Trailblazing science fiction writer Dorothy C. Fontana, who helped shape Star Trek, has died at the age of 80. She worked on the original Star Trek series, the animated series, The Next Generation, and Deep Space Nine. She also wrote for The Questor Tapes and Logan’s Run.
As one of the few female science fiction writers in the 50s and 60s, she credited herself as D. C. Fontana and kept her gender a secret until her photograph appeared in Stephen Whitfield’s book The Making of Star Trek in 1968.
Her absence will be felt by legions of Star Trek fans.