Lost Federations - The Unofficial Unmade History of Star Trek

A. J. Black

Publisher: Polaris

Summary

"An innovative and unusual account of Star Trek’s lost voyages that makes for a fascinating alternate history." — Brian J. Robb in Sci-Fi Bulletin

SPACE. THE FINAL FRONTIER. THESE WERE ALMOST THE VOYAGES OF THE STARSHIP ENTERPRISE.

We think we know the history of Star Trek. Born at the height of 1960s popular culture, the five-year mission of Captain James T. Kirk and his crew faced early cancellation, bounced back with a series of beloved movies in the 1980s and gave way to a fleet of successful sequels and spin-offs that kept on exploring strange new worlds.

In Lost Federations: The Unofficial Unmade History of Star Trek, author A. J. Black tells a different story. This is an alternate history of the franchise, one filled with roads not taken, from early 1960s feature-films and spin-offs, the original sequel Star Trek: Phase II in the 1970s, via epic planned movies such as Planet of the Titans and into many untold episodes, arcs and character stories from The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager, all the way through to the modern era.

Bringing together pre-existing material over decades for the first time in one space, plus some new reflections from Star Trek writers and analysis of how it all fits into the wider cultural trends of the last sixty years, Lost Federations invites you to boldly explore a history you may not already know...

Available since: 12/05/2023.

Print length: 288 pages.

The Arts

Other books that might interest you

Song Machine The: Book Summary &...

Briefly Summaries

This is a concise summary and analysis of The Song Machine, by John Seabrook.
 
It is not the original book and is not affiliated with or endorsed by John Seabrook.
 
Ideal those seeking a quick and insightful overview.
 

This book takes readers inside the global pop music industry, revealing how today's chart-topping hits are manufactured through a secretive, high-speed, and highly profitable system. From the rise of Swedish producers like Max Martin to the evolution of songwriting camps and digital sound engineering, it explores how pop music has been transformed into a science of success. Through behind-the-scenes stories of artists, producers, and executives, this book uncovers the formula behind the earworms that dominate the airwaves.

Show book

Mad Love: Brushing Against Fate...

Dr Ravi K Puri

Mad Love unfolds as the tale of a painter who envisions a captivating dream girl and endeavors to immortalize her beauty on canvas. Gradually, he finds himself smitten with his spectral creation. Transitioning from his attic studio amidst the urban bustle, he seeks solace in the serene embrace of nature, continuing to portray his muse amidst lush meadows and high mountains nearby. His paintings depict her amidst various natural settings: lounging beneath cascading waterfalls, frolicking in the verdant fields, and chasing after playful fawns or colts. Day and night, he is consumed by thoughts of this ethereal girl, convinced of her existence somewhere in the vast world, yearning to meet her one day.One fateful day, while lost in his artistic reverie amidst the picturesque valley, he spies a girl frolicking in the meadows, her laughter mingling with the gentle breeze. Struck by her mysterious resemblance to his spectral muse, he follows her until he can't resist the urge to approach her, revealing his paintings. To his astonishment, she is captivated by the likeness and intrigued by his devotion. As they begin to meet regularly, the painter finds himself no longer conjuring her image in his mind but painting her vibrant presence onto the canvas, witnessing his muse come to life before his very eyes.His madness in love did not last longer. One day, out of the blue the girl disappeared leaving behind many unanswered questions. He was not sure of her appearance and disappearance. Was it a dream or reality? The painter got confused and turned psychotic. It is a fascinating and emotional suspense to find out whether the spectral girl returned to his life or not. Did he recover from his Psychosis? What happened in the lunatic asylum? How did Mad in Love transform into Mad Love?

Show book

ET The Extra-Terrestrial - The...

Film Trivia Metaverse

E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL
THE ULTIMATE TRIVIA COLLECTION
FROM THE MOVIE DIRECTED BY STEVEN SPIELBERG
CREATED BY FILM TRIVIA METAVERSE
ABOUT THE FILM
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a heartwarming science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg. It follows Elliott, a young boy who befriends an alien, E.T., stranded on Earth. As Elliott and his siblings hide E.T. from their mother and government agents, the bond between them grows stronger. The film explores themes of friendship, empathy, and the innocence of childhood. Spielberg emphasizes emotional connections and the sense of wonder through the eyes of children, creating a powerful narrative about understanding, compassion, and the desire to help others, regardless of their origins. The movie balances adventure with deep emotional moments.
TRIVIA SAMPLES:
“A 2'10" tall stuntman performed most of the full-body puppetry for E.T. However, the kitchen scenes were filmed using a 12-year-old boy who was born without legs but was an expert at walking on his hands.”
“To help audiences connect more deeply with the child protagonist, Steven Spielberg shot much of the film from a child's eye level, aligning the camera perspective with that of Elliott and E.T.”
“The Halloween scene where E.T. sees a child in a Yoda costume suggests that they come from the same galaxy. Interestingly, the Star Wars universe also references E.T. when E.T.'s species appears in the Senate scene of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.”

