Myrna Culbreath

Myrna Lou Culbreath (born September 1, 1938)^[1] is an American science fiction writer and editor, most well-known for the Star Trek tie-in novels and anthologies cowritten with Sondra Marshak. Culbreath was a founding editor of the libertarian editorial newsletter The Fire Bringer.^[3]

Her analysis of the Star Trek character Spock, originally published in an issue of The Fire Bringer, was lauded by Gene Roddenberry as the "best analysis ever done" of the character.^[4]

According to a local newspaper in Colorado Springs, Culbreath operated a tutoring school in the early 1960s. The school offered preparation for GED and CLEP tests, as well as reading assistance and tutoring for students with disabilities and disabled veterans. The school had branch offices in Denver and Cortez.^[5]

Culbreath is an objectivist and a libertarian. She was briefly a member of the Young Americans for Freedom.^[6] She attended the first Libertarian Party convention in June 1972. Frustrated by the political platform that emerged during the convention, Culbreath "filibustered" until all anti-war messaging was withdrawn from the platform.^[7] She later resigned from the party.^[8]

Sometime before 1977, Culbreath moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where she shared a home with her writing partner, Sondra Marshak.^[9][10]

In the early-1970s, Culbreath began self-publishing an editorial newsletter under the title The Fire Bringer which focused on libertarian and objectivist issues.^[3] Culbreath's correspondence with Gene Roddenberry was frequently quoted in her editorials and cultural analysis.

In 1974, a special issue now known by the fanac title "The Star Trek Reprint" collected Culbreath's correspondence with Roddenberry. An analysis of the Spock character, known by the fanac title "The Spoke Premise", was also included.^[6] Roddenberry had praised the analysis during his appearance at Vul-Con I, in 1973, saying it was "required reading for all Star Trek fans."^[4]

During the mid-to-late 70's, Culbreath and her writing partner Sondra Marshak were regular guests of honor at science fiction conventions. They were was often joined on-stage by Marshak's mother, nicknamed "Mama-Anna" by fans.^[11][12]

After 1970, Culbreath made a number of attempts at writing a Star Trek episode spec script with Roddenberry's encouragement. Her preferred title for the script was "Triangle".^[13] Once renewal of the television series proved unlikely, Roddenberry introduced Culbreath to fan writer Jacqueline Lichtenberg, who then introduced Culbreath to Sondra Marshak. The three corresponded for several months, and Culbreath and Marshak formally met at a Star Trek convention in Baton Rouge in 1974.^[9]

Marshak and Culbreath went on to co-author four original Star Trek novels, including Triangle (1983), which was inspired by Culbreath's unfinished script. They also edited two short story anthologies, The New Voyages and its sequel, which collected two of their stories. Culbreath and Marshak also contributed trivia to The Star Trek Puzzle Manual (1976). She co-wrote the William Shatner biography Shatner: Where No Man (1979) with Marshak and Shatner.

Star Trek: The New Voyages (1976) was Culbreath's first professionally published work. However, she was loosely involved with the production of Star Trek Lives! (1975), along with Marshak, Lichtenberg, and television producer Joan Winston.^[13]

In the author's notes for The Fate of the Phoenix (1979), Culbreath and Marshak announced a number of forthcoming titles: a fictional travel guide tentatively titled Mr. Spock's Guide to the Planet Vulcan, and a non-Star Trek science fiction novel with William Shatner, The Power, and new installments of The New Voyages series. None of the announced titles were realized or released.^[14]

Culbreath marketed a phonics-based reading method she claimed to have begun developing in the 1960s via seminars and tutoring events. She later condensed her method into a board game inspired by Monopoly which was published in 1996. The game was initially sold as The Phonics Game, and it included supplementary materials for teachers. It was often marketed as 'Phonics Monopoly' by Culbreath. In 1999, an updated edition was sold by LearnByGames as PhonicsOpoly, and later PhonOpoly. Marshak also contributed to the supplementary materials, and participated in sales and promotion to school teachers.^[15][16]

During a 2004 episode of Zoh Hieronimus's Future Talk podcast, Culbreath was introduced as a well-known television and radio host, but no hosting details were given. Culbreath explained she had frequently "substituted for a nationally syndicated radio host," but she did not mention for whom.^[17] Other than her appearances on Future Talk in 2004, and an interview summarized by Jeff Ayers in Voyages of Imagination in 2006, Culbreath has not given any new interviews, nor has she released any new fiction since the release of Triangle in 1983.^{[citation needed]}

She currently resides in Torrance, California near Marshak.^[1]

• The Star Trek Puzzle Manual (November 1976), with Jeff Razzi and Sondra Marshak. Bantam Books ISBN 0-553-01054-9.
• Shatner: Where No Man…: The Authorized Biography of William Shatner (December 1979), with William Shatner and Sondra Marshak. Ace ISBN 0-441-88975-1.

• Star Trek: The New Voyages (March 1976), with Sondra Marshak. Bantam Books #X2719.
• Star Trek: The New Voyages 2 (January 1978), with Sondra Marshak. Bantam Books ISBN 0-553-11392-5.

• The Price of the Phoenix (July 1977), with Sondra Marshak. Bantam Books ISBN 0-553-10978-2.
• The Fate of the Phoenix (May 1979), with Sondra Marshak. Bantam Books ISBN 0-553-12779-9.
• The Prometheus Design (March 1982), with Sondra Marshak. Pocket Books ISBN 0-671-83398-7.
• Triangle (March 1983), with Sondra Marshak. Pocket Books ISBN 0-671-83399-5.

• "Surprise!" Star Trek: The New Voyages 2 (January 1978) with Nichelle Nichols and Sondra Marshak.
• "The Procrustean Petard," Star Trek: The New Voyages 2 (January 1978) with Sondra Marshak.

• The Phonics Game (October 1996). A Better Way Games.
• PhonicsOpoly: The Phonics Game (January 1999). LearnByGames.

• Myrna Culbreath at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database.
• Authors: Culbreath, Myrna at The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
• Myrna Culbreath at Goodreads.