"Star Trek FAQ 2.0: Everything Left To Know About The Next Generation, The Movies and Beyond" by Mark Clark

Author Mark Clark may want to consider an ongoing series of Star Trek FAQ books. Even after two efforts loaded with information about the Star Trek franchise, he could easily fill a third volume just by focusing on the television series Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise. A fourth volume could tackle the numerous comic book series that have been inspired by the various television shows and, of course, there is a new feature film franchise from J.J. Abrams to examine. I am not sure the author is considering such projects and it appears that he may be done compiling Star Trek books, at least that is the impression I was given while reading Star Trek FAQ 2.0.

The major focus of Star Trek FAQ 2.0 is The Next Generation television series, which ran for seven years and became the most popular program of its time in syndication. Sadly, I was one of those diehard "original series" types who generally refused to watch The Next Generation during its original run, from 1987-1994, but I did start watching reruns in the late 1990s and came to appreciate the considerable effort that was put forth. Mark Clark examines all 178 episodes of The Next Generation in various chapters and also singles out the performances by Patrick Stewart (Jean-Luc Picard), Brent Spiner (Data) and Michael Dorn (Worf), in others. The Next Generation feature films are also examined, as are the ones starring the original cast. While Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise are all mentioned, they do not receive nearly as much attention. That is not a criticism, just an observation.

The continuity within the Star Trek universe is explored in detail throughout the 400 page book and is one of my favorite aspects of Star Trek FAQ 2.0. I did not realize that so many connections existed between the original Star Trek and The Next Generation, including the frequent guest appearances by Majel Barrett-Roddenberry as Lwaxana Troi in The Next Generation and Michael Dorn's role in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. I also learned that Jonathan Del Arco, from The Closer and Major Crimes, portrayed Hugh, a Borg, in The Next Generation. I was also pleasantly surprised to learn about the numerous Emmy awards that The Next Generation acquired during its run, despite being overlooked in the Drama Series and various acting categories. One of the most interesting aspects of this effort is the behind the scenes trouble that transpired during the first few seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Creator Gene Roddenberry was at the center of most of those issues and readers come away with the idea that he may have either been very difficult to work with and/or very protective of the Star Trek legacy.

I read with interest about the continuing inclusion of social issues in various Star Trek series and the quest for peace and harmony between different populations throughout the Federation. However, I think Gene Roddenberry may have oversimplified the notion that there should not be any interpersonal conflict between members of the crew on The Next Generation. While it is admirable to suggest that people may be able to coexist more harmoniously in the future, I suspect there will always be at least some internal strife. In addition to the analysis of the films and each episode of The Next Generation, Mark Clark includes a chapter of quotes and another centered around food and beverages that Trekkies will surely enjoy. Overall, Star Trek FAQ 2.0: Everything Left To Know About The Next Generation, The Movies and Beyond (Applause Books) is a fascinating and thoroughly interesting read, as well as a superb follow-up to its predecessor.