Product Description

Customer Reviews (9)

Mellow, enjoyable.
I disagree with the harsh reviews of this book, however, my opinion is somewhat colored by the fact I spent a mere dollar for this book at a "Dollar General" store. This book examines the first Taelon on Earth, Ma'el. And his first human companions, clearly this book was written as if Kevin Kilner was to be imagined as the lead male character, and Leni Parker was to be Ma'el. Ma'el's first two human protectors go on Ma'els journeys through a earlier period in Earth's history, and take to Taelon technology a little too well. It is also written in such a way that everyone they come across is well spoken and articulate, which in real life is not the case. I recommend picking this up in the cut-out bin at the carwash, or at a discount of some kind, but for Pete's sake, don't pay full price for it.

This snooze-fest is pure ...
White was an excellent SF author.It is only a brutal shame that the last novel he wrote before passing away is such a drab, wordy mess.Unrelated to the series, this follows the backstory of the first Talon to land on Earth.Such an interesting concept should make for fascinating reading-- but here White uncharacteristically presents a series of dull, unrelated events that never consolidate into a worthwhile plot.

EARTH:FC fans: stay away from this one!It will put you to sleep.

JAMES WHITE fans: pass this one up.Go read some "Sector General" again... this book will only serve to sully your image of White's work.

The First Taelon--Ma'el
To know Ma'el is to love him. The first Taelon on earth was not anything like the malevolent and dangerous Zo'or. He wanted only good to come of his research of humanity and hid many things from his own Taelon race to protect the future of mankind. Come along on a long journey back through time,with 2 Celtic "Protectors" and Ma'el. Cross by land, sail by merchant ship, andvisit new oceans and continents by space ship. Feel the danger of pirates, Roman soldiers, and ancient tribes. Love the adventure, as Ma'el gradually reveals himself and regards humanity unselfishly in his quest for the future of his race. Faye

A Mixed Bag
I looked forward to this book with joy and trepidation.After the first EFC book being such a flop (in my opinion) I wondered what this one would bring.The first surprise was that the story was not of Boone,Lili and Da'an as the cover suggested but of the first Taelon Ma'el, who visited earth more than 1000 years in the past, which just goes to show you really can't judge a book by it's cover. While the story answered a number of myquestions relating to the TV series (1st season), I found the story very slow moving.At times I had to force myself to continue.I also found a number of the chapters took us nowhere except that they were there. The relationship between Declan (the first protector) and Sinead was touching but the important parts later in their relationship were totally skimmed over. We receive insights into how Ma'el formed 'his' beliefs, the reasons behind 'his' warnings, and 'his' strong insistence that the Taelon Synod not proceed with their plan to come to earth. I found the ready acceptance of Ma'el's astounding technology by 'primitive' people a little hard to swallow.All in all an enjoyable tale although a little far fetched at times.

Deceptive cover but enjoyed this prequel
Just because Da'an, William Boone and Capt. Lily Marquette appear on the book's cover does not mean this story is about them.They are only referenced briefly toward the very end.This book constitutes a prequelfor the EFC series, telling us lots about Ma'el's visit on earth and somehumans who helped him. I felt fairly ripped off that the cover did notrepresent the content well at all.But in the endI did read aninteresting story about Ma'el's adventures here on Earth and learned somethings about what motivates the Taelons.I liked the first book in thisEFC series better but this one was worthwhile, especially for people whoare loyal followers of the saga via the TV series. ... Read more

Product Description
Bestselling science fiction authors Debra Doyle and James D. Macdonald reveal the untold tale behind William Boone and the birth of the human Resistance. William Boone had always been good at strategy and fighting. When war breaks out at the turn of the millennium, Boone is quick to join and even quicker to move up the ranks. Finding himself the Captain of a Special Forces unit sent into the Far East, Boone proves himself as a crack commando who doesnt panic under pressure. And then the Companions arrive. Boone will be tested to the utmost as he finds himself the protector of North Americas Companion Daan, and a founding member of Earths fledgling resistance movement. Set before and during the days of the Taelon arrival, the thrilling story of the Resistances first fallen hero, William Boone, is finally told. Praise for The Stars Asunder: An intricate tale, rich in characters and maneuverings. ~ Analog Fresh and exciting a real page-turner. ~ SF Revue ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Good adaptation
In terms of a TV to book rendition that often can create a bland product that has no bearing at all to the TV show it springs from this book does a great job.Its not going to win a prize for literature or anything but it does a fairly good job holding the integrity of the characters together and keeping the reader interested.

