The Star Trek: The Art of Star Trek

by Garfield Reeves-Stevens and Judith Reeves-Stevens

Book Overview

A study of the artistic development of the television series, Star Trek, from the first design concepts through to the launch of the fourth series, Voyager. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671017764
• ISBN13: 9780671017767
• Release Date: October 1997
• Publisher: Star Trek
• Length: 295 Pages
• Weight: 2.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 9.0" x 11.9"

Customer Reviews

Star Trek's best artwork

This book has some of the best artwork that was made for the first four Star Trek series and some of the movies. It has photographs of the sets and props as well as diagrams of the ships, including Klingon and Romulan vessels, the movie and series Enterprises, and even Voyager. The book follows a plan which views the art history of Star Trek from the pilot film "The Cage" to "Star Trek: Voyager". You'll love this book if you're a Star Trek fan!

A true joy!

My initial reaction to The Art of Star Trek and it's hefty price was skepticism. Once I did purchase it and start running through it, the price could've been twice and I still would've bought this gem. The Art of Star Trek is a pure celebration of everything that Star Trek is and was all the way through it's publication date. It includes articles from the very beginning to the lastest on Voyager and Star Trek Generations. The pictures and drawings are stunning to say the least. This is a book you'll definitely want to add to your collection if you haven't already.

Like a visit to the ultimate "Trek" museum

"The Art of Star Trek," by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, is to date the ultimate "coffee table" book for devoted Star Trek fans. This book, which was published in 1995, covers all aspects of "Trek" history up until its publication date. Through text and plentiful illustrations, the book celebrates the visual artistry that has been such an essential component of the "Trek" phenomenon.The book deals with each of the specific series from the original until "Voyager," including both the often neglected animated series and the aborted "Phase II" series of the mid-1970s. All films from "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" to "Star Trek Generations" are also covered.The amount and quality of items in this visual "museum" are astounding. There are behind-the-scenes photos, concept drawings, photos of models, prosthetic makeup designs, storyboards, movie posters from around the world, closeup shots of props, and more. Particularly interesting were the shots of certain props and aliens which were barely seen in fleeting shots, but which represent great imagination and artistry.Also noteworthy are the drawings which document the evolution of both the original series "Enterprise" and the "Next Generation" ship. I was fascinated by the concept drawings of possible "Enterprises" for the aborted "Phase II" series, as well as by the rejected new uniforms for the first "Next Generation" feature film.The concise but clear text is a good match for the wealth of glorious, full-color photographs. This book is, from start to finish, a visual feast for "Trek" fans.

Food for the fertile imagination...

How do you give five stars to "Maus: A Survivor's Tale" and then 5 stars to "The Art of Star Trek"? The two books are impossible to compare. Let me just say they both are excellent, and accomplish with great skill what they set out to accomplish.Growing up, Star Trek was one of the things that inspired me to draw. The voyages of Captain Kirk and the Enterprise crew powered my imagination as certainly as antimatter reactions power Starfleet vessels. This ship, her captain, and the stories that they told took an impressionable kid and called him towards adventure. I drew Star Trek pictures, I made communicators out of cardboard, and I wanted to BE Captain Kirk.The Art of Star Trek captures just that feel. For me, the visual part of this show has always been the critical component. With large, lush photographs, behind-the-scenes sketches, and a ton of pages, this is one of my favorite books, and one I page through time and time again.

A beautiful look at evolution of the "look" of Star Trek

With the profusion of "making of" books about Star Trek that have come out over the years, one might think there aren't too many aspects of the story that haven't been told. But "The Art of Star Trek" brings out new aspects of the history of the show and the feature films by exploring the evolution of the look and feel of Star Trek's sets, ship models, costumes, and props. Lavishly illustrated in color and black and white, the reader is treated to an intimate look at the entire creative process, from rough conceptual sketches to the finished artwork, props, costumes, sets, etc., as they appeared on the screen! Detailed photographs of props from all incarnations of Star Trek yield some amazing revelations, like Klingon belt buckles made from bubble wrap, and early phasers used in the pilot episodes that have typewriter keys for controls. The story is told chronologically from "The Cage" to Voyager, including some fascinating conceptual pieces from aborted TV series and feature film projects in the 1970s. This is an absolutely gorgeous volume that would make a handsome addition to any Star Trek fan's collection