Ben Robinson (1) (1969–)

This is more of a pictorial history of seven different vessels over a span of 221 years than it is an actual workshop manual.
Which is a disappointment: I was hoping for more of an actual "Haynes/Chiltons" shop manual, full of of bafflegab about the maintenance of a starship.

I'm a huge fan of 90's-era Trek, and this book provides a comprehensive and very interesting insight into Voyager. Even if you've watched the series several times and read a lot about it before, very likely you'll learn something interesting in this book.

It's very uncritical of the show, which isn't bad, but Voyager is without a doubt the weakest of the three contemporaneous shows (TNG, DS9, and VOY), and you wouldn't know it from reading this book.

Physically the book is beautiful -- but show more large, heavy, and uncomfortable to read cover-to-cover. show less

The five volumes in the STAR TREK Shipyards series offer readers profiles of the ships of the STAR TREK universe. STAR TREK Starships: 2151-2293 is the first of these volumes, profiling ships that existed prior to the development of Warp 5 starships as well as approximately eighteen warp-driven ships of the fleet.

Full-color computer-generated artwork, using visual effects models created for each television series and for the films, accompanies the narrative for each vessel. Sprinkled show more throughout are clips from the various shows and films that provide tantalizing glimpses of the ships’ interiors. Readers may be disappointed to discover that the exterior is the emphasis for every ship profiled here; even a single interior illustration for each ship would greatly enhance the profiles.

Nevertheless, STAR TREK fans will find much to appreciate. And the details provided, although scarce for some of the ships, are interesting. To bring things together, following the individual ship pages are a size chart comparison for the ships, a listing of significant events of the time, and a listing of Starfleet ships by class.

Some editions of this book come with a model of the USS Enterprise, NCC-1701, which is certain to please both collectors and fans of the original STAR TREK series.

Recommended. show less

This book is a retrospective, looking at all things STAR TREK beginning with Gene Roddenberry’s original format designed to present anthology storytelling with a regular cast that would be familiar to viewers and on to the show itself with its amazing episodes that would remain with viewers years after the show’s original three-year run. In truth, STAR TREK became much more than a television series by evolving into a cultural phenomenon and becoming a touchstone for “where no man has show more gone before.”

Here, in this celebration for the original STAR TREK series, readers will find profiles of the main characters, all based on interviews and/or memos from actors, producers, and writers. A study of each of the main departments . . . Art, Costuming, Makeup, Visual Effects, Music . . . provides the reader with insight into the making of an episode. Interspersed throughout are character/actor profiles, key episodes that provide insight into the show’s popularity, and pictures . . . lots and lots of pictures.

For readers who are unabashedly STAR TREK fans, this is a journey of the heart through the making of one of the most influential series of a generation. [Who else but STAR TREK fans could convince NASA to rename the Space Shuttle Constitution, having it become the Space Shuttle Enterprise?]

Here, then, is the opportunity for readers to immerse themselves in all things STAR TREK. You’ll never regret taking the voyage.

Highly recommended. show less