Editing Reginald Barclay

{{short description|Recurring Star Trek character}}
{{use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox character
| name               = Reginald Barclay
| franchise          = ''[[Star Trek]]''
| image              = Reginald Barclay.jpg
| caption            = Schultz as Barclay in [[Hollow Pursuits]]
| first_major        = [[Star Trek: The Next Generation|The Next Generation]]
| first_minor        = [[Hollow Pursuits]]
| first_date         = April 30, 1990
| last_major         = [[Star Trek: Voyager|Voyager]]
| last_minor         = [[Endgame (Star Trek: Voyager)|Endgame]]
| last_date          = May 23, 2001
| creator            = {{plainlist|
* [[Sally Caves|Sarah Higley]]
* [[Gene Roddenberry]] 
}}
| portrayer          = [[Dwight Schultz]]
| full_name          = Reginald Endicott Barclay III
| nicknames          = Broccoli, Reg
| occupation         = [[Engineer]]
| affiliation        = [[Starfleet]]
}}

'''Reginald Endicott Barclay III'''<ref name="1997-08 STTOMM" /> is a fictional [[engineer]] from [[Star Trek|the ''Star Trek'' media franchise]].  On television and in film, he has been portrayed by [[Dwight Schultz]] since the character's introduction in the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' [[Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3|third season]] episode "[[Hollow Pursuits]]."  Schultz played the character for five episodes and one [[feature film]] (''[[Star Trek: First Contact]]'') of ''The Next Generation'', as well as six episodes of the series ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]''. Barclay also appears in [[Star Trek canon|non-canon]] [[List of Star Trek novels|''Star Trek'' novels]] and [[History of Star Trek games|video games]].

Schultz was cast in ''The Next Generation'' thanks to [[Whoopi Goldberg]] ([[Guinan (Star Trek)|Guinan]]).  Initially disappointed not to be playing an [[list of Star Trek aliens|alien]] character, Schultz never anticipated becoming such a [[trekkie|fan]]-favorite.  Barclay underwent changes from, as first conceived, a malicious character—someone that aggravated the crew to compensate for his [[inferiority complex]]—to the softer and more benign engineer that made it to air.  Schultz and others saw Barclay as a tribute to the average [[trekkie|''Star Trek'' fan]], though the producers said that was unintentional.

During ''The Next Generation''{{'s}} televised run, Barclay was stationed aboard the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D}}.  He was then posted at the Jupiter Station Holoprogramming Center before being aboard the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-E)|''Enterprise''-E]] for the events of ''Star Trek: First Contact''.  For his [[Star Trek: Voyager season 6|season six]] and [[Star Trek: Voyager season 7|seven]] ''Star Trek: Voyager'' appearances, Barclay was assigned to the Pathfinder Project, a [[Starfleet]] Communications endeavor to communicate with the {{USS|Voyager|Star Trek|6}} stranded in the [[Delta Quadrant]].{{TOC limit|3}}

==Conception==
[[University of Rochester]] professor [[Sarah Higley]] created Reginald Barclay in her script for the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' third-season episode "[[Hollow Pursuits]]". Before writing the script, Higley knew that she wanted to write about the less-exceptional members of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|2}} crew, saying, "I thought there wasn't enough emphasis on the less outstanding, less [[child prodigy|''wunderkind'']]-like crew members".  She described her initial conception of Barclay as "a repulsive guy […] wrapped up in himself, brilliant in his field, [and] socially a wash-out."  She gave him the pompous name Endicott Reginald Barclay III to suggest he "had always suffered from an [[inferiority complex]] and just couldn't deal with the ultra-maturity and shining qualities of the rest of the crew."  Higley based Barclay on [[Till Eulenspiegel]]<!-- original: "Til Eulenspiegel" -->, a [[practical joke|prankster]] from [[German folklore]]: the original Barclay pranked the crew, taunted them about their weaknesses, and called their bluffs before being sent to a [[psychiatric hospital]].<ref name="1991-09 official TNG mag" />

[[Paramount Television]] bought "Hollow Pursuits" within a week of Higley's submission, but wanted to change the script to make Barclay save the day while being less acerbic and sarcastic.  Higley would later recall how she had made Barclay "repugnant" while the studio wanted somebody with whom the audience could identify: someone "whose stuttering, shyness and lack of self-confidence would speak to [the] shy and socially maladjusted".<ref name="1991-09 official TNG mag" />  As the character's actor, [[Dwight Schultz]] described Barclay as a ground-breaking character in terms of his normal fallibility.<ref name="1997-08 STTOMM" />  In the British magazine, ''[[TV Zone]]'', Schultz thanked Roddenberry for creating the character, saying, "He realized that that type of character was missing from the programme and, eventually, said, 'Let's fill that spot.{{'"}}<ref name="2001 TV Zone" />

In a script for "Hollow Pursuits", Barclay is described as a "shy individual with a perpetual frown born of stress and unhappiness between his brows.  […]  What we notice most about him is that he is uncomfortable around other people to the point of agony… he rarely makes eye contact… when he speaks, he hesitates, desperately afraid of saying the wrong thing… which he occasionally does."<ref name="1990 Hollow Pursuits script" />

