Customer Reviews

The Star Trek: The Art of Star Trek

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"The Art of Star Trek," by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, is to date the ultimate "coffee table" book for devoted Star Trek fans. This book, which was published in 1995, covers all aspects of "Trek" history up until its publication date. Through text and plentiful illustrations, the book celebrates the visual artistry that has been such an essential component of the "Trek" phenomenon.

The book deals with each of the specific series from the original until "Voyager," including both the often neglected animated series and the aborted "Phase II" series of the mid-1970s. All films from "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" to "Star Trek Generations" are also covered.

The amount and quality of items in this visual "museum" are astounding. There are behind-the-scenes photos, concept drawings, photos of models, prosthetic makeup designs, storyboards, movie posters from around the world, closeup shots of props, and more. Particularly interesting were the shots of certain props and aliens which were barely seen in fleeting shots, but which represent great imagination and artistry.

Also noteworthy are the drawings which document the evolution of both the original series "Enterprise" and the "Next Generation" ship. I was fascinated by the concept drawings of possible "Enterprises" for the aborted "Phase II" series, as well as by the rejected new uniforms for the first "Next Generation" feature film.

The concise but clear text is a good match for the wealth of glorious, full-color photographs. This book is, from start to finish, a visual feast for "Trek" fans.

With the profusion of "making of" books about Star Trek that have come out over the years, one might think there aren't too many aspects of the story that haven't been told. But "The Art of Star Trek" brings out new aspects of the history of the show and the feature films by exploring the evolution of the look and feel of Star Trek's sets, ship models, costumes, and props. Lavishly illustrated in color and black and white, the reader is treated to an intimate look at the entire creative process, from rough conceptual sketches to the finished artwork, props, costumes, sets, etc., as they appeared on the screen! Detailed photographs of props from all incarnations of Star Trek yield some amazing revelations, like Klingon belt buckles made from bubble wrap, and early phasers used in the pilot episodes that have typewriter keys for controls. The story is told chronologically from "The Cage" to Voyager, including some fascinating conceptual pieces from aborted TV series and feature film projects in the 1970s. This is an absolutely gorgeous volume that would make a handsome addition to any Star Trek fan's collection

My initial reaction to The Art of Star Trek and it's hefty price was skepticism. Once I did purchase it and start running through it, the price could've been twice and I still would've bought this gem. The Art of Star Trek is a pure celebration of everything that Star Trek is and was all the way through it's publication date. It includes articles from the very beginning to the lastest on Voyager and Star Trek Generations. The pictures and drawings are stunning to say the least. This is a book you'll definitely want to add to your collection if you haven't already.

Although available for the kindle, I do not suggest it. I bought it for my iPad, thinking the pictures would be quite good. Truth is, the quality of the pictures is very poor, and small. You can click on them to make them bigger, but they only become slightly larger, and are extremely pixelated., negating the major point of this book.
This is one prime example of why some books just do not work in the electronic medium.
Buy the bound book only. Buying the kindle one is like flushing money down the toilet.

How do you give five stars to "Maus: A Survivor's Tale" and then 5 stars to "The Art of Star Trek"? The two books are impossible to compare. Let me just say they both are excellent, and accomplish with great skill what they set out to accomplish.

Growing up, Star Trek was one of the things that inspired me to draw. The voyages of Captain Kirk and the Enterprise crew powered my imagination as certainly as antimatter reactions power Starfleet vessels. This ship, her captain, and the stories that they told took an impressionable kid and called him towards adventure. I drew Star Trek pictures, I made communicators out of cardboard, and I wanted to BE Captain Kirk.

The Art of Star Trek captures just that feel. For me, the visual part of this show has always been the critical component. With large, lush photographs, behind-the-scenes sketches, and a ton of pages, this is one of my favorite books, and one I page through time and time again.

