The Star Trek Encyclopedia, Revised and Expanded Edition: A Reference Guide to the Future

by Michael Okuda, Denise Okuda

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the classic show, a fully authorized revision of the popular reference companion: a two-volume encyclopedia featuring a completely new design, stunning new full-color photographs and illustrations, and 300 pages of new entries, packaged in a specially designed and shrink-wrapped deluxe slipcase.

When it debuted in 1966, the Star Trek series quickly became a pop culture phenomenon, inspiring six spin-off series and thirteen films—including Star Trek Beyond, opening July 22, 2016—as well as books, comics, games, toys, and more. One of the largest franchises of all time, Star Trek’s overall box office revenue totals more than $1.93 billion to date.

Since it’s initial publication twenty-five years ago, The Star Trek Encyclopedia has been the go-to source for everything related to the franchise’s canon. Packed with highly detailed information, including brief episode and film synopses, no other book has come close to offering the same wealth of insight into the Star Trek universe. Now, The Star Trek Encyclopedia has been thoroughly revised and redesigned for a new generation of fans. This updated and expanded edition includes 300 more pages, information, photographs and illustrations, and offers exhaustively researched and detailed entries on the characters, ships, and events from the last fifteen years of Star Trek television shows and films, including Star Trek: Voyager seasons 4-7, Star Trek: Enterprise seasons 1-4, and Star Trek Nemesis. It also features material detailing the recent big-screen films Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek: Into Darkness.

Packaged in a stunning deluxe slipcase, this two-volume set is a must-have for every Star Trek fan’s library.

Genres: Star Trek, Science Fiction, Reference, Fiction, Tv, Science Fiction Fantasy, Media Tie In

1056 pages, Hardcover

First published April 11, 1994

Reviews

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before the Internet, there was the Star Trek Encyclopedia. When the Apocalypse happens, Netflix fails us, and the internet finally goes down, I will be safe and happy and warm, knowing that I will still have my Star Trek Encyclopedia.

[Issa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brings me back to the days of youth where Star Trek was king and I would voraciously devour anything Star Trek from novels to the technical manuals. Everything from the original series to the Kelvinverse is included in two MASSIVE encyclopedias. It's a return to form for Star Trek 50th anniversary. I haven't read a physical encyclopedia since the days of the encyclopedia Britannica and yes the Star Trek technical manuals

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out shopping at the mall one night, my mother and I originally bought this for my father. Over dinner, I started flipping through it...I eventually read it, cover to cover. And thus I became a Trekker...

[John Yelverton · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most amazing and knowledgeable books that I have ever read. It opened me up to so many aspects that I never knew about from my favorite TV series.

[Jason Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just realized I don't have this in my Goodreads records, and now that's fixed. I'm a little uncertain about my personal history with it, not that it matters to any of you, but since it matters to me, I'm going to put it here anyway, and if you don't like it...



I guess I got this for Christmas in 1994. It looks like there have been several updates throughout the years, but since I don't care about anything beyond the original series, this has everything I need. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country came out in 1991, and it ended up being the last TOS movie, though it was an open question when this was being put together. Oh, I know they said it would be the last, but we had heard that song multiple times before, starting with Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, I think. Star Trek Generations, which has the closing bit for Captain Kirk, came out in 1994, and is not mentioned specifically in this, but a Next Generation movie is alluded to in the appendix for release in 1994. (The updates stop in 1993, the last one referring to plans for Star Trek Voyager slated for release in 1995.)

I keep this on my "impulse grab" shelf next to my chair. Yeah, I know, my laptop is right here too, and you can find anything you want on the internet, but there's something nice about just grabbing a book, flipping it open, and finding what you need without having to go online. (I keep a dictionary and thesaurus on that shelf too.) If I feel I need to dive deeper, well, the laptop is still right there. The catalyst for this trip into the book was "Deltan." There are a couple on the Regula I Space Lab in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan which I'm reading now, and other characters kept mentioning their sexiness and other characteristics ("Veela" would the the parallel for Potterheads). My interest was piqued about these apparent galactic nymphomaniacs, and I wanted to know just what in the hell a Deltan was. Turns out they're those bald things, and one in Star Trek: The Motion Picture (Ilia) is a major character. I'm not familiar with TMP, and the main thing I remember about Ilia is her walking through a door without bothering to open it.


