The Encyclopedia Shatnerica [Paperback]

Robert Schnakenberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1998

Actor, singer, author, hair club poster child-William Shatner is all these things and more. So what if he's never won an Emmy, his singing isn't really singing, his books are ghostwritten for him, and his hairpieces are the subjects of widespread ridicule? To Trekkers and loyal fans alike, he is The Supreme Being. From Star Trek to T. J. Hooker, from Rescue 911 to TekWar, fans have maintained their loyalty to him and his work. He is a pop culture icon who has dared, many times, to go where no man has gone before. Now, with The Encyclopedia Shatnerica you can go there with him. You'll discover the strange details of his encounter with a UFO while riding his motorcycle through the Mojave Desert-an experience which later inspired him to record a psychedelic rock album. This unusual book contains all the facts, trivia, and other tidbits you'll ever want to know about William Shatner.

Formatted in easy-to-use A to Z entries, this encyclopedia volume contains Web site and fan club information, quotes from Shatner, his friends, and colleagues, and a time-line of his personal life. For the first time, it reveals all the essential facts about William Shatner, in front of and behind the camera.

Other books may detail the factual and fictional universe of Star Trek, but in no single place can one find reliable yet irreverent coverage of the wide world of William Shatner-Star Trek's most popular star. There is simply no other book like The Encyclopedia Shatnerica.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert Shnakenberg is a professional researcher and pop culture writer. He is a former assistant editor for Library and Information Services at the Museum of Television and Radio in New York City. He has worked on such projects as The Grolier Library of International Biographies and the CD-ROM version of Microsoft's Cinemania. He resides in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 297 pages
• Publisher: Renaissance Books (November 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580630391
• ISBN-13: 978-1580630399
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,725,851 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Robert Schnakenberg has been called "the Howard Zinn of nerd pop culture." He is the author of more than a dozen books, including Distory: A Treasury of Historical Insults, Christopher Walken A-to-Z, Secret Lives of Great Authors, and The Encyclopedia Shatnerica--the world's first A-to-Z guide to the life and career of William Shatner. His work has appeared in Penthouse, The American Writer, and Real People; and online at Alternet, HoleCity, Mental Floss, and PopPolitics.com. He has been a major contributor to numerous multi-volume reference works, including The St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture; Fashion, Fad, and Style; and Bowling, Beatniks, and Bell Bottoms: Pop Culture of 20th Century America.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious send-up of the legendary Star Trek captain, June 12, 2002

By 

Patrick L. Randall (Silver Spring, MD) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Encyclopedia Shatnerica (Paperback)

Over the years (decades), William Shatner has grown from simply an arrogant actor on a 60's sci-fi show to something of a legendary pop-culture icon. We have all heard the stories of his feuds with co-stars, failed TV shows, unique musical 'talents', and THAT HAIR! Now, in one place, the Star Trek and William Shatner fan can find a reference to everything that is Shatner. His detractors will find everything they want as well. Mr. Schnakenberg does not pull punches with his A-to-Z chronicle of Shatner's life. He delves into the ugliness of his disputes with fellow actors (most notably, James Doohan... aka 'Scotty') and his notable difficulty in his personal life (on his third marriage at the time of this book's release and now currently on his fourth following the tragic death of his third wife). But, he is also fair in his depictions. He goes to great lenghts to show caring and respect that both Shatner and Leonard Nimoy have for each other despite years of tension on the Star Trek set. Not to mention exploring the positive value of his "Rescue 911" TV series. Of course, there are also many humorous moments that are documented. Shatner's foray into the music industry with 'interesting' "The Transformed Man" album (now a cult hit) is covered as is one of the funniest moments in Saturday Night Live history when Shatner, playing himself, tells the assorted weirdoes at a Star Trek convention to "get a life!". Simply a fun read from beginning to end, the "Encyclopedia Shatnerica" is an cool addition to any person's library.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The man behind the rug (or, rather, underneath it), December 29, 2001

By 

Zagnorch (Terra, Sol System) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Encyclopedia Shatnerica (Paperback)

Diggin' through my endless piles of Trek-related literature one day, I discovered (or, more properly, re-discovered) this little alphabetical chronicle of the man behind Jimmers! An A-to-Z guide (from 'Airplane II' to 'Zmed, Adrian') that reads a little like an unauthorized biography, the Encyclopedia Shatnerica covers the man's many stage, screen & TV projects (most of 'em just gawdawful in the eyes of the author), as well as his thankfully short-lived musical career and those books that he allegedly wrote.

Also discussed are Shatner's legendary quirks, foibles, and just plain weird behavior that have become legend. More than a few great anecdotes from his fellow thespians are included as well, all broken down into a collection of brief, yet surprisingly informative passages. From the Trekkie Nation on down to those 'PriceLine' mavens, there's a little something for everybody in this paperback!

'Late

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good but . . ., November 12, 2000

By 

RobCicca (Montreal, CANADA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Encyclopedia Shatnerica (Paperback)

This book is pretty good. However, I am really disappointed that it does not mention the television commercials that William Shatner did for the Commodore Vic 20 computer in the early 1980s. Those advertisements were the main reason why my brother and I forced our parents to buy the Vic 20! I would have liked to read up on some information regarding those commercials. Also, the book should contain more photos.