prop, known as a "dummy". This activity is featured in
the story.

:: Parents
stand-up comedy
stage magic

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ventriloquism


video game addiction
====================

:: Description
Someone exhibits an addiction to a video game.

:: Parents
human addiction

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_addiction


video gaming
============

:: Description
A character is enthusiastic about playing video games.

:: Parents
recreational activity

:: Examples
Alex Rogan was determined to set the high score on an arcade game, called
Starfighter, in "The Last Starfighter" (1984).

:: Aliases
computer gaming


video manipulation in society
=============================

:: Description
The social consequences of our recently emerging ability to fake or manipulate
video with such precision that it is hard to spot, is discussed.

:: Parents
sociotechnological issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_manipulation


videophone
==========

:: Description
A phone system with a video link is featured in such a manner that it is made
clear it is still a technology to be developed in the future.

:: Parents
once speculative device

:: Examples
Captain Kirk and his crew conferred in such a way in tos2x26 "Assignment:
Earth".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleconference


vigilante justice
=================

:: Description
Extrajudicial punishment that is motivated by the nonexistence of law and
order or dissatisfaction with justice is featured.

:: Parents
crime against justice

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontier_justice


violence in the media
=====================

:: Description
The social implications of violence being portrayed, often glorified, on TV,
in films, in games, or in other media, is explored.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_on_the_effects_of_violence_in_mass_media
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_controversies#Violence


violent crime
=============

:: Description
One or another of those proscribed actions involving violence or the threat of
violence, is featured.

:: Parents
crime

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime


virgin birth
============

:: Description
A religious doctrine holding that someone, i.e., Christ, was conceived in the
absence of sexual intercourse.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
While it is unlikely that Troi was a virgin at the time, her intercourse-free
pregnancy in tng2x01 "The Child" nevertheless fits the bill.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miraculous_births


virtual lover
=============

:: Description
There is a virtual personality with which someone corporeal has a love affair.

:: Parents
virtual person


virtual person
==============

:: Description
A personality that exists only as a program within some computer. It is self-
aware but may or may not be cognizent of its status as a simulation. Perhaps
we all are such.

:: Parents
artificial being
artificial intelligence

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulated_consciousness_in_fiction

:: Aliases
simulated person
sentient computer program


virtual reality room
====================

:: Description
There is a programmable room that can produce virtually any imaginable
setting, including tangible physical objects, like virtual reality on
steroids.

:: Parents
speculative virtual reality

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality


virtual reality sex
===================

:: Description
There is a technology that allows users to engage in sexual relations with
virtually reality simulated characters, or receive tactile sensations from
remote participants.

:: Parents
speculative virtual reality

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality_sex


virtual reality suit
====================

:: Description
There is a wearable suit that makes it seem as if you were somewhere else,
encompassing all the senses.

:: Parents
speculative full body outfit
speculative virtual reality

:: Examples
Geordi uses a virtual reality suit to explore a wrecked spaceship in the
inhospitable environment of a gas giant planet in tng7x03 "Interface".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_reality


vision beyond the visible spectrum glasses
==========================================

:: Description
Glasses-like technology that can make the brain perceive and interpret
electromagnetic waves (light) beyond what is normal, i.e., into the infrared
or ultraviolet regions and possibly beyond. This is used to describe Geordi's
iconic VISOR. Note: this includes X-ray glasses as a special case.

:: Parents
speculative glasses


vision quest
============

:: Description
A Native American ritual used to establish contact with an ancestral spirit to
ask for guidance during a difficult time.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: Examples
The mystic Traveler posing as a space Native American mystic embarked Wesley
on a vision quest to acquire arcane lore in tng7x20 "Journey's End".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vision_quest


vivisection
===========

:: Description
It is discussed whether dissecting a living creature for the sake of advancing
medical knowledge is justified.

:: Parents
medical ethical issue

:: Examples
Extradimensional aliens abducted Riker and severed his arm in tng6x05
"Schisms".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivisection


voice duplicator
================

:: Description
A device used to make your voice sound like that of another.

:: Parents
speculative device

:: Examples
The android Ruk had a built in voice duplicator that let him impersonate
Captain Kirk in tos1x09 "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"


voice identification device
===========================

:: Description
A device which can identify a speaker merely from a recording of their voice
and to some extent understand what is being said. This was sci-fi in the 60s.
This was pure sci-fi in the 60s but is by-and-by becoming more of a reality.

:: Parents
once speculative device

:: Examples
Gary Seven's computer in tos2x26 "Assignment: Earth" recognized its owner's
voice.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speaker_recognition

:: Aliases
speaker recognition device


volcanic cataclysm
==================

:: Description
Volcanic activity increases and civilization bites the dust. Pardon the pun.

:: Parents
force of nature existential risk to civilization

:: Examples
Terratin civilization on Terra Ten was threatened by volcanic activity in
tas1x11 "The Terratin Incident" so Captain Kirk moved them all to Verdanis.


voodoo doll
===========

:: Description
There is an effigy of a person that can mysteriously be used to affect that
person in various way. A person may, for example, be subjected to various
afflictions when needles are inserted into relevant parts of their effigy.

:: Parents
voodoo magic
magic object

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voodoo_doll


voodoo magic
============

:: Description
There is magic of the type that is popularly thought of as Voodoo. This often
involves witch-doctors and curses in a stereotypical tropical jungle setting.

:: Parents
sympathetic magic

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voodoo


vow of silence
==============

:: Description
The occasional religious practice of forswearing speech is featured.

:: Parents
organized religion

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vow_of_silence


voyage under the sea
====================

:: Description
Someone goes on a journey into the depths of the sea, typically in a
submarine.

:: Parents
speculative travel

:: Examples
Captain Nemo built a super high-tech submarine to explore the ocean depths in
"20000 Leagues Under the Sea" (1954).


war
===

:: Description
Sovereign factions, usually state-like entities but sometimes armed rebels
etc., taking up arms against each other for one reason or another is featured.

:: Parents
international issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War


war crime
=========

:: Description
An act that constitutes a serious violation of the laws of war that gives rise
to individual criminal responsibility is featured.

:: Parents
crime
war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_crime


war due to diplomatic miscalculation
====================================

:: Description
Neither faction in a diplomatic negotiation really wants war but fluke and
miscalculation threaten to pull them into a military confrontation anyway.

:: Parents
war


war is sometimes justified
==========================

:: Description
The idea is put forth that the deliberate waging of war, horrible as it may
be, may sometimes be justified.

:: Parents
social ethical dilemma

:: Examples
Spock argued that war against Nazi Germany was warranted in the lead up to
World War II in tos1x28 "The City on the Edge of Forever".


war of mutual annihilation
==========================

:: Description
People wage war on each other and (often with the help of WMDs) wipe each
other out in a mutual apocalypse.

:: Parents
institutional risk to civilization
war


war of religion
===============

:: Description
A war primarily caused or justified by differences in religion is featured.

:: Parents
war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_war

:: Aliases
holy war


war of succession
=================

:: Description
War (typically civil war) breaks out over who is to become the new leader
after the old leader dies.

:: Parents
war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_succession


war plunder
===========

:: Description
A faction with the upper hand in a military conflict decides to loot and
remove some of their opponents' cultural artifacts and other valuables. This
theme is often featured when the war is over and calls for the return of said
plunder are made.

:: Parents
war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looting#In_armed_conflict


war propaganda
==============

:: Description
The use of propaganda in war is featured. This can be to dehumanize and
demonize the enemy, to glorify your own actions, and to heroify your allies.

:: Parents
war

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda#Wartime


warlock
=======

:: Description
There is a man who practices witchcraft.

:: Parents
legendary magic wielder

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warlock


waste management
================

:: Description
The societal problem of how to handle all sorts of unwanted byproducts of
human activity is discussed. This means rubbish and garbage form everyday life
as well as from industry.

:: Parents
environmental issue


water planet to the core
========================

:: Description
There is a planet that is almost 100% water through and through.

:: Parents
speculative habitable celestial body


water sports
============

:: Description
There is a sport which takes place either in or on liquid water.

:: Parents
sports

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_water_sports


wax sculpture
=============

:: Description
The art and artifice of making depictions out of wax like substances, is
featured. For example, a wax museum filled with wax effigies of famous people
might be pointedly featured.

