Book Review: ‘Star Trek FAQ 2.0: Everything Left to Know About The Next Generation, the Movies, and Beyond (Unofficial and Unauthorized)’ by Mark Clark

In 2012 the first Star Trek FAQ book was published, covering the original series. This new companion book, Star Trek FAQ 2.0, picks up where that volume left off and provides an exhaustive account and analysis of all the movies and Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Reading the book straight through is only recommended for truly rabid Trekkies. For the rest of the reading public, this book serves the same purpose as any FAQ: you can dig into it at any point to find out random information or use it as a reference book to refresh your memory of the plot of movies or certain episodes, or to look up particular cast members, directors, or producers.

The FAQ also recounts tales of Gene Roddenberry, creator of the original series, and his struggle to retain as much control as possible over the movies and The Next Generation.,which resulted in a massive turnover of directors, producers, and especially writers. Reading this, it is amazing that the franchise managed to create so many memorable movies and episodes and to remain so beloved in the modern world that it continues to spawn more movies today.At over 400 pages, this is a lot of information. and Clark indicates early in the book that there was even more that he had to leave out for page limitations. Still, you will be even more acquainted with the franchise universe and its cast and crew than you could ever be without a comprehensive reference like this.

The most enjoyable part of the book is the recap of all the Next Generation episodes for all seven seasons. It is entertaining to reconnect with the adventures of Picard, Riker, Troi, Geordi, Worf, Wesley and the rest, and to recall the thrilling horrors of such great villains as The Borg and the fun of other opponents like Q.

Another entertaining chapter contains quotes from the series.

While the movies and The Next Generation are the main emphasis  of the book, there is also a fair amount of information about the ensuing series Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise.

Over all, Star Trek FAQ 2.0 is a worthwhile addition to any fan’s collection and would make a great gift for Trekkie friends as well