Flat
The writing doesn't have a pulse. The series seems to have fallen victim to drone writing assignments.

Dry and Lacking Value
A potentially imaginative project has been cranked out with no fire, no magic. Very dry and uninspired writing ruins an otherwise fascinating Roddenberry treasure. Really disappointing. Critics or English teachers might have done a better job of breathing life into this one.

Borrow, don't buy.
I'm not impressed with this one.It was supposed to give the readers (fans of E:FC) a glimpse into Boone's past, chronicle his first meeting with Augur, etc., etc.I didn't learn anything about Boone I didn't already know.The "first meeting" was trite.The book's one saving grace was the development of Kate, Boone's wife, a data wrangler of some considerable skill.

So many things were glossed over, Kate's participation in the mysterious project, the "Octopus," the arrival of the Taelons, etc. It became very frustrating.Frankly, this book read like a "backstory sketch" meant to provide other writers with a little background information in order to write more detailed books of their own.I'm sorry I bought it.

A book worth reading
This is one of the best books I have ever read.The human nature and spiritual exploring the novle expresses can deeply move the readers.And the background--a science fiction world--supplies such a wonderful,broad environment to set in the very story about humans and talons.The whole story is so complex and mysterious that it makes me take an interest in it.I am very glad to learn that 'Ma'El and 'Da'An are almost the same person,both have elegant behaviour and are much more intellectual than orther Talons.The tow represent a noble spirit and possibility of friendship between humans and talons.But it doesn't come ture in the end.For me,a big fan of 'Da'An,it is a pity.By the way,the TV show is rather good. ... Read more

Product Description
Bestselling science fiction author Fred Saberhagen reveals the untold tale behind the birth of the human Resistance and the beginnings of the final conflict. In a time of secrets and mysteries, Jonathan Doors remains one of the biggest enigmas. When the Taelons arrive on Earth and take their place as humanitys Companions, Doors is one of the first to welcome them with open arms. Using his power and influence, he helps introduce the aliens to our world. Then he suddenly fakes his own death and goes underground to lead the Resistance as the Companions greatest enemy. Why? In the days following the Taelons arrival, the story of the secretive multibillionaire is finally told and the truth is exposed. Working at first to ensure peaceful relations between the human race and newly landed aliens, Doors also hopes to find something in the aliens technology that will free his wife from the grip of a terrible disease. But when his father reveals the secrets of his own past, Jonathan Doors will discover the true price of a cure, and the Taelons dark plans for Earth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Great Series, BAD Book
I have enjoyed catching up with this interesting, though sometimes uneven, series now that SciFi is showing it.Turning to the books in order to flesh out some of the back story, I had high hopes.Unfortunately, after beginning well, this book drowns in repetitious and annoying writing.It's as if Saberhagen said, "Well, I have to write a certain number of pages, so I'll just have the same event occur a few times, modifying it slightly, to fulfill my duty."Of the 300 or so pages, about 50 are worth your time.

Hard to get into
I am a big fan of Earth Final Conflict and I was looking forward to the book but I got a little bored with it.It seems to drag on in sections but its a good book.I recommend it if you are a fan of the series.

For the MONEY?!!
I've probably read over a million pages of Sci-Fi in my 49 years,including just about every word written by Heinlein and Clarke. I haven't read much by Saberhagen, but I'll bet he spends more time and effort on his own material.AS a dyed in the wool E:FC Fan, this is a real stinker that drags all the way through and has none of the appeal and action of the T.V. series. Maybe the teen set love it because it's something from the show, but, in my opinion, the publishers waisted their money,because it seems that is all Mr.Saberhagen was interested in. I'd almost bet that he hadn't even read the E:FC "Bible".

And if you really like the word "and" you'll love this book.
And I thought this book was really disappointing. And instead of being about how the Taelons came to Earth and it's mostly about Doors father in the 1930's. And there's more about Errol Flynn fooling around with David Niven than anything with Taelons. And Lilly Marguette is on the cover and she's not even in the book. And the author started so many sentences with "and". And it was really annoying, considering I don't think you're supposed to start a sentence with "and". And it got so bad, I couldn't help thinking every sentence started with "and".

