An epigraph is a literary technique where a line excerpted from another work is quoted before the beginning of the work itself. Ordinarily the work quoted exists in the real world, but in some cases it is itself fictional.

In fan fiction, songs are used with some regularity.

Star Trek examples

Official works

• TOS novel: My Enemy, My Ally: Lays of Ancient Rome by Thomas Babington Macaulay (real-world), and Taer'thaiemenh by V. Raiuhes Athaefvthe (fictional)
• TOS novel: The Empty Chair: The Art of Worldly Wisdom by Baltasar Gracian and Lays of Ancient Rome by Thomas Babington Macaulay (real-world), and Contemplations by tr'Hmaellieh (fictional)

Fan fiction

• Beat the Drums of War: Chapter 2 uses "Steam-powered Samurai" by Escape the Clouds.
• "Flaihhsam s'Spahkh": Lays of Ancient Rome by Thomas Babington Macaulay
• Mhirrafv Terrhai: The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
• Reality is Fluid: "Sunday Bloody Sunday" by U2
• "Saith Daepahr hrrafv Llaiirevha, Part II": "Try" by Pink
• "Shakedown Shenanigans": Foundation by Isaac Asimov. The quotation reportedly appears on the USS Bajor's dedication plaque.
• "The Silence Ends": "Welcome to the Universe" by 30 Seconds to Mars, and "The One I Love" by R.E.M.
• "Solaere ssiun Hnaifv'daenn": The Qur'an 17:53-54 (Muhammad Asad translation)
• "The Universe Doesn't Cheat": "Never Die Young" by James Taylor

External links

• Epigraph (literature) article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
• Epigraph at Television Tropes and Idioms