by Ben Robinson and Mark Wright

Eaglemoss, out now

A retrospective on the fourth live action Star Trek show as it celebrates its quarter century.

During the latter part of the 1990s I had the privilege of going on sets for the then-current Star Trek shows – Deep Space 9 and Voyager – on multiple occasions. There was a distinct difference in tone between the two, both on screen and off; the biggest one that has stuck over the years is that when “cut” was called, the DS9 actors tended to return to their trailers. The Voyager cast hung around, chatting with each other. It’s a small thing but to me epitomised the “family” nature of the show. The other thing that I recall vividly is the far more open nature of the castmembers in interviews – the poor press liaison would be worried about what Robert Beltran was going to say next, while Kate Mulgrew had no hesitation in openly questioning elements that didn’t sit well with her.

Robinson and Wright’s book benefits from the 25 years of water that’s flowed under the bridge, enabling all involved to see things with a perspective that was impossible at the time. The writers chat with as many of those involved either side of the camera as they can – with some archive material to fill in gaps – and incorporate the Jennifer Lien interview when the show was launched. (Having been one of the few people to interview her after she left the show, I can confirm her reticence about interviews even when they’re actually happening – the piece quoted is by far the most she’s said.) There’s also a spotlight on some of the key episodes – the parameters for that being wider than just the normal “Top 10”.

All aspects are covered, and it being a Hero Collector book, unsurprisingly there’s a section on the different alien craft as well as material on the Voyager itself. There’s plenty of visual content, with previously unseen shots extracted from the archive, and a handy reminder of the episodes at the back (although it seems odd not to include the writers and directors).

Verdict: Even if you’re a well-read fan of the show, you’re going to find new information here. Robinson and Wright host an excellent celebration. 9/10

Paul Simpson

Click here to order Star Trek Voyager: A Celebration from Amazon.co.uk