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The Making of Star Trek
"A complete history of the original Star Trek. Filled with quotations from cast members, memos to and from Gene Roddenberry, biographies of cast members, sketches, photographs, set descriptions, and even budgets and cast schedules, this volume is a fascinating, invaluable behind-the-scenes account of the development and production of the original Star Trek series."- source unknown"The book on how to write for TV! The complete story on how the U.S.S. Enterprise was designed, the original concept behind the show, backgrounds of the characters—the whole authentic history." - Ballantine
368 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1968
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
July 19, 2023
The Making of Star Trek is a fascinating historical record of the 1966 TV series. Originally published in 1968, it was contemporaneous to the extremely popular show. Stephen Whitfield, the author, was a reporter / friend of Gene Roddenberry who was granted access to all the aspects of the show, among which were interviews with the cast and crew, and onset observation of the episodes as they were developed from concept to execution.
When one witnesses (through this book) the herculean effort it took for Star Trek to become a reality, one marvels at the minute detail that allowed the concept to bloom into the phenomenon it became. The narrative is thought-provoking and exhaustive, but I can accept that this is not a book that everyone will love. This book is for hardcore Trek fans, for people that are television historians, and anyone that wishes to understand the how-to minutia of 1960s television programming. I am certain that some of the methodology and practice has become outdated. This book is of course over 60 years old.
When one witnesses (through this book) the herculean effort it took for Star Trek to become a reality, one marvels at the minute detail that allowed the concept to bloom into the phenomenon it became. The narrative is thought-provoking and exhaustive, but I can accept that this is not a book that everyone will love. This book is for hardcore Trek fans, for people that are television historians, and anyone that wishes to understand the how-to minutia of 1960s television programming. I am certain that some of the methodology and practice has become outdated. This book is of course over 60 years old.
March 29, 2020
Star Trek The Original Series lasted just three seasons.Even the fate of the third season appeared uncertain until fans clamoured for its continuation.
After that,it disappeared from the screen.A long time later,came a deluge of spin-off series and movies plus innumerable books.Now,it's a case of too much of a good thing.
But I read this when there was little availability of anything to do with the iconic series.
It did surprise me,after reading this book how meager the resources at the disposal of the producers of the original series were.
That shoestring budget certainly detracted from the quality of the original show.The later series did not face such problems
I'm not a "trekkie" but this book would be a trekkie's delight with all the technical details it goes into.
I skimmed through the book but it did contain some interesting anecdotes and tidbits about the show.
William Shatner's Star Trek Memories is a much more interesing book,however.
After that,it disappeared from the screen.A long time later,came a deluge of spin-off series and movies plus innumerable books.Now,it's a case of too much of a good thing.
But I read this when there was little availability of anything to do with the iconic series.
It did surprise me,after reading this book how meager the resources at the disposal of the producers of the original series were.
That shoestring budget certainly detracted from the quality of the original show.The later series did not face such problems
I'm not a "trekkie" but this book would be a trekkie's delight with all the technical details it goes into.
I skimmed through the book but it did contain some interesting anecdotes and tidbits about the show.
William Shatner's Star Trek Memories is a much more interesing book,however.
November 27, 2023
This is a long, detailed, and occasionally dry book about the production of Star Trek. It was written well over fifty years ago, when the original was still on the air, so the accounts of how the industry worked are so outdated that they're just of historical interest. It's a treasure for confirmed Trekkers, but for casual fans I'd recommend David Gerrold's entertaining pair of Trek titles.
August 12, 2021
One of my favorite Star Trek scenes....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGvUD...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGvUD...
June 23, 2019
220619from ??? childhood: forgotten i have read this, so no way to rate. i watched reruns of the original series on tv when we got home from school (one younger girlfriend it was reruns of next gen, next girlfriend is like, that’s last millennium right..?) but i did enjoy this peek inside workings of sf tv...
July 29, 2011
This book popped up on the Recommendation function on my home page, and I was terribly surprised to recognize it, since I read it when I was about 10. OK, I've read it, so I added it in, why not? It's horribly dated at this point, but it was the first book of its type about Star Trek (along with The World of Star Trek by David Gerrold, and yes, I must be some kind of geek to know that). It's not really worth reading anymore unless you have some strange desire to read a 40-year-old account of the series. Its value, per se, is limited to two things: 1) If you had a copy in good condition, you could get a lot of bucks for it at a Star Trek Convention. 2) It contains Gene Roddenberry's words to the theme music of the original series. They're more than extremely awful. Don't remember the whole thing, but it starts out with "Beyond the rim of the star light, my true love lies off in star flight". It was all downhill from there....
February 19, 2015
This book is hard to find as it's no longer in circulation so you have to pick it up used on eBay or Amazon, but if you can find it, I would highly suggest reading it if you're a big fan of the franchise. The book was written while the show was still being made so you get a real eyewitness perspective as Whitfield walks you through the planning and production stages of the show. Whitfield also offers a lot of casual anecdotal stories that adds a casual and playful nature to his book with his stories of wasp infestations, salt-shakers, and on-set pranks. One caveat of course is that as the book was written in the sixties, you should also be mindful that it was also product of its time and uses some rather outdated language such as using "men" to describe the TV crew despite that women were also a big part of the show (such as DC Fontana).
December 23, 2011
This is one of the best "behind-the-scenes" books ever devoted to a TV show. It covers every aspect of production from the initial concept, early story ideas, the casting process, and so on. Tons of fantastic photos.
The Making of Star Trek is required reading for fans of Star Trek.
The Making of Star Trek is required reading for fans of Star Trek.