(I think this was technically V'ger at this point, but whatever.)

I know bald is supposed to be beautiful, and all, and I suppose it is, but it neither rings my bell nor puts a damper on it. Ilia does nothing for me, but that's because she's a woman, and I'm afraid they don't ring a thing for me, no offense, but I can't say anything of mine has ever chimed for Telly Savalas, Yul Brynner, the Rock, or any other baldy, really. Gimme a head with hair! Long, beautiful hair... And that's where that reference falls apart. (Shorter, clean-cut hair is my preference, though long hair is in no way a non-starter.) What I mean to say is I'm not a Captain Kirk level horndog here; I have some standards and prejudices. Meaning I'd be willing to do a Deltan, but not a Klingon, do you know what I'm saying?



Well, you don't have to be rude about it. I'm just being honest. Even if you take out the bias, there's the safety factor to consider. I mean, they've all got buzzsaws sticking out of their heads.



Forget about safe sex; you can't even have safe foreplay with a forehead like that. A noggin nuzzle would earn you a lacerated scalp, and a blow job guarantees disembowelment, at least if they're doing it right.

But enough about that. This book is getting all five stars even though it's quite obsolete now and incomplete by today's standards where you can get a plethora of information on the net. The level of detail found at Memory Alpha...



And when you add in the discussions and arguments among fans...



Yeah, I don't have the energy for that. But the entries in this book give just enough breadth to get you what you need about any characters, races, gadgets, ships, episodes, etc. It sure came in handy before the internet, and even though I haven't read the entire thing (nor do I plan to), I think it's worthy of the five stars I've bestowed upon it.

Here are a few Star Trek related items I've knitted/crocheted. You know, just in case you weren't already convinced that I'm a bit of a trekkie.

Double knit potholder:



And I suppose this is what it would look like in the "Mirror, Mirror" universe:



Mr. Spock:



A miniature Enterprise:



Ahead at impulse power:



And I reckon this is a good place to put all my Star Trek related reviews too. Stars indicate that I've actually read the book.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: ★★★★✰ (4.5)
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock: ★★★★✰
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home:
Probe:
Star Trek IV: The Undiscovered Country:
Star Trek: Into Darkness:
The Wit and Wisdom of Star Trek: ★★★✰✰
Fun with Kirk and Spock: ★★★★★
Klingon Dictionary: ★★★✰✰

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Trekkie friend gets out of the car, "Hey I have a present for you."
"Oh?"
"Well, I mean, you can't keep it."
Now at this point I'm wondering what sort of present is not kept.
She hands me a book, "It's a Star Trek encyclopedia."
Seasoned Trekkie from Trekkie family loans a Trek encyclopedia to a relatively new watcher who is (sadly) only 17 episodes from the end of TNG.
A comment on being almost done with TNG: I want to watch DS9, but I'm really going to miss Data. I love Data.
Now, my Trekkie friend and her family are very against spoilers, yet they have loaned me this giant encyclopedia.
I hate spoilers.
Am I going to read this encyclopedia anyway?
Yes. Because it looks amazing.
Also because I will have to give it back and I don't think I have time to watch the rest of the Trek franchise before a reasonable loaning period has passed.

[Judity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a Trekker since the original series aired in the 1960s and was lucky enough to meet many of the actors at various ST conventions. For anyone who enjoys any or all of the ST series, this encyclopedia is a MUST!

['Nathan Burgoine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What? Like you didn't know I was a giant geek.

[Stewart Ogilvie-Goddard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geek Heaven. Full of things I did not know. A book where you read the cover, then the title and copyright gubbins, then page 1. Then you head where no man/one has gone before and head off wherever you like. You can go off in numerical order, you can stalk the Borg, the world is your oyster as someone else said. You keep coming back for more. Pity that the copy I have stops before the latest incarnation.