Earth Final Conflict:The Arrival
I enjoyed "EFC: The Arrival."I expected the story line of the book to be somewhat different than the television series and was proven correct. There are technical errors throughout the book, many detailsthat do not match from the television series.The mistakes will providegood trivia, faqs, topics, and related material questions that will betalked about in internet news groups and chat rooms.I have also read"EFC: The First Protector" by James White, very enjoyable. ... Read more

Product Description
James Blish was a science fiction writer who wrote over 27 novels, most notably the Cities in Flight series, and A Case of Conscience, for which he won a Hugo Award. He also was a highly respected critic, and his criticism in collected in the books The Issue at Hand, and More Issues at Hand, (published under the pen name of William Atheling, Jr.). Using the original scripts, which sometimes differed from the final filmed episode, Blish turned each episode of the original Star Trek into a short story, which were collected into anthologies and published as paperback originals. The Star Trek Reader III collects three of these anthologies: Star Trek 5, Star Trek 6, and Star Trek 7. The episodes present include: Star Trek 5: Whom Gods Destroy; The Tholian Web; Let That Be Your Last Battlefield; This Side of Paradise; Turnabout Intruder; Requiem for Methuselah; The Way to Eden. Star Trek 6: The Savage Curtain; The Lights of Zetar; The Apple; By Any Other Name; The Cloud Minders; The Mark of Gideon. Star Trek 7: Who Mourns for Adonais?; The Changeling; The Paradise Syndrome; Metamorphosis; The Deadly Years; Elaan of Troyius. ... Read more

Product Description
Shedding new light on the legendary TV show, a biography of the creator of Star Trekreveals his real-life inspiration for Mr. Spock, how his background influenced the show, and his relationships with the colorful cast. Reprint. PW. AB. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Revealing to those who wish to become TV Screenwriters
While I agree with one of the previous reviewers,that Roddenberry could have chosen a more experienced chronicler, I understand why he did not.Still, despite its shortcommings, Star Trek Creator should be applauded for going beyond what a "Trekkie" would necessarily want to hear to becomming a book about one man's journey into making a living in Hollywood. DR. ... Read more

Product Description
James Blish was a science fiction writer who wrote over 27 novels, most notably the Cities in Flight series, and A Case of Conscience, for which he won a Hugo Award. He also was a highly respected critic, and his criticism in collected in the books The Issue at Hand, and More Issues at Hand, (published under the pen name of William Atheling, Jr.). Using the original scripts, which sometimes differed from the final filmed episode, Blish turned each episode of the original Star Trek into a short story, which were collected into anthologies and published as paperback originals. The Star Trek Reader IV collects two of these anthologies: Star Trek 10, and Star Trek 11, and Blish's original Star Trek novel, Spock Must Die!. The episodes present include: The Alternative Factor; The Empath; The Galileo Seven; Is There in Truth No Beauty?; A Private Little War; The Omega Glory; What Are Little Girles Made Of?; The Squire of Gothos; Wink of an Eye; Bread and Circuses; Day of the Dove; and Plato's Stepchildren. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER FOR STAR TREK FANS


STAR TREK READER IV contains 12 novelized episodes of the program with an added story, Spock Must Die!. Originally these stories come from paperbacks STAR TREK 10, AND STAR TREK 11.An additional story, Spock Must Die, comprised Book III in this volume.

What's better than having these stories in soft cover, mass market?The four volumes in hardcover that comprise STAR TREK READERS I, II, III, AND IV.These books all saw the light of day back in the 1970s, yet they read very well today and can be bought for little to nothing even today.In fact I obtained my set at a local Goodwill store for $1.35 apiece.Great bargain no matter where you get them.

Contents:

Star Trek 10

Preface
he Alternative Factor
The Empath
The Galileo Seven
Is There in Truth No Beauty?
A Private Little War
The Omega Glory

Star Trek 11

Preface
What Are Little Girles Made Of?
The Squire of Gothos
Wink of an Eye
Bread and Circuses
Day of the Dove
Plato's Stepchildren

Book III

Spock Must Die!

Live long and (read Star Trek) prosper.