May 21, 2022
4.75 ⭐ CW: sexualization of women
The Making of Star Trek by Stephen Whitfield and Gene Roddenberry was the first book of its kind to cover something as in depth as the production process for tv in the 60s. Not only that, but it is a history of the series that basically shaped my personality. I was lucky to find this battered copy in my library's used book sale a few years ago, and it was worth it.
This book covered so much of the inside scoop of Star Trek, from getting to know the front office staff and actors, to on set shenanigans and pranks. Although this is a thorough history, it is rife with levity, and Whitfield doesn't take himself too seriously. I never knew how much went into the production process and how difficult it was for Star Trek to even get up off the ground.
This book is a gold mine of trivia for a Trekkie like me. I store it way for future use (spoiler: it's never useful). It also includes on set photos, behind the scenes photos of the actors and crew, along with early sketches of the Enterprise interior and exterior. It's really clear that Star Trek shapes how modern science fiction is done in media on the screen. Before Star Trek, it was all bulging eyed monsters with no purpose or reason for conflict. Star Trek set the precedent for using believable and real science within the show.
The only downside from this book was the way the author described women. Anytime a woman was mention, he always had to comment on her looks, be it charming, slim, pretty, etc. I understand it was done in the 60's, but it was still annoying. Other than that, it was a fascinating read on one of my favorite things.
The Making of Star Trek by Stephen Whitfield and Gene Roddenberry was the first book of its kind to cover something as in depth as the production process for tv in the 60s. Not only that, but it is a history of the series that basically shaped my personality. I was lucky to find this battered copy in my library's used book sale a few years ago, and it was worth it.
This book covered so much of the inside scoop of Star Trek, from getting to know the front office staff and actors, to on set shenanigans and pranks. Although this is a thorough history, it is rife with levity, and Whitfield doesn't take himself too seriously. I never knew how much went into the production process and how difficult it was for Star Trek to even get up off the ground.
This book is a gold mine of trivia for a Trekkie like me. I store it way for future use (spoiler: it's never useful). It also includes on set photos, behind the scenes photos of the actors and crew, along with early sketches of the Enterprise interior and exterior. It's really clear that Star Trek shapes how modern science fiction is done in media on the screen. Before Star Trek, it was all bulging eyed monsters with no purpose or reason for conflict. Star Trek set the precedent for using believable and real science within the show.
The only downside from this book was the way the author described women. Anytime a woman was mention, he always had to comment on her looks, be it charming, slim, pretty, etc. I understand it was done in the 60's, but it was still annoying. Other than that, it was a fascinating read on one of my favorite things.
October 10, 2022
This book was written right after the second season of the original show was finished, back in the 1960s. It's very interesting to see how the show has evolved over the intervening 50 years and it's also a little scary to see just how deeply ingrained misogyny was at that time.
February 21, 2022
An interesting look at the production of Star Trek as it happened!
January 7, 2025
Quick Note for any Trekkers/Trekkies who are considering reading this book:
If you have the time and desire, you should first read The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek: The First 25 Years. Why? Because this book from 1968 sugar coats the leaving of major players in the show’s production, like Dorothy Fontana and Gene Coon, so if you read or listen to The Fifty-Year Mission: The First 25 Years first, then you’ll have a very different perspective of the events mentioned politely in The Making of Star Trek. The strife behind the scenes is white washed here, but laid bare in The Fifty-Year Mission.
THE GOOD:
This thick little paperback sold itself as “the book on how to write for TV” in 1968. It does not deliver a focused study on that promise. It does, however, give plenty of behind the scenes stories that enlighten the reader on the inner workings of a TV show and obstacles the producers, writers, cast, and crew had to overcome and plan for. Much of the book is generally forgettable but still an interesting read for old Trekkers like me. The book was written during the heady days of the second season and published before the show’s third and final season. That makes it a perfect time capsule of the original show at its height.
The bits that serve as a memoir of how lewd Gene Roddenberry was in the professional setting of his offices was unforgettable. Remember, this isn’t a smutty fantasy novel, it’s a professional writer’s look behind the scenes of a professionally produced TV show. So, the fact that every woman in the book is described in terms of her looks and body shape - with the exception of D.C. Fontana - it’s glaringly inappropriate; especially the story (see below) about the underage(?) twins that are ogled, sexualized, and throw all the men into barely contained lust.
Before I dive into my thoughts on Gene’s lack of professionalism as a Producer and Boss to his employees, I’d like to point out to the Trekkers and Trekkies still reading this review some of the good stuff in this book: Reading the biographies of the characters and the actors who played them - which comes nearly midway through the book - was a highlight and worth the book purchase. While most of the character bios are lifted word-for-word from the Star Trek Bible (aka Star Trek Writers/Directors Guide) freely available online, the actor bios were fresh and interesting. The Spock write up made me want to go buy an “I GROK SPOCK” pin/button from Etsy and gave a little more pop-culture impact than one would get from reading the ST Bible. Also, the costume design chapter that devoted several irreverent pages on women’s breasts is actually informative and interesting without being inappropriate for a professional reader. Also, the chapter on practical special effects was enlightening.
We get to see correspondence from NASA, the Air Force, &c asking to meet the Enterprise crew. An USAF Commandant pointed out that visiting his test pilots may help inform the Star Trek production staff. We get to see the Smithsonian request that the second pilot “Where No Man Has Gone Before” become the first TV series episode added to their collection as part of astronautical history.
The fight to get the series renewed is well detailed - and probably exaggerated - but the authors point out that, in the end, the studio had to make a pure business decision and were likely not much swayed by fan efforts. Cal Tech students marched in protest to Save Star Trek! Fans wrote a deluge of letters to the studio begging for additional seasons. It’s fascinating stuff for fans old and new who have heard some of these stories over the years, but get them in more detail here.