[C.J. Bunce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published online at BORG.com.

It will take fans of the earlier editions of The Star Trek Encyclopedia: A Reference Guide to the Future, Revised and Expanded Edition less than a dozen pages of browsing to realize the enormity of the material–and the effort–required to update the previous 1999 edition for this 50th anniversary boxed, hardcover, two-volume reference published this week. Enterprise–the series that has been virtually ignored in Star Trek reference publications, finally gets its due, as does the later seasons of Voyager, the last season of Deep Space Nine, and the films Star Trek Nemesis, Star Trek (2009), and Star Trek Into Darkness.

An invaluable reference until the creation of the online fan-run Memory Alpha, the original three editions of the The Star Trek Encyclopedia were the only place for fans to get quick Star Trek data with the last update in 1999. The advent of the Internet seemed to have spelled certain doom for any hope of a revised and updated edition. Memory Alpha has more than 40,000 pages of detailed Star Trek reference data. How could a 1,056 page two-volume edition compete? For one, long-time fans of all or many of the Star Trek series likely appreciate the ability to pull a reference book off the shelf. Memory Alpha’s recent updates make the website difficult to navigate and website TrekCore’s value is very much in its screen captures. Star Trek reference works have been very sporadically released in the past 20 years, so fans are always clamoring for a new book. The Star Trek Encyclopedia is very much an encyclopedia, and many may not remember the days of pulling a volume of an encyclopedia off the shelf and reading it through for entertainment. This is a great set of books to do just that. And the detailed content is what fans want.

Excluding this summer’s release Star Trek Beyond, original edition creators (and former Star Trek art department creative gurus) Michael Okuda and Denise Okuda craftily and seamlessly weaved the J.J. Abrams’s movies–called the Kelvin timeline now– into this work as explained in their foreword (only Star Trek (2009)’s villain Nero’s entry, for example, bridges both the Prime timeline and the Kelvin timeline in The Star Trek Encyclopedia). The Star Trek Encyclopedia is also the first publication that thoroughly addresses the nuts and bolts of Star Trek Into Darkness.

I came up with a list of my favorite items: references, characters, objects, and places that did not turn up in the past editions, to see if they all were now included. They were, except for entries and images of certain key alien weapons, uniforms, and artifacts from the Kelvin timeline (like John Eaves’ beautifully designed Klingon weapons, Romulan disruptors and rifles, or the new Klingon uniforms and helmets). These types of updates are present across the board for Enterprise, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager. Artist Ian Fullwood updates Doug Drexler’s artwork quite well, adding to his work updates with the same look and feel as Drexler’s original creations. Don’t expect past entries to be updated other than some have updated photographs–the research and preparation was clearly all about the new series and movies, also what the fans want and expect.

In the original volumes a reader might have a character name and want to see what actor played the character and the Encyclopedia provided that quick answer. Readers of this edition are more likely to find what they are after. Highlights include sections focusing on lifeforms, planets, spaceships (including new artwork and an updated registry), Starfleet uniforms, signage, and symbols, and appendices including a timeline of key events, a production timeline, and writer and director credits by episode/film.

My only quibble with the Encyclopedia is the same as my concerns with the prior editions, and that is with the use of the newly created artwork images (originally by Drexler, and in this edition supplemented with new art by Fullwood, whose spaceship drawings are a high point of the Encyclopedia). Very often the images rendered do not exactly match the items in the series or movies. As an example, the only self-sealing stembolt we’ve seen in canon was in Deep Space Nine, and the design of the reference image is very different from the prop as it appeared onscreen. Similarly, in an image of mirror universe Starfleet uniforms, the Enterprise era uniform artwork is missing the key black zippered shoulder belt worn in the two Enterprise mirror universe episodes. This wouldn’t have been an issue if photos were used. Do these things matter? Probably not, so long as the artwork isn’t used for reference purposes for other “study,” or for those after exact cosplay re-creation source material, etc.

