WI: No Star Trek?

Lets say Gene Roddenberry<sp> dies young and never comes up with the idea for star trek? What impact would this have on science fiction?
 
Something would have had to make the leap from "running out for some dramatic adventure where we're all serious" to actually thriving and relaxing out there. I saw a 12" Captain Kirk doll--whoops sorry, make that action figure--in Walmart once, and his three accessories were: coffee mug, communicator, and coffee pot. Yeah, that's what Star Trek brought home: living rooms in space.
 
Top