Customer Reviews

Weapons and Field Equipment Technical Reference Manual

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A very nice resource for fans. I'll just break it down by category:

Star Wars: This is the same writer who did all of the Star Wars Technical Manuals for Starlog magazine. While George Lucas has played with his own continuity a bit since then the information is still mostly sound. This book (as I remember) focuses mostly on the light saber and has a really awesome concept on how it works. The problem is this doesn't appear to 100% coincide with newer material. Actually it doesn't seem to completely coincide with Johnson's own SW Tech Manuals. It could be they do but the approach in explanation in this book goes in such a different angle that it's hard to tell. My hope is that it is indeed official and accurate enough because the concept is really cool!

Star Trek: The information on phasers seems a bit different than other books, but not entirely conflicting either. Would be nice if one detail was confirmed (transtator technology... anybody know?). However since Shane Johnson wrote Mr. Scott's Guide to the Enterprise, which ST reference guru Michael Okuda even said once was a valid reference, I like to give the benefit of the doubt. Here you get some good details also on communicators, Klingon disruptors (the ONLY book with any technical explanation I have seen to date), and even the Gorn sidearm.

Battlestar Galactica: Since the book was made in the 80's this is details from the original series. It's mainly info on the blaster pistol. While it's a good amount of info I felt it just slightly lacking considering the details Shane had collected with weapons from the other shows. Still this book has better information than Science Fiction Weapons Vol 1 (Starlog Photo Guidebook), which is the only other book I have ever seen to give any information on Colonial Blasters.

Logan's Run: There is a surprisingly concise amount of information in this book regarding the Sandman weapon that's used in the movie and it ties nicely to the original novel. It doesn't stop with the gun as you also get details from other devices like the trackers and a few items I think were on the television series.

Space 1999: You get some great details on the Moonbase Alpha Stun Gun and the comlock (those remote thingies they had with TV screens on them). I have found resources that have more information on these items than this book, but it's still a great resource and it does a great job presenting the technical information.

Lost in Space: Again since the book was pre-1998 this is the original 60's series and not the movie. Both laser pistols and the one laser rifle are featured here with some technical specs for each. I'm surprised that this sort of information could be gleaned from a show as old as this, but Shane seemed to have some good contacts with the show considering how many blueprints and other materials he made for it.

Shane Johnson did a lot of research compiling this book together talking to prop designers, writers and even producers of these shows. As far as I can tell this information should be considered as canon as you can get at the time (Star Wars and Star Trek do have a nasty habit of changing their continuity as the years go by). If you are a fan of any of these sci-fi shows or movies and like the technical stuff (even as a light hobby) this book would be a nice addition to your library.

This Book has technical drawings for weapons as well as a few other devices in these shows and movies:
Star Trek (1960s)
Star Wars (up to 1984)
Space 1999
Logan's Run
Battlestar Galactica (1970s)
Lost in Space (TV)

Date: 1984

The TABLE OF CONTENTS lists these major topics:
STAR FLEET ... 9
STAR FLEET INTELLIGENCE ... 31 [Klingon weapons]
DEEP SLEEP ...41 [Logan's Run]
COLONIAL FORCES ... 53
LIGHTSABRES ... 57
MOONBASE ALPHA ... 65
JUPITER 2 MISSION ... 71

I am not a modeler, but did indeed find the drawings intersting and worthwhile.