:: Parents
sculpture

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wax_sculpture

:: Aliases
wax doll


we need a balance between rationality and emotionality
======================================================

:: Description
We are shown that people use a balance of rationality and emotionality in
their normal functioning.

:: Parents
human idea about life


we need our darker side in moderation
=====================================

:: Description
The idea is posited that dark emotions such as anger, jealousy, and fear,
which we usually detest, actually serve a meaningful purpose.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
Captain Kirk was duplicated into one copy that had all his good qualities, one
that had all the bad but neither of which was a very useful person in tos1x04
"The Enemy Within".


weaponization of animals
========================

:: Description
The use of animals in warfare and other combat related activities is featured.

:: Parents
war

:: Examples
A corporation was marketing special genetically engineered dinosaurs to be
used in warfare in "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" (2018).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_animal#As_weapons


weapons of mass destruction
===========================

:: Description
A weapon of mass destruction is a nuclear, radiological, chemical, biological,
or any other weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number
of humans or cause great damage to human-made structures (e.g., buildings),
natural structures (e.g., mountains), or the biosphere. The use of such
weapons in war is featured.

:: Parents
war

:: Notes
We consider that the mere existence of a WMD implies its potential use in war
as these devices really have no other credible purpose.

:: Examples
Biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons are commonly found beneath the
moniker "weapons of mass destruction".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapon_of_mass_destruction


werewolf
========

:: Description
There is a human with a transmittable condition that makes them occasionally
transform in to a vicious creature, typically a wolf, or a human-creature
hybrid.

:: Parents
monster

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werewolf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therianthropy
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/werewolves


what civilian life is like in times of war
==========================================

:: Description
A more or less ordinary character who is not directly part of the war effort,
nor directly becomes a victim, experiences what civilian life is like when
their society goes to war.

:: Parents
what life is like


what if Britain had won the American Revolutionary War
======================================================

:: Description
We are made to imagine what things might have been like had England suppressed
the American Revolution of 1765-1783.

:: Parents
alternate history

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War


what if I aged backwards
========================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to age backwards.

:: Parents
what if I were not subject to the normal process of aging

:: Examples
The Enterprise was pulled into a negative universe where people started life
with old bodies that became ever younger over time in tas2x06 "The Counter-
Clock Incident".


what if I became a simulation
=============================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like if our consciousness was moved or copied from
the world of flesh to run as a simulation in some computer-like device.

:: Parents
what if my personal identity came into question

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulated_reality_in_fiction


what if I became accessory to a friend's crime
==============================================

:: Description
We imagine what it might be like to involuntarily be drawn into crime by a
less than law-abiding friend.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot


what if I became extremely lucky
================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to be on a perpetual lucky streak, winning
every game of chance one engaged in.

:: Parents
what if my life were different


what if I became separated from my parents
==========================================

:: Description
There is a child who gets separated from their parents and must try to reunite
with them. This is used when the story is told from the child's point of view.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot

:: Examples
Mace and Cindel Towani became separated from their parents after the family
crash landed on the Ewok homeworldl in "Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure"
(1984).


what if I became telepathically linked with someone else
========================================================

:: Description
We are made to imagine what it'd be like to become mentally linked with
someone in such a way that we could talk to them telepathically or even share
sensory experiences directly (i.e., see through their eyes).

:: Parents
speculative experience

:: Notes
This theme is not used, e.g., for when there is an alien race of beings that
are innately linked in a hive mind or the like.


what if I became witness to a crime
===================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to see something that seems to imply a
serious crime, typically murder, has been committed. Typically we are left to
ponder what one should do: Should we investigate, contact the police, or drop
the matter?

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot

:: Examples
In "Rear Window" (1954) Jeff thinks he has just witnessed a murder but doesn't
have enough certainty to call the police. Instead he convinces his friends to
sneak over and gather evidence.


what if I caught a glimpse of the future
========================================

:: Description
A character is shown a sight of some future happening. This might be on
account that the character invoked a magical incantation, appealed to some
speculative technology, or was shown a vision of the future by another entity.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a different time

:: Notes
If a character has an innate ability to see into the future, then
"precognition" is the more appropriate theme.

:: Examples
In tz1985e2x04b "Lost and Found", Jenny, an absent minded college student with
a cantankerous room mate found out from a couple of time travelers hiding in
her wardrobe that she was, in fact, destined to become the future leader of a
united Earth.


what if I could be young again
==============================

:: Description
An aged character experiences what it is like to be young again, i.e., finds
the proverbial fountain of youth.

:: Parents
what if I were not subject to the normal process of aging


what if I could do anything I wanted without repercussions
==========================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like if no one stopped us or punished us for doing
whatever we felt like doing.

:: Parents
what if my life were different

:: Examples
The Children of Landru committed unspeakable acts of lawlessness at Festival,
a designated period when Landru permitted anything, in tos1x22 "The Return of
the Archons".


what if I could never go home
=============================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to be far away and never able to return to
our home, perhaps because we've been exiled from our country.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a strange place

:: Examples
Captain Kirk and his crew found themselves trapped inside the Delta Triangle
with no realistic possibility of escape in tas 1x12 "The Time Trap".


what if I could only speak the truth
====================================

:: Description
There is a character who is physically unable to tell intentional lies.

:: Parents
speculative experience

:: Notes
This is one of the more-or-less incoherent counterfactuals that appears in
stories: A circumstance arises in which a character tries to speak a lie
(maybe a white lie or omission of the truth), but their mouth ends up uttering
the truth (maybe the whole truth) to the mind's general dismay. The theme
notably does not apply if a character merely chooses not to tell lies, be it
for moral compulsion on legal injunctions.

:: Examples
In tz1959e2x14 "The Whole Truth", the crooked, used car dealer Mr. Hunnicut
came into the possession of a haunted car that somehow made him tell the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. This proved disastrous for
his business.


what if I could travel around inside a human body
=================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to be tiny and move around inside a human
body.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a strange place


what if I couldn't distinguish between my enemy and my ally but I had to choose between them
============================================================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like in this rather peculiar situation.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot

:: Examples
Incredibly, Spock faced exactly this situation when Garth of Izar transformed
himself to look like Captain Kirk in tos3x16 "Whom Gods Destroy".


what if I couldn't trust the veracity of my senses
==================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like if the world our senses reported on became so
peculiar that we had to question our own senses and even our sanity.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot

:: Examples
Sulu couldn't tell whether those were swirling knives out there in space while
at the held or whether his eyes were tricking him in tos3x05 "And the Children
Shall Lead".


what if I discovered that I was a facsimile of someone else
===========================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to discover that we are, in fact, merely a
copy of someone else who by virtue of prior existence can be considered more
genuine.

:: Parents
what if my personal identity came into question


what if I fell into the clutches of a homicidal maniac
======================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it might be like suddenly to find one's self in the captivity
and at the mercy of a crazed killer.

:: Parents
what if I fell into the clutches of a person with malicious intent

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected1x05 "The Landlady", young Billy comes to realize that
his landlady is a serial killer but, alas, only too late: His tea has been
drugged and he is in the end no longer capable of putting up effective
resistance as she leads him to his prospective deathbed.


what if I fell into the clutches of a person with malicious intent
==================================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it might be like suddenly to find one's self in the captivity
and at the mercy of a person who wants us no good.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot

:: Examples
In ahp1x16 "You Got to Have Luck", Mary is home invaded by a fugitive prisoner
who threatens her with a knife and plans to use her as a hostage.


what if I found myself in a body of the opposite sex
====================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like if our mind moved into a body of the opposite
gender.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in the body of another person

:: Examples
An old flame took revenge on Captain Kirk by using an alien device to swap
bodies with him in tos3x24 "Turnabout Intruder".


what if I found myself in a different time
==========================================

:: Description
A character more or less suddenly find themself in a different time than the
one they are from.

:: Parents
speculative experience


what if I found myself in a high gravity environment
====================================================

:: Description
A character experiences what it is like to be in an environment where gravity
is a lot stronger than what they are used to.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a strange place


what if I found myself in a low gravity environment
===================================================

:: Description
We are shown what it is like for a person in a low gravity environment, as
compared with Earth, such as on the surface of the Moon or on that of Mars.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a strange place


what if I found myself in a strange place
=========================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to suddenly find ourself in an unfamiliar
place.

