What Are Your Top Five Books About TOS Production?

Discussion in 'Star Trek - The Original & Animated Series' started by Thanos007, Jan 12, 2019.

  1. Thanos007

    Thanos007 Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    Location:
    New York State
    The header says it all. What are they?
     
  2. JonnyQuest037

    JonnyQuest037 Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2005
    Location:
    Verona, New Jersey, USA
    Inside Star Trek: The Real Story by Herb Solow and Bob Justman

    The Making of Star Trek by Stephen E. Whitfield & Gene Roddenberry

    The Trouble With Tribbles by David Gerrold

    The Star Trek Compendium by Allan Asherman

    Star Trek Memories by William Shatner with Chris Kreski
     
  3. Maurice

    Maurice Snagglepussed Admiral

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2005
    Location:
    Real Gone
    Inside Star Trek: The Real Story by Herb Solow and Bob Justman

    The Making of Star Trek
    by Stephen E. Whitfield & Gene Roddenberry

    Star Trek Sketchbook: The Original Series by Herbert F. Solow and Yvonne Fern Solow

    [EDIT]
    Star Trek: Lost Scenes by David Tilotta (@alchemist) and Curt McAloney.
    [END EDIT]

    Anything @Harvey eventually publishes ;)
     
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2019
  4. johnnybear

    johnnybear Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    I've got the Inside Star Trek book and love it! I had the Cashman trilogy of books and liked them but I had nowhere to keep them as I have a family now so I sold them but kept the Inside book! :D
    JB
     
  5. Phaser Two

    Phaser Two Commodore Premium Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2016
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    I thought Cash Markman's books were just okay when I got them; they left me a little disappointed for reasons I couldn't quite pinpoint. Then I joined here and found out why!
     
  6. Mysterion

    Mysterion Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2001
    Location:
    Suburban Mos Eisley
    The Making of Star Trek - Whitfieldl/Roddenberry
    The World of Star Trek - Gerrold
    The Trouble With Tribbles - Gerrold
    The Star Trek Sktchbook - Solow & Solow
    The City on the Edge of Forever: The Original Screenply - Ellison
     
  7. johnnybear

    johnnybear Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Cash Markman indeed!!! :lol: What has everyone got against this guy? :shrug: You know what happened to his uncle Ralph don't you? :crazy: He's probably still out there now...:wah:
    JB
     
  8. Thanos007

    Thanos007 Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    Location:
    New York State
    I understood them to be highly inaccurate.
     
  9. johnnybear

    johnnybear Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Really, in what ways inaccurate?
    JB
     
  10. Thanos007

    Thanos007 Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    Location:
    New York State
    johnnybear likes this.
  11. Thanos007

    Thanos007 Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    Location:
    New York State
    johnnybear likes this.
  12. Phaser Two

    Phaser Two Commodore Premium Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2016
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    JB, after joining here about two and a half years ago now - and what a discovery this place was, and no, not that kind of Discovery :razz: ** - it became very clear that many posters here had done their own research based on the materials that Cushman used, many of which, as I understand it, are available in some form at UCLA's library. (I am planning a visit there myself at some point; should be interesting!) If I have understood correctly, the consensus opinion among these posters - who are well-credentialed and excellent writers to boot - is that Cushman cut corners, misinterpreted many details, and came up with some assertions that are not supported by the materials he cited.

    And, good God, man (end McCoy-style rant :D), how can you not be aware of this?? ;) The authoritative posters I mention above are pretty active around here! Take the awesome recent post (and cited blog) on production of The Alternative Factor; in fact, didn't you post in that discussion? :lol:

    **hey, I'm giving Season Two a chance and actually looking forward to it, hoping it rises above the mess it devolved into at the end of S1
     
    johnnybear likes this.
  13. Harvey

    Harvey Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2005
    These, plus Star Trek: Lost Scenes by our own @alchemist and Curt McAloney.
     
  14. Thanos007

    Thanos007 Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    Location:
    New York State
    Meanwhile back on track..... :) Was there not a book that had close ups of the props used. I remember seeing a Klingon holster and apparently it was made of aluminum foil?
     
  15. johnnybear

    johnnybear Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Cheers, Phase! I've just finished reading the assessment of Cushman's errors and it was a great read! Why can't they make TV shows like this today? And no, they don't!
    JB
     
    Phaser Two likes this.
  16. Delta Vega

    Delta Vega Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2011
    Location:
    The Great Barrier
    Only Trek book I've read was "Star Trek Memories" a Shatner vehicle written by a guy called Kreski
    I enjoyed it immensely, until the last chapter, when from 25 years memory, the bold Shat let rip on some of his compadres on the show.
     
  17. Maurice

    Maurice Snagglepussed Admiral

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2005
    Location:
    Real Gone
    Duh. That's so recent I didn't even think about it. Gotta edit that post!
     
  18. Mysterion

    Mysterion Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2001
    Location:
    Suburban Mos Eisley
    Sounds like maybe The Art of Star Trek
     
    Thanos007 likes this.
  19. JonnyQuest037

    JonnyQuest037 Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2005
    Location:
    Verona, New Jersey, USA
    Same here. I got that book for Christmas, and I haven't had the chance to do more than flip through it so far. But it looks amazing. I'm sure it will have a spot on my list in a few months!
    Yes! I look forward to seeing what he does with all the cool info he's discovered.
    More the opposite. He went into why some of his TOS costars had such problems with him. Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig both took the opportunity to tell Shatner exactly why and how he was inconsiderate of his costars. Takei apparently chose not to broach the subject when they talked because they were having such a good conversation, which is pretty ironic considering how Takei never misses the opportunity to bash the guy now.

    James Doohan refused to even speak with Shatner, certain that Shatner would either not use what he said, or quote him out of context. (And, considering that Nichelle Nichols and Majel Barrett both had issues with how Shatner used their quotes in Star Trek Memories & refused to be interviewed for Star Trek Movie Memories, maybe Doohan had a point.)

    Personally, I think it was big of Shatner to acknowledge that some of his costars had a problem with him. It would've been the easiest thing in the world for him to not put any of that stuff into his book.
     
  20. Delta Vega

    Delta Vega Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2011
    Location:
    The Great Barrier
    Yeah, I know how he went about it, but the way I read into it, it was his way of getting one over on them, or the last word if you like.
    It was a real surprise to see it all in print for me, I was always under the illusion (at that time) that they were all a big happy Trek family.
    I did enjoy the book though.