The Encyclopedia Shatnerica: An A to Z Guide to the Man and His Universe (Paperback)

~ (Author) "I don't have a technique for acting," Shatner told the New York Daily News in 1982..." (more)
Key Phrases: Star Trek, Captain Kirk, William Shatner (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Actor, singer, director, novelist, horseman, game-show host, spoken-word performer, legendary Hollywood lothario—is there anything William Shatner can't do? Beam aboard the starship Irreverent as certified Shatnerologist Robert Schnakenberg takes you on a guided tour of the Emmy-winning entertainment icon's universe. Inside you'll find:
More than fifty years of major film, TV, and stage appearances—from Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Twilight Zone to Star Trek, T. J. Hooker, and Boston Legal
Shatner's many musical misadventures, including his legendary covers of 'Rocket Man' and 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'
Scandalous allegations and scathing anecdotes from Star Trek costars

Plus more girdle, divorce, and toupee trivia than you can shake a phaser at! Fully updated for the first time in ten years, with all-new material on Denny Crane, Nerine Kidd, Iron Chef USA, and more, The Encyclopedia Shatnerica remains the definitive biography of an entertainment icon.

About the Author

Robert Schnakenberg is a writer living in Brooklyn, New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: Quirk Books (August 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594742308
• ISBN-13: 978-1594742309
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #570,996 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To boldly go where no man has gone before, December 24, 2008

By	Jason (Backwater, Alabama) - See all my reviews

Described as a "Rubik's Cube of a man", William Shatner is an undeniable genius. When he dies his obituary will read as if written by a poet laureate on acid: archery enthusiast, breeder of Dobermans and quarter horses, paintball aficionado, pilot, existentialist and futurist, millionaire, noted vegetarian, international superstar adored by droves of fans, a man who boldly explored new galaxies while on the job and believes he encountered an alien in real life. He has lived the life of which others dream.

With a rollercoaster career from anonymity to Star Trek, from his lost years to Boston Legal and Priceline stardom, Shatner has been all over the map. His legendary performance in the "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" episode of the Twilight Zone is unforgettable, but his atrocious rendition of Rocket Man - 1978 Science Fiction film awards - is unforgettable in the same way as the Hindenburg disaster.

Broken down in an A-to-Z format, each page follows his career alphabetically, from his Acting method to his wretched costar Adrian Zmed, everything that has affected Shatner's life is impeccably chronicled for any Shaternerologist. An added bonus is the four star categorization method, from essential viewings for Shatnerphiles to those only a masochist should watch.

Within the first few pages readers are seduced by enough awkward charisma that it's easy to overlook the photos of a young Shatner riding a horse with a starry sky background, and another of him bow hunting while bare-chested on a dirt bike. Each looks as ridiculous as it sounds until realizing it's simply par for the course for a man who has auctioned off a kidney stone and acted as everything from a Roman god to a colonial Satanist, not to mention the captain of a spaceship.

The greatest aspect of the book is that it uncovers Shatner's staccato speech patterns, his nonsensical method of delivering lines in a manner no other would imagine or attempt. It turns out his quirky delivery results from an ill-prepared Shakespeare performance, one that he stammered through yet received positive reviews. In his classic style, Shatner jokes that he thinks of himself as an "acting machine", and actually developed the style because of, "shallow breathing, allergies, and owning a dog that won't listen."

Surprising to many Trekkies will be the fact that nearly all his male costars regard him as a scene stealing, pompous blowhard. And while he has bedded tons of gorgeous women, many female costars, like Kristie Alley, seem to really dislike his heavy-handed come-ons. It should come as no surprise that he has suffered through multiple marriages and more than one palimony lawsuit.

The Encyclopedia Shatnerica is bafflingly awesome. Even for those who are not fans of Star Trek or sci-fi, it's hard to deny the talent William Shatner possesses, entrancing millions of Trekkies in his early career and millions of thrifty travelers in his golden years. After reading this, fans will become even more devoted, and detractors will succumb to The Shat's suave charms.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Great Shatner's Ghost!", April 24, 2009

By	BWP13 (Greenfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews

Actor: "Star Trek", "Barbary Coast", "T J Hooker", "3rd Rock from the Sun", & "Boston Legal" as Denny Crane, and many more.

Stage Performer: Canadian Theater

"The world's most accomplished spoken word" singer: "Transformed Man", "Has Been", & Slim Shady on "Futurama".

Producer: "Tek War"
Director: "T J Hooker" episodes & "Star Trek V"

Novelist & Author: numerous published books, both fiction and non-fiction.

Product Spokesman: Priceline.com, Promise Margarine, etc.

Horseman: including the "Annual William Shatner Hollywood Charity Horse Show".

Game Show Host: "Show Me the Money"

Hollywood Lothario: Biography Channel's "Raw"

Plus all the The $20,000 Pyramid, Columbo, Rescue 911, Twilight Zone, Big Giant Head, girdle, divorce, hair piece, kidney stone, pranks, allegations, and scathing anecdotes from Star Trek co-stars that you can fire a phaser at.

How can you not love Bill Shatner???

...Well, I guess some don't. But, I'm not one of them.

For all things Shat, this is where it's at!