This book was the first to label Star Trek fans as a distinct fandom and the term used is Star Trekers (pg. 397). This is why many of us older Trekkers prefer the term Trekker in lieu of Trekkie; although I gladly identify as either and both. I heard Leonard Nimoy use the word Trekker once and, as a result, I’ve called myself a Trekker since then (sometime in the 1980s). Trekkies is perfectly acceptable as well - it’s just a matter of personal preference.
The book ends before the third season goes into production. The author describes the feeling of staring down an uncertain future - stuck in the Friday night time slot of death - but reminds us of the hopeful and optimistic future Star Trek inspires us to become.
Finally, in the section of “All Good Things…” this book also details Gene Roddenberry’s dogged fight for believability and his unique vision for Star Trek. While writers and studios chaffed at dealing with him, his faith in his vision and his fight to maintain that vision onscreen has truly made Star Trek what it is. Without Gene we wouldn’t have Star Trek and we wouldn’t have the Star Trek we know and love. This book (and the 50 year oral history of Star Trek book) clearly demonstrates that Gene really stood up for the show and his vision of the future. While the man had his faults, I greatly admire his creative side and the book deserves the 5-stars I gave it, especially considering that it was published in 1968 and was groundbreaking for that time.
THE BAD & THE UGLY:
The WTF?! moments are limited to when Gene Roddenberry - by all accounts a very pervy, sexist guy by anyone’s standard in his personal life - is quoted or tells the story about his ‘prank’ where he has a girl strip in the office (more on that further down in my review).
In the bio for McCoy, Gene says that they planned an episode where McCoy’s daughter would show up and Kirk, who is nearly 20 years her senior, would “of course” have a sexual relationship with her…it was the ‘of course’ part that really underlined Gene’s opinion of Kirk as an irresistible sex god…clearly Gene’s own personal fantasy of himself. Anyway, I’m a huge Trek nerd and love the shows and novels, but I’m also aware the Gene Roddenberry, the Great Bird himself, was a very lecherous human being in his personal life and having Kirk be involved with McCoy’s daughter flies in the face of everything we know about Kirk’s respectable attitudes toward his ship and her crew. No way Kirk crosses that line. Gene invented the daughter just to have this play out on an episode, I assume.
From George Takei’s bio: “…I wrote them back saying…Mr. Takei would receive three girls for every five that Kirk and McCoy got.” Obviously, George “Oh Myyy!” Takei is not interested in the girls ‘given’ to him by Gene Roddenberry, but by page 249 of this book after nearly 250 pages of sexist quotes from Gene, it just starts to get old and tiresome to read. Chekov has “the normal 22-year-old urge for young ladies.” Uhura is “young and desirable” fighting her “female need” to go home and start a family. Chapel is “desperately” in love with Mr. Spock. Every woman is hot to trot or lovelorn and every guy is an unencumbered sex magnet.
I’m no prude and I’m happy to let people’s freak flags fly. I’m not judging Gene for his personal freaks, I just don’t think it makes sense for him to have every single male character be a sex-crazed maniac. In his write-ups for the characters in the Bible, every single female character is written as a babe - with the notable exception of Majel Barrett, his wife - and every single male character has at least one sentence about how much of a ladies man they are. It doesn’t offend me or anything, it’s just not believable. I’m retired Army and I can tell you that not every guy in the unit was a sex-crazed maniac on Leave. Scotty is fairly respectable, but in this book he’s described as “a hellraiser on shore leave, and his escapades usually involve women, the more exotic the better.” If Scotty’s a freak, cool; no shade. But these are fictional characters, so it’s distractingly unbelievable for Gene to write every one of them as sexually charged for a show about a naval vessel and her crew. If the stories were intended to be smut and presented as such, then these descriptions would fit perfectly in that scenario; but, they’re out of character as descriptions of high-ranking, senior officers of a naval space fleet.
Stripping in the office: The following story (from page 267-268) would be hilarious if between to old military buddies or college friends, but done in the office by your boss it is not at all okay - not even remotely professional - yet Gene Roddenberry did this and proudly published it in this book. Gene had a young girl go into a married man’s office for an ‘interview’ and strip, then Gene and a bunch of the man’s supervisors walk-in on him and are clearly upset with him; his wife calls him at the office at that exact moment. Remember, Gene is a co-author on this book. Gene quotes the guy, John D.F. Black, as saying he nearly committed suicide over the incident, then immediately writes how “classic” it was. How insanely dumb do you have to be? Gene would make a great drinking buddy, but I’d hate to have him as a boss.
There’s a story on page 349-350 that sexualizes two girls who are “about” 17-18 years old - in other words they had no idea their age and could’ve been even younger - and he talks about how sexy and hot they are and how the men didn’t know where to look when talking to them. Again, this isn’t a smutty fantasy novel, it’s a professional “How to write for TV” book for professional writers about professionals in the television industry. I felt filthy just reading it.
And, of course, Gene isn’t going to have an opportunity like this without complaining profusely about NBC’s Broadcast Standards Department, which he calls the “BS” Department. While I agree that the changes they requested were Puritan even for the late 1960s, his complaints in the book are unprofessional and petty. I might not have even given it any thought if he hadn’t created such a pattern throughout the book of unprofessional behavior. I love Star Trek and I’m starting to understand why we didn’t get a Season 4; NBC was done dealing with this asshat.