:: Parents
speculative experience


what if I found myself in a void of nothingness
===============================================

:: Description
A character is trapped in a "void" of some sort.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a strange place


what if I found myself in a zero gravity environment
====================================================

:: Description
We are shown what it is like for a person inside a zero gravity environment,
such as on a space station or in a free-falling vehicle, where our bodies
appear to float in the air.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a strange place


what if I found myself in an alternate reality
==============================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to (more or less) suddenly and unexpectedly
be moved into an entirely different kind of reality.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a strange place

:: Examples
Worf suddenly found himself shifting between strangely different alternate
realities in tng7x11 "Parallels".


what if I found myself in the body of a child
=============================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like if our mind moved into a the body of a child.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in the body of another person

:: Examples
A transporter malfunction turned Captain Picard and some of his crew back into
children physically but not mentally in tng6x07 "Rascals".


what if I found myself in the body of another person
====================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to suddenly find ourselves inhabiting the
body another person.

:: Parents
what if my personal identity came into question


what if I found myself in the future
====================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to more or less suddenly and unexpectedly
move into the future.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a different time

:: Examples
Riker woke up sixteen years in the future as captain of the Enterprise-D, or
so it seemed, in tng4x08 "Future Imperfect".


what if I found myself in the past
==================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to (more or less) suddenly and unexpectedly
be moved into the past.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a different time

:: Examples
Captain Kirk, Spock, and McCoy were tossed right back into the Great
Depression of the 1930s in tos1x28 "The City on the Edge of Forever".


what if I found myself with a superabundance of potential lovers and no competition
===================================================================================

:: Description
A character experiences the fantastical situation of finding themself with
access to a virtually unlimited supply of romantic partners with little to no
competition to boot.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a strange place


what if I found out I was a different person than I thought I was
=================================================================

:: Description
It is revealed to someone that their background is very different from what
they believed it was.

:: Parents
what if my personal identity came into question

:: Examples
In ds93x05 "Second Skin", Kira was told that she is in fact a Cardassian spy
who has been mentally conditioned to think herself Bajoran in order to make
infiltration more believable.


what if I found out I was a simulation
======================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to suddenly discover that we are merely a
simulated personality within some program in a computer, or the like.

:: Parents
what if my personal identity came into question


what if I found out that a loved one was not the person I thought they were
===========================================================================

:: Description
A character finds that a person they care about has a highly problematic or
troubling side of themself.

:: Parents
what if someone around me changed


what if I got accidentally locked in somewhere
==============================================

:: Description
We are made to imagine what it would be like to get accidentally locked in a
room or some other relatively limited space, with no immediate way of
escaping.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot


what if I got into trouble in a foreign country
===============================================

:: Description
A character is in a country that is foreign to them and gets into some sort of
trouble that is compounded by international bureaucracy and the foreignness of
the country's institutions and language.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot

:: Examples
In ahp3x10 "The Diplomatic Corpse", Evan and Janet find themselves in a spot
of trouble with the authorities in Tijuana, Mexico, when their car containing
Janet's late aunt's corpse is stolen.


what if I grew in size
======================

:: Description
A character experiences what it is like to grow in size to potentially
enormous proportions.

:: Parents
what if I underwent a physical metamorphosis


what if I had a life-changing stroke of good fortune
====================================================

:: Description
Someone has a stroke of good luck so significant that it changes their life
notably. For example when someone wins the lottery or inherits a fortune
enough to be set for life.

:: Parents
what if my life were different


what if I had a near-death experience
=====================================

:: Description
A character is on the brink of death and has peculiar experience as a
consequence.

:: Parents
what if my life were different


what if I had a second chance at life
=====================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like if we were given the chance to go back and
relive our life from some earlier point but with our later memories and
experiences intact.

:: Parents
what if my life were different

:: Examples
Q granted Captain Picard the opportunity to relive his time as a Starfleet
cadet in tng6x15 "Tapestry".


what if I had a second childhood
================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like if we were given the chance to go back and
relive our childhood.

:: Parents
what if my life were different

:: Examples
Ro and Guinan, to their delight, got the chance to be children again in
tng6x07 "Rascals".


what if I had a secret guardian
===============================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to have a powerful secret guardian that
intervenes, as and when required, to protect us from harm or other troubles in
life.

:: Parents
speculative experience

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x10a "The Shadow Man", a mysterious shadowy person lived under
Danny's bed and appeared from nowhere to chase down bullies that dared prey on
Danny.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardian_angel

:: Aliases
guardian angel


what if I had amnesia
=====================

:: Description
We are shown an idea of what it might be like to suffer from extreme memory
loss.

:: Parents
what if my personal identity came into question

:: Examples
John Doe struggled with a bad case of amnesia in tng3x25 "Transfigurations",
not even remembering his own name.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesia
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/amnesia


what if I had multiple personalities
====================================

:: Description
We are made to imagine what it would be like to have more than one personality
in our head, presumably vying for control.

:: Parents
what if my personal identity came into question

:: Notes
This theme is typically used in fantastical scenarios where the clinical
condition of multiple personality (aka. dissociative identity) disorder is not
sincerely featured but distinct personalities nevertheless inhabit the same
body. As a rule of thumb, it is used when at least one of the personalities at
least some of the time is aware of its own condition of having multiple
personalities.

:: Examples
Norman Osborn struggled with his deranged alter ago the Green Goblin in
"Spider-Man" (2002).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociative_identity_disorder

:: Aliases
what if I had a split personality


what if I had only one day to live
==================================

:: Description
A character is faced with the grim realization that they have only a short
time left to live, perhaps just a day.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot
facing death


what if I had to defuse a ticking time bomb
===========================================

:: Description
Someone is confronted with a deadly device that has to be defused carefully,
and soon, lest it kill everyone around it.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot


what if I had to endure eternal torment
=======================================

:: Description
We are made to ponder to hypothetical prospect of being subjected to perpetual
torment with practically no hope of escape - not even death.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot


what if I had to fight to the death
===================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to be in a fight, typically one-on-one, that
must end with one contestant dead.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot

:: Examples
Captain Kirk felt what it was like to be pitted against Spock in the mother of
all fights to the death in tos2x05 "Amok Time".


what if I had to have sex in order to save someone
==================================================

:: Description
We are made to imagine a situation in which we are given the choice between
consenting to carnal intercourse on one hand, or letting someone die on the
other.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot


what if I had to operate on myself
==================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to have to perform surgery or the like on
ourself.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot


what if I had to spend eternity in limbo
========================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to spend an eternity in the nothingness of,
say, Dante's Limbo.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a strange place

:: Examples
Lazarus-A saved two universes at the cost of trapping himself in a limbo
between himself and Lazarus-B for all eternity in tos1x20 "The Alternative
Factor".


what if I heard all the thoughts around me
==========================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to continuously hear the thoughts of those
nearby with little recourse to stop doing so apart from removing ourselves
from the presence of others.

:: Parents
what if my life were different

:: Examples
Tam Elbrun was nearly driven mad by not being able to block out other people's
thoughts in tng3x20 "Tin Man".


what if I killed someone by accident
====================================

:: Description
We are made to imagine what it would be like if we, accidentally but directly,
caused someone else's death.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot


what if I lived an alternate life
=================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to live a different life, but with the
memories of our other life intact.

:: Parents
what if my life were different

:: Examples
Captain Picard, under the influence of an alien probe, experienced what it
would be like to live out his life as a modest villager on an alien planet in
tng5x25 "The Inner Light".


what if I met an extraordinary person
=====================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to meet someone, like a person from history,
who you would think it well nigh impossible to meet in real life.

:: Parents
speculative experience


what if I met an historical figure
==================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to meet some famous historical figure from
the past.

:: Parents
what if I met an extraordinary person

:: Examples
Data had the pleasure of making Mark Twain's aquintance in tng5x26 "Time's
Arrow".


what if I met my distant descendant
===================================

:: Description
We are made to imagine what it may be like, usually through the magic of time
travel or cryogenics, to encounter a distant descendant.

:: Parents
what if I met an extraordinary person


what if I met my double
=======================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to meet a perfect double of ourself.

:: Parents
what if I met an extraordinary person

:: Examples
Captain Kirk was not very impressed with his android double in tos1x09 "What
Are Little Girls Made Of?".

