Star Trek reference books

[Kpnuts]

I've mentioned this before, but it hasn't really been discussed. I was curious what people thought about the seemingly absent news on books like:

Star TreK: Companion to the Motion Picture

The Art of Star Trek

Star Trek: The Visual Dictionary

Behind the Scenes of Star Trek

Surely it would make sense to release these during the film's run, but since we haven't heard anything so far... does that mean we won't see anything?? Seems like a ludicrous loss of potential revenue especially with such a big blockbuster like Trek!

Any thoughts?

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Pocket Books has not had good luck with the sales of Trek art and tech books for some time, so TPTB are loathe to keep trying.

This may have been a mistake in this instance. Or, they may be able to produce product for the second movie that will sell better than they're used to by building on two years of big success for the Franchise leading up to it. Guess we'll see.

 

[Kpnuts]

Seems stupid to me. Every major release has at least a couple of reference books out. From Bond, to Wall-E to X-Men.

This should be no different.

 

[Similitude]

I know we have Memory Alpha, but I would really like a fully updated Star Trek Encyclopeida.

 

[Kpnuts]

It's just surprising that such a visually rich film, with plenty of eye candy... and they don't bother making a book about it!

 

[nx1701g]

Star Trek Reference Books have very low sell points and profit margins. Not producing them is, to borrow from Spock, logical. They end up losing money by releasing them.

 

[RAMA]

this saddens me too

 

[Michael]

I would buy a book about the design aspects of this movie in a heartbeat. I'd love to look at the new aliens and ships in detail.

 

[urbandk]

Yeah. This situation is different. If this film is as big a hit as it might be, I think we'll start getting all the cool shwag to go with it.

 

[Kpnuts]

Star Trek Reference Books have very low sell points and profit margins. Not producing them is, to borrow from Spock, logical. They end up losing money by releasing them.

Yes perhaps, the Insurrection or Nemesis behind the scenes books sold badly.

But this is Star Trek (2009). The demand must be huge. Especially given the whole reboot aspect + visual eye candy.

 

[Captain Fine]

I'd love to see full-on views of ALL the new ships that were in this movie. And of course of the Big E.

 

[clint g]

Star Trek Reference Books have very low sell points and profit margins. Not producing them is, to borrow from Spock, logical. They end up losing money by releasing them.

Yes perhaps, the Insurrection or Nemesis behind the scenes books sold badly.

But this is Star Trek (2009). The demand must be huge. Especially given the whole reboot aspect + visual eye candy.

Theyre probably playing a wait and see game with it. After all the last 2 movies and 2 shows have under performed, so it would only make sense that that they would be careful. After the success of this film, id bet that something will come out in time for Trek XII

 

[nx1701g]

Star Trek Reference Books have very low sell points and profit margins. Not producing them is, to borrow from Spock, logical. They end up losing money by releasing them.

Yes perhaps, the Insurrection or Nemesis behind the scenes books sold badly.

But this is Star Trek (2009). The demand must be huge. Especially given the whole reboot aspect + visual eye candy.

Unfortunately Pocket's representatives have said, more than once even on this board, that they are not doing reference books any longer. Besides, truthfully, they've been having trouble getting chain bookstores to even carry Trek literature. In many locations (Borders, some Barnes & Nobles) Trek novels have to be special ordered because they no longer put them on shelves. There is a rather large thread on the state of Trek literature in the Trek Lit forum.

 

[Kaziarl]

I know we have Memory Alpha, but I would really like a fully updated Star Trek Encyclopeida.

Does anyone by chance have a guess on how big a new encyclopedia would be? I'd get one, but I'm curious how much shelf space I would have to make. I'm not entirely sure the last one I had included voyager.

 

[Groknard]

From VFXWorld:

CPLG, Europe's leading rights agency, is delighted to announce its comprehensive licensing and promotions programme for STAR TREK as the buzz increases around today's release of the new movie directed by J.J. Abrams

CPLG is the European licensing agent for CBS Consumer Products, which owns the Star Trek brand. Reflecting the distinction of this evergreen franchise and the anticipation of the new movie, CPLG's licensing programme encompasses the existing, ardent fanbase as well as considering the new generation of fans.
...
CPLG has also brokered a deal for the "Haynes Enterprise Manual," a unique collaboration between long-standing master publishing partner Simon & Schuster and Haynes Publishing, which will be brought to market in 2010. Recognising Haynes' unique approach to global phenomena such as STAR TREK, Simon & Schuster gave their blessing to the collaboration in an unprecedented move.
In turn, Haynes has created the ultimate guide to the ENTERPRISE, applying its famous 'step-by-step' approach of stripping the mothership down to its essentials and reassembling it with detailed illustrations under the expert guidance of editors, consultants and artists. The Manual is set to be a must buy for existing fans as well as those coming to the franchise through the new movie. Commenting on the deal, Susan Bolsover, CPLG's Category Director for Publishing and Paper product says: "This fantastic collaboration is a milestone for the STAR TREK franchise and comes at a time when the brand is experiencing heightened awareness. Haynes' unique style will bring something new and exciting to the world of STAR TREK."