If you have the time and desire, you should first read The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek: The First 25 Years. Why? Because this book from 1968 sugar coats the leaving of major players in the show’s production, like Dorothy Fontana and Gene Coon, so if you read or listen to The Fifty-Year Mission: The First 25 Years first, then you’ll have a very different perspective of the events mentioned politely in The Making of Star Trek. The strife behind the scenes is white washed here, but laid bare in The Fifty-Year Mission.
THE GOOD:
This thick little paperback sold itself as “the book on how to write for TV” in 1968. It does not deliver a focused study on that promise. It does, however, give plenty of behind the scenes stories that enlighten the reader on the inner workings of a TV show and obstacles the producers, writers, cast, and crew had to overcome and plan for. Much of the book is generally forgettable but still an interesting read for old Trekkers like me. The book was written during the heady days of the second season and published before the show’s third and final season. That makes it a perfect time capsule of the original show at its height.
The bits that serve as a memoir of how lewd Gene Roddenberry was in the professional setting of his offices was unforgettable. Remember, this isn’t a smutty fantasy novel, it’s a professional writer’s look behind the scenes of a professionally produced TV show. So, the fact that every woman in the book is described in terms of her looks and body shape - with the exception of D.C. Fontana - it’s glaringly inappropriate; especially the story (see below) about the underage(?) twins that are ogled, sexualized, and throw all the men into barely contained lust.
Before I dive into my thoughts on Gene’s lack of professionalism as a Producer and Boss to his employees, I’d like to point out to the Trekkers and Trekkies still reading this review some of the good stuff in this book: Reading the biographies of the characters and the actors who played them - which comes nearly midway through the book - was a highlight and worth the book purchase. While most of the character bios are lifted word-for-word from the Star Trek Bible (aka Star Trek Writers/Directors Guide) freely available online, the actor bios were fresh and interesting. The Spock write up made me want to go buy an “I GROK SPOCK” pin/button from Etsy and gave a little more pop-culture impact than one would get from reading the ST Bible. Also, the costume design chapter that devoted several irreverent pages on women’s breasts is actually informative and interesting without being inappropriate for a professional reader. Also, the chapter on practical special effects was enlightening.
We get to see correspondence from NASA, the Air Force, &c asking to meet the Enterprise crew. An USAF Commandant pointed out that visiting his test pilots may help inform the Star Trek production staff. We get to see the Smithsonian request that the second pilot “Where No Man Has Gone Before” become the first TV series episode added to their collection as part of astronautical history.
The fight to get the series renewed is well detailed - and probably exaggerated - but the authors point out that, in the end, the studio had to make a pure business decision and were likely not much swayed by fan efforts. Cal Tech students marched in protest to Save Star Trek! Fans wrote a deluge of letters to the studio begging for additional seasons. It’s fascinating stuff for fans old and new who have heard some of these stories over the years, but get them in more detail here.
This book was the first to label Star Trek fans as a distinct fandom and the term used is Star Trekers (pg. 397). This is why many of us older Trekkers prefer the term Trekker in lieu of Trekkie; although I gladly identify as either and both. I heard Leonard Nimoy use the word Trekker once and, as a result, I’ve called myself a Trekker since then (sometime in the 1980s). Trekkies is perfectly acceptable as well - it’s just a matter of personal preference.
The book ends before the third season goes into production. The author describes the feeling of staring down an uncertain future - stuck in the Friday night time slot of death - but reminds us of the hopeful and optimistic future Star Trek inspires us to become.
Finally, in the section of “All Good Things…” this book also details Gene Roddenberry’s dogged fight for believability and his unique vision for Star Trek. While writers and studios chaffed at dealing with him, his faith in his vision and his fight to maintain that vision onscreen has truly made Star Trek what it is. Without Gene we wouldn’t have Star Trek and we wouldn’t have the Star Trek we know and love. This book (and the 50 year oral history of Star Trek book) clearly demonstrates that Gene really stood up for the show and his vision of the future. While the man had his faults, I greatly admire his creative side and the book deserves the 5-stars I gave it, especially considering that it was published in 1968 and was groundbreaking for that time.
THE BAD & THE UGLY:
The WTF?! moments are limited to when Gene Roddenberry - by all accounts a very pervy, sexist guy by anyone’s standard in his personal life - is quoted or tells the story about his ‘prank’ where he has a girl strip in the office (more on that further down in my review).
In the bio for McCoy, Gene says that they planned an episode where McCoy’s daughter would show up and Kirk, who is nearly 20 years her senior, would “of course” have a sexual relationship with her…it was the ‘of course’ part that really underlined Gene’s opinion of Kirk as an irresistible sex god…clearly Gene’s own personal fantasy of himself. Anyway, I’m a huge Trek nerd and love the shows and novels, but I’m also aware the Gene Roddenberry, the Great Bird himself, was a very lecherous human being in his personal life and having Kirk be involved with McCoy’s daughter flies in the face of everything we know about Kirk’s respectable attitudes toward his ship and her crew. No way Kirk crosses that line. Gene invented the daughter just to have this play out on an episode, I assume.
From George Takei’s bio: “…I wrote them back saying…Mr. Takei would receive three girls for every five that Kirk and McCoy got.” Obviously, George “Oh Myyy!” Takei is not interested in the girls ‘given’ to him by Gene Roddenberry, but by page 249 of this book after nearly 250 pages of sexist quotes from Gene, it just starts to get old and tiresome to read. Chekov has “the normal 22-year-old urge for young ladies.” Uhura is “young and desirable” fighting her “female need” to go home and start a family. Chapel is “desperately” in love with Mr. Spock. Every woman is hot to trot or lovelorn and every guy is an unencumbered sex magnet.
I’m no prude and I’m happy to let people’s freak flags fly. I’m not judging Gene for his personal freaks, I just don’t think it makes sense for him to have every single male character be a sex-crazed maniac. In his write-ups for the characters in the Bible, every single female character is written as a babe - with the notable exception of Majel Barrett, his wife - and every single male character has at least one sentence about how much of a ladies man they are. It doesn’t offend me or anything, it’s just not believable. I’m retired Army and I can tell you that not every guy in the unit was a sex-crazed maniac on Leave. Scotty is fairly respectable, but in this book he’s described as “a hellraiser on shore leave, and his escapades usually involve women, the more exotic the better.” If Scotty’s a freak, cool; no shade. But these are fictional characters, so it’s distractingly unbelievable for Gene to write every one of them as sexually charged for a show about a naval vessel and her crew. If the stories were intended to be smut and presented as such, then these descriptions would fit perfectly in that scenario; but, they’re out of character as descriptions of high-ranking, senior officers of a naval space fleet.
Stripping in the office: The following story (from page 267-268) would be hilarious if between to old military buddies or college friends, but done in the office by your boss it is not at all okay - not even remotely professional - yet Gene Roddenberry did this and proudly published it in this book. Gene had a young girl go into a married man’s office for an ‘interview’ and strip, then Gene and a bunch of the man’s supervisors walk-in on him and are clearly upset with him; his wife calls him at the office at that exact moment. Remember, Gene is a co-author on this book. Gene quotes the guy, John D.F. Black, as saying he nearly committed suicide over the incident, then immediately writes how “classic” it was. How insanely dumb do you have to be? Gene would make a great drinking buddy, but I’d hate to have him as a boss.
There’s a story on page 349-350 that sexualizes two girls who are “about” 17-18 years old - in other words they had no idea their age and could’ve been even younger - and he talks about how sexy and hot they are and how the men didn’t know where to look when talking to them. Again, this isn’t a smutty fantasy novel, it’s a professional “How to write for TV” book for professional writers about professionals in the television industry. I felt filthy just reading it.
And, of course, Gene isn’t going to have an opportunity like this without complaining profusely about NBC’s Broadcast Standards Department, which he calls the “BS” Department. While I agree that the changes they requested were Puritan even for the late 1960s, his complaints in the book are unprofessional and petty. I might not have even given it any thought if he hadn’t created such a pattern throughout the book of unprofessional behavior. I love Star Trek and I’m starting to understand why we didn’t get a Season 4; NBC was done dealing with this asshat.
July 12, 2023
An interesting look at how Star Trek (and TV shows in general) were made.
Written at the end of Star Trek's second season, it's especially interesting when the author ponders the future of the show.
Written at the end of Star Trek's second season, it's especially interesting when the author ponders the future of the show.
January 15, 2018
I happened upon this book by chance one day at the used bookstore and thought I would give it a whirl. And let me tell you, if your interests include Star Trek and the subtle nuance of making television, this is the book for you.
You will get to see intra-office correspondence with writers and producers about keeping the show believable and the sarcastic response that results from trying to keep it too believable. You will get to see some of the pains felt by Roddenberry as he tried to get his classic to the air. You will read interviews with writers and actors and even get exact dollar amounts for what some props and full episodes cost to make.
It is a very fascinating delve into not only behind the scenes Trek, but the business of making television in the late 1960s.
You will get to see intra-office correspondence with writers and producers about keeping the show believable and the sarcastic response that results from trying to keep it too believable. You will get to see some of the pains felt by Roddenberry as he tried to get his classic to the air. You will read interviews with writers and actors and even get exact dollar amounts for what some props and full episodes cost to make.
It is a very fascinating delve into not only behind the scenes Trek, but the business of making television in the late 1960s.
March 13, 2016
This is probably one of the most influential books on the television industry in my life. Very interesting glimpse into the creation of a little space cowboy and western show that, over time, became the cornerstone of a media empire. The internal memos and stories are both funny and instructive as the show was developed and launched, from the initial concept all the way through the end of the second season. I consider it a must-read for both fans of the show and anyone wanting to understand what it takes to put a television production together.
September 28, 2010
"The sets were built right next to the men's room." Damn if this book doesn't rock ass. I don't even like the original series that much, but this was written in 1968. Fresh accounts right from the source, from pre-production to post. A must-read for all geeks.
November 12, 2012
One of the best behind the scenes books about the series.
July 9, 2019
An exciting and fun read for any Trekkie!
March 2, 2025
Stephen E. Whitfield and Gene Roddenberry's 1968 The Making of Star Trek is an entertaining then-current account of the creation of the famed 1960s television series, the backstage nitty-gritty workings from writing to costuming and filing and editing, and the struggle to be renewed for a third season.
Now, first, though, perhaps I should comment that I am perplexed as to why Roddenberry has a byline here when Whitfield actually wrote the text. Yes, each chapter does contain big quotes from Roddenberry--in somewhat annoying and perhaps pompous-seeming FULL CAPITALS rather than italics or even underlining or such--but they are quotes brought in by the author of the actual book, not chapters or even parts of chapters written by a second author. In fact, come to think of it, Whitfield specifically tells us that aside from these "[q]uotes from Gene Roddenberry," "[a]ll other statements, opinions, or recountings of events are the words of S.E.W., unless otherwise identified" (1974 Ballantine paperback, page 21; italics original). So... Odd indeed, at best.
Regardless, although, yes, the book is rather adulatory regarding Roddenberry's genius in creating the concept for the series, his writing and editing abilities, his dogged hard work, and perhaps even his near-omniscience, this is somewhat understandable when we consider the author and the time of writing. After all, longtime science fiction fan Whitfield, who at the time "was employed by an advertising agency," was brought aboard Star Trek in late 1966, "working closely with Desilu Studios and NBC-TV" to "generate publicity" for model-kit-manufacturer AMT, which was producing an "Enterprise model kit" (page 11). Growing so closely engaged with Roddenberry's efforts, he of course also fell in love with the show and its staff. Moreover, 1968 was a time when Star Trek had just won a reprieve by being renewed for an unexpected third season...and yet at a switch from a Monday-night time slot to Fridays at 10:00pm, which "[m]any...gloomily predicted" would keep it from moving past the initial 16-episode order to continuation of "a mid-season pickup" (page 400). It is difficult to imagine Whitfield showing anything less than great enthusiasm for the endangered show.
Still, while the writing comes off a little starry-eyed at times, the book indeed is interesting. Mind you, it definitely is not "THE BOOK ON HOW TO WRITE FOR TV!," as shouted in full-capital red on the cover of my copy, but in addition to telling the tale of the show and also giving sketches of its primary off- and onstage participants, it indeed delves into the technicalities and steps of the business of moving from initial premise of a new series to finalized episode ready for broadcast. The technological aspects, once cutting-edge, obviously are dated, but the overall outline of having an idea, pitching it, understanding camera angles, and whatnot likely still holds true.
The 414-page text is broken into five "Parts": "Birth Pangs," "An Official Biography of a Ship and Its Crew," "From Then Until Now," "Star Trek Production--A Closer Look," and "Whither Star Trek?" Each Part then is comprised of a varying number of chapters, from 3 for the second and the last to 8 or 9 for the rest. In addition to its front- and back-cover color reproductions from the show, the interior contains quite a fair bit of black-and-whites: 62 pages of photos, along with 6 pages of design sketches and 10 pages of schematics. Moreover, the appendix gives a list of all shows of the first two seasons, with each season's regularly appearing actors, and then for each episode, script credit, guest stars, and original air date, information which in decades prior to the internet otherwise would have been difficult to access.
The initial outline used to pitch the series (page 22-30) is particularly interesting, as is the original script for the first pilot, "The Cage" (pages 47-65), which later, after a second pilot with different characters and actors sold the show, was repurposed as the two-part "The Menagerie." I actually had just read Harlan Ellison's 2009 The City on the Edge of Forever, so I was a little surprised how much less detailed this script was than even the earliest drafts of Ellison's famed episode. And, of course, regarding Ellison's book...well, if a reader wants to look beyond Whitfield's adulation to a view of Roddenberry publicly lying about and belittling, consistently and purposefully, the genesis of that most popular episode, then that is the one to read next.
In any event, despite occasional quaintness and iffy perspective, Stephen E. Whitfield's The Making of Star Trek remains an entertaining and enlightening read of 4.5 or 5 stars.
Now, first, though, perhaps I should comment that I am perplexed as to why Roddenberry has a byline here when Whitfield actually wrote the text. Yes, each chapter does contain big quotes from Roddenberry--in somewhat annoying and perhaps pompous-seeming FULL CAPITALS rather than italics or even underlining or such--but they are quotes brought in by the author of the actual book, not chapters or even parts of chapters written by a second author. In fact, come to think of it, Whitfield specifically tells us that aside from these "[q]uotes from Gene Roddenberry," "[a]ll other statements, opinions, or recountings of events are the words of S.E.W., unless otherwise identified" (1974 Ballantine paperback, page 21; italics original). So... Odd indeed, at best.
Regardless, although, yes, the book is rather adulatory regarding Roddenberry's genius in creating the concept for the series, his writing and editing abilities, his dogged hard work, and perhaps even his near-omniscience, this is somewhat understandable when we consider the author and the time of writing. After all, longtime science fiction fan Whitfield, who at the time "was employed by an advertising agency," was brought aboard Star Trek in late 1966, "working closely with Desilu Studios and NBC-TV" to "generate publicity" for model-kit-manufacturer AMT, which was producing an "Enterprise model kit" (page 11). Growing so closely engaged with Roddenberry's efforts, he of course also fell in love with the show and its staff. Moreover, 1968 was a time when Star Trek had just won a reprieve by being renewed for an unexpected third season...and yet at a switch from a Monday-night time slot to Fridays at 10:00pm, which "[m]any...gloomily predicted" would keep it from moving past the initial 16-episode order to continuation of "a mid-season pickup" (page 400). It is difficult to imagine Whitfield showing anything less than great enthusiasm for the endangered show.
Still, while the writing comes off a little starry-eyed at times, the book indeed is interesting. Mind you, it definitely is not "THE BOOK ON HOW TO WRITE FOR TV!," as shouted in full-capital red on the cover of my copy, but in addition to telling the tale of the show and also giving sketches of its primary off- and onstage participants, it indeed delves into the technicalities and steps of the business of moving from initial premise of a new series to finalized episode ready for broadcast. The technological aspects, once cutting-edge, obviously are dated, but the overall outline of having an idea, pitching it, understanding camera angles, and whatnot likely still holds true.
The 414-page text is broken into five "Parts": "Birth Pangs," "An Official Biography of a Ship and Its Crew," "From Then Until Now," "Star Trek Production--A Closer Look," and "Whither Star Trek?" Each Part then is comprised of a varying number of chapters, from 3 for the second and the last to 8 or 9 for the rest. In addition to its front- and back-cover color reproductions from the show, the interior contains quite a fair bit of black-and-whites: 62 pages of photos, along with 6 pages of design sketches and 10 pages of schematics. Moreover, the appendix gives a list of all shows of the first two seasons, with each season's regularly appearing actors, and then for each episode, script credit, guest stars, and original air date, information which in decades prior to the internet otherwise would have been difficult to access.
The initial outline used to pitch the series (page 22-30) is particularly interesting, as is the original script for the first pilot, "The Cage" (pages 47-65), which later, after a second pilot with different characters and actors sold the show, was repurposed as the two-part "The Menagerie." I actually had just read Harlan Ellison's 2009 The City on the Edge of Forever, so I was a little surprised how much less detailed this script was than even the earliest drafts of Ellison's famed episode. And, of course, regarding Ellison's book...well, if a reader wants to look beyond Whitfield's adulation to a view of Roddenberry publicly lying about and belittling, consistently and purposefully, the genesis of that most popular episode, then that is the one to read next.
In any event, despite occasional quaintness and iffy perspective, Stephen E. Whitfield's The Making of Star Trek remains an entertaining and enlightening read of 4.5 or 5 stars.
May 26, 2024
An excellent historical look at the making of the original show, of great interest to the armchair Hollywood historian... which is not me. Such a person would probably rate it 5 stars, but I can't go above 3, and it's a tentative 3.
The information in the book is at turns fascinating and mind-numbingly boring. Now and then, I laughed out loud, but more often, my eyes glazed over. I'm a huge Star Trek fan, but I don't have enough interest in the process of, for instance, cutting holes in scenes to add a mask, and then cutting around the mask to superimpose a figure to splice the two films to another film to show... I'm nodding off just writing this. It's dry, is what I'm saying.
ST:TOS was filmed in the '60s, so all the technical information in this book is - while, I'm sure, accurate for the time - far out of date today. So much of the book is dedicated to it that only the true TV-making historian is really going to get everything out of this book that was intended.
In addition, the text is rife with cringe-inducing misogyny typical of the period and casually racist comments that stood my hair on end. The grossly sexist slapdash effort at describing the motivations of Uhura's character turned my stomach. The disgusting sexualization of 17-year-old girls, discussing their body shape and cut of their clothing was similarly nauseating, along with absolutely unnecessary discussion of what kind of breasts were best, down to calling out a particular actor by name for what type she had.
There's a reason this book took me nearly 2 years to crawl through. Only the most nostalgic Star Trek fan is going to really love all this book has to offer. For the rest of us, it certainly has its moments, but I can't see myself ever picking it up again.
The information in the book is at turns fascinating and mind-numbingly boring. Now and then, I laughed out loud, but more often, my eyes glazed over. I'm a huge Star Trek fan, but I don't have enough interest in the process of, for instance, cutting holes in scenes to add a mask, and then cutting around the mask to superimpose a figure to splice the two films to another film to show... I'm nodding off just writing this. It's dry, is what I'm saying.
ST:TOS was filmed in the '60s, so all the technical information in this book is - while, I'm sure, accurate for the time - far out of date today. So much of the book is dedicated to it that only the true TV-making historian is really going to get everything out of this book that was intended.
In addition, the text is rife with cringe-inducing misogyny typical of the period and casually racist comments that stood my hair on end. The grossly sexist slapdash effort at describing the motivations of Uhura's character turned my stomach. The disgusting sexualization of 17-year-old girls, discussing their body shape and cut of their clothing was similarly nauseating, along with absolutely unnecessary discussion of what kind of breasts were best, down to calling out a particular actor by name for what type she had.
There's a reason this book took me nearly 2 years to crawl through. Only the most nostalgic Star Trek fan is going to really love all this book has to offer. For the rest of us, it certainly has its moments, but I can't see myself ever picking it up again.
May 20, 2017
For many years I have heard artists I admire say that this was the book that made them realize they could work in TV or that this book inspired them to do so. I finally tracked down a copy and I enjoyed it.
This was originally published in 1968 as Star Trek was heading into its third and final season. Whitfield gained unprecedented access to the set and the crew. The book is filled with great informal quotations from Gene Roddenberry. It's also filled with wonderful exchanges of memos between Roddenberry, Bob Justman and others.
I really enjoy some of the rare photos, designs and diagrams that are included. There are reproductions of call sheets, casting notes, etc. which give you a real sense of what it must have been like working in the production office. You get a very informal, uncensored look at the show's staff. Unfortunately, this includes rampant 1960s sexism.
These days, this kind of book is much more common but in 1968 I can well imagine it being an incredible eye-opener for fans of the show and those interested in TV production.
This was originally published in 1968 as Star Trek was heading into its third and final season. Whitfield gained unprecedented access to the set and the crew. The book is filled with great informal quotations from Gene Roddenberry. It's also filled with wonderful exchanges of memos between Roddenberry, Bob Justman and others.
I really enjoy some of the rare photos, designs and diagrams that are included. There are reproductions of call sheets, casting notes, etc. which give you a real sense of what it must have been like working in the production office. You get a very informal, uncensored look at the show's staff. Unfortunately, this includes rampant 1960s sexism.
These days, this kind of book is much more common but in 1968 I can well imagine it being an incredible eye-opener for fans of the show and those interested in TV production.
October 23, 2023
It’s difficult to get a good view on something like the original Star Trek when looking at it from a time when it’s spawned a massive franchise and it has become something hugely iconic, so I loved reading this account from the very pits of it’s original production.
I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did. It really gives an appreciation of how groundbreaking Star Trek was, but also a real appreciation for Rodenberry’s role. I think what really got me was how much of the decisions I take for granted, but it was a show built on the most intricately thought out rules and considerations to contemporary science and trying to anticipate future science.
