Star Trek: The Next Generation - On Board the USS Enterprise

Real world article

(written from a production point of view)

Star Trek: The Next Generation – On Board the USS Enterprise is a reference book written by Michael and Denise Okuda.

Summary[]

Publisher's description: Star Trek fans – or Trekkies – have been collecting Star Trek souvenirs, artifacts, and memorabilia for many years, and they'll be thrilled with this brand-new book and CD-ROM package. Scheduled for publication in time to coincide with release of the latest Star Trek movie, as well as the 25th anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation's TV debut, this amazing book delights fans with –

A spectacular double-page spread detailing the history of the starship Enterprise in words and vivid illustrations
Spreads and gatefolds with 3D features illustrating the Enterprise from all angles, including a side-on cutaway image showing the craft's interior
Views of the ship's bridge, showing the captain's chair, main consoles, and the functions that the consoles control
Living quarters, including Captain Picard's suite, junior officers' quarters, and other locations that fans will immediately recognize
Artifacts, floor plans, photos from the TV show… and much more

Enclosed with the book is a fabulous CD-ROM that gives viewers a detailed tour of the Enterprise. This remarkable software program was developed in close cooperation with the creators of the Star Trek sets that were used in the films and on the television series. On Board the U.S.S. Enterprise offers Trekkies a once-in-a-lifetime ticket to one of the most popular and beloved sci-fi adventures of all time.

Excerpts of copyrighted sources are included for review purposes only, without any intention of infringement.

Content[]

Introduction, by Denise and Michael Okuda
Starfleet: History of the Enterprise
To Boldly Go: Memorable voyages of discovery
USS Enterprise
- Exterior dorsal
- Gatefold
- Exterior ventral
Main bridge: Command and control/the nerve center
Propulsion, main engineering: The power to boldly go
Tactical systems: Influence and control
Transporter room: Getting from here to there
Shuttlecraft & shuttlebays: Versatile short-range transport
Sickbay: Healing and helping the crew
Science laboratories: Discovering the facts
Living quarters: A touch of home
Ten Forward: Off-duty views of the cosmos
Holodeck: Virtual reality recreation & training
Cargo bay: Delivering the goods
Ship's services: Corridors, turbolifts, and more
Into the Next Generation

Interactive tour CD[]

Main bridge
Captain's ready room
Sickbay & Dr. Crusher's office
Main transporter room
Corridor
Main engineering
Cargo bay

References[]

Algolian; Borg; Cochrane, Zefram; Ferengi; Galaxy M33; Iconian; Milky Way Galaxy; Sector 001; Traveler, The; three-dimensional chess; Yamato, USS

Enterprise history: 1775; Archer, Jonathan; Enterprise (18th century); Enterprise (space shuttle); Enterprise (XCV 330), USS; President of the United Federation of Planets; Xindi war.

Background information[]

Graphic artists Tobias Richter with The Light Works and Somchith Vongprachanh produced the digital models and renderings used in the book and interactive tour CD. [1]
The Okudas spoke with StarTrek.com in a 9 April 2013 interview on the release of the book and the timelessness of the design of the Enterprise sets. [2] StarTrek.com had previously posted an announcement of the book on 28 March 2013. [3]
Reviewers familiar with Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual or Star Trek: The Next Generation Interactive Technical Manual were underwhelmed with the book, describing it as "primarily geared toward the younger set [being introduced to Star Trek: The Next Generation for the first time]" [4], questioning the timing of it's release [5], and sufficiency of the project's funding. [6]