This book is nice to thumb through when you just want some quiet time, or even just want to go down "Star Trek Memory Lane." But best of all it's a nice conversation piece on the coffee table when you have Trekker friends visit you.

For a designer+Trekkie like me, this book is a collector's item. This compilation of scenic art, concept sketches and production stills is just inspirational.

When I was first given The Art of Star Trek as a special gift by a very close friend I was to say the least over the moon; with the present coming as something of a pleasant shock, for to be honest I was totally unaware that it had even been published! As a lover of "the art of" books in general and a most avid fan of Star Trek I had long hoped for such a title, and finally... yay, here it was! Consequently the Art of Star Trek has fast become what is perhaps my most highly prized "the art of" book, and it is always near at hand. The Art of Star Trek is everything I would have expected and more; with stunning colour pictures, informative text and lavish presentation. This long overdue book covers several of Star Treks many and varied incarnations thus far, on television and film alike, and charts its visual evolution over more than thirty years. It is positively overflowing with many fine examples of the sketches, storyboards and production art to matte paintings, posters, props, costumes and sets that fill the Paramount archives and private collections alike. The art included in this cool volume has been created by many of the top film and television designers to have worked in Hollywood throughout the years, and who have played a seminal role in shaping the distinctive aesthetic of Star Trek. Included are such artists as Mike Okuda, Andrew Probert, John Eaves, Mike Minor and Matt Jefferies, who by the way created the first brilliant prototype Starship Enterprise in the 1960s. This classic design has served as the blueprint for all subsequent Starfleet Starships to this day, great design truly is timeless. The many individuals included in this wonderful book are the unsung talents of Star Trek, and who for the most part go unrecognized by its legions of fans. For nearly forty years they have diligently worked long hours behind the scenes of Star Trek series and movies to create the multitude of commercial art, conceptual art, visual effects and finished designs that have helped the Trek phenomenon run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. The creative input of these talented artists have in no small way played a vital role in Star Treks appeal to a devoted fan base around the world; with its design principals having a certain signature style that is instantly recognizable, whatever the production. For me the unique Star Trek aesthetic that's evolved over the years is stylishly sleek, clean and functional and evokes in me a cautious sense of hope that someday in our not too distant future we Humans really may grow out of our violent, greedy and destructive ways.

Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens have carefully chosen a wide selection of the finest art and iconic design created for this most enduring of franchises. The book is intelligently arranged in a chronological order with the first half being devoted to the television series from The Original Series, all the way up to Voyager. And the second half of the book is devoted to Star Trek feature films from The Motion Picture, leading up to Generations. With vibrant full colour photographs throughout this is indeed a truly beautiful, fascinating and engrossing volume that will keep one rapt for many hours. Since The Art of Star Trek was first published the Star Trek universe has been steadily expanding, Voyager and Deep Space Nine have long since ended, three more movies have been made so far and the sadly underrated Star Trek: Enterprise has been cancelled. In their wake they have left a whole gallery of exiting new material slowly gathering dust in the Paramount archives, that hopefully, might be used in The Art of Star Trek: Volume Two at some future date. So if you haven't already got a copy in your library and are a serious trekkie and art lover to boot then do yourself a big favour and buy this incredible coffee table book, you won't be disappointed!

This book has some of the best artwork that was made for the first four Star Trek series and some of the movies. It has photographs of the sets and props as well as diagrams of the ships, including Klingon and Romulan vessels, the movie and series Enterprises, and even Voyager. The book follows a plan which views the art history of Star Trek from the pilot film "The Cage" to "Star Trek: Voyager". You'll love this book if you're a Star Trek fan!

This book would be BY FAR the BEST Star Trek Book I ever read. Every page is filled with pictures and text. The text contains the most informative and interesting things I have ever read. It goes over all 4 series, and all the moovies up to Star Trek: Generations. It tells you everything about the sets, props, ships, costumes, and all you can think of. You never get boered with what is written. #1 Star Trek book I have ever read.