The Double Vision of Star Trek: Half-Humans, Evil Twins, and Science Fiction

by Michael Hertenstein and Mike Hertenstein

Star Trek is an unavoidable presence in contemporary culture; one which many have tried to explain away as modern mythology, juvenile fantasy, or futuristic morality plays. What most commentators have... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0940895420
• ISBN13: 9780940895423
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Cornerstone Press Chicago
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Enlightening

I loved this book all the way through. Hertenstein brought up a lot of questions in this book, and when he answered them, he answered them from a Christian point of view. I, too, am a Christian, though my views differ a good deal from those of Mister Hertenstein. Nonetheless, I didn't think his views were at all pushy or preachy as some writers can get. Rather, he offered his view and left the reader to discern his own. And I came away from the book with more than a few insights---not from any conclusions he'd drawn, but rather from the questions brought up. I do so enjoy the Trek books focusing on science, especially the works of Mr. Krauss, but it's also nice to have one from a religious point of view. I do not think the two are mutually exclusive. In any case, don't pick up this book expecting to agree with everything (or even most of) what the author writes, but be prepared to have your mind opened by the material. It is a thinking person's book.

Trek as a way of life? Read this book first

Hertenstein's examination of the Star Trek "philosophy" and its internal contradictions is vastly entertaining and informative. You don't have to be a Christian (as Hertenstein is, and I am) to notice a certain discontinuity between IDIC and resisting the Borg.Make no mistake--my own worldview owes a lot to Star Trek, and the crew of the Enterprise helped give me my fascination for things technical. But a consistent, grand vision of the universe it isn't, Roddenberry's grandiose dreams not withstanding. (Read Solow and Justman's book if you don't believe me.)

Philosophy for non-philosophers

Thoughtful reading for sci-fi fans. As a pick and choose Star Trek spectator, (I prefer TNG) I found it a great oops-it's-one-thirty-in-the-morning read. It may be a bit deep for some, and downright offensive to the religious intolerant and those who worship Roddenberry and his philosophies, but a view I've never seen before of the Trek Universe.