Review (PDF) Star Trek FAQ (Unofficial And Unauthorized): Everything Left To Know About The First Voyages Of The Starship Enterprise (Faq Series)
(FAQ). This book is not endorsed, sponsored, or affiliated with CBS Studios Inc., Paramount Pictures, or the "Star Trek" franchise. Star Trek FAQ tells the complete story of Star Trek , from the before the beginning (the books, films, and TV shows that inspired producer Gene Roddenberry to create Star Trek ) until after the end (when the show emerged as a cultural phenomenon in syndication), and including dramatic behind-the-scenes stories (e.g., Leonard Nimoy's struggle with alcoholism and actress Grace Lee Whitney's controversial firing) often omitted from "authorized" histories of the program. Along with in-depth looks at the pre- and post- Trek careers of the show's iconic leads, Star Trek FAQ includes profiles of guest stars and "redshirt" extras alike, as well as the many writers, technicians, and artisans whose efforts enabled Star Trek to take flight. The book also explores the show's unprecedented resurgence in the 1970s with chapters devoted to early Star Trek fiction, merchandising, and the short-lived animated series. Combining a wealth of fascinating information about every facet of the show's production with original analysis of Star Trek 's enduring appeal and cultural influence, Star Trek FAQ goes where no Star Trek book has gone before.
Series: Faq Series
Paperback: 414 pages
Publisher: Applause (April 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1557837929
ISBN-13: 978-1557837929
Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #310,239 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #77 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Television > Reference #162 in Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > Genres & Styles > Science Fiction & Fantasy #181 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > History & Criticism
I've been a fan of a few things in my life, Star Trek, Star Wars, The Doors, and I think I'm educated in the fan(aticisms) of my choice. The one common factor I'm finding in reading books in the FAQ series is that I'm discovering new things on subjects I thought I knew well and "The Star Trek FAQ" is no exception.The "Star Trek FAQ" takes you from Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry's life through every aspect of the original 79 episode Star Trek series that ran from 1966-1969. I was especially intrigued by the early years of Roddenberry's career, how he went from Los Angeles cop to TV producer, and of the pre-history of Star Trek. Not only reading the biographies (and the post Star Trek lives) of the actors, but also the histories of the shows producers and writers and the input they had under their names and pseudonyms makes you feel you can be a more educated Star Trek viewer.Author Mark Clark will take you through the trials and tribulations (not tribblations) of Roddenberry's getting Star Trek made from casting to pilots, to the struggles of getting good scripts to the screen, the chemistry of the show's stars and some of their disagreements, the aliens the crew of the enterprise met, the problems and issues the show tackled, as well as the highpoints and low points of the series. The "Star Trek FAQ" also goes into post series life of the animated series, the conventions, the novels and novelizations, Roddenberry's post Trek TV series' and the attempts to revive a Star Trek series and leading right to the movies, inspired as much by Star Trek fandom and being Paramount's antidote to the success of "Star Wars."There are a couple of minor caveats of the "Star Trek FAQ.
If any television show deserves the "FAQ Treatment," it's Gene Roddenberry's STAR TREK. Who could have conceived that a show that struggled through three seasons would rise from the ashes of cancellation to become a franchise juggernaut? Mark Clark provides a warts-and-all history of the original ST series in this 2012 Applause Theatre & Cinema Books release.The sub-title of author Mark Clark's book claims it includes EVERYTHING LEFT TO KNOW ABOUT THE FIRST VOYAGES OF THE STARSHIP ENTERPRISE and that's a fair statement. Clark does an excellent job of relating the creation, development and evolution of the show, the pre- and post-STAR TREK careers of the many talented people who shaped and contributed to the show's rich legacy, rivalries and feuds that plagued the show, equipment/props/special effects/costumes that helped create the ST world, notable guest stars, the "new life and new civilizations" encountered on the ship's three-year journey, etc.STAR TREK FAQ is a wide-ranging, critical yet affectionate and balanced summary of the original STAR TREK world. Along with profiles of the main ST movers and shakers, for instance, it also includes a chapter on "Little-Recognized Contributors." Chapters on Shatner, Nimoy and Kelley are matched by others on "the Shining Moments" of Doohan, Takei, Nichols, Barrett, Whitney and Koenig. And even those poor Redshirts that bit the big one are chronicled! Likewise, chapters examining the dramatic themes and controversial issues the show explored are balanced by a section on "Goofs and Gaffes" that made it into the final cut and one on TV shows that beat ST in the ratings games; one case in point: GOMER PYLE, USMC! Clark's book also details the animated STAR TREK shows, early ST novels, ST comics, Trekkies, ST quotes/mis-quotes and so on.
YES! YES! YES!See those three guys on the cover? Bones, Spock, and Kirk? My first tv crushes, my first real celebrity crushes. Now, Scotty is actually my favorite, but he didn't make the cover, boo hiss. Bones is my second favorite and it's a close call, they're practically tied for favorite. I have a photo of James Doohan as Scotty, SIGNED! Heck, Scotty is one of my nicknames (despite my utter lack of mechanical ability). So, yeah, when the egalley of this book became available for review, requesting it was only logical. :) I also ordered a print copy.Call me a Trekkie, Trekker, Trekaholic, whatever. I'm not too picky about the term used. I'm a fan; not one who knows every last detail down to Zefram Cochrane's birthday (if I did, I wouldn't need the book, lol.) but more than just a casual fan, who, say, knows the names of the big 3 stars but none of others. I'm in the middle. I had a fair amount of knowledge already. That was a pretty good starting base for this book. Actually, this book would be good for the casual fan who wants to know more about the series, and also for the committed fan who wants or needs a new reference source.This is a comprehensive book that looks at just about everything related to the show (there may be some things forgotten or left out but nothing comes to mind.) Clark made each chapter stand-alone so that the reader can easily skip chapters if they decide: "While it's perfectly acceptable to read this book front to back, Star Trek FAQ has been designed for nonlinear consumption. Each chapter functions independently. Although this inevitably results in some duplication of information between sections, I have tried to minimize repetition. So feel free to flip around.
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