55 The of Star Trek (rec.arts.startrek.tech reading list)
Description
This article is from the Star Trek Tech FAQ, by Joshua Bell inexorabletash@hotmail.com with numerous contributions by others.
55 The of Star Trek (rec.arts.startrek.tech reading list)
While not necessarily related to Treknical discussions, there's been a
flood of books out lately with the name "The * of Star Trek" - insert
some branch of science here. Some of them are quite good!
Some of these books half-heartedly try to rationalize some of the
technobabble and pseudoscience that makes up Star Trek, but that's not
their purpose. Their purpose is to use the phenomenon of Star Trek as
a cultural icon to introduce concepts like relativity to the general
public by way of their implicit acceptance of what they've seen on
television. And they also don't mind bursting a few bubbles along the
way - Star Trek is flat out wrong many, many times.
___________________________________
THE PHYSICS OF STAR TREK
Lawrence M. Krauss, forward by Stephen Hawking.
BasicBooks (HarperCollins), 1995. ISBN 0-465-00559-4. (Also available
in audio format)
In print. US$18.00.
This book isn't exactly what it seems to be from the name. It does not
attempt to rationalize the physics we see on the show; instead it uses
the physics we see on the show and uses it to explain how the real
world works. On the side, it comments on how plausible or implausible
Star Trek technology is. "I'm really enjoying it, although for some,
it may ruin the "magic" of star trek. It's fairly deep into physics,
with almost no math (just my kind of book). The author has a sense of
humor, obviously enjoys Star Trek, and is almost apologetic about
telling you why things like the transporter will most likely never be
a reality." [Lawrence Matter]
___________________________________
THE METAPHYSICS OF STAR TREK
Richard Hanley
BasicBooks (HarperCollins), 1997. ISBN 0-465-09124-5.
Out of print.
I read this one out of guilt - the author sent me email out of the
blue complimenting me on these FAQs and so I felt compelled to read
his book. I'm glad I did - it's an engaging look at some metaphysical
issues through the eyes of Star Trek. Is Data alive? Is it safe to be
transported? Are Curzon and Jadzia Dax the same person?
If you read this book and enjoy it, I'd recommend The Mind's I
collection by Hofstadter and Dennett as another gentle introduction
into the field. And if you want some fiction based around these ideas,
I'd recommend almost anything by a talented writer named Greg Egan -
Permutation City and Diaspora are my favorites.
___________________________________
LIFE SIGNS: THE BIOLOGY OF STAR TREK
Robert Jenkins and Susan C. Jenkins
HarperCollins, 1998. ISBN: 0060191546
In print.
Review, anyone?
___________________________________
TO SEEK OUT NEW LIFE: THE BIOLOGY OF STAR TREK
Athena Andreadis
Three Rivers Pr, 1999. ISBN: 0609804219
In print.
Review, anyone?
___________________________________
THE COMPUTERS OF STAR TREK
Lois H. Gresh, Robert Weinberg
Basic Books, 2000. ISBN: 0465012981
In print.
Review by Mark Hofer II
If you know anything about computer engineering, kindling is a good
use for
this book. This book covers the possibilities of the uses for the
computers,
not the explanations of how they work (get the TNG Technical Manual
for
that). The authors know a great amount about computer science, but
each and
every time they venture beyond this they look like idiots. They
neglect
computer engineering concerns of space, power, and other practical
matters.
They also neglect civil liberties issues. They suggest that putting
chips in
the heads of the crew would be a great way to communicate with the
computer.
Although this may be faster, it also allow the computer to track you.
Their analysis of the Enterprise-D computer as a 1960's model
mainframe is
fairly correct, but they start to use this as a basic assumption in
every
analysis afterward even when it isn't warranted. They also neglect the
possibly of a more complicated client-server architecture. If you go
to the
Holodeck, just because you can access your personal programs, doesn't
mean
that they are stored on the main computer.
Continue to:
My Books