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/doppelgangers


what if I met myself from a different time
==========================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to encounter our own self from an earlier or
later time of our life.

:: Parents
what if I met an extraordinary person

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x11b "One Life, Furnished in Early Poverty", Gus was somehow
transported back the to 1940s where he became a confidant of his childhood
self in order to persuade him to choose a different path in life. Alas,
instead he became the very progenitor of the problems he sought to remedy.


what if I met the perfect mate
==============================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to meet someone who is as tailor made to be
our life partner.

:: Parents
what if I met an extraordinary person

:: Examples
Captain Kirk found his perfect mate in the android Rayna in tos3x21 "Requiem
for Methuselah".


what if I repeated a portion of my life over again
==================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like if through some kind of time travel
phenomenon we got to relive a portion of our life again (albeit with our own
memories intact).

:: Parents
what if my life were different


what if I saw a glimpse of the past
===================================

:: Description
A character is shown a sight of a past occurrence. This might be on account
that the character invoked a magical incantation, appealed to some speculative
technology, or was shown a vision of the future by another entity.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a different time

:: Notes
If a character has an innate ability to see into the past, then
"retrocognition" is the more appropriate theme.


what if I saw strange things no one else could see
==================================================

:: Description
A character sees strange things that nobody else can see.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot

:: Examples
In "It" (1990) children could see terrors that were invisible to adults that
were looking right at them. Later as adults, the protagonists experienced the
same thing again.


what if I shrank in size
========================

:: Description
A character experiences what it is like to shrink in size to potentially
minuscule proportions.

:: Parents
what if I underwent a physical metamorphosis

:: Examples
A group of scientist had been bombarded with spiroid epsilon waves which,
naturally, made them start to shrink in size until they stood but a sixteenth
of an inch tall in tas1x11 "The Terratin Incident".


what if I suddenly got an extraordinary ability
===============================================

:: Description
We are made to imagine what we'd do if suddenly endowed with a super power or
comparable ability, of one sort or another.

:: Parents
what if my life were different

:: Examples
In tz1959e2x19 "Mr. Dingle, the Strong", an invisible two-headed Martian used
technology to bestow upon Mr. Dingle the strength of roughly 300, as an
experiment. It transpired that Mr. Dingle became a showboater, exhibiting his
strength for entertainment.


what if I suddenly got some free money
======================================

:: Description
We are made to ponder what we would do if we were suddenly given a modest sum
of money to spend however we like.

:: Parents
what if my life were different

:: Notes
The threshold for this theme is that the amount of money is sufficiently
modest that the person isn't necessarily living on easy street for the rest of
their life. If more money is obtained, the theme "what if I was super rich" is
used instead.

:: Examples
In futurama4x16 "Three Hundred Big Boys", everyone on Earth is given a $300
tax refund. We get to see the various frivolous ways in which the protagonists
spend their unexpected windfall.


what if I told the truth and nobody would believe me
====================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like not to believed by anyone when we tell them
truthfully about important events that have taken place. This is often
featured from the perspective of a kid.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot

:: Examples
Nobody would believe Serova about detrimental effects of using warp drive,
especially not Geordi, in tng7x09 "Force of Nature".


what if I turned into an animal
===============================

:: Description
We imagine what it'd be like to turn into an animal, by some speculative
process or another (typically magic).

:: Parents
what if I underwent a physical metamorphosis


what if I underwent a physical metamorphosis
============================================

:: Description
A character undergoes a substantial personality change to the point of being
an entirely new person.

:: Parents
speculative experience
speculative matter manipulating effect

:: Examples
Geordi gradually transformed into a non-sentient, bioluminiscent creature in
tng4x18 "Identity Crisis".


what if I was a specimen animal in a zoo
========================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like if we were contained in an alien zoo and
gawked at like we gawk at animals in an ordinary zoo.

:: Parents
what if I was held captive and made an exhibition object

:: Examples
The slug like Lactrans put some humans in the Lactra VII alien zoo in tas1x15
"The Eye of the Beholder".


what if I was accused of a crime that I didn't commit
=====================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to be wrongfully accused of a crime.

:: Parents
facing an extraordinary accusation

:: Examples
Riker was cleared of killing Nel Apgar in a dramatic holo-hearing in tng3x14
"A Matter of Perspective".


what if I was at the mercy of a mad person
==========================================

:: Description
A character is held captive by a mad man and is at their mercy.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot


what if I was brought back to life long after my death
======================================================

:: Description
A character dies and is gone for a long enough time that their friends and
family have moved on, but is then resurrected from the dead.

:: Parents
what if I were not subject to the normal process of aging


what if I was combined with another person
==========================================

:: Description
We are made to imagine the hypothetical scenario that two people are somehow
combine into one, typically receiving physical and mental traits from both
progenitors and having the memories of both.

:: Parents
what if my personal identity came into question


what if I was held captive and made an exhibition object
========================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to be made a prisoner and put on display as
if in a collection or in a zoo.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot

:: Examples
In nightgallery3x03 "Rare Objects", the notorious gangster August Kolodney
meets with Dr. Glendon. Glendon drugs Kolodney to extend his life, and puts
him in a cell as part of a large exhibition of notorious individuals from
history.


what if I was incapacitated and stuck in the middle of nowhere
==============================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to, for example, get stuck in rock or
suchlike far away from assistance, say, while spelunking or mountaineering.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot


what if I was injured and far away from help
============================================

:: Description
We are made to imagine what it would be like to sustain a serious injury such
as will leave us alive and able to think but may lead death if left untreated,
when far away from those who might help us. For example, a character may
sustain a broken limb when alone in wilderness far away from civilization.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot

:: Examples
In "movie: There Will Be Blood (2007)", Daniel was mining for silver alone
when he had an accident in the shaft and ended up with a broken leg. He had to
painfully drag himself out of the deep shaft and make his way to populated
areas.


what if I was really beautiful
==============================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to be truly beautiful. Those of us who
already are must first imagine that they are not.

:: Parents
what if my life were different

:: Examples
With the aid of a beauty-enhancing drug, three ordinary women became so
stunningly pretty that they drove men wild in tos1x03 "Mudd's Women".


what if I was somebody's pet
============================

:: Description
We are shown what it would be like to be held captive as somebody's pet.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot

:: Examples
The gargantuan blue humanoid alien Tiwa kept a human boy as a pet in
"Fantastic Planet" (1973).


what if I was super rich
========================

:: Description
We, as people of more or less normal means, imagine what we would do with a
very large amount of money if it suddenly came into our possession.

:: Parents
what if my life were different

:: Notes
The threshold for this theme is that the amount of money is so large that the
person doesn't necessarily have to work more in their life, should they wish
it. If a smaller amount of money is suddenly gained, the theme "what if I
suddenly got some free money" applies instead.


what if I was trapped in a story
================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to be inside the world painted by the story
of a novel, with no way to escape it.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a strange place

:: Examples
Captain Picard and some of his team were trapped in an eternal live enactment
of a second rate 20th century novel in tng2x12 "The Royale".


what if I was trapped inside a game
===================================

:: Description
Someone finds themself somehow literally stuck inside a game, like a video
game.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a strange place


what if I were a ghost
======================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to be a ghost.

:: Parents
what if my life were different

:: Examples
After a freak accident Ro and Geordi were phase shifted in a way that, for all
intents and purposes, made them ghosts in tng5x24 "The Next Phase".


what if I were a god
====================

:: Description
We are made to imagine what it would be like to be worshiped as a god.

:: Parents
what if my life were different

:: Notes
This theme is not used just because someone has magical (godlike) powers, in
which case "what if I had magical powers" is applicable. Godlike status is
here defined as having worshipers.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apotheosis


what if I were a man who got pregnant
=====================================

:: Description
We are made to imagine what it would be like as a man to become pregnant.

:: Parents
speculative experience


what if I were all alone in the world
=====================================

:: Description
A character, or small group of characters, experience what it is like to be
more or less the only person/people in the world.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot


what if I were being framed for a crime
=======================================

:: Description
A character is being deliberately set-up so as to be suspected of a crime that
they did not actually commit.

:: Parents
what if I was accused of a crime that I didn't commit
framing someone for a crime

:: Examples
In ahp1x37 "Decoy", Gil tries to confront his lover Mona's abusive husband but
arrives to find the man murdered. Gil flees from the police and eventually
discovers that Mona has, in fact, set him up so that she would be able to
elope with the real murderer.


what if I were gradually turning into stone
===========================================

:: Description
A character experiences what it is like to transform into a petrified state.

