Technical Manual

Although the success of Star Trek's many incarnations -- from the 1966-69 Original Series, the 1979-2002 feature films, and the four television spin-offs -- is due to the humanity of the characters (even the alien ones!), it's the various starships that have taken the captains, crews and, of course, the audience on incredible journeys across the galaxy. After all, where would James T. Kirk be without the USS Enterprise, or Kathryn Janeway without the USS Voyager? For many Star Trek fans, it's the starship that is the true star of the series, with Kirk (or Picard, or Janeway, or Archer) and Co. as the human "supporting cast" that represents the dreamers who want to "boldly go where no one has gone before."Although dedicated fans and role-playing game designers had written, illustrated, and even published unofficial Technical Journals of Star Trek's primary starships, Rick Sternbach and Michael Okuda's Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual was the first really detailed "owner's manual" to the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) "done by folks who actually work on Star Trek." Published in October 1991 (halfway through The Next Generation's seven-year run) and featuring Gene Roddenberry's last published words in his special introduction, the Technical Manual is the first volume of a trio of "official" Star Trek references that include The Star Trek Chronology: A History of the Future and The Star Trek Encyclopedia.The Technical Manual's conceit is that it is a 24th Century reference work, perhaps as a Starfleet public relations publication or in-house orientation manual. The tone the authors adopt (with the exception of the "out-of-the-Star-Trek-scenario footnotes, which are insightful and often humorous) is very similar to a NASA shuttle operator's guide, matter-of-fact, dry, and -- of course -- like a technical journal. Starting with "1.0 USS Enterprise Introduction" and ending with "17.0 Conclusion," this 183 page book tells the reader everything he or she wanted to know about a Galaxy-class starship, but was afraid to ask.Want to know, for instance, about the Enterprise-D's warp drive and the theory of warp propulsion? It's all there in "5.0 Warp Propulsion Systems." Does transporter technology turn you on, as it were? "9.0 Transporter Systems" tells you how and why a transporter works, complete with a three-page list of every detail of the five seconds that elapse between autosequence initiation and the signaling of a successful transport. All of the familiar operations we have seen on the show's many episodes and the Enterprise-D's final appearance in 1994's Star Trek: Generations are explained in "authentic" detail. The Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual is generously illustrated with ship's blueprints, deck charts, line drawings of equipment, operations panels, readouts, and weapons. There is even a chart showing the five Starships Enterprise with a brief (one paragraph) history of each incarnation of the NCC-1701. (St

I read this book a couple years ago and I read every page of it. To know the technical capabilities of Enterprise-D allows you to enjoy the series more. You know what is posible and what is not.

Have you ever had anyone tell you "but it's just a science fiction show! I mean, warp travel?" Well, if you are a trekker you simply gotta have this book, else die of ST ignorance. Though not for people who are not familiar with the Star Trek Universe, for its very detailed, specific and precise, down to even mathematical and phisical formulas, this is a must have. It will explain the how and why things work in the USS Enterprise-D, from the communicator patch and transporter beam-out sequence, to personal phasers, tricorders, the holodeck and the Captain's Yatch. Also full of great behind the scenes stories and insights. With this book, which I am sure you will learn by heart, you will be able to tell off that arrogant non-believer when he asks " Warp nine? That tells me nothing, I mean, how fast can that be?" Well buddies, its no more than 1516 times the speed of light!!!

If you are curious about any small gadget on the Starship Enterprise, NCC-1701D, then you'll find it on the Technical Manual, compiled by the original creators of Star Trek technology. This book is very comprehensive and can answer any die-hard Trekkie's questions. I recommend it to any Star Trek fan. This book is not for beginners, however