Customer Reviews

The Hologram's Handbook (Star Trek Voyager)

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This book was wonderful. As soon as I started reading it I could not put it down. Robert's charming humor is quite evident and makes the book an easy read. If you were to pass by me when I was reading this book, you probably would have heard a few giggles. It has everything you need to know about the Doctor, and the book is a great insight into his soul. It answered many questions that I have had ever since I started watching his character on Star Trek Voyager, like his thoughts of other members of the crew, how he views himself, and exactly when he had that..um..'addition' to his programming.It also appeals to fans of different levels of obsession, and each person is bound to find a personal favorite chapter. I feel like I have a better understanding of him and love him all the more for it. The Foreward by Brannon Braga was hilarious and does indeed show the playful side of Robert us fans have all come to love. And the cartoons drawn by Yagher are a nice touch. In conclusion, if you have ever stopped and watched Star Trek Voyager and said 'What's up with the Doctor?', this book is for you. If you watch Voyager every single day no matter what time it is on and have said 'I love the Doctor. He's so hot', then the book is for you as well. :) This book is for anyone who has stopped and enjoyed the Doctor's immense character. Happy reading! And might I add: 'The Doctor and Seven of Nine Forever!' and 'Holograms are people too!' :)

Star Trek Voyager: The Hologram's Handbook by Robert Picardo is written with the distinctive flair of the "Doctor" of the Star Trek Voyager series. The little tome is packed with humor, wit and down right fascinating insight into one of the series most interesting characters... the hologram program of the "Doctor".

This book is an interesting departure from all of the other books on TREK as it is a rather self expose of the "Doctor" revealed. Written by the only person who could have the knowledge and insight to do it justice the "Doctor" himself... Robert Picardo.

I found the book to be lighthearted enlightenment... something to read and get a chuckle out of. And chuckle I did. Yes, if you remember the "Doctor's" character, you'll find all of his quirks and witticisms here, or at least enough of them to make a nice reading diversion.

The book is lavishly illustrated by Jeff Yeager. You'll remember him from the Star Trek: Voyager series titled "Flesh and Blood" as Iden, the rebel leader of a band of renegade holograms.

The Hologram's Handbook is an attempt to bridge the everyday interaction between the holographic and biological life and is an essential guide.

This is a good look into the psychi of a character popular on the Voyager series. Cleverly written.

Robert Picardo opens his Foreword to the book asking "Do you often feel you are the only intelligent one in a universe of idiots?" Brannon Braga, one of the executive producers of "Star Trek: Voyager," has something else to say in his introduction, that the book is "a hundred page cry for help."

All joking aside though, "The Hologram's Handbook" is truly a revealing insight into the chacter of The Doctor from "Voyager." Robert Picardo goes completely in character to write this missive that includes information on everything from "the pros and cons of hololife" to "the program upgrade of kings."

Throughout, the book is written in The Doctor's style, assured of his own superiority and yet enriched for the experiences he has had with his friends and even family. The book provides the expected background on The Doctor as well as adventures that had never been previously be revealed. The book contains images from "Star Trek: Voyager" throughout, as well as cartoon caricatures which The Doctor seems to abhor, but says his publisher felt it would help him to not appear elitist.

If you wish to know more about The Doctor, then pick up "The Hologram's Handbook" today. Or, if you're a holographic reader who hopes to improve your well-being and social skills, simply download it onto the nearest padd and prepare to be enlightened.

A 100-page ego trip, plain and simple. Robert Picardo captures the true "Doctor essence" in a tasteful and hilarious style that would probably anger some organic readers... if it weren't so darned funny! The only problem is that it's short- I read it in an hour, since I couldn't put it down. If you don't have it already, get it!!

A brilliant and witty piece of Star Trek writing, possibly the wittiest piece of Star Trek writing I've ever read.

Robert Picardo catches the essence of Voyager's EMH, our beloved Doctor, in a way that only he could. Witty, insightful and thought provoking are all words that perfectly describe this book.

I couldn't put it down, Picardo's writing is so smooth it's like listening to the Doctor himself talking. And not only does he provide insightful views on his character, but also some views about life in general, which are recurrent themes throughout all the centuries portrayed on Star Trek.

And, unlike the show, this book gives equal credit to pre-Scorpion and post-Scorpion time periods, and the Doctor speaks of both Kes and Seven of Nine fondly.

However, the book wasn't perfect. While Picardo covers the Doctor's views on some of the major characters nicely, I felt that he failed to provide enough insight into his relationships with the other characters on Voyager, particularly Neelix and Harry Kim.

Another low point of the book me was his continued references to Lt. Joe Carey, a recurring guest star on Voyager. In one early episode, Carey was abrasive to the Doctor, and Picardo has played that out to the extreme here, often saying he didn't like Carey. I found that to be a little rough, Carey eventually died on an away mission for Voyager, and to speak ill of a dead crewmember like that doesn't cut it in my book.

I would also have liked to have read more about the Doctor's experiences in the Delta Quadrant, and not just about personal relationships. The Doctor remained active and onboard the ship during most of the alien takeovers, and more often than not entire episodes were devoted to his adventures. Wouldn't these sorts of experiences have shaped his views on life a little? He watched as Suder struggled to contain his violence, watched as the Hirogen tortured the bodies of Voyager crewmembers, and countless other such experiences. Wouldn't these sort have things changed him? Perhaps he held a grudge against the Hirogen? Or detested the way the Vidiians used their medical science to harm others? Little to no attention was paid to these in the book, and I didn't like that. Those sort of experiences deserved a chapter at least, but Picardo paid no attention to them.

But that being said, the book was excellent, and provided great insight into the Doctor's character.

A must read if you are a Voyager fan.

I just finished this book and I was very surprised with how well written it was!! I loved every line of it! Picardo is a great writer, and he seems to know his character very well. He went where no other actor has gone before. An excellent job, if your looking for something funny to read you certainly check this out! The 'Song of Hologram' was a great way to end the book.

Robert Picardo has done an outstanding job of bringing us into the world of the EMH and expressing his frustrations at being a superior creature amidst all of us imperfect beings. He writes with flair and with great humor. It was a book I found hard to put down, and I look forward to more. Unfortunately his holonovels won't be out for several hundred years, so we'll have to make do with the printed page. Kudos to Picardo and his friend and illustrator Jeff Yagher. I do think the book should have cost less...

If your a fan of Voyager and you loved watching the episodes that pertained to the Doctor aboard then you will just love reading this book. It is funny, witty and just down right enjoyable. A must read for any Star Trek fan.

He just doesn't know it yet. To sum up this book, it is one of the funniest things I have ever read. Even the introduction was a hoot, and I almost never read those. (Ha, I said hoot, that's how crazy this book has made me.) Anyway, it may be a quick read, but it's something you'll want to read over and over. At least, I know I do. I keep it under my pillow at night so that before I go to bed I can dream of the day that I will marry Robert Picardo, which, of course, comes right before the ritualistic sacrifice I make to him daily. This book's humorous observations through the eyes of a fictious character are so well written, you'll wonder how you can land that stud, and where you can get your hands on some opera as to make yourself a finer candidate. Picardo captures a voice that only he could through all those years he portrayed the Doctor on the small screen. Simply put, if you're not a Robert Picardo fan and you read this book, you will fall in love with him. If you are a Robert Picardo fan and you pick this book up... Well... Let's just say you'll be looking up the local chapter of my cult soon enough...

I just got this book and I couldn't put it down!! I REALLY REALLY hope Robert Picardo writes MORE!!!