Starlog: Star Trek's Greatest Guest Stars

by David McDonnell (Editor)

A must for all Trek fans, this all-star collection celebrates the guest-list of TV's most enduring and influential science fiction series. Here are the fascinating inside stories from such stars as Ricardo Montalban, Whoopie Goldberg, Christopher Lloyd, Teri Garr, Kirstie Alley, and many more! From the pages of Starlog. the world's most authoritative unofficial Star Trek guide.Filled with candid interviews, articles, and actor profiles, this unique collection is certain to become a collector's item.The Star Trek phenomenon continues with top-rated TV series including Voyager and Deep Space Nine. and production underway on a new Star Trek: The Next Generation feature film.

Genres: Star Trek

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 21, 1996

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's not much to say about the literary strengths of this paperback compilation of magazine articles. To be blunt the interviews and essays mostly blend into each other, forming a blancmange of anecdotes, career summaries and the more than occasional platitude.

Where this book does have value for anyone not coming to it with a serious fanaticism for 'Star Trek' is when it brushes against actors who are not that interested in or committed to the science fiction phenomenon. Teri Garr's interview hovers somewhere between a car crash and an outright denial, whilst Dame Judith Anderson's chapter reminds one that the featured guest stars often had more going on in their theatre careers than elsewhere. In fact, the emphasis on theatre acting as discussed through many of the chapters is worth contemplating.

For die hard Trekkies/Trekkers I'm sure this compilation will have lots of appeal, assuming they're not already aware of the stories and events recounted herein. There are a few suggestions as to what might have been if actor A was not given the role instead of actor B, or if a series or story arc was revised as outlined in interviews such as that with William Campbell.

However when one considers the worth of this book in the pantheon of 'Star Trek' literature (if there is such a construct) then 'Star Trek's Greatest Guest Stars' sits in a mildly interesting niche that might attract a few folks attention, but not too many.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a lot. But then I'm a huge Star Trek Fan. Interviews with Khan, The Squire of Gathos, and Alexander, son of Worf, were the highlights. But all these were enjoyable. I learned a fair number of things I didn't know.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this back in the '90s from the late, lamented Chester County Book Co. in West Chester, PA. They had a fantastic Star Trek section. Got rid of it at some point after my interest in Trek waned. Found it second-hand on Amazon and reordered it for the interview with Jonathan Del Arco.