That said, use of the artwork with the hundreds of small photos from screencaps of the series and movies is useful and attractive. It breaks up and gives variety to the book, and along with the new design, margin line art and colors, new easier to read type fonts and greater white space, the book is now easier to read and more enjoyable. These two volumes actually take you back to the days when the look and feel of Funk & Wagnall’s and The World Book Encyclopedia were eclipsed by the format of the more enticing, image-filled Encyclopedia Britannica.

An essential set of books from Harper Design for every Star Trek fan.

[Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the One.
Anything & everything you wanted to know about Trek is in here.
Listed alphabetically, it's an easy reference for anything Trek.
Thick & hardbound, it's a must have for any fans bookshelf.

[Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the single most useful book EVER!

[Donna Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am I drooling? This is just page after page of boom, fascinating Star Trek coolness. The only issue I have is it left me wanting even more, more, more, more!!!

[Clay Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read the material concerning the orginal series and that was very good.

[Sharyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must for Trekkies/Trekkers!

[Peter Rydén · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jag sitter här lycklig med den nya Star Trek-encyklopedin som kom ut idag. Den är en dyr utgåva, då den är så kraftig utökad jämfört med den förra utgåvan för 17 år sedan. Hela 1056 sidor som de var tvungna att dela upp på två böcker.

Men för mig var den ett självklart köp - allt möjligt om Star Trek. Proppfullt med fakta om avsnitt, karaktärer och annat.

Visst kan man hitta mycket på Memory Alpha eller för den delen här på Star Trek Databas, men det är väldigt bra att ha allt lätt till hands i bokhyllan - vilken känsla man får när man kan bläddra bland så många olika ämnen!

Det finns saker som saknas i boken - exempelvis om skådespelarna bakom karaktärerna, men man kan väl inte få riktigt allt!

[Victoria Schreiber · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/ 5 stars

A very good resource for all Star Trek fans (and fanfiction writers). The encyclopaedia contains a lot of information and I must applaud the writers for their research. About everything Star Trek (up to 1994) is mentioned and I must admit that I more skimmed the text (as you can't really read encyclopaedias) and read the interesting entries. The entries themselves are also written in a very interesting way with the line between in-universe and behind the scenes material is drawn clearly. Certainly, a very good and interesting book that is very informative.

[Peter Rydén · Rating 4 out of 5]

Det enda som saknas i denna bok är uppslag om böckerna. Eftersom de inte räknas till "kanon", alltså rättesnöret i Star Trek, har de inte tagits med, annars än som referenser i ett fåtal fall. Om detta hade varit med, så hade den varit än mer värdefull som en ständig medföljare, för i övrigt är den heltäckande.

Den täcker inte de sista två säsongerna av Star Trek: Voyager och heller inget av Enterprise.

[RumBelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this, for the first time, after it's initial release. It was an incredibly interesting, though not even for it's time comprehensive account of the Star Trek Universe. Many of the entries were not completely up to date with what at the time was current.

I did enjoy it though, reading detail about my favorite characters and places. It is sad they never released an updated version of this, or some kind of updated Star Trek encyclopedia.

[Dan Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obviously, there is no way I can read these cover to cover. But if you want to know something about Star Trek, it's likely to be in here.

[Gianluca Carimando · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great and very helpful. I just wish there would be more charts and diagrams as well as pictures.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I’ve learned by this point that encyclopedias do not make for good reading. It’s just boring as all-get-out.

[Trevor Scott]

It's great, and a great expanded version of the original Star Trek encyclopedia.

[Z.A. Mackic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Printed out wiki.
Great for collectors, but as reference, I prefer electronic version.

[Andreas Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pensavo ci fosse qualcosa in più, ma sulle navi stellari non si spiega granché, forse perché lasciato a parte per un altro manuale, mentre sembra più una enciclopedia guida per tutte le serie.

[Alex MacKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Necessarily long and detailed. There is absolutely everything included within this book.

[Recensioni in tre parole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ampia. Esaustiva. Collezionabile.

[The Pittman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The complete compendium of everything Star Trek. From ships to characters to exotic worlds of the galaxy's Final Frontier, this is an awesome read. A must for every Star Trek fan.