:: Parents
what if I underwent a physical metamorphosis


what if I were in a coma-like state
===================================

:: Description
We imagine what it might be like to suffer from some condition such as
"persistent vegetative state" or "minimally conscious state", without the
ability to move but without being entirely brain dead.

:: Parents
what if I lived an alternate life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coma
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimally_conscious_state
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persistent_vegetative_state


what if I were in a tight spot
==============================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like find ourself if a predicament that goes above
and beyond what would be normal to experience in real life.

:: Parents
speculative experience


what if I were not subject to the normal process of aging
=========================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to not be subject to the normal aging
process.

:: Parents
speculative experience


what if I were socially isolated for an extended period of time
===============================================================

:: Description
We are made to imagine what it would be like to be alone and isolated from the
company of other people for an abnormally long time, i.e., months or years.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot

:: Examples
In tz1959e2x25 "The Silence", Mr. Tennyson accepted a wager that he'd not be
able to stay silent for a whole year. In order for the effort to be vetted, he
had to live practically isolated in a glass room.


what if I were stranded at sea
==============================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to be stranded at sea with little prospect of
survival.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a strange place

:: Examples
After a shipwreck, Edward Prendick finds himself adrift in the southern
Pacific Ocean with two other men and few provisions in H. G. Wells' classic
science fiction novel "The Island of Doctor Moreau" (1896).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castaway


what if I were stranded in outer space
======================================

:: Description
A character is stranded in outer space.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a strange place


what if I were stranded on a deserted island
============================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to be stranded on a deserted island, cut off
from civilization.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a strange place

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castaway#Castaways_in_popular_culture


what if I were stranded on a deserted planet
============================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to be stranded on a deserted planet, cut off
from civilization.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a strange place

:: Notes
This theme is used for planets and other planet-like celestial bodies alike.


what if I were stranded without food and water
==============================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to be shipwrecked or otherwise stranded
somewhere, with little or no food and water.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a strange place

:: Examples
Captain Picard, Wesley, and the cantankerous mining shuttle captain Dirgo
crash-landed without food and water on the desert moon Lambda Paz in tng4x09
"Final Mission".


what if I were the last of my family line
=========================================

:: Description
A character faces the possibly grim reality that they are the last living
member in their family line.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot

:: Examples
Baron Victor von Frankenstein was the last living member of the infamous
Frankenstein family in Frankenstein 1970 (1958).


what if I were trapped in a nightmare
=====================================

:: Description
A character is trapped inside a nightmare.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a strange place


what if I were trapped in the belly of a whale
==============================================

:: Description
A character is swallowed up by a whale, or similar leviathan, and must face
the prospect that they may never again see the light of day.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonah


what if I were trapped underground
==================================

:: Description
We imagine what it'd be like to get trapped in a mine, cave, or the like
without immediate rescue being at hand.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot

:: Examples
In tz1985e2x08b "The Junction", two miners from very different points in time
somehow end up trapped together in a collapsed mineshaft, hoping beyond hope
for rescue.


what if I woke up in a strange place and didn't remember how I got there
========================================================================

:: Description
We are mad to imagine what it might be like were we to suddenly wake up in a
strange place with no recollection of the recent past.

:: Parents
what if I found myself in a strange place


what if a child had power over adults
=====================================

:: Description
We are made to imagine a situation in which a child exercises notable
authority over an adult. This can, for example, happen because the child has
supernatural powers that enable them to enforce their will.

:: Parents
speculative society

:: Examples
In tz2019e1x05 "The Wunderkind", young sociopath Oliver Foley cleverly
manipulates public opinion and becomes elected president of the USA. Once
installed in the White House, it does not take long for Oliver's despotic
tendencies to bloom. Adults around him must jump to his childish whims for
fear of loosing their jobs or be accused of treason.


what if a killer was after me
=============================

:: Description
A character experiences what it is like to know that someone is out to take
their life.

:: Parents
what if someone dangerous was after me


what if a loved one became possessed by another being
=====================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like if a loved one suddenly became possessed by a
demon or some other malevolent entity and started doing evil demon things,
like hitting us.

:: Parents
what if someone around me changed

:: Examples
Keiko O'Brien's husband Miles became possessed by a malevolent, disembodied
prisoner alien in tng5x15 "Power Play".


what if an aspect of my personality was slightly different
==========================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it'd be like to be a somewhat different person than we are, in
terms of character.

:: Parents
speculative experience


what if criminals were after me
===============================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to be chased by potentially dangerous
criminals, for one reason or another.

:: Parents
what if someone dangerous was after me

:: Examples
In futurama7x12 "Viva Mars Vegas", Dr. Zoidberg finds and spends some money
belonging to the robot mafia. He is then chased by said mafia who wants their
money back.


what if every woman suddenly got pregnant at the same time
==========================================================

:: Description
We imagine what the world would be like if virtually every woman of
childbearing age got pregnant at the same time.

:: Parents
speculative future event


what if everyone lost control of their inhibitions
==================================================

:: Description
We imagine what the world would be like if everyone gave in to their immediate
urges without self-restraint.

:: Parents
what if the people around me changed

:: Examples
In tos1x06 "The Naked Time" everyone got intoxicated on polywater and did
whatever they wanted. The Enterprise would have spiraled into the atmosphere
of Psi 2000 were it not for the Captain Kirk's willpower and Dr. McCoy's
ingenuity.


what if everyone suddenly started to communicate differently
============================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to find that everyone changed how they
communicate, i.e., it'd be like everyone suddenly spoke a foreign language.

:: Parents
what if the people around me changed

:: Notes
Normally, one may reasonably think, it is not everyone else that have changed
but a single observer's brain that has. This theme applies if the vantage
point of such an observer is featured.

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x02a "Wordplay", Bill found that he could no longer understand
anyone else because they seemed to use the wrong words for the things they
were talking about. In the end he had to re-learn English.

In the Bible story of the "Tower of Babel", Genesis 11:1-9, God made people
speak different languages as a punishment for their audacious contrivance to
reach the heavens by erecting an enormous tower.


what if everyone suddenly turned stupid
=======================================

:: Description
We imagine what the world would be like if virtually everyone in it turned
incredibly stupid.

:: Parents
speculative future event


what if everyone turned into zombies
====================================

:: Description
We imagine what the world would be like if everyone in it (except us) turned
into zombies.

:: Parents
what if the people around me changed

:: Examples
Wesley dropped by the Enterprise-D for a visit in tng5x06 "The Game" only to
find the crew had become a bunch of video game addicted zombies.


what if everyone vanished and I was all alone
=============================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like if everyone else in our world suddenly
vanished.

:: Parents
what if the people around me changed

:: Examples
Captain Kirk woke up aboard what appeared to be a completely empty Enterprise
in tos3x17 "The Mark of Gideon".


what if my life was secretly stage managed
==========================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to find out that we have not been shaping our
own life as we thought, but that it had been minutely stage managed by others.

:: Parents
what if my life were different

:: Examples
In "The Truman Show" (1998), Truman overcame his fear of water and sailed
across the ocean only to encounter a mysterious wall. Traversing it through a
convenient door, he found out that his entire town was encased in an enormous
dome. It was all an elaborate construction to create the ultimate reality TV
show, and he had been the unwitting star.


what if my life were different
==============================

:: Description
A character experiences what it would be like if their life were different in
some interesting and significant aspect. Many of these themes involve magic or
seemingly magical phenomena.

:: Parents
speculative experience


what if my partner switched gender
==================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like if our partner (in the romantic sense)
suddenly switched gender for some reason.

:: Parents
what if someone around me changed


what if my personal identity came into question
===============================================

:: Description
Someone experiences a situation that challenges their common sense notions of
personhood. Examples include someone discovering they are a digital copy of
somebody else and two people getting somehow combined into one person.

:: Parents
speculative experience

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_identity


what if my thoughts became reality
==================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like if someone's various thoughts just became
real as soon as they imagined them, whether they want it or not.

:: Parents
speculative experience

:: Notes
This theme is not used when a character has the ability to conjure things into
existence at will, and can refrain from doing so at will.