==Casting==
[[File:Dwight Schultz 2.jpg|thumb|[[Dwight Schultz]] (April 2006)]]
Schultz was a fan of [[Star Trek: The Original Series|the original ''Star Trek'']]; it was the first [[television series]] he watched [[color television|in color]].  Schultz would wait for each episode to air, and then meet with friends after school to discuss the [[theme (arts)|theme]]s and plot of each one.<ref name="1997-08 STTOMM" />  ''The Next Generation'' [[showrunner]] [[Michael Piller]] recalled that sometime prior to casting Schultz, the actor had told [[executive producer]] [[Rick Berman]] that he would love to appear on the show.<ref name="1995 Captains' Logs: Season Three" />  Schultz himself credits [[Whoopi Goldberg]] ([[Guinan (Star Trek)|Guinan]]) with his opportunity to play Barclay.  In 1990, Schultz was working with Goldberg on ''[[The Long Walk Home]]'' when he discussed with her that he was a big fan of ''The Next Generation'' and knew [[Brent Spiner]] ([[Data (Star Trek)|Data]]) and [[Jonathan Frakes]] ([[William Riker]]) from his time in [[New York City]].  Then, approximately a month after returning from ''The Long Walk Home'', Schultz heard from his [[talent manager]] that the powers-that-be at ''The Next Generation'' had extended a job offer.<ref name="2001 TV Zone" /><ref name="1996-01 Starlog" />  Piller and Berman did not think they would actually be able to land Schultz for the spot because the actor had done ''[[Fat Man and Little Boy (film)|Fat Man and Little Boy]]'' with [[Paul Newman]] and "was very hot".<ref name="1995 Captains' Logs: Season Three" />  Schultz anticipated playing "a large [[vein]]-throbbing, bulbous-headed [[extraterrestrial life|alien]]," and was initially disappointed to be offered Barclay instead.<ref name="2001 TV Zone" /><ref name="1997-08 STTOMM" />  Schultz thought Barclay was going to be merely a one-off character, and did not anticipate it becoming a recurring gig.<ref name="1997-08 STTOMM" />

==Character history==
===Canon===
In the [[Star Trek canon|''Star Trek'' canon]], Barclay has appeared in twelve discrete productions from 1990 to 2001.

====Lieutenant, junior grade====
In his inaugural appearance in ''The Next Generation''{{'}}s [[Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3|third season]] episode "[[Hollow Pursuits]]", Lieutenant Junior Grade Barclay is addicted to using the holodeck and recreates the crew of the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|''Enterprise''-D]] on the [[holodeck]] with attributes and in settings which allow him to more easily interact with them. Crewmembers find him difficult to work with, and Wesley calls him "Broccoli" behind his back.<ref name="1990-04-30 Hollow Pursuits" /> Counselor [[Deanna Troi]] ([[Marina Sirtis]]) and [[Guinan (Star Trek)|Guinan]] ([[Whoopi Goldberg]]) both support Barclay in escaping to his fantasies, though Troi is annoyed to later find herself recreated as "the Goddess of Empathy",<ref name="1990-04-30 Hollow Pursuits" /> in what Dr. Lynne Joyrich&mdash;[[Brown University]] professor of modern culture and media<ref name="Brown: Joyrich" />&mdash;described as "a clear sexual invitation".<ref name="1996 Cinema Journal" />  Despite his embarrassment, Barclay saves the ''Enterprise'', "gaining both [[self-confidence]] and a newfound respect from his peers as a result."<ref name="1991-09 official TNG mag" />

For [[Star Trek: The Next Generation season 4|the fourth season]], bringing back Barclay was on [[executive producer]] [[Michael Piller]]'s to-do list, but they were having trouble finding a vehicle for the character; they did not want to return to the well again for the "nervous chap in the holodeck".  [[Joe Menosky]] wrote "[[The Nth Degree (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Nth Degree]]" about a crew member who becomes [[superintelligence|superintelligent]], and it was suggested that they could slot Barclay into that role.<ref name="1995 Captains' Logs: Season Four" /><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Interview: Joe Menosky |url=https://archive.org/details/startrekmagazine03unse_6/page/87/mode/1up |magazine=Star Trek the Magazine 8 Collector's Edition 2 of 2 |pages=87, 88 |quote=The essence of Barclay is that he is incompetent at almost everything he tries to do, so I wondered what would happen if he started to become MORE competent - to excel beyond his own fantasies.}}</ref> Barclay is affected by an [[extraterrestrial life|alien]] [[space probe]] which induces the superintelligence.  Under the influence of the probe, he modifies the ship extensively and propels it to the center of the [[Milky Way]].  After losing his heightened intelligence, Barclay explains that it was the probe's creators who impelled his actions as a way of meeting new species.<ref name="1991-04-01 Nth Degree" />

Barclay returns in the [[Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6|season six]] episode "[[Realm of Fear]]".  It is revealed that Barclay is [[phobia|phobic]] about using the [[transporter (Star Trek)|transporter]], an aspect of the character that was derived from episode writer [[Brannon Braga]]'s own [[fear of flying]].  After transporting back from another vessel (the USS ''Yosemite''), Barclay insists he sees creatures in the matter stream.  Overcoming his fears, Barclay is repeatedly transported until he grabs hold of one of the creatures which turns out to be a missing crew member from the ''Yosemite''.<ref name="1995 Captains' Logs: Season Six" />

In [[Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2|the second season]]'s "[[Elementary, Dear Data]]", a troublemaking [[sentience|self-aware]] holoprogram of [[Professor Moriarty]] ([[Daniel Davis (actor)|Daniel Davis]]) was accidentally created and then stored in long-term memory at the end of the episode.  That episode's sequel, season six's "[[Ship in a Bottle (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Ship in a Bottle]]", finds Barclay inadvertently releasing Moriarty, who wrests control of the ''Enterprise'' by trapping Picard, Data, and Barclay inside nested holodecks.  Barclay was included because it was initially felt that the episode needed a character ignorant of season two events.  Though this characteristic was ultimately unnecessary, episode writer [[René Echevarria]] opined that only Barclay could have pulled off the episode's final moment where Barclay momentarily questions whether he was still in a [[simulated reality]].<ref name="1992 STTNG Companion" />

