New Book about TOS: These Are The Voyages
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Well, I still think the image reproduction issue is serious, but that may be entirely unknown to Cushman, and simply an issue with the publisher and "The Collector."
Besides that issue, however, the sections about 'The Alternative Factor' which I've highlighted (which appear to print supposition as if it were fact) are, I think, worth elaboration from the author.
There are other instances of the same thing (he reprints a Shatner story about Ellison that Ellison has flatly denied as if it were fact, too) that are worth discussing, too.
Of course, the typos are annoying, but I think they're a symptom of a broader problem with the book rather than the main issue: it wasn't professionally edited.
This is too bad, really, because I think the book has done something really well that Cushman hasn't gotten credit for: he's thoroughly gone through the secondary literature about Star Trek (memoirs, magazine articles, newspaper stories, etc.). It's too bad that the book isn't better put together, because the raw materials for something terrific are certainly there.
Besides that issue, however, the sections about 'The Alternative Factor' which I've highlighted (which appear to print supposition as if it were fact) are, I think, worth elaboration from the author.
There are other instances of the same thing (he reprints a Shatner story about Ellison that Ellison has flatly denied as if it were fact, too) that are worth discussing, too.
Of course, the typos are annoying, but I think they're a symptom of a broader problem with the book rather than the main issue: it wasn't professionally edited.
This is too bad, really, because I think the book has done something really well that Cushman hasn't gotten credit for: he's thoroughly gone through the secondary literature about Star Trek (memoirs, magazine articles, newspaper stories, etc.). It's too bad that the book isn't better put together, because the raw materials for something terrific are certainly there.
That may be the case, but this is easily one of the worst-edited nonfiction books I've ever read. And that doesn't just cover typos -- there are a lot of little factual errors, too, although most of them have nothing to do with Star Trek.
Then again, I haven't read many print-on-demand books before, although this one had a push behind it that made me anticipate a higher level of quality than we got.
Then again, I haven't read many print-on-demand books before, although this one had a push behind it that made me anticipate a higher level of quality than we got.
Mine is well-edited, give it a try! 
. (See signature below.)
But seriously, this is the well-deserved rep of self-published works. I hired an editor and had several more English major pairs of eyes proof-read (which is different from editing, though it sounds like the book in question needed both). As expensive as it is, and with the decent sales this book must get relative to most self-published ones, the dude could've hired an editor. But didn't. I would add cover designer too, btw.This publisher is more like a marketer for the self-designed book.
As for the author being clueless about the pics, that is highly unlikely. Authors of nonfiction have to tell publishers what pics to go get and license. And this book sounds author-designed and formatted, so it's really probably on him.
. (See signature below.)But seriously, this is the well-deserved rep of self-published works. I hired an editor and had several more English major pairs of eyes proof-read (which is different from editing, though it sounds like the book in question needed both). As expensive as it is, and with the decent sales this book must get relative to most self-published ones, the dude could've hired an editor. But didn't. I would add cover designer too, btw.This publisher is more like a marketer for the self-designed book.
As for the author being clueless about the pics, that is highly unlikely. Authors of nonfiction have to tell publishers what pics to go get and license. And this book sounds author-designed and formatted, so it's really probably on him.
A few proofreaders would have cleaned up the typos (of which there are hundreds).
The book credits three editors. Unless the book was an utter disaster before they got their hands on it, it seems like they either didn't have much time to work with the author or just didn't care (or both).
Believe it or not, the book had a cover designer, who was paid a portion of the funds raised on Kickstarter (the publisher raised a little under $12,000).
Interesting.
The one that slapped me in the face last night was "run the gambit of..." instead of "run the gamut of..." to describe a variety of things.
My apologies to the cover designer, since I implied there wasn't one. It's all a matter of taste, and I TRY to go through life not snarky.
Cover design was an area I didn't have money for (though I did license the pic I used), so I copied/imitated other covers like a fiend. After reading lots about it too.
Cover design was an area I didn't have money for (though I did license the pic I used), so I copied/imitated other covers like a fiend. After reading lots about it too.
I didn't mind the cover design at all. I did mind all the typos.
To be fair, that's a problem with a lot of unlicensed books about Star Trek (especially academic books, although this is not one of those).
Given the money they raised, though, you'd think they could have either (a) commissioned a more grabbing cover design or (b) licensed a photo from the series. I mean, Inside Star Trek: The Real Story just has an image of the Enterprise on the front, but that is infinitely more grabbing (and specific) than this. Then again, perhaps licensing a photo like that for the cover would still be cost-prohibitive. I really don't know.
Given the money they raised, though, you'd think they could have either (a) commissioned a more grabbing cover design or (b) licensed a photo from the series. I mean, Inside Star Trek: The Real Story just has an image of the Enterprise on the front, but that is infinitely more grabbing (and specific) than this. Then again, perhaps licensing a photo like that for the cover would still be cost-prohibitive. I really don't know.
At the risk of blowing my own horn I think I could easily have come up with something more attention getting and aesthetically appealing.
If you did it might somehow end up on the cover of the next volume.
When I licensed my cover photo (a very famous photo of Louis Armstrong, once used on the cover of Life), it was $400 for a print run of a thousand. When I informed the very helpful agent at the rights agency I was POD and didn't know how many I would "print," he said if I went over a thousand to call and we'd work out another pay. (I told him I'd like nothing better than to have to call him, since that would indicate nice sales.)
A photo from Trek for as many books as this might be moving, might be pretty costly. Some books are gonna sell because of the cover, to browsers. Others are going to sell to fans who HAVE to have it regardless of cover. the author might have gambled well on this issue (cover cost). I'd still want a better one because it was my product with my name on it. I wish I could figure out how to post my cover here. I am pretty proud of it.
A photo from Trek for as many books as this might be moving, might be pretty costly. Some books are gonna sell because of the cover, to browsers. Others are going to sell to fans who HAVE to have it regardless of cover. the author might have gambled well on this issue (cover cost). I'd still want a better one because it was my product with my name on it. I wish I could figure out how to post my cover here. I am pretty proud of it.
It can be seen pretty easily by clicking on your signature. It's very simple, but effective.
It also doesn't have as much noise at the Cushman cover -- which jams a beyond the grave endorsement from Roddenberry and Justman, his name, his co-writer, the authors of the book's forward, and the TOS: Season One subtitle all together, along with the book's title, which takes up nearly half of the cover.
It also doesn't have as much noise at the Cushman cover -- which jams a beyond the grave endorsement from Roddenberry and Justman, his name, his co-writer, the authors of the book's forward, and the TOS: Season One subtitle all together, along with the book's title, which takes up nearly half of the cover.
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