Show book

The Time of My Life - Dirty Dancing

Andrea Warner

An engaging exploration into the enduring popularity of Dirty Dancing and its lasting themes of feminism, activism, and reproductive rights
		 
When Dirty Dancing was released in 1987, it had already been rejected by producers and distributors several times over, and expectations for the summer romance were low. But then the film, written by former dancer Eleanor Bergstein and starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze as a couple from two different worlds, exploded. Since then, Dirty Dancing’s popularity has never waned. The truth has always been that Dirty Dancing was never just a teen romance or a dance movie — it also explored abortion rights, class, and political activism, with a smattering of light crime-solving.
		 
In The Time of My Life, celebrated music journalist Andrea Warner excavates the layers of Dirty Dancing, from its anachronistic, chart-topping soundtrack, to Baby and Johnny’s chemistry, to Bergstein’s political intentions, to the abortion subplot that is more relevant today than ever. The film’s remarkable longevity would never have been possible if it was just a throwaway summer fling story. It is precisely because of its themes — deeply feminist, sensitively written — that we, over 30 years later, are still holding our breath during that last, exhilarating lift.
		 
About the Pop Classics Series
		 
Short books that pack a big punch, Pop Classics offer intelligent, fun, and accessible arguments about why a particular pop phenomenon matters.

Show book

Dark Knight Rises The - The...

Film Trivia Metaverse

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES 
THE ULTIMATE TRIVIA COLLECTION 
  
FROM THE MOVIE DIRECTED BY CHRISTOPHER NOLAN 
  
CREATED BY FILM TRIVIA METAVERSE 
  
ABOUT THE FILM 
The Dark Knight Rises is a 2012 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan, marking the conclusion of his Batman trilogy. Set eight years after The Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) has retired as Batman, living in isolation. However, Gotham faces a new threat in the form of Bane (Tom Hardy), a masked revolutionary who seeks to destroy the city. As Bane's plan unfolds, Bruce is forced to confront his past, physical limitations, and the legacy of Gotham’s protector. The film explores themes of redemption, resilience, and sacrifice, blending action with emotional depth and complex character arcs. 
  
TRIVIA SAMPLES: 
  
“Nolan described the central theme of "The Dark Knight Rises" as "pain," in contrast to "fear" in "Batman Begins" and "chaos" in "The Dark Knight." 
  
“To avoid leaks, Christopher Nolan chose to verbally share the film's ending with the cast rather than providing written scripts.” 
  
“To make Bane appear taller than his co-stars, Tom Hardy, who stands at 5'9", wore lifts that added three inches to his height.” 
  
“The line "That's a lovely, lovely voice" was improvised by Tom Hardy during a scene at approximately 1 hour 28 minutes in the film.” 
  
“Tom Hardy revealed that the most challenging aspect of filming was the fight scenes. Despite being a huge Batman fan, he said it felt strange to be "beating up [his] childhood hero."”

Show book

St Gall Cathedral and Abbey Library

Josef Grünenfelder, Cornel Dora

St Gall cathedral was built in 1755–1770 as the church of the Benedictine monastery, which was dissolved in 1805. In the Middle Ages this church, erected on the site of the hermitage of St Gallus, was one of the most important monasteries in the western world. Today the Abbey Archive and Abbey Library still possess invaluable documentary evidence from that era. The Baroque monastery complex testifies to the flourishing of the prince-abbey in the 17th and 18th centuries. The church, like the adjacent abbey library, built after the plans of Peter Thumb and decorated by the best South German artists of the day, forms the monumental conclusion of a long series of Baroque abbey churches realised by Vorarlberg master builders. St Gall’s abbey district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the collections of the Abbey Library and Archive are included in the UNESCO World Documentary Heritage List.

Show book