:: Examples
The Enterprise crew experienced this sort of alternate reality on the Shore
Leave amusement park planet in tos1x17 "Shore Leave", and again in tas1x09
"Once Upon a Planet", where their lazy day dreams were made rapid reality by
an enormous machine.


what if people around me started behaving strangely one by one
==============================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like if more or less everyone around us started to
act in an unusual way for no obvious reason.

:: Parents
what if the people around me changed

:: Examples
In ds91x18 "Dramatis Personae", people around Odo started to act out of
character, acting clandestinely and inquiring about his loyalties. It turned
out an alien transmission was turning them into two opposing factions.


what if people around me started disappearing one by one
========================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like if people around us just started to
mysteriously disappear one after the other.

:: Parents
what if the people around me changed


what if people around me started falling mysteriously ill one by one
====================================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like if people around us one by one contracted
mysterious ailments.

:: Parents
what if the people around me changed


what if people connected to me started dying one by one
=======================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like if our friends and/or other people in our
general vicinity started falling dead one after the other. This usually occurs
under mysterious circumstances and murder might be suspected.

:: Parents
what if the people around me changed


what if someone I knew returned from the dead
=============================================

:: Description
A character believes someone they know is dead and gone, but after some time
that person comes back.

:: Parents
what if someone around me changed


what if someone around me changed
=================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like if somebody around us was found to be
different from who the person we thought they were, or was changed in a
fantastical way.

:: Parents
speculative experience


what if someone couldn't remember me anymore
============================================

:: Description
A character suddenly finds that a person that used to know them well has now
lost all memories of them.

:: Parents
what if someone around me changed


what if someone dangerous was after me
======================================

:: Description
A character experiences what it is like to know that some dangerous person is
out to kill or otherwise cause them significant harm.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot


what if the Nazis had won
=========================

:: Description
We imagine what the world would be like if the Nazis had prevailed in World
War II and come to world dominance.

:: Parents
alternate history

:: Examples
The possible consequences of a Nazi victory in World War II were explored in
tos1x28 "The City on the Edge of Forever".

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/axis_wins


what if the Roman Empire never fell
===================================

:: Description
We imagine what the world would be like if the Roman Empire had not declined
from its peak but simply gone on to become globally dominant into modern
times.

:: Parents
alternate history

:: Examples
Our protagonists came across a planet which was virtually a parallel of Earth
up until the 20th century, except that the Roman Empire had somehow survived
in tos2x14 "Bread and Circuses".


what if the fate of the world was in my hands
=============================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like if we were in a situation where our choice of
action would have a direct and profound impact on the populated world. For
example, this would apply if we were the only one present to stop a super-
villain from destroying Earth.

:: Parents
speculative experience


what if the people around me changed
====================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to find ourself in a situation where the
people around them have changed dramatically.

:: Parents
speculative experience


what if the world was continually rearranging itself around me
==============================================================

:: Description
We imagine what it'd be like to find the world suddenly changing
inconsistently around us.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot


what if time passed at different rates for different people
===========================================================

:: Description
Two characters experience the passage of time such that time goes faster for
the one and slower for the other.

:: Parents
speculative experience

:: Notes
For this theme to apply, the experience of the passage of time must be
depicted from the point of view of each character. In particular, this theme
does not apply when one character simply freezes time or slows time to a
crawl.

:: Examples
The Scalosians had been subjected to radiation that made them speed up in time
relative to the Enterprise crew in tos3x13 "Wink of an Eye". The radiation had
its negative effects also, rendering them sterile.


what if we all lost our memories
================================

:: Description
We imagine what the world would be like if everyone suddenly lost all their
memories.

:: Parents
what if the people around me changed

:: Examples
The entire crew on the Enterprise suddenly lost their memories in tng5x14
"Conundrum", which led to much befuddled and amusing awkwardness.


what is beauty
==============

:: Description
The question of what "beauty" really is is discussed. Why do we call some
things "beautiful"?

:: Parents
aesthetics

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty


what is good and evil
=====================

:: Description
The very nature of what is morally good and bad is discussed.

:: Parents
ethics


what is justice
===============

:: Description
The vary nature of what is just and what is unjust is discussed.

:: Parents
ethics

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justice


what is life
============

:: Description
The slippery definition of what constitutes "life" is discussed. Nature has a
way of befuddling biologists whenever they think they may have pinned it down,
and sci-fi can of course speedily go beyond nature into the purely
hypothetical.

:: Parents
metaphysics

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life


what is natural
===============

:: Description
The subtle question of what it means for something to be "natural" contra
"unnatural" is discussed. For example: since most people die before reaching
90, is it unnatural to live longer than that? What about 100? 500?

:: Parents
metaphysics


what is perfection
==================

:: Description
The question of what "perfection" really is, is discussed. Is there such a
thing as true perfection?

:: Parents
aesthetics

:: Examples
The sentient space probe Nomadof  tos2x08 "The Changeling" set out to
eradicate all imperfections in the universe, but Captain Kirk demonstrated to
it that it was itself imperfect.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfection


what is sentience
=================

:: Description
The definition of sentience is discussed. Here as in most sci-fi the word
"sentient" is taken to mean intelligent and self-aware. That, however, still
leaves much to ponder.

:: Parents
metaphysics

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentience


what is truth
=============

:: Description
Questions regarding the definition of the word "truth" are pondered. Is there
even such a thing, and if so is it knowable and how can it be confidently
recognized?

:: Parents
philosophy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth


what it is like during a natural disaster
=========================================

:: Description
We are made to imagine what things might be like during an ongoing natural
disaster, for example an Earthquake.

:: Parents
what life is like

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_disaster


what it is like in a combat zone
================================

:: Description
The experiences a combatant may face on a field of battle, or there around,
are featured.

:: Parents
what life is like

:: Examples
In "Glory" (1989), we were shown the gruesome experiences of Colenel Shaw's
all black 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment as they lead a suicidal charge
on Fort Wagner atop Morris Island, with disastrous consequences.


what it is like in a legal proceeding
=====================================

:: Description
A hearing, trial, or other such legal procedure is featured.

:: Parents
what life is like

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_proceeding


what it is like in a psychiatric institution
============================================

:: Description
Someone experiences living as a patient in an insane asylum.

:: Parents
what life is like

:: Examples
Nefarious aliens made Riker believe he might live out his life in an insane
asylum on Tilonus IV in tng6x21 "Frame of Mind"


what it is like in boarding school
==================================

:: Description
We are shown what life may be like in an educational institution where young
students both live and learn on the premises for whole semesters without
leaving to go home.

:: Parents
what it is like in school

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boarding_school


what it is like in elementary school
====================================

:: Description
We are shown an idea of what things might be like for people (both student and
staff) in an elementary school, primary school, or comparable institution.
Students are roughly 6-11 years old.

:: Parents
what it is like in school

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elementary_school_(United_States)


what it is like in high school
==============================

:: Description
We are shown an idea of what things might be like for people (both student and
staff) in a high school, or comparable institution. Students are roughly 14-18
years old.

:: Parents
what it is like in school


what it is like in prison
=========================

:: Description
We are shown a reasonable vision of what life might be light for an
incarcerated person in some type of prison.

:: Parents
what life is like


what it is like in school
=========================

:: Description
We are shown what life might be like for students in some institution of
learning.

:: Parents
what life is like


what it is like in university
=============================

:: Description
We are shown what life might be like for university students. Stereotypically
this might involve fraternities, pranks on the dean, spring breaks, etc.

:: Parents
what it is like in school


what it is like on a passenger flight
=====================================

:: Description
We are shown what it might be like for a passenger to fly on a commercial
airline flight. Stereotypically, this might involve cramped seating, an overly
chatty neighbor, an unruly child kicking the back of one's seat, hijackings,
etc.

:: Parents
what it is like to travel

:: References


what it is like on a passenger liner
====================================

:: Description
We are shown what it might be like for a passenger to make a lengthy ocean
journey aboard a ship made primarily for this purpose.

:: Parents
what it is like to travel

:: Notes
Passenger liners are understood to have come about first in the mid-19:th
century.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_liner


what it is like to be a refugee
===============================

:: Description
The experiences of someone has crossed national boundaries and who cannot or
is unwilling to return home due to well-founded fear of persecution, are
featured.

