Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home The Making of the Classic Film

by John Tenuto

An in-depth look at the making of Star Trek The Voyage Home, featuring new and exclusive interviews, and rarely seen production art and behind-the-scenes images.

Go behind the scenes of one of the most beloved entries in the Star Trek saga with Star Trek The Voyage Home – The Making of the Classic Film. This definitive companion takes fans deep into the heart of the 1986 production that brought humor, heart, and humpback whales to the final frontier.

Packed with exclusive interviews, rare photographs, and untold stories from cast and crew, this book reveals how director Leonard Nimoy and the creative team crafted a legendary time-travel adventure. From the challenges of shooting on location in San Francisco, to groundbreaking special effects needed to create the animatronic whales, to the environmental message that still resonates today, this insider account celebrates the risks and rewards of boldly going in a new direction.

Whether you're a lifelong Trek fan or a film history enthusiast, discover the artistry and camaraderie behind a film that helped redefine what a Star Trek movie could be.

192 pages, Hardcover

Published September 1, 2026

Reviews

[Scott Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! This has got so many terrific photos I’ve never seen before. There are some great images from ILM that illustrate how the whale effects were created and a nice section on matte paintings. I love that the world-class artists behind the film are finally being highlighted. It’s so nice to learn a bit more about the names I’ve read in the credits so many times.

Also, there are some images of the Vulcan technicians that I’ve never seen before. This is important to me because I own one of those costumes.

[Jonathan Koan]

A very good book that chronicles the making of the Voyage Home movie, from the screenwriting credits, to the challenges of designing the whales, to the challenges of shooting in San Fransisco. The book does a good job of not only getting interviews from the cast and crew, but it does a great job recognizing the unsung heroes of the film's production. A great tool for not only Trekkies, but also those interested in the film business.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authors John and Maria Jose Tenuto have put together another excellent book, this time on the making of the fourth Star Trek film.
As in their previous books there's a wealth of behind the scenes stories and photographs, and they cover everything from unused early script ideas right up to the film premiere and beyond. This was a fascinating read and it was published just in time for the 40th anniversary of the film. I finished reading it a few days before my wife and I head to the cinema to see this wonderful Star Trek film back on the big screen. Perfect!

[Clay Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book needs another professional edit to correct the erroneous date on page 7.