RODDENBERRY: The Man Who Created Star Trek

by James Van Hise

AMAZON TOP 50 IN TELEVISION HISTORY! “The eminent Star Trek reference book author .” —Star Trek Expanded Universe Wiki Gene Roddenberry was both a very human man and a cosmic visionary. Hardheaded, single-minded, a good friend and a bitter enemy, Roddenberry was a creative genius who pursued his dreams singlemindedly. A man who envisioned a future where humankind had outgrown war, he often fought unnecessary battles in his own life. Though his every project was a failure (Star Trek was cancelled after only three seasons), he created the single biggest phenomena in media history and gave the 20th century one of its most universal myths. Roddenberry is the story of an almost larger-than-life man whose flaws were as outsized as his virtues. Even actors he made world-famous stars and millionaires spoke of him with mixed feelings. Final redemption came with the rebirth of Star Trek on the movie screen and launching of a new television hit, Star The Next Generation. In The Man Who Created Star Trek, journalist James Van Hise reveals Roddenberry's career as never before, in both its triumphs and failures. More importantly, it tells the story of the man behind the public figure. You'll also Episode guides to all shows he wrote or produced. Roddenberry’s original Star Trek proposal sold to Paramount and CBS. Roddenberry’s original press release announcing the Star The Motion Picture. Production stills and other photographs, including a bonus gallery of images. Other exciting features. You will also Why Roddenberry became a cop and how it helped start his career as a television writer. The integrous stance that cost him a job with the big-budget adventure drama Riverboat. What TV show he created and produced featuring four future Star Trek crew members—and who they were. Why he decided to write a science fiction show. Why Desilu Productions decided to back Star Trek when everyone else had turned it down. The original pre-production shape of the Enterprise hull. The name of the controversial movie he produced right after TOS ended. The incident that inspired him to give the mutants on Genesis II two navels. The strange reason Paramount fought against reviving the Star Trek series for years. Why Leonard Nimoy refused to appear in Star The Motion Picture and what made him change his mind. Why, after all his battles with Paramount, Roddenberry agreed to be the producer on Star The Next Generation. Why David Gerrold and D. C. Fontana both quit The Next Generation. Why Roddenberry trusted the Next Gen producers to be faithful to his vision after his death. And much, much more. James Van Hise is a media journalist and the author of more than two dozen books. He was the founder of the early and influential Star Trek ‘zine, Enterprise Incidents. He currently resides in in Southern California. “James Van Hise takes readers behind the scenes … a useful reference guide for writers and Star Trek fans.” —Trekdom

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 17, 2015

About the author

James Van Hise is an American popular culture historian and comic book author. He had a long connection with the popular fanzine Rocket's Blast Comicollector (RBCC), and was its editor/publisher from 1974 to 1983. He also had a lengthy association with Hal Schuster, owner of New Media Publishing and Pioneer Books. Van Hise is the author of more than ten books, many of them published by Pioneer Books.

Reviews

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat slight biography of Gene Roddenberry which, whilst being engaging and lively in tone, is also at odds with other books written by people mentioned in the book. For example, Patrick Stewart's 'Making it So' does show that Stewart was prone to storm off set in Season One he eventually relaxed and got on well with fellow staff members. Another example of lax fact checking is Van Hise's assertion that Worf was added to 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' after the pilot, despite provably having appeared in the premiere episode.

[James Bowker · Rating 3 out of 5]

They say never meet your heros

The Roddenberry story is a strange one to read, a man who believed in a bright and prosperous future for Humanity while in his own life....let's just say he doesn't seem all that nice. As a huge fan of what he produced O found this a tough pill to swallow, well written but afterwards left a little hollow.