Reviewed by Kristin
If you are anything
from a mildly interested Star Trek fan to a hard core Trekkie, you probably do
not need to be convinced to pick up this book.
The cover art on this oversized volume depicts the Enterprise silently
gliding overhead against a background of stars and nebulae. That’s just the beginning. Open the book to see 50 creations of 2D and
3D art inspired by Star Trek. Each piece is accompanied by an interview with
the artist describing their relationship with Star Trek and their inspiration
for the artwork. I can’t decide which
ones are my favorites, but let me pique your interest with just a few pieces
that I enjoyed.
Amir Abou-Roumié is a
Viennese illustrator who has created an image of San Francisco, complete with a
Xindi weapon starting to cut a swatch of destruction out in the bay. Despite the imminent destruction and loss of
life, the drawing is whimsical and lighthearted, with puffy white clouds in the
sky and a smiling Romulan chatting with a blushing Starfleet cadet on a park
bench. Whales spout off in the water
while Kirk, Spock and Bones sing around a campfire on a cliff. Reminiscent of something you might see on
Cartoon Network (think Dexter’s Laboratory), this bright and cheery scene has
many unobtrusive details that prove entertaining as you delve into the layers.
Mayim Bialik (of The
Big Bang Theory and Blossom) is the model in Christopher Ryan Ross’
photoshoot. With an iconic sideways look
and a flip communicator, Bialik is transformed into Captain Kirk. Stern and unsmiling with Vulcan hand
outstretched, she is Spock. Cheerfully,
with a modified beehive hairdo plastered into place with a can of Galaxy
Spray—Vulcan Death Grip Hold formula—she is Yeoman Janice Rand. In golden contact lenses and a severe, short,
dark wig, she appears to be Lieutenant Commander Data. With a hint of mischief in her eyes, Bialik
looks like she must have greatly enjoyed this modeling job.
Neal Smith is a toy designer
for Mattel. If you ever wondered whether
you could build a Borg cube out of Hot Wheels Cars, well, wonder no
longer. This one must be seen to be
believed.
Even Leonard Nimoy got
in on the game. A lifelong photographer,
Nimoy exhibited his work and also published books of his photos. Included in this volume is a 9 panel work
showing the same Vulcan hand gesture in yellow, red, blue and white on a black
background. The colors are reminiscent
of the original Star Trek uniforms and calls to mind the salutation “Live Long
and Prosper.”
Artists Jason Kernevich
and Dustin Summers designed Star Trek stamps for the United States Postal
Service. Issued on September 2, 2016,
the vibrant designs echo the colors of the original Enterprise crew’s
uniforms. In one design, the Enterprise
appears to be hurtling through the outline of the Starfleet insignia. In another, the ship is in orbit around a red
planet while inside the shape of the well-known Vulcan hand greeting. On another stamp, the Enterprise is seen from
above. On another, a gauzy figure is
rematerializing after transport. I do
not have these stamps, but must head over to the post office right away to buy
some. After all, they are “Forever”
stamps and theoretically could be used until the 23rd century and
beyond.
All this book needs is
accompanying sound effects: the whoosh of the bridge doors opening, the ding of
a communicator, a snippet of a theme song (from any series except Enterprise,
please), maybe even someone cursing in Klingon.
Check it out for yourself, for a book discussion group, or for a nerdy
Saturday night party. I won’t
judge. I might even be there.
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