KOOL TV BLOG 500: REVIEW - STAR TREK VAULT

Re-discover The Final Frontier! AURUM PRESS's new STAR TREK VAULT

STAR TREK VAULT

Written by Scott Tipton

Published in the UK by AURUM PRESS

Reviewed by Scott Weller

Over the last forty-five years in which the Starship Enterprise has been making science fiction and television/film history under the noble command of Captain James Tiberius Kirk, viewers and critics have all had their own unique takes and viewpoints on just what encapsulated ingredients came together to make STAR TREK, created by the legendary Gene Roddenberry (who sadly passed away twenty years ago this month), so enduringly beloved the world over.

Now, popular comics/pop culture/TREK fan comic writer Scott Tipton goes back to the future to answer such important questions, embarking on a new writing mission of important celebration, passion and imagination about the show he’s loved since childhood, in all its diversity and infinite combination, lovingly crafted around a stylish visual compendium of rarities and collectibles that would make any STAR TREK fan put down their phasers and tricorders and snap it up with fervor: the STAR TREK VAULT, published in the UK by AURUM PRESS.

Check out the books trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/embed/GGJFAjvroWw

The Original STAR TREK gave the world Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelly), Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Science Officer Spock (Leonard Nimoy). Images: CBS/ PARAMOUNT

From the super soaraway sixties to the somber seventies, then into the extravagant eighties and then the more restrained nineties and noughties, STAR TREK has endured, and for the most part successfully adapted with the times and the changing attitudes of audiences. The STAR TREK VAULT takes us on a streamlined journey of adventures and imagination-our very own Memory Alpha- through the entire history of the series: its creation, its acclaimed and landmark storytelling, remarkable and iconic screen chemistry characters and ensemble casts over the years, its notable ups and downs in behind the scenes production, and its revolutionary moments brought to life on television, then through to the film series (the most recent TREK movie from J.J. Abrams, however, doesn’t get included: itself a new era/canon re-imagining from what has boldly gone before, and which will surely be covered in its own range in the future) and then back to television. Also, most importantly, as this is a Vault product, there’s a symbiotic treasure trove of lovely rare memorabilia, images and reproductions, on display, including iron-on T-shirt transfers, theatrical posters, storyboards, a blueprint of Captain Picard’s command chair, and 1960’s trading cards. There isn’t quite as much Vault material on TREK in comparison to something like STAR WARS (which, despite close ties to TREK, is it own unique and singular phenomenon that can never be topped: spawning a merchandise revolution bigger than anything ever seen in sci-fi and fantasy), but the books 13 key classic reproductions do the legend and fans justice.

A look at the lovely and diverse collectible reproductions from the new book.

With shaky early beginnings for the show’s mid-sixties US launch, which had a dedicated youthful fan base but not a large overall audience share, its the seventies that have the lions share of memorabilia to compensate, with the series now taking off in a big way in American TV syndication and abroad, and spawning a huge leap in tie-in products, and a foothold of quality and range that would rise and fall during the movie years, yet regain a higher ground with the launch of the Next Generation series, and its new cast, from 1987 onwards. Along the way there are looks at model kits, selected novels and notable comic books, and even some of the zanier products that have come out relating to TREK over the years, including the KRAFT marsh mallow dispenser for STAR TREK V: THE FINAL FRONTIER and early comics whose tales and art work vaguely resembled the series they would be spawned from. And beyond the merchandise there’s the fans themselves who are explored within the books pages, whose passion for the series remains undiminished and brighter than ever, with such things as the birth of conventions and the development of the legendary baddies, the Klingons, as a way of life and language adopted by people and families worldwide, also charted as they make their uniquely mark and impact on world society.

The mid-seventies animated TREK series gets a nice chapter within the Vault book.

Fun side notes add further dimension to the history journey too, as Tipton’s personal observations on why the series endures, alongside classic motifs, supporting characters (like the brilliant Ricardo Montalban as the demented, revenge seeking Khan Noonien Singh), and technology (where modern fact has now quickly caught up with science fiction). Another plus for the book is the loyal inclusion by the author of the unique mid-seventies animated TREK series from FILMATION, which gets a well-deserved chapter on its making, and documenting some of its finest episodes, in an under-rated show which featured the return, albeit in vocal form, of the Classic Series cast, alongside some fine writing from that shows best behind the scenes people.

Passing the torch: Captain Kirk meets Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) in the movie STAR TREK: GENERATIONS.

Beyond CLASSIC TREK and NEXT GEN, we also travel to the furthest regions of the Alpha quadrant, and the Bajoran sector of space, with the darker and battle damaged edges trod by the crew of DEEP SPACE NINE, headed by the passionate Benjamin Sisko (the truly commanding and simmering presence of Avery Brooks), then get lost in space in the Delta Quadrant with the brave but often conflicted souls of the starship VOYAGER, headed by the series first full time on-screen female Captain, Kathryn Janeway (the ultimate Mother Hen protector character, played by Katherine Hepburn-esque Kate Mulgrew), and then back in time with the pre-Federation, pre-Star Fleet, pre everything genesis of ENTERPRISE (later quietly retitled STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE) with ex-QUANTUM LEAPster Scott Bakula as the enthusiastic explorer Captain Jonathan Archer, and his youthful team (and little doggie Porthos!) leading the quest to explore the final frontier anew. These modern TREK series that followed- a veritable golden goose of profit for PARAMOUNT, who bought the show from a then ailing Desilu in 1968, with the syndicated TREK and the first spin-off, THE NEXT GENERATION- see the legend enter the next television age-in many ways they are a different animal to the original series that inspired it, though they often robustly carry on with many of Roddenberry’s familiar motifs and ideals linked to the spirit of the human adventure, and everything it entails…

Defending the Alpha Quadrant. The Star Fleet/Bajoran crew of DEEP SPACE NINE.

Lost in space! The crew of STAR TREK: VOYAGER.

Did the ENTERPRISE crew have the right stuff?

Tipton makes some very enjoyable personal observations on all things TREK (having been a Trekker since childhood) and has a writing style that’s both informative and not over burdened, keenly supporting and acknowledging all the talented actors and behind the scenes teams that have gamely and imaginatively steered this show across its television waters.

Even with such a lovely tome, however, there are a few personal niggles here and there. The book could have delved a bit more into the international appeal of TREK (fandom isn’t just confined to America) and showed some examples of their magazines, posters, rare art and merchandise- weird and wonderful- from across the pond (of which there have been exhibitions and, in the UK, even an officially authorized STAR TREK stage play!). I feel that there also could have been more on the importance of DEL REY/POCKET BOOKS in keeping the TREK flame alive in the seventies and across six series and ten films. A visual platform of their best classic covers could have been reproduced from the sixties up ‘till now, from both the States, Europe and Japan. And no look at the various series and films on the home video/DVD front of the last thirty-three years, either. Finally, I would one day like to see a full color book totally devoted to the Original Series- the ultimate CLASSIC TREK celebration book has so far yet to be produced. Perhaps such things are all planned for the future?

The mission continues for the Starship Enterprise.

In the meantime, the STAR TREK VAULT (available in the UK within a unique hardcover slipcase) is a lovely 45^th anniversary celebration statement, and a fitting tribute to all things TREK- a juicy final cherry on the birthday cake that will surely be a much desired Christmas present for Trekkers everywhere during the Holiday Season.

STAR TREK lives!

KOOL TV RATING: 8.5 out of 10