:: Parents
what life is like

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugee


what it is like to be buried alive
==================================

:: Description
We imagine what it would be like to be buried (or bricked up in a mausoleum,
or some other variation on the same concept) while still alive.

:: Parents
what if I were in a tight spot

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premature_burial

:: Aliases
what if I were inhumed alive
what if I were entombed alive


what it is like to be different
===============================

:: Description
The experiences of someone who is significantly different from everyone else
in their surrounding is featured. Someone might for example be an outcast
because of their skin color.

:: Parents
human social position


what it is like to be homeless
==============================

:: Description
We are made to ponder what life is like for a poor downtrodden man or woman
living on the streets.

:: Parents
what it is like to be impoverished

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homelessness


what it is like to be impoverished
==================================

:: Description
The general life and travails of someone who finds themself in a state of
abject poverty is illustrated. Typically they are homeless and must live hand-
to-mouth on the street doing odd-jobs or begging.

:: Parents
what life is like


what it is like to be pregnant
==============================

:: Description
The emotional and physical experiences of (typically) a female character
carrying a fetus in her womb are explored.

:: Parents
what life is like

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregnancy


what it is like to live through a military occupation
=====================================================

:: Description
A character experiences what life is like for a normal civilian living through
a military occupation of their home land.

:: Parents
what life is like


what it is like to travel
=========================

:: Description
We are shown a reasonable idea of the various travails that may be involved in
making a prolonged journey in some accessible part of the world.

:: Parents
what life is like

:: Notes
If the journey is unusually perilous or exploratory, a "speculative travel"
theme is used instead.


what life is like
=================

:: Description
This is a general theme about aspects of what life may be like for an
individual of some interesting cohort (for example, a visible minority group)
or in some particular situation (for example, in high school).

:: Parents
personal human experience


what men want
=============

:: Description
The question of what men want out of life or out of prospective mates is
discussed.

:: Parents
male stereotype

:: Examples
Scotty, for example, wanted a cabaret dancing girl in tos2x07 "Wolf in the
Fold".


what women want
===============

:: Description
What women in contemporary society tend to want out of life is discussed,
typically with emphasis on things that men would be less concerned with.

:: Parents
female stereotype


when in Rome
============

:: Description
The notion that when you are abroad it is best to adopt the customs of those
around you, is featured.

:: Parents
cross cultural issue

:: Examples
Captain Kirk urged Scotty to refrain from applauding loudly in appreciation of
a seductive belly dance at an Argelian cafe, directing the drunken engineer to
blink the table light according to Argelian custom in tos2x07 "Wolf in the
Fold".


where to make one's home
========================

:: Description
A character wrestles with the rather basic life decision of where to settle
down and live out at least a good portion of their life.

:: Parents
human life choice


white hole
==========

:: Description
There is a hypothetical region of spacetime called a "white hole", that cannot
be entered from the outside, although energy-matter, light and information can
escape from it.

:: Parents
astronomy

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_hole


wicked character vs. virtuous character
=======================================

:: Description
A stereotypically evil character is contrasted with a character who is
stereotypically good.

:: Parents
human characters in contrast

:: Examples
In "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937), we see how the innocent and
kindly princess Snow White is hunted by her wicked and villainous step-mother,
the queen.


wicked husband and virtuous wife stereotype
===========================================

:: Description
We see a depiction of a married couple wherein the husband is a
stereotypically bad character and the wife a stereotypically good one.

:: Parents
wicked character vs. virtuous character

:: Examples
Up until the end in talesoftheunexpected5x04 "Run Rabbit Run", former Nazi war
collaborator Jacques was loud, lazy, mean, and domineering towards his wife
Nathalie who appeared to be meek, loving, forgiving, and dutiful. Only at the
very end we learn that that Nathalie finally had enough and got her own back.


wicked stepmother stereotype
============================

:: Description
There is a stepmother who is stereotypically mean towards her stepchildren in
particular.

:: Parents
female stereotype

:: Examples
In apuleius180tgab10inset1 "The Golden Ass: The Tale of the Murderous Wife", a
wicked stepmother tried to poison murder her stepson after he refused to sleep
with her. Through an ironic twist of fate she ended up killing her treasured
biological son instead.


wicked wife and virtuous husband stereotype
===========================================

:: Description
We see a depiction of a married couple wherein the wife is a stereotypically
bad character and the husband a stereotypically good one.

:: Parents
wicked character vs. virtuous character

:: Examples
In tz1959e5x11 "A Short Drink from a Certain Fountain", Harmond was a kind and
devoted older man with a cruel, selfish, and self-indulgent younger wife named
Flora.


wilderness survival
===================

:: Description
A character must survive somewhere in nature for an extended time, more or
less alone  with little or no technology or access to the amenities of a large
community.

:: Parents
human vs. nature


wish-granting being
===================

:: Description
There is a being who can be induced to grant one or more wishes (typically
three) of more-or-less any sort imaginable.

:: Parents
legendary being

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x16c "Tooth and Consequences", the Tooth Fairy himself appears
before a depressed dentist to grant him whatever he wished.


wish-granting magic object
==========================

:: Description
There is a fantastical object which can be used in order to get one or more
wishes granted.

:: Parents
magic object

:: Notes
Classically, a genie may appear from such an object to grant its summoner
three wishes that may end up having unpleasant side effects if the wording is
not made with the utmost care.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aladdin


wish-granting shooting star
===========================

:: Description
Someone sees a shooting star, makes a wish, and has the wish granted.

:: Parents
wish-granting magic object

:: Examples
In tz1985e1x23b "Grace Note", Mary wished upon a shooting star that her older
sister would become a great opera singer, and so she did.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_Star


wishing or wanting something really hard makes it happen
========================================================

:: Description
The idea is featured that if someone (implied anyone) really wants, wishes,
needs, desires (etc. etc.) something then occasionally reality can magically
make that thing come true.

:: Parents
folk belief

:: Notes
This is not a reliable "ability", but something that happens more or less as a
one-off to characters in special circumstances. If a character is able to
reliably alter reality, then "unbounded thought powers" or "speculative
ability related to reality at large" is applicable instead.

:: Examples
In tz1959e1x27 "The Big Tall Wish", Henry warned Bolie that the only way
Henry's wish that Bolie had won the boxing match would stay granted, was if
Bolie well and truly believed in it. Bolie could not find it in himself to
believe in such a wacky thing. Therefore reality reverted, and Bolie found
himself again having lost the boxing match.


witch
=====

:: Description
There is a female-looking being (possibly but not necessarily a normal human
woman) who is described as a "witch", or who uses magic of the kind that is
traditionally described as "witchcraft".

:: Parents
legendary magic wielder
witchcraft

:: Notes
It should be clear that she uses magic, and is not merely some old woman with
a knowledge of herbs (cf. "old woman as a witch stereotype").

:: Examples
The elderly aunt Ada used black magic in an effort to transfer her soul into
the body of her niece in the "Night Gallery: Since Aunt Ada Came to Stay"
(1971).

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft


witch-hunt
==========

:: Description
The religious practice, mostly Christian, of hunting down people that are
believed to fraternize with the devil.

:: Parents
organized religion
witch

:: Examples
Captain Kirk was confined and nearly charged with witchcraft in tos3x23 "All
Our Yesterdays".

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch-hunt


witchcraft
==========

:: Description
A character uses magical abilities of a type that witches and warlocks tend to
use in folklore, especially the Western variety.

:: Parents
folk belief

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witchcraft


with great power comes great responsibility
===========================================

:: Description
This old proverb, also known as the Peter Parker principle, is more or less
explicitly referenced.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
In "Spider-Man" (2002), Uncle Ben quoted this principle in response to Peter
Parker when Peter confided in Ben that he didn't know what he was supposed to
do with the newfound power he had acquired.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/With_great_power_comes_great_responsibility


withdrawal from society
=======================

:: Description
A character isolates themself from their family, friends, and or community.

:: Parents
human mental condition


witness tampering
=================

:: Description
The act of attempting to improperly influence, alter or prevent the testimony
of witnesses within criminal or civil proceedings is featured. Most typically
this is featured in stories when criminals intimidate witnesses to lie or be
silent in court.

:: Parents
obstruction of justice

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witness_tampering

:: Aliases
witness intimidation


woman in charge
===============

:: Description
The outlandish notion that a woman can be the leader of a group is featured.

