The Encyclopedia Shatnerica

Actor: "Star Trek", "Barbary Coast", "T J Hooker", "3rd Rock from the Sun", & "Boston Legal" as Denny Crane, and many more. Stage Performer: Canadian Theater "The world's most accomplished spoken word" singer: "Transformed Man", "Has Been", & Slim Shady on "Futurama". Producer: "Tek War" Director: "T J Hooker" episodes & "Star Trek V" Novelist & Author: numerous published books, both fiction and non-fiction. Product Spokesman: Priceline.com, Promise Margarine, etc. Horseman: including the "Annual William Shatner Hollywood Charity Horse Show". Game Show Host: "Show Me the Money" Hollywood Lothario: Biography Channel's "Raw" Plus all the The $20,000 Pyramid, Columbo, Rescue 911, Twilight Zone, Big Giant Head, girdle, divorce, hair piece, kidney stone, pranks, allegations, and scathing anecdotes from Star Trek co-stars that you can fire a phaser at. How can you not love Bill Shatner??? ...Well, I guess some don't. But, I'm not one of them. For all things Shat, this is where it's at!

Described as a "Rubik's Cube of a man", William Shatner is an undeniable genius. When he dies his obituary will read as if written by a poet laureate on acid: archery enthusiast, breeder of Dobermans and quarter horses, paintball aficionado, pilot, existentialist and futurist, millionaire, noted vegetarian, international superstar adored by droves of fans, a man who boldly explored new galaxies while on the job and believes he encountered an alien in real life. He has lived the life of which others dream. With a rollercoaster career from anonymity to Star Trek, from his lost years to Boston Legal and Priceline stardom, Shatner has been all over the map. His legendary performance in the "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" episode of the Twilight Zone is unforgettable, but his atrocious rendition of Rocket Man - 1978 Science Fiction film awards - is unforgettable in the same way as the Hindenburg disaster. Broken down in an A-to-Z format, each page follows his career alphabetically, from his Acting method to his wretched costar Adrian Zmed, everything that has affected Shatner's life is impeccably chronicled for any Shaternerologist. An added bonus is the four star categorization method, from essential viewings for Shatnerphiles to those only a masochist should watch. Within the first few pages readers are seduced by enough awkward charisma that it's easy to overlook the photos of a young Shatner riding a horse with a starry sky background, and another of him bow hunting while bare-chested on a dirt bike. Each looks as ridiculous as it sounds until realizing it's simply par for the course for a man who has auctioned off a kidney stone and acted as everything from a Roman god to a colonial Satanist, not to mention the captain of a spaceship. The greatest aspect of the book is that it uncovers Shatner's staccato speech patterns, his nonsensical method of delivering lines in a manner no other would imagine or attempt. It turns out his quirky delivery results from an ill-prepared Shakespeare performance, one that he stammered through yet received positive reviews. In his classic style, Shatner jokes that he thinks of himself as an "acting machine", and actually developed the style because of, "shallow breathing, allergies, and owning a dog that won't listen." Surprising to many Trekkies will be the fact that nearly all his male costars regard him as a scene stealing, pompous blowhard. And while he has bedded tons of gorgeous women, many female costars, like Kristie Alley, seem to really dislike his heavy-handed come-ons. It should come as no surprise that he has suffered through multiple marriages and more than one palimony lawsuit. The Encyclopedia Shatnerica is bafflingly awesome. Even for those who are not fans of Star Trek or sci-fi, it's hard to deny the talent William Shatner possesses, entrancing millions of Trekkies in his early career and millions of thrifty travelers in his golden years. After reading this, fans will become even more

I, fo one, am sorely disappointed to learn that the Encyclopedia Shatnerica is now out of print. While unemployed last summer, I spent a day spent devouring this tome cover to cover and was yanked right out of my funk. So what if substandard work by an editor created a light scattering of inaccuracies? That's hardly the point: Schnakenberg's pricelessly witty, irreverent writing style still makes this an unforgettable read for devotees of the absurdities of pop culture.

You would be hard-pressed to find a citizen of a developed country who does not know the name, "William Shatner." Equally difficult to find is a person who has come to terms with who Mr. Shatner is. Schnakenberg paints us a picture of the whole man. An adroit wordsmith, Mr. Schnakenberg crafts for us an important 20th century Pop-Culture reference book which lends itsself easily to reading from cover to cover. Never do we lose touch with the man's humanity. Schnakenberg's treatment allows us to look directly into the sun of a proud man's persona and not have our retina's scorched before we see the toupee. A very fair and even-handed and objective chronicle of Mr. Shatner's life. KUDOS, Schnakenberg!

A fine slice of woodwork. Kudos to the author for tackling a subject he both cherishes and despises with wit and courage.