[[Star Trek: The Next Generation season 7|Season seven]]'s "[[Genesis (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Genesis]]" was Barclay's last episodic appearance on ''The Next Generation''.  After Barclay comes down with the Urodelan flu, the attempted cure accidentally becomes a virus, spreading among and [[devolution (biology)|devolving]] the crew.  Episode writer Brannon Braga described choosing to devolve Barclay into a [[spider]] as the natural choice: "I just thought it would be fun to make Barclay a spider because I can't imagine anything more awful to become.  It just seemed natural since he's a kind of nervous and wiry guy, that maybe he would have had more [[arachnid]] ancestors than" other crewmembers.<ref name="1995 Captains' Logs: Season Seven" />  After Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard]] ([[Patrick Stewart]]) and [[Data (Star Trek)|Data]] ([[Brent Spiner]]) cure the afflicted, Doctor [[Beverly Crusher]] ([[Gates McFadden]]) names the virus "Barclay's Protomorphosis Syndrome".<ref name="1994-03-19 Genesis" />

Schultz next appeared as Barclay in ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]''{{'s}} [[Star Trek: Voyager season 2|second season]] episode "[[Projections (Star Trek: Voyager)|Projections]]".  Originally, the [[guest appearance|guest star]] was going to be ''The Next Generation''{{'s}} [[LeVar Burton]] as [[Geordi La Forge]], but episode writer Brannon Braga decided it would be much more fun to couple Barclay with [[The Doctor (Star Trek: Voyager)|the Doctor]] ([[Robert Picardo]]), holographic software called the [[Emergency Medical Hologram]] (EMH).  In "Projections", Barclay is a [[delusion]] of the Doctor's program, trying to convince the Doctor that he was not a [[hologram]] but instead a flesh-and-blood being running a simulation of the {{USS|Voyager|Star Trek|2}} and its crew.<ref name="1995 Captains' Logs Supplemental: VOY Season Two" />  According to the ''Star Trek: Voyager Companion'', Barclay was a part of the original engineering team at the Jupiter Station Holoprogramming Center that developed the [[Emergency Medical Hologram]] (EMH), and that Barclay himself was in charge of testing the program's [[social skills]].  The ''Companion'' further infers that Barclay took a leave of absence from the [[Starship Enterprise|''Enterprise'']] to work on the EMH because the character is aboard the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-E)|''Enterprise''-E]] in the 1996 film, ''[[Star Trek: First Contact]]''.<ref name="2003-05 VOY Companion" />

Barclay was not originally supposed to be in the feature film ''[[Star Trek: First Contact]]''; it was [[film director|director]] [[Jonathan Frakes]] who suggested including Barclay as opposed to "a new lieutenant character".  Schultz was contacted on a Tuesday, asked if he could come in that Friday, and the actor said, "Sure."<ref name="2001 TV Zone" />  In his only scene, Barclay uses an interaction with La Forge as an excuse to meet [[Zefram Cochrane]] ([[James Cromwell]]) and shake his hand.<ref name="1996-11-22 Star Trek: First Contact" />

====Lieutenant====
Following the events of ''First Contact'', in ''Star Trek: Voyager''{{'s}} [[Star Trek: Voyager season 6|sixth season]] episode "[[Pathfinder (Star Trek: Voyager)|Pathfinder]]", now-[[Star Trek ranks|Lieutenant]] Barclay has been stationed on [[Earth]] for two years.  He is assigned to [[Starfleet]] Communications' Pathfinder Project, the mission of which is reestablishing contact with the lost {{USS|Voyager|Star Trek|6}}.  After becoming obsessed with his holographic recreation of the ''Voyager'' and her crew, Barclay seeks counseling with the visiting Deanna Troi.  Despite her urgings, Barclay disobeys orders from his supervisor ([[Richard McGonagle]]) to test an unproven theory.  After being caught by security officers, Barclay's theory pans out, and all is forgiven as Starfleet briefly communicates with ''Voyager'' personnel for the first time since the [[Star Trek: Voyager season 4|fourth season]] episode "[[Message in a Bottle (Star Trek: Voyager)|Message in a Bottle]]".<ref name="1999-12-01 Pathfinder" />

Barclay returns to the Jupiter Station Holoprogramming Center in "[[Life Line (Star Trek: Voyager)|Life Line]]" to liaise between the Doctor and his programmer, Lewis Zimmerman (also portrayed by [[Robert Picardo]]).  Barclay again enlists Counselor Troi's help to convince Zimmerman to allow the Doctor to treat him for an as-yet untreatable illness; Zimmerman is dismissive of the Doctor's abilities and expertise because that generation of the EMH software was decommissioned by [[Starfleet]] as unfit.  When psychotherapy fails, Barclay [[sabotage]]s the Doctor's program to force Zimmerman to come to terms with his creation; though Zimmerman uncovers Barclay's subterfuge, he successfully repairs the holoprogram and consents to treatment.<ref name="2000-05-10 Life Line" />

Prior to the events of [[Star Trek: Voyager season 7|season seven]]'s "[[Inside Man (Star Trek: Voyager)|Inside Man]]", Barclay has been tinkering with holography again, developing interactive holograms of himself to send to the ''Voyager''.  After it appears that the holographic program has failed to reach ''Voyager'' for a second month in a row, Barclay intrudes on Troi's vacation to confide in her that he believes his ex-[[girlfriend]] ([[Sharisse Baker-Bernard]]) may have something to do with it.  It is uncovered that Barclay was a patsy and that [[Ferengi]] have commandeered his holoprogram to lead the ''Voyager'' to its doom so that they can profit from [[Seven of Nine]]'s ([[Jeri Ryan]]) [[Borg (Star Trek)|Borg]] technology.  Barclay tricks the Ferengi in the guise of his hologram and defuses the situation.<ref name="2000-11-08 Inside Man" />

Schultz appears as Barclay again in the ''Voyager'' episode "[[Author, Author (Star Trek: Voyager)|Author, Author]]".  With the help of [[Harry Kim (Star Trek)|Harry Kim]] ([[Garrett Wang]]) and Seven of Nine, Barclay achieves live communication between Earth and the ''Voyager'' for eleven minutes a day.  Later, Barclay alerts [[Owen Paris|Admiral Paris]] ([[Richard Herd]]) to the distribution of the Doctor's holonovel.<ref name="2001-04-18 Author, Author" />