Semper Fi. ... Read more

Product Description
James Blish was a science fiction writer who wrote over 27 novels, most notably the Cities in Flight series, and A Case of Conscience, for which he won a Hugo Award. He also was a highly respected critic, and his criticism in collected in the books The Issue at Hand, and More Issues at Hand, (published under the pen name of William Atheling, Jr.). Using the original scripts, which sometimes differed from the final filmed episode, Blish turned each episode of the original Star Trek into a short story, which were collected into anthologies and published as paperback originals. The Star Trek Reader collects three of these anthologies: Star Trek 1, Star Trek 4, and Star Trek 9. The episodes present include Charlie's Law; Dagger of the Mind; The Unreal McCoy; Balance of Terror; The Naked Time; Miri; The Conscience of the King; All Our Yesterdays; The Devil in the Dark; Journey to Babel; The Menagerie; The Enterprise Incident; A Piece of the Action; Return to Tomorrow; The Ultimate Computer; That Which Survives; Obsession; The Return of the Archons; and The Immunity Syndrome. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Star Trek Reader II
This is a good book.I like it because it has novelized eight different star trek episodes. ... Read more

Product Description
James Blish was a science fiction writer who wrote over 27 novels, most notably the Cities in Flight series, and A Case of Conscience, for which he won a Hugo Award. He also was a highly respected critic, and his criticism in collected in the books The Issue at Hand, and More Issues at Hand, (published under the pen name of William Atheling, Jr.). Using the original scripts, which sometimes differed from the final filmed episode, Blish turned each episode of the original Star Trek into a short story, which were collected into anthologies and published as paperback originals. The Star Trek Reader collects three of these anthologies: Star Trek 2, Star Trek 3, and Star Trek 8. The episodes present include The City on the Edge of Forever; Arena; A Taste of Armageddon; Tomorrow Is Yesterday; Errand of Mercy; Court-Martial; Operation--Annihilate!; Space Seed; The Trouble With Tribbles; The Last Gunfight; The Doomsday Machine; Assignment: Earth; Mirror, Mirror; Friday's Child; Amok Time; Spock's Brain; The Enemy Within; Catspaw; Where No Man Has Gone Before; Wolf in the Fold; and For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The first and best collection of James Blish's adaptations
James Blish was a science fiction writer who wrote over 27 novels, including "A Case of Conscience" for which he won a Hugo Award and one of the earliest Star Trek novels "Spock Must Die!" He also adapted the original Star Trek novels for a series of Star Trek Readers in the late 1960's and proved himself to be as good at novelization, or whatever we call it in this case, as anybody I have ever come across. The details he puts into the stories, without adding anything new to the actual tale, are amazing. Just read the beginning of his version of "The Trouble with Tribbles" where he talks about how the "harmless" little creatures.

The first volume in "The Star Trek Reader" series brings together volumes 2, 3 and 8 of the original "Star Trek" paperback series into one volume and what is arguably the best of Blish's efforts in this series in his version of "The City on the Edge of Forever."It is actually really and truly Blish's version because he takes what he thinks is the best of Harlan Ellison's original script and the teleplay of what actually aired way back when. Blish admits this was a tricky thing to try and manage and fretted that he might owe apologies all the way around. What Blish is able to salvage is mainly Ellison's original conclusion, although we know Harlan would have liked it if the character of Trooper had made it into Blish's version. But certainly it is a valiant effort.

The other episodes from "Star Trek 2" are "Arena," "A Taste of Armageddon," "Tomorrow Is Yesterday," "Errand of Mercy," "Court-Martial," "Operation--Annihilate!" and "Space Seed." If I remember, correctly, the rationale behind what episodes were included in each volume had to do with their relative popularity, which explains why you have several first-rate episodes in this particular volume. Blish was an excellent writer, who died well before his time, and his adaptation of the Star Trek episodes prove that it was the stories rather than the specific effects that made it a special series. From "Star Trek 3" we have "The Trouble With Tribbles," "The Last Gunfight," "The Doomsday Machine," "Assignment: Earth," "Mirror, Mirror," "Friday's Child" and "Amok Time." "Star Trek 8" provides "Spock's Brain," "The Enemy Within," "Catspaw," "Where No Man Has Gone Before," "Wolf in the Fold," and "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky."

