Set Phasers to Stun: 50 Years of Star Trek

by Marcus Berkmann

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Forty-seven years after NBC killed it off, Star Trek celebrates its half-century in a state of rude health. Boldly going where several other people have been before, Marcus Berkmann tells the story of this sturdy science fiction vehicle from its first five-year mission (rudely curtailed to three), through the dark years of the 1970s, the triumphant film series and The Next Generation, to the current 'reboot' films, with a younger cast taking on the characters of Kirk, Spock, McCoy and co.

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2 reviews
Enjoyable as a light, humorous read about Trek episodes and films. As long as you have a sense of humour to go with your love of Star Trek, you will probably enjoy this.

My main criticism is something I used to get criticised for in writing at school 50 years ago - pacing. The book is chronological and works well through the Original Series, then goes to the films, and into Next Generation, then back to films - following the production timeline well. But it's almost like the writer realised that halfway through NextGen he was running out of pages, so that Deep Space Nine, then Voyager, then Enterprise are mentioned at an increasingly quick and throwaway pace and it was very noticeable.

It wouldn't sell, I don't suppose but a Vol II with show more those series looked at in the same detail as TOS and TNG were in this, would have been entertaining. As it is, this feels more than half a book but not by much. A shame as the writing on the first 2 series' - written about with more detail (and with more love, perhaps) are often very funny. show less
This book is a clear-headed assessment of 50 years of Star Trek. I was glad to see someone acknowledge the simple fact that while the new rebooted Star Trek movies might be decent action movies, they are Star Trek only in name. Sadly that seems to be the case for the upcoming Star Trek: Discovery also.
Marcus Berkmann, thanks for all the laughs.

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Classifications

Genres
Nonfiction, History, General Nonfiction
DDC/MDS
791.4572Arts & recreationRecreation, sports, and performing artsMovies, TV, VideoMotion pictures, radio, television, podcastingTelevisionPrograms; television playsSingle programs
LCC
PN1992.8 .S74 .B46Language and LiteratureLiterature (General)Literature (General)DramaBroadcastingTelevision broadcasts
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Statistics

Members
47
Popularity
635,211
Reviews
2
Rating
½ (3.33)
Languages
English
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
2
ASINs
1