Good TNG Books

[SSOASS]

I have read a fair amount of books about TOS, but have not really come across much about TNG (or DS9, VOY, ENT for that matter).

I recently read Flying Starships by Ronald Moore, which was quite interesting (I also emailed with him a bit, cool guy) and I read the
Wil Wheaton book


I am looking for books along that line ..more about how the show was written, the special effects worked, etc. I am not really looking for things like Enterprise tech manuals. Moreso books written by people that worked or acted on the post TOS shows.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks,

 

[Greg Cox]

Check out STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION 365 by Paula Block and Terry Erdmann. Lots of good behind-the-scenes stuff on the tv series.

 

[doubleohfive]

Star Trek: Action! by Terry J. Erdmann & Paula M. Block would probably be the first one to check out, based on the criteria you're giving.

EDIT: Also, as Greg notes, Star Trek: The Next Generation 365 by Terry J. Erdmann & Paula M. Block is also a great source of information.

The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion by Terry J. Erdmann & Paula Block is incredible and delves somewhat into this subject matter, as does Larry Nemecek's Star Trek The Next Generation Companion.

Lastly, The Making of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine by Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens is an excellent primer in the basics of (then) modern television production and incredibly insightful on all parts of the process of developing, writing, casting and ultimately producing the show.

I know you listed TNG specifically, but the two DS9 books and "Action" cover a wealth of material relevant to the greater subject matter, so I included them.

 

[SpHeRe31459]

Ditto on the recommendations for Action! and TNG 365. Both are good sources of behind the scenes details. Action! specifically is a look at making a scene in all three of the current projects in the franchise, DS9, VOY, and the TNG movie Insurrection. You can see how they direct, post-produce, etc. a typical TNG-era episode.

 

[WillsBabe]

Back in the 90s I really enjoyed the unofficial TNG guides/companion books. I think they were written by Starlog editors. Can't recall the names of them at the moment - books or authors! I'll check out my bookshelves and get back to you.

 

[Trek Survivor]

WillsBabe you might be thinking of the "Captain's Logs" series by Altman and Gross. Yeah, they were interesting.

No love for Nemecek's TNG Companion? Sure, it's "Official" which sometimes means it's a little white-washed, but there's plenty of info in there and it covers everything from Farpoint to Nemesis. You can get it so cheap on ebay these days, why not add it to the bookshelf?

 

[SpHeRe31459]

No love for Nemecek's TNG Companion? Sure, it's "Official" which sometimes means it's a little white-washed, but there's plenty of info in there and it covers everything from Farpoint to Nemesis. You can get it so cheap on ebay these days, why not add it to the bookshelf?

I love the Companion (and TOS Compendium before it). doubleohfive mentioned it in his post.
The Companion has been rendered somewhat less potent thanks to Memory-Alpha.org Most details that are in the TNG Companion are now in an episode's production details there.

 

[WillsBabe]

WillsBabe you might be thinking of the "Captain's Logs" series by Altman and Gross. Yeah, they were interesting.

Them's the fellas! I really enjoyed those books. At the back of one of them there is a transcript of a press conference or something. There is some interesting stuff about Denise Crosby and why she left the show. I don't think I have the books any more to check them out. Gutted.

 

[doubleohfive]

No love for Nemecek's TNG Companion? Sure, it's "Official" which sometimes means it's a little white-washed, but there's plenty of info in there and it covers everything from Farpoint to Nemesis. You can get it so cheap on ebay these days, why not add it to the bookshelf?

I'm pretty sure I mentioned it three posts ahead of you.

 

[USS Triumphant]

I haven't seen anyone mention "The Nitpicker's Guide for Next Generation Trekkers" by Phil Farrand, which is about half what you say you're looking for (production info and such), and half Comic Book Guy style nitpicks of the episode content.

 

[SpHeRe31459]

I haven't seen anyone mention "The Nitpicker's Guide for Next Generation Trekkers" by Phil Farrand, which is about half what you say you're looking for (production info and such), and half Comic Book Guy style nitpicks of the episode content.

I have the two TNG volumes on my bookshelf, but they're not really "making of" book. They're long out of print, can you find them anymore?

 

[USS Triumphant]

I haven't seen anyone mention "The Nitpicker's Guide for Next Generation Trekkers" by Phil Farrand, which is about half what you say you're looking for (production info and such), and half Comic Book Guy style nitpicks of the episode content.

I have the two TNG volumes on my bookshelf, but they're not really "making of" book. They're long out of print, can you find them anymore?

Both are available through Amazon resellers, yes - around $10 incl shipping for the first, new, and $20 incl shipping for the second, new. Cheaper if you'll take used.

 

[SSOASS]

Thank you for the replies. I purchased Next Generation 365 and will start there and get the rest at some point