With not only "The City on the Edge of Forever" but "The Trouble with Tribbles," it is easy to make the case that "The Star Trek Reader I" is the best of the four volumes."Space Seed," "Mirror, Mirror," and "Amok Time" are also episodes that tend to pop up on a lot of the Top Ten lists by "Star Trek" fans.In the old days, when the original "Star Trek" was in syndication in your market, if you were lucky and videotapes were way in the future, these books by Blish were pretty much all a lot of us had. So the only way to really enjoy the episodes was to collect the paperbacks with these adaptations. Now we just have to get these books reprinted again for the next generation of Trekkers to enjoy because in many ways they hold up better than the original series (better special effects in your mind's eye). ... Read more

Product Description

Of all the myriad beings who inhabit our galaxy, none are as enigmatic (and as entertaining) as the omnipotent cosmic trickster who calls himself Q. Since the very beginning of Star Trek: The Next Generation® he has confounded Starfleet captains from one end of the Milky Way to another. Sometimes a playful mischief maker, sometimes a deadly threat to all humanity, Q is nothing if not unpredictable.

Starfleet has maintained an extensive record of all Q's bizarre manifestations, and now so can you. Here, painstakingly compiled, are the original scripts for each of Q's unforgettable encounters with the Federation.

From his memorable first appearance on the Starship Enterprise™ to his single visit to Deep Space Nine™ and his ongoing flirtations with Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Starship Voyager™, The Q Chronicles provides authentic transcripts of over a decade's worth of quintessential fun and games. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Are you a fan of Q?
Do you love his wit?His cheerful smile?His omnipotence?
Well, here is the book for you - the scripts from all the times he decided to visit his friends in Star Fleet!
The book starts off with 'Encounter At Farpoint' and goes on to 'Hide And Q', 'Q Who?', 'Deja Q', 'QPid', 'True-Q', 'Tapestry', 'Q-Less', 'Death Wish', 'The Q And The Grey' and 'All Good Things'(which I think is the least interesting of all the encounters).

Great Collection
If you are into scripts and the technical aspects of seeing production scripts as they were used - this is a good set.

If you are a fan of Star Trek:The Next Generation era, and more specificlly, a "Q" fan..this is a must.

It features all the "Q" interuptions - interventions that John De Lancie performed brilliantly throughout the run of all four series. Great writing by the authors, but more memorable is the performances as you read through this journel of script.

Very entertaining and if you watch the episodes at the same time, you'll see the subtle differneces the actors bring to their characters. Get it!

The Scripts With Q
I love the Q concept.We all have this spark of divinity, and power resonates with us.We also like a good smart alec like Lucifer in Milton's "Paradise Lost."Q whets both of these appetites.The Next Generation is an unusual series in that Q serves as a judge of humanity in the first and last episodes.It is a brilliant move by Rodenberry to have these bookends that frame the discussion and the series.There is something more than entertainment or collegiate forensics, but the actual question of humanities survival, with the Continuum as the metaphorical judges.You see a similar device used in the last episode of "Seinfeld," which was a clip show, but also Seinfeld on trial.Lucky, unlike Seinfeld, Picard was not found wanting.

This book has all the TV series scripts that have Q, expect "Q and the Grey," and any possible Cameo in "Enterprise."Aside from this one deletion, it's all here.It is titillating to watch the development of Q from a quasi-god or Loki being that were so prevalent in The Original Series (Melkots, Metrons, Orgainians, etc), but to a likeable almost Bart Simpson character.He was called the God of Lies, but he did let Data have a laugh.

This is not prose, but the actual scripts used in films, so keep that in mind whey you are buying.Remember the trouble you had with reading Shakespeare?Same format, so it is a little hard to read, and you need John de Lancie to breathe life into this one letter character.

There are several photos from the episodes, although I wish we had a better picture of the Continuum from "Death Wish."But the Q-Zone novel trilogy paints a better picture than they did with the voyager episode.

Aside from that one caveat, I recommend this for any Q-aholic as myself.Except for "Encounter at Farpoint," and "All Good Things," these episodes have not been novelized. This is your only source for the acid lines, with and wisdom of our favorite being.

Great source of Q-ness!
I love this book.The schmuck above, my friend actually, didn't read far enough.That missing scene is indeed in the book.Hope to see more of Q in the future!

It's hard working in groups when you're omnipotent.

Q is da man!
I love this character, he's a schmuck, but he's so damn fun, and irreprisible.When I grow up I want to join the Continuum.

This book is great.It is wonderful having access to the scripts.Being the Q nutthat I am I could only give this book four starts.I was reading theepisode where Amanda is involved.There is a part where Q tests here butinducing a warp core breach.He tells the crew he was responsible.Theyask him what if Amanda had not been able to stop the breach, and heresponds that then he would know she wasn't a Q.That part didn't appearin the transcripts.

All in all, great. ... Read more

Product Description
The complete history of the TV series, from conception, design and scripting to how the finished product was produced and sold. The book should be of interest to TV writers, directors and producers, as well as providing a behind-the-scenes guide for fans of the cult series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Book is quite good
The part of it I like best was when they describe in detail the original outline for The Cage. Here the captain is Robert T. April (not Christopher Pike as he later was) and the Talosians are crab-like creatures (not the big-headed humans they'd be in the series). In short this was truly the first idea of what Star Trek was to be like.
The photo section is good too with snapshots of the TOS set and devices and regfular castmembers and even some guest stars.

If you have not read this book, you really do not know how Star Trek was made
This is a book that all Star Trek fans must read, for it was there at the beginning. The descriptions are of the early ideas in the head of Gene Roddenberry, how the concept grew from an itch in his mind to a proposal made to the heads of NBC and then to one of the most popular and enduring concepts in entertainment. Two generations have come into existence and large social changes have taken place since Star Trek first appeared so it is hard for the current generation to understand how revolutionary it was. Women and minorities were placed in positions of authority and responsibility making it a harbinger of social change.
Furthermore, a great deal of new ground had to be broken in the area of production, as an entirely new set of special effects had to be created and appear realistic. Given the modern use of digital techniques that are now routine, if you are not an original viewer it is impossible to realize how dazzling the Star Trek special effects were at the time.
All of this led to the production people struggling to "make the grade" and this is their story. Some way somehow, they always managed to solve the problems and in their own way changed the world. While the original series only lasted three years, the impact is timeless and this is the inside story of how the show was made. It is very difficult to truly understand Star Trek without reading this book.

"The" book about the making of Star Trek
Back when there was little else written about Star Trek, before David Gerrold's great "World of Star Trek" analysis or Franz Joseph's blueprints, "The Making of Star Trek" was the ultimate. I devoured it as a boy in the early '70s. To this day I don't think anyone can consider themselves a true original series die-hard without having read this book. It really does take you inside the making of the show, but keeps it on a professional level, without salaciousness. That's because the book wasn't written as something for the few Star Trek fans that were known of then, but as a book about how to write for TV, as older printings stated on the cover. That does leave some things out, but those details have been covered since by other books and memoirs.

Since this was written while the series was in production, it's a good view into how people felt then, even refreshing because Trek had yet to become a pop culture colossus, so the book doesn't have any of that built-in reverence. They were making a good TV show that aspired to be something better than most everything else on then, but in the end it was considered just another TV job, certainly not anything that would become legendary.

For instance, "The Defenders," one of the highest praised, most thoughtful and well-written dramas of the '60s, is scarecely remembered by anyone not old enough to have seen it. Part of the issue with that series had to do with rerun-rights issues, but another part had to do with the times then, when TV was still rather young, and shows were thought of as rather disposable, coming and going without much of an afterlife except for "Lucy" and "Honeymooners" reruns. When you think of it in that context, it's easy to see why Gene Roddenberry bailed on Star Trek after it became clear NBC was out to kill it, even though the letter campaign forced them to bring it back for a third year.

The pics and blueprints within the book are cool but may not be as impressive today. At least the blueprints, while not "accurate" by today's standards, were drawn by Matt Jefferies himself. Remember, though, for a long time this was all the reference stuff available. However, if you want what is still a good insider's look into the making of the show, plus Gene Roddenberry's take before even he got sucked into the myth, this is a must-read.

the GREAT BIRD OF THE GALAXY WAS GOD>>>
hey Spouk

the capitalization of quotes from Roddenberry(aka the Great Bird of the Galazy) give one "the bizarre impression that he is a god" because for the series, he was:-)

i have a copy of the original publication, read it then and howled, still think it is a great read.

BTW Terry Pratchett uses the same literary device of all caps for Death, in the Discworld series.

Harlan Ellison's memories of the show are fascinating reading as well.As are David Gerrold's.

A Trekker's joy
I read this in the Seventies and thoroughly enjoyed it.Now I've bought it again and enjoyed it all over again.Fascinating behind-the-scenes look at TOS.You have to read this book to understand what a groundbreaking series Star Trek was.You also learn how grueling a TV series is to work on.This book is fascinating, and sometimes hilarious! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great Read
This book is amazing. Since it is written by Gene Roddenberry himself, the reader is allowed to see Spock and Kirk as he wanted them to be shown. It's a wonderful addition to any Star Trek collection and works wonderfully as a tie in to the Motion Picture.

