Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts

Friday, December 25, 2009

Trekkie Books

Hi Trekkies, Did you find any of these awesome Star Trek books under your christmas tree? In case you were disappointed, I've decided to add some sparkle to your Star Trek Universe with these all time favorites of mine.

1. Star-Trek Encyclopedia-Paperback

23 new from $18.69, 19 used from $8.99, 2 collectible from $29.99.

I can't imagine being a die-hard Trekker without this book: the ultimate reference to people, places, things, events in the entire Star Trek universe from the original series of 1966 through all the movies and series right up to Voyager. I think I know a lot about Star Trek, but oh my lord! This is THE reference book for fans. It literally has EVERYTHING. Covers planets and stars, aliens, starships, characters, baseball cards, scientific terms, inside gags, YOU NAME IT! It is astounding how much work and effort must have gone into this book. The book itself is beautiful. It is illustrated with color pictures from the show and technical illustrations done by the authors. The pages are glossy and laid out beautifully. It also serves as an episode guide, covering up through the release of "Star Trek: Insurrection".

What a wonderful labor of love this book is. It is very entertaining and informative, and a must have for any fan of the series.

2. Star Trek Starfleet Technical Manual: Training Command Starfleet Academy (Paperback)

19 new from $10.67, 12 used from $16.18, 1 collectible from $59.95

A must-read for every Star Trek fan.
Franz Joseph's STAR FLEET TECHNICAL MANUAL includes many design elements that might raise questions in the minds of Star Trek fans. Is the Enterprise's bridge really rotated 36 degrees off the ship's centerline? Does the Federation really have a starship with three warp nacelles? Is Starfleet's shuttle craft really too small to allow its occupants to stand up and walk around?


3. Ships of the Line (Star Trek) (Hardcover)

30 new from $9.33, 18 used from $5.72.

The vessels portrayed in Ships of the Line cover the length and breadth of the Star Trek universe. Arranged chronologically, from the earliest warp vessels to the futuristic Enterprise-J and darn near everything in between, this is a book you'll never tire of looking at.

Images of the U.S.S. Enterprise dominate this collection but there are also wonderful representations of plenty of other Starfleet ships, as well as vessels associated with both friends and foes.

The variety of images is fantastic. Battle shots, alien landscapes, illustrations depicting the wonders of the universe and images that commemorate some of Star Trek's most memorable moments can all be found within the pages of Ships of the Line.


4. Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual (Star Trek Next Generation (Paperback)

20 new from $15.30, 157 used from $0.01, 10 collectible from $10.00.

If you're a TNG Trekker then you'll just soak up all the information about life aboard the USS Enterprise NCC 1701-D. This book covers Warp Drive, Turbolifts, Bio-beds in the Sickbay, Tricorders, Hull Material and construction, Holodecks, impulse drive engines, phasers, facts about the Utopia Planitia shipyards, and even the system of addressing crew quarters and such. There is so much information here it's great.
The book also has footnotes throughout about different happenings on the set of StarTrek:TNG. It is well organised with diagrams and plans for many of the parts of the Enterprise. This really shows the planning which is put behind the world of Star Trek, and how they do their best to make sure the stories fit technical plausibility with cohesive adventures.


5. Star Trek: Starfleet Survival Guide (Paperback)

12 new from $9.33, 12 used from $8.81.

I used to have a very simple definition of a textbook: a book that contains a great deal of factual information, but puts you to sleep while attempting to absorb it. This totally fails to meet the second criteria (unlike, for instance, the TNG Technical Manual).XD!!but it as to be said there are fantastical technical details in the TNG Manual. Essentially, this is a collection of Trek trivia, in terms of equipment, creatures, and medical techniques, from the shows. However, from the style it is written in one can clearly picture a Starfleet officer actually reading and using this Guide. The descriptions are very clear, concise and interesting. One of them - Section 1.11, "Surviving Atmospheric Re-entry in a Pressure Suit" - is downright compelling reading. The mental picture of each step is incredibly vivid and so involving, that one can actually feel worried when reading the fatal consequences of anything going wrong. This is a brilliant piece of writing and extremely entertaining. For someone starting to collect Trek trivia books and/or manuals, this is definitely the one to recommend buying first.


6. Klingon for the Galactic Traveler (Star Trek) (Paperback)

16 new from $10.97, 17 used from $4.99, 1 collectible from $20.00.

"A warrior fights to the death." That quote alone speaks volumes about "The Klingon Way." Star Trek Klingon for the Galactic Traveler is an excellent addition to your Star Trek library. Not long after reading through this book, I almost felt as if this were a real culture I was reading about. Some of the Star Trek "extras," as I like to call them are at best, expendable. That is not the case in this book. If you're even remotely interested in or intrigued by the Klingons, this book is worth the price. My only complaint as with other Star Trek "extras," is that it's peppered with black & white photos. Thank you very much to the author for this one.


7. The Klingon Way: A Warrior's Guide (Star Trek: The Klingon Book of Virtues) (Paperback)

4 new from $49.98, 28 used from $3.00, 2 collectible from $24.00.

This is the ultimate Klingon book! It brilliantly weaves the tapestry of Star Trek's Klingon history through to its publication date in May of 1996. It is written both in English & Klingon. The photos are black & white. *GROAN* Each page contains a quote in both languages with a detailed explanation of the Klingon terminology. If you have not picked this up for your Star Trek collection, let me quote a Klingon phrase for you, "qoH vuvbe' SuS" ("The wind does not respect a fool"). If you can still find a copy of this, enjoy it!



8.Legends of the Ferengi (Star Trek, Deep Space Nine) (Paperback)

9 new from $9.92, 20 used from $0.97, 1 collectible from $75.00.

"Legends of the Ferengi" is a hilarious spoof on fairy tales and folklore anthologies. This book is a fascinating read for folklorists with dozens of in-jokes that had me literally doubled over with laughter. In the DS9 episode "Rules of Acquisition," the Ferengi Pel claims to know all 285 Rules of Acquisition plus the commentaries. This book gives you some of those commentaries --- at least, for the 70 Rules that were actually revealed on the series. The authors, Ira Behr and Robert Wolfe, wrote most of the DS9 Ferengi episodes. Now they give you the story behind each of the Rules, including #113, the "Rule that dare not speak its name."

You will also learn the first two words that any Ferengi learns in the Hew-Mon language ("No refunds"), The ten most famous insults in Ferengi history (see p.32) and the story of the infamous villain Drek, M.H.N.L.I.I. (May His Name Live In Infamy), who actually cut his prices and gave his customers BARGAINS, thereby causing the Ferengi economy to crash. Which is one reason why every Ferengi child is duly warned about the dangers of Real Life through supernatural horror stories about that bogeyman of bogeymen -- the Smiling Partner! And so on. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which has lots of great B&W stills from the series, too. Drek was right --- some things really ARE bargains!


9.The Starfleet Academy Entrance Exam: Tantalizing Trivia From Classic Star Trek to Star Trek: Voyager

4 new from $15.00, 26 used from $0.01.

How well do you know your Star Trek legend, lore, and heritage? For nearly thirty years and through four different television shows and several major motion pictures, a complete galaxy of Star Trek characters, facts, figures, and stories have been spun to the delight of millions of viewers and dedicated fans,

More than just a trivia book, The Starfleet Academy Entrance Exam is a series of tests of your knowledge of classic Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager.

Tests are organized into thematic categories, such as:
- Aliens
- Captains
- Engineering
- Gadgets and Weapons
- Love and Romance
- Medicine, Health, and Bioengineering
- Quotations
- Space Ships and Other Vessels
and many more

Comments:

Basically just another trivia quiz book, this one adds one thing to the mix: a collection of Top Ten lists and similar examples of Star Trek "humor."


10. Star Trek Chronology -- the History of the Future (Paperback)

15 new from $2.50, 114 used from $0.01, 8 collectible from $12.50.

The authors of this book certainly had a daunting task, namely to put all of the events in Star Trek: The Original Series, the first six Star Trek feature films and the first five years of Star Trek: The Next Generation in chronological order. TNG has seven seasons, so stay clued. Some of the events are mentioned only on passing in episodes, yet they have managed to tie all of it together into a surprisingly coherent whole.
There are of course places where a consistent chronology is just not possible, and those situations are identified as such. Nevertheless, if you are a fan of Star Trek and are interested in what happened when, then I recommend this book to any true Star Trek fans!


Live Long and Prosper, Trekkies.

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Trekkie or Trekker?

I discovered a book recently called Star Trek Memories with a curiously entertaining summary written by Entertainment Weekly. At first I thought their judgement was in error because the term Trekologists was used to describe Star Trek fans, so I googled it and yes, its on the internet, along with trekster, trekkie and trekker. Gene Roddenberry, the shows creator has spoken about the fans much like a proud father would of his children which thankfully has shed much light on the subject. It should be noted earthlings are entitled to call themselves whatever they want.

Mr Spock on the other hand, would simply raise his eyebrow and and say "Fascinating" and failing that he'd say: Fascinating is a word I use for the unexpected. In this case, I should think "interesting" would suffice.
--Spock in 'The Squire of Gothos'

I believe Trekologists and trekster while entertaining are makey up words. Trekkie and trekker are the official terms for Star Trek fans just put "old age" and "modern" before them in that order and all will be revealed. Perhaps "old age trekkie" does sounds a bit mean but it wasn't my intention. So what is a trekkie?

Trekkies enjoying geeking out with other Star Trek fans because they are happy, logical creatures, extremely passionate about star trek. Quoting episodes comes quite naturally to them too. Trekkies can be can anyone from lawyer's to the guy who cuts grass for a living. Seeking out ways to satisfy our trek cravings is alleviated by visiting conventions and watching star trek on tv. In fact anything associated with trek like the Star Trek XI movie in 2009, the Star Trek Tours in America, Star Trek Roleplay games online etc gets us totally amped and augments the trekkie flames of passion burning in all of us. "Trekkers" on the other hand are the modern version of the Star Trek fan.

It goes without saying, that to even consider yourself a star trek fan you need to examine your own trekkie/trekker credentials.(I'm teasing you now.) Do you own your own personal phaser or communicator? Have you built any starship model ships? Can you list the best episodes, characters and technologies? How many books have you studied and which are the best ones? Who's the best captain? Theres a whole horde of star trek facts, several hundred trek episodes, trek memorabilia out there and I haven't even touched the tip of the iceberg. I am happy and proud to be called a "trekkie." Some trekkies such as James Cawley like to be called Star Trek Purists. If you can think of others, let the community know.

To get back to the trek synopsis, Let me explain first of all, that its a word for word writeup of William Shatner's Star Trek Memories with Chris Kreski. So far so good, until you read the end bit which gave me a bit of a chuckle. It starts like this....

The man who boldly went.....


William Shatner describes life on the set of a television show light-years ahead of its time in this collectable illustrated memoir. It's an in depth, insider's expose of the global cultural phenomenon known as Star Trek. Journey to the very beginning of the series, tour the set, hear members of the cast tell stories of how they came aboard the USS Enterprise, and so much more

Contains over 120 photographs and illustrations. And now for the best bit. Ready?

"This book should have Trekologists sifting through its pages for aeons to come" Entertainment Weekly






Live Long and Prosper, Aliens and Trekkers.

Friday, August 03, 2007

Spooky Science Fiction Thrills

In 2364 Captain Picard nearly leapt to deadly sci fi oblivion caused by a dicey experiment involving space, time and thought. Picture Captain Jean-Luc Picard gasping for air, as the cold abyss of outerspace squeezed the living life out of his body, much like that horrible aliens creature which Lt. Ripley fed into the maw of space. I leapt up from my seat for joy when that freaky mutant got iced. It was Yesss! Yesss! Yesss! So long sucker.

However, Jean Luc's death would have left Trekkies weeping everywhere. He's our last hope for peace in the Federation. Sniff. The Darth Vaders of the universe would have the place in complete ruins!

I love the Picard doorway just hanging in space, with cosmic starlines whizzing by the terrified captain as he clings to the Enterprise for dear life. I get a thrilling wave of terrific excitement when I watch this. Patrick Steward's acting sci-fi presence clearly demonstrates how spooky and exciting outerspace can be. Great job captain.

Image Copyrights Belongs To Paramount Pictures or CBS Paramount Television

It was really a clueless propulsion expert Lt. Kosinski and his "traveller" buddy with his unpronounceable name, who are responsible for the U.S.S. Enterprise's mysterious journey to galaxy M33. Kosinski's brainless calculations actually had everyone confused for ages! LOL. Except the "BOY" Yes, geeky Wesley. Still the Enterprise ended up 2,700,000 light years from home and guess what? The U.S.S. Enterprise NCC 1701-D was lost!. Now how could that have happened?

Its not often you get to see Picard weirded out by the laws physics aboard his own starship. The guy's actually afraid!!! You see it on his face. The episode Where No One Has Gone Before is loosely based on Diane Duane's Star Trek novel, The Wounded Sky. Except its with Captain James T. Kirk commanding. Yes, that old spacehound. Kirk has star trekked where no man has gone before!



Live Long and Prosper Star Trekkers!

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Sci-Fi Readers.

Celebrated Science Fiction author, Orson Scott Card made this gripping statement of appreciation about readers of Science Fiction.

This is the best audience in the world to write for. They're open minded and intelligent. They want to think as well as feel, understand as well as dream. Above all, they want to be led into places that no one has ever visited before. It's a privilege to tell stories to these readers, and an honor when they applaud the tales you tell.

"Ender's Game" is one of Orson Scott Card's best books. Here are some reviews.

Live Long and Prosper! Enjoy Your Star Trekking.

Friday, December 01, 2006

Worf's Klingonspeak

The Klingon Language was invented for Star Trek The Motion Picture by James Doohan. He became famous for Scotty's highlands accent and getting the USS Enterprise NCC-1701 out of scrapes.

Except for peoples names the Klingon language was never spoken before Star Trek 1. In the Search for Spock, the linguist Marc Okrand developed James Doohans Klingon Language. The dialogue evolved.


Image Copyright belongs to Paramount Pictures
Worf and Martok in Deep Space 9's Holosuites

Taking half a dozen words Okrand identifed the command form of words. Core words were key. He was able to elaborate and add sounds and grammatical structure. Klingonspeak is a real Language with words and grammar not just sounds.

Sins of the father in Star Trek's TNG was Worfs story and a relaunch of the Klingon Mythos. The Klingon Dictionary is the Official Guide to Klingon words and phrases. It explains how the grammar works for all you aspiring Klingons! The TNG used the dictionary.

Michael Dorn Flies a Military Training Jet F-86!

Michael Dorn has read the book. In an interview given by the actor, "Worf" happily mentions the Klingon Dictionary, its description of Klingons and their behaviour. Michael freely admitted that the book helped him develop his Klingon character and got him the part for the Star Trek's TNG. Marc Okrand can be pleased for his contribution replied Michael Dorn smiling. Its hard to picture, but yes, Worf was smiling!

Live Long and Prosper, Trekkers!

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