John Harriman
Encyclopedia
John Harriman is a fictional character
in the Star Trek
universe
, the commanding officer of the starship
USS Enterprise-B
. Played by actor Alan Ruck
, he first appeared in the 1994
film Star Trek Generations, commanding the Enterprise-B on its maiden voyage during which James T. Kirk
was apparently killed. Ruck reprised the role in the non-canon
ical fan mini-series Star Trek: Of Gods and Men
. Harriman has also appeared in other Star Trek
media such as books and video games.
is launched with much fanfare, including a complement of journalists on board, as well as veteran Starfleet
officers James T. Kirk
, Montgomery Scott
, and Pavel Chekov
in attendance. Also present is helm officer Demora Sulu
, the daughter of Kirk's former helmsman Hikaru Sulu
.
Although the voyage was intended to be a brief trip for the benefit of the press, the Enterprise receives an emergency distress call from two El-Aurian refugee ships. The Enterprise-B is the only ship in range, so Harriman reluctantly gives the order to go to the rescue. When they get there, Harriman's efforts to rescue the ships are not successful. He asks Kirk for advice, and Kirk immediately takes charge of the situation. When someone has to go down to deflector control to effect a repair, Harriman offers to go, but Kirk opts to go instead and tells Harriman he should remain on the bridge. The first ship is destroyed, but the Enterprise rescues 47 of the 150 refugees from the second one, the Lakul, before it, too is destroyed. An energy surge breaches the deflector control area, Kirk is presumed dead.
, who wrote the novel in part to rehabilitate Harriman's character.
Harriman is revealed to be the son of John "Blackjack" Harriman, a powerful and legendary Starfleet
admiral who sees James T. Kirk
as a glorified cowboy whose disrespect for regulations made him a poor officer. Blackjack is largely responsible for his son's captaincy, and his strict expectations that his son not follow in the footsteps of people like Kirk have presented much for Harriman to live up to throughout his life. Pavel Chekov
holds Harriman personally responsible for Kirk's apparent death on the Enterprise-B
.
In the story, Demora Sulu
, helm officer of the Enterprise-B and daughter of Excelsior
captain Hikaru Sulu
, apparently dies on the planet Askalon V. Harriman quarantines the planet, but a quarantine team may not be dispatched to the planet for months. Refusing to wait for Starfleet to investigate the mystery of his daughter's death, Sulu takes the Excelsior to Askalon V to rescue Demora, in direct violation of Starfleet regulations prohibiting starship contact with quarantined planets. The Enterprise-B is sent after the Excelsior. As Sulu finds Demora very much alive on the planet, the Excelsior is confronted by the Enterprise.
Although Harriman attempts to order the ship to surrender, Blackjack objects to what he perceives as leniency on his son's part and takes over command of the Enterprise-B. Blackjack orders phasers fired at the Excelsior in order to "make an example" of them. Harriman, standing up to his father, belays the order, re-takes command of his ship, and relieves his father of duty. He takes a shuttlecraft
down to Askalon V, where he rescues both Sulu and Demora. Later, Blackjack is persuaded not to court-martial
his son or the crew of the Excelsior, though he insists to that this is not an endorsement of his actions, but a decision made to make his son look good.
also by Peter David
that appears in the 2000 anthology
Star Trek: Enterprise Logs. In this story, which David wrote in continuation of his desire to add depth and competence to Harriman's character, Harriman supervises the interrogation of a captured Romulan
interrogator named Rokan in a holographic simulation in a prototype holochamber
on-board the Enterprise-B
. Through a ruse, Harriman gets Rokan to reveal the names of several Starfleet
officials who are acting as Romulan sleeper agents.
Star Trek: The Lost Era
novel Serpents Among the Ruins by David R. George III, Harriman remains in command of the Enterprise-B
for nearly twenty years, and develops a reputation as an excellent and capable officer. He stands down as captain of the Enterprise after the Tomed Incident of 2311, and is succeeded by Demora Sulu
.
comic book, Star Trek: Captain's Log: Harriman, also depicts Harriman's struggle living in the shadow of a giant, and with being viewed as the man responsible for Kirk's death.
game Star Trek: Starship Creator
by Simon and Schuster Interactive includes Harriman as a character who can be assigned to one of the various positions on players' ships. The game lists Harriman as a native of Chicago, Illinois, with a son named Ferris and an interest in 20th century sports car
s, a reference to the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off
, which is set in Chicago, and in which Alan Ruck
, who plays the role of Ferris Bueller's best friend, has a father who owns a collection of sports cars.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
, the commanding officer of the starship
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
USS Enterprise-B
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-B)
The USS Enterprise is a fictional starship in the Star Trek science fiction franchise. It is an Excelsior-class upgrade Starfleet vessel that appears under the command of Captain John Harriman in the film Star Trek Generations...