Also it’s just a great account of how and why it all came together and 60’s television production.
The book was written in the 60’s so it is of course prone to some timely language that just wouldn’t be okay now, so I doubt you’d ever see a reprint. But if you can get a copy and you’re interested in Star Trek at all, I can’t recommend enough.
I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did. It really gives an appreciation of how groundbreaking Star Trek was, but also a real appreciation for Rodenberry’s role. I think what really got me was how much of the decisions I take for granted, but it was a show built on the most intricately thought out rules and considerations to contemporary science and trying to anticipate future science.
Also it’s just a great account of how and why it all came together and 60’s television production.
The book was written in the 60’s so it is of course prone to some timely language that just wouldn’t be okay now, so I doubt you’d ever see a reprint. But if you can get a copy and you’re interested in Star Trek at all, I can’t recommend enough.
April 7, 2020
For any fan of The Original Series (or even Star Trek franchise, in general) this is a fun read. This is a behind-the-scenes book on TOS written during the third series, so everything is "fresh." I loved reading the story treatment of the first pilot (The Cage/The Menagerie). I loved the art of the bridge, labeling stations that I never knew their purpose. It's interested to learn the names and personalities of all the behind-the-scenes personnel, from directors, and producers, and more. I think the only drawback is that there are some gloss-overs, and I don't know if I can blame the author (George Takei "moved to Arkansas" as a child, not explaining WHY...or how Majel Barrett just happens to get cast by Gene all the time, strange that...). But I did enjoy revisiting TOS during its actual time, before the cancellation and syndication and etc. etc. I'm amused that Gene gets a co-author credit, which, ya know, typical Gene. All that said, quite enjoyable for new and old TOS fans alike!
November 18, 2019
This is a truly fantastic book for anyone interested in the back-stage elements of television, not just Star Trek. Whitfield talked to the people responsible for creating the show and was given extensive access to files, letters, memos, et cetera, so you can actually read excerpts from the series bible, musings on possible names for Starfleet's twelve Constitution-class starships or Vulcan names starting with 'S' and ending with 'k', and reminiscences on personal interactions, funny stories, games and pranks played by the production staff on each other. Every aspect of the show is touched on: the selection of actors, the creation of scripts, the design and construction of props and sets. It's fascinating, it's funny, and it's so detailed you'll feel like you actually know what made Star Trek tick back in the 1960s.
October 2, 2017
"The Making of Star Trek" is an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the making of Star Trek. Written in 1968 while the show was in the 2nd half of Season 3, authors Stephen Whitfield and (Star Trek creator) Gene Roddenberry give readers a complete tour of the nascency and execution of the legendary show. The authors introduce readers to each of the important players, producers, directors, and support crew who got this show on the air for 3 short years, but in the hearts and minds of its fans for decades after. There's enough here to keep avid fans of the series interested, but those unfamiliar with the show will be less enthralled.
July 28, 2022
This is one of those times where a book loses stars for me because of personal enjoyment level as opposed to a quality level. It's probably every thing you could want as a star trek fan, one of which I am only at times, but not consistently.
I found a lot of it to be stuff I already know about how the film/tv industry works. And I started skipping handfuls of pages just to get to where Gene Roddenberry quotations were since he was really the only one interviewed that ever had interesting tidbits to say.
Not my taste. Rather dull and out of date. Doesn't stand the test of time as the show which it was about sort of does.
I found a lot of it to be stuff I already know about how the film/tv industry works. And I started skipping handfuls of pages just to get to where Gene Roddenberry quotations were since he was really the only one interviewed that ever had interesting tidbits to say.
Not my taste. Rather dull and out of date. Doesn't stand the test of time as the show which it was about sort of does.
September 5, 2023
Interesting book about the development of Star Trek and Gene Roddenberry's efforts to get it on TV. I love the paperback's tag line, "The book on how to write for TV!". Still, it reads like it was written in 1968, because it was. One part in Chapter 8 describing Other Star Trek regulars struck me as particularly cringey. A short biography of George Takei (Sulu) relates how he was born in Boyle Heights and lived there until WWII, when his family "moved to Arkansas". Yeah, they didn't move to Arkansas, they were forcibly interned there. Just hard to believe. But again, I guess I need to remember the time in which it was written.
June 7, 2024
From 1968 comes a rather interesting look at just how Star Trek not only got onto the airwaves, but also how it survived. Stephen Whitfield's novel is one not only just for the fans of this series but also for anyone who is interested in seeing just what goes into putting a television show onto the airwaves. From start to finish we the reader see how the various pilots & characters evolved from the mind of Roddenberry to the finished product. Overall, a fun read & a treasure for any fan of this beloved series.
April 13, 2019
The first and definitive book written about Star Trek (the tv series) by it's creator Gene Roddenberry.
I found this first edition copy when I was 15 in a mid-Missouri drug store and could not put it down. While written as a primer on writing for television, there is so much more about the sixties legendary show. I came by a later edition through Abes books.com if you care to find a copy. Fascinating!
I found this first edition copy when I was 15 in a mid-Missouri drug store and could not put it down. While written as a primer on writing for television, there is so much more about the sixties legendary show. I came by a later edition through Abes books.com if you care to find a copy. Fascinating!
January 30, 2021
The full title says it all. The Book on How to Write for TV! Very fun and well written. As a fan it was a lot of "yes I know this already", but I still enjoyed reading about it again. I especially enjoyed the antidotes about things that would happen on set with cast and crew. Also interesting to read a book written in 1968 and talk about the future of the series which at the end of the book they can already tell it would probably be canceled.
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