"Jim -- this is transcendence!"
Gene Roddenberry's novelization of "Star Trek -- The Motion Picture" is a book I've always liked, and is far superior to the movie on which it's based.The first "Trek" movie works neither as science fiction cinema nor as a "Star Trek" adventure.Gene's book, by contrast, works both as science fiction and as "Star Trek".

Needless to say, the book and the movie have the same plot, which proceeds just as slowly in both versions -- but the book remains engaging throughout due to the insight it gives us into the characters' thought processes.Gene is able to do things in the prose format which the movie could not do, such as presenting the opening attack on the Klingon ships as a thought transmission from Starfleet Command which Jim Kirk receives while visiting the Library at Alexandria (which Gene correctly predicted would someday be rebuilt).We gain much more insight into the civilization of 23rd-century Earth, and into the characters and how they have changed since the end of the original series, than the movie gives us.Gene even manages to address the eternal question of whether or not Kirk and Spock's relationship was more than friendship in a way which is completely true to both characters and to Gene's own philosophy -- and is also very funny.

Over the years some fans have questioned whether or not Gene actually wrote this book.I don't know why -- his stylistic fingerprints are all over it.The book deals with many of the themes and concepts that recurred throughout Gene's work.It clearly could have been written by no one else.

Not Free SF Reader
As the title says, this is the novelisation of the first Star Trek movie.The enterprise crew has a new member who disagrees with Kirk about how things, should be run.

On a mission, they come across a strange woman and a machine that calls itself V'ger - part of which is the old Voyager probe.

Good novelization of the first Star Trek motion picture�
If you liked the movie, you will appreciate the book as it (like most movie novelizations) provides a wealth of additional information that helps to fill out the story portrayed in the film. In particular, the additional information on Kirk & Co. and what they did in the interim between television series and the movie as well as the information on the characters of Decker, Ilia, and even Vejur itself are invaluable to both an appreciation of the novel and the film.Not to be prudish, but at times the sexual innuendo can be a little less than subtle - otherwise a good start to a great series of science fiction novels. I would have liked to have seen more novels penned by Mr. Roddenberry.

Roddenberry should have wrote more Trek Novels
What surprised me about this book was that it was better than the movie.It explained a lot in terms of what happened after the crew's five year mission and how they coped with the changes.It's surprising to me...unless this book was ghost written like the Shatner ones.. that Roddenberry didn't devote more time to getting his version of Star Trek in the form of novels.I would have loved to see his script for the "God Thing" ...it would have made Shatner's disaster Star Trek V pale in comparison. From what I have read an attempt was made however the Roddenberry estate did not like the revision by a Trek novelist. ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Timothy Leary, Clyde Tombaugh, Gene Roddenberry, James Doohan, Gerard K. O'neill, Gordon Cooper, Eugene Merle Shoemaker, Space Burial, Randy Vanwarmer, Krafft Arnold Ehricke. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 101. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Gerard Kitchen O'Neill (February 6, 1927 April 27, 1992) was an American physicist and space activist. As a faculty member of Princeton University, he invented a device called the particle storage ring for high-energy physics experiments. Later, he invented a magnetic launcher called the mass driver. In the 1970s, he developed a plan to build human settlements in outer space, including a space habitat design known as the O'Neill cylinder. He founded the Space Studies Institute, an organization devoted to funding research into space manufacturing and colonization. O'Neill began researching high-energy particle physics at Princeton in 1954 after he received his doctorate from Cornell University. Two years later, he published his theory for a particle storage ring. This invention allowed particle physics experiments at much higher energies than had previously been possible. In 1965 at Stanford University, he performed the first colliding beam physics experiment. While teaching physics at Princeton, O'Neill became interested in the possibility that humans could live in outer space. He researched and proposed a futuristic idea for human settlement in space, the O'Neill cylinder, in "The Colonization of Space", his first paper on the subject. He held a conference on space manufacturing at Princeton in 1975. Many who became post-Apollo-era space activists attended. O'Neill built his first mass driver prototype with professor Henry Kolm in 1976. He considered mass drivers critical for extracting the mineral resources of the Moon and aster...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=758947 ... Read more