Brown's Book Review
by Michael R. Brown
Awhile back (the weekend of May 20th) I attended my second Star Trek convention, which was held in Lansing, Michigan. As I am an avid fan of TREKnology and starship design, I picked up a lot of technical manuals, some "official" and some fan produced. This article is actually a book review, so those of you who like TREKnology pay close attention.
Jackill's STAR FLEET REFERENCE MANUAL(S)
Ships of the Fleet, Volume(s) One, Two, and Three
Written and Illustrated by Eric Kristiansen
Jackill's STAR FLEET REFERENCE MANUAL, Ships of the Fleet Volume One (Revised) (1992, 128 pages) is the complete look the starships and assorted craft of the Classic Movie period, covering such things as the Enterprise-Class Heavy Cruiser, the dry-docks (like the one at the beginning of ST:TMP), and many of the shuttlecraft from this era. This is a fan produced book but its quality is unmatched. The finely detailed drawings (Port, Starboard, Top, Bottom, Aft, Fore, Inside) are superb, and the descriptions and statistics (size of the ship to the number of nurses in the sickbay) are unreal. It includes the names of all ships for a particular class, either built, proposed, or destroyed. This is A MUST BUY FOR ANY FAN OF TREKNOLOGY!
Jackill's STAR FLEET REFERENCE MANUAL, Ships of the Fleet Volume Two (1993, 128 pages) is a book much like the first, as it also covers ships of the classic movie genre. It covers: Spacedocks (ST III), Regula-class Research Stations (ST II), Constellation-class ships such as Picard's Stargazer, and Heavy Scout vessels among many other craft. All together this book covers 32 different types of starships, from WorkBees to Strike Cruisers to containers that tugs tow! The drawings and statistics are of the same high quality as the first manual, and the closing page provides a wealth of interesting information on the making of the book. Many of your favorite fan-produced ships are here, such as the Einstein-class Timeslip Cruiser. This book also makes my list as a must have book.
Jackill's STAR FLEET REFERENCE MANUAL, Ships of the Fleet Volume Three (1995, 128 pages) is the book that covers craft from ST: Generations to just before the time of the Ambassador-class starship. Wondering what happened to the design of the Excelsior-class starship between ST III and Generations? This book will give you drawings of both types, explain why the hull was fattened and give the reason they didn't get torpedoes until next Tuesday! Among many other things, it covers: the Federation's buoy types (satellites to us 20th century hicks), Dockport craft, both Excelsior-class types, Deuterium Tankers, Neutronic Fuel Carriers like the Kobayashi Maru, Tugs, Frigates, Fighters, Freighters, Supply Tenders, and much, much more. 32 class types in all are included, 54 if you count all the buoys and shuttles. This book is also a must have.
These books sell for $15.95 each and the price is printed right on the cover so that you can't get ripped off. Each book is printed on high quality paper, and the printing resolution is extremely fine to make for a clear, detailed drawing. The glossy cover is printed on strong, sturdy paper. I highly recommend these books; not only are they useful in our role playing game, but they are really cool to look at as well. You can usually find them at conventions or Sci-Fi stores.
GALILEO-CLASS STARCRUISER
Ship's Organization and Regulations Manual
Starfleet Guides Volume II
Written by: W. Paul Hollingsworth
Illustrated by: Evangeline Butch
(1995, 208 pages) This Galileo-Class Manual was written to "answer all of your questions about life aboard a modern starship in over 200 pages of text, charts, and illustrations." Well, maybe. While the book's text was well-written and informative, I found myself thinking that something was missing. Then I discovered what it was: drawings of the Galileo-class ship itself. There was only one full-page drawing of the starship, and that was only for the port-side elevation. This, however, did not take away the fact that the Galileo Manual is exactly what it says it is: a look at life aboard a modern starship. If you ever wondered how deep the swimming pool is, this is where you'll find the answer. Among other things, the book covers: Chain-of-Command, landing party policies, different stages of alert (red, yellow, etc.), bridge consoles, warp, impulse, and thruster systems, and computer interfaces. These examples are only a few of the many pieces of data squeezed into this book's 208 pages. The end of the book contains a chart of every position available on board, from commanding officer down to Lounge Services Officer, which must be the 24th century term for a bartender. A form is included to help you determine your position aboard the starship. All in all, this is a very impressive piece of work. If you interested in life aboard a starship in the 24th century, check this book out.
This high-quality book is printed on heavy paper enclosed in a glossy, heavy-duty paper cover. The printing resolution is fine, so don't expect any cluttered drawings or smeared text. It sells for $16.95, which I think is very reasonable. I recommend this book to those of you who are yearning to discover how a sailor lives and works aboard a 24th century starship. This book is written for the major Star Trek fan, so expect to see words like "lateral sensor array" and "weapons console telemetry." A glossary of terms is included, so don't worry if you don't know what those words mean. This book can be found at conventions and Science-Fiction stores.