[Tony Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Star Trek fans, The Star Trek Encyclopedia by Michael Okuda and Denise Okuda has long been considered the definitive reference guide to the universe of the final frontier. Originally published in 1994 and expanded in later editions, this encyclopedia serves as a comprehensive archive of characters, species, technology, planets, and events spanning across the Star Trek franchise—at least up to a certain point. Written by Michael Okuda, a longtime Star Trek technical consultant, this volume reflects both an insider’s knowledge and a deep appreciation for the lore.

At its core, the encyclopedia is an exhaustive, meticulously detailed guide. Each entry is structured with clear, concise descriptions, often accompanied by production notes or background information that add layers of depth beyond what is seen on-screen. It’s particularly strong in its breakdown of Star Trek: The Original Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager, as these were the dominant series at the time of publication. The book also delves into the various Star Trek films up through Star Trek: First Contact in its latest print editions.

One of the strengths of The Star Trek Encyclopedia is its organization. The A-Z format makes it easy to look up anything from the Borg to the finer details of starship classes, and the visual aids—ranging from photos to Okuda’s technical schematics—enhance the experience. The book is also invaluable for casual fans and hardcore Trekkers alike, providing clarity on the complex and often contradictory elements of Star Trek continuity.

However, the biggest issue with the encyclopedia today is that it is outdated. The last major update was in 2016, and even that edition was only able to cover up to Star Trek: Enterprise and Star Trek: Into Darkness. This means that vast amounts of Star Trek lore, including Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek: Prodigy, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, are entirely absent. The Kelvin Timeline films are also underrepresented, as the book was published before Star Trek Beyond. For a franchise that continues to expand and redefine itself, this creates a significant gap in coverage.

Additionally, while the encyclopedia does a fantastic job cataloging the lore, it doesn’t always engage with Star Trek’s deeper themes or analyze inconsistencies in canon. Given Star Trek’s evolving narrative, a modern edition could benefit from addressing how the franchise has adapted over time, particularly with retcons, revised timelines, and alternate universes.

Despite being an incomplete reference in today’s landscape, The Star Trek Encyclopedia remains a must-have for long-time Star Trek fans, particularly those interested in the TOS-to-Voyager era. It’s a beautifully crafted book filled with an immense wealth of knowledge, making it an excellent resource for anyone who wants to dive deep into the history and mechanics of the Star Trek universe.

That said, the need for a fully updated edition is glaring. With Star Trek’s resurgence on television and its ever-expanding mythology, the encyclopedia is no longer the ultimate authority it once was. While it remains a valuable time capsule of Star Trek lore up through the early 2000s, newer fans may find its omissions frustrating. Until we get an updated version, this encyclopedia is best appreciated as a foundation—an artifact from an earlier era of Star Trek, still useful, but no longer definitive.

[Γιάννης Παπαδημητρόπουλος · Rating 5 out of 5]

This right here, this edition of the Star Trek Encyclopedia was what created and nurtured my love of Trek. Containing information on all "old" Trek, up until the penultimate season of VOY, it was my companion and my go-to manual to understand the complex universe of Gene Roddenberry and its power and ultimate meaning.

For a High School kid from Greece, who up until then was watching only cartoons and 80s films containing "adventure" and "space battles", the more "cerebral" and "moral" part of Trek was elusive to me, until I pieced together pieces of lore and tracked its evolution through the various (then) Trek incarnations, which I was at the time watching in Greek free TV on reruns (TNG & DS9 mostly, but also TOS movies during Saturday nights or Sunday mornings and some VOY here and there on irregular times).

Masterfully and meticulously assembled by the legends Michael & Denise Okuda and illustrated by the legend Doug Drexler and other incredible artists, it brought upon me a whole new world, a whole new universe to explore. Even though there have been new, more "complete" editions, even though there now is a wide Wiki knowledge base, on almost anything related to "old" and "new" Trek up on the palm of your hand with a simple search, this particular paparback copy of this particular edition, will always be my go-to knowledge manual and a prized possesion in my library.