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Title: The Computers of Star Trek by Lois H. Gresh, Robert E. Weinberg ISBN: 0-465-01299-X Publisher: Basic Books Pub. Date: 05 June, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.92 (26 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Disappointingly boring
Comment: I'll admit that I've read all the other science books on "Star Trek," from "The Physics of Star Trek" to "Is Data Human." So I looked forward to this entry as well.
Unfortunately, I found "The Computers of Star Trek" to be disappointingly boring. One problem that I had, but that you may or may not, is that computer architecture just is not very interesting. Thus, learning that parts of the Enterprise's computer system are useless is just not the same as learning, for example, that it would take more energy than exists in the universe to warp space enough to make the Enterprise transverse the distances described in the shows.
Rating: 5
Summary: not just for Trekkers
Comment: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The preponderance of Star Trek fans that will read this book might lead one to believe that without a somewhat extensive knowledge of the show's inner workings, it would not be a worthwhile read. On the other hand, while knowledge of the show may preclude understanding some of the book's humor and would certainly add to the enjoyment of the book, non-"Trekkers" like me are still able to admire this book as a fascinating exploration of a not-too-distant future of our own highly-computerized society. It is obvious that Ms. Gresh has an extremely personal and comprehensive knowledge of computers and electronic workings in general, and it shines between the Data jokes and the recounted Holodeck mishaps. Good work!
Rating: 2
Summary: Interesting at times, but mostly repetitive and conjectural
Comment: Writing books about "The [Something] of Star Trek" seems to have become something of a fad ever since Lawrence Krauss's wonderful "The Physics of Star Trek," whether that "Something" be biology, philosophy, religion, or, in this case, computers. This book becomes tiresome, or at least off-topic, largely because there is a dearth of primary-source material on the computers of Star Trek, meaning that there is unfortunately little for the authors (who are computer scientists) to analyze scientifically. Specifically, the authors' primary sources consist of a scant smattering of material from the television shows and movies and the "Star Trek: The Next Generation--Technical Manual." To quote the book, "The technical manual devotes only five pages to the Enterprise computer. Based on its vague and sketchy description, we've inferred [a] general design." In other words, the book is based largely on assumptions and inferences, some of which are rather nonsensical. For example, in reference to the Star Trek memory storage unit known as a "kiloquad," the book says, "it's easy enough to deduce...that a kiloquad equals 1,000 quadrillion bytes." The only "evidence" given to support this conclusion is that "kilo-" means 1,000 and that "Checking a dictionary reveals that the only numerical term involving quad is quadrillion." This kind of speculation would be mildly interesting if only a paragraph were devoted to it, but instead, the authors assume throughout the remainder of the book that this is the definition of a kiloquad, and analyze the plausibility of data storage space on this extremely tenuous basis. This is after quoting the following wise excerpt from the "Star Trek Encyclopedia:" "The reason the term was invented was specifically to avoid describing the data capacity of Star Trek's computers in 20th century terms." This is one of countless examples. Much of the book seems to consist of the authors making unconvincing inferences, repeating themselves when they run out of source material, and making occasional (and unsuccessful) forays into philosophy and physics. The book is interesting when it makes a real point, but has too much filler material. There simply isn't enough source material for a 200-page book of this sort to be successful.
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Title: The Physics of Star Trek by Lawrence M. Krauss ISBN: 0060977108 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 25 September, 1996 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: The Ethics of Star Trek by Judith Barad, Ed Robertson ISBN: 0060933267 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 27 November, 2001 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Religions of Star Trek by Ross Shepard Kraemer, William Cassidy, Susan Schwartz ISBN: 0813367085 Publisher: Westview Press Pub. Date: 24 December, 2001 List Price(USD): $22.00 |
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Title: Beyond Star Trek : From Alien Invasions to the End of Time by Lawrence M. Krauss ISBN: 0060977574 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 01 December, 1998 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: Is Data Human?: The Metaphysics of Star Trek by Richard Hanley ISBN: 0465045480 Publisher: Basic Books Pub. Date: March, 1998 List Price(USD): $12.50 |
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