Inside Star Trek: The Real Story [Paperback]

Herbert F. Solow (Author), Robert H. Justman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1997

In the spring of 1964, a rumpled, soft-spoken ex-cop named Gene Roddenberry walked into the office of Herbert F. Solow, the new head of production at Desilu Studios. Roddenberry presented an idea for a new science fiction television series called Star Trek. Immediately seeing the show's potential, Solow struck a script development deal with Roddenberry on the spot. Soon, Solow and Roddenberry brought Robert H. Justman on board as assistant director and together the three men embarked on an incredible odyssey that would make television history.

"Inside Star Trek" is a comprehensive look at the development and life of a television and cultural phenomenon. It is also a story no one else could tell. Between them, Solow and Justman had a hand in virtually every aspect of the development and production of Star Trek--from the battles with NBC and the internal conflicts with studio executives to the behind-the-scenes decisions about actors and their characters, writers, scripts, directors, budgets, and the endless details of weekly television production.

Here is the simple, fascinating and accurate account of a unique television series launched against astronomical odds a series that transported millions of viewers into another world and into an unprecedented, thirty-year, multimedia, multibilliondollar cultural phenomenon.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As told by Solow, Star Trek's co-producer, and Justman, the executive in charge of production, this is arguably the definitive history of the TV show. After Solow was hired by Desilu Studios to find properties to sell to the networks, he met an ex-cop named Gene Roddenberry who had an idea for a science fiction series called Star Trek. Roddenberry was signed to a development deal. We see the series's genesis as it went through two pilots; how the actors were selected; its problems going over budget; and its launch on NBC in 1966. Although its ratings were low, Star Trek was renewed and would last through the 1968-69 season. With plenty of behind-the-scenes material that will be of interest to Trek fans, this book puts a good deal of emphasis on the show's business side, elucidating production difficulties, cost overruns and the seemingly constant debate with NBC over the show's future. A look at a historical TV series that Trekkies are sure to enjoy. Photos not seen by PW. Simultaneous S&S audio release.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA. A readable, fascinating look behind the scenes of Star Trek. The authors take readers from Gene Roddenberry's initial series idea in April 1964 through its demise in 1969. Solow, Roddenberry, and Justman boldly went where no one had gone before in the television galaxy. Well, as boldly as possible, besieged as they were by battles with NBC executives, squabbles within Desilu Studios, conflicts with the censors, budget constraints, production problems, personality conflicts, etc. This is "the real story," showing how a television show was conceived, developed, written, shot, edited, and finally aired. By taking off the rose-colored glasses, the authors give readers a glimpse into the human (though sometimes unflattering) side of the Star Trek personalities. A great choice for librarians that have a large "Star Trek" readership and also for those with a need for drama- or television-related materials.?John Lawson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Star Trek (June 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671009745
• ISBN-13: 978-0671009748
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #606,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of My Favorite Things, February 13, 2006

By 

Karl J. Hanson - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Inside Star Trek: The Real Story (Paperback)

I assume that if you're reading this review, we share in common the belief that Star Trek The Original Series (TOS) was great. Perhaps you bought the complete set of DVD's, like I did. The DVD's are worth it; I consider them one of my most treasured collections. I watch the episodes with my kids, and they love it. TOS is great television, with great writing asking intriguing questions about man's existence. Television writing has devolved since that time.

I've read both "Inside Star Trek" and Yvonne Fern's "Gene Roddenberry, The Last Conversation". Both books look at different angles of Star Trek. Fern's book deals with the philosophical side of Gene Roddenberry, and how he perceived himself. "Inside Star Trek" deals with the business end of the show and all the difficulties encountered in producing it. It's an impressive story, and it's amazing that it ever got produced. Herb Solow and Robert Justman did a fantastic job producing the series.

It's been about 33 years since I was in college. After dinner in the cafeteria, a group of us would congregate to watch Star Trek reruns on the local UHF station. That was a crucial time in the success of Star Trek, when the UHF stations picked it up, because it was otherwise a ratings failure on the networks. If it wasn't for the phenomenal success of Star Trek appearing in reruns on UHF, Star Trek would have been just a vague memory.

I would not recommend this book to new viewers of Star Trek, until they have seen the shows, because the book tends to reveal the magic. Roddenberry is a god to some, but he had "feet of clay". Also, reading about the actors tends to diminish the herioc stature of the characters they protrayed. "Inside Star Trek" shows you all the nuts and bolts of how the thing was put together, and how it fell apart.

Looking back, Star Trek was an incredible achievement.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Priceless for every TOS fan and trekkie, March 31, 2004

By 

"wkjun" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside Star Trek: The Real Story (Hardcover)

I could never have dreamed of the value of this book - I bought it and was amazed! This book is a must-have for every fan of the original series and real trekkie!
The complete background of the beginning of the series, the problems, the costs and the riscs to make the series - all covered within this essential book. It was great fun to read and
extremely interesting. Believe it or not, I had some good laughs too!

Hard to realize how some things have been done and worked out. The real point in trying to catch a copy of it is that the writers were really there at this time! They perfectly know what they are talking about.

Try to get a copy of that book as fast as possible. Out of print for some time now it is very hard to find and I'm afraid I won't sell mine... *g*

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great first hand account of the initial production of Star Trek., May 21, 2007

By 

David Carlin (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Inside Star Trek: The Real Story (Hardcover)

I felt this book presented a raw Behind the Scenes look at Star Trek the initial series. This book was written after Gene Roddenberry's death so there is a feeling that things that were neatly hidden away have become reported. One thing the book points out is that Gene was by no means the creative genius of Star Trek. The series was the result of many creative people. It was also interesting to note the extent for which Roddenberry would go for royalties, even securing 1/2 of the royalties of the original Star Trek Theme by writing this obscure lyric that would never be performed, nor known about from the original composer. Good stories about Shatner's hairpiece and Roddenberry's falling out with Nimoy. All good reading.