Star Trek Memories (Mass Market Paperback)
Product Details
- Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
- Publisher: Harper (July 1, 1994)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0061092355
- ISBN-13: 978-0061092350
- Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.8 x 0.8 inches
- Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Fans of TV’s 1960s science fiction series Star Trek will go into orbit over lead player Shatner’s candid, captivating reminiscence, packed with stellar anecdotes and backstage lore. Writing with help from MTV editorial director Kreski, Shatner reveals details of day-to-day work–and some of the fights with nervous studio executives who were not quite ready for the future. Problematic were writer/producer Gene Roddenberry’s proposal that the starship’s strong, efficient first officer, “Number One,” be played by a woman, namely Majel Barrett who later became the softer, secondary character Nurse Chapel; the casting of Leonard Nimoy as the pointy-eared alien Dr. Spock; and the interracial kiss scripted for Shatner and Nichelle Nichols. We learn that every episode was filmed in the “ridiculously inadequate timespan” of six days, with one week for preproduction, creating excessive pressure on many actors and members of the film crew. Aided by recollections of other cast members, Shatner’s memoir covers everything from turf wars to special effects in an appealing, humorous tone. Illustrations include stills, photos and drawings of sets.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
In his seventh book since 1989 and first nonfiction work, Shatner ( Tek Vengence, LJ 1/93) provides the long-awaited history of the original Star Trek series. He recounts the series in intricate detail, from its inception to its premature demise in 1969. Through dozens of interviews and 130 never-before-seen photos, he describes the cerebral creation, multifaceted production, Emmy Award-winning special effects, and incredibly innovative process of writing, filming, and editing for which the series is legendary. In addition, he remains true to his goal of giving credit where it is due, which serves to enhance both the final product and Shatner’s stature as a writer. Much of the book centers around Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek ’s original creator, whom Shatner claims was “brilliant, absolutely incontrovertibly brilliant.” These memories will fascinate die-hard fans and leave them thirsty for more. Recommended for sf and television collections. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/93.
- Charles A. Weiss, “Library Journal”
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. Of all the Trek documentaries that have come out in recent years, this is one of the best. Narrated by William Shatner, the video features never-before-seen footage of all the main TOS actors, who share personal insights about the show and the characters they played. You will get to hear James Doohan do some other accents besides Scottish (er, what if “Scotty” had been a Brit instead?) Nichelle Nichols tells the story about her encounter with Martin Luther King in much more detail than I’ve ever heard her do before, and explains the origin of Uhura’s first name, “Nyota” (meaning “star”) in the Trek novels. George Takei sets the record straight about that “wildman with a rapier” incident on the set, and D.C. Fontana adds a number of behind–the-scenes stories. I especially liked Leonard Nimoy’s discussion of how the Spock character grew and evolved in terms of logic versus friendship, etc. All in all, I really enjoyed this video.