. Played by actor Alan Ruck
Alan Ruck
Alan Ruck is an American film, stage and television actor, perhaps best known for his roles as Cameron Frye in Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Stuart Bondek on Spin City.-Early life:...
, he first appeared in the 1994
1994 in film
1994 was a significant year in film.The top grosser worldwide was The Lion King, which to date stands as the highest-grossing traditionally-animated film of all time...
film Star Trek Generations, commanding the Enterprise-B on its maiden voyage during which James T. Kirk
James T. Kirk
James Tiberius "Jim" Kirk is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. Kirk was first played by William Shatner as the principal lead character in the original Star Trek series. Shatner voiced Kirk in the animated Star Trek series and appeared in the first seven Star Trek movies...
was apparently killed. Ruck reprised the role in the non-canon
Canon (Star Trek)
The Star Trek canon is the set of all canonical material in the Star Trek universe. It is usually defined as comprising the television series Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, and the motion pictures in the franchise...
ical fan mini-series Star Trek: Of Gods and Men
Star Trek: Of Gods and Men
Star Trek: Of Gods and Men is a three-part unofficial Star Trek fan mini-series which contains many cast members from the Star Trek TV series and movies. It is described by its producers as a "40th Anniversary gift" from Star Trek actors to their fans. It was filmed in 2006, but its release was...
. Harriman has also appeared in other Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
media such as books and video games.
Star Trek Generations
At the beginning of Generations, the USS Enterprise-BUSS Enterprise (NCC-1701-B)
The USS Enterprise is a fictional starship in the Star Trek science fiction franchise. It is an Excelsior-class upgrade Starfleet vessel that appears under the command of Captain John Harriman in the film Star Trek Generations...
is launched with much fanfare, including a complement of journalists on board, as well as veteran Starfleet
Starfleet
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet or the Federation Starfleet is the deep-space exploratory, peacekeeping and military service maintained by the United Federation of Planets . It is the principal means by which the Federation conducts its exploration, defense, diplomacy and research...
officers James T. Kirk
James T. Kirk
James Tiberius "Jim" Kirk is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. Kirk was first played by William Shatner as the principal lead character in the original Star Trek series. Shatner voiced Kirk in the animated Star Trek series and appeared in the first seven Star Trek movies...
, Montgomery Scott
Montgomery Scott
Montgomery "Scotty" Scott is a Scottish engineer in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by James Doohan in the original Star Trek series, Scotty also appears in the animated Star Trek series, seven Star Trek movies, the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Relics", and in numerous...
, and Pavel Chekov
Pavel Chekov
Pavel Andreievich Chekov is a Russian Starfleet officer in the Star Trek fictional universe. Walter Koenig portrayed Chekov in the original Star Trek series and first seven Star Trek films; Anton Yelchin portrayed the character in the 2009 film Star Trek.-Origin:Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry...
in attendance. Also present is helm officer Demora Sulu
Demora Sulu
In the fictional Star Trek universe, Demora Sulu , is the daughter of Enterprise helmsman Hikaru Sulu and serves as helmsman of the USS Enterprise-B under Captain John Harriman in 2293. Demora also appears in the non-canon novels The Captain's Daughter by Peter David and Serpents Among the Ruins by...
, the daughter of Kirk's former helmsman Hikaru Sulu
Hikaru Sulu
Hikaru Sulu is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by George Takei in the original Star Trek series, Sulu also appears in the animated Star Trek series, the first six Star Trek movies, one episode of Star Trek: Voyager, and in numerous books, comics, and video games...
.
