Other books may detail the factual and fictional universe of Star Trek, but in no single place can one find reliable yet irreverent coverage of the wide world of William Shatner-Star Trek's most popular star. There is simply no other book like The Encyclopedia Shatnerica.

This book has to be updated with new material!   November 21, 2002

I'd still have to say the author still accomplished his goal. He showed the audience that Shatner has none of the heroic qualities of a Captain Kirk.


Hilarious send-up of the legendary Star Trek captain   June 12, 2002
  4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Over the years (decades), William Shatner has grown from simply an arrogant actor on a 60's sci-fi show to something of a legendary pop-culture icon. We have all heard the stories of his feuds with co-stars, failed TV shows, unique musical 'talents', and THAT HAIR! Now, in one place, the Star Trek and William Shatner fan can find a reference to everything that is Shatner. His detractors will find everything they want as well. Mr. Schnakenberg does not pull punches with his A-to-Z chronicle of Shatner's life. He delves into the ugliness of his disputes with fellow actors (most notably, James Doohan... aka 'Scotty') and his notable difficulty in his personal life (on his third marriage at the time of this book's release and now currently on his fourth following the tragic death of his third wife). But, he is also fair in his depictions. He goes to great lenghts to show caring and respect that both Shatner and Leonard Nimoy have for each other despite years of tension on the Star Trek set. Not to mention exploring the positive value of his "Rescue 911" TV series. Of course, there are also many humorous moments that are documented. Shatner's foray into the music industry with 'interesting' "The Transformed Man" album (now a cult hit) is covered as is one of the funniest moments in Saturday Night Live history when Shatner, playing himself, tells the assorted weirdoes at a Star Trek convention to "get a life!". Simply a fun read from beginning to end, the "Encyclopedia Shatnerica" is an cool addition to any person's library.


The man behind the rug (or, rather, underneath it)   December 30, 2001
  2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Diggin' through my endless piles of Trek-related literature one day, I discovered (or, more properly, re-discovered) this little alphabetical chronicle of the man behind Jimmers! An A-to-Z guide (from 'Airplane II' to 'Zmed, Adrian') that reads a little like an unauthorized biography, the Encyclopedia Shatnerica covers the man's many stage, screen & TV projects (most of 'em just gawdawful in the eyes of the author), as well as his thankfully short-lived musical career and those books that he allegedly wrote.

Also discussed are Shatner's legendary quirks, foibles, and just plain weird behavior that have become legend. More than a few great anecdotes from his fellow thespians are included as well, all broken down into a collection of brief, yet surprisingly informative passages. From the Trekkie Nation on down to those 'PriceLine' mavens, there's a little something for everybody in this paperback!

'Late


Get it while you can!   March 22, 2001
I, fo one, am sorely disappointed to learn that the Encyclopedia Shatnerica is now out of print. While unemployed last summer, I spent a day spent devouring this tome cover to cover and was yanked right out of my funk. So what if substandard work by an editor created a light scattering of inaccuracies? That's hardly the point: Schnakenberg's pricelessly witty, irreverent writing style still makes this an unforgettable read for devotees of the absurdities of pop culture.


The main problem with this book is....   December 9, 2000
  7 out of 10 found this review helpful

That it takes 90 percent of its information (pretty much word for word) from a horribly inaccurate unauthorized boiography called "Captain Quirk." It almost seems as if Author Robert Schnakenberg merely bought a copy of "Captain Quirk" and copied down all the information for the "Shatnerica." And as I said, it's WORD FOR WORD! "Captain Quirk" used trashy tabloids like "Star" and "Enquirer" for its information, and also printed second hand rumors as fact. So, the "Shatnerica" is loaded with false information, and more screw ups than I can count (not just about Star Trek, but easily found facts on Shatner's life as well).

So what is good about this book? Pretty much nothing, although it does have some cool rare photos. Other than that, skip this one and the dreadful "Captain Quirk."