Rating: 
Summary: Still the definitive reference for Trekkies, er, Trekkers.
Review: I can't imagine being a die-had Trekker without this book: the ultimate reference to people, places, things, events in the entire Star Trek universe from the original series of 1966 through all the movies and series right up to Voyager. This updated edition is not quite as smoothly integrated as previous updates--the last couple season's worth of shows and Star Trek: Insurrection are all treated in a separate (but extensive) section at the back, but a decent cross-referencing system lessens the inconvenience. I find it the ultimate can't put-down book-start to look up a subject of interest and you'll find yourself drawn from entry to entry until you've forgotten exactly what it was you were looking for but find yourself seized with the intense desire to rewatch several episodes. Unless you're the most serious Trek fan, you probably don't need the updated edition if you have an earlier one...but for those who do, it's a wonderful guide.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for turning a part-time fan into a full-timer!
Review: I am a "part-time" fan of Star Trek, having always been interested in the world, but not exactly a know-every-registry-number-of-every-ship kind of fan. But, having bought this very rich and detailed book, I must say my interest in Star Trek has multiplied tremendously. As an encyclopedia, it doesn't quite bear reading page-to-page, but flipping through it makes for very interesting reading. I am grateful to the authors for additional notes made to many entries, attempting to explain side-points or discrepancies; also, the many diagrams, pictures, dates, episode references, and even the occasional off-beat entry like, well... "mashed potatoes" for one! The appendixes, including gorgeous pics of the ships of Star Trek, episode timelines, historical timelines, and so on, are absolutely wonderful.The best way I can summarise my rating is: the dedication and love for Star Trek demonstrated by all the writers/contributors in this book is ample and obvious. Congrats.
Rating: 
Summary: So very close to perfection
Review: A well researched, laid out and engrossing guide to the vast Star Trek universe. You stop to look up one thing and next thing you know it is 30 minutes later and you've read through an entire letter's worth of entries. My ONLY complaint about this book (and what keeps it from it's fifth star) is that the new entires weren't integrated, but simply stuck in the back as add on. So let's say you want to read the complete entry on Capt Sisko. First you have to read the original entry and then flip to the back of the book to read the additional information. And since you are never sure what got an additional entry, you have to constantly flip to the back to make sure you aren't missing something. Luckily the Pros far out weigh the cons, and this is still a must have for any die hard fan!
Rating:
Summary: This Encyclopedia Can Be Read, Not Just Used for Reference
Review: As the Star Trek Universe got bigger, with more spin offs, movies, books, and alien races, so did the base for its Star Trek fans, so it is no surprise that the standard and definitive one volume work on the subject should get bigger too. The newest edition of THE STAR TREK ENCYCLOPEDIA is a monumental reference book that is as comprehensive as it is physically imposing. In its more than 700 pages of a continually snowballing phenomenon that was the birthchild of the late Gene Roddenberry, the rabid Star Trek fan (who else would read this?) can cross-reference every human, alien, planet, creature, ship or any other proper noun that was mentioned even once in any of the Star Trek series or its descendants. Michael and Denise Okuda, the married duo who did most of the writing acknowledge in the Introduction that a large cast of helpers were required to painstakingly find and correct errors from past editions. This book is loaded with hundreds of beautiful photographs and drawings, each of which illustrate one item in the Star Trek universe. As in most encyclopedias, this one is in alphabetical order, with each entry given a complete description/analysis. Bold-Faced terms indicate they are further defined under their own names elsewhere. For example, do you remember the episode from the original series about the mirror universe with an evil Kirk and bearded Spock, where unreliable crew members were put in the 'agony booth?' Well, the term 'agony booth' is listed and fully described with appropriate cross-references. Unlike other reference texts, this one has a separate supplement to include references to episodes in the various ST reincarnations after the 1996-1997 seasons. Finally, it contains additional helpful sections on historical timelines of major events, complete listing of all episodes from each spinoff, and a cast of all characters who ever appeared in any show.
Exactly, what is the purpose of such a text? I know why I use it. When I see an episode that mentions even off-handedly a minor reference to a singular event, I flip open this book to see if it is there. And it always is. Now if I could only be so motivated about the mundane details of my non-Star Trek life. And that perhaps best defines who likes Star Trek and why.
Rating:
Summary: Great, but alittle outdated!
Review: This was the greatest book other than the bible, but that was in 1999. It's 2004 and I want an update. Their so much that has happened since and it won't even include all the books written.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for turning a part-time fan into a full-timer!
Review: I am a "part-time" fan of Star Trek, having always been interested in the world, but not exactly a know-every-registry-number-of-every-ship kind of fan. But, having bought this very rich and detailed book, I must say my interest in Star Trek has multiplied tremendously. As an encyclopedia, it doesn't quite bear reading page-to-page, but flipping through it makes for very interesting reading. I am grateful to the authors for additional notes made to many entries, attempting to explain side-points or discrepancies; also, the many diagrams, pictures, dates, episode references, and even the occasional off-beat entry like, well... "mashed potatoes" for one! The appendixes, including gorgeous pics of the ships of Star Trek, episode timelines, historical timelines, and so on, are absolutely wonderful. The best way I can summarise my rating is: the dedication and love for Star Trek demonstrated by all the writers/contributors in this book is ample and obvious. Congrats.
Rating:
Summary: Trekkies Rejoice!
Review: I bought this for my husband (then boyfriend) about four years ago. Since then, he has turned me into a Trekkie. This book is WONDERFUL for proving who's right when we get into a discussion about an episode, and it's so easy to read! Not like an ordinary Encyclopedia, this one is actually readable, and an entertaining read, too! A MUST for any Trekkie!
Rating:
Summary: This Is Very Good
Review: I love looking at this all of the time because it gives me a lot of information on the Star Trek Universe. You will enjoy it. I promise. Good job Mike an Denise Okuda.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reference, needs to be updated!
Review: Absolutely outstanding work. Well researched and documented, with some humorous asides. My only wishes are that it be updated soon to reflect the last seasons of Voyager, and that they integrate the updates in with the rest of the book. It's extremely frustrating that the last time it was updated the editors were lazy and simply stuck the new information on the back of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Reference
Review: No doubt a perfect gift for any Star Trek fan. It contains tons of color photos, illustrations, diagrams, and boat loads of trivial to critical information. This is a reference any aspiring Star Trek writer can't do without. If there's a bit of information from any episode or movie that you've been starving to gain more insight on, its probably in here. There are also expanded insights into characters, places, and events that were not apparent in any episode, movie, or book but are described here.
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