"Star Trek" is one of the most popular phenomenas ever. This text combines the history of "Star Trek's" impact on our culture together with observations from writers such as Arthur C. Clarke and Kurt Vonnegut, as well as interviews with key "Star Trek" actors.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Kurt Vonnegut, who is interviewed in this volume, has said many times and in many ways that humans are always seeking extended families. Author Jeff Greenwald looks into one of the largest artificial families ever created, the legion of Star Trek fans who know each other by secret signs, symbols, and addictions, and who turn out to be one of the most interesting subjects for sociological study ever invented by a major movie studio. Greenwald travels the globe, interviewing Klingon clans from Germany, Trek-heads in an English pub, and dozens of Americans who find fulfillment in the wearing of funny ears. Of extreme interest is the section on the Klingon Language Institute, an actual organization of linguists and scholars who are translating the Bible into Klingon. There's already a splinter group who've decided to do their own Bible translation that will be truer to Klingon culture. There's also a delightfully eclectic assortment of celebrity interviews, some of which are eye-popping. The final chapter, I swear to Kahless, is a talk with an unlikely Trek fan: the Dalai Lama. An engaging read for Trekkers, sociologists, and Buddhists alike. --James DiGiovanna
From Publishers Weekly
Greenwald's (The Size of the World) subtitle may be a bit of ironic hyperbole, but the ensuing text is right on target, offering an enjoyable journey through the global pervasiveness of American pop culture via one of the most enduring TV concepts ever. More than a Trekkie ode to Kirk, Spock, Picard and their ilk, this book provides a deconstruction of the worldwide appeal of the series and movies through interviews with cast members, writers, directors, fans and a variety of ancillary subjects, including Arthur C. Clarke, Kurt Vonnegut and the Dalai Lama. Roughly following production of the movie Star Trek: First Contact, Greenwald's own trek takes him to Hungary, Japan, India, Italy, England and other far-flung Star Trek outposts to meet with fans possessing varying degrees of dedication to the show. There are would-be Klingons picnicking in Germany; engineers at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, Calif., trading one-liners from the show; and Hungarian enthusiasts meeting at a Kentucky Fried Chicken. No doubt hardcore Trek aficionados will find much of interest here as key actors, such as Patrick Stewart, and others involved with the series and movies expound on their characters, plots and the reasons for the three-decade popularity of the Star Trek franchise. Even readers of a less zealous bent will likely find fans' unwavering loyalty to Roddenberry's original vision a wonder to behold. Photos throughout.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful contribution to Gene Roddenberry's vision,
By Steve Brant (sbrant@trimtab.com) (New York City, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Future Perfect : How Star Trek Conquered Planet Earth (Hardcover)
This book is full of very useful insights into the effect Star Trek has had on humanity in the last 32 years. By reporting on Star Trek's impact on so many different cultures, Jeff Greenwald is following in Gene Roddenberry's footsteps. He is helping his readers see not just themselves, but the diversity that exists among Star Trek's fans world-wide.Patrick Stewart is quoted in the book as saying how very valuable it is to be able to put yourself in someone else's shoes, to see their point of view (not just your own). If this book helps this happen for its readers, it will have served a very valuable purpose - not just providing a behind the scenes look at Star Trek, but a view of how people of other cultures see themselves as well.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The ultimate book on Star Trek Fandom,
By A Customer
This review is from: Future Perfect : How Star Trek Conquered Planet Earth (Hardcover)
Jeff Greenwald observes and interviews various Star Trek authors, producers and TV Stars as well as Star Trek Fans all around the world. What is the result of that? The answer is: amazing! I can't remember having read anything like it before!First of all, he has a very fluent, easy-to-read writing style. You just sit there, flip over one page after another and get sucked into the book. After ten pages, I was unable to put the book aside for anything else but work, food or sleep. But the book does not stop there. Jeff Greenwald has written a very thoughtful, very reflective book on the Star Trek Fandom. No matter which facet he meets - may it be authors, producers, stars or the common Trekker - he shows a insight about how Star Trek gives each personal dream and hope a shape. Jeff tells us those stories of hopes and dreams - but always with a twinkle in his eyes, ready to catch remarks of people who may have hopes, but are as well capable to laugh about themselves. Oh boy - I waited long for such a book!
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best overview of the worldwide Star Trek Phenomena!,
This review is from: Future Perfect : How Star Trek Conquered Planet Earth (Hardcover)
In this unprecedented view of how and why Star Trek has captured the psyche of the entire world, Jeff Greenwald has gone where no author has gone before. He has taken an objective view of the Star Trek craze (making this book a must read for not only ST fans, but for everyone!) from the far east to America. With unprecedented access to the sound stages of ST First Contact and Paramount's Hart building (where the writers weave their magic), this book is a ST fan's dream come true. Only after reading Mr. Greenwald's "away missions" can people truly understand how a 35 year old American-made TV show can capture the minds and hearts of people all over the world. Interview with cultural icons such as the Dalai Lama, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Arthur C. Clarke, Leonard Nimoy, Patrick Stewart, and others help make this book the superb creation that it is. Make sure to eat a good meal and have a long nap before attempting to read "Future Perfect," because once you p! ick it up you won't be able to do anything else until you finish it. Mr. Greenwald's clear and concise method of writing allows you to dive into the book, only to resurface once you have read it in its entirety. The only thing I didn't like about the book was that it ended. I could have easily read another 500 pages full of the author's amazing insights and sense of humor! Copywrite 1998.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