:: Parents
gender issue


womanizing man
==============

:: Description
A man engages in numerous casual love affairs with different women.

:: Parents
male stereotype
promiscuity

:: Examples
Thadiun Okona flirted with every skirt in sight in tng2x04 "The Outrageous
Okona".

:: Aliases
playboy character


women's rights
==============

:: Description
We are made to ponder what rules need to be made in order for women to feel
they have the same rights and opportunities as men in society.

:: Parents
human rights issue

:: Examples
The alien woman Kamala was born and raised for no other purpose than to be the
perfect mate to an important foreign dignitary in tng5x21 "The Perfect Mate",
but don't women have more than that to offer human (or alien) kind?

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_rights


women's suffrage
================

:: Description
The right of women to vote in elections is featured.

:: Parents
gender issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_suffrage


work partner and work partner
=============================

:: Description
The relationship between two characters who find themselves in a close co-
working relationship is explored.

:: Parents
humans in pairs

:: References


work-life balance
=================

:: Description
A character has to decide how they want to weight the amount of time they
spend on work against the amount of time they spend on other pursuits in life.

:: Parents
career choice

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work%E2%80%93life_balance


workaholism
===========

:: Description
The more or less pathological condition of a person who can't tear themself
away from their work is featured.

:: Parents
human addiction

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workaholic


worker exploitation
===================

:: Description
The director of some facility treats their employees in a way that is
considered unfair, which can happen if the employees for one reason or another
are not free and able to quit and find employment elsewhere.

:: Parents
exploitation of sentient beings

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploitation_of_labour


workers replaced by machines
============================

:: Description
We are asked to what extent we should fear and, perhaps, oppose the
replacement of workers by machines. The day when this definition is written by
a computer may not be far off.

:: Parents
machines in society
socioeconomic issue

:: Examples
McCoy moaned about the M-5 multitronic unit (a computer) taking everyone's
jobs in tos2x24 "The Ultimate Computer".

:: Aliases
automation in society


workers' rights
===============

:: Description
It is discussed what kind of rights we feel that lowly workers ought to have.

:: Parents
human rights issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_rights

:: Aliases
labor rights


working hard vs. taking it easy in life
=======================================

:: Description
A character must choose how they want to approach life in general: Be diligent
and attend to their duties, or take it easy and have fun.

:: Parents
human life choice


working together in spite of disagreement
=========================================

:: Description
People who disagree and dislike each other must seek to work together in spite
of their differences.

:: Parents
humans at work
getting along in spite of disagreement


working together under stress
=============================

:: Description
People must try to work amicably and efficiently together under heavy stress.

:: Parents
humans in group


workplace disgruntlement
========================

:: Description
A character is angry or dissatisfied with their work to the extent that it
begins to interfere with the normal operation of the workplace.

:: Parents
humans at work


workplace harassment
====================

:: Description
Belittling or threatening behavior directed at an individual worker or a group
of workers is featured as an undesirable aspect of society.

:: Parents
harassment
humans at work

:: Examples
In talesoftheunexpected7x01 "The Dirty Detail", the army veteran Fred Pearson
thought that his sergeant had singled him out for abuse during his time in the
army.

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workplace_harassment


workplace relations
===================

:: Description
People form friendships and other interpersonal relationships in the
workplace.

:: Parents
humans at work


workplace rivalry
=================

:: Description
Two or more people squabbling over common workplace issues such as pecking
order and promotion, are featured.

:: Parents
humans at work


world eating machine
====================

:: Description
An enormous machine that gobbles up entire planets for fuel.

:: Parents
engineered space structure

:: Examples
An autonomous but not sentient machine nicknamed "The Planet Eater" from
another galaxy came and gobbled up some planets and a Federation starship in
tos2x06 "The Doomsday Machine".


world government
================

:: Description
There is a world-wide political system with a single authority at the top and
war between sovereign states is naught but a distasteful memory.

:: Parents
form of government

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_government


world ship
==========

:: Description
There is a spaceship with a self-sustaining environment that has resources on
a scale comparable to an entire planetoid, moon, comet, or suchlike celestial
object.

:: Parents
speculative spaceship

:: References
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/world_ships


worldwide drought
=================

:: Description
A severe and prolonged water shortage imperils civilization on a world.

:: Parents
force of nature existential risk to civilization

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drought


worm-like being
===============

:: Description
There is a sentient being patterned on worms.

:: Parents
animal and plant patterned being

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worm


wrestling with one's conscience
===============================

:: Description
A character questions the propriety of an intended action and decides to go
with their own instincts about what is morally right and wrong.

:: Parents
human worrying about self

:: Examples
Captain Picard and his crew finally rejected the fake orders they had received
to kill defenceless aliens in tng5x14 "Conundrum", because the orders went
against good conscience.


xenophobia in society
=====================

:: Description
The issue of a large portion of society having hostile and fearful attitudes
toward strangers is discussed.

:: Parents
prejudice in society

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenophobia


xenophobic isolationist society
===============================

:: Description
There is a society which chooses to remain well apart from the affairs of
other societies, perhaps out of fear of strangers.

:: Parents
speculative society

:: Examples
The Paxans went to elaborate lengths to hide their home world in tng4x14
"Clues".


yokel stereotype
================

:: Description
There is a steretypical country bumpkin kind of character, also known as a
hillbilly or (in the USA) a redneck. Their attributes typically include a
narrow view of the world, little education, and a perceived provincial
attitude to personal hygiene.

:: Parents
human character stereotype

:: Notes
The authors know very well that this stereotype is demeaning and most often
misleading. It can nevertheless be featured in stories.


you can't beat the odds in the long run
=======================================

:: Description
The folksy observation (that has very clear scientific justification) that in
matters of chance with known odds you can't consistently outperform the odds,
is featured.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambler%27s_fallacy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_limit_theorem


you can't eat money
===================

:: Description
It is explained or pointedly illustrated that things like money, or gold, has
very little intrinsic value for a person when they lack more basic necessities
of life, such as food.

:: Parents
human idea about life

:: Examples
In tz1959e2x24 "The Rip Van Winkle Caper", we saw four crooks meticulously
carry out an elaborate heist for gold. They then fought and killed each other
over the loot. Then one of them was forced to trade away gold bar after gold
bar for measly sips of water. The last thief collected many gold bars only to
be summarily assassinated by a comrade he had alienated. Finally we learn that
it was all in vain, because gold had become worthless as a commodity.


you have to take chances to get ahead
=====================================

:: Description
A character takes great risks in order to gain an advantage in life.

:: Parents
nothing ventured nothing gained

:: Examples
Q offered Picard a second chance at life in which Picard choose to play
everything safe in tng6x15 "Tapestry"; he ended up as the most dreary kind of
person imaginable, a scientist, and speedily repented.


you must fight for what you want
================================

:: Description
The idea is emphasized that one must work, fight, or otherwise struggle for
what one desires, or one will usually not get it.

:: Parents
human idea about life


young and old romance
=====================

:: Description
A younger person and an older person embark on a romantic relationship
together, with all the troubles and tribulations that may entail.

:: Parents
romantic relationship


young character vs. old character
=================================

:: Description
A stereotypically aged (often cynical) character is contrasted with a
stereotypically younger (often more blue-eyed and enthusiastic) character.

:: Parents
human characters in contrast


young lovers
============

:: Description
The mutual passion of two besotted young lovers is featured.

:: Parents
romantic relationship


youth rebellion
===============

:: Description
There is conflict between an older generation and a young, up and coming
generation over established moral and cultural norms.

:: Parents
sociocultural issue

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterculture_of_the_1960s


youthful ideological convictions
================================

:: Description
There is a relatively young character holding some strong ideological
conviction of a political nature. There is a suggested connection between that
character's age and their conviction, for example by the contrasting presence
of an older and more sombre character.

:: Parents
human childhood


youthful indiscretion
=====================

:: Description
A juvenile does stupid or criminal things as juveniles so often do before they
learn better.

:: Parents
human childhood


zombie
======

:: Description
There is a mindless, reanimated human corpse.

:: Parents
living corpse

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie
http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/zombies


zoology
=======

:: Description
Zoology is the branch of biology that studies the animal kingdom, including
the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution
of all animals, both living and extinct, and how they interact with their
ecosystems. This theme is used whenever an aspect of this science is featured
in the story.

:: Parents
biology

:: References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoology


