12 science fiction authors on how Star Trek influenced their lives

Star Trek has had an enormous influence on the world of science fiction ever since it aired on NBC in 1966. Gene Roddenberry’s drama aboard a spaceship introduced millions of viewers to science fiction across the world, and inspired some viewers to become science fiction authors in their own right.
We asked a handful of authors how they came to discover Star Trek, and how the show inspired them. Here is what they told us:Allen M. Steel, author of Coyote and Arkwright:I was eight years old