Reference books, novels, magazines – Page 3

Harlan Ellison put a drug dealer on the Enterprise. That was not the biggest script problem

Gene Roddenberry was right: Ellison’s version of The City on the Edge of Forever was not suitable for Star Trek, but the story is inventive and compelling and IDW’s graphic novel brings it to life with beautiful illustrations.
Inside Star Trek 5: James Doohan said “warp drive” way back in 1953, following a change in career plans

James Doohan planned to be a dentist, but a radio play led him to acting, a forgotten Canadian sci-fi show and then to Star Trek.
The Concordance Color Book — and three fantastic surprise autographs

I bought this book years ago. I had never opened it. When I did, I discovered three major Star Trek autographs.
Inside Star Trek issue 4: Klingon side-projects with Matt Jefferies and coloured food cubes with Irving Feinberg

What helps you deal with rainbow food chunks? Real alcohol in the blue drinks. Go behind the scenes with two Star Trek production stars.
Inside Star Trek issue 3: DeForest Kelley on television stress and McCoy’s secret pain

DeForest Kelley and DC Fontana had a great character idea for Dr. McCoy. Instead, we somehow got Chekov’s girlfriend from The Way to Eden.
33 stickers that take you back to Star Trek collecting in the ’70s

You have likely never seen this licensed Star Trek kids’ booklet. It was made in Canada and the only one I have ever seen in person is the one I own. But you can download a copy right here.
Inside Star Trek issue 2: two days to make Spock’s ears, 90 minutes to get Nimoy into them

It took two days to make Spock’s ears and 90 minutes to get Nimoy all the way into them. Issue 2 of Inside Star Trek featured makeup man Fred Phillips and art by modeler Greg Jein.
Inside Star Trek issue 1: selling IDIC and dumpster diving for set pieces

The Inside Star Trek newsletter is an invaluable source for Star Trek’s early voices. Issue 1 detailed William Shatner’s busy schedule, told us about searching through studio garbage and shared a made-up story about the Vulcan IDIC medallion.
A View-Master surprise, with Star Trek’s worst episode

The Omega Glory is the worst episode of the original series, but the View-Master version is magical. Step back to the 3D world of your childhood.
You don’t need to read Mission to Horatius

Mission to Horatius is the first original Star Trek novel published. The dialogue is terrible, the plot is ridiculous, Kirk commits genocide, and a dancing rat is an important character. So don’t read the book, but do read my fun teardown of it.