...which is kind of weird because I thought Haynes books were mostly just user/auto repair manuals for cars and such.

 

[clint g]

I know we have Memory Alpha, but I would really like a fully updated Star Trek Encyclopeida.

Does anyone by chance have a guess on how big a new encyclopedia would be? I'd get one, but I'm curious how much shelf space I would have to make. I'm not entirely sure the last one I had included voyager.

The last one was pretty hefty. I remember it being a pretty tall book. i think it covered up until Insurrection and season 6 of voyager. Since then they have added 5 more seasons of trek plus 2 new movies.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Star Trek: The Visual Dictionary

This is a licensed format by "DK", the former Dorling Kindersley, so it would require agrreements between DK, Pocket, Paramount and CBS Consumer Products. Some movies don't get a Visual Dictionary until they are a trilogy, like the "Shrek" films, or a fourth movie joins the franchise, such as "Indiana Jones".

I do recall the writers and production team saying in an interview that they were looking forward to participating in a "Making of.." or "Art of..." book, but Pocket may wait till there's a trilogy of information sources.

"ST IV: The Voyage Home" was a huge film, but it missed out on a "Making of..." book. I can see Pocket waiting a while. If the next two films are as huge as this one, there'll be plenty of interest in books about how they were put together.

 

[Kaziarl]

From VFXWorld:

CPLG, Europe's leading rights agency, is delighted to announce its comprehensive licensing and promotions programme for STAR TREK as the buzz increases around today's release of the new movie directed by J.J. Abrams

CPLG is the European licensing agent for CBS Consumer Products, which owns the Star Trek brand. Reflecting the distinction of this evergreen franchise and the anticipation of the new movie, CPLG's licensing programme encompasses the existing, ardent fanbase as well as considering the new generation of fans.
...
CPLG has also brokered a deal for the "Haynes Enterprise Manual," a unique collaboration between long-standing master publishing partner Simon & Schuster and Haynes Publishing, which will be brought to market in 2010. Recognising Haynes' unique approach to global phenomena such as STAR TREK, Simon & Schuster gave their blessing to the collaboration in an unprecedented move.
In turn, Haynes has created the ultimate guide to the ENTERPRISE, applying its famous 'step-by-step' approach of stripping the mothership down to its essentials and reassembling it with detailed illustrations under the expert guidance of editors, consultants and artists. The Manual is set to be a must buy for existing fans as well as those coming to the franchise through the new movie. Commenting on the deal, Susan Bolsover, CPLG's Category Director for Publishing and Paper product says: "This fantastic collaboration is a milestone for the STAR TREK franchise and comes at a time when the brand is experiencing heightened awareness. Haynes' unique style will bring something new and exciting to the world of STAR TREK."



...which is kind of weird because I thought Haynes books were mostly just user/auto repair manuals for cars and such.

Oh geez... I can see where this is going... "That bulkhead is 4 inches to thick! Its wrong! Those people are idiots!"

 

[nx1701g]

I know we have Memory Alpha, but I would really like a fully updated Star Trek Encyclopeida.

Does anyone by chance have a guess on how big a new encyclopedia would be? I'd get one, but I'm curious how much shelf space I would have to make. I'm not entirely sure the last one I had included voyager.

The last one was pretty hefty. I remember it being a pretty tall book. i think it covered up until Insurrection and season 6 of voyager. Since then they have added 5 more seasons of trek plus 2 new movies.

The last one ended around the time of the DS9 Seventh Season - but it was not complete. There was no information regarding the final episodes of DS9 save a few brief mentions of the major events from the series finale.

 

[Masao]

I would have bought an "Art of" book for this movie. I wondered why there wasn't one. Seems today that most big (and even small) VFX and animated movies have them: The Golden Compass, Hellboy, Spiderman, Watchmen, Lord of the Rings, Bee Movie, all the Pixar films, Iron Man, etc. I bought a British making of First Contact book, but have there been any others since?