JANUARY 27, 2022 - David Gerrold is probably best known to Star Trek fans as the screenwriter for the Star Trek: The Original Series season two episode “The Trouble with Tribbles,” The Animated Series episodes “More Tribbles, More Troubles” and “Bem,” and the nonfiction books The World of Star Trek and The Trouble with Tribbles. Gerrold has written and otherwise worked on plenty of other material, both inside and outside of Star Trek, and he is being recognized for it all as the 2022 recipient of the Robert A. Heinlein Award.

According to the announcement at File 770, the “award is bestowed for outstanding published works in science fiction and technical writings that inspire the human exploration of space.” Gerrold in particular is being recognized for his body of work, “including his emphasis on young adult space travel novels and inspired creation during Star Trek screenwriting.”

Gerrold and the actual Robert Heinlein interacted back in 1967 over similarities between tribbles and Heinlein’s Martian creatures, flat cats. Heinlein only asked for a signed copy of the script for “The Trouble with Tribbles” and otherwise dismissed the issue.

The Baltimore Science Fiction Society sponsors the Heinlein Award, which will be presented during the opening ceremonies at Balticon 56 on May 27.

For more information on David Gerrold and the Robert A. Heinlein Award, head over to File 770.