Although the voyage was intended to be a brief trip for the benefit of the press, the Enterprise receives an emergency distress call from two El-Aurian refugee ships. The Enterprise-B is the only ship in range, so Harriman reluctantly gives the order to go to the rescue. When they get there, Harriman's efforts to rescue the ships are not successful. He asks Kirk for advice, and Kirk immediately takes charge of the situation. When someone has to go down to deflector control to effect a repair, Harriman offers to go, but Kirk opts to go instead and tells Harriman he should remain on the bridge. The first ship is destroyed, but the Enterprise rescues 47 of the 150 refugees from the second one, the Lakul, before it, too is destroyed. An energy surge breaches the deflector control area, Kirk is presumed dead.
The Captain's Daughter
Harriman features prominently in the 1995 novel Star Trek: The Captain's Daughter by Peter DavidPeter David
Peter Allen David , often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, movies and video games...
, who wrote the novel in part to rehabilitate Harriman's character.
Harriman is revealed to be the son of John "Blackjack" Harriman, a powerful and legendary Starfleet
Starfleet
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet or the Federation Starfleet is the deep-space exploratory, peacekeeping and military service maintained by the United Federation of Planets . It is the principal means by which the Federation conducts its exploration, defense, diplomacy and research...
admiral who sees James T. Kirk
James T. Kirk
James Tiberius "Jim" Kirk is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. Kirk was first played by William Shatner as the principal lead character in the original Star Trek series. Shatner voiced Kirk in the animated Star Trek series and appeared in the first seven Star Trek movies...
as a glorified cowboy whose disrespect for regulations made him a poor officer. Blackjack is largely responsible for his son's captaincy, and his strict expectations that his son not follow in the footsteps of people like Kirk have presented much for Harriman to live up to throughout his life. Pavel Chekov
Pavel Chekov
Pavel Andreievich Chekov is a Russian Starfleet officer in the Star Trek fictional universe. Walter Koenig portrayed Chekov in the original Star Trek series and first seven Star Trek films; Anton Yelchin portrayed the character in the 2009 film Star Trek.-Origin:Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry...
holds Harriman personally responsible for Kirk's apparent death on the Enterprise-B
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-B)
The USS Enterprise is a fictional starship in the Star Trek science fiction franchise. It is an Excelsior-class upgrade Starfleet vessel that appears under the command of Captain John Harriman in the film Star Trek Generations...
.
In the story, Demora Sulu
Demora Sulu
In the fictional Star Trek universe, Demora Sulu , is the daughter of Enterprise helmsman Hikaru Sulu and serves as helmsman of the USS Enterprise-B under Captain John Harriman in 2293. Demora also appears in the non-canon novels The Captain's Daughter by Peter David and Serpents Among the Ruins by...
, helm officer of the Enterprise-B and daughter of Excelsior
USS Excelsior (Star Trek)
The USS Excelsior is a starship in the Star Trek universe. The Excelsior was first seen in the 1984 film, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. It later appeared in the 1986 film, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home...
captain Hikaru Sulu
Hikaru Sulu
Hikaru Sulu is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by George Takei in the original Star Trek series, Sulu also appears in the animated Star Trek series, the first six Star Trek movies, one episode of Star Trek: Voyager, and in numerous books, comics, and video games...
, apparently dies on the planet Askalon V. Harriman quarantines the planet, but a quarantine team may not be dispatched to the planet for months. Refusing to wait for Starfleet to investigate the mystery of his daughter's death, Sulu takes the Excelsior to Askalon V to rescue Demora, in direct violation of Starfleet regulations prohibiting starship contact with quarantined planets. The Enterprise-B is sent after the Excelsior. As Sulu finds Demora very much alive on the planet, the Excelsior is confronted by the Enterprise.
Although Harriman attempts to order the ship to surrender, Blackjack objects to what he perceives as leniency on his son's part and takes over command of the Enterprise-B. Blackjack orders phasers fired at the Excelsior in order to "make an example" of them. Harriman, standing up to his father, belays the order, re-takes command of his ship, and relieves his father of duty. He takes a shuttlecraft
Shuttlecraft (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek fictional universe, a shuttlecraft is a small auxiliary spaceship carried by the larger craft such as the Enterprise. Shuttlecraft were documented in the writer's guide for the series in 1966 and first appeared in the episode The Galileo Seven. Galileo was the name of the...
down to Askalon V, where he rescues both Sulu and Demora. Later, Blackjack is persuaded not to court-martial
Court-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
his son or the crew of the Excelsior, though he insists to that this is not an endorsement of his actions, but a decision made to make his son look good.
