Star Trek Voyager: A Celebration

Real world article

(written from a production point of view)

Star Trek Voyager: A Celebration is an officially licensed hardcover reference book that was authored by Ben Robinson and Mark Wright and was released in November 2020 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Star Trek: Voyager.

Summary[]

Solicitation blurb: Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the TV series in 2020! Everything you want to know about Captain Kathryn Janeway's Starship Voyager and crew.

STAR TREK: VOYAGER first appeared on TV on 16 January 1995, running for 172 episodes over seven seasons. Charting the adventures of the 24th Century Starfleet Vessel USS Voyager, this multi award-winning series followed the starship and its crew to the distant side of the galaxy. Celebrating 25 years since its first broadcast episode, this book explores the very best of STAR TREK: VOYAGER, with chapters looking at the greatest episodes, alien characters, visual effects, hair and makeup, costumes and guest stars. Plus the actors talk of their memories of the show, and recall their personal highlights over its six-and-a-half year run.

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

Contents[]

Far From Home, p. 8
The Title Sequence, p. 18
Janeway: Taking Command, p. 20
Key Episode: 'Caretaker', p. 28
Chakotay: The Strong Right Hand, p. 30
The Kazon, p. 38
Key Episode: 'Meld', p. 40
Tuvok: The Full Vulcan, p. 42
Key Episode: 'Tuvix', p. 50
The Vidiian, p. 52
Tom Paris: Charming Rogue, p. 54
Key Episode: 'Future's End', p. 62
B'Elanna: Divided Nature, p. 64
Key Episode: 'Distant Origin', p. 72
Harry Kim: The New Ensign, p. 74
Key Episode: 'Scorpion', p. 82
It's a Big Ship, p. 84
Neelix: Cook, Ambassador, Guide, p. 86
Key Episode: 'The Gift', p. 94
Kes: The Mayfly, p. 96
Key Episode: 'Year of Hell', p. 102
The Doctor: Vanity and Vulnerability, p. 104
Key Episode: 'The Killing Game', p. 112
Seven of Nine: The Wolf Child, p. 114
Designing the Ship: Inside and Out, p. 124
The Borg, p. 136
Writers in the Room, p. 140
Key Episode: 'Timeless', p. 144
Art Department, p. 146
The Lost Barge of the Dead, p. 154
The Delta Flyer, p. 156
I'm a Doctor, Not a…, p. 158
Key Episode: 'Think Tank', p. 160
Costume Department, p. 162
Key Episode: 'Course: Oblivion', p. 168
Voyager's Journey, p. 170
VFX Department, p. 172
Key Episode: 'Someone to Watch Over Me', p. 186
Directors: Pushing the Envelope, p. 188
Directing School: Grace Under Pressure, p. 193
Key Episode: 'Life Line', p. 196
Makeup Department, p. 198
The Hirogen, p. 204
Starship Gallery, p. 206
Captain Proton, p. 216
Life on Set, p. 218
Species 8472, p. 222
Music Department, p. 228
Enter the Borg Queen, p. 230
Key Episode: 'Endgame', p. 232
Season 1, p. 234
Season 2, p. 236
Season 3, p. 238
Season 4, p. 240
Season 5, p. 242
Season 6, p. 244
Season 7, p. 246

Background information[]

The book's initially slated publication date of 28 July was first pushed back to October and then to November 2020, due to disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Volumes in this series measure 22.86 × 29.21 cm and are released as hard covers in a dust jacket, Eaglemoss' standard format for the majority of its Star Trek-related reference books.
Richly illustrated in full color, co-author Ben Robinson envisioned this book as a vastly improved take on the Star Trek: Voyager Companion reference book, which had been very poorly received when it was published in 2003. In service of that goal, over thirty new interviews with Voyager's cast and crew were conducted by both authors, and Robinson added, "It’s the book that Voyager always deserved and has never had. I am really pleased that we’ve been able to deliver it." [1]
The formula for this book differed considerably from its 2003 predecessor by featuring short summaries for all episodes, while much of the expanded behind-the-scenes material focused on a limited number of chronologically-presented "key episodes". As such, some felt this book's content organization had more in common with the 1990s Star Trek series-themed issues of Cinefantastique than with the "Companion" reference book series as released by Pocket Books during the same era.
Jennifer Lien, who was prematurely dismissed from the series on less-than-amicable terms, was the only primary cast member who declined to be interviewed anew by Robinson. Nonetheless, a candid (and sensitive) exploration of the reasons for her dismissal was provided in this book, for the first time in an officially-sanctioned Star Trek reference work. [2]^(X)