The fifty-year mission The complete, uncensored, unauthorized oral history of Star Trek : the next 25 years from The Next Generation to J. J. Abrams

*Starred Review* The second volume of Altman and Gross' comprehensive oral history of Star Trek is even more massive than the first, which covers the first 25 years, because it has more ground to cover as it tackles the four spin-off shows (a fifth is on the way in 2017) as well The Next Generation and J. J. Abrams' feature films. After several attempts to bring Star Trek back to the small screen, Star Trek: The Next Generation set sail with a new captain and a new Enterprise in 1987. Though the show grew to be both a ratings and a critical hit, the behind-the-scenes drama made for a rocky experience. Once Michael Piller took the reins in season three, however, the show stabilized, and its success paved the way for Deep Space Nine, which pushed the limits of the franchise by focusing on complex, serialized stories and nuanced interpersonal conflict among its characters; Voyager, which ventured into a heretofore unexplored area of the galaxy; and Enterprise, the prequel, which struggled to find its footing. J. J. Abrams' 2009 reboot movie breathed new life into the franchise, proving Trek still had plenty of life in it. A must-read for fans, this lively oral history offers a plethora of insight into the making of the enduring popular franchise.--Huntley, Kristine Copyright 2016 Booklist

With this volume, Altman and Gross complete their two-part oral history of Star Trek, which began with The Fifty-Year Mission: The First 25 Years, with verve. They begin in 1986 with the announcement of Star Trek: The Next Generation, going through to the J.J. Abrams-directed films in 2009 and 2013. An infectious giddiness underlies the interviews; people are sincerely excited to talk about Star Trek. Of the panoply of voices in the book, those involved with The Next Generation are the most insightful. This spin-off, after all, marked the biggest question in the series' history: could they raise the show from the dead? With the success of Next Generation, the three subsequent series, and Abrams's film reboots, it's easy to forget what a gamble this represented. Luckily, it paid off, and now another film is coming in 2016, with a new television series scheduled for 2017. This is an intimidatingly lengthy book, but also a page-turner. Longtime fans will find a lot to chew on, and newer fans will feel like old pros after reading this splendidly crafted work. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.