Star Trek Memories

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For the video of the same name, see William Shatner's Star Trek Memories.

Star Trek Memories is the autobiography written by Captain James T. Kirk performer William Shatner, with extensive editorial input from author Chris Kreski. In the book Shatner covers the period in which he was involved with Star Trek: The Original Series, not only during its years in production, the 1960s, but during the aftermath in syndication in the 1970s as well.

Summary

From the interior dust jacket of the hardcover edition: Recall the glory days of the original Star Trek, with the book that goes where no memoir has gone before...

Beginning in 1966 as something a little out of the ordinary for prime-time TV, and suffering from shaky ratings throughout its entire run, Star Trek went on to spend the better part of the next three decades exploding into a worldwide, billion-dollar industry. How did this happen? What made the show so unique that it spawned a devoted global following?

While many books have attempted to tell the real, behind-the-scenes Trek story, the tale can best be told through the voice and privileged perspective of a man who actually lived through it all. That man is William Shatner (aka Captain James Kirk). Gathering his personal recollections along with those of Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, George Takei, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry and Star Trek's producers, designers, production crew and special effects wizards, William Shatner's Star Trek Memories is crammed with the backstage drama of the series' creation. Here, in the stars' and creators' own words, are such memories as:

Shatner's and Nimoy's close friendship of almost thirty years.
The outrageous practical jokes of Star Trek's cast, crew and especially Gene Roddenberry.
The truth about Kirk and Uhura's first prime-time interracial kiss.
Nichelle Nichols's surprising fan – who convinced her not to quit the show.
What really happened to Yeoman Rand and Captain Pike?
The fight with Harlan Ellison over "The City on the Edge of Forever" – and how he ultimately helped to save Star Trek from cancellation.
The full history of the overwhelming "Save Star Trek" campaign – which was only good enough to work for one final season.

Filled with heartfelt warmth and genuine fondness that can only exist among colleagues who have spent years together through thick and thin, Star Trek Memories also includes more than 120 photographs and illustrations (many of which appear for the first time in these pages). William Shatner's Star Trek Memories is the definitive reminiscence of the show that has become a true cultural phenomenon.

Excerpts of copyrighted sources are included for review purposes only, without any intention of infringement.

Acknowledgments
Captain's Log
Origins
"The Cage"
Where No Man Has Gone Before
Amassing the Troops
On the Set: Lights, Camera and Plenty of Action
A Couple of Characters
The Grind
The Unsung Hero
Shots in the Dark
Opening Nights
Bigger Things
My Favorite Episode
The Dysfunctional Family
To Stay Or Not to Stay
Episode on the Edge
Season Two
Season Three
Captain's Epilogue

Background information

Released in October 1993 as a in black cloth bound hardcover in dustjacket edition, it was followed the subsequent month by a UK trade paperback edition for The Commonwealth countries. Concurrently, a deluxe, signed and numbered edition was released in the US, which consisted of the the hardcover book without its dustjacket in a hardboard slipcase and which was limited to 4,526 copies of which 26 copies, lettered a-z, were reserved for private distribution at the authors and publisher's discretion.
While Shatner may have somewhat of an egotistical reputation in Star Trek lore, none of that is evident in the book, as he dedicates considerable space not only to his co-stars, but to various behind-the-scenes production staffers as well, the majority of whom he personally interviewed and letting them speak in their own words in his book. Two in particular, co-producers Gene Coon and Edward K. Milkis enjoyed his attention to such a degree, that Shatner has dedicated two entire chapters to them, "The Unsung Hero" and "Shots in the Dark", respectively. As such, his book is not only a autobiography, but also a reference book on the production aspects of the Original Series, sharing similarities with the work former Producer Robert Justman – also interviewed and featured by Shatner in his book – wrote a few years later, Inside Star Trek: The Real Story.
The book is illuminated throughout with numerous design illustrations from Art Director Matt Jefferies and black & white photographs, many of which behind-the-scenes, mostly originating from Justman's personal collection and not seen previously or afterwards. Jefferies too, was prominently featured in Shatner's writings.
Shatner followed up this book in 1994 with Star Trek Movie Memories, a memoir of his experiences from the cancellation of TOS through the filming of Star Trek Generations.

Star Trek Memories

Contents

Summary

Contents

Background information

Cover gallery

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