by Jeff Bond & Gene Kozicki

Titan Books, out September 1

The official behind the scenes guide to the film artistry of 1979’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

Whatever you feel about Star Trek’s first big screen outing – too long, ponderous, not enough happening, the slow motion picture – surely no one can doubt the pedigree of craftsmen involved in its production, from its origins as movie Planet of the Titans to TV series Phase II to movie again. People like Syd Mead, Ralph McQuarrie, John Dykstra, Douglas Trumbull, Ken Adams and Andrew Probert all played a role in defining the look, and that’s covered in great detail here in Jeff Bond and Gene Kizicki’s book.

What distinguishes this book from many ‘making of’ tomes is its ability to reflect on the 40 years that have passed since the movie’s release, providing opportunity to talk to the key players, unearth some great production photos and sketches and take a deep dive into  key components. Of course, a troubled production always makes for an interesting read, and we’re told how effects company Robert Abel & Associates dropped were dropped 10 months before release because their work wasn’t up to spec. But the authors tackle the challenges in a no-nonsense, gossip-free way, and you get the sense that every one of the hundreds of facts have been double-checked.

Chapter-wise, we start with the movie’s transition to feature film, and the need create models of a higher specification to meet the demands of the big screen and audiences who expected Star Wars quality. There’s sections devoted to the evolution of the Enterprise, the planet Vulcan, V’Ger and its temple, the abandoned memory walk and space walk, Klingons and the extended director’s cut. Over the hundreds of photos and a lot of text, no stone is left unturned.

Verdict: An excellent guide to Star Trek: The Motion Picture – the passion of both the authors and the creatives they talk about are apparent on every detailed, colourful page. 10/10

Nick Joy

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