In the ''Star Trek: Voyager'' [[series finale]] "[[Endgame (Star Trek: Voyager)|Endgame]]", Schultz appears as Barclay both in the series' future ([[25th century|2404]]) and in the series' present ([[24th century|2378]]).  In the future he is [[Star Trek ranks|Commander]] Barclay, and a [[lecturer]] at [[Starfleet Academy]] who provides an aged [[Kathryn Janeway|Admiral Janeway]] ([[Kate Mulgrew]]) with data and a [[shuttlecraft (Star Trek)|shuttlecraft]] she will need to [[time travel|travel back in time]].  In this future, Barclay has overcome his [[stuttering]] except when under stress.  In the present, Barclay is present alongside Admiral Paris at Starfleet Communications when the ''Voyager'' returns home to Earth.<ref name="2001-05-23 Endgame" />

===Non-canon appearances===
Barclay also appears in several officially-licensed, [[Star Trek canon|non-canon]], [[List of Star Trek novels|''Star Trek'' novels]], [[e-book]]s, [[short story|short stories]], and [[Star Trek (comics)|comics]]:

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

====''Star Trek''====
* "[[Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (short story collection)|Doctors Three]]" by Charles Skaggs (<!-- May -->1999)

====''Star Trek: The Next Generation''====
* "[[List of comic books based on Star Trek: The Next Generation#Volume 2|The Way of the Warrior]]" by [[Michael Jan Friedman]] (<!-- July -->1992)
* ''[[Imzadi]]'' by [[Peter David]] (<!-- August -->1992)
* [[Dark Mirror (Star Trek novel)|''Dark Mirror'']] by [[Diane Duane]] (<!-- December -->1993)
* [[List of Star Trek novels#The Next Generation (1988–2021)|''Here There Be Dragons'']] by [[John Peel (writer)|John Peel]] (<!-- December -->1993)
* [[List of Star Trek novels#The Next Generation (1988–2021)|''Sins of Commission'']] by Susan Wright (<!-- March -->1994)
* ''[[Q-Squared]]'' by [[Peter David]] (<!-- July -->1994)
* [[List of Star Trek novels#The Next Generation (1988–2021)|''Requiem'']] by Michael Jan Friedman and Kevin Ryan (<!-- October -->1994)
* "[[List of comic books based on Star Trek: The Next Generation#Volume 2|Suspect]]" by Michael Jan Friedman (<!-- October -->1995)
* [[List of Star Trek novels#The Next Generation (1988–2021)|''Crossover'']] by Michael Jan Friedman (<!-- December -->1995)
* [[List of Star Trek novels#The Next Generation (1988–2021)|''Infiltrator'']] by W.R. Thompson (<!-- September -->1996)
* [[List of Star Trek novels#The Next Generation (1988–2021)|''The Death of Princes'']] by John Peel (<!-- no month -->1997)
* [[Planet X (Star Trek)|''Planet X'']] by Michael Jan Friedman (<!-- no month -->1998)
* [[List of Star Trek novels#The Next Generation (1988–2021)|''The Best and the Brightest'']] by Susan Wright (<!-- February -->1998)
* "[[Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (short story collection)|The Naked Truth]]" by Jerry M. Wolfe (<!-- July -->1998)
* "[[Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (short story collection)|See Spot Run]]" by Kathy Oltion (<!-- July -->1998)
* "[[Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (short story collection)|What Went Through Data's Mind 0.68 Seconds Before the Satellite Hit]]" by Dylan Otto Krider (<!-- July -->1998)
* [[Star Trek: The Q Continuum|''Q-Space'']] by [[Greg Cox (writer)|Greg Cox]] (<!-- August-->1998)
* "[[Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (short story collection)|Calculated Risk]]" by Christina F. York (<!-- May -->1999)
* [[List of Star Trek novels#The Next Generation (1988–2021)|''Gemworld'']] by [[John Vornholt]] (<!-- February -->2000)
* "[[Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (short story collection)|Out of the Box, Thinking]]" by Jerry M. Wolfe (<!-- May -->2000)
* [[List of comic books based on Star Trek: The Next Generation|''The Killing Shadows'']] (November 2000 – February 2001)
* [[List of Star Trek novels#The Next Generation (1988–2021)|''Tooth and Claw'']] by Doranna Durgin (<!-- February -->2001)
* [[Rogue (Star Trek)|''Rogue'']] by Michael A. Martin and [[Andy Mangels]] (<!-- June -->2001)
* ''[[Immortal Coil]]'' by Jeffrey Lang (<!-- February -->2002)
* "[[List of Star Trek novels#The Next Generation (1988–2021)|Thinking of You]]" by Greg Cox (<!-- October -->2007)
* [[List of Star Trek novels#E-books|''The Oppressor's Wrong'']] by Phaedra M. Weldon (<!-- November -->2007)
* [[List of Star Trek novels#E-books|''That Sleep of Death'']] by Terri Osborne (<!-- January -->2008)
* "[[List of comic books based on Star Trek: The Next Generation|Valued Intelligence]]" by Scott & David Tipton (<!-- January -->2008)
* [[List of Star Trek novels#The Next Generation (1988–2021)|''Indistinguishable from Magic'']] by [[David A. McIntee]] (2011)
* [[List of Star Trek novels#The Next Generation (1988–2021)|''The Light Fantastic'']] by Jeffrey Lang (2014)