"Shakedown"
Harriman also appears in "Shakedown", a short storyShort story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
also by Peter David
Peter David
Peter Allen David , often abbreviated PAD, is an American writer of comic books, novels, television, movies and video games...
that appears in the 2000 anthology
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
Star Trek: Enterprise Logs. In this story, which David wrote in continuation of his desire to add depth and competence to Harriman's character, Harriman supervises the interrogation of a captured Romulan
Romulan
The Romulans are a fictional alien race in the Star Trek universe. First appearing in the original Star Trek series in the 1966 episode "Balance of Terror", they have since made appearances in all the main later Star Trek series: The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager...
interrogator named Rokan in a holographic simulation in a prototype holochamber
Holodeck
A holodeck, in the fictional Star Trek universe, is a simulated reality facility located on starships and starbases. The first use of a "holodeck" by that name in the Star Trek universe was in the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Encounter at Farpoint", although a conceptually...
on-board the Enterprise-B
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-B)
The USS Enterprise is a fictional starship in the Star Trek science fiction franchise. It is an Excelsior-class upgrade Starfleet vessel that appears under the command of Captain John Harriman in the film Star Trek Generations...
. Through a ruse, Harriman gets Rokan to reveal the names of several Starfleet
Starfleet
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet or the Federation Starfleet is the deep-space exploratory, peacekeeping and military service maintained by the United Federation of Planets . It is the principal means by which the Federation conducts its exploration, defense, diplomacy and research...
officials who are acting as Romulan sleeper agents.
Serpents Among the Ruins
According to the 2003 non-canonCanon (Star Trek)
The Star Trek canon is the set of all canonical material in the Star Trek universe. It is usually defined as comprising the television series Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, and the motion pictures in the franchise...
Star Trek: The Lost Era
Star Trek: The Lost Era
Star Trek: The Lost Era is a series of novels that take place during the time period between the 23rd century events of the film Star Trek Generations and the first season of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, set in 2364....
novel Serpents Among the Ruins by David R. George III, Harriman remains in command of the Enterprise-B
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-B)
The USS Enterprise is a fictional starship in the Star Trek science fiction franchise. It is an Excelsior-class upgrade Starfleet vessel that appears under the command of Captain John Harriman in the film Star Trek Generations...
for nearly twenty years, and develops a reputation as an excellent and capable officer. He stands down as captain of the Enterprise after the Tomed Incident of 2311, and is succeeded by Demora Sulu
Demora Sulu
In the fictional Star Trek universe, Demora Sulu , is the daughter of Enterprise helmsman Hikaru Sulu and serves as helmsman of the USS Enterprise-B under Captain John Harriman in 2293. Demora also appears in the non-canon novels The Captain's Daughter by Peter David and Serpents Among the Ruins by...
.
Star Trek: Captain's Log: Harriman
The 2010 IDWIDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
comic book, Star Trek: Captain's Log: Harriman, also depicts Harriman's struggle living in the shadow of a giant, and with being viewed as the man responsible for Kirk's death.
Other media
The non-canonCanon (Star Trek)
The Star Trek canon is the set of all canonical material in the Star Trek universe. It is usually defined as comprising the television series Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, and the motion pictures in the franchise...
game Star Trek: Starship Creator
Star Trek: Starship Creator
Star Trek: Starship Creator is a computer-based vehicle simulation game released by Simon and Schuster Interactive in 1998, as a spin-off of the Star Trek franchise....
by Simon and Schuster Interactive includes Harriman as a character who can be assigned to one of the various positions on players' ships. The game lists Harriman as a native of Chicago, Illinois, with a son named Ferris and an interest in 20th century sports car
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
s, a reference to the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a 1986 American teen coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by John Hughes.The film follows high school senior Ferris Bueller , who decides to skip school and spend the day in downtown Chicago...
, which is set in Chicago, and in which Alan Ruck
Alan Ruck
Alan Ruck is an American film, stage and television actor, perhaps best known for his roles as Cameron Frye in Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Stuart Bondek on Spin City.-Early life:...
, who plays the role of Ferris Bueller's best friend, has a father who owns a collection of sports cars.