Cover of Version 3.0
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Author | Michael Okuda, Denise Okuda, Debbie Mirek |
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Illustrator | Doug Drexler |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Subject | Star Trek |
Genre | Reference encyclopedia |
Published | 1994 (1st edition) |
Publisher | Pocket Books |
Media type | Hardback, Paperback, CD ROM editions |
Pages | 396 |
ISBN | (1st edition) |
OCLC | 30144117 |
The Star Trek Encyclopedia: A Reference Guide to the Future is a 1994 encyclopedia of in-universe information from the Star Trek television series and films. It was written by Michael Okuda and Denise Okuda, who were production staff on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager and Debbie Mirek. It was illustrated by Doug Drexler.
The Encyclopedia features highly detailed information about characters, planets, technologies and ships of the Star Trek franchise as well as brief episode and film synopses. It is organised alphabetically and is replete with illustrations, many of which are in color in later editions.
As a rule, the Encyclopedia exclusively covers material from the live-action television series and the motion pictures, which, according to Gene Roddenberry, are the extent of the Star Trek canon. It does however include some material from Star Trek: The Animated Series and occasionally provides completely original information. Given that this information is part of an officially-licensed publication but not actually included in any Star Trek movie or television episode, its canonicity is disputed.
Some entries in the Encyclopedia contain behind-the-scenes information, presented in italicized text.
Unlike the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual, the Encyclopedia makes no detailed speculations about Star Trek technology.
The Encyclopedia was inspired by a previous book by the same writing team, The Star Trek Chronology, which had been directly commissioned by Gene Roddenberry as a way of ensuring continuity on Star Trek. Michael Okuda developed a "worksheet" on which to record episode titles, episode production numbers, stardates, and any new ships, characters or technology.