====''Star Trek: Voyager''====
* [[List of Star Trek: Voyager novels#Relaunch novels|''Homecoming'']] by [[Christie Golden]] (<!-- June -->2003)
* [[List of Star Trek: Voyager novels#Relaunch novels|''The Farther Shore'']] by Christie Golden (<!-- July -->2003)
* [[List of Star Trek: Voyager novels#Relaunch novels|''Full Circle'']] by Kirsten Beyer (<!-- April -->2009)
* [[List of Star Trek: Voyager novels#Relaunch novels|''Unworthy'']] by Kirsten Beyer (<!-- October -->2009)
* [[List of Star Trek: Voyager novels#Relaunch novels|''Children of the Storm'']] by Kirsten Beyer (<!-- June -->2011)
* [[List of Star Trek: Voyager novels#Relaunch novels|''The Eternal Tide'']] by Kirsten Beyer (<!-- August -->2012)
* [[List of Star Trek: Voyager novels#Relaunch novels|''Protectors'']] by Kirsten Beyer (<!-- January -->2014)
* [[List of Star Trek: Voyager novels#Relaunch novels|''Acts of Contrition'']] by Kirsten Beyer (<!-- September -->2014)
* [[List of Star Trek: Voyager novels#Relaunch novels|''Atonement'']] by Kirsten Beyer (<!-- August -->2015)
* [[List of Star Trek: Voyager novels#Relaunch novels|''A Pocket Full of Lies'']] by Kirsten Beyer (<!-- January -->2016)
* [[List of Star Trek: Voyager novels#Relaunch novels|''Architects of Infinity'']] by Kirsten Beyer (<!-- 27 March -->2018)
* [[List of Star Trek: Voyager novels#Relaunch novels|''To Lose the Earth'']] by Kirsten Beyer (2018)

====''Starfleet Corps of Engineers''====
* [[List of Star Trek novels#Corps of Engineers (2000–2010)|''Enigma Ship'']] by [[J. Steven York]] and Christina F. York (2002)
{{div col end}}

Barclay also appears in the [[list of Star Trek games#Video games|''Star Trek'' video game]] ''[[Star Trek: Elite Force II]]'' (2003), where he is voiced by Schultz.<ref name="Metacritic: Star Trek: Elite Force II" />

==Analysis==
Describing the character as "an average person who was fallible [and] prone to mistakes," Schultz thought Barclay was quite unlike any previous ''[[Star Trek]]'' character.  Schultz was surprised to be asked back to ''The Next Generation'' for "[[The Nth Degree (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|The Nth Degree]]" in [[Star Trek: The Next Generation season 4|season four]], not realizing how popular the character was with [[trekkie|fans]].  After [[Patrick Stewart]] ([[Jean-Luc Picard]]) insisted that he join the [[science fiction convention|convention]] circuit, Schultz was "overwhelmed" by the reaction: "[People] really do identify with Barclay because he has difficulties.  He's not the super-perfect [[Starfleet]] officer you often see on Star Trek, and the audience loves him because of that."<ref name="2001 TV Zone" /><ref name="1997-08 STTOMM" />

{{blockquote|text=I immediately identified him as a [[trekkie|Star Trek fan]].  If you put a fan on the [[Starship Enterprise|''Enterprise'']] [[bridge (nautical)|bridge]] they would probably behave just like Barclay.  I love the character.|author=[[Dwight Schultz]]<ref name="2001 TV Zone" />}}
In ''[[Star Trek: First Contact]]'', Schultz relished playing Barclay as the character he had always envisioned him to be: "a [[fan (person)|fan]].  In his case, he was the ultimate fan of [[Zefram Cochrane|the scientist who invented warp drive]]."<ref name="2001 TV Zone" />  Authors Lynne Joyrich and Robin Roberts, and "[[Hollow Pursuits]]" writer [[Sally Caves|Sarah Higley]] all came to the same conclusion as Schultz: that Barclay is meant to be a mirror to the [[trekkie|''Star Trek'' fan]], with Higley saying, "Barclay is a ''Star Trek'' fan, making these wonderful ''Star Trek'' characters in the [[Holodeck]] say and do whatever he wants them to do."<ref name="1996 Cinema Journal" /><ref name="2001 Extrapolation" /><ref name="1991-09 official TNG mag" />  In the book ''The Influence of ''Star Trek'' on Television, Film and Culture'', Sue Short goes even further, suggesting Barclay is a [[Mary Sue]].  The authors describe Barclay as an "archetypal Trek-nerd, opting to exist in a fantasy world due to inadequacies that prevent him from fully engaging with the real one."  Writing about Barclay's introduction in "Hollow Pursuits", the character seems to endorse a perception of fans as "psychologically disordered" or "dangerously delusional".<ref name="2008 Influence of Star Trek" />  Both [[showrunner]] [[Michael Piller]] and [[television director|director]] [[Cliff Bole]] disagree with the perception that Barclay was meant to represent "self-absorbed ''Trek'' fans who are so obsessed with the show that they are oblivious to reality."  Piller felt "Hollow Pursuits" was more about the theme of 'fantasy vs. reality' while Bole felt the audience would instead be attracted to the holodeck vignettes such as the ''[[The Three Musketeers|Three Musketeers]]'' allusion.<ref name="1995 Captains' Logs: Season Three" />

In his analysis of [[stuttering]] in visual media for ''[[The Journal of Popular Culture]]'', [[PhD candidate]] Jeffrey K. Johnson puts forward that stuttering is a sort of "storytelling [[shorthand]]" for nervous and weak characters.  Barclay is portrayed not simply as a person who stutters, but a "shy, backward, [[phobia|phobic]]" [[hypochondriasis|hypochondriac]] whose stuttering is a symptom of these deficiencies.  "On a [[starship]] filled with courageous and often heroic personnel[,] the one character that is shown to have multiple anxieties and weaknesses is also the one who stutters."  In "[[Endgame (Star Trek: Voyager)|Endgame]]", when Barclay becomes confident and assertive in the future, he has also stopped stuttering.  Johnson contrasts this depiction of stuttering with ''The Next Generation''{{'}}s depiction of other disabled characters: [[Geordi La Forge]] ([[LeVar Burton]]) is blind, but nonetheless capable and heroic, and Riva ([[Howie Seago]])—from the episode "[[Loud as a Whisper]]"—is deaf, yet "is revered for his strong character and excellent communication skills."<ref name="2008-04 Journal of Popular Culture" />

