Which of our traditions and institutions will accompany our race into space? This controversial subject often includes items like religion or alternative lifestyles, but at least one item inevitably seems to duck the dispute (OK two, counting recreational activity): marriage.

In "Balance of Terror" Kirk confirms one happy privilege all shipmasters have enjoyed since the days of the first wooden vessels. (This mentioned in the ship's chapel no less - so much for religion being left behind.) Though not able to complete the ceremony it's clear from the hubbub that it was a serious, ship-wide social affair much like our weddings today. Tomlinson dies in that show but Angela gets a new beau in "Shore Leave." Then she dies.

Married couples pop up throughout all Trek series on the planet of the week. Occasionally however even the crew gets hitched (or tries to, within the limits of episodic television). In TOS McCoy married Natira in "For the World is Hollow ..." and fandom's biography has him also married previously with at least one child. Other Treks featured the union of Worf and Dax, Tom and B'Elanna, O'Brien and Keiko. Even the upcoming "STX:Nemesis" finally reveals - or doesn't, despite Betazed custom - the long-anticipated nuptials of Riker and Troi (and the surprise union of Wesley Crusher and Robin Lefler!)

Of the primary crew on "Enterprise" only Dr. Phlox (so far as we know) is married, in his odd Denobulan sort of way. (Weird alien conjunctions like this, or the Andorians marrying in sets of four, seem to be a throw-away line from the writers undefended by much evolutionary science.) Vulcans, for all their strong points, don't seem to fare so well. Spock and T'Pring couldn't pull it off, but she had her reasons. T'Pol declines the opportunity with a "Dear Koss" letter. In fact, I believe the only Vulcan marriage we've seen last happens to involve a Vulcan and a human (the Sareks)! Maybe it was logical at the time.

Captains are a different matter; like Kirk they're best left married to their ship (or other non-human aspect). Picard is married, well, to Picard's nature. Sisko's wife dies, Janeway's husband is left behind, and Archer's tastes seem to run to science babes and ghost-slugs.

Anyway, why mention this? Though it takes alot to distract the Dr. from his column - especially for a new episode - distracted I will be. My baby sister is getting married and next week's column (review of "Detained", God willing) will be delayed until my return from the ceremony.