Customer Reviews

Star Trek, the Next Generation Sketchbook: The Movies, Generations & First Contact

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I interviewed John Eaves two years ago and first heard about this book at that time; I am more than slightly relieved to say that it was worth the wait! Profusely illustrated -- with artwork that has NOT already appeared everywhere else -- the book is both reader- and Trekkie-friendly, with brief anecdotes which humanize the filmmaking process while also supplementing the nice pics. Eaves' attention to detail -- especially in regard to properly crediting those responsible for a given design -- is both noteworthy and surprisingly welcome ... This book almost makes up for previous "authorized" illustrated Trek volumes, nearly making me forgive Pocket/S&S for THE ART OF STAR TREK, and gives cause for one to hope Eaves will contribute in a similar fashion to STAR TREK 9. (and generate another book like this as well.)

Not only is this volume a must for anyone interested in production design, it is also a well designed book all round. Each page is a stunning work of art in its own right. Full compliments to John Eaves for so carefully selecting his, and other artist's work, for the book. His commentary throughout is informative and interesting. JM Dillard holds it all together with his, as always, brilliant text. I hope Eaves releses a new book about Insurrection, or at least, has the existing book expanded to include this film. Well done, S&S, John Eaves and JM Dillard.

Length:: 0:26 Mins

The sketches contained in this book are from the two Star Trek Movies, Generations and First Contact. There are two cover versions and the one I have isn't the blue one.

John Eaves is the main artist who walks through the ship concepts, explaining the design inspiration and consideration. He and the other artists contributed more than hundred pieces of mechanical drawings. There are both approved drawings as well as discarded ones, such as the ship that looked like a chicken from top.

In addition to the line art blueprints of the ships, there are also concept art sketches for weapons, props, sets, storyboards, the characters and multiple photos of sets and models. The mechanical drawings of the ships are incredibly detailed, going down to where the different types of rooms are located. The sculpted models are equally detailed and are used in the movies themselves.

This book is suited for model collectors and concept artists.

The ships included are:

* U.S.S. Enterprise-B
* Enterprise-B Sets
* Lakul
* Stellar Cartography Platform
* Amargosa Observatory
* Enterprise-E
* Enterprise-E Sets
* Phoenix pod
* Borg Sphere and Cube
* Vulcan Lander
* Quantum Torpedo Launcher
* Other minor props and sets

(More pictures are available on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)

... of the behind-the-scenes design, artwork, and storyboarding for the first two Next Generation movies, "Generations" and "First Contact." Indispensible to a real starship hardware fan, this book gives plenty of details and is interspersed with interviews, recollections, and notes from some of the principal talents involved in creating the location sets, some of the special effects, and the new ships seen in both films, as well as much unseen material from the design of the Borg presence. I found the evolution of the Enterprise-E, Phoenix warp ship, and Vulcan ship from First Contact especially interesting. My only criticism is that, even at 340+ pages, there is not enough! First Contact alone should occupy a 400-page "Making of" book. Nevertheless, this volume is a gem which belongs in the library of any hard-core Trek devotee.