Terry L. Shepherd, a professor of [[special education]] at [[Indiana University South Bend]], wrote in ''[[Teaching Exceptional Children]]'' about how showing disabled children likewise disabled ''[[Star Trek]]'' characters can improve their situations at school.  Shepherd uses Barclay as an example of this, stating how even though the character does not completely overcome his [[social anxiety disorder]] by the end of "Hollow Pursuits", he has made steps towards improving his self-confidence.<ref name="2007-07 Teaching Exceptional Children" />

In discussing ''[[Star Trek: The Experience]]'' and its emphasis on the masculine aspects of ''Star Trek'' for the academic journal [[Extrapolation (journal)|''Extrapolation'']], Robin Roberts notes how the [[holodeck]]-centric episodes of ''The Next Generation'' focus on men using the simulator.  Roberts goes on to say that when Barclay "is no longer in control of his holodeck simulations, [he] is feminized and faces being fired from Starfleet."  Roberts also explains how Barclay is intended to be not only "[a] stand-in for ''Star Trek'' fans", but also representing both ''Experience'' participants and home viewers "who are not in control of the fantasy narrative."<ref name="2001 Extrapolation" />

In ''The Influence of ''Star Trek'' on Television, Film and Culture'', Sue Short described Barclay as "the most improbable member of Starfleet" due to his propensity for [[daydream]]ing and solitary pursuits.  Yet it is Barclay's outside-the-box thinking that saves the day more than once.<ref name="2008 Influence of Star Trek" />

==Reception==
<!-- by publications -->In 2016, [[Wired (magazine)|''Wired'']] ranked Barclay 55 out of their top 100 most-important ''[[Star Trek]]'' crewmembers.<ref name="2016-09-05 Wired" />  [[IndieWire]] ranked the crew of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' in 2017, and Barclay was number 16 of 17, ranking only higher than [[Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2|season two]]'s [[Katherine Pulaski]].<ref name="2017-09-30 IndieWire" />  When [[Comic Book Resources]] ranked ''Star Trek''{{'s}} best 20 [[recurring character]]s in 2018, Barclay was sixth behind [[Sarek]], [[Lwaxana Troi]], [[Dukat (Star Trek)|Dukat]], [[Elim Garak]], and [[Q (Star Trek)|Q]].<ref name="2018-12-28 CBR" />  ''[[Syfy Wire]]'' ranked Barclay 10th on their 2019 list of 21 best supporting characters.<ref name="2019-04-29 Syfy Wire" />  That same year, [[Screen Rant]] placed Barclay ninth in their list of the ten smartest ''Star Trek'' characters, ahead of [[Seven of Nine]].<ref name="2019-07-08 Screen Rant" />

<!-- by fans -->The character of Barclay was well received by fans, a number of whom made websites in his honor.<ref name="2008 Influence of Star Trek" />  A ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' Barclay [[action figure]] was originally [[limited edition|limited]] to 1,701 pieces, but after fan outcry was increased to 3,000.<ref name="2016-02-16 startrek.com" />

==References==
{{Reflist |refs=

<!-- dated sources sorted chronologically -->

<ref name="1990 Hollow Pursuits script">{{cite web |url=http://www.st-minutiae.com/resources/scripts/169.txt |title=Hollow Pursuits |last=Caves |first=Sally |author-link=Sally Caves |year=1990 |publisher=Star Trek Minutiae |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331192334/http://www.st-minutiae.com/resources/scripts/169.txt |archive-date=2016-03-31 |url-status=live |access-date=2018-11-21}}</ref>

<ref name="1990-04-30 Hollow Pursuits">{{cite episode |title=Hollow Pursuits |episode-link=Hollow Pursuits |series=Star Trek: The Next Generation |series-link=Star Trek: The Next Generation |date=1990-04-30 |season=3 |number=21 |language=en}}</ref>

<ref name="1991-04-01 Nth Degree">{{cite episode |title=The Nth Degree |episode-link=The Nth Degree (Star Trek: The Next Generation) |series=Star Trek: The Next Generation |series-link=Star Trek: The Next Generation |date=1991-04-01 |season=4 |number=19 |language=en}}</ref>

<ref name="1991-09 official TNG mag">{{cite magazine |last1=Rowe |first1=Robert |date=September 1991 |title=Sarah Higley: Writer of Holodeck Pursuits |magazine=The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine |publisher=[[Starlog|Starlog Group, Inc.]] |volume=16 |pages=20–24}}</ref>

<ref name="1992 STTNG Companion">{{cite book |last1=Nemecek |first1=Larry |author-link1=Larry Nemecek |year=2003 |orig-date=1992 |chapter=Sixth Season |title=Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion |language=en |edition=revised |location=[[New York City]] |publisher=[[Pocket Books]] |pages=208–255 |isbn=0-7434-5798-6}}</ref>

<ref name="1994-03-19 Genesis">{{cite episode |title=Genesis |episode-link=Genesis (Star Trek: The Next Generation) |series=Star Trek: The Next Generation |series-link=Star Trek: The Next Generation |date=1994-03-19 |season=7 |number=19 |language=en}}</ref>

<ref name="1995 Captains' Logs: Season Three">{{cite book |last1=Gross |first1=Edward |last2=Altman |first2=Mark A. |author-link2=Mark A. Altman |year=1995 |chapter=Season Three Episode Guide |title=Captains' Logs |language=en |location= |publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company]] |page=196 |isbn=0-316-32957-6}}</ref>

<ref name="1995 Captains' Logs: Season Four">{{cite book |last1=Gross |first1=Edward |last2=Altman |first2=Mark A. |author-link2=Mark A. Altman |year=1995 |chapter=Season Four Episode Guide |title=Captains' Logs |language=en |location= |publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company]] |pages=218–219 |isbn=0-316-32957-6}}</ref>

