Computers Of Star Trek [Paperback]

Lois H. Gresh (Author), Robert Weinberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 5, 2001

The depiction of computers on the various "Star Trek" series has ranged from lame to breathtakingly imaginative. This book covers the gamut, and makes lucid and entertaining comparison of these fictional computers with those that now exist or are likely to inhabit our future. Throughout its history, "Star Trek" has been an accurate reflection of contemporary ideas about computers and their role in our lives. Affectionately but without illusions, The Computers of Star Trek shows how those ideas compare with what we now know we can and will do with computers.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In a world that has given us titles on the physics, biology, and history of Star Trek, a book discussing its computers was probably inevitable. Gresh and Weinberg (The Termination Node) illuminate the ways in which the computer systems in each incarnation of the Star Trek universe reflect the real-world technology and mindset of the time. From the mainframe-like centralized computing of the original series to the Next Generation's PDA-like (Personal Digital Assistant) computer pads, Trek technology has always been built upon contemporary knowledge. The book also explains how future technology will differ from that of Star Trek in significant and less telegenic ways. Although the authors spend a good bit of time eroding the suspension of disbelief necessary to the enjoyment of any Trek show or movie, this title is sure to be popular with trekkers everywhere. Recommended for public libraries.
-Rachel Singer Gordon, Franklin Park P.L., IL
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Not only a painless examination of the history and future of computers but a highly entertaining one as well." -- Walter Koenig

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (June 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 046501299X
• ISBN-13: 978-0465012992
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,728,233 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting at times, but mostly repetitive and conjectural, August 23, 2003

By 

Jeff Barnes - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Computers Of Star Trek (Hardcover)

Writing books about "The [Something] of Star Trek" seems to have become something of a fad ever since Lawrence Krauss's wonderful "The Physics of Star Trek," whether that "Something" be biology, philosophy, religion, or, in this case, computers. This book becomes tiresome, or at least off-topic, largely because there is a dearth of primary-source material on the computers of Star Trek, meaning that there is unfortunately little for the authors (who are computer scientists) to analyze scientifically. Specifically, the authors' primary sources consist of a scant smattering of material from the television shows and movies and the "Star Trek: The Next Generation--Technical Manual." To quote the book, "The technical manual devotes only five pages to the Enterprise computer. Based on its vague and sketchy description, we've inferred [a] general design." In other words, the book is based largely on assumptions and inferences, some of which are rather nonsensical. For example, in reference to the Star Trek memory storage unit known as a "kiloquad," the book says, "it's easy enough to deduce...that a kiloquad equals 1,000 quadrillion bytes." The only "evidence" given to support this conclusion is that "kilo-" means 1,000 and that "Checking a dictionary reveals that the only numerical term involving quad is quadrillion." This kind of speculation would be mildly interesting if only a paragraph were devoted to it, but instead, the authors assume throughout the remainder of the book that this is the definition of a kiloquad, and analyze the plausibility of data storage space on this extremely tenuous basis. This is after quoting the following wise excerpt from the "Star Trek Encyclopedia:" "The reason the term was invented was specifically to avoid describing the data capacity of Star Trek's computers in 20th century terms." This is one of countless examples. Much of the book seems to consist of the authors making unconvincing inferences, repeating themselves when they run out of source material, and making occasional (and unsuccessful) forays into philosophy and physics. The book is interesting when it makes a real point, but has too much filler material. There simply isn't enough source material for a 200-page book of this sort to be successful.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN STAR TREK OR COMPUTERS, December 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Computers Of Star Trek (Hardcover)

I picked up this book because I'm a computer major in college and have been a Star Trek fan for years. I wasn't disappointed as the authors have put together a very funny and very entertaining book about how computers are portrayed on all the different shows. They compare the computers on the different versions of the Enterprise (and Deep Space Nine and Voyager) to the computers we use today. They examine Data and the holodeck and the Borg also. Reading the book makes it clear that we are much further towards developing computers like those shown in Star Trek than anyone involved with the show could imagine. Computers they use three hundred years from now will be available in twenty-thirty years. The book is filled with interesting examples taken from the different shows and the authors know how to keep the reader entertained. I found this book not only fascinating but very funny as well. This is the best non-fiction book on Star Trek I've ever read, and I've read them all.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Book has little to say, ends up being overcritical, February 1, 2002

By 

Kevin W. Parker (Greenbelt, MD) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Computers Of Star Trek (Hardcover)

This series of books (The <fill-in-the-blank> of Star Trek) may be winding down. Unfortunately, the main thing you can say about the computers of Star Trek is that the show's creators showed an extraordinarily lack of vision in that regard: even the Enterprise-D computer is clearly a deluxe, sixties-style mainframe and not the network of computers we would expect today.

Clearly, many of the issues are for dramatic reasons: you can't have the computer fighting the battles nor people communicating with the computers through thought alone. The latter would be tedious to watch and the former would take all the interest out of it.

Regardless, the book, while interesting to read, comes off as critical and even shrill as a result - not nearly as affirming or interesting a read as, say, The Physics of Star Trek.