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STAR TREK STARSHIP SPOTTER

It's more fun than bird watching!

By Chris Wyatt November 12, 2001

Geek out with the overload of techie Trekkie info in STAR TREK STARSHIP SPOTTER.
© 2001 Pocket Books

Adam "Mojo" Lebowitz and Robert Bonchune, two members of the effects teams for both BABYLON 5 and STAR TREK: VOYAGER, have compiled an excellent little volume called STAR TREK STARSHIP SPOTTER. The book has thirty entries; each begins with a two-page spread featuring a write-up on the historical background of a starship, as well as its technical specs and a wire frame model of the ship. The following two-page spread is a beautiful full color picture of the ship. The book has a "bird watching" feel to it, with the text giving little details about the ships so that you can tell them and their classifications apart. The text avoids a too-serious feel and delivers interesting facts in a way that doesn't talk down to fans. A garish and poorly designed cover mars the book, but don't be fooledinside is an art quality volume that has a lot to be admired.

Taking a tip from the Harry Potter Hogwarts' school textbooks that were printed for charity earlier this year, the marketing people behind STARSHIP SPOTTER are trying to sell the book as a "recently rediscovered...simple paper tool" that "disappeared from use" when the "Earth Space Probe Agency" was included in the "services that merged to form Starfleet," and that this book is the Starfleet Academy "Class of 2383 edition." Who knows why the salespeople think that such a silly little addendum is necessary, especially when it was already done by a high profile 2001 genre book release.

But don't let the foolhardy sales hype reflect badly on the book itself. If you cut through the marketing junk and get to the meat of the book, you'll find an interesting volume that's fun and entertaining. True collectors' item books like this enhance fan enjoyment of the show and help keep the TREK franchise alive. This book can be recommended to any Trekkies who are interested in the space travel and tech of the show. Thanks to Lebowitz and Bonchune for a great little volume.