<ref name="1995 Captains' Logs: Season Six">{{cite book |last1=Gross |first1=Edward |last2=Altman |first2=Mark A. |author-link2=Mark A. Altman |year=1995 |chapter=Season Six Episode Guide |title=Captains' Logs |language=en |location= |publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company]] |page=257 |isbn=0-316-32957-6}}</ref>

<ref name="1995 Captains' Logs: Season Seven">{{cite book |last1=Gross |first1=Edward |last2=Altman |first2=Mark A. |author-link2=Mark A. Altman |year=1995 |chapter=Season Seven Episode Guide |title=Captains' Logs |language=en |location= |publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company]] |pages=300–301 |isbn=0-316-32957-6}}</ref>

<ref name="1995 Captains' Logs Supplemental: VOY Season Two">{{cite book |last1=Gross |first1=Edward |last2=Altman |first2=Mark A. |author-link2=Mark A. Altman |year=1996 |chapter=''Voyager:'' Season Two Episode Guide |title=Captains' Logs Supplemental |language=en |location=[[London]] |publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company]] |pages=154–155 |isbn=0-316-88354-9}}</ref>

<ref name="1996 Cinema Journal">{{cite journal |last1=Joyrich |first1=Lynne |year=1996 |title=Feminist Enterprise? 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' and the Occupation of Femininity |journal=[[Cinema Journal]] |language=en |location=[[Austin, Texas]] |publisher=[[University of Texas Press]] |volume=35 |issue=2 |pages=61–84 |doi=10.2307/1225756 |issn=0009-7101 |jstor=1225756 |lccn=75649099 |oclc=02244743}}</ref>

<ref name="1996-01 Starlog">{{cite magazine |last=Banks |first=Stuart |date=January 1996 |editor-last=McConnell |editor-first=David |title=Secret Master of the Holodeck |url=https://archive.org/details/starlog_magazine-222/page/n71/mode/1up |magazine=[[Starlog]] |location=[[New York City]] |publisher=Starlog Group, Inc. |issue=222 |pages=72–75 |issn=0191-4626 |quote=Whether it's Barclay, [[Howling Mad Murdock|Mad Murdock]] or [[J. Robert Oppenheimer|Robert Oppenheimer]], Dwight Schultz just likes to do the roles.}}</ref>

<ref name="1996-11-22 Star Trek: First Contact">{{cite AV media |date=1996-11-22 |title=[[Star Trek: First Contact]] |language=en |publisher=[[Paramount Pictures]]}}</ref>

<ref name="1997-08 STTOMM">{{cite magazine |last1=Spelling |first1=Ian |date=August 1997 |editor1-last=Curtis |editor1-first=Darryl |title=Holo Hero |magazine=Star Trek: The Official Monthly Magazine |language=en |location=[[London]] |publisher=[[Titan Magazines]] |volume=1 |issue=30 |pages=32–37 |issn=1357-3888}}</ref>

<ref name="1999-12-01 Pathfinder">{{cite episode |title=Pathfinder |episode-link=Pathfinder (Star Trek: Voyager) |series=Star Trek: Voyager |series-link=Star Trek: Voyager |date=1999-12-01 |season=6 |number=10 |language=en |network=[[UPN]]}}</ref>

<ref name="2000-05-10 Life Line">{{cite episode |title=Life Line |episode-link=Life Line (Star Trek: Voyager) |series=Star Trek: Voyager |series-link=Star Trek: Voyager |date=2000-05-10 |season=6 |number=24 |language=en |network=[[UPN]]}}</ref>

<ref name="2000-11-08 Inside Man">{{cite episode |title=Inside Man |episode-link=Inside Man (Star Trek: Voyager) |series=Star Trek: Voyager |series-link=Star Trek: Voyager |date=2000-11-08 |season=7 |number=6 |language=en |network=[[UPN]]}}</ref>

<ref name="2001 Extrapolation">{{cite journal |last1=Roberts |first1=Robin |year=2001 |title=Performing Science Fiction: Television, Theater, and Gender in ''Star Trek: The Experience'' |journal=[[Extrapolation (journal)|Extrapolation]] |location=[[Liverpool]] |publisher=[[Liverpool University Press]] |volume=42 |issue=4 |pages=340–356 |doi=10.3828/extr.2001.42.4.340 |issn=0014-5483 |lccn=72206280 |oclc=1568678}}</ref>

<ref name="2001 TV Zone">{{cite magazine |last1=Eramo |first1=Steven |year=2001 |editor1-last=Vincent-Rudzki |editor1-first=Jan |editor2-last=Spilsbury |editor2-first=Tom |title=Dwight Schultz: The Shy Guy |magazine=[[TV Zone]] |language=en |location=[[London]] |issue=139 |pages=36–38 |issn=0957-3844 |quote=Who says you have to be perfect to be loved?}}</ref>

<ref name="2001-04-18 Author, Author">{{cite episode |title=Author, Author |episode-link=Author, Author (Star Trek: Voyager) |series=Star Trek: Voyager |series-link=Star Trek: Voyager |date=2001-04-18 |season=7 |number=20 |language=en |network=[[UPN]]}}</ref>

<ref name="2001-05-23 Endgame">{{cite episode |title=Endgame |episode-link=Endgame (Star Trek: Voyager) |series=Star Trek: Voyager |series-link=Star Trek: Voyager |date=2001-05-23 |season=7 |number=25 & 26 |language=en |network=[[UPN]]}}</ref>

<ref name="2003-05 VOY Companion">{{cite book |last1=Ruditis |first1=Paul |author-link1=Paul Ruditis |date=May 2003 |chapter=Season One |title=Star Trek: Voyager Companion |location=[[New York City]] |publisher=[[Pocket Books]] |pages=48–50 |isbn=0-7434-1751-8}}</ref>

<ref name="2007-07 Teaching Exceptional Children">{{cite journal |last1=Shepherd |first1=Terry L. |date=July 2007 |title=Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations: Portraits of Individuals With Disabilities in Star Trek |journal=[[Teaching Exceptional Children]] |language=en |publisher=[[SAGE Publications]] |volume=3 |issue=6 |page= |pages= |issn=0040-0599 |oclc=630938875}}</ref>

