What do you think?
Rate this book
Future Perfect: How Star Trek Conquered Planet Earth
In eBook form at last is Jeff Greenwald's Future an insightful and often hilarious look at the mythmaking machinery behind the planet’s most enduring TV show.
This is a Trek book like no other. Bestselling travel writer Jeff Greenwald set out to discover how Star Trek — launched in 1966 as a “Wagon Train to the Stars” — became a global myth that still captures the imagination of millions. His travels take him from an Indian bazaar to a Japanese spa; from a Klingon wedding in Germany to a Venetian Trekker feast. Along the way he corners Leonard Nimoy, intrudes upon Kurt Vonnegut, and visits NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where the next generation of aerospace wizards are making their Trek-inspired dreams come true. He even has an audience with the Dalai Lama—who shares his surprising views on space travel, robotics and Mr. Spock.
Future Perfect also journeys into the minds of Star Trek’s creators. Granted sweeping access to the soundstages of Voyager and the film Star First Contact, Greenwald conducts lively interviews with stars like Patrick Stewart, Kate Mulgrew, and Michael Dorn — and with the writers and producers who keep Gene Roddenberry’s vision alive.
Featuring a new Introduction by the author, new articles and updates, and a Preface by best-selling author Mary Roach.
This is a Trek book like no other. Bestselling travel writer Jeff Greenwald set out to discover how Star Trek — launched in 1966 as a “Wagon Train to the Stars” — became a global myth that still captures the imagination of millions. His travels take him from an Indian bazaar to a Japanese spa; from a Klingon wedding in Germany to a Venetian Trekker feast. Along the way he corners Leonard Nimoy, intrudes upon Kurt Vonnegut, and visits NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where the next generation of aerospace wizards are making their Trek-inspired dreams come true. He even has an audience with the Dalai Lama—who shares his surprising views on space travel, robotics and Mr. Spock.
Future Perfect also journeys into the minds of Star Trek’s creators. Granted sweeping access to the soundstages of Voyager and the film Star First Contact, Greenwald conducts lively interviews with stars like Patrick Stewart, Kate Mulgrew, and Michael Dorn — and with the writers and producers who keep Gene Roddenberry’s vision alive.
Featuring a new Introduction by the author, new articles and updates, and a Preface by best-selling author Mary Roach.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1998
5 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Greenwald
24 books17 followersJeff Greenwald has published six books, including Shopping for Buddhas (just out in 25th Anniversary edition) , The Size of the World (for which he created the first Internet travel blog) and Snake Lake. His tales and essays appear in many print and online publications. Jeff’s first voyage abroad, at 17, ended in utter disaster, and a host of subsequent mishaps have provided rich fodder for his storytelling career. His critically acclaimed one-man show, “Strange Travel Suggestions,” premiered in San Francisco in 2003. Jeff is also the Executive Director of Ethical Traveler (www.ethicaltraveler.org), a non-profit dedicated to human rights and environmental protection.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 1, 2023
This book WHIPPED. Lots of cool little easter eggs for Trekkies (i learned a bunch of cool behind the scenes stuff that I've not seen from other sources). Yes it was written in 98 so there's some weird misogynist and frankly racist attitudes (which is why i didn't give this a 5 star rating) due to that.
This book is also way hornier than I was expecting but that just delighted me further.
This book is also way hornier than I was expecting but that just delighted me further.
August 11, 2008
Did you know that Martin Luther King loved Star Trek? This book will explain why.
As some of you know, I'm a Trekkie. If not...surprise! This is one of my favorite Star Trek books. For non-Trekkies, it's a good, not-so-crazy book about Star Trek and how it evolved into a cult-like phenomenon. It's also really interesting for history buffs, as it explains how Star Trek used science fiction as a back drop for political commentary during the 1960s.
For Trekkies, this book caters more towards TOS enthusiasts. It gets at the core of Roddenberry's vision, how that got incorporated into TOS, and the historical impact that episodes like Plato's Stepchildren (1st inter-racial kiss on TV) had on society. Though I'm partial to TNG, this book gave me a better appreciation for the origination of Star Trek and its 7th Heaven-like moral teachings every episode. It also has interesting side bar trivia that I haven't found in any other book.
As some of you know, I'm a Trekkie. If not...surprise! This is one of my favorite Star Trek books. For non-Trekkies, it's a good, not-so-crazy book about Star Trek and how it evolved into a cult-like phenomenon. It's also really interesting for history buffs, as it explains how Star Trek used science fiction as a back drop for political commentary during the 1960s.
For Trekkies, this book caters more towards TOS enthusiasts. It gets at the core of Roddenberry's vision, how that got incorporated into TOS, and the historical impact that episodes like Plato's Stepchildren (1st inter-racial kiss on TV) had on society. Though I'm partial to TNG, this book gave me a better appreciation for the origination of Star Trek and its 7th Heaven-like moral teachings every episode. It also has interesting side bar trivia that I haven't found in any other book.
March 30, 2020
Re-read since I got this in 1998, but not worth moving it to 3 different homes. Mediocre fanboy drooling over witnessing a part of the making of FIRST CONTACT and hanging with writer/bro Braga. Tidbits of gossip about the actors and visits with international fan clubs were mildly interesting but nothing that can’t be found all the interwebs. I hope he made a few bucks from the effort.
June 24, 2018
Excellent look.
April 17, 2014
A documentary tale of the author's interactions with cast and crew as Star Trek: First Contact was in production, along with some other cast/crew/fan experiences. Sordid at times, and not really enhancing my enjoyment of Trek, this isn't as much fun to read as it sounds.
August 10, 2016
Super good. Just came out with new, 50-year anniversary edition. Finally a funny book about Trek culture from someone inside, who actually interviewed the show creators, actors and fans around the world (including the Dalai Lama!)
October 13, 2008
791.43 How Star Trek has become popular across the globe for many various reasons. Includes many interviews, insights, etc.
February 11, 2015
Written badly by a fan about the "high point" of Star Trek. Badly missing the actual weakness of his central point. This book would have done much, much better if linked to the recent reboot.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews