Based on the latest batch of letters, space.com readers are a restless lot -- they may be eagerly waiting for Star Wars DVDs, but our recent pieces on the next Star Trek movie and The X-Files prompted mixed feelings about the long-running franchises.

Are the X-Files really ailing?

"What's Ailing The X-Files" sparked both praise and criticism. One reader thinks the show isn't doing too badly at all:

The ratings you cite -- that X-Files has declined to its second season ratings -- was for one episode, which as I recall was a repeat. The ratings have been "off" since season 5 because X consistently airs against highly rated, heavily promoted TV movies and specials.

Its overall ratings are off but its 18-49 demographic ratings, which advertisers prize, have not declined.

The fans who continually complain about the show moving from Vancouver should have to live away from home there for 10 months of the year as the cast did, then they can legitimately complain. The move back to Los Angeles was promised to Duchovny and Anderson as part of their contracts.

And the tiresome whining of fans about "X-Files Lite" is annoying beyond belief. You'll find this is an online phenomenon (as are most of those complaining about an "ailing" X).

I've talked to fans at conventions and I don't find the same complaints -- in fact, they were unanimous in how much they had enjoyed the 6th season.

The problem with many X fans is that the story is not turning out the way they wanted it to turn out and therefore to them the show is in decline. They complained about making the movie, then about the movie, then about the move from Vancouver and so on and so on.

There are many fans "out there" who still believe the show is terrific -- check out the X-cursions guys at hotcoco.com and the alt.tv.x-files.analysis newsgroup for proof.

About the only thing more subject to argument than a conspiracy theory is a set of Nielsen ratings, but after reviewing the figures we think our case for anemic ratings is pretty firm.

Here's a reader who represents the disaffected X-Files fans:

I get tired of knowing they will always fail in their mission to uncover the conspiracy, too predictable. I like the conspiracy theme far better than the alien theme as I find it more believable.

I hate the scenes where Mulder or Scully get bedridden and disabled; they're supposed to be the heroes after all. I don't go in for showing too much of the "human side" of the characters.

It is their cool, detached approach and dedication that sets them apart, with just an occasional touch of humanity showing through when it doesn't interfere too much with their mission.

A little sense of humor is good, keep it dry and sparse. Romance? Never let it happen, it would destroy them. We all know they're in love with each other, but love their job more, and their love is born out of respect for the other's professional abilities.

They are closest when working together, a love scene would be an anticlimax to a job well done. Platonic is refreshingly different and we all know where to find a good love story and cry when we want to.

Try finding a pair like Mulder and Scully anywhere else.

My husband is addicted to the show and I occasionally still watch it with him.

Lucas a hero, but where are the DVDs?

We also got some questions about our recent article on George Lucas's Corwin award.

I enjoyed the article on George Lucas' Corwin award received at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. I definitely approve, and think if anyone deserved that award it should be him.

On a separate note I found out that space.com is a sponsor of the SETI@Home project through their website. I'm currently a member of SETI@Home, and I wanted to know if you show any information regarding the SETI@Home project or its progress on your website.

Keep up the great work, I've been a member since before the beginning and your site has come a long way. I look to you for all information regarding space, the space program, and anything else space-related.

Coming from a future astronaut, thanks.

You can find some of our SETI coverage here.

When will the Star Wars Trilogy and Phantom Menace be released on DVD? They keep saying they're going to do it, but so far, I think that's just hype.

Lucasfilm has been very cagey about a DVD release. Star Wars producer Rick McCallum says that Lucas "hopes to do something special" with the DVD release, but doesn't have time to work on it right now due to the work involved in Episode Two.

Death to Star Trek?

Finally, fans' reactions to our report on delays in the next Star Trek movie probably wouldn't please Paramount:

As a previously rabid fan of most of the Star Trek iterations, I'm disappointed that the next installment is further on than "soon."

I'm nearly 49 and find my patience is not what it used to be, and the more recent story lines are mere re-hashes of original premises. I did not go to the theaters to see the last two as a result.

If there is not a tenth episode, so what? The fact Frakes and others hang onto a dream is nice, but obviously the screenplay choices are not blockbusters, or else it would be in production.

Personally, I'm more excited to hear of the mini-series being created around Dune. There are some really spectacular science fiction series of the past that are now producable with today's technology.

Sadly that idea may not fly either, since some of the better authors are dead and quick 'n' easy is preferred by Madison Avenue.

We'd love to see some older books on the big screen, too. Somebody reminded me the other day that there's never been a movie of Edgar Rice Burroughs's A Princess of Mars. If they can do CGI dinosaurs now, why not thoats?

I think it's time to lay Star Trek, whether the first series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, or some as yet unknown future incarnation, to rest -- as in a burial.

Before getting attacked by a bunch of Trekkies - let me state that I was an avid fan back in the late '60s for the original series. I was, and have always been, an avid SF fan. Why then against future ST films?

The original had some problems - the first ST movie had plenty of special effects but no real story. Then when the films caught on, the crew stayed around too long.

By Star Trek V, Scotty was even making fun of the crew when he says "I know this ship like the back of my hand." and then this portly gray-headed actor turns around and bumps his head hard enough to be knocked down.

Data is showing his age, and these movies tend to remind me of McCoy's comments about the original series being "on the good ship Lollypop." There's a "we're great so everything will always come out our way" attitude.

In the recent Insurrection movie this attitude was evident while the Enterprise crew was helping the villagers to relocate to the mountains. It didn't feel like they were running for their lives. It was more like a "we're going on a picnic attitude."

The ST series just seems too "goody goody -- us old friends are back together for another movie" attitude.

Several years ago, I started watching Babylon 5. I had a hard transition from ST, but once I got used to the twists, I found myself starting to consider ST as being childish. In B5, the characters are must more realistic.

I would like to see ST just fade away while I still have some fond memories of the shows. But I would like to see B5 come back with 5 good movies and then a second series (better than the Crusade attempt).

I think the B5 series laid the groundwork for at least 5 movies to address questions left unanswered by the series and, while doing these 5 movies, position the viewers into caring for another group of characters who would then do a follow-on series.

Problem is, it appears that only ST has the funding to bring something onto the horizon. But the money would be better spent on B5.

So, does anybody out there want more Trek? Or is 30-plus years enough?

What do you think? Send your comments to the editor.