<ref name="2008 Influence of Star Trek">{{cite book |last1=Short |first1=Sue |year=2008 |chapter=''Star Trek'': The Franchise!—Poachers, Pirates, and Paramount |editor1-last=Geraghty |editor1-first=Lincoln |editor2-last=Palumbo |editor2-first=Donald E. |editor3-last=Sullivan III |editor3-first=C.W. |title=The Influence of Star Trek on Television, Film and Culture |language=en |location=[[Jefferson, North Carolina]] |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |pages=173–185 |isbn=978-0-7864-3034-5}}</ref>

<ref name="2008-04 Journal of Popular Culture">{{cite journal |last1=Johnson |first1=Jeffrey K. |date=April 2008 |title=The Visualization of the Twisted Tongue: Portrayals of Stuttering in Film, Television, and Comic Books |journal=[[The Journal of Popular Culture]] |language=en |location=[[United States]] |publisher=[[Wiley-Blackwell]] |volume=41 |issue=2 |pages=245–261 |doi=10.1111/j.1540-5931.2008.00501.x |issn=0022-3840 |lccn=sf80000702 |oclc=1754751}}</ref>

<ref name="2016-02-16 startrek.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.startrek.com/article/the-long-fun-legacy-of-star-trek-playmates-toys |title=The Long, Fun Legacy of Star Trek & Playmates Toys |last1=Jose |first1=Maria |last2=Tenuto |first2=John |date=2016-02-16 |website=[[startrek.com|Star Trek]] |language=en |access-date=2021-07-27 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725004155/https://www.startrek.com/article/the-long-fun-legacy-of-star-trek-playmates-toys |archive-date=2021-07-25}}</ref>

<ref name="2016-09-05 Wired">{{cite magazine |last1=McMillan |first1=Graeme |date=2016-09-05 |title=''Star Trek''{{'s}} 100 Most Important Crew Members, Ranked |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/09/star-treks-100-crew-members-ranked/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |language=en |issn=1078-3148 |oclc=24479723 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303013425/https://www.wired.com/2016/09/star-treks-100-crew-members-ranked/ |archive-date=2021-03-03 |access-date=2021-06-22}}</ref>

<ref name="2017-09-30 IndieWire">{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/09/star-trek-the-next-generation-characters-ranked-1201882388/ |title='Star Trek: The Next Generation': Ranking the Crew, From Picard to Pulaski |last=Miller |first=Liz Shannon |date=September 30, 2017 |publisher=[[IndieWire]] |language=en |access-date=2021-06-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308035710/https://www.indiewire.com/2017/09/star-trek-the-next-generation-characters-ranked-1201882388/ |archive-date=2021-03-08 |quote=On a ship full of humanity’s best, Barclay was decidedly flawed.}}</ref>

<ref name="2018-12-28 CBR">{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-recurring-characters-ranked/ |title=Star Trek: Ranking the 20 Best Recurring Characters |last=Weyer |first=Michael |date=2018-12-28 |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]] |language=en |access-date=2021-06-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516214142/https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-recurring-characters-ranked/ |archive-date=2021-05-16 |quote=Sure, Star Trek has a lot of memorable regular characters, but we have to admit these recurring players hold a special place in our heart; let's rank them, shall we?}}</ref>

<ref name="2019-04-29 Syfy Wire">{{cite web |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/the-21-most-interesting-star-trek-supporting-characters-0 |title=The 21 Most Interesting Star Trek Supporting Characters |last=Granshaw |first=Lisa |date=2019-04-29 |website=[[Syfy Wire]] |publisher=[[Syfy]] |language=en |access-date=2021-06-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120021536/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/the-21-most-interesting-star-trek-supporting-characters-0 |archive-date=2021-01-20}}</ref>

<ref name="2019-07-08 Screen Rant">{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/star-trek-smartest-characters/ |title=Star Trek: The 10 Smartest Characters, Ranked |last=Sanderson |first=Sara |date=2019-07-08 |publisher=[[Screen Rant]] |language=en |access-date=2021-06-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308024459/https://screenrant.com/star-trek-smartest-characters/ |archive-date=2021-03-08 |quote=Through all of the show's incarnations, Star Trek has been host to a plethora of genius species, incredible thinkers and even an omniscient character.}}</ref>

<!-- undated sources sorted alphabetically -->

<ref name="Metacritic: Star Trek: Elite Force II">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/star-trek-elite-force-ii/details/?platform=pc |title=Star Trek: Elite Force II: Details & Credits |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |language=en |access-date=2021-07-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722171250/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/star-trek-elite-force-ii/details |archive-date=2021-07-22}}</ref>

<ref name="Brown: Joyrich">{{cite web |url=https://vivo.brown.edu/display/ljoyrich |title=Lynne Joyrich |publisher=[[Brown University]] |language=en |access-date=2021-07-23 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416215715/https://vivo.brown.edu/display/ljoyrich |archive-date=2021-04-16}}</ref>

}}

==External links==
* [http://www.startrek.com/database_article/barclay Reginald Barclay] at [[StarTrek.com]]
* {{Memory Alpha|Reginald Barclay}}

{{Star Trek recurring characters}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barclay, Reginald}}
[[Category:Fictional people with hypochondriasis]]
[[Category:Fictional programmers]]
[[Category:Fictional stutterers]]
[[Category:First-person shooter characters]]
[[Category:Holography in television]]
[[Category:Male characters in literature]]
[[Category:Science fiction video game characters]]
[[Category:Star Trek (film franchise) characters]]
[[Category:Star Trek: The Next Generation characters]]
[[Category:Star Trek: Voyager characters]]
[[Category:Starfleet lieutenants]]
[[Category:Starfleet engineers]]
[[Category:Television characters introduced in 1990]]
